Paragraph 2
Robert’s next paragraph reads:
“Transposing this biological theory to man’s spiritual development, we find a similar phenomenon. Namely, that the spiritual development of each individual recapitulates the progressive development of man’s various religions. Where, in a matter of months, a single embryo covers millions of years in the evolution of mankind, so too, in a single life-span the spiritual development of the individual recapitulates the key revelations on which man’s religions were founded. Thus our spiritual journey recapitulates the history of the world religions.”
How is one to understand that in a single life one can summarize, restate, or actually live the “key revelations on which man’s religions were founded?” It seems most of us are living the most ordinary life. The one filled with the ups and downs of joy and happiness along with sorrows and disappointments. This gamut is the ordinary life and one where all transformation takes place. This text also seems to say that in “a single life-span the spiritual development” possible for us encompasses an ordinary life full of revelation. Hearing this possibility sounds like good news to me although it took some time to see it.
In the beginning of this journey I felt misunderstood. I was looking for guidance in places where experiential revelation was disregarded. It left me feeling alone, like no one had gone before me. I now understand how childish this thinking was. With the unfolding of time, a whole world of mysticism from around the globe reveals a rich history of people living out the revelations of “the history of the world religions.” Knowing that others have gone before me, have encountered the recapitulation of the unfolding, lends credence to what Roberts is pointing to; individuals can live the history of spiritual unfolding as it has progressed to this point in history. One of the beauties of this recapitulation, which was not celebrated in my faith tradition, is that each (world) religion reveals an aspect of Mystery previously unknown to humanity until the revelation occurred. This reveals the lovingkindness of this Mystery; God is no respecter of persons.
The interplay of the micro and macro mirroring one another lends itself to ideas of entanglement, fractals and other scientific wonders. The complexity of the human and its relationship to history, to Mystery, and the species as an unfolding organism is showcased in the idea of recapitulation. My faith tradition taught that if you just believed key ideas or performed certain actions your humanity was intact. Reflecting on this form of religion feels superficial and irreverent, it snubs the actual Mystery of the religious affair. As I sit with the ramifications of Robert’s words they seem to invite a release of fixed and rigid views of the world and, by extension, the other. The words ask me to lay aside preconceived ideas, reified beliefs, and personal projections for a more open and allowing way of being. A being that is curious and kind with all that it encounters.
This stance of allowing sounds simple but nothing could be farther from the truth. The fashion these days is to speak of inclusivity. Many workplace settings have inclusivity training, diversity training, ethical training, yet, when I look about the world rigid and fixed thinking are on the rise. The truth of the matter is, unless you develop and commit to a practice of watching your thoughts, words, and actions you will not develop an open and allowing stance. Unless you faithfully show up to honestly process through how you really moved throughout your day this transformation will not adequately develop. Robert’s words encourage an intentional practice and, like the Benedictines, when we fall down we get up again, dust off, and get back to practicing. To engage with this watching means honestly asking myself what story or projection is in the way of an open heart? I need to ask myself this question when I notice a constriction within my being, when heaviness and reaction block true responsiveness.
At the end of the day this text gives great hope that the unfolding is happening. It’s happening because, like the embryo that restates man’s previous evolutionary unfolding, you and I are discovering the great Truths that have been handed down to us throughout the ages. Slowly, with practice, we are coming into contact with the revelations that make us fully human. Like me, you may know many people practicing in this manner and, like me, you may also be witnessing the results, which is more openness, more allowing, and more comfort with the Mystery. Let’s begin anew each day!
