But you can’t.
The air is here to breathe. But if you imagine that it’s poison air, you don’t dare take a breath. Letting go is hard, impossible, when you believe it’s not safe to do so.
What is needed is a way to gradually let go. A way that is acceptable to the mind.
That’s the value of spiritual practice. Spiritual practice helps us to let go little by little, instead of all at once. And in that way, it’s not so scary to the mind.
Every Spiritual Path Has The Same Aim
That aim is simply to help us let go.
Knowledge, or inquiry, is one path. Inquiry, such as The Work of Byron Katie, helps us let go by questioning anything that makes us hold on. It is a path of the intellect.
Devotion is another path. Devotion helps us to let go through the act of service. It is a path of the heart.
Meditation is another path. Meditation helps us to let go through the settling of the mind. It is a path of experience.
Action is another path. Action helps us to let go through trial and error. Through action we learn what hurts us and what does not. It also is a path of experience.
Each Path Contains All The Others
Built-in to Intellectual inquiry is an opening of the heart, a settling of the mind, and a more spontaneously right way of action.
Likewise, the service of devotion is nothing but meditation, action and inquiry wrapped in one.
And meditation is also inquiry. As it is action and devotion too.
And action always culminates in knowledge, which ultimately leads to fulfillment and an opening of the heart. It also is a meditation.
So There Is Just One Path
All spiritual paths are just one path. A path that is not even needed. But which serves us nonetheless as we gather up the courage to let go bit by bit.
I love all these paths, and practice all of them in varying degrees. And I invite you to join me especially in the path of inquiry, a quick and powerful way to cut through the fears that keep us suffocating when there is really no need to hold our breath.
Have a great week,
Todd
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