Brian’s Reflection: Tuesday, May 12, 2009

I maintain that Truth is a pathless land, and you cannot
approach it by any path whatsoever, by any religion, by any sect.

- Jiddu Krishnamurti, mystic, born on thus date, 1895

Nothing like a good punch to the “gut” to get one thinking! And I have long thought that Pontius Pilate was a lot more intelligent than he is given credit for. Just three words put him on the map: “What is Truth?”

Pilate was responding to words that are reported to have been said by Jesus, in John’s Gospel: “I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice." [The Message]

I understand what I think Krishnamurti was getting at. Truth is more vast than any religion, any sect, any doctrine. Which, to me, means that “Truth” cannot be contained, cannot be belittled, cannot be understood or claimed by any one group of people on any level. Or, to put it another way, any one group, religion, philosophy, etc who says that they hold the “Truth” just hasn’t understood the Mystery of “Truth”.

The Christian Church, as it developed over several centuries, tried to stake a claim on Truth. The Roman Catholic Church is still trying - and getting itself tied in knots these days as it, personified by the Pope, tries to be nice to other World religions while telling them that they are deluded. Many other Christian denominations are in the same boat – along with various expressions of Islam.

I look at Jesus not as the toy or mascot of Christianity, as they trot Him out to justify their arrogance as guardians of “Truth”. I understand Jesus as the ageless voice of the Mystery of Truth. Jesus was asking people to look at Him and deeply see that “Truth” cannot be understood apart from Loving. And that Love cannot be claimed by any path. To do so is utter human arrogance, and folly – this is what Krishnamurti understood. Any one “path” claiming Truth destroys the human community. Humanity seeking to love reveals Truth. No one owns the path - which is the meaning of the wisdom that Truth is a pathless land.

The message of Jesus that most resonates with me is that No One is Excluded. Our humanity is rooted in Loving, and it is the Path of us all. Perhaps the Message is that only when we discover this universal Path, when all “paths” merge into One, will we have found the Way to Ourselves.

Brian+