Sunrise

Eternal Pilgrimage

H. Oosterink

The question arises: "In what way can I become conscious of this inner spiritual force within me; how can I approach the Self which is all-wise?" The answer is that which has been given through countless ages and by every great world teacher: by following that path which exists for all; by giving the self in service to others; by compassion and understanding.

When studying the Sacred Scriptures of the race, whether the Christian Bible, the Bhagavad-Gita, the teachings of Buddha or of Lao-Tse, the Vedas or Upanishads, we read therein the same message, freed from dogma or creed, and containing the encouragement to enter the silent path of self-conquest. That path begins at home, with each one of us, and leads the aspirant to an understanding of those experiences in life which bring recognition of the divinity within. Humanity little dreams of the possibilities that life has in store, for within the inmost heart of man there are shining spheres of consciousness; and to become self-conscious of that inner beauty and spiritual grandeur is the inevitable destiny of the race.

Many many lives are needed to reach our goal. Yet the goal, paradoxically, will never be attained. The pilgrim-soul continues its journey endlessly, for as soon as the peak of a mountain is reached, another range of mountain peaks lures him ever on. Painfully he will climb round after round of the mountain of experience, but as he does so the panorama becomes ever more beautiful. For the growth of the self is endless. Man, the Pilgrim, is truly without bounds, for as Jesus the Christos expressed it: "I and the Father are One."

(From Sunrise magazine, March 1952; copyright © 1952 Theosophical University Press)



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