We are terrified of new ideas. New ideas threaten to destroy all that we have established over the years and with which we have become comfortable. (I was just getting used to CDs, and now I hear that they are outdated!) With most new things, however, the advantages of the new technology far outweigh our clinging attachments to the old . . . after an initial adjustment period.
The Catholic Church, for example, has changed dramatically over the years. Things that were mortal sins not too many years ago (i.e., entering a Protestant church) are now considered not sins at all. And an old testament, vengeful, authoritative God, useful back in those days, has been upgraded to a loving God because too many Catholics were leaving the flock due to guilt and fear.
And that “ol’ time religion" of yesteryear seems to be losing its appeal with many of the modern faithful as well. Here in America, in 1990, 20.4% of the population attended (actually attended) an Orthodox Christian church on any given weekend. In 2000, that percentage dropped to 18.7% and to 17.7% by 2004, —52 million people instead of the pollster-reported 132 million (40%). (Rebecca Barnes and Lindy Lowry from Outreach magazine, May/June 2006).
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
will become a super highway in time, indicated by the surprising popularity of books such as “God is Not Great" by Christopher Hutchins, Deepak Chopra's new contribution, “Buddha, A Story of Enlightenment," Sam Harris' “The End of Faith," and Richard Dawkins' “The God Delusion;" best sellers all.
So what is this road less traveled? Maybe it is time to speculate, because we will be hearing a lot more about roads less travelled in the future.
The Road Less Travelled indicates a path trod by few; most travel the safe path that everyone else travels. To travel a little known path involves a spirit of discovery, fearlessness, and courage, because the ones travelling the well-worn paths will attack those travelling the roads less traveled, who seem strange and threatening. Those travelling the worn paths conform and need security, and both conformity and security are based in fear.
So, when we look at the road less traveled and what the scenery reveals, be forewarned that all visionary ideas are considered heretical and frightening by those on the well-worn paths! Therefore, be cautioned: If ideas other than those you are accustomed to are very disturbing, you might want to read something else now!
Are you are still here? Cool! Let’s look at what the road less travelled might look like. The road less travelled might:
Question God. Not that there is or isn’t a god, but that the question of God, based on ancient myths, remains a mystery. God has never come down and said hello, except through, as some believe, proxies.
Question a soul. Could it be that the idea of a soul is no more than an attempt to continue our ego after death? Human beings know that death is inescapable, and naturally we search for ways to escape it.
Question a “self." Is that psycho-physical entity called Bob Smith real? Probably not. The whole contrivance is more than likely constructed from a combination of thought and memory in the brain.
Question Reality. Are things that we see, feel, hear, etc., real or unreal? They exist, that is obvious, but is there any meaning other than simply arising and disappearing phenomena within a closed field of energy and matter that alternate constantly?
Question any permanent state of mind. If we really look at life, what can we find that is fundamentally permanent — even the mighty stars burn out in time. We can invent things in our minds that are permanent, such as God, or a soul, but are these only invented to placate our insecurity? Are they real, or are they merely a salve for wounded hearts that understand far too much about life and existence as we know it? Is heaven a state of mind? Is hell? Is evil and good? What isn’t a state of mind? Perhaps this is the destination of a road less travelled - a place beyond mind.
Question Nihilism. Does everything end with death, or is there is a continuance? And whether or not that continuance involves a permanent ego personality is certainly questionable.
Question the meaning of life. Why are we here? Actually a better question might be what is here, because until we find out about ourselves and what we are, how can we project why we are conscious and experiencing this particular existence? Are we here to merely conform to some authoritative rules set down by our religious leaders or a totalitarian God, make a lot of kids, grow old and die; or is there a deeper meaning to all of this?
Question time. Does time run out, or is time merely an illusion that depends upon consciousness and thought? If consciousness and thought is merely a projection of a transitory existence, what lies beyond must be eternal. Transition itself validates its opposite state; eternity.
Question space. Space seems to go on infinitely. Is there an end to space? Do we come to a wall out there somewhere where space just stops? This kind of thinking is caught in only what we know from the past, and this is not visionary. Being visionary involves no thought, because analytical thought is always caught within the web of existence, whereas vision connects to Reality. Existence is temporary; Realty is eternal. Existence is finite; vision is infinite. Beyond space is pure consciousness, and beyond pure consciousness is pure perception, and beyond pure perception is neither perception nor non-perception.
And these are the things that the road less traveled might move toward . . .
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E. Raymond Rock of Fort Myers, Florida is cofounder and principal teacher at the Southwest Florida Insight Center, http://www.SouthwestFloridaInsightCenter.com His twenty-eight years of meditation experience has taken him across four continents, including two stopovers in Thailand where he practiced in the remote northeast forests as an ordained Theravada Buddhist monk. His book, A Year to Enlightenment (Career Press/New Page Books) is now available at major bookstores and online retailers. Visit http://www.AYearToEnlightenment.com
