11/07/2026
‘Staying the Course’
In relation to walking a Spiritual Path, there is a quote by the Theosophist, Alice A Bailey, recommending : “find your post … and then stay there.” …
The following is a hint of where I first found mine.
Her name was Jeanne, as in Jeanne d’Arc (a.k.a. Joan of Arc) but I knew her as Ananda. I met Ananda when I was 33, 10 years after I had been walkabout, abandoning societal restrictions, and gone searching for something that made more sense. I had done my best to serve my community but had become broken and disheartened in my attempts. In meeting Ananda, a spiritual teacher, I met the first true authority in my life. I met someone in whom I could place my trust.
I had always assumed that a Spiritual Path would mean ongoing uplift-ment and bliss but what I discovered was something else. While ‘the Path’ gave great support and inspiration, it also involved near constant challenges and exhausting efforts. Finding my post was a moment when my life became most enriched. Staying at my post has been both challenging as well as richly rewarding.
Staying “at my post” required facing the truth of what lay within me - including all manner of unconscious, and unexamined, matters of the inner psyche. The mission involved having to be vigilant with the ego-nature, that needed to be observed as often as I was able, and transformed. For instance, where I found hatred, I worked towards forgiveness. Where I placed blame, I sought to own my own part in those events. When I met depression, or disillusionment, I did what I could to keep my spirit aligned and alive.
Walking a Spiritual Path required much commitment and dedication, and my teacher, Ananda, supported me in this.
Many years after my teacher’s passing, I still feel supported by what she gave me - deep in my heart. My watchful mind, still keeping check on the way my ego seeks to play King. Making best choices along the way.
At my post I observe how the lower-mind distances itself from what it judges as ‘out there’. I consider how, what is going on in the world, is actually the result of our collective, inner-work ... or lack thereof. That what we see on the news is but the cumulative effect of what each of us has thus far chosen. The state of the world - an outer representation of how much of our lower-nature, remains unconscious, unseen, and allowed to run free.
On a lighter note … when Ananda was still alive, and life brought its greatest challenges to my door, my teacher gave me guidance that became a supportive mantra; Ananda reminded me to : “Never give up”. An understanding that the Path is long and there are many challenges along the Way.
Sometimes like Sisyphus, other days like Icarus. Decades of striving to live somewhere in between. My main lessons of late involve keeping the fire in my heart burning. To not allow any heaviness of thoughts, or circumstances, to persuade me otherwise. To welcome joy however, and wherever, it might manifest. To “keep on going” no matter what the outer world presents.
To accept that - what comes ‘to’ me is ‘for’ me, and, on the longer journey Home … to choose - as best I may - to be - and to become …
Love Itself.
[Arjuna Govinda 11 07 2026]
~ Image by Ishan on Upnsplash
