Our
existence is not only profoundly mysterious but also incredibly deep and many
faceted. It is true to say also that one facet of our being is simply the
journey through life and mystery itself, and which involves direct experience
of many things and our self observing them; the observer and the observed. We
apparently start out in life as the unknown and unknowing observing the
unknown; and we know not why or how. No better way to start a story I would
have thought. “Once upon a time, there was a time... when there was no time.”
And indeed that is experienced to be true in more ways than one. There must be
many millions of people on earth who, although they have no experiential
justification, accept that we are on a spiritual journey of some kind. Maybe
they feel it intuitively. Maybe they simply accept things they have heard and
or read. Or maybe they have had some synchronous event or experience in their
lives that, unknowingly at least, has motivated them in this direction, the
direction of consciously seeking this deeper reality or at least a meaning and
purpose to their existence, hence a spiritual quest of some kind, and by some
method.
We learn things as we go through life whilst
at the same time learning, by virtue of it, that there exists much that we do
not yet know. We are therefore aware of our own ignorance also, as mentioned
earlier. I often wonder if any other life forms on earth are actually aware of
their ignorance. Yet I doubt that we can ever know the answer to that one.
Maybe mankind is the only life on earth that is aware that there exists things
of which it is not aware. Kind of magic is that—and maybe a privileged
position!
An irony being therein is that the less
ignorant we become then the more we become confronted with the certitude of our
still existing ignorance also: those who know so little often seem to assume
that there is little more to know anyway, to say nothing of there being more to
experience in life. Or they often give the impression of so assuming: and in
which case ignorance is a kind of bliss... but short lived. It is fun and
rewarding watching kids grow up—irrespective of how old they may be. The more
we learn about the nature of reality and all things which exist then the more the
mind becomes engrossed in the less material aspect of existence itself, by
dwelling more in thought of the ‘Essential Qualities’ of being. They
presumably (and rightly) see this as the spiritual side of our being. It is
judged to be good for it is better to be with than without, and it is also
judged to be good simply because we feel a depth inner harmony, empathy, and we
are in one accord with it—and we would for it is both our depth nature and what
we are indeed made of. But we do not really know this when we are young, it is
one of the things which we learn and feel by the very act of being here and
observing... and a little learning and thinking.
This essential quality of being does not mean
that one eventually comes to negate the physical aspect of life as some
religious sects and hermits do; or in negating the physical world itself. I
would not personally want a life without solid trees, rivers, skies, sunsets,
skin to touch, and all the rest of it. Thus, the real spiritual side of our
nature does not find a dichotomy between essence and form or spirit and
substance as some seem to claim, (but more so in the past it seems). All it
means is that the mind of the person is not constantly dwelling on the
materialistic aspects of being and developing a grabbing philosophy. Their
essential life style is on a higher plain of existential reality. One still has
to eat, breathe, wash and do all the chores and use and enjoy material things.
You will not find them in paradise so enjoy them while you can here.
The integration into this essential nature of
being by way of deliberate seeking is referred to as the ‘spiritual quest’.
We become aware also that there is more of this quality of being to be attained
to, and because it is good then we strive to become more of that living
reality, and more and more of it; and the whole thing kind of snowballs of its
own accord. We are attracted toward it because it is judged and felt to be
good; and far better than being without it; we are not silly after all are we;
and what else is personal choice for anyway?
On occasions however, there seems to exist an
overwhelming general social outflow of this need and affirmation within many
people in a society all at the same moment in time; and hence a new ‘wave’
of spirituality washes over that society. It ebbs and flows, time and time
again. It is as though the spiritual evolution on a planet takes four steps
forward and then slowly ebbs back three steps. Nevertheless the movement is
ever forward, a long slow becoming in the resolution of the harmony in the all.
It is a somewhat faster occurrence in individuals however. Well, we need to for
we are not here for a very long time: but society goes on for a long time. A
typical recent social out-gushing of this spiritual quest and affirmation was
that of what was called the ‘Hippie culture’. I was so busy working and
bringing up a young family at that time that I hardly noticed its existence
until it was all over... yet alone having taken any part in it; and neither
would I have done given the time and choice. (Too long in the tooth by that
time anyway.) Though it must have been an exciting new dawn for the youth in
its beginning.
There was something very good and meaningful
at the heart of it: a youthful revolution of common decency and general harmony
of being with an ideal, a dream, an aspiration of the soul, and a wanting to be
really alive and to be. But like so much else it had its debris in orbit of its
true deeper reality and goal. In due course, and also as it is with so much else,
(even the so called spiritual church) the movement or organisation was taken
over by the orbital debris itself, and thence rightly fizzled itself out. It
became a philosophy and alas practice of ‘Tune in, turn on, and drop out’:
and the dropping out was effected by use of drugs. At its heart however, it was
a love culture; but many of the young and innocent took that to mean a sex
culture; for what do the young know about love anyway? They only think that
they know; but thinking that you know ain’t knowing. Love and sex are very
different things and very different realities. You sure cannot have sex in the
transcendent realm—although it is much like the ultimate cosmic orgasm in a
way, he says smiling.
One can have sex without love anywhere on the
scene, and love does not need sex at all; they are two very different things.
Nor is love restricted to human relationships. Love can be found relating to
anything in existence. You can love a tree; a cat; a bottle of wine or your
left foot. One of course can also have sex within a loving relationship and
which becomes something a little more than mere sex when so done. The credo of
the Hippie doctrine however, became ‘All you need is love’. But love is not all
we need. We need somewhere to live; something in our guts: clothes to wear; a
means of earning an honest living; the potential to move around and socialise,
education, interaction, and a whole lot more besides.
