The spiritual life

(Martin Jones) #1

140 TheSpiritual Life.


Tofillupthesebroad outlineswhich areset


toguideustothenarrowancient Path,wemay


findamassofdetailsinthevariousscripturesof


theworld,butwhatisspeciallyneededjustnow,


isthewayinwhich people livingintheworld,


bound bydomestic ties,andtiesof occupation


of every sort, how these people may have a


method by which the spiritual life may be


gained, by which progress in real spirituahty


may be secured. It is true that in all the


differentreligionsoftheworldtherehasbeena


certain inclination to draw a line of division


betweenthelifeoftheworldandthelifeofthe


spirit; that line of division, which is real, is,


however, very often misunderstood and mis-


represented,andisthoughttoconsistincircum-


stance,whereasitconsistsinattitude-aprofound


difference,andoneof the mostvital import to


us. Owingtothemistakethatitisadifference


of circumstances which makes the life of the


worldandthelifeofthespirit,menandwomen


inallages have lefttheworld in order tofind


the Divine. They have gone out into desert


andjungleandcave, intomountainandsolitary


plain, imagining that by giving up what they


called "theworld," thelifeof thespiritmight

besecured. Andyetif God beall-pervading


and everywhere. He must be in the market-

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