3: Conventional Religion & The Inner Way
Hey ! Welcome to today’s message:
In this newsletter, we will explore the differences between the approaches of conventional religion and what I call the Inner Way, which is also known as the mystical way, non-duality, and the unitive way. After some thought, I decided the simplest approach would be to present the data in a table format. All of the major world religions have an external, conventional side and a mystical, non-dualistic side.
The conventional approach, which is all that most people have experienced, doesn’t, in my view, take you very far. It has to do with outward observances, and the inner changes necessary for a truly spiritual life are rarely talked about. As you have no doubt surmised, I am interested in exploring the Inner Way with you.
If you are exploring these data for the first time, it may seem a bit overwhelming. We have all been schooled in the conventional type of religion. Because no other form of spiritual observance was ever described, we either accepted or rejected the conventional view. When you are first exposed to the richness of the unitive way, it may surprise you, it may intrigue you, and it may simply seem like too much to deal with.
But the fact that you are receiving this newsletter rather strongly suggests that you are ready to go deeper in your spiritual journey. So, for this week I would encourage you to simply sit with the information in this table and just think about it. Notice where you feel a repulsion – the feeling that comes when you know intuitively that something is off.
Notice also where you feel an attraction – that feeling you get when you find yourself resonating with a statement, that knowingness that comes when you experience something that is true and real. You might realistically say that the mystical way begins with self-exploration and using the power of your inner knowingness to discern Reality. A discernment that is often subtle and hard to detect at the beginning, but one which grows stronger as you learn to use and rely on it.
Next week, we will explore the four spiritual disciplines necessary for further growth. (Yeah, I know no one likes to hear the word discipline, but these disciplines actually make a lot of sense!) The following week, we will introduce our first spiritual practice. This practice is foundational, and will serve as the basis for our further growth in the mystical way. So please invite your spiritual friends and fellow-travelers to come join us in this deep inner work.
P.S. If you are finding this newsletter course helpful, you may want to consider Dr. Kaisch's latest book, Inside the Invisible: The Universal Path to Spiritual Transcendence. 👇
Inside the Invisible: The Universal Path to Spiritual Transcendence by Dr. Ken Kaisch