Question: Am I On the Right Path?

In previous articles, I’ve  talked about commitment to our intention in order for success. Here is a different view, prompted by a question from someone concerned that they might not be on the “right” path.

My daughter was visiting one day (my Buddhist monastery daughter), and she said they had a Korean monk who spoke to them at the Zen Center. He said that we westerners are so intent on getting some place. We are results oriented and so mental in our pursuit of whatever it is we think we are seeking. This goes for finding our right path as well. He said we needed to relax our grasp on reality a little, to relinquish the mind control. We are on our right path. We are doing what we are meant to do. Otherwise we wouldn't be doing it.

That's almost too simple. It ought to be a struggle, or bigger, or more meaningful, or more acknowledged, or monetarily remunerative, or, or, or. Yet, where we are, what we are doing, and what's in front of us is our path. It leads to wherever it leads. The road turns. The stream overflows. The sun sets. It doesn't matter. It all goes to the same place. And the only place or space is now.

This is hard for us. We are so oriented to knowing better, doing more, being successful. But what does any of that really mean? What is knowing better? What is doing more? And what is the criteria for success? Beyond that, what IS success, and according to whom???

I saw a homeless person one day and engaged him in conversation. He was so full that I realized he was right on purpose. He was a living example of the homelessness within ourselves. As we strive for more and more and bigger and better...more and more people are left behind. We have no safety nets. Nothing adequate. Only this pursuit of $$$ and other "stuff". I met another homeless person who was empty and .undone. Following his path in the moment, albeit a difficult one.

Who am I to say what the greater path is – the CEO or the person on the street? It’s all subjective, and we don’t really know. We just think we do, and there is one of our major problems. We all think too much in the west. We need to “feel” more. The level of heart disease and mental illness that we experience tells us something, doesn’t it?

We cannot get “there” through the mind. It can only take us to a point, and from that juncture on, only the heart will carry us.

So you are on your perfect path. I am on mine. Now to let the mind quiet so the heart can delight. So simple. So hard.

Ah…Life!   
From Seasons of the Soul Spring 1999