The Direct Path to God

The direct path to God begins by forgetting Him. Forget the idle debate regarding God's existence. Forget it completely; forget it absolutely. This is the best way to begin.

Every entry onto this path is different; the endpoint of the path, however, is always the same.

One begins the path from where one is at the moment. The topography is a combination of one's surroundings and how one views them.

The path is one. It is neither inner nor outer. The path is one.

There are no absolutely correct concepts. There is, however, an absolutely correct path.

Although the starting points are different, the path is the same for the Hottentot and for the secular humanist; the same for the Kabbalist and for the Keralite; the same for the fundamentalist and for the atheist.

Just as physical exercise trims the belly, walking on this path trims the self. This process is what the Greeks called kenosis, self-emptying. Don't worry, there will always be enough self left for what is needed.

We tend to forget that the truths of science are not absolute. It is always possible, even likely, that a new scientific paradigm will replace or significantly modify an older one; our science is also limited by the way our brains have been constructed through the process of evolution. Where life has evolved differently--it is certainly reasonable to assume that the universe, not to mention universes, contain other examples of conscious life besides ours--life will be viewed differently.

If there is or was a Euclid in a very different universe, you can be sure that his mathematical propositions would be very different from the ones we know.

Common sense, for which the measurement of time and space is an absolute, has been proven wrong.

All dogmas are, of course, metaphors. This truth, however, intensifies their meanings; it does not negate them.

Their target, our endpoint, is Silence, not facts.

You have heard of this path before; at your best you have walked on it already. (Two messages from a bird just above it: you have no reason to worry. And you have not done enough.)

It is the single salutary path we have: it is the path of Wisdom and Love.

It is necessary to walk on it, however difficult it may be to move forward. It is not necessary, sometimes even quite detrimental, to talk about it.

Does the Path of Wisdom and Love sound like a cliche? What is a cliche? A cliche is a truth debased by the mouths of those who do not practice it.

Sometimes you might wander off the path and believe that you are still on it. At other times you might be on the path and believe that you are lost. With diligence you will eventually realize exactly where you are.

If you like, call it by a different name. The Sanskrit terms bhakthi (devotion) and jnana (wisdom) will do nicely. No matter what you call it, walk on.

Wisdom is the knowledge of the interconnectedness of everyone and everything; it is true wisdom when it has entered one's marrow. Without love, wisdom can be dry.

Love-well, if you're human, there's no reason to define this! Without wisdom, however, love can be blind.

The most important love is the love for fellow human beings. But this must not be done in exclusion to other important loves. Care for nature in all her diversity is also very important. A positive relation to one's work--which should somehow help others--is also essential. And one should not neglect the love of art--At its best, art is a trustworthy guide. Bach is not a diversion.

If love and wisdom are only feelings, you will not move. If they enable you to take a step, however small, rejoice--You have moved on.

Rejoice! The combination of love and wisdom will take you far.

One way of thinking too much of yourself is by thinking too much of yourself. It is a great burden. The other way of thinking too much of yourself is by thinking too little of yourself. This, too, is a great burden. The path is the sole way to leave burdens behind.

The contemplation of wisdom increases love. The action of love increases wisdom. As you move on, you will learn something amazing: they are one and the same.

Are you somehow crippled and cannot begin? He or she abused me. He or she abuses me. The ardor of the journey will silence such idle complaints. The progress you will make will transcend them.

You still cannot walk? Get yourself crutches. You have no legs? Allow friends to convey you. You have no friends? You have at least one. (It is not God, it is not you.) This one friend will do.

Once you begin--and keep walking--you will eventually see a peak above a dark forest. You may never reach it, but you will see it. Even if it becomes covered by clouds or by gnarled trees on the path; even if you can't see it, you will still see it. Even if you are in a very rough section of the path--there will be many; even if you have reached the dark forest which obscures everything; as you walk on, never forget that appearances are sometimes quite wrong: you are getting closer.

An important part of making progress on this path is helping those who are behind you and accepting help from those who are ahead.

If not now, when?

You've begun? Good. Time now to address those questions.

Why do we suffer? Farther along

Where is God? We'll know all about it

No answer? Farther along,

You will understand why!

We will understand why.