Picture: Looking across the Great Divide to Hidden Lake at the top of trail.
The power of pristine nature is undeniable, however it should not be seen in lieu of the power of the life-force that is unleashed in the Son of man, the human form; rather nature may be seen as an adjunctive help. Spiritual forces within the spine and brain are of unparalleled dimensions.
We celebrated the 4th of July with a traverse up a large snowfield and narrow rocky ledges to the top of Logan’s Pass and the crown of the Great Divide. The vistas from the top are spectacular, mountain goats lazed next to the trail or scampered up vertical rock, beautifully coated marmots drew close giving us their darshan, and various climbers were festooned in patriotic red, white and blue. The wind was brisk, and the blue skies and floating white clouds made it a spectacular day.
It seems that I am on an every-other-day schedule; one day exploring nature’s wonders, the next indrawn into Spirit’s world. Following yesterday’s vigorous climb we are having a quiet day with shorter walks along the shoreline of St. Mary’s Lake. We thought of going for another climb today up to a waterfall, however God had other ideas. According to His whim powerful currents moved up the spine making physical activity null and void. With this spinal current heat built up in the cranium, bliss radiated from every cell that made for a deeply indrawn state. Rather than a Ram-adventure in nature, He has orchestrated a Ram-adventure in Spirit.
This life that I lead is a life of complete surrender. God has proved time and again that if something in this world is absolutely required then He makes it possible for me to do. However, this is not dictated by my preferences or desire nature, but strictly what He wills in any given moment. I am more than happy to surrender to His will, but it supersedes what I think, and sometimes what I think should happen for the sake of others.
This has made for a fascinating life and one that I cannot possibly predict. It has taken me on the most remarkable adventures in Spirit—following in Param-para Gurus light He has made me work in ways that defy description. As one who has worked at physical labor since a young age and mental labor years later, this God-work is far more demanding than anything I have known in the world, yet the world would be hard pressed to recognize it as labor.
There is no doubt that as stupendous as this material creation is—it being far beyond what any of us can know through these five senses—the inner spiritual nature is just that much more. The power of it, the intuitive perception it opens, the satisfaction it provides, the fulfillment of all the heart’s desires makes it vastly superior to anything this world, or numberless other world’s beyond can provide.
An invitation comes directly from the Infinite, “Come, come on this greatest of adventures, the exploration of your own Spiritual Nature.” Answering this invitation does require something from you, actually it requires everything from you. You must be completely dedicated and surrendered to Divine Will.
You may know Divine Will initially as the spiritual practice prescribed for you: meditate morning and night, chant His holy name, practice seeing Him as all in all, be in service to Him in all forms you meet, love Him more than you love the world, and always tell the truth. As you practice these ways with sincerity an inner life awakens inside of you. Sporadically at first, then continually you know the Divine guidance and Presence through your purified mind—a result of your spiritual practice and Grace.
Now an inner peace and a thrill of joyful bliss permeates your being; you live in total submission to Divine Will expressed through your innermost being. The fullness of this can only be known through direct experience. Do not be left with the regret of wondering why you did not answer God’s invitation. Choose it now, today, and every day as you move forward and you will never look back with regret of any kind. You will then know the superior virtue of your inner nature.
Picture: Ascending the ice field
