In his profound book The Imitation of Christ, Thomas à Kempis states:
“From time to time, it is good for us to encounter troubles and adversities, for troubles compel us to search our hearts. It reminds us that we are strangers here and that we can have no hope of anything in this world.” (Chapter 12: On the uses of adversity)
So, though being in the world but not of the world on a philosophical level (Truth, integrity, authenticity, non-egocentric living, enlightenment, etc.) is indeed difficult—once we realize that we are in the world but not of the world on a spiritual level, it becomes a little easier…or at least a little more peaceful.
On the other hand, as Crista Solano points out in the below video, it is still a lonely road to walk.
I believe that Jesus was trying to teach us how to live—how to conduct ourselves individually—in order to manifest (Paradise, heaven on earth, the Kingdom of God, LogosLogos: the Divine reason implicit in the Universe, ordering it and giving it meaning; a primeval and eternal Truth available to everyone who seeks it; a unifying and liberating force which reconciles humanity with the Divine., etc.) in consonance with Tolstoy, who believed that the Kingdom of God is within us, and in consonance with Joseph Campbell, who said “the kingdom of God is in the hearts of men”, both citing Jesus’s statement from Luke 17:20-21:
“And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God cometh, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you.”
And readers of my blog already know that I have come to believe, in consonance with Gandhi as stated in his book Truth is God, and with A. G. Sertillages, O.P.—author of The Intellectual Life: Its Spirit, Conditions, Methods, in which he states: “The surest metaphysic tells us that at the summit of things, the true and the good are not only connected, but are identical”, that Truth is God, or at least Truth is Divine. As I often state:
“Truth is eternal, and therefore Divine; thus my quest for Truth is, in essence, a Spiritual one.”
And likewise, James Allen states in Mind is the Master:
“The follower of self takes up arms against others; the follower of Truth takes up arms against himself. Truth, being unchangeable and eternal, is independent of your opinion and of mine.”
All that said, I began my own quest for Truth nearly 30 years ago, and can absolutely relate to Crista’s almost surreal feeling of isolation and alienation from the mainstream of society today.
But as lonely as the road is to walk, we should still strive to find the others, as psychologist (and renowned psychonautPsychonaut:
One who explores altered states of consciousness, particularly through hallucinatory drugs.) Timothy Leary urges:
“Admit it. You aren’t like them. You’re not even close. You may occasionally dress yourself up as one of them, watch the same mindless television shows as they do, maybe even eat the same fast food sometimes. But it seems that the more you try to fit in, the more you feel like an outsider, watching the ‘normal people’ as they go about their automatic existences. For every time you say club passwords like ‘Have a nice day’ and ‘Weather’s awful today, eh?’, you yearn inside to say forbidden things like ‘Tell me something that makes you cry’ or ‘What do you think deja vu is for?’. Face it, you even want to talk to that girl in the elevator. But what if that girl in the elevator (and the balding man who walks past your cubicle at work) are thinking the same thing? Who knows what you might learn from taking a chance on conversation with a stranger? Everyone carries a piece of the puzzle. Nobody comes into your life by mere coincidence. Trust your instincts. Do the unexpected. Find the others.”
And finally, once again citing James Allen in Mind is the Master:
“Passing along the Valley, he will at last come to the Fields of Sorrow and Loneliness. His desires, having received at his hands neither encouragement nor sustenance, have grown weak, and are now falling away and perishing. He is climbing out of the Valley, and the darkness is less dense; but now he realizes for the first time he is alone. He is like a man standing upon the lowest level of a great mountain, and it is night. Above him towers the lofty peak, beyond which shine the everlasting stars; a short distance below him are the glaring lights of the city which he has left, and from it there come up to him the noises of its inhabitants—a confused mingling of shouts, screams, laughter, rumblings of traffic, and the strains of music. He thinks of his friends, all of whom are in the city, pursuing their own particular pleasures, and he is alone upon the mountain. That city is the City of Desire and Pleasure, the mountain is the Mountain of Renunciation, and the climber now knows that he has left the world, that henceforth for him its excitements and strifes are lifeless things, and can tempt him no more. Resting awhile in this lonely place, he will taste of sorrow and learn its secret; harshness and hatred will pass from him; his heart will grow soft, and the first faint broodings of that divine compassion, which shall afterwards absorb his whole being, will overshadow and inspire him. He will begin to feel with every living thing in its strivings and sufferings, and gradually, as this lesson is learned, his own sorrow and loneliness will be forgotten in his great calm love for others, and will pass away. Here, also, he will begin to perceive and understand the workings of those hidden laws which govern the destinies of individuals and nations. Having risen above the lower region of strife and selfishness within himself, he can now look calmly down upon it in others and in the world, and analyse and comprehend it, and he will see how selfish striving is at the root of all the world’s suffering. His whole attitude toward others and the world now undergoes a complete change, and compassion and love begin to take the place of self-seeking and self-protection in his mind; and as a result of this, the world alters in its attitude toward him.”
I debated sharing the following video, but felt compelled; I just ask readers to understand that everyone’s interpretation of the teachings of Jesus can differ, as can their understanding of, and relationship with, God. But I think the overarching concept of good vs. evil—or as she characterizes it, Truth vs. deception—can be the common thread, the unifying determinant.
We all just need to find the others…
(Also, to watch her original video, or to follow Crista Solano, visit her accounts on the following platforms:
𝕏
Instagram
TikTok
Threads
Worth a watch:
@csolano4488 #God#awake#jesus#jesuschrist #christiantiktok #soulsearching #friends #family #godisgood #bible #biblestudy #study #truth #transparent #real #raw ##christianity #christisking ♬ Boundless Worship – Josué Novais Piano Worship
Beautiful & Unique Inspirational Mugs From Lifeology Store: | |
God is Truth is God Mug  | God is a Verb Mug  |
 | |
www.LifeologyStore.com | |
Like/Follow INSIGHTS Blog on Facebook • View Rand’s Books on Amazon
Visit Lifeology Store • Like/Follow Lifeology Store on Facebook
A Note To Readers:
If you found this article (or any of the others, for that matter) interesting, informative, entertaining, etc., please consider subscribing to the INSIGHTS email newsletter: simply enter your email into the form below (also in the right sidebar)—or, if you prefer, just use this simple quick sign-up form. (Bonus: INSIGHTS subscribers receive a 20% discount at Lifeology Store, at checkout simply enter the discount code included in the welcome email upon subscribing!)
↓↓↓ Also, please hit the “Like” (thumbs up) button below. Thanks! ~ Rand
