The Time for Commitment

Many of us reach a point in our spiritual journey where we recognize that we must commit ourselves, even though the process of commitment can be highly emotionally charged. We may have drifted around exploring a bit of this and a bit of that, finding much to stimulate our thirst for interesting experiences and knowledge. Then there comes the recognition that we may have a breadth of knowledge gained from different traditions, but no depth of genuine transformation. We may even have accumulated great intellectual understanding of the path and all of its permutations and flavors, but no actual “inner taste.” Even the great yogi Naropa, a revered sixth-century adept from Nalanda in India, was once challenged by [a wise woman] as to whether he [had an experiential understanding] of the Dharma he studied. It was this question that eventually led him to leave the monastery and go in search of his teacher, Tilopa.

We will almost inevitably come to a point where we are asked to take a step that truly commits us to a process of transformation. The alternative is to remain only partly engaged, even though we may have much knowledge. The metaphorical meaning of the alchemical vessel is that it is the container that holds us through a process of transformation. To step into this vessel is to commit ourselves. We make a choice to no longer drift around, wriggle away from full engagement, or avoid facing ourselves.

Rob Preece
from The Wisdom of Imperfection; the Challenge of Individuation in Buddhist Life
Chapter: The Time for Commitment

(Photo above: Naropa)