After the dust settles I look around and notice the tables are a bit different than before. A few of them no longer have my chair sitting at them.

I notice that my chair now is sitting at a table with my new zoom “sangha” the Supersoul Farms Satsang.

Sangha means association.

I had never heard of zoom before. Wonder how popular it will get (this is 2019. One of those should have bought stocks if I played)

*conversations paraphrased to fit the narrative of the story*

Am I not good enough now?

Me: “that’s weird some of the tables moved down and they don’t have my chair”

Sangha: “that’s a very common theme when you walk your spiritual path.”

Me: “So because I walked my spiritual path, for a few weeks, now all of a sudden people shun me and walk away and don’t care about me anymore? So ungodly me is okay, but spiritual me is ick that’s such bs”

Sangha: “No prabhu you misunderstand, they don’t take your chair away from the table. You did so yourself by walking your path. Those tables no longer serve you on your path” (prabhu means master. It’s a term of endearment for us. To me it basically is asking “how can I best serve you, my friend”)

Me: “okay well I mean it was the Video gaming late night raid table and the stay up late watching tv table, it’s not the worst thing to happen. Can’t stay up late and make the 5am zoom meetings every single morning. I guess that’s a sacrifice I will make to walk my path”

Sangha: *look at each other with sorrow.*

You see every time we exit the train and walk our path, the path gradually goes upwards.

The tables of the train cart are anchored in by our chairs and our hearts.

When we leave the train and elevate our path, some tables we used to find joy in, don’t exactly fill that need anymore, and drift to the back.

We find that certain aspects of the train that used to be entertainment is now seen more as a waste of energy. That acts that used to be “fulfilling” actually weren’t they were just temporary highs we chased.

Little things gradually overtime reveal to us what really matters. The deeper we dig in our heart, the less clutter appears on the train tables.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t find entertainment. As humans we crave the substance. To ignore it would cause great distress. What we should do is find the entertainment that can fulfill the spiritual needs as well as the material-world train cart “needs”.

Sangha: “Every time you take a step onto your path there’s a chance you might take chairs away again. There’s also the chance their path elevates higher than yours and you don’t serve a purpose on their path either.”

Me: “What about the people at the tables? Will I never spend time with them again?”

Sangha: “Eventually you will. Some will show up at some of your new tables. The wonderful new tables that discuss and help remind you to stay on your path. Others unfortunately will take a changing of train cart or two. Eventually you will always be reunited with anyone you built your spiritual love life with.”

Me: *with a frak me like chuckle pointing to the other end* “But I have to walk past those tables, to leave, to go on my path………“

The Path found Inside

The Path of Loss Part two isn’t the path on the trail with our Spiritual Guide.

It’s the realization that the path and the work, is about being honest within ourselves. From the far depths in our heart and soul. Only by shedding away every-single-persons-view of you, walking the path alone by yourself, can you find in your heart the truths of life that matter most to you.

The Path of Loss is the path we take past those we left behind. Those friends and loved ones whose tables moved away last time are still there. We must walk by knowing once we start working on ourselves (back on our Spiritual Path), more of those chairs could be gone when we return.

Some losses are going to gut us to our core. We are going to grab a chair from another table and demand it fit at the tables. We will push and force its way through. It won’t fit.

We are going to step back off and cry and yell on our path. We will blame everyone at the tables that won’t have your chair at them anymore. We won’t understand why they can’t see our path and follow our path.

Then we will walk past the tables again and again and again, until they drift off like many tables in our lifespan have.

For some the path can be too unbearable and they decide to stay back on the train. Let the dirt and dust build up again and slow the progress of time.

Some may choose to leave the cart for the next one. I would be lying if I said there wasn’t a day I had my hand on that door handle.

Sometimes, to our surprise, some friends or family will appear at some of our new tables. The tables that have more light and help clean the windows of the train. Like the Sangha zoom table.

Then What Do I Gain?

Me: “So if I stay and lose progress can I get back at those tables?”

Sangha: “No, prabhu. You see progress on your Spiritual Path is never lost. You can only gain when on the true path.”