The essential quality of life on earth cannot
be enjoyed whilst one is starving, in the cold, with no prospects or hope for
tomorrow. It is not mental or physical security which people need it is the
lack of deprivation and mental turmoil. You cannot enjoy a book, music, the
arts, the scenery, while the guts are demanding sustenance and the mind is demanding
peace and quiet from the physical struggle itself. In paradise you need nothing
of these things, so there is nothing to get in the way of love, beauty, the
essences, anyway. However, out here we are not in paradise and we need more
mundane things than love and beauty before love and beauty can even come on the
scene at all. You cannot have a divine essential life-style on earth whilst
starving, cold and fed up.
It is all very well for few way-out hippies
(living off the state to boot in many cases when they need not be) to
disseminate a half-baked philosophy of so called wisdom while the rest of us
have to get on with living and making this world work. My message to those
people would be a simple one... A little learning is a dangerous thing; drink
deep or taste not the divine eternal spring; and know what you are talking
about before making such assertions! Such cults will come and go like leaves on
the wind; in the meantime the world goes on going on in its own sweet time and
order of unfolding. When next you see a real beggar on the streets then ask him
or her if they want a kiss or a good dinner first.
However, this uprising or new wave was
nothing new in human existence; it is all as old as human existence on earth
itself, it comes and goes in waves or cycles. But each time it seems to leave
just a little of something more permanent and enduring within societal
awareness that was perhaps not there or manifest previously. Perhaps, in
hindsight, all that is left of that particular uprising of the youth which is
of any worth is that of its music, a popular music: and some of which is most
beautiful and meaningful.
Unfortunately in its wake however it has
still to this day left the debris of the drug scene and the opting out of
existing society as it is; and which is even more prevalent now than it was
then. To opt out however, is not to change anything but simply to run away from
that which is so. Opting out of extant reality is the cowards and defeatists
way; it is also dangerous personally and sociologically. They should stay and
fight their corner and ideals. There is a time for throwing the towel in—when
there is no breath left in the body and the blood stops pumping. However, the
point I make here is simply this. Every uprising of a new idea, a new wave of
thought or understanding, contains an inner core of people: and this applies
regardless of the type of new thinking which is involved. It happens in
physics, astronomy, literature, art, politics, religions, philosophy,
technology, education, music, medicine: anything and everything. Moreover,
there is usually something which remains of that new wave of thinking which did
not exist within consensus society awareness prior to it. This is manifest in
all aspects of human activity and evolution on earth itself; and it will
continue to be so as long as mankind exists on earth. With regard to the
spiritual nature of human beings this evergreen but ‘ever new finding’ has been
known as the ‘Spiritual Quest for the Sacred Grail’. It has been talked about,
written about, myths have been made of it throughout millennia and all cultures
and nations on earth more than any other topic: and before the dawn of
civilisation it was the same unto each tribe of wandering nomads. And is this
not why state religions dwell on the past so much?
How then would they ever come to know that
there existed a chalice to be found and a quest to be undergone if those who
had not stumbled upon this reality themselves had not known it directly and
made mention of it? For even ancient men and women on earth were not asinine
enough to go looking for something which ain’t there. Two very well known myths
to the Western mind are those of the Argonauts (sailors of the mystic sea); and
that of the Arthurian Legend. These of course are just symbolic stories, they
are not real events; but they are stories which have a deeper meaning and truth
within them, and the very reason why they ever came to be written in the first
place. So too with such things as ‘Lord of the Rings’ and many other of such
fiction; it is a modern day myth. Yet that to which it points is the ‘central
core’ of that myth. And those who realise that there is a deep hidden
meaning are the central core or esoteric nucleus of that religion, philosophy,
or whatever else it involves.
Those however, who simply take on the
symbolic myth itself as the truth, or indeed miss the point entirely, are the
debris or orbital periphery of that movement, religion, philosophy, myth, or
whatever if they jump on the band wagon and become an active part of it. This
is not meant to be a derogatory statement; it is a simple and self-evident
truth of human reality as it is. But just like happened in the hippie movement
itself it is the periphery mob which eventually (by sheer numbers and common belief)
take control of the movement, religion, philosophy, or whatever movement it is.
Even in politics it is the same, for Marx did not invent Soviet Communism as it
came to be. The masses become the ‘truth’, the orthodox: or the common
understanding; whilst its founders and esoteric central core or group become
the heretics of that which they themselves have affirmed and put forth for the
contemplation of others in the first place. There is nothing new in this at
all. Look as to what is happening with quantum physics today: is it not a new
band-wagon for many cults and new age beliefs to jump on to and make use of? It
is pathetic.
When it comes to the grail of the spiritual
quest itself however, then most religions contained an inner esoteric mystic
core of individuals originally. Naturally they are an anathema to the later
structured organised state owned religion itself. Yet on the other hand such
religions, even as they have become today, would never have existed if it were
not for these inner core of esoteric mystics within this or that movement.
