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Wednesday, November 2, 2011

The Pathless Path...

I find the older I get the more I want to experience Truth directly, and leave the many trodden “spiritual paths” that I’ve been on all my life behind – gasp. Even as a child I wanted to *know* “God” – a child’s understanding of God. Then my search evolved and expanded to include finding “myself” – whoever that was :), then Truth, Wisdom, peace of mind, and last, but not least, the search for “Enlightenment.” They are all the same “path” under different disguises. And now, through all these many paths, I am feeling the need to settle in, deepen, and re-discover a sense of inner Truth for myself; not by following a particular external path – but by intuitively listening to the voice of Life in my Heart; observing this inner Life directly, by spending time in Silence (which I avoid so easily). Now if Life would only cooperate and give me the right environment. :) (Just kidding:).

Being on a “spiritual path” implies that one is going somewhere, seeking “Some-thing” at the end of the journey – like retirement after a life of working; or the magical pot of gold at the end of the mythical rainbow; or even the mystical “Holy Grail.” Or maybe one is even seeking an *end* to something, like suffering, pain, ignorance, their humanness, or the end of seeking. But what if there was no need for “a path”, no need for seeking the illusive big “Some-thing” that spiritual seekers are seeking? I find myself in this place of questioning – again… I have been down the "seeking road" – many times…

The path of “Enlightenment”/”Awakening”/”Self-Realization”, particularly the path of what is popularly known as “Non-Duality”, has lost its luster, its pull, its certainty for me – much like the other paths I have taken throughout my life. It’s just another construct. I found out that the Emperor has no clothes! And I’d rather not describe Truth by a negative – with no-me, no-self, no other, no-world - as Truth is all inclusive – including duality, me, self, other, and the world.

Even if one follows “a path” (which can be any path) there is no guarantee that we will discover what we are looking for, and life will not suddenly become easy or flowing with bliss. We won’t necessarily lose our personality with its quirks, our conditioning, or our neuroses. Our thoughts will not stop, neither will our surface struggles, or our pain, or our stories. Walking “a path” doesn’t even guarantee that we will actually *see* life differently from either the mountain top, or with nose to the ground; or suddenly find our “purpose” – as if there’s only one. But no one tells us this about “the path.” It has to be a Self-discovery - for ourselves – even if we have a “Teacher” or use a “Teaching” to point the way…

Years of seeking, realization, recognition, and then forgetting, and then remembering, and then forgetting again – brought me to the realization that discovering (or rediscovering) this Being-Self/Truth that we are, is through awareness of and deep intimacy with the Silence within; through continually coming back to the Heart of Awareness – the space of Silent, Still, innate Wisdom – which of course is wherever we are at the moment, not off in the distance somewhere. It’s not a place. “The path” doesn’t *go* anywhere. There is no reward at the end. It’s an inner pathless path… And that’s my “path” at the moment :) - rediscovering this inner Silent, Aware Wisdom for myself. It’s an inner pathless path of remembering; remembering the underlying Rhythm of Life ItSelf – humming through… Ommmmmmm…..



“A mystic is content with nothing less than
to touch the Truth in its most universal purity.”

Ivan Granger
Poetry Chaikhana

~

“Wanderer, your footsteps are the road,
and nothing more;
Wanderer, there is no road.
The road is made by walking…

By walking one makes the road,
and upon glancing behind
one sees the path that will
never be trod again…

Wanderer, there is no road –
only wakes upon the sea…”

Antonio Machado

~

“Empty yourself of everything.
Let the mind rest in peace.
The ten thousand things rise and fall
while the Self watches their return.
They grow and flourish and then
return to the source.
Returning to the source is stillness,
which is the way of nature….”

“Returning is the motion of the Tao.”

Lao Tzu

~~

Photo – taken by my father
1952/53


12 comments:

  1. Beautiful photo, and yes. . . "the road is made by walking." I first read this poem this past weekend, and here it is again, ringing its truths. Thank you.

