The Pathless Path

The call to the spiritual path can show up in many different ways. It can feel like an unbearable pain,  a terrifying void, a deep yearning for a more authentic life, or a pressing urge to contribute to make a better world. 

In the end, we start looking for the way… and this search can last for what seems an eternity. From the wisdom of the Tao Te Ching we hear: “There is no way to find the Tao by seeking, yet only those who seek it find it.” This implies that the Tao or ‘true path’ cannot be found through direct pursuit, but paradoxically, only those who engage in seeking will ultimately discover it.

From another angle, wisdom traditions argue that “the teacher appears when the student is ready”. This means that one needs to reach a certain level of maturity or openness to be able to embrace new guidance and wisdom. We must note here how more evolved souls manifest all the ripe conditions to be in their true path with great teachers from a very early age.

When we finally find our path, it might feel exactly what we were yearning for or close enough to follow. Precious teachings begin transforming our lives for the better and having teachers and fellow seekers give us a sense of safety and belonging. We have found a precious compass and a seaworthy ship to sail across the great ocean of life.

However, there is a moment in our lives when reality becomes bigger and more complex than our familiar path can handle… And we feel like we have been thrown in the frenzied waters of existence without even a life jacket.  

Fourteen century Persian poet, Hafiz, said:

“The great religions are the ships

Poets the life boats. 

Every sane person I know 

has jumped overboard.”

These lines suggest that sometimes we need to plunge naked into the waters of direct experience to achieve a deeper understanding of spiritual truths. The great ships and boats are convenient, and sometimes very cozy places of rest and refuge. But sometimes life asks that we explore its paradoxical nature with candid immediacy.

When we are thrown into these wind-swept waters and there is no ship that can save us then we can say that we have stepped into what is known as the “the pathless path”. At this point, rather than relying in the established traditions or trodden spiritual ways we must learn how to rely in our personal connection to the Source and its manifested laws. We must discover the wisdom that steams from inner stillness and silence, and become aware of the ebbs and flows of life itself.

Marcela Lobos