An Appeal to the Youth in All of Us

An Appeal to the Youth in All of Us

I wonder what happened to the youth of the 60s and 70s who, as they aged, were swept up by the material world, by pursuits contrary to their ”youthful” high ideals? I wonder about this now because I’m of retirement age, and I’ve been fortunate to have encountered a real school when I was young, and after contemplating my life choices, I decided to dedicate myself to awakening. It is never too late to start the personal journey of observation, internal growth, and attainment of a higher state of consciousness.

When I was younger, it was a push-pull type thing to pursue something like the Fourth Way. The chaotic world at that time repulsed me - the senseless Vietnam War, rampant racial discrimination and misogyny, and the extensive exploitation of natural resources. My high ideals yearned for real caring, love, freedom, opportunity – another life. Now that I’m older it’s neither a push nor a pull. It is only the Way.

Constantly transcend complicated situations. - Lao Tzu

So, this post is a call, a ringing of the bell for others who have wondered “what if” I had risen above the chaos, without simply withdrawing. The answer is “what if” can be now; it’s not too late. I don’t mean this as a plea or a pressure-packed pitch. I just mean to say, this can be an earnest wake-up call. It’s not too late to pursue your highest dreams of internal and eternal pursuits.

Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head. – William Shakespeare

The parallels of today’s chaos with the 1960s are quite remarkable. The complicated zeitgeist is somehow similar. And the simultaneous hopefulness and utter chaos are back again in tandem. If that rings true for you, as it does for me, then pry yourself open (again or for the first time if this is new to you).

As the chaos increases globally, so does our opportunity to transcend ourselves. – The Teacher

Please don’t misunderstand me. I don’t wish to proselytize, and I don’t wish you to do anything you don’t want to do, dear readers. But I do implore you, and you should ask yourself whether longings for consciousness and deep internal exploration are present and welling up. If so, then it’s not too late to start afresh, to start the Way now.

In many traditions of the ancient past, it was common for people to raise families, perform their civic duties, pursue a career, and then turn to the spiritual life in the final chapter of life. It’s not so different today, if this appeals to you. Don’t let it slip through your fingers again; don’t settle for what comes easy.

The person who introduced me to the Fourth Way, a dear friend from college, has done some amazing things in his life. Yet he declined or was reticent to join a school to dedicate his finer energy towards awakening, towards achieving higher states of consciousness. I only wish he and others like himself, who are so beautiful and brilliant, could make that choice. This is my springtime plea to everyone who’s listening, but don’t let opportunities go by at this point in your life. You can rise above the noise, identifications, and imaginary world, while never leaving it, by finding a Fourth Way school. The Fourth Way occurs in life.

The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. - Marcus Aurelius

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Julius Leblanc Stewart, Flowers in Her Hair