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  2. I am feeling this way too, that there is so much wisdom out there, that a single tradition doesn't hold it all for all times. The truth is everywhere and inside us. The trick is to have the clarity to see it! I am always encouraged on when I hear talks from the wise, they reorient me as I constantly get lost!

    Love the poems you have chosen and as Chris points out these lovely words, "the road is made by walking" feels so true.

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  3. ZDS ~ Thanks! :) Yes! I'm also discovering that when I am open-minded, and openhearted, I can hear the wisdom that's "out there" more clearly; not shut myself off from it just because it doesn't come from a certain source. I still like to listen to certain sages too. It helps me keep perspective...

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  4. Well I think the construct of path is just something our left brained mind verbalizes to try to "explain" where and what our right brained selves are going and doing. Or to use the not definition, not going or not doing, just being.

    I know so much what you mean though. I have spent years taking in others thoughts, ideas and visions. I feel this was good as it helped expand my little mind. Now, I pick up a spiritual bookk and find in a sense there is nothing new there that i have not already read, pondered and so forth and that yes, now is the time for me to just live life, with all these knowledges and viewpoints somewhere inside me. and to be in silence and ponder my own way of being.

    i am far too much in silence to tell the truth.

    note: remember the long tibetan prayer book that i made to put quotes in?? I have used several of the quotes you have posted on your blog. think i may use part of the Machado. He is wonderful. Blessings, suki

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  5. So many good insights here today... "re-discover a sense of inner Truth for myself..." That's where I'm at too, so can very much relate to what you're saying, Christine. And I think for us human, we to seek the truth. Sometimes the truth seems clouded, or we cloud it up ourselves, but we still try to seek it. I've come to realize too that the spiritual way is not really about going or getting somewhere. It it is very the NOW, and how that now can be taken into my day to day doings. I used to be good at "spiritual shopping," and I do find inspiration from more than one tradition. But trusting my own inner tradition, that's the big one! And I'm happy to lose my self to get to the real me. ;o) As always, beautifully expressed, my friend... and appreciate the quotes. ((Love & Light))

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  6. Suki ~ Yes! We certainly do create these mental constructs to make sense of our world... And seeking, or "a path" isn't "bad." We all seek or follow a path however long we need to. We seek until we don't need to seek anymore. I think of it as an internal homing mechanism that we use until we come to that place internally where we realize the Truth of Who we are... I heard someone say once it's really the Self calling self back to ItSelf...

    I like what you said too that "now is the time to just live life." I feel that too...

    Thank you for letting me know about how you are filling tibetan prayer book. Am glad you found some inspiring quotes here to add to your pages!

    And thank you for offering your wisdom here... It is appreciated!

    Blessings to you as well!

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  7. Tracy ~ Yes, seeking is natural. As I said to Suki (above) it feels like an internal homing device; that longing for Truth, Wisdom, Home... And really it is the call of the Self, calling ItSelf back to ItSelf... And so we trust that call and take whatever path or paths will lead us there, always in this NOW...

    Thank you for your wisdom and insight here as well. :) As I have mentioned in a comment a long time ago, before you came on, we all hold a flashlight for each other... :) Love and Light to you too! :)

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  8. Christine--your dedication and devotion to turning in and in and in again is inspiring. The very fact that you do is indicative of what you are, and the beauty of your poetry speaks of what is right here to be lived. Thank you, and big hugs--M.

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  9. Thank you dear Maria... I am humbled...

    Heart Hugs my friend... C

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  10. Amazing! Seems that at any sopt upon any Path, one will always encounter portals that open directly to the immediate awareness of the ever present moment

    Actually, these portals are merely "Exits" from the conceptually bound reality of the conditioned mind ...

    Thank you Christine So beautifully said ... deeply meaningful ... Namaste

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  11. Thank you Vereda... I resonate with what you say about "encountering portals of awareness" and that these portals are "'Exits' from the conceptually bound reality of the conditioned mind." Very nice... I love the imagery these words create. It gives me a different way of seeing and reminds me to keep coming back to Awareness.

    Namaste ~

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