(Response to 2.S.1 Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh: Sacred scriptural quotes Forum, presented by Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh)
The second selection resonates in a harmonious way with my Christian understanding of entering the spiritual life. ”
The Guru re-unites the separated ones back with God”suggests that the intial problem to be healed is one of separation from God. Those who are separated from God are somehow deficient and must be reunited. That much is clear.
For a common understanding of entering the spiritual life, we must wonder about the reunification. Is it instantaneous and complete? From my own tradition, we would say that in initiation (i.e., the sacramental rituals of Baptism, Chrismation, and Eucharist) the person who has just entered the spiritual life has put on Christ, has received the Holy Spirit, and has received the true Body and Blood of Christ. So the union is, in one sense, complete. On the other hand, however, there is still a lifetime of work ahead of the person, during which (it is hoped) they continute to grow into the likeness of God, conform themselves more perfectly to Jesus Christ, and develop a deeper communion with the divine.
In our group’s discussion, I realized that someone could posit that, for Christians, Jesus Christ is the guru. My limited understanding of this term does not allow me to either confirm or deny this statement, but it is provocative. When Christians say that Jesus Christ is the way and is the light, is that one way of entering into this kind of conversation?
A further provocative step would be to consider the person of the Holy Spirit, who unites humanity with divinity. Time does not allow for me to say more at this time.
