| For many years of my life, I thought the spiritual path | | | | connected at the collective unconscious, and the |
| had something to do with following one of the major | | | | misperception that "they" are different from "us" has |
| world religions or pursuing an Eastern practice. I even | | | | been the historical cause of most human suffering. |
| thought it had something to do with morality and ethics. | | | | Often this abuse is perpetuated from the collective |
| Today my comprehension of the spiritual path has | | | | rules referred to as ethics and morality. What is ethical |
| changed completely. Instead of the complexity of any | | | | and moral is defined by who is making up the rules. |
| of the disciplines to becoming a good person, I have | | | | Yet the bell that tolls for another, also tolls for thee. |
| found that the path is simple. In fact, some of the | | | | Why do we act in a way that injures others? |
| greatest atheists have followed it better than many | | | | It is because we feel a deep void inside of us and we |
| theists. An example that comes to mind is the famous | | | | lash out like a wounded animal. We relate to the world |
| British Philosopher Bertrand Russell, who lived an | | | | from the wounds of apathy, grief, fear, lust, anger, and |
| impeccable life of wisdom, compassion, and grace.. | | | | pride. By striking out, however, we only deepen our |
| "Do unto others as you would have them do unto | | | | own anguish. Although we are only trying to survive, |
| you." That is the spiritual path. Everything else--all the | | | | we achieve only more peril. |
| theology, philosophy, and practices--lead you to that | | | | A spiritual person, however, comes from a completely |
| singular ideal. | | | | different perspective. He or she is motivated by |
| Physically, do you like to be murdered, wounded, | | | | feelings of courage, acceptance, and peace. |
| beaten, or raped? Emotionally, do you like to be | | | | What does the spiritual path have to do with good |
| humiliated, disenfranchised, betrayed, abandoned, | | | | psychology? Everything. A sound mind in a sound |
| disrespected, alienated, and cast aside? Mentally, do | | | | body. |
| you like to be cheated, swindled, lied to, vilified or | | | | Can the spiritual path be defined in an even simpler |
| misinformed? | | | | way? Yes. It can be defined as love. |
| Of course not. In fact, your whole body just cringes at | | | | When you love, love, love--you'll be happy, healthy, |
| the thought of such mishap. | | | | wealthy, and wise. |
| Yet, this is what we do to others. If we are truly | | | | The opposite of grief, misery, and unending travail is |
| savage, we abuse others physically. If a little more | | | | the spiritual path. While many disciplines may lead to it, |
| sophisticated, we abuse others mentally and | | | | the heart will show you the way. Once we shed our |
| emotionally. | | | | habitual narcissism, then the way to courage, |
| And in this process we abuse ourselves. | | | | acceptance, and peace becomes possible. |
| In actuality, there is no enemy, for we are all | | | | |