| An excerpt from my book "The Journey Home" - | | | | willingness to endure suffering for those we love. |
| Autobiography of an American Swami ( | | | | Above, in the dome, an enormous painting |
| Set like a magnificent jewel, in the heart of | | | | depicted the miseries of hell and the glories of |
| Florence sits the Cathedral of Santa Maria del | | | | heaven and was crowned by the risen Lord |
| Fiore. Completed in 1367, the enormous dome and | | | | encircled by angels. While I gazed up at the holy |
| historical carvings attract throngs of tourists. While | | | | crucifix, a passage I had memorized, the words |
| the bustling crowds snapped photographs on the | | | | of Jesus, spoke through my heart,"Seek ye first |
| steps outside, I sat alone in the pews of the inner | | | | the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be |
| sanctuary. I had visited churches throughout | | | | added unto you...for where your treasure is, there |
| Europe and always felt at home in them. Now , in | | | | will be your heart also". |
| the presence of the holy altar, I prayed for | | | | A chill tingled up my spine, my limbs trembled, my |
| spiritual direction. A stream of the faithful knelt | | | | cheeks quivered, and my head felt hollow and |
| down to pray as well. Aristocrats and peasants | | | | light. Gripped by both shame and sorrow, I |
| alike fell to their knees in appeal before the | | | | suddenly felt lost and alone, like an orphan. I |
| Almighty. I wondered what they were praying for. | | | | envisioned the pilgrims around me to be frozen |
| Were they begging the Lord for success in their | | | | still like the statues behind them. Those statues |
| endeavors or relief from misfortune? Were they | | | | glowed; now they appeared to be breathing. |
| petitioning money, fame, vengeance? Or maybe | | | | Then, another biblical passage echoed in my mind: |
| they were begging for unconditional love. As for | | | | "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the |
| me, I questioned my own motivations for | | | | kingdom of God. Blessed are the meek for they |
| travelling. Was I neglecting my responsibility to | | | | shall inherit the earth." In these words, I felt a |
| society by not getting a job? Was I trying to | | | | shower forgiveness that seemed to bathe me |
| escape it due to some inner weakness? | | | | with a new life. Emerging from the silence, a pipe |
| Feeling tiny, I looked up at the enormous stone | | | | organ filled the sanctuary with a song that lifted |
| arches and the towering walls. The sun shone | | | | my heart beyond the peak of the dome. I felt so |
| through stained glass windows, illuminating the | | | | free. The internal battle I fought in London was |
| massive octagonal dome and casting a veil of soft | | | | over. I that confluence of indecision I once and |
| light on the marble saints. Touched by the sun and | | | | for all chose the river that flowed toward my |
| surrounded by candles, the holy altar glowed. | | | | spiritual aspiration. I knew that I would never turn |
| There, an almost life-sized figure of the symbol | | | | back. |
| that true love and compassion brings with it a | | | | |