State religions and their priestcraft however, talk about what they do not
know: whereas the founders (unwitting founders at that) talked of that which
they did know and had known for a long time. Moreover, and as I said elsewhere,
there are many today through which this spiritual reality is known and affirmed
which is outside of any doctrinal state religion at all: and it could be no
other way. It is perhaps seen as pure hypothetical philosophy by many perhaps. But
it is also the case that consensus familiarity in anything eventually becomes a
kind of religion when accepted in large numbers. Look at football over the last
hundred years for example. Football is a religion and a way of life for
so many. Do they not even have their idols and saints? Moreover, and what is
even more strange and dangerous, is that religion itself can become a drug for
some: a crutch for many in fact. And this is but a part of the problem. What
they cannot seem to see and understand is that they will never find the truth
of any religion if they cling to the symbolic structure and myth of that
religion; or even stay within that religion for that matter. It is like looking
for sunlight with your eyes shut. It is somewhat like staring at words on a
written page and then making the words or the page itself ‘the’ religion
itself instead of reading them and arriving at the meaning of what the
words and symbols are pointing to beyond themselves. It is like trying to catch
a flowing river in a bucket or wind in a paper bag.
Originally such spiritual conversation was
intended to encourage and inspire the seeker to find the reality which was
being spoken about. Today however, they simply believe or have faith: but they do
nothing. They will never find it that way. Also, if you ‘have’ something
then you are not it. The sea contains no water, for the water is
the sea; and without the water there would be no sea. The River contains no
flow; for without the flow it would be a pond not a river. The wind does not
blow for the blowing is the wind. And paradise would not be paradise
without us being in it. Then again if one assumes that you have the truth then
you do not go looking for it anyway, for only an idiot goes looking for
something which is not lost. Religions are more dangerous than they are
worth—even in that sense; to say nothing of fighting and killing over. Neither
is love and the spiritual reality something which is thought about and then
becomes true by virtue of thinking about it. It is something which you do
before even knowing what it does; it is its own manifest thing, truth, and
movement. That which motivates human religions existed long before the
incarnate mind on earth could even think in rational terms. It is both within
and beyond thinking.
A modern religion is what it is
however: but I have also pointed out somewhere that the original meaning
(Re-Legio) meant the mystical Re-Union, a return to that sacred realm,
not a belief system of doctrinal assertions. It meant a direct gnosis, knowledge
of experience, the spiritual realm itself; and a known mysterious fact of life
and reality itself. One does not want or need to have ‘a religion’
one should want to be the thing itself—that which religion points to and which
Re-Legio is in fact. To be in that reality, that event itself; to know
it and live its effects of knowing it whilst on earth... here and now,
not believing; not thinking about it, but doing it. It is this
affirmation of its reality by anyone who knows it which has sent others on the
personal quest of trying to seek it out; and by one method or another
throughout all human history. There is however no known absolute perfect
formula, or secret method with which to attain this goal or event. And moreover
it happens on its own anyway does it not? Nevertheless, this does not mean that
one should not try to find ways to put oneself in the way of it happening—and
to whatever degree which that may help or be done. It is not wrong, silly or
foolish, to desire such thing: indeed it is the opposite which is foolish and
ignorant.
There were those within the core of the
origin of the hippie culture who were genuinely looking for that enlightenment,
that gnosis, that revelation. (And not for mere kicks or way out trips.) The
dilemma being that they were doing so by way of using drugs in this instant.
That is the big tragedy of that movement. They obviously did not personally
know it, for they would not have been using drugs if they had. And if they did
already know it then they would not have been looking for it anyway.
The psyche is not designed to be constantly
bombarded with extraneous drugs, especially that kind; it can produce its own
well enough when needed. However, the debris of course did not know that there
was anything to look for except the kicks and trips of the distortions of the
human mind itself by way of those drugs. They were missing the whole point.
Even two hundred years ago there existed well documented accounts which warned
of the dangers of drugs by those who sought paradise and sensory enhancement by
that method. (Such as the opium eaters.) Were not the central core of the Lake
District Poets well familiar with the long term effects?
Most of that inner core of the hippie
movement died in the process of seeking it that way; they did not find
what they were looking for; nor will they: and that is also a fact (not whilst
alive that is). And little do most people know that the writing and literature
which so many of them admired so much from these people was a sham, a hoax, a fraud
(and mere hearsay as far as they were concerned anyway). And little do most
know that these people did die of drugs in the quest of this spiritual grail.
Indeed the real esoteric core of the hippie movement are little known even by
the hippie movement. We are not here to name names and dates. However,
spiritual experience, especially transcendent experience, is not for the
invading or the stealing of; it is for the being given and the receiving of.
And that in itself creates enough problems for the new finder when it does
come. For everything they have hitherto heard about it has either been
distorted out of all recognition or made into pure mythology and symbolic
likeness by the past and existing periphery mob itself; the orbital debris; and
the Preistcrafty of medieval religions in this particular case.
Stealing it however does not equate with
trying to put oneself in the path of it, for that is something else. It is a
fact that throughout all human history people have gone in search of this holy
grail of the transcendent spiritual realm. There are those, like myself,
however, who just stumbled across it—by accident so to speak—for they were not
only not looking for anything but they had never even heard of it anyway. You
cannot go looking for something which you do not even know exists. Who is to
say that one’s inner depths (the soul itself—or sub-conscious if you prefer) is
not on this quest sub-consciously all the time anyway; and far below the level
of topside awareness? It seems obvious to me from hindsight that this is indeed
the way it really is. Further, it does not have to remain purely sub-conscious;
for the topside mind can join in the quest also. The big problem of course is how.
