Seekers of spiritual wisdom span the ages of humankind. Mystics, saints, philosophers, poets, and people whose names go unrecorded have all tried to pierce the veil of spirituality. Some suffered for their efforts, many died. We are fortunate to live in a country and an age which allows us to seek out the wisdom of teachings other than those of our ancestors. The wisdom of the founders of this nation left us this legacy of freedom of worship.
I am especially grateful for this freedom because I have searched for spiritual wisdom most of my life. I was raised in the Catholic faith, and as a child, I often read the lives of the saints or tales of the Holy Grail. I wanted to know what made these people holy; I wanted to know how to commune with the Holy Spirit directly as they appeared to have done.
Not finding answers in Catholicism, I began to look at other religions. In the 60's and 70's, it was easy to find information on Eastern religions. I studied the ways of the Buddha, chanted Hare Krishna, and sought out a spiritual guru. My quest continued in the summer of '73 when I traveled to India. Twenty of us in two VW vans drove from Germany to India. I was exposed to all the cultures and religions I had been reading about, and more. I visited temples, mosques, and people's homes. I learned how to sleep during the heat of the day and absorb the cool night air. I learned about dysentery. I learned about how much I did not and could not know.
One particular incident from that trip stands out in my memory. We were at the Golden Sikh Temple. At this temple the Sikhs chanted continuously from their holy book until it was put away ceremoniously at night. Different people took turns reading it. A companion, Mike, and I were standing off to the side watching them. Mike asked if he could read from it. The Sikhs seemed excited about his request (even though he didn't read the language), and agreed to let him try. One minute I was standing next to Mike; the next I wasn't. I realized that the Sikhs, all males, had pushed me to the outside of the group.
Although I could not be privy to the Sikhs' circle of wisdom, I perceived a flash of my own inner wisdom: I could not find spiritual wisdom in an ancient part of the world which still clung to religions that closed its doors to the participation of women. I realize that my experience was an isolated one, perhaps not indicative of the full range of this particular religion (or Eastern religions in general). But the experience gave me an insight into myself and it reinforced what I wanted out of a religion. I wanted full and direct participation. I still wanted to know how to reach the heart of God. At that moment, standing in the heat of the Indian sun, I knew that I would not find my answers there. I returned home to the States, perhaps a bit wiser, but my spiritual quest for wisdom was still unfulfilled.
Undaunted, I continued my quest eventually moving from Michigan to San Francisco where I at last found a spiritual teaching that ended my search, for it provided me with techniques that continue to give me methods to commune directly with Spirit. I am learning how to recognize and work with the divine wisdom within myself.
In looking back at my journey to India, I see a bit of Dorothy in that youthful me. Yes, Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz -- the books, not the movie. In the first book, Dorothy is transported to Oz, and she and her traveling companions seek out the Wizard. They discover that, all along, they have the keys to themselves within themselves. Dorothy walked all those miles on the yellow brick road in the ruby red slippers which eventually enabled her to go home to Kansas, once she was made aware of the love that they represented. The Lion had always been brave, always the hero rescuing the others. The Scarecrow was the one who always had the great idea. The Tin Man loved with a heart as big as the days in Oz were long.
But, importantly, in the book, Dorothy returns to Kansas to discover that she can go back to Oz, unlike the dream experience in the movie. Indeed, L. Frank Baum wrote sequels to the story; Dorothy returns to Oz, and the other characters have their own adventures.
Once these characters found the key to their inner selves, their inner wisdom, they achieved self-recognition. They were able to move forward on their spiritual journeys.
My trip to India did not provide me with the key to spiritual wisdom, but it was pivotal in my spiritual journey. I had to know what was out there (and what was not) in order to discover what was inside me all the time. Like Dorothy, I had to learn (and still am learning) that love needs to be at the center of everything I do. And, like Dorothy, I still have more spiritual adventures in store, and I can't wait to discover what's around the corner. Has anyone seen my ruby red slippers?
MaryBeth Matthews has been a member of Eckankar for 20 years and has led spiritual workshops. She currently teaches writing and literature at USF, Sarasota, Florida. (941) 355-0536