DESTINY #1

“S/he who would be what he ought to be must stop being what he is” Meister Eckhart

The Hero/ine’s journey can be a part of finding our Destiny and who we truly are. It can lead us in the right direction but it may take several Hero's journey to help us find this elusive karmic requirement. Many of us never find it.

"The mass of men (and women) live lives of quiet desperation." Thoreau

 The search for one’s destiny has first to do with congruence, when emotions and expression match and behavior arises from the root of our being. When we sing our own song and do not do things for others’ approval. Soul, heart and intellect are congruent. 

“There is only one road that can lead to God and this road is the fidelity to remain constantly true to yourSelf, to change only to accommodate what you feel is highest in yourSelf - not to worry about the rest  that - the road will open up before you as you go.”    De Chardin

Following one’s Destiny is also about trust and surrender. Surrender is about giving in to something much bigger than one's self (as in the little self.) It involves flexibility, fearing less, letting go, being in the flow, not grasping, non-attachment and connecting with the Field and the help it can give us. 

“The universe will reward you for taking risks on its behalf.”     Shakti Gawain

This is not easy. It is also part of the Separation phase of the Hero's journey. We need to take from the past only what we need and leave the rest behind, even those profound teachings of others that can misdirect us.

“Personal insight is more valuable than divine revelation, for if we depend only on the scriptures and the teachings of masters but have no personal insights of our own, all is worthless.”  Rev. Akiva

 Before considering Destiny we need to acknowledge some of the ancient and modern teachings to do with the 

Soul and Meaning        

Both are part and parcel of the search for our Destiny. Martin Seligman, Victor Frank and others stress the power of having Meaning in our lives. They also emphasize that this arises from helping others. Seligman, the father of Positive Psychology teaches that practicing our core or signature strengths can create more meaning as well as well-being (serenity) in our lives. 

"… Do your work, then step back, the only way to serenity."           Tao Te Ching

Frankl who survived the Nazi death camps noted that those who could find meaning amongst the agony of their conditions survived better than others, especially when helping their inmates.

“Once what you are living and what you are doing has for you meaning it is irrelevant whether you are happy or unhappy. You are content, you are not alone in your spirit, you belong.”                        L. Van der Post

What we do not have ourselves we cannot give to others. This is the power of congruence and of Destiny.

“Give all thou canst; high heaven rejects the lore of nicely calculated less and more.” Wordsworth

The good news is that when we give our all for its own sake, not for reason of outcome or any agenda and we are using our core strengths we are in line with the laws of Karma whether its our destiny or not. Buddhism teaches us to take our suffering and make something useful out of it by helping others. The paradox is that this also creates happiness serenity and well being. 

God does not measure results only the trueness of intent and the fervor of effort.

How we serve others also has a lot to do with the crucial healing effects of 'Meaning' in our lives. We have to find our own way, as well as the spiritual practice that can assist us along the path. We cannot come to end of our lives with a plan that others have laid out for us. We will have to come back again to find our mission if we allow ourselves to be misdirected. Congruence with our inner being is vital and not what others think of us.

The Man With a Corpse on His Back 
When you die to the old life you must bury it well or you'll stumble on with the corpse of your old self strapped to your back.  Bury it well and do your grieving. Set right what can be set right with those you hurt and those who hurt you. Give up the souls you've stolen. Reclaim what was stolen from you. Then walk on and don't look back. Others will dig up your corpse, Not only enemies and abandoned lovers, but your very best friends. They'll exhume your bag of bones and lash it to your shoulders to prove you haven't changed. You'll be dragged down and back. You'll need a second wake, a second burial… Robert Moss

 However, when we go beyond positive psychology to the Soul itself, we recognize that: 

We cannot separate the Soul from our Destiny path.

"To thine own Self be true." Shakespeare

"Lad of Athens. Faithful be to thySelf and mystery - all else is perjury." Emily Dickenson

“It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my Soul.” William Ernest Henley

“…put out to sea! Save your boat’s journeying Soul and your own pilgrim Soul, cost what it may.” Dom Helder Camara