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Opening to Peace
* * *
A man is walking out in the open country
Coming upon some monks working
It appears they're building a chapel
He, being a religious man, is delighted
Looking at one of the men, the abbot, he says,
"It's wonderful that you're building a chapel."
Says the abbot, "You've got it wrong. We're tearing it down."
"Oh, my! Why would you do that?"
"So we can see the Sunrise (Sun rise)."
* * *
1) Sun
Refers to whatever the ultimate means to you: this is the Sun. We could speak, too, of the ultimate dimension. The Sun is not the historical dimension, yet it is not separate from it. The ultimate saturates the historical; form is the carrier of spirit.
2) Chapel
Alludes to how anything of form, including what we call sacred, spiritual, enlightened, or religious, can hinder our direct connection, or intimacy, with the formless. Like the traveler, we may be surprised at what we will be called to surrender on the Way.
3) The Abbot
Signifies our True Self or spirit. The Abbot's voice is the voice of our heart, our point of connecting with the Sun.
4) The Man
Implies our False Self - false, not wrong or bad. In the past, "carnal" or "fleshly" were used for this aspect of self that does not act from spiritual insight.
5) The Monks
Alludes to the inner energies gathering through following the inner voice to transform what blocks immediacy with the sacred.
* * *
One of the most challenging things on the Way is releasing attachment to what we consider spiritual or religious. We find it easier to detach from what is clearly not religious or spiritual.
Sacred forms can help or not, and this is often based on how we approach the form or whether we still need it or not. The Middle Way is to use forms to connect with the Sacred but not emotionally to attach to the forms. Yet, still, a form can serve its purpose, though it once was a wise aid, and not using it anymore is the wise response.
Those who advocate that all forms - such as rites, rituals, objects, holy books - are a hindrance to the spiritual life do not honor the importance of form for persons who are in a form - the body. We need matter to live in connection with spirit. We need what we can touch, taste, smell, touch, and hear. These are means to join with the Intangible Sacredness.
When we need a transformation in the dimension of form in relation to the spiritual life, we need "Yes." Once the self is united in consent to the ultimate, then the energies are able to work together to create change. This is impossible with a divided self. A united self can see amazing transformations and manifestations.
What do you hear? How does the story speak to you?
* * *
*(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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