The Tao as a Signpost

The Zone is not so much a thing to attain as it is a signpost on the journey back to the Source.
(Larry Miller with James Redfield in 'Exploring the Zone')

When you come across the Tao you will have reached the beginning of the end of an ancient journey. Sure, you still have ego to burn and you still will have your down days, but most of the time you will see a blazing sun that follows you wherever you go. Many writers tell you about the Law of Oneness and the existence of karmic laws that ensure that every good deed comes back to you very much as you will have to pay for all of your sins, yet, all that talk is academic. Along the Tao you can see the Law of Oneness in action. Time shrinks and you can literally put the pieces together. I ask you, if you can see how a certain action drags you down and another lifts you up instead, how hard will it be to choose the latter? You also start seeing how others run after worthless metal that glitters in the background, just as they run past precious stones lying right in front of them. To finish the ancient journey once you have reached that stage is easy as 1 2 3 - nothing can keep you from this birthright once the Tao has got a hold of you.

I am pretty sure that many have discovered the Tao in recent years just as I have. Larry Miller and James Redfield call it the Zone, Neale Walsch's calls it 'Conversations with God', Gary Zukov calls it 'The Seat of the Soul', Eckhart Tolle calls it the Now and the Christians call it Holy Spirit; it doesn't matter what name you give this Force; fact of the matter is that once you start interacting with it, it ceases to be a religion and becomes a life philosophy instead. At this point you are literally enlightened despite the 'I' that still needs to synchronize a little with the Force. The Tao shines the way always. Stop worrying about enlightenment would be my advice - enjoy the magnificent journey instead.

In Synchronicity I Trust

Some of you have probably read James Redfields's Celestine Prophecy, a book that develops C. C. Jungs's synchronicity idea. Everything in this universe is interconnected. Little did I know a decade ago that one day I would live my life according to this principle.

The universe supplies me steadily with symbols that enable me to travel along my spiritual path. A slight pain in my right knee reminds me if I am inflexible; a small cut while shaving alerts me to a harmful train of thoughts; interruptions by my children indicate that I have messed up again somewhere; and then I am bombarded with specific messages from licence plate numbers, dates, initials, etc. What I enjoy most are the implicit messages from my friends as well as foes. Every person has a specific symbol for me and what they say sometimes hits me like a sledgehammer, even though for them these innocent statements have no meaning at all.

My wife asked me what if the universe suddenly send a message to divorce her. Well of course not, there is no randomness in these messages. They are just little nudges to make me realize what I already know, but haven't yet completely embraced on a conscious level. Actually, I am wondering whether all spiritual travelers experience these messages as intensely as I do. Probably not. If you have a developed inner voice you don't really need to send these symbolic messages to yourself. My starting point has been an incredibly developed intellect, but my "feeling" dimension has been somewhat underdeveloped. So my strategy is to surrender my ego and intellect to life instead.

I actually feel incredibly lonely. Most of the messages that I receive are so private and so tailored to my ideosyncratic spiritual path that I can't really discuss them with anybody else. My wife is my closest friend, but she would definitely consider me a nut case if I told her half the things that are going on in my brain. I once came accross a book by Nouk Sanchez and Thomas Vieira, Take me to Truth, in which they described their journey as soul partners along their spiritual path. It must be fun to have somebody so close with whom you can explore all the metaphysical laws together. Meanwhile, I travel happily myself and can't wait for all the symbols the universe will offer me today.