Every person’s inward journey towards self-discovery or enlightenment is unique. That’s what makes each journey so precious and important. And yet, all paths more or less lead to the same destination. Although entirely individual, there are similarities in our journeys towards this calling … this longing to come ‘home’ … each and every one of us who travel these roads have some shared inner experiences. It appears that many start out with the same feeling of disconnection, discontent or dissatisfaction. 

Do not look for a sanctuary in anyone except yourself. – Buddha 

Perhaps, you realised that not all was as it seemed. There were gaps in the narrative that you had been given your whole life by parents, school, the News … and now with social media and fake news, your head is spinning and your heart is sore. Even as a child there were two nagging voices – one from your head and one from your heart – they rarely agreed and often distracted you from another voice. This other voice was persistent, benevolent, but called to you continually. Sometimes it was louder and clearer than others. It was a trustworthy voice that appeared to come from deep within you and it also felt so much more like your true voice, an authentic you. 

Over the years, you conformed as much as you could. You often felt alien, on the outside looking in. You watched the theatre around you with fascination and incredulity. Sometimes there was a tiny scream that you shut out for fear of deafening your whole town. 

Then you began to see signs. A friend gave you a copy of Buddhist sayings, you resonated with this one in particular; ‘Three things that cannot hide for long: the Moon, the Sun and the Truth.’ You felt a sense of relief when you heard it but you couldn’t grasp just how big the word Truth was. It was the same with the words ‘Light’ and ‘Love’ and ‘Oneness’ and the ‘Absolute’. You were told you had started your ‘Spiritual Quest’ and you felt both invigorated and like an imposter.

Perhaps, you realised that not all was as it seemed.

All journeys meet crossroads. Where the river ends, the ocean begins. We must have the courage to embark on these journeys, to choose our paths, and to let go of the boat once we are across the river. ― Thomas Lloyd Qualls

You started your journey to clear the distractions and distortions so that you could truly tune into what your inner wisdom was saying. More and more you began hearing these Truths. You started yoga, meditation, self-help and personal growth workshops. You found more and more of your tribe. The voice was getting louder and stronger. You skirted on the edge of joyous courage and old habitual fear. After each profound realisation, after the loss of one more veil of illusion, you were propelled deeper and deeper on the path of self-discovery, self-enquiry and this unquenching thirst or longing for the mysterious home-coming.

You put your hand up for this. Asked for more. You said emphatically: “I want in. This is who I am meant to be. This is my divine purpose.” You didn’t read the small print that said, ‘Once you put your hand up for this you can never take it down’. Slowly it dawned on you that you cannot resign from knowing your true-self — especially when you’ve already set sail. There’s simply no turning back. You made a commitment that you cannot break. This is thrilling and daunting. 

The Cracks

Suddenly you are out at sea. No land in sight. No way of knowing how far away from your home-coming you are. You realise that your whole ­identity is based on a lie. It feels scary. The boat might capsize. It’s sink or swim. You sign up for life-changing retreats. You spend a week grappling with your ego and revealing more and more of your essence. It’s painful … you’re told to find the cracks because that’s where the light gets in. You want in as much as you want out. Then the crescendo break-through. You reach a moment of bliss and understanding. You see you are One with every single component of the universe, seen or invisible. You laugh at the universal joke. You got there … you’ve arrived. Your home-coming is like nothing you imagined. It’s beyond human description. You feast on bliss. Nothing will be the same again.

You feast on bliss. Nothing will be the same again.

You have wrung yourself inside out. You’ve chipped at every rough surface until that diamond shone through. You are born again into a world of LOVE. There is only Love. You are floating. But it’s time to leave the sanctuary of the retreat. You arrive home eager to share what you have discovered. Give yourself to your life fully. No more compromise. No more inauthentic you. You burst through the door and your family say, “How was it … was the food okay? … did you lose any weight?” Nobody looks up from their phones. The last words of the group leader are coming back into sharp focus;

“If you think you are enlightened spend a week with your family.” 

You’re like a punctured balloon. The deflate is fast. 

And then that inner voice, your wise and trusted guardian pipes up. You’re not sure if there’s an empathetic tone or a slightly mocking tone; 

“Now your real work begins … Living Love.” 

Ecstasy and Laundry

There’s a sigh and a recognition that after the ecstasy, there is the laundry. You put your dirty clothes in the machine. You’re half in your old life and half mesmerised by the miracle of washing machines. You’re smiling. It’s sinking in. To hold onto that high is ‘attachment’. It’s a fool’s trap. Attachment is the enemy of living Love in this moment and this moment and this moment. Someone shouts, ‘What’s for dinner?’ Back on familiar ground, terra firma, you muster a reply, “Give me a moment … I’ll be out soon.” 

You take that moment to consolidate all that you experienced on this last life-changing retreat. You bask in the afterglow. You lean into prayer … that tender way to explore intentions. You remind yourself of your promise of how to end each of your prayers … 

“I pray for this (insert request) or something better (give it to God).”

You smile at your particular version of snakes and ladders.

You feel relieved that you have found the ladder … you acutely recognise that you’ve yet to find the first rung. You smile at your particular version of snakes and ladders. You appreciate that your path to enlightenment is not linear. You’re in a complex three-dimensional board game. Your soul-challenges are literally all around you — perfectly and cryptically interlinked. And only you, through direct experience, have the wisdom-keys. 

You stand up. Dust yourself off. And put your hand up for the next adventure. How to continue living Love … living from a place of authenticity and never abandoning the recognition that Love is the container and the contained. The invitation is to commit to more and more sophisticated self-enquiry. To quietly move into more practise-based workshops and contemplation on how to engage in the world from that place of Unity, Peace and Love. It’s the awareness of how to be in relationship with people, jobs, and even things, from that place of Oneness. As you walk back into the living room, back into your life, with the people and the things you love, you are aware of a new quality within yourself. It’s sweet, compassionate, humble and is quietly witnessing … witnessing ‘you’. And then a tremendous surge of courage floods your awareness when you realise … that you can never be alone. 

If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows him like a shadow that never leaves him. – Buddha

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We’d love to hear about your journey of remembrance ­— Remembering who you truly are. Do you resonate with this article? Maybe your journey is very different. Please share in the comments below and let’s keep learning from each other as we share stories of Love.

Travel safe beloveds,

Much love

Team UPLIFT