Sunday 15 February 2015

What Is the Question?

..........I remember that whilst doing a pathworking some years ago, I found myself walking along a gravel path - in my imagination. To my left was a high, red brick wall with trees growing on the other side, with their branches overhanging the wall and the path. Along the base of the wall all sorts of grasses and weeds were growing freely yet without any apparent need to overwhelm their companion species. The trees made a welcome shade from the hot sunshine. As I walked, it happened that I came across an old door set somewhat skewed by age in the wall, and so well set after many years of existence that I almost missed it. The wood from which the door was constructed was old but sturdy and darkened by some process I could not determine. I reached out to touch the rusty-looking handle, noticing as I did so that the great hinges were also covered with a layer of rust. I gripped the handle, which miraculously turned easily, and pushed gently on the door. The door swung open gently without a trace of resistance, or the expected squeak of protesting metal. I slipped through the open doorway, into an exquisite garden. I closed the door behind me, knowing I would never need to leave that way again..........

          It was suggested very recently by Natalie that rather than 'going to my room' I should perhaps go out into the garden. Her comment did not immediately rouse the memory from its slumbers, but a gently nudge towards awakening had been felt below the surface of my consciousness. Today, during my meditation, the memory of a secret, inner garden visited so long ago, and sadly forgotten for too long, emerged into the light of consciousness. I will not describe that garden in detail, for it is a very personal place for me, except to say that the garden is kept by an old Gardener whom I have had the joy of communicating once in a while. We do not talk, we simply communicate.
          The garden is more than a place in which to relax and let go of the thoughts, sometimes troubling, that seem to be my ever present companions. And already I seem to have reclaimed the garden, complete with its many usages. It is a secret place where I search for questions. Now it may appear strange to be seeking questions rather than taking time out to seek answers that, in the end, are not of any great moment. There are so many questions that one asks, and can ask, yet the really important questions always seem to hide just beyond the corner of one's eyes.
          Of late, my journey has obliged me to come close to glimpses of christianity. And that has served its purpose. Yet it seems to me that all religions and spiritual philosophies are, by their specialist natures, too narrow and restrictive. Neither can it be said that I have been completely comfortable with the recent approach which I have felt necessary to adopt. However, there have been gains for which I am grateful. But now there are changes in the air, and I have little idea what those changes are about. I feel that the realm of psycho-spirituality is one which is too large for anyone to fully grasp or even imagine. As for me, I will continue to try to work out the tiny part that is my privilege to experience.
          I need to let go, not merely to play at letting go in the hope of salving my ego. There is a whole new area of experience waiting to be explored, using those gifts of imagination that have served me well in the past, and are chafing to be set free again. To make use of the words of Shakespeare's, "Richard II", 'pray God I may make haste but (not) come too late.' Oh what I wouldn't give for a measure of patience. What wouldn't I give to know the right questions.

22 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Hi Tom
    Deleted my first attempt as it contained too many typo’s and misspells!!
    Your interesting post raises the question that maybe the question of asking the right questions is inherent in the cultures of all of early tribe’s people. I was recently reading about the Great Plains Indian tribes of North America, whose quest was to gain wisdom by making contact with a guardian spirit, through the process of fasting, isolation and meditation. This quest even involved an ‘Out of Body type Experience” on a journey to the distant far off spiritual places.
    In Australia, the aboriginal culture was inextricably linked to the dreamtime and its myths which proved the stepping stones to understand the meaning of new life, death, rebirth and the affinity to the land. We have embarked on an amazing journey of scientific discovery, innovation, technological developments and sophistication, but are our spiritual needs any different? Do you think we can learn something from the ancients and the way they placed their fears and faith in the unknown through experience? Are we fellow travellers? Maybe you are following freshly in the well-worn pathway of their forgotten footsteps? Do we still have the patience ?
    Best wishes

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    1. Hi Lindsay; There is much about aboriginal 'dream time' or indian 'questing', at least as far as I understand those processes, that tallies with 'path working', in which imagery is used to contact something deep within oneself. Maybe that is the path to which I am returning. It certainly has great appeal for me, but I am trying hard not to rush headlong into things.

      I agree with you when you speak about the scientific and technological revolution that we have passed through, and continue to do so. At times I fear that either we have been too successful, and put all our apples into one basket, and in so doing have neglected to more spiritual side. Yet the world needs to pay attention to that spiritual side, or as it is now termed our transpersonal selves, as is evident from even a cursory glance at humanity and its problems.

