The mountain was a useful,
three-dimensional metaphor. My understanding, as I read your first post from yesterday outloud, was first one of slight consternation, Thomas ... but then one of
utter accord and agreement, when I came across these statements:
"The point is that there are paths, but there is not a universal path - the many only become one at the peak, not all the way up the mountain.
Look at it this way. There is a mountain. There are many routes up the mountain - and the many routes have certain elements in common - because man is man.
Now we can say 'to climb the mountain requires you to go up', or that you must be fit, or have the right gear, but there is no path that is a construct of elements of all the other paths ... there are just the paths ...
... to get to the top of the mountain, you have to climb a path ..."
But, my overall feeling is the metaphor broke down. It has become too concretized, which we are wont to do in our human thinking. Naturally, we say,
how can a thing be in two places at once,
or,
how can a paradox (of which life presents an endless number and variety) ... truly exist at all? And yet, Truth is
stranger than fiction,
the Lord works in mysterious ways ... and to be a bit more practical about it, quantum physics increasingly reveals that the
most curious nature of this world - is not at all as it
seems from our human perspective. Or, in the very least, there are
many other ways to slice this grape, and they are
equally valid.
Emptiness, as we call it from
our perspective, is
MOST of what actually exists (!), as confirmed by physicists, and their scientific brothers, the astronomers. Yet, my own belief is that -
amidst this emptiness, is spiritual substance itself, whose relationship to matter, is a bit like - Soul to body. As you are certainly familiar, Thomas, this is the great mistake of many Westeners, as we have traditionally
misinterpreted the Eastern concept of
Nirvana.
Nothing, indeed, but only
relative to what most of us can conceive, or have experienced, or could even imagine, regarding - (you fill in the blank).
As for the mountain metaphor, maybe another way to see it would be useful. At risk of utter confusion
... might I suggest the following revision:
My own understanding (flawed, and imperfect, certainly), with which I do not ask anyone
to agree, is that ...
Life itself is the Path that circles the mountain. I
do not believe that there are multiple paths, only that
all of Humanity shares in one, great Life, and as such, we can be viewed as a long,
chain of weary pilgrims ... slowly, painstakingly, yet inevitably ascending this mountain. It is tough going sometimes, but the overall process of our spiritual evolution -
no matter what religion one subscribes to - is certainly good, and though encompassing
vast millions of years, we all end up at the top of the mount. The goal is not simply to reach the top, although in very simple terms, we may regard it thus.
One the one hand, this has nothing to do with religion (!) ... though in many ways, it can have everything
to do with it.
The error,
imho, is twofold. One, is to imagine that
this mountain, is the only mountain, or that it is our ultimate beginning & end. I trust that we climbed other mountains prior to our spiritual evolution as humans,
believing in our traversal of the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms ... as we look in reverse. Prior to that, I trust there is additional heritage, but that's already too much, for some folks. At the other end, atop the mountain, I do believe that -
once in a blue moon - or at a very gradual rate, thus far, Humanity
literally Ascends - as attested by the saints & sages of various world traditions. Such I accept as the goal for
all souls, and for Humanity as a whole, as a Unit, or Kingdom. What strange & curious destinies await us ... is not a matter of pure speculation,
imo, though understandably, from our limited perspective, this must needs of necessity, remain so.
Now the second part of our error, as I take it, is the most curious, yet prevalent myth, that our
true spiritual Goal, concerns us
as individuals alone, and
does not intimately involve our fellow man, especially those with whom we are closely associated, throughout life. And so, although Humanity proceeds in the fashion of a
chain of pilgrims, climbing the Mountain of spiritual progress ... I believe, and have found - through my studies, sharings & experiences - that our
true Purpose, conceived in a spiritual sense, is to
learn about our connection with others (and with all life), and
to extend ourselves ...
