The Essential Path

1. We are one decision away from solving humanity's biggest problem

Is it possible—just possible—that there's something we don't fully understand about ourselves, about life, and about God, the understanding of which would change everything?

Humanity's core challenge. Our biggest problem is that we don't know what our biggest problem is. We see the effects all around us - political divisions, economic inequality, social unrest - but we fail to recognize the underlying cause. This ignorance leads to a condition of alienation that threatens to become permanent.

The power of understanding. By questioning our fundamental assumptions about who we are and our relationship to life and each other, we can unlock transformative insights. This single decision to embrace a new understanding of our nature has the potential to solve not only our collective problems but also the largest challenges faced by each individual.

• Key areas affected: Politics, economics, social structures, personal relationships
• Potential outcomes: Greater harmony, equality, peace, fulfillment

2. Our basic instinct is not survival, but the expression of our best selves

If survival were your basic instinct, you would run away from the burning building when you hear a baby crying on the second floor. But you don't.

Redefining human nature. Contrary to popular belief, our fundamental instinct is not survival, but the spontaneous expression of our highest qualities. This is evident in moments of crisis when people act selflessly to help others, even at great personal risk.

Implications of this truth. Recognizing our true basic instinct can radically change how we view ourselves and structure our societies. Instead of focusing on competition and self-preservation, we can build systems that nurture and encourage our innate drive towards compassion, cooperation, and self-actualization.

• Examples of selfless acts: Running into burning buildings, standing up to armed attackers, risking life to save strangers
• Societal shifts: From "survival of the fittest" to "thrival of the kindest"

3. We are spiritual beings manifesting physically and one essence manifesting individually

There is no separation between The Creator and The Created. Divinity is found in each of Divinity's Creations, as God is the All-in-All, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, and is therefore absent from no one and nothing.

Our true nature. We are not merely physical beings, but spiritual entities expressing ourselves through physical form. Moreover, we are all individuations of a single, unified essence - often referred to as God or the Divine.

Embracing this identity. Accepting this dual aspect of our nature - spiritual beings and one essence - can profoundly impact how we live and interact with others. It fosters a sense of interconnectedness and shared purpose, while also honoring our individual uniqueness.

• Spiritual traditions supporting this view: Various religious and philosophical texts
• Scientific parallels: Quantum physics insights on interconnectedness of all matter

4. Every act is an act of love, even if deeply distorted

Love is all there is.

The root of all actions. At the core of every human action, no matter how seemingly destructive or harmful, lies an expression of love for something. This love may be deeply distorted or misguided, but it is love nonetheless.

Compassionate understanding. Recognizing this truth allows us to approach even the most challenging behaviors with compassion. Instead of condemning, we can seek to understand what someone loves so much that they feel compelled to act in harmful ways.

Examples:

• Theft: Love for security or desired objects
• Violence: Love for a belief, way of life, or perceived justice
• Anger: Love for something threatened or taken away
• Key question: "What hurts you so much that you feel you have to hurt others in order to heal it?"

5. Embracing our true nature can transform society and end alienation

We need now to make a major choice. A Daring Decision. We need to choose God to be experienced as a part of us.

Societal transformation. When we collectively embrace our true nature as spiritual and unified beings, it can lead to profound changes in how we structure our societies and interact with each other.

Ending alienation. This shift in understanding can dissolve the us-vs-them mentality that fuels much of our current social and political discord. It replaces separation with connection, competition with cooperation, and fear with love.

Potential changes:

• Politics: Focus on collaborative problem-solving
• Economics: Redefining success beyond profit to include well-being for all
• Religion: Emphasis on unity rather than exclusivity
• Education: Nurturing spiritual and emotional intelligence alongside academic skills

6. Compassion is key to accepting our oneness with all others

Are we one with those who have done terrible things that we would never, ever, do?

The challenge of oneness. One of the biggest hurdles in accepting our fundamental unity is reconciling it with those who commit terrible acts. How can we be one with those we judge as evil or criminal?

Compassion as the bridge. By cultivating deep compassion, we can begin to see the humanity in even the most challenging individuals. This doesn't mean condoning harmful actions, but rather understanding the pain and misguided love that often drives them.

Steps to cultivate compassion:

1. Recognize shared humanity
2. Consider life circumstances that shaped the person
3. Reflect on times we've acted in ways we're not proud of
4. Ask: "What have you loved so much in your life that you feel you have to hurt others in order to experience it, protect it, or keep it?"

7. Tools for experiencing our spiritual nature and oneness in daily life

Every moment is a moment of Communion with God … and we can experience it as that if we consciously reject from Separation Theology and choose God to be part of us.

Practical application. While understanding our true nature intellectually is important, the real transformation comes from living it daily. There are simple yet powerful tools we can use to experience our spiritual essence and oneness with all.

Three key tools:

1. The Beingness Question: "What does this have to do with the agenda of my soul?"

   • Ask before decisions or during challenges
   • Aligns choices with spiritual growth

2. The Oneness Question: "Is there any part of what I am now seeing 'over there' that I have seen 'over here'—in myself?"

   • Ask when observing others or events
   • Fosters recognition of shared qualities and experiences

3. Speaking as the Divine: "Is this what I want the world to hear from God right now?"

   • Consider your words as expressions of the Divine
   • Elevates communication and interactions

• Benefits: Greater self-awareness, increased empathy, more purposeful living, enhanced connection with others and the world

Last updated: October 26, 2024