Let A Thousand Spiritual Flowers Bloom

A spiritually inclined friend posed me a question over breakfast today: what is the commonality across all the spiritual disciplines that I know of? This is a very interesting question because in a way, spirituality is the main theme of exploration in my blog.  My opinion on this can be found scattered in many of the articles that I've posted.

If I think of his question deeper, we can divide the spirituality question into 3 different aspects. The first is the goal of spirituality. What is the fundamental truth that all spiritual disciplines are trying to lead us to? Is it ultimate happiness? Or perhaps immortality? Or a place in heaven close to the Creator? Or are you more interested in metaphysics, like what is existence and its purpose? 

The second is the path. What are the rituals and practices that these disciplines propose to lead us to this goal? Is there are specific state of mind or a journey which a soul can take to travel to this eternal realm of heavenly bliss? How do we cleanse ourselves of our sins? Or should we be accumulating merits so that we'll be rewarded in the hereafter?

And finally what is the motivation of the seeker? Is he or she so mired in unhappiness that any path that offers a solution out of the person's present predicament seemed like the ultimate answer to life? People pursue spirituality to achieve what they think is the goal of their existence. Some might be motivated by the worldly success that a particular path can bestow as a kind of divine blessing. So they are motivated to follow strictly to the rules and rituals defined by their scriptures and religious authorities. 

When we talk about the goal of spirituality, obviously different schools emphasise different things and it is this difference in emphasis that also determines the type of seekers that they attract. Is immortality and the bliss of a heavenly afterlife what you are seeking? If it is and that would make your life perfect, then it's clear which religion which you would be more inclined to follow. If you want to know the metaphysical truth about nature, like a philosopher or scientist, then perhaps you'll be more attracted to spiritual doctrines that expound their thesis about the mind, matter and consciousness. 

The motivation of the seeker determines the path that they choose. The path could involve rituals such as prayers, breath exercises, meditation or communal work, woven under a philosophy explaining why these would lead the seeker to their desired goal. 

Every one of us is a product of a specific upbringing, culture and education. Each one of us sees the world differently. Will everyone listen to the same type of music? Certainly not. Can you explain why you like a particular song and not another? All you can probably say is that a piece of music  touches you in a certain way and that is peculiar to the life experiences that you have gone through. 

We choose the path that resonates with us. If the message is one of salvation and that has an appeal to you, then there are religions that emphasise that. Or are you more interested in how energy flows in life and how it can be transmuted into something higher? If that language appeals to you, I can certainly recommend you some books to read that will blow your mind.

Do not be dogmatic about any particular path, designating it as the 'ultimate truth'. Adopt one that suits you. But know that every path has its limitations. At some point you might have to migrate to another because your understanding of life and your place in the world has changed. You have acquired a bit more, shall I say, wisdom? What appealed to you then might appear unsatisfactory now. You want a 'higher' teaching. Again, one should not have the supremacist attitude that whatever is your current belief, that is the 'ultimate path'. 

Each one of us will flower spiritually in our own way. Our enlightened bloom will sit on a stem or branch of a plant that rose on its unique soil, watered by its own network of roots.  So let a thousand spiritual flowers bloom and we shall have a glorious garden on earth.