Let's begin a spiritual journey

When we go on a journey, we encounter both pleasure and pain. Pleasure comes from what we see or what we hear on the way. Pain comes from accidents, delays and natural disasters. In a spiritual journey too we should be ready to encounter pleasure as well as pain. The pain we experience is momentary but the pleasure will last a lifetime or beyond.

We usually go on a journey accompanied by our elders, children, and sometimes trusted neighbours. Almost everybody who goes on a journey is known to one another. When we are in the company of others, it gives us a sense of security. We can also share our experiences and happiness with others easily. Even when we suffer, others will try to help us in so many ways.

Even when we go on a spiritual journey, we need some company or a guide. For a Christian, the best guide would be the Bible. For a Buddhist the best guide is The Dhammapada.

Christian belief

As we begin our spiritual journey, let us not focus on how long it will take. At the same time, let us not worry about what we may have to encounter along the way. This is something we cannot even imagine.

The Bible and The Dhammapada are good guides on the spiritual journey

A Christian believes that only God knows what is in store for him. However, a Buddhist does not know what would happen in the future unless he has reached a higher state of the mind. Whatever it is, let us not worry about what is happening now or what is going to happen later. The most important factor is that you must be conscious of what you are doing.

Spiritual growth does not take place overnight. It is a long process. For instance, Prince Siddhartha spent six long years to find the cause of suffering and how to eliminate it. His past lives also show his commitment to find the truth. Prior to his Enlightenment he had gone on a long spiritual journey.

In our spiritual journey we may experience small changes rather than drastic ones in our lives. If we take some steps to curtail a habit annoying to others, it is a victory. We might discover a helpful insight from the Bible or The Dhammapada. For instance, Oswald Chambers in his wonderful book My utmost for His highest says, "God's purpose is for this minute, not something in the future." According to him, God is working in you, around you and through you right now.

Treasure-trove

The Dhammapada is a treasure-trove for Buddhists. It is one of the foremost Buddhist texts that serves as a guide to moral edification and self-purification. What is remarkable is that The Dhammapada has little to do with religion, though we find most of the Buddhist teachings embedded there. The book is meant for all those who are ready to go on a spiritual journey.

The Dhammapada, just like modern psychology, places great importance on the mind. The opening stanza of The Dhammapada is a silent testimony to this statement:

"Mano pubbamgama dhamma
mano settha manomaya
manasa ce padutthena
bhasati va karothiva
tato nam dukkamanveti
cakkam va vahato padam"

(All states have mind as their forerunner; to them mind is supreme and of mind are they made. Therefore, if one, with defiled mind, speaks or acts, on account of that does suffering follow one as the wheel follows the foot of the wagon- bearer. -Dr E. W. Adikaram)

Parable of the sower

When we begin our spiritual journey, there will be so many unseen forces that will try to drag us away from the chosen path. Jesus Christ explaining the parable of the sower to his disciples said, "The wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart." He was referring to the devil or Satan, our adversary who is always working against us.

A similar idea is reflected in The Dhammapada:

Ye ca kho sammadakkhate
dhamme dhammanuvattino
te jana paramessanti maccudheyyam suduttaram

(Those who live according to the Dhamma well-declared they get to the further shore, erasing the kingdom of Mara so difficult to cross.- Dr E. W. Adikaram)

Satan's tactic for the believer is to pull him back from his new-found faith. He will say, "This isn't real. You've just had an emotional experience. You're going to lose all your friends." Similarly, whenever an individual tries to follow the spiritual path, there will be so many others who try to prevent you from doing so. Our so-called friends will offer us alcohol and other irresistible temptations. Then we will have a mental battle although the adversary is in fact a part of ourselves.

If you complete the journey, you will find yourself on top of a mountain. You will see those who have never attempted to begin the journey wallowing in worldly comforts and dissipating their energies. At the foot of the mountain they will quarrel among themselves to find out how you succeeded in scaling those dizzy heights!