Daily Reflections, Day Fifty seven, The Choice between two paths

Day Fifty seven

The choice between two paths.

“Revelation is literally unspeakable because it is an experience of unspeakable love. Awe should be reserved for revelation, to which it is perfectly and correctly applicable.” ACIM.T-1.II.2:7,3.1

Some people call revelation a mystical experience. While we use the word mystic to apply to saints of the past, it is rarely applied to people in contemporary times. Are there mystics among us and should mysticism be something that a person should aspire to?

The mystic aspires to have their consciousness united with God on a permanent basis while living in the world of the ego. Jesus taught that we can be in the world but not of the world.

The awakening process of spiritual development goes through five stages according to a scholar of mysticism, Evelyn Underhill, which are: the awakening of Self, purgation, illumination, dark night of the soul, and union with God.

This spiritual development of awakening is an intentional process that the seeker engages in voluntarily once the seeker realizes they have a choice between living on the path of the ego or the path of the spirit. Will I choose forgiveness and Love or fear, guilt, and attack?

Few, in our contemporary times, choose the way of the mystic because they don’t know such a path exists. It is a shame that the mystical tradition of the world’s religions is not taught as a choice that one has in how to live one’s life. If the mystical path is mentioned, it is described as an esoteric practice of old that is beyond the reach of “normal” people in our society. Seekers, though, often stumble across information about the mystical life. It is the choice of a small percentage of the population who have been seduced by the idols presented by the ego.

It is good to know that you have a choice: the way of the ego or the way of the Spirit. The way of the mystic, seeking revelation, is the path of unspeakable love that fills one’s awareness with awe and bliss.

Today, I will take several moments and reflect on my choice to pursue the idols of the ego or the path to God. One way is involved in fear, guilt, anger, and attack, and the other is involved with Love, forgiveness, peace, and compassion.