In my own particular case, and in all those I
have been in communication with, then this finding, this revelation, did not
come due to conscious efforts; and certainly not by way of drugs or any kind of
mysterious practices or rituals. It just happened, right out of the proverbial
blue: and as it has done with so many in the past; if not all those who have
integrated into such depth of being. But does this ‘being given’
preclude the usefulness of a deliberate and self-chosen quest for the searching
of it? Certainly and absolutely not! Indeed, why not give it a hand by our own
volition. What is freedom of choice if not for the using of? I am not saying
that one can steal this truth by any practices or rituals whatsoever. What I am
saying is that one can put oneself in the ready and waiting made for it to be
received during a lifetime; and it can of course also be desired. Not to desire
a better world and life for your self and others would be foolish anyway.
One key to this quest is seen to be in using
up all the love that already exists within oneself... getting it out of your
system into the world... giving it away. And that IS what it is for. And which
is very strange is it not!? When you get rid of it then it not only works out
there in the world but more and more of it comes into you; both from the
outside world itself (local effects) and from deep down inside your own system
(spiritual and Transcendent effects). The using of it and giving it away opens,
the very channel from whence it comes from in the first place; like turning a
tap on and letting the water of life flow through you—up the well. If you shut
the tap off then there is no more movement of the stuff. One way to stop your
pipes from freezing up is to let the tap run. This is miraculous in that it is
a fact of life and reality. If you want more of the same then use it (let it
run out of you) and get rid of it. When (and if) this ‘refill’ of love and
passion comes in a large enough dose... then zap... the passion can and does
carry you home to your root and ground of being... to the reservoir itself. (as
in the well analogy). I know for a personal fact that this is true.
That then is how it seems to work in many,
but not all cases. It is not a intervention of an objective force, it is the
system of the inner structure working as its dynamics determine. We only have
to use the stuff that is already there. It is all already done and there now:
use it and live; eat that which is here now, and digest. We do not have to go
in search of the substance for it is not only already within us, but we are
made of the stuff itself. Have you ever turned on a water tap when the pressure
had built up for some reason? The stuff gushes out like crazy and goes all over
the shop. It is much like that when the big one comes—blasted into another
reality by love and passion, or so it is experienced to be anyway. Where, when
and how, did that pressure build up then?
Inspiration is another key to this tap or
trigger it seems. So too is beauty. As for myself, I knew none of this. It was
all instinctive inner reaction as far as I was concerned at that age; not a
conscious decision as such. Yet if one comes to hear that there exists a hidden
treasure (of this nature) then one would be a fool not to search within
themselves for it to whatever degree that it can be a conscious choice whilst on
earth—and whilst keeping ones feet on the ground, not becoming a hermit, and
not injecting chemicals to assist it. But for heaven sake look in the right
place—within you. Not in books, not in religions, not in mystical circles; look
within your heart, your soul and your mind; for they are made of it.
It is certainly not compulsory to seek it
however; our freedom is… let us just say very profound and important for now.
We do not need rituals for this quest; just a deep inner feeling and desire for
touching the sacred, the essence itself; and above all feeling the passions and
essences of life flowing through you to whatever degree they are already
operative in you now. Forget knowledge for some of the time and concentrate on
feeling life to the full, the good and the bad. Those who already have this,
and use it, will receive more of it: those who do not use what they have will
have even that which they have taken from them... for the pipe will clog up and
the tap will run dry. It works just like a muscle in the body—or your brain for
that matter; if you do not use it you lose it; exercise it and it grows.
Love on the outside (being used) attracts
love (from the inside) just as hate attracts hate; and love is effective in
starting and inspiring that inner journey itself; the journey to its ultimate
essence and transcendent mystic root, the so-called peak experience. The last
signs on that journey, and whilst still being able to remember what you have
been told about it, will be in a trinity itself... the Gold in the White. Look
out for it, for paradise is the next stop. And when the Gold becomes as the
White... Then you will know annihilation and resurrection—in paradise. Tell a
fundamentalist that judgement (discrimination of the parts) is achieved by colour
subtraction and comparison (from our point of view) and they will flip their
lid. What is the colour of your own soul at this point in your time then? Does
it glow or is it a bucket of ice?
Colour of course is simply a matter of
frequency vibrations as seen; but those vibrations can even be seen as colour
by the spirit and soul itself. And only in the dimension of the trinity (the
three in one place) will you see it, know it, and understand this truth. And
one will be taken (the soul) and one will remain (the spirit).
One can certainly mystify if one wants to,
and whilst still talking the absolute truth as is known. But human type
mystification does not enlighten. Tis the real thing that enlightens. Moreover,
if we all spent the rest of our lives saying only the word ‘tree,’ then
those words would never ever turn into a tree. Nor would they reveal its truth.
Saying the word love, is not love. And love is not a word. Some say that in the
beginning there was the word. Little do they know. In the beginning there was
the reality itself. But there never was a beginning, for it is beyond time and
thought, to say nothing of human words.
Transcendent integration should happen to
every being whilst they live an incarnate lifetime on earth as far as I am
concerned; and no doubt that one day, somewhere, sometime, it will do. (Not all
on the same night or year however for no work would get done). It is what it is
for after all; to know it and live the effects of it on earth. To use it, eat
of it, and then get rid of it to the world; the singer and the song in union
incarnate; and even whilst young in fact. What a way to die! What a way to
live! When people know their self then they will not need religions, beliefs,
doctrinal philosophies, gurus, or state indoctrinated morals from people who do
not know what they are talking about. However, creation does not work and
unfold according to my own preferences. It does what it does what it does.
