We use spiritual “paths” or “journeys” to describe our spiritual life as not static but a process. Different religious traditions imagine spiritual paths in various ways. My Canadian friend Professor Jasmin Zine is an avid photographer and often posts photos she took during her travels on her Facebook page. Over the years, I have enjoyed these photos and followed her journeys with interest. As a Muslim scholar teaching at Wilfrid Laurier University, she has amazing sense of beauty surrounding her. Prophet Mohammad said, “God is beautiful and loves beauty.” I have asked her permission to use several of her photos to accompany various sayings about spiritual paths.
“God has made different religions to suit different aspirations, times and countries…one can reach God if one follows any of the paths with wholehearted devotion.” ~Ramakrishna, a Hindu mystic
(photo from the mouth of Oxtongue Rapids, Algonquin Park)
“We have to walk in a way that we only print peace and serenity on the Earth. Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.”
~Thich Nhat Hanh
(photo from Edward’s Garden)
The prophet said, “Follow my straight path; don’t follow the non-straight path, you may go scattered.”
(photo from Chefchaouen, Morocco)
Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chast’ning rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
~from “Lift Every Voice to Sing” by James Weldon Johnson
Ancient Japanese saying: “There are many paths up the Mountain, but the view of the moon from the top is the same.”
(photo from Hidden Valley, Huntsville, Ontario)
“In the beginning was the Way (Dao), and the Way (Dao) was with God, and the Way (Dao) was God.” John 1: 1
(The Protestant Chinese Bible translates Word as Dao, the way)
The path will manifest its self.
Just trust the process.
This, is how I have trod my spiritual path in life.