The Razors Edge

The expression, the Razor’s Edge, depicts the dilemma we all face on the Spiritual path. How do we go on living our lives in the material realm while we aspire to leave it, and leave it for good?

Some people think the best idea is to follow what the “old timers” did in the old days. Pack up and leaving everything behind. They went on living in a cage or in the woods isolated from society, while others decided to go out and teach even though pupils are not knocking on their doors. Self-promotion and marketing in the spiritual realm is especially disturbing to me, as they taught us – “set up shop at the side of the road and people will come”.

You see, they never told us to go out and recruit or to seek pupils. The mandate is specific; our job was to do good. Whatever attention it forms will eventually be noticed and people will come to you.

Ever since I started on this path, it was a conundrum to me. It was hard as I am not particularly talented in any artistic endeavor; I am not an exceptionally talented or imaginative writer of fiction. I have no musical talent at all, although I can appreciate and can recognize musical works of art.

At one point I thought I might become a Numerologist, and while the craft is still very close to me as a hobby, I can clearly see that I will never practice it as a business.  A while back I had started a reprint publishing business with the idea of reviving some great books, namely, “Queen Cleopatra”,” Zanoni”, and “Tros of Samothrace”, while publishing my own books on investing.

Finally, I have decided to write about things I know and hence make a small effort to help people in any and all forms of life. It dawned on me how liberating it is NOT to limit myself to the esoteric or spiritual subject. How refreshing it is not to focus on any one aspect of Ancient Wisdom but embrace it all while trying to do my share of “doing good”.

Do not get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with making a business out of the spiritual path, but one must be very careful on this approach! You cannot sell God like you would a sack of potatoes. Spiritual performers, artisans and the like can do this if they exercise care. However, it is clear that this path is not for me. I am a publisher.

I do not publish only for money, I love books and I love the ambiance of the literary world. I love my adopted language, and while I constantly need improvement, I am actually getting better at writing.