Coming to Our Senses (Part 2)
In Part 1 of this message, I discussed some of the limitations of our human senses. I admit that I may have been a bit harsh in dwelling on the areas where our perceptions are deceiving us. To be fair, I want to acknowledge and celebrate the positive aspects of our senses and the way they serve us on this earth.
Our senses allow us to experience so much pleasure during our human existence. What a miracle to see the Grand Canyon, the smile of a child, the oceans, and the trees and flowers. The delight in tasting our favorite foods, or to feel the touch of another person – these are miracles we often take for granted.
Our senses not only provide us with enjoyment; they warn us of impending danger and perform many useful functions.
However, what the senses and the mind can’t do is decipher the truth about God and our relationship to God.
Often, we try to figure out God with our minds. We think about what God wants us to do in our lives. We think about why the world is as it is, with all the suffering and the poverty. So many things don’t make sense to our rational minds. Yet we keep searching for answers. We may listen to sermons or read books. We may read newsletters or articles about spiritual growth. These resources can be helpful, but they never seem to answer all our questions. The mind is eventually befuddled and reaches a dead end.
We have to face this fact sooner or later: the mind is not capable of knowing God. Here’s why. The human mind is limited. For example, the human mind can’t understand the concept of something that has no beginning and no end. Do you have any reference point for that? Is there anything that has ever shown up in your life that has had no beginning and no end?
All religions seem to agree that God is infinite. God has always been. Nothing else created God. In addition, God will always be. There is no time when God will end or cease to be.
I know the human mind has accomplished some miraculous things. We can launch a rocket to the moon and do all sorts of other impressive feats. But that doesn’t mean the human mind can get a handle on God. Simply put, God is playing by different rules than the mind can grasp.
If the mind and the senses either deceive us or are incapable of understanding God, what can we do to establish a deeper connection with the God? Here are some things I’ve found helpful, and they may or may not resonate with you.
First and foremost, quiet the mind. As long as the mind is chattering, we are caught in the trap of focusing on the past or the future. The mind is never in the present. It is always a split second off. Thus, when you see the sun, it takes a moment for your mind to say, “There is the sun.” The mind’s “translation” is never in the present. I am learning that God is found in the Aliveness of the Present Moment. The stresses of modern society continually pull us out of the present moment, and we have to make significant changes if we want to counteract these pressures.
God’s silence speaks volumes and gives us a glimpse into our true nature; in addition, as the mind and ego are diminished, we open the channels of communication where God can speak and impart messages and insights to us. This “mechanism” works differently in each person, yet it is the quiet mind that invites God to communicate.
I’ve also found it imperative to embrace uncertainty. Many people are looking for certainty on the spiritual path. They are looking for a set of beliefs they can hold onto that will provide peace, joy and security. I was not able to find a deep spiritual connection by following any religion or belief system. My inner voice told me to surrender to God and to trust whatever came up. That approach is working for me. I have not found certainty, but I have found a deeper relationship with God. I recognize that your path might be quite different.
No doubt, this is a mysterious universe – and the mind will never figure it out. The senses will always be deceived as quantum physics has clearly demonstrated. Yet I have faith in a loving God that has everything in hand. I like the way Ralph Waldo Emerson put it: “All that I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.”
– Jeff Keller
© 2008