Genesis

In the beginning…
These famous words have fascinated us and motivated us to think about our origin; about the creation of our universe, and the cause of our very existence; about questions and concepts that practically every religion, philosophy and science have tried to grasp. And while some have rejected the possibility that the existence of a creation implies the existence of a Creator, the majority of our human race do believe that there was a beginning, or genesis. And we also mostly believe that if man can comprehend what triggered the start of creation, then we could achieve a more profound truth about ourselves, and attain knowledge and wisdom that could somehow elevate us as a species. But is that really the case? Is this obsession with knowing and comprehending the beginning really valuable and useful?

There is no doubt that at an intellectual level, knowing the true nature of the beginning of this creation is a wonderful and lofty goal. The trillions of dollars spent on space exploration and sub-atomic research are testimony to this. And yet, even presuming that man might someday somehow fathom a truth so deep, so inclusive and all-encompassing, the question remains if we could truly derive benefit from such knowledge.

To be truly beneficial, this knowledge must help us achieve nothing less than the ultimate objective of life. It must assist us in achieving the vital goal that perfect Masters tell us about: spiritual immortality and freedom from transmigration. The Masters tell us that death is the inevitable and definitive frontier we all face, and conquering it is man’s most sublime purpose. But can such a purpose be fulfilled simply with the knowledge of how and why the creation began? Does it help a man who is trapped in a deep ditch, to know the details of how he fell in? How does it really matter what happened in the beginning?

What is important is to understand our true current situation. Perfect Masters teach us that this is a story of spiritual beings who are immortal, yet trapped in this creation, suffering physical death repeatedly. And the key to life’s grandest objective lies not in the history of how it happened, but in the process of escape – in the method of emancipation.

Perhaps it is only curiosity that compels us to seek an understanding of the beginning – some might even argue that it is harmless. But the mystics remind us that our time here is limited to the human life span, which is finite and uncertain, and that it is simply good advice to put aside our intellectual curiosities for the moment and to focus on the solution to our problem instead.

This solution is the key to overcoming death, and spiritual Masters tell us that it has existed from the beginning. They explain that the solution lies in utilizing the greatest power we possess, to achieve the highest potential of our being. That great power is love, which the Masters teach us how to unlock through the process of meditation. And that supreme potential is the single greatest event that man can ever experience – to merge into the Creator himself.

It is ironic that our fascination is with the beginning of creation, whereas it should perhaps be upon a different beginning – another type of genesis. It is the moment we embark on the spiritual journey, protected by the Master’s care and guidance. It is the instant we take that first crucial step, with faith and obedience. It is that incredible day we are initiated by a perfect living Master into this path of love – the only true beginning of real value in our lives.