Me: “But what do I gain, at those times, when I feel like I’m losing so much”

Sangha: “Bhakti literally means the Path to God through Love. You are going to make a long journey through many Paths until you find the Path of Love and then it will all make sense. Remember the joys you just felt on that path? Those joys will come close to that again and again. For when we walk our path the light shines brighter through the windows of the train and brings light specifically to the tables that will help you find that joy.”

Me: “But I feel like things are wanting me to stop. How or why should I want to keep going?”

The Maya Express doesn’t take too kindly when you are walking your path, especially when you choose to walk the Path of Loss.

They will deploy any means necessary to try and convince you to stay.

The alcohol and substance abuse tables. One that many of us find ourselves sitting at often. Maya Express brought to you by “SeaCrown Double Scotch Table”.

Some tables will offer wealth, money, and fame. You can have it all, as long as you stay on the train for lifetime after lifetime. Maya Express brought to you by “Caeser’s Palatial Cart”.

There Can Be Only One Path!

Some tables will con you into thinking their Spiritual Guide views are the only right ones and demand you sit with them. Maya Express brought to you by “First Table of Burn in Hell if you don’t sit with us”

The last one is the one I dislike the most. They give you the disguise that only they know the right way to keep walking the path.

They will demand their views be followed by everyone. They will demand all tables follow their rules. Anyone who disagrees is evil and must be punished physically or verbally, until that somehow convinces us to sit at their table.

Ironically through all their hatred and anger towards others, they spew sitting at those tables………..

They never actually step off the train and work on their own Path.

Oh they will claim they do. Hold up scripture books or quote a scripture to prove their worth.

But at the end of the day, their Spiritual Guide is still trying to break through the ignorance and hatred built up on their train cart windows.

Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming

One day, you will stop blaming the others for not staying on your path.

Eventually your love for every single one of those that left your path along the way, will be greater than any day they walked along it.

Some may again walk the path with you and experience the new level of love and joy you now feel.

Others will have to wait and see what awaits the next train cart after this lifetime.

My journey so far hasn’t been easy. It never is meant to be. I think part of me writes this so maybe someone doesn’t have to feel like they are alone and don’t have any tables to sit at.

The Bhakti Path of Love isn’t a path many will expect to find as straight forward.

I find that the path doesn’t have to include just scripture from one religious text or another but the path can be found in the scripture or moment that connects to your heart on your path.

I cried as the curtains opened to the Radha Krishna deities at the Dallas Temple last August.

I cried just a few weeks back when a scripture and story about mercy hit my heart while I had my grandson in my arms at a Methodist Church.

Its not as Easy as it Sounds

Many times the Path of Love can be seen as soft or mushy or too simple to be true.

I challenge those to truly spend quality time on their own path and tell me what part of their path, true path, in their heart, doesn’t include love.

What part about being brutally honest with yourself and motives in your heart is easy?

We are taught day after day after day to hide our emotions. To only share our deepest fears with God and no one else.

And even then to FEAR God before you LOVE Them.

My path isn’t that path.

If you require that path,

I wish you the best of LOVE.

My story and how I got here so far, is a love letter. Written from the viewpoint of a fictional train. It’s a love letter about finding my paths true meaning of love and life, dedicated specifically to my children and grandchildren.

I have no other motives. I feel the lessons I have learned leading me to the Path of Love are vital to everyone.

From Intention, to Gratitude, to Mindful eating, the stops along the Maya Express will only contain words directly from my heart.

Because if one word isn’t, then I’m not being truthful to my Spiritual Guide, to me, or to those of you reading this. The souls I Love.

All aboard

The Path of Loss part two is not a single stop, it’s broken up along the other paths. The more you work on yourself the more pain and heartache will come. Yet, even your joy & love for everything will continue to grow exponentially faster.

I hope this stop along the Maya Express isn’t too much. It was a lot to feel for one stop. If you want to share your journey reflections with me it’s always an option. I’d love to hear it.

The next stop along my Path is one that many now know me well for. The Path of Gratitude.

Yours Forever Grateful