The Quest

The Quest

In my search for spiritual/philosophical enlightenment, I was hungry for discourse.  I enjoyed those brief moments where I had opportunity to discuss a probing question and maybe get a little closer to those hidden truths.  But I also found that when I had opportunity to bring questions to the table, I was completely dry and void of any.  Somehow I knew that dialogue will bring us closer to our spiritual aims, but I didn't know how to start, I didn't know how to seek.  I was content with the answers I had and so poor on the question front.  

Richard Rohr, a Franciscan friar, reminds us in his daily meditation the value of 'quest'.  That is, the process of asking questions, seeking deeper insights and understandings, engaging in discourse to emerge the truth.  He points out that this tradition of discourse has been replaced by the ego's need to have all the answers and therefore we have lost that powerful tradition.  

I appreciate his reminder and understand better why I lack that questioning spirit - I just wasn't taught that way, I was taught to have all the answers!  So Fr. Richard gives me something to think about - what are the big questions, the important questions, the questions that are going to lead to spiritual insights.  And with these questions I can keep the mind busy on spiritual attainments rather than waste thoughts.

Om Shanti.

Thank you for reading. For more information on Raja Yoga philosophy see www.brahmakumaris.org.

You crossed the line...

My husband's God-son wrote a song in his early teens with the above title. It had a hard rock feel to it and the lyrics talked about several cases where someone went a step too far and then the chorus repeated the phrase 'You crossed the line.' It was very clever and catchy - a song that any parent (or God-parent) would be proud of.

When we use the phrase 'crossed the line' we mean traversing from the right side of the line to the wrong side - that some inappropriate act was committed. I'm now going to draw for you another line. This line is drawn higher with an above space and a below space.

Those above the line, you could say, are all-knowing. They see the big picture. Their vision is not limited. For them, it is obvious that we (souls) are eternal. It is obvious that everyone is connected (brothers and sisters). It is obvious that we (souls) already have all that we need. Because of these understandings, those above the line feel secure. They have no fear of loss - they cannot lose anything. They have no desires because for them, they already have everything. They are content and also generous with what they have. They see the big picture and so their motivation is to act in ways that will benefit all.

By contrast, those below the line have a limited knowledge. They do not have the understanding that they are eternal and so they fear death. They do not have the understanding that they have everything already and so they desire a lot and fear the loss of everything they are under the illusion of possessing. Contentment evades them because they always want something more. They cannot be so generous because they see what they have as limited and they don't want to run out. They hold tight to things they cannot really possess and so they miss out on the beautiful gifts that are their birthrights. They do not see everyone as a brother and sister but will treat strangers with suspicion until they can make a valuation based on past but limited experience. They become attached to those things they cannot really possess and so eventual loss brings sorrow.

Which side of the line are you?

I believe children, in their innocence, start out above the line, but then through our well-meaning education, we pull them below. Now, I'm trying to get back to being above the line.

It reminds me of that wall at team-building camps - you can't get over it by yourself, but with the co-operation of many we can all get over it!