Spiritual Theme for
September 2010
It is interesting to note that there are many mystical paths to union with God and this is especially important for the lay person. You do not have to live inside cloistered walls to be a mystic. Most of us have heard of the lives of one or more saints. Their journeys into mysticism are in many ways unmanageable and unattainable by the lay person. Some saints were in seclusion for years or suffered mental or physical hardship. The message is that one must withdraw and suffer. How does one live in the world, raise children, work, or go to school and follow that program? You can't! But there are things you can do. One mystical path is the study of scripture. The mind becomes the connection to God. The goal is to know and understand as much as possible. There is also the path of the pilgrim. One would take time to visit holy places and places of worship. Time in nature might also be considered holy. There is the path of the heart. The individual would pray with the heart engaged. Prayers would be viewed or imagined as arising from the heart and being sent out into the world. Another path is the entry into silence which involves meditation and sitting quietly with God and listening. There are many pathways to investigate, many religious and nonreligious traditions to investigate, many more than can be presented here. There is probably one or more methods that resonate the most with you. The trick is to find which one best suits your personality and skills and then stick with it.The second thing I wish to say about mysticism is that I do not believe that it necessitates suffering. Suffering for God is a very Piscean perspective. My experiences on the mystical path are joyful and it does not make sense that the journey back to God involves pain, illness, and misfortune. Suffering is not a good advertisement for union with God. Joy, bliss and ecstasy seems much more appropriate.