      I have an image, that rises occasionally during meditation, of a vast crowd of people, male and female, young and old, ancient and modern, all looking to a great light. Are we fellow travellers? Yes, I believe so, but we each must find our own way of experiencing the spiritual path. We cannot follow exactly in another's footsteps.

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  3. Beautiful post, and one I identify closely with. As you may know, I went outdoors in 1979 to garden for a living, and came to appreciate nature as the language of the universe. By and by, it became more sensible to consider the First Word, the Logos and causal utterance of all things, as an interrogative.

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    1. Thank you Geo. I always thought your move into gardening to be a brave one, which in the end has brought you great benefits. At least I hope it has. More and more I feel the need to question, particularly the more accepted ideas, because there is the ever present problem of living within concepts and guidelines which may not be my own, but inherited from an egoist society.

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  4. The garden is a lovely place for me because of its potential to engage my senses and to surprise. As a metaphor for finding new and stimulating things in life, going to the garden works very well.

    Some enjoy the surprise and delight in the randomness that a garden can bring. Others will strive to organize and structure their garden in a way that makes it more predictable, or controllable. They will put up little signs that give the name for each plant (carefully isolated from its neighbour) and will even make little guide books so that visitors will know what everything is, and why it was planted just so.

    So it is with matters of the spirit it seems to me.

    Personally, I love surprises.

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    1. Hullo Halle; I tend to be against making maps of my inner, secret garden. To make a map seems to me to be saying, "Show me the way, show me wisdom, but on my terms." I think the Gardener (or call him what you will) will have none of that. If we want genuine contact, we must go along the paths he has laid out, and they may change from day to day. I agree with you: I like surprises. To walk around the garden, to find a gate, door or portal that opens into its own, sometimes alien, landscape is a step into the deeper mysteries of life.

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    2. Isn't a feeling of being in sync with another soul wonderful?!

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  5. Must I admit that this is my third try at making a comment? Is it not meant to be posted? Maybe. Here it is anyway "sometimes I get answers to questions I have not knowingly asked".

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    1. Well now young Ellena; that's two questions asked without even trying. :)

      When you get answers to questions you have not knowingly asked, I get the feeling you must have a personal line to whatever is out, or up, 'there'. I'm pleased and happy for you.

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  6. Asking the right question seems to apply to many situations, not only in your journey. May that garden, or a wild forest, seaside or mountain, or your own home sanctuary be a helpful setting to find your questions, even as Ellena says, when 'not knowingly asked'.

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    1. Dear Marja-Leena; That sounds almost like a prayer. For that I thank you.

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  7. Tom, your garden is surely one that I would love to wander in, dreaming up questions. I love your decision to search for questions! I think that the right answers are always waiting for the right questions to be asked so that they can come out of hiding.

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    1. Dear Natalie; I am so glad that you made the suggestion to go out into my childhood garden, which in reality was no more than a suburban, terraced backyard. It has awoken something for which I have a great need, the memory of a place in which I will find truth. In time I believe I will find my questions. For now, I must make haste slowly.

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  8. While reading your description of the path next to the brick wall I found myself right there too. The fascinating thing about a secret garden is the vision of the healing power of nature.

    It took me a little while to find what I remembered (vaguely) what Krishnamurti said about questions being more important than answers. It was this:

    “To ask the 'right' question is far more important than to receive the answer. The solution of a problem lies in the understanding of the problem; the answer is not outside the problem, it is in the problem.”

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    1. Susan; I have been going round in circles, but finding no way to a resolution. Your quote by Krishnamurti may just be what I need to break my Gordian knot. There is just so much happening at present that to pick out one strand of movement might introduce a sense of imbalance. The way I am following is like treading a knife-edged mountain ridge.

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  9. Tom - thanks for being so kind to me. You should have shouted IMPOSSIBLE.

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  10. a secret garden! that imagery is almost identical to that from one of my favourite childhood books, the secret garden by frances hodgson burnett! the only thing missing is the bird who leads you to the key.

    best of luck to you (although luck is surely not what you need - patience then?) finding the right questions.

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    1. Yes, I think patience is the key. And as you may know I have buckets of that. :)

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  11. "Pray God I am not too soon!"
    -Dirk Gently

    Douglas Adams.

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