So many paths, and so many vehicles ...

... the key is not to get entwined with the scenery on the path, but to watch and enjoy it while moving along -- and to not get carried away by the model of the vehicle we're in, but to remember that it is merely a form of transportation, carrying us to our destination.

Beginning to get very confused? Don't be. Here's a story, to explain everything.

I was in a taxi once, driven by a very opininated man in his thirties. I wouldn't have cared too much if he were merely opinionated, but his opinions were all about his own religion vs the others. I don't recollect what started it but he started this spiel about what his relgion stood for, what it meant to its adherents, how all the other fell way short, and were plain nonsense. I know to choose my battles, and I was not interested in this one - so I kept listening, interjecting with an occasional 'oh yes?', 'really', 'wow, that's interesting', all in an effort to be non-committal. Finally, halfway to our destination, about a 10-15 minute run, he asked me what religion I belonged to? "Well," I started, "that's a hard question to answer, because in my native language we don't have a word for 'religion'. "How come?" he asked me. "Well, in Hindi, the word we use is 'dharma' which means a way of being, as opposed to having a belief or faith, which are other words that could be used to describe religion." 'In any case," I continued, "being born into any religion is an accident of birth."

"But, let me tell you what I think," I pressed on, "I believe that the mystic core of all religions is the same. The goal of each one is spirituality. That is the destination earmarked for us all. Religions are like transportation that's supposed to carry us there. The problem with mankind is that people get too attached to their vehicles. One says, 'Look at what I'm sitting in - this wonderful BMW (religion x) is much better than those other cars on the road. Mine is definitely better, goes faster, is expensive, makes me look good. Another says: 'Look at this Mercedes I'm in (religion y) - pity those guys in the bus (religion z)... I'm so special -- all these other guys are so ordinary ...' And so it goes... with people now preoccupied only with their vehicles, having completely forgotten their higher purpose for being born as a human being and the path they were supposed to tread, that of completing their experience of searching for and having, the experience of the Higher Consciouness." I needed to catch my breath, and stopped. The guy was quiet for a while, and then slowly said, "I didn't ever think of it this way at all. You do have a point." He sounded chastened -- how long for, after that day, I don't know, but when we reached my office he thanked me for what I had to say. Good for him, actually, that he was open to hearing another point of view. That was his choice and decision entirely - and for that I salute his courage!

This quote just came to my mind:

We are not human beings, on a spiritual journey, but spiritual beings on a human journey.

Namaste' -- I salute the divine in each of you,

Kiki ;-)
P.S. My request to those who 'borrow' from this blog is to please give adequate credit to the source of the borrowed information - whether me, or books and people I quote from. Thank you.