This
event during a lifetime is not a reward for being good or doing all the things
we have to do right; it is a case of having eaten and digested of what exists
to be eaten and digested of the essences and spirit of being. Neither is it a
case of being ‘chosen’ as some would have you believe; that is dangerous
lies and a prostitution of truth. It is a case of being there and going along
with it when the spirit moves within you. And it will then reveal to you
whatever it does reveal to you; albeit a little or much: albeit shallow or
deep; albeit spiritual or psychic fields. It seems to me that the mere
contemplation and feeling for these essences of life are the most active
methods of putting oneself in the ready and waiting mode; that is to say using
ones sensitivities to their full extent. Contemplate occasionally for an hour
or so also. Contemplate the nature of beauty, ask yourself what it really is.
Contemplate upon truth, love, wisdom, unity. Do you value them? If so why; if
not why not. And feel these things to the utmost inner depths that one can
attain to.
Hiding
from life’s passions will most certainly not activate them—simple cause and
effect you see; or the lack of it in that case. At very best even the genuine
affirmations of these events from people who have undergone such things can but
hopefully help to inspire a reader or hearer of them just a bit. People who
have known it have no vested motives, no reason other than that of them wanting
all others to know and share this reality whilst alive on earth themselves...
here is a fruit my friend, eat it for your self and live a different life. Ask
yourself this, do doctrinal state religions and their priestcraft inspire young
minds; yet alone inspire them to go in search of this divine truth within
themselves? Maybe one day they will sing the song a little nearer to the truth.
Maybe. Maybe not. But if they do not then they will no longer exist. And what a
waste of lovely buildings that would be. Right now they could better be used
for housing the homeless.
So, it is somewhat ironic that early Western
religion (a mystical heresy of Judaism by small esoteric sects in that
particular area) was probably the most advanced understanding of transcendence
and spirituality up to that time in human history in those parts; far more so
than Buddhism in fact. Western mystic spirituality took two major steps
forward. One: it went deeper than mere annihilation and talked of the
resurrection beyond annihilation itself (the real one that is, not a mythical
bodily resurrection). Secondly it strove, for the first time, to bring all this
transcendent spirituality back to earth again... the round trip so to speak; to
make it whole: to unite the world and paradise itself in one comprehension and
accord. What does common Buddhism care about the world and the human action
within it... they want off it as did ancient Gnosticism. Only the greedy want
to keep the sacred: but the wise and true lovers want it to live out
here in the world itself; and it cannot if we are not here, for we are the
channels of it. We are the instrument upon which the music of life is played.
So let us not block our pipes.
The distortions of the truth of transcendence
then is the most dangerous and destructive force of religions, simply because
there is a very deep and real truth within them; if there were not then
it would not matter, except for being untrue. And yet that truth has been so
distorted by symbolism, so adapted and corrupted by political priestcraft, so
much put in and so much left out, that it makes the whole edifice more
dangerous to the human mind than any worth it may contain. It is because of
this; and because it has been known and realised by so many throughout the last
fifteen hundred years, that so many other types of affirmation and groups have
sprung up and existed; and some not even claiming to be connected with a
religion at all... and no wonder at it obviously. The renaissance itself was a
spiritual movement; such things as the Knights Templars; the Order of the
Rosicrucians, and so many others, even unto the real central core of the Hippie
movement itself. And what do we have now in the West? New age thinking: the
Quantum brigade; the UFO brigade; and so on. They dare not even mention the
spirit and the soul, paradise and transcendence, for fear of being thought mad.
That, however, is not the way to go; for you cannot hide truth and truth will
not be hidden: it reveals itself directly and demonstrably... and how! When a
spiritual doctrine is past its sell by date (even if it were ever useful in the
first place that is), then some of its adherents often fall back into their
vacuum and re-adopt even older myths, old superstitions, anything and anywhere;
for their quest is simply to fill the gap, the vacuum of their unknown and the
fear of it.
Some invent new cults; they are ten a penny
in some parts of the world. If we are not in that condition in the West right
now then I do not know what is. Just look for example at all the so-called
‘mystic’ and esoteric books that have come into print over the last fifty
years: all the clubs, all the cults; all the old superstitions; all the new ‘how
to live’ books. It is self-evident that the state religion has let them all
down with a big bang. People innately feel that something is missing in their
lives. Psychoanalysts have never had it so good. It is inevitable however,
because their story is not true; and people intuitively feel lost and isolated
from their root of being by virtue of it. A genuine religion administered by
those knowing what they are talking about however would work—to the
degree that it knew and understood it; but it would still work for those who
needed that kind of thing.
Others however, and even those with no vested
interest, argue that to let go of a structured religion does away with
spirituality. That is not only wrong but proved to be wrong by the collapse of
the Soviet dictatorship, and which even they should be aware of. That was also
the major Achilles heal in so called Communism—getting rid of spirituality and
mystery. Also the collapse of state doctrinal religion will bring spirituality
even more to the forefront. They should demand not a religion but rather to
know where they came from and why.... and when they know that then they will
not need a religion or indoctrinated philosophy; and to say nothing of
priestcraft and idiot fortune tellers or the band wagon of so called gurus. I
feel that scientific knowledge alone today is making some people feel that deep
mystery within themselves, and making them ask their own inner questions.
Unlike priestcraft however, the goal of a genuine spiritual teacher is put him
or her self out of a job. And they seek no payment or reward for what they may
do.
