Recently I have been reading a book called "Disciple" by Juan Carlos Ortiz (thanks to my friend Matt Stambaugh for the loan). I have not finished it but felt compelled to at least throw some thoughts out on the blog since I have not written in a while.
One of the main points is about the Biblical statement: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself". This particularly hit me since Dee and I are struggling with our current spiritual situation. This quote seems innocuous enough. Love other people as you love yourself. But what does that really mean? As I read the book more light bulbs lit and epiphanies happened. Some of what Ortiz talks about in the book is that the core of Christianity (and all religions for that matter) is "love". When we treat each other with respect and put others before ourselves than we can achieve happiness.
For some that might mean eternal life in heaven, for others Nirvana and oneness with the universe, for others inner peace and joy, for others the conquering of inner and outer demons, trials and tribulations. For me, having studied and taught many philosophies and religions these points all come from the same place. It's not about us. It's about something bigger than us. Call that God, Allah, Brahman, Grand Unified Theory or any of the other million names of the power of the universe; it does not really matter in the end. What matters is that we stop looking at ourselves and start seeing the world around us. It is a beautiful place even with the ugliness, evil, darkness, etc. I explain to my students that you cannot have good without the presence of evil, beauty without ugliness, light without darkness. The opposite of good is not 'evil', it is 'not good'. The opposite of 'light' is not 'dark' it is 'not light'. Light and dark are 'complementary' not opposite. They are two parts of a greater whole ("love" or "balance").
The Chinese have explained these things through the concept of Yin and Yang. These two form a dichotomy; two halves of a greater whole. They serve as balance to each other. Sometimes Yin (female, cold, dark) is greater than Yang ( male, hot, light). Sometimes the other way. But one cannot exist without the other and they form a continuous example of balance. So while reading the Ortiz book I made the connection again that 'love' as described in the Bible, 'submission' in Islam, the Middle Path in Buddhism, Yin-Yang in Taoism all represent a goal we should all seek--balance.
Unfortunately I do not always see people seeking to exhibit 'love' or 'balance'. Too often I see people in the extremes. Too hot; too cold; too light; too dark; too me; too you...Not enough "us" as a whole. This is where I am at in my spiritual and philosophical journey. I am being pulled back to the center point of balance. I see people around me wanting to make things about them and not about the greater balance of the universe and life.
I told my wife last night as the celebration of our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary came to a close that of all people I see her as one of the greatest examples of balance I know. For my companion of all these years it is not about her...it is about everyone else. She is a true servant.
That is another point in the "Disciple" book. If we are to achieve "love" or "balance" as I always think of it, we must stop living in the extreme of our own desires and wants and give freely to others so that we can maintain the proper balance of the universe.
One fact about the great philosophers and spiritual leaders of history is that they were all "Servants" to a greater whole. Can we truly emulate them and be "servants" as well?