through loving Service ... for the benefit of our fellow traveler(s). One cannot do this, while focused exclusively on self, or on material gain, or upon the pleasures of life. What is required is a life of discipline, of the sacrifice of what the personality might
want to do, and instead, a
reversal of the flow, such that our energy is directed outward,
radiatory, rather than inward,
magnetic in the lower sense. {And conceived of as a
spiritual path,
that is the way I would seek to walk, in my best aspirations.}
And those who answer the
Call to the Heights ahead of their time,
no matter where they may be found up until that point
in the great procession of Life, to the top of the mountain, are
disciples. Thus, despite there being a
pre-carved path, as it were, these bold souls set upon their own trek, to
scale the mountain more speedily, and do so
not for their own sake, but for the Good of others. Those who can use their increased spiritual understanding, empowerment & abilities
in the Service of others ... could be said,
collectively, to be treading the Higher Way, or
the Path (with a capital `P'). But such are not understood as
better than anyone else. And again,
reject such a proposition as you like, if it is not comfortable, or if the notion smacks of elitism to you. How one can misinterpret
discipleship in this way, confuses me. Personally, I am
grateful that such World Servers exist, and have known many, many such wonderful Souls already, in my time. They do not quibble, over religious belief, and outward creeds. That is a
personal matter, between a wo/man and God,
not something to be bandied about, and used to beat others over the head. Indeed, someone who stands up and says,
I am a disciple, an enlightened one, spiritually advanced, etc. ... has indeed, said a mouthful, yet already amply demonstrated that s/he is misguided, and vain.
I
do not so stand, because I know my error, and I long ago learned,
that simply to believe that the above mountain metaphor is true, does not distinguish one from others in any way. If one
believes in the life of service, then only by
living it, might one hope to leave the
sheep, and join the rank of
mountain goats, who, Capricorn-like, ascend the perilous way ... of extreme personal sacrifice, and self-abnegation. It is
not easy. The slow, guaranteed path ... is far, far simpler, and infinitely safer. And there are plenty of opportunities for rapid progress, if one is diligent. The goal,
in my belief, is
guaranteed, after all ... thus no need for fear, for scratching and clawing, and for the
fierce competition that we nonetheless see, all around us. But then, there is also a great darkness that beclouds the way. And in this, I am
thoroughly Eastern in my approach, and understanding.
The
Fall from Grace, by the way, is something I do accept,
metaphorically, and no literally. I hold that Deity spake lovingly, and
instructively, when Humanity was asked to descend into Incarnation, upon this planet. This "fall," is quite necessary,
imo and in my understanding, if we are to be able to return as the Prodigal, and know the Father again. Free will, it might be said, is part of the
test, and the
sharpening stone, which gives us the
edge of understanding, or
Wisdom. This, combined with the
perfect Compassion of the Buddha, or the Love/agape of the Christ, is our the goal of our evolution, and allows us to
Ascend, from atop the mountain, as I see it.
And
why on earth should one agree with all of that, if one sees it in another light? No path leads us
down, or "off" the mountain, in my understanding, in this
different casting of the mountain metaphor. The only real error is one which slows our spiritual progress,
however we interpret that in terms of our own particular religious tradition. The sad consequences of our own stumblings, are that those ahead of us, will feel an additional burden, for what we do, and experience, is
intimately bound with, and has great influence upon, those close to us, and around us. So, also, when we stumble, do those
who look up to us, and turn to us for guidance and insight, suffer more.
Yet wonderfully, the inverse is also true! Our hastened progress, and spiritual triumph, is an immense
boon to those around us, allowing us to move up in the ranks, as it were, and also drawing those around us
forward on the path.
The error, yes, is to go about judging other, and
to be stuck in the metaphor of the mountain, forgetting to relate to others
where and as they are. One's own sense of self, or spiritual identity, should not center on some supposed notion of spiritual standing,
especially the vanity of pride and an imagined superiority (which only proves the reverse). True humility, and the commitment to a life of
loving service, will guarantee that we avoid this.
my thoughts ...
andrew