We have so much potential, both within
ourselves and the physical world, for an incarnate world unimaginable to us at
this moment—yet what do we do? We sleep walk through life in the grip of Somnus
and entropy. The mind dwells on more and more of the same trivia. It tires of
that trivia eventually, and then becomes unmotivated and unseeing: kind of a
living death at worst or psychological and social problems at best. The
spiritual quest, and just as it has been sought from time out of mind in all
cultures, is just as active today as in any other time—if not more so amid what
is perhaps the darkest century in human history. It will be a good day for
mankind when books on spirituality and mysticism are not needed, and books on
state religions and comparative religions are seen for what they are; all talk
and no genuine substance, no knowledge—other than academic of course.
Whether one goes in search for this sacred
encounter or not is irrelevant. What is relevant is that it does exist to be
known, and in the final analysis we will know of it when other forces deem that
we will know of it. That which is true does not go away; and neither does it stop
working the way it works. And it is quite possible that in attempting to invoke
such things that one may indeed invoke something from within—a negative
reaction; for there is much within the psyche that should remain there; and
remain very subconscious. Whereas some have a psychic gift or potential which
is useful, then that is something very different; and such people whom I have
personally encountered with such abilities treat it with much respect. This
however is something a little different from the occasional psychic experience
which we all encounter at times, and events which are very common, the most
common form of exceptional human experience. But it is also wise to put those
into perspective of what most of them are, for psychic events are not always
what they seem to be on face value. And once again the model comes in useful
regarding categorising them and understanding them just a little better.
However, and all these things being as they
are, ultimately you and I are a part of the all. Our own inner self is seeking
us infinitely more than we are seeking it. It knows of our existence, yet for a
while we know not if its existence. The onus is on IT to find us. We did not
ask to be born, we are not knowingly on a quest when we are young and oh so innocent
of such things. Hence, and in all truth, the best way of all to go about
finding it—is to forget it. Live your life to the full. Enjoy it where you can
and share that enjoyment with others. Make the most of your potentials, and use
them wisely. Create more laughter than tears. Look for the good in all things
whilst not closing your eyes to anything. Do your own looking in sincerity;
live your life as you are and without false pretences, be yourself. You may
fool others but you cannot fool your self. These are the real things that put
you in the path of attaining more of what exists to be known and lived. There
is indeed something sacred to be found. But if you do not find it today, or
next year, or until the day you leave here, then do not worry, for it is still
there, always. And it will sure find you when the time and need is right. Of
that I can guarantee. Moreover, ignorance of these things has its perks for
whilst that time lasts. And I often wonder as to what could happen if a person
really was not ready to deal with these things and they came prematurely. But I
cannot envisage that happening; for the system works well. It has been around
for a while.
With objectivity as we know it in this world
by way of the senses, it is plain enough that we are never the thing which we
are observing, and naturally we do not observe our self in quite the same way
as we would a tree, a river or a mountain; for self observation is
introspective. Thus, the world, the universe, or anything within it is seen as
something other than self. In some respects the environment of our transcendent
consciousness (in paradise) is a little like that also insofar as the vision is
concerned, for we are not that which we can see—the realm itself. But that
aside, it is the nearest one can say, and by virtue of other things such as the
feeling and the understanding that “I am THAT”, if you follow me. And we
certainly are the thing that is doing this knowing, feeling and observing.
The mysterious thing I suppose is that life on
earth itself becomes that kind of reality after the event also—and after one is
over the initial shock of course. The Consummatum Incarnate event of which I
speak is this same thing, the same feeling, the same knowing and understanding,
but taken to its ultimate limit... as it was in paradise itself. At least I
presume it is the ultimate limit, for I cannot imagine it to be more so other
than for it being a more regular and consistent experience; (I have only known
it once at that level or degree of being). That is perhaps the best way to
describe it then. It is not a thing, or condition, that one could live in the
whole time whilst on earth as it is at this point in time—for you would never
get anything done at all in that perpetual condition. But in time to come—who
knows? Once a week would be nice. However, that feeling remains, in a diluted
form of course, for the rest of one’s life on earth, and whilst doing anything
of the normal tasks and chores of daily life.
It is this passion and knowing which is the
food of which the ancient mystics also talked when saying that man needs more
than bread in the stomach in order to live: really live that is. Its strongest
feeling however, is when you are alone with natural things of the world for a
while; or perhaps simply sitting alone around the fire in peace and quiet
without the bombardment of trivial stimulus like the radio or television
distorting the inner waves of resonance with the incarnate divine order. It is
predominantly at such times when the full essence of things permeate up into
the temporal conscious mind, and reach the other parts of the system that need
them also. One can see and feel this ‘eternity’ in a candle flame; in the
flicker of the firelight glow; in the cobweb in the corner of the room; in the
hole in your slipper; the smell of the burning wood. It all fits together;
everything is in place and all in one resonance, one harmony and accord—the
soul, the spirit, the world, the universe and paradise itself. These things
somehow seem to shout back at you also. They shout that ‘They also know’.
How strange and mysterious it is! And what
human being could ever want more than this whilst alive on earth (along with
the food we need to eat of course)? What else is there to compare with it? It
is in that sense then, that although these things are still objective they are
somehow ‘known’, and they are a mysterious part of you, and you are a part of
them. It is at such times when on occasions the inner depths of the soul sends
up a song or a poem into the conscious mind itself, without thought or effort;
flowing soft and at ease, naturally like a river through its course, or snow
falling upon snow. It is the time when the conscious mind goes the way of the
heart and all the food and energy for the next day is given in advance.
