June 15th

Totality


Those who consider their path superior are condescending.
A parrot who speaks of the totality of the self is absurd.
Many paths lead to the summit,
But it takes a whole body to get there.

Once I met a woman who was a lifelong Christian. She had two sons who practiced yoga. She thought that was wonderful, but they arrogantly considered their beliefs to be superior to hers and told her that she was not doing enough for her spiritual salvation.No one has a right to condemn another person's spiritual beliefs. No spiritual system is superior to another. Each one of us should have the philosophy and practices that work for us. We should be happy once we find it, we should help those who are interested in the spirituality we represent, but none of us should behave condescendingly toward others' spirituality.
We are all trying to get to the summit of spiritual realization, and there are many valid paths leading to the top. Of course, the view and terrain on one side of a mountain will differ from the other, but the summit is identical no matter what your approach.
Whatever your path, all that matters is that you commit yourself totally to following it. Others will do the same. As long as we all climb, each from our own direction, and reach the summit of human spirituality, we can achieve complete totality in our lives. Then all the fracturing discussions of sects and different religions become unnecessary.

Personal Interpretation

Spiritual practice is more about the journey than the destination, for the ultimate result of a life of carefully-cultivated spiritual practice is a totality of vision that didn't exist before, an unveiling of the self to the self. How we reach the summit of the mountain is essential for our selves, but it does not invalidate other paths. Our truth is not the ultimate truth. How can it be in a world that is necessarily reduced to what can be seen, felt, heard, smelled, tasted?

We should all proceed with an open mind and an open heart. When we are receptive to the wisdom of others, we grow. And when compassion cares nothing for religious and spiritual "lines in the sand," true communion is finally possible.

When we speak of God or Allah or The Universe or Tao, we are referencing the same vital force of creation. And when we let this force into our lives, we are enriched and inspired.