WHENCE HAVE WE COME? WHY ARE WE HERE? WHITHER ARE WE GOING?

These three great riddles concern us all. Existing religions have their particular views on them and there are as many opinions as there are congregations. They remain unanswered by the vast majority of people because the general public believes that nothing can be known definitely of these things and so we don’t bother to look for answers.

In my experience nothing could be further from the truth. Each of us, without exception, is capable of obtaining first-hand information. . . if we wanted to. Many of us have the mental faculties for understanding but . . . and a very big BUT it is, they lie latent in most, requiring effort and determination to awaken. It is this effort that becomes a powerful deterrent for many, for it is far easier to live idly in prefabricated mental cocoons than to make the necessary effort.

Illumination comes through patient, intelligent and persistent work in unravelling the mysteries of life, so well hidden by the foolish beliefs of public opinion. There is no easy way to an enlightened mind, but it is the most exciting work we will ever do in the short time we are given. A beautiful and sensitive soul spoke of this work as the duty of every man and woman incarnated on earth. Here is what he said:

“We work that we may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth.

For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons,

and to step out of life’s procession,

that marches in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite.

Always we have been told that work is a curse and labour a misfortune.

But I say to you that when we work we fulfil a part of earth’s furthest dream,

assigned to us when that dream was born,

And in keeping ourselves with labour we are in truth loving life

And to love life through labour is to be intimate with life’s inmost secret.

We have been told also that life is darkness, and in our weariness

we echo what was said by the weary.

And I say that life is indeed darkness save when there is urge,

And all urge is blind save when there is knowledge,

And all knowledge is vain save when there is work,

And all work is empty save when there is love;

And when we work with love we bind ourself to ourself,

and to one another, and to God. And what is it to work with love?

It is to charge all things we fashion with a breath of our own spirit,

And to know that all the Blessed dead are standing about us and watching.”

We recognise the wisdom in these words and the fundamental need for work and the success it brings in our chosen fields. This requirement is readily understood when it concerns our material needs and so we are usually quite willing to give all we have to acquire the material comforts we crave. If our goal is to be successful in business we know we must work diligently to achieve it; if we wish to be an accomplished musician, hours of practice are required before we become truly proficient in music; if we desire to mould our children into intelligent and responsible adults we make extraordinary efforts and sacrifices on their behalf. Yet when it comes to working for that which lies beyond the material world, for that jewel of awareness we call knowledge, so paramount for the growth of our inner being, we are unwilling to make the necessary effort. Perhaps we don’t care enough, and so, content to live for the pleasures of the moment, we are happy to let tomorrow look after itself.

Inner joy (not to be confused with worldly happiness) comes to those who are active in the pursuit of Truth, the pursuit itself being the very cause of joy, for we are then performing the purpose for which we have incarnated.

Time, energy and intelligence are necessary for unravelling truth and there are many who have devoted lifetimes in search of it; having made the required effort, they achieve the goal and have stood as beacons of light. Even now, there are those rare ones among us with eyes that see deeply into the mysteries, and ears that hear what the earthly ear cannot hear; they have gained knowledge and understanding of that which ever speaks to the inner heart, but which cannot be heard nor seen by those who are short-sighted and hard of hearing. Truth and right knowledge reveal to us the Plan and Purpose of Life and is the goal for us all. If pursued wholeheartedly, we gain joy and freedom.

I am reminded of an old story:

A young man came to a sage one day and asked, “Sir, what must I do to become wise?” The sage gave no answer. The man repeated his question several times, but to no avail. He returned the following day and again no answer was given. He returned on the third day, repeating his question, “Sir, please tell me what I must do to become wise?”

Finally the sage beckoned him to follow a nearby river. Entering the water, he called the young man to him. Taking the young man by the shoulder, he held him under the water, despite his struggles to free himself. At last, the sage released him and when the man regained his breath the sage questioned him:

“Son, when you were under the water what did you most desire?”
The youth answered at once, “Air, air! I needed air!”
“Would you not rather have wanted riches, life’s pleasures, power or love, my son? Did you not think of any of these?” The sage queried.
“No, sir! I wanted only air and thought only of air,” came the instant response.

“To become wise you must desire the truth as intensely as you just now desired air. You have to struggle for it, to work for it in the same way that you would work for anything you truly desire in the material world. If you seek understanding of life’s secrets with fervour, my son, you will surely discover what it is you wish to know.”

Truth alone will set us free.