Universal Spiritual Common Ground

We hear a lot about a Great Awakening but what is everyone talking about? Many people do not realize this, but the world’s major religions come together at a few prominent points. Aldus Huxley was the first to bring western attention to this synthesis and labeled it the “perennial philosophy.” In Essential Spirituality, Walsh, introducing the perennial philosophy, writes,

Thanks to global communication, for the first time in history, we have all the world’s religions, their wisdom, and their practices, available to us. Unprecedented numbers of people are now sampling practices from multiple traditions. Yet, the sheer richness of possibilities has left many people confused, even dazed, by the variety of apparently competing claims and practices (Walsh, 1999, p. 6).

We have this wealth, a virtual plethora, of material to assist us in our spiritual growth and personal development. Yet, where do we begin to make sense of it all?

Finding the intersection amongst these religions the following four observations have been elicited by Dr. Roger Walsh (Walsh, 1999). The first is a recognition of two separate realms of reality. The realm we are familiarized with is our everyday conceptual reality which is bound by space, time, and physical laws. This is our everyday world. Beneath this when we turn inward we find a world of consciousness, spirit, mind, or Tao. Walsh continues, “This domain is not limited by space, time, and physical laws, since it creates space, time, and physical laws, and hence it is unbounded and infinite, timeless and eternal” (Walsh, 1999, p. 7).

The second observation found amongst the world religions is that humans partake of both realms and hence are multi-dimensional being. We have our physical bodies but we also have witness consciousness or transcendent awareness. This consciousness is identified with the “ground of being,” the sacred foundation of all reality, or the Absolute, and is the spark within.

The third and fourth observations are that individuals can recognize this divine spark within and that realizing the sacredness of our deep human nature by evolving, practicing, and realizing our spiritual being is our reason for being. As Walsh continues,

Look deep within, and you will find that your ego is only a tiny wave a top the vast ocean that is your real Self. Look within, and at the center of your mind, in the depths of your soul, you will find your true Self, that this Self is intimately linked to the Sacred, and that you share in the unbounded bliss of the sacred (Walsh, 1999, p. 91).

Global spirituality embraces this same idea. It is through self-development, spiritual practice, and spiritual awareness that we become aware of and integrated with this Divine spark within us.

When we stop to realize human religions are grounded in and sprang from “connection” with this deep source we also realize that we, ourselves, can connect and establish our own line of communication with this Divine. These experiences are sometimes referred to as non-ordinary states of consciousness (NOSC). They are not, however, non-ordinary because they happen quite often in many individuals’ lives. Spiritual practices and mind/body exercise have been developed to enable and enhance this connection and completion.

In the depths of our hearts and our being we find universal love, wisdom, and potentiality. This is the most fulfilling relationship we can find in existence today. Spiritual practices are those that enable, enliven, involve, or develop one of the following: ethics; focus and concentration; wisdom; transformed emotions; shifting motivation; reducing craving; clearing awareness; awakening spirituality vision; being of service; finding spirit helpers; establishing body consciousness; and so much more.

A spirituality embodying deep practice can lead to the fulfillment and promise of a life well lived. If you would like assistance in launching a new spiritual practice or way of being I hope you will give one of our varied resources a try.

REFERENCES

Walsh, R. (1999). Essential Spirituality: Exercises from the World’s Religions to Cultivate Kindness, Love, Joy, Peace, Vision, Wisdom, and Generosity. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.