In his novel “After Many a Summer Dies the Swam” Aldous Huxley tells the story of a Hollywood millionaire who fears his impending death. In a way, it is an examination of American culture, particularly what he saw as its narcissism, superficiality, and obsession with youth. It is a satire that also raises philosophical and social issues.
I would like to quote here a passage from this book that is particularly interesting. It highlights how spirituality and the inner quest is not for everybody. When you are just preoccupied with the logistics of life, with survival needs, with the material aspects of life or the ego desires, there is no chance that you will understand the deeper truths and the Ultimate reality. If you do not take a spiritual path, they will remain an abstract idea of some fools or saints. It is a catch 22. You can only know by experience. And you will only be able to experience a spark of the Source, Godhead or Light by, in one way or another, already walking on a spiritual path.
“I like the words I use to bear some relation to facts. That’s why I’m interested in eternity—psychological eternity. Because it’s a fact.”
“For you, perhaps,” said Jeremy.
“For anyone who chooses to fulfill the conditions under which it can be experienced.”
“And why should anyone wish to fulfill them?”
“Why should anyone choose to go to Athens to see the Parthenon? Because it’s worth the bother. And the same is true of eternity. The experience of timeless good is worth all the trouble it involved.”
“Timeless good,” Jeremy repeated with distaste. “I don’t know what the words mean.”
“Why should you?” said Mr. Propter. “You’ve never bought your ticket for Athens.”
Metaphorically, meditation is the ticket to Athens. Meditation is the ticket to Source.
