Deep inside, mostly hidden from ourselves, we all have a secret need to belong. At first, we want to be seen, truly seen for who we are. Once we feel seen, we want to be known. We want our intimate friends and partners to know and accept us, even to treasure us. Once accepted and cherished, we find ourselves wanting to serve others, almost as if this is a way to express our deepest gratitude for the gift of being seen, the gift of being loved.
These deep movements of our innermost selves constitute the spiritual dimension of our lives. We see these profound needs driving the spiritual quest in all ages. From the young adults trying to find their way to grizzled oldsters preparing to leave this world.
Yet, in the midst of this, we sense a strange paradox. We notice that “I” am over here, but the thing I’m searching for is “over there.” But when we structure the problem in this way, we prevent ourselves from attaining the solution.
The deepest truth, found in all major religions, is that we are already one with the Divine. Thus, there is no journey per se. Rather, there is a series of awakenings or realizations about the nature of Reality, the nature of Truth, and our own deepest human nature.
As you can surmise, this is a mystical journey – a journey that takes you deeply into the nature of yourself, and into the nature of God. There, the great spiritual masters say we find the Divine. Depending on your faith, you might describe it as the Kingdom of Heaven, Enlightenment, self-realization, or communion with God. By following the course of the inward way, we come to realize we have always been cherished and loved by that Unseen Presence we call God.
For most, the goal of the spiritual life is, at best, unclear. Many would say that the goal is to be a good person and to lead a moral life. Some translate this as an imperative to work for social justice. Others try to improve their personal lives, but many who do so are rather vague about what is necessary.
What God wants from us is far more radical, so here it is, short and simple: The goal of the spiritual life is that you become God! In Christianity, the technical ‘church’ term for this is Theosis, and it is best summarized by St. Athanasius who said, “Jesus was made man that we might be made God.” These are stunning words, so let them resonate in your heart for a moment.
This notion is not limited to Christianity alone. It is clearly present in the Eastern religions as well. Ramana Maharishi of Hinduism said, “The Self [the Source or God] is not reached. You are the Self. You are already That. The fact is that you are ignorant of your blissful state.” We find this in Buddhism, Judaism, and Daoism as well.
Perhaps the most compelling version comes from Islam, where we hear the great mystic, al-Hallaj, who said, “I have seen my Lord with the eye of my heart, and I said: ‘Who are You?’ He said: ‘You.'”
Here are the 4 components necessary to achieve the spiritual goal of Theosis:
- Lead a moral life. This includes: no lying, no stealing, no sexually inappropriate behaviors, and no violence.
- Be your best possible self. Don’t just tell the truth; be the truth. Don’t just refrain from stealing; develop your integrity in such a way that no one would ever suspect you of theft.
- Engage in regular periods of meditation and deep prayer in order to develop the inner stillness necessary to understand your own true nature.
- Find a spiritual elder, a teacher, and spend as much time with your elder as possible. Being in the presence of such a teacher will enable you to quickly develop that inner stillness so necessary for your spiritual journey.
As the great German theologian Karl Rahner once said, “In the days ahead, you will either be a mystic (one who has experienced God) or nothing at all.”
