God in Nature - Paragraph 7
We continue with Robert’s thoughts on Omnipresence as she expands this revelation to other religions. The two religions she offers as reference for this revelation are the Tao and Stoicism. We begin today with the Tao, here is the text:
Religions Founded on this Revelation
“As to religions founded on this key revelation, the first that comes to mind is the initial “sighting” of a mysterious “flow” permeating all existence. In Chinese this “flow” is the Tao, the goal being to become one with this flow. To do this, they reasoned their physical bodies had somehow to become “spiritualized,” and many of their practices were geared to this end. (I’m reminded here of St. Paul’s reference to the resurrected body as a “spiritual body”). From my readings of this religion, however, it seems its present day adherents have gone so far afield that the original can be regarded as lost altogether. Still, if the group religion lost the original, its founding revelation is as true today as it was in the beginning.”
Today the most striking detail is the similarity between the Tao and mystical Christianity. A simple search of Wikipedia finds that “the ancient philosopher Laozi explain[ed] that the Tao is not a name for a thing, but the underlying natural order of the universe whose ultimate essence is difficult to circumscribe because it is non-conceptual yet evident in one's being of aliveness. The Tao is "eternally nameless" and should be distinguished from the countless named things that are considered to be its manifestations.”
This concept of the “eternally nameless” aligns with much of what Roberts has previously described concerning God and also echoes what the Christian mystics describe in their experience of Omnipresence. That alignment includes the notion that God (Tao) is not a thing but a what, something fundamental to the underpinnings of what we call life and the universe. I’ve heard it explained that similarities between all the great mystical faith traditions are like the spokes of a wheel. The farther out you are from the center the more differentiation you notice, both in practice and doctrine, but as you travel down the spokes towards the center you end up in much the same place. You end up with Love extending out in all directions.
What this text asks of me is to continue the journey from the outer spokes to the inner ones. To continue letting go of stories and narratives that separate and divide, of releasing those ideas, concepts and actions that keep me on the outer edge of the spoke instead of in the center. The only way I know how to continue this journey to the center is to recommit each day to the practices that keep me aligned to center. I must also remember to use a big dose of compassion when I forget my orientation. At any moment I can forget, but then again at any moment I can remember. I choose to remember as often as I can.
From the Christian tradition there are many practices to choose from. Teresa of Lisieux practiced the “little way” (living moment to moment), Brother Lawrence practiced the Presence (keeping watch of the heart), Meister Echart practiced detachment (letting go), the Pilgrim practiced attention of the heart (with Jesus Prayer), and Keating practiced Centering Prayer (meditation). These various practices are known and practiced around the world. They generally fall into a couple categories, letting go and remembering, with variations of each. We let go of what is not needed and remember that which is needed, Love.
All of life has enough material to provide us with a constant flow of practicing. Here’s to another day of practice, of noticing, and of allowing Love to make itself known…..everywhere all the time if I am willing to look.
