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Sagadahoc Bridge & Kennebec River
Bath, Maine
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A visitor, thinking himself very spiritual, spoke of how he renounced all religion. "Sir, why do some in your community remain in religion?" "Why would you ask the question?" the Sage asked. "For you're a deeply spiritual person, and such as you don't need religion, so why would your community?" The Sage asked, "And what are those persons who need religion?" "They are immature, sir. After all, the Way is wayless, the Gate gateless. You can't fit Spirit inside a form. True?"
The Sage, smiling, spoke, "I'm thirsty. Are you?" Before his companion could reply, he said, "I'll get us some water." He went and filled two glasses with water.
Upon returning, he gave a glass to the visitor, and the Sage, holding his glass high, said, "Let us drink!" They began drinking. "Why are you using the glass to drink, friend?" asked the Sage. The man, surprised, replied, "How else could I drink the water?" Laughing, the Sage spoke, "So, you're immature too? After all, water being water, why would you, being so proficient at drinking water, need a glass?"
*Brian K. Wilcox. "Meetings with an Anonymous Sage."
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Religion is yogic; yoga is religious. Both the terms - religion and yoga - one from Latin and the other of Sanskrit origin, speak of "yoking, joining together." A spiritual being may not engage in a religion but will be religious.
A river needs a shape for the flow of water to be a river, so unseen Grace requires material form through which to express itself in the material realm. Through form, connection with the Unseen happens for us. Who would say to their beloved, "No, I'll not allow you to touch my body. That's not needed. I'll have bodiless sex with you, dear"? Beings find the form of bodies to manifest through the bodies an intangible passion, an unseen love. Without the flower, one cannot enjoy the scent of the flower.
In understanding this spiritual principle, forms assume a sacramental quality for us. Bodies, rivers, raindrops, and rocks can be means of Grace. A daily meal can become a Eucharistic meal; a sandwich becomes the host, and a glass of tea becomes the wine.
We see that forms point beyond themselves and provide means for embodied beings to relate with formless Spirit. Spirit cannot fit in form, but it can express itself through form.
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We drink water from a glass and respect others doing the same. For some, the glass will be a religion; for others, it will not. We call the form what we wish. We do not argue about names.
We cultivate insight into the beauty of variety as an awe-inspiring, kaleidoscopic display of the one Life. We keep our hearts open to ways the Formless manifests in our world of forms, including others and ourselves, and not only through humans.
The Christian scriptures hint at the profoundness of this truth. The Scripture reads, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit [or holy spirit] within you..." (I Corinthians 6.19). While this may have initially referred only to those identified with Christianity, there is no need for that limitation. As Buddhism teaches, "We all have Buddha Nature," which means, "We are all Buddha." We are all the form within which is the sacred Spirit. Wakefulness and compassion is what we are. Some know this, some do not. Regardless, this is true.
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*(C) Brian K. Wilcox, 2024. Permission is given to use photographs and writings with credit given to the copyright owner.
*Brian's book is An Ache for Union: Poems on Oneness with God through Love. The book is a collection of poems Brian wrote based on wisdom traditions, predominantly Christian, Buddhist, and Sufi, with extensive notes on the poetry's teachings and imagery
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