But extraordinarily it is also the time when
objectivity is at its ultimate height and potential as well. Sometimes it is
like one is never really out of paradise at all in some peculiar way but simply
that the vision of paradise has been switched off in order to allow us to see
other things also; other wonders, other sensations. Alas, words will never
touch these depth mystic truths, these realities, and this feeling and knowing
the deepest depths of all things. At such times one does not laugh, for in
truth it is more conducive to weeping, or the soul at least, not the temporal
mind as such, for its beauty is beyond that which can really be affirmed and
stated by the observing incarnate mind and our words... and there is nothing
that one can give back in return—perhaps other than a tear from the soul, for I
guess that says it all; and gives it all back again to from whence it came. Oh
yes, there are times when a tear can say everything there is to be said. And
which, in the writing of that last sentence, reminds me of a tear I once saw;
and one which I did not shed. For near on forty years I wondered about that
tear. Yet whilst writing that last sentence… I now know why.
But in that super active stillness of the mind
and soul, and which is so easy to induce oneself, then one knows yet again that
Love is resonance within a system which is devoid of harmonics, in which all
movement and understanding is of one frequency and accord with the fundamental
foundation of all movement and being; and that Wisdom, is knowing it. But these
things can only be known, felt, and remembered; they cannot be said, or taught,
or alas given away to another. It is a one to one relationship with the all.
So when they say to you that there is no such
thing as paradise, transcendence, a divine order; then simply smile, and say
nothing; for you cannot give it to them to prove it. If one were to drop dead
at any moment, then what does it matter? It is of no account. And if one does
not then the objective magic goes on from one day to another; and it is always
there; in sunshine and in rain, in health and when the body is unwell, in
darkness and in light; it is always there. And if one were to drop dead that
minute then so what, for we have seen and known life incarnate, and life at its
root; life at its highest and life at its saddest, and the passions all become
as one song. And when they ask me as to what I fear, then I have to ask them as
to what fear is, for I do not know; how can one fear life? It is not for the
fearing of, it is for the knowing, the loving, the living, and the song; and to
be the singer of that song yourself. It is to be the observer of all that there
is to be observed and the knower of the known. How divine then is objectivity
indeed: and how eternally mysterious. Has creation got it right... or has
creation got it right? But then of course one observes it being wasted: and
ones passions are aroused in a different way, a very different way indeed, and
even though the passion is as great.
But alas anger also walks in the heart, soul
and mind, the anger of waste and entropy. It is like seeing people weeping
because they are hungry when they refuse to open their eyes and see the meal
which is set there on the table before them. And one is angry because they are
starving of their own accord by refusing to eat. I cannot really understand
this anger, but it is there nonetheless, and not nice. But you cannot deny that
something exists simply because it is not a nice experience. Thus it is also
that when one is alone (far from the maddening crowd) that the anger also
dissolves and allows the soul to be at ease within its self, back in the
resonance of the centre of its own stillness and unity for a while... for in a
while the world will rumble on again, and the work is never completed on earth.
And does not such time also give back that energy that one requires for the
next days work... the spiritual impetus to go on despite all set-backs or
annoyances? So give us this day the bread of the spirit for the soul to draw on
for its need and nourishment for the task ahead of it! And so it goes. Man
cannot live by bread alone. And they do not sell this kind of food in the
supermarket my friend... and what price paradise then? It is free. If we could
but package this food in a pill or in a magic wand then I would have gone into
production years ago, and would give it all away freely. But in the knowing
that we cannot do such a thing then we meet our limitations face on, for that
is not our power; and it is not ours to give; but only to receive.
When they say that there is no paradise, no
transcendence and divine order, then one could ask them as to what then turns
the water of life into wine and the lead of life into gold, the mundane into
the profound. How can one be affected by something that does not exist: how can
one exist in a realm that does not exist; and how does the world itself come to
glow from the inside by a light that does not exist there: and how can we love
something that does not exist; and how could one talk for ever about something
that does not exist? I envy their future surprise and joy; for I will never
know that surprise again in this lifetime. What is more is that nobody can take
that love from you, nor knowledge, nor inner understanding, for they are
untouchable by man. But what is yours is also theirs. One is perhaps more angry
that they do not see it for themselves than they are... for how can they miss
that which they do not know? But their spirit and soul knows well enough. They
must feel for that part; and liberate it.
It will not hide forever, for that which is
within the implicate order of all things will out; and be it the hard way or
the easy way. Be it with our will, or otherwise in due course. These things are
for this world, this life. This life is not a trial run, it is the real thing
(albeit a part of something wider—and as yet unknown by us). And what happens
to he or she who is totally devoid of these essential things during this
lifetime? Can their mind settle upon anything whatsoever? Is their life not all
haste and turmoil in ever constant search for that which they know not what;
where or why? They come into this world knowing not why. They live their lives
knowing not how. They leave this world and go to they know not where. But the
divine mystery being that all these things can only be learned by the sacrifice
of a little time itself, to go beyond the event horizon of time itself. In
order to know this world they must first leave it behind for a while—a mystic
assertion which in reality is but a simple affirmation of a known profound
truth. And neither is it symbolic but literal. And neither does it mean
anything other than what it says. In order to know themselves they must first
lose their self for a while. And in losing ones self (annihilation) then one
finds one self (in paradise), and far more besides.
