I do not believe there is only one way for everyone—never have—but rather, we are all on our way to the Way. We have various labels for the Way–Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism—regardless, the Way always has been and always will be.
“The Tao is both named and nameless. As nameless it is the origin of all things; as named it is the Mother of 10,000 things” (Tao). Our path is our experience of the 10,000 things of the Way: “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6).
“Everyone practices in order to find out for him or herself…how to be balanced, how to be not too tight and not too loose. No one else can tell you. You just have to find out for yourself” (Pema Chödrön, The Wisdom of No Escape).
Any and all of the ways teach us, no matter what label resonates individually: God, the Universe, the Source, the Unified Field, Spirit, Creator, Krishna, Buddha, or the eternal phenomena of the Chinese “web that has no weaver.” The unique expression that is each of us is also our connection to one another.
Deepak Chopra says “we are all God in different disguises”; God is having a unique experience on the physical plane through each one of us. As such, we are the energy that is God, the Oneness that is our connection to one another.
It seems we should celebrate our connection to one another but often we separate rather than celebrate, disconnect rather than connect, although we are hardwired to love and belong—it is in our DNA. When we separate from our own way, we leave the path to the Way, and we suffer.
We all know suffering–no matter how we label craving and clinging—we
do not have to know others’ experiences nor they ours to feel what DNA is tugging on us to do: connect with one another. When we are separate, we do not trust our way to the Way.
“Going out and changing the world doesn’t work for me…It only feeds into the same judgmental energy….Instead, letting go of attachment to any way of believing or thinking has made me feel more expanded and almost transparent so that universal energy can just flow through me. More positive coincidences happen in my life when I’m in this state of allowing” (Anita Moorjani, Dying to be Me)
The need to connect with one another keeps us in search of our way to the Way. Our journey begins at birth. We bring our own bits of light and dark to the being that is our life. The darkness and lightness of each of us is what we offer to the world, what we come to know as our path to the Way.
We do not have to live as labels for it is in our Oneness with one another that we find our way into the Way.
KM Huber's Blog 
Labels often seem to be intended to exclude rather than include, the walls of a church intended to shelter, but also to define a boundary between us and them. I would rather watch a spider or stare up into the treetops when I want to feel the flow of creation–which is one big river on which all of us ride.
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Absolutely, Adrian!
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I like the idea of getting away from labels – something I am never happy with. However isn’t capitalising ‘the Way’ making it a label? Connectedness is for me the core thing – whether with the natural world or with others. There are many ways to connect!
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I considered that capitalization as a label but decided that all ways lead to the Way, akin to all roads converging into one. And, I suppose, every time I think of the Way, I think of the Tao, hence the capitalization. Good point, Diana. As you say, however, it is our connection to all on the physical plane that is key. Perhaps it is the heart of life. Always appreciate your thoughtful comments, Diana.
Karen
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I suspect all humanity is on a journey; often, really, to much the same place – and it is to the detriment of humanity that we seem to keep fighting over how we are going to get there. When it would be so much better to celebrate our differences, draw inspiration from the dynamic of it, and move forwards together.
An inevitable aspect of the human condition, I fear.
Another wonderful post – thank you!
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Oh, Matthew, absolutely on all accounts, especially the dynamic of the differences, as you say. How else do we broaden our perspective? Maybe in the 21st century, we change what has been inevitable. I know. I am such an optimist. Thanks for the kind words, Matthew.
Karen
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Karen,
You know by now that we are on the same way to the Way. I love that your way is different than mine, but I can still walk next to you and share experiences and sign posts. I love the image of ways to the Way. We are like different water molecules in the same river. Glad to be traveling with you. {{{Hugs}}} Kozo
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Great to be travelling with you as well, Kozo. I love the celebration of our differences, which only broaden the Way, however it is defined, from moment to moment or as you say, molecules in the river. Hugs to you, Kozo.
Karen
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Wonderful post, Karen and I agree; wouldn’t things be so much easier if we celebrated our similarities and interconnectedness rather than our differences? I have to believe we are all doing the best we can to travel our path but eventually, it all comes together. Does it really matter how we got there? A great start to another snowy Monday in NJ : )
Steph
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Thanks, Stephanie, for your kind words. For me, it does not matter how we get there only that we get on our way to there.Just think how much we could learn from one another for we each have a unique way of expressing our way. Hope your snow melts soon.
Karen
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Hi Karen, your post reminded me of Neale Donald Walsh in his many books “Conversations with God” He says in it imagine a huge mirror that is all of us. Imagine that God had read all the theory in life but hasn’t done the practical experience. The mirror God and us all then shatters into billions of pieces and those pieces go to earth, tiny pieces of God all experiencing life in all its forms. I agree we have to concentrate on the connectedness as we find our way through life.
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It has been many years since I read that book so thanks for reminding me of the shattering of the mirror. That’s a wonderful image of experiencing life on the physical plane. Thanks so much, Athena!
Karen
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One of my favorite books is The Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman. I will have to find these others that you quoted here…excellent post.
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Thanks, Rufina! I so appreciate you mentioning the Millman book for it is on my list to read. Your recommendation increases my interest. Thank your for your thoughtful comments.
Karen
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