Gratitude 34 … “The Way”
Today I am grateful for “The Way” — not the mental/emotional “path to salvation” preached by the dogma of the Christian church, but rather the active & practical Way shared by the founding mystics and Masters (Jesus included) of all the world’s more prevalent faiths.
The Way is a lifestyle that mandates only one thing: that each person, in his/her own manner and timing, choose to set aside all personal ambitions & desires, by choosing to replace them with bold, caring deeds of self-sacrifice for others …
And there is no more difficult choice to make for beings so steadfastly programmed to care for themselves first and foremost, and yet for that very reason this “narrow way” provides the greatest experience of Bliss for all those who choose to walk its lengths …
“Step 1” along this path is choosing to recognize the availability of the selfless alternative, along with the humbling of one’s ego-mind necessary to recognize its innate Truth (i.e. its viability as a lifestyle option). At this point, a slight detour is typically made when many practitioners attempt to use the concept of “like attracts like” to manifest various forms of “abundance” for themselves (e.g. those “New Agers” striving to co-create happiness &/or wealth using the “Law of Attraction”) …
Once the hypocrisy (and ultimate ineffectiveness) of this diversion is realized, one can then proceed to “Step 2“: choosing to serve others (albeit comfortably) instead …
At this point, as long as the practitioner persists in regularly attempting to lessen others’ burdens, an ultimate awakening to the true power of The Way is inevitable — leading to “Step 3“: the final realization of how Oneness feels in those moments when one chooses to joyfully self-sacrifice for another.
This Way of pure self-sacrifice can take many forms (note: the “ultimate sacrifice” of the martyr is not necessary): we can give of our time even when “too busy”; we can purposefully delay the gratification of personal desires; we can make prolonged, gentle eye-contact with others; we can continue to see a current task through even when something “more important” presents itself; we can give credit to others for our own achievements; we can celebrate the victories of our opponents; we can be Kind to strangers; we can (even anonymously) give to those who persecute or ridicule us; we can continue to fulfill our Life Purpose even when friends & family members are criticizing said choice; we can Love a partner even when being abandoned or rejected by him/her; we can give when “lacking”, keep working despite “exhaustion” and/or be gentle with the ill when we ourselves are in pain.
These are some of the myriad routes along The Path to true Inner Peace — This is the embodiment of The Way …
And so it is that I climb to my proverbial mountaintop, take a deep breath filled with profound reverence, and let loose with a long & loud –
Thank Youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
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