But these things sound ‘mystical’ and far fetched.
They are mysterious; but true nonetheless. It is seen then that the absolute
attainment of joy whilst alive on this world is a reality which comes only by
way of our own unconditional love for a ‘something’ which is not itself found
in the physical universe that the senses encompass. This does not mean a
negation of materiality or the world itself as so many seem to believe, but
rather as a supplement to it. Not only that but when these forces are at a
great flow within one then even the physical senses are enhanced to capture
even more of the wonder of the physical reality itself. The only thing I shall
be a little sad about when leaving here is the loss of this divine spectacle
called the world: and the friends and lovers known thereupon; for you will NOT
see them in paradise. Make the most of these things then whilst here now: not
tomorrow but today. Tomorrow may not even come, so do not waste today.
As mentioned elsewhere however, neither can
we live on earth by way of the essences or spiritual food alone. Neither can
any man or woman walk through life on earth alone, for we are all dependent on
each other and so much more besides. Science will bring forth virtual reality,
and no doubt fun that will be, as are many toys. But virtual reality will not
be real reality; and the food of the spirit and soul will not be found in such
things. It is not a case then of doing away with one or the other but rather in
attaining to all that exists in both. A computer is not spiritual food, but
they are useful as a tool nevertheless. But the trees are real, the mountains
are real, the stars are real; and there exists much spiritual food in these
things. We simply have to learn how to let them work their magic on us. And
that magic is unconditional of anything else other than the love of being there
and using the sum of the divine order itself—they shout it... they ARE it in
action. I was actually with a person once, and who knew nothing of these
things, when they happened to be doing some trivial chore like cleaning their
shoes, when suddenly they had a minor mystic experience. The person did not know
what it was, or why or how, and they put no name to it. It lasted only for
about two or three seconds. They were suddenly washed, overcome, by a happiness
that defied words or reason, or that they had ever known before... and the
person was gob-smacked and dumbfounded. It made them wonder and think! There
was no doubt in their mind that they had known it and felt it—and that it was
good. Our daily bread. I smiled, and said nothing.
And the slow unfolding of their own implicate
order is active within them irrespective of a conscious quest to go in search
of it. And mysticism is the path unfolding. During the course of an incarnate
lifetime we each have our own spiritual agenda depending on where we are at and
what we have to learn therein. The rational incarnate personality does not know
this, yet from hindsight it is simple enough to observe an unfolding of key
events in our life; indeed our own transcendent project for this lifetime as
such. The terms ‘anomalous experience’ and ‘synchronicities’ are now coming
into a wider use as experiences which are key events in a human life and which
cannot be explained by the existing paradigm, yet self-evidently are a
connected series of events which are leading us somewhere and hence have a
purpose. Initially one may well call them incredible coincidences, but after so
many of them over many years, one can detect both the path and the meaning, the
connection and the effect.
The quest is alive and working even if one is
unaware of it. The whole of creation is the outflow and ongoing process of a
seed; the unfolding of an implicate order. Cognition is at the hub of that
seed. Understanding is a faculty of cognition. Where does it come from, how
does it work, why does it exist, where is it all going? I do not know the
answer to any of these questions. But I know that the questions are well
justified by direct demonstrable experience. And I also know that we cannot
help but to ask those questions and seek, for ever if need be, the answers—for
we are made of the stuff.
Mysticism is called mysticism because it is
mysticism—it always has been, it is now, and it always will be. There are some
things which we will never know; and that I know.
*
* *
(For Cassie from Dad)
Though times often come
when the heart does not
glow;
so laden with worry
that no song will flow.
But just as the seasons
must pass in their turn
there comes a great mystery
which makes the heart burn
with a freshness of vigour
in passion so rare
in a pounding of love and
beauty so fair.
What reason, they ask,
is such thing as it is?
For no reason, I say,
for that’s how it is!
And when all your burdens
and chores, like a chain,
shackle the spirit
in gloom’s dark domain
there comes, like a whisper,
a fragrance so fair
which lifts all such anchors
which shackled you there -
part two
- and raises the spirit
on wings like a Dove,
to once again dwell
in its domain of love.
What reason, they ask,
is such things as it is?
But no reason, I say,
is the best reason there is.
Search not for reasons
why things should be good,
but accept what they are,
for they are as they should.
in times that are less;
and strive that they must
be,
with love and with zest.
*
* *
A BREATH OF VISION
A life with just the senses
five
slumbers; for it’s half
alive.
Like periscopes above the
waves,
by themselves are living
graves.
But deeper than the eye can
go,
where nought but insight
there can flow,
beyond the form the Essence
hides;
unspoken words, like Virgin
Brides.
Such pearls that do not rust
in time;
like virtues that evoke a
rhyme;
the melting pot of all that
moves,
beyond the browns, the
greys, the blues.
The linear line of visual
sight
knows well the day; and of
the night.
But inner flight can only
know
how to make the daylight
glow.
The terminus where centres
meet;
where one must fly on wingéd
feet,
where the deeper eye is born
which turns a morning into
dawn.
Each child invents the world
anew,
and thinks himself among the
few;
wax like youthful
Cocks-a-crow;
I know! Oh yes, I know, I
know.
Oh my love, do not you see?
tis there for all; to use
for free.
And what is yours is none
the less;
tis equal... to the very
best!
Tis irrespective of our
thought,
for beyond time that mould
was wrought.
We did not choose to walk
this road;
the labour.... is a Cosmic
load!
*
* *