One could say that it is arriving, not at a physical place, but rather at a mental place that is free of suffering, attachments and fears of any form. On “the other shore” we live in our Buddha mind. We experience literal liberation. We are awake to our Buddhahood, our Christhood. We know what it is like to live on the gross, common shore, and we have done lifetimes of spiritual work and practice. We now desire to cross over into living a more awake, godly, aware life, free of the traps and pitfalls of mundane existence.

Perhaps we have glanced at the other beings who seem to be more peaceful, more tuned into the flow of life, more luminous. And we, too, desire more than anything else what they are demonstrating. It means leaving the familiar shore of suffering and drama behind, leaving behind all that’s familiar. Few are willing to do that.

There is a quite revealing opening line in A Course in Miracles that has brought such insight and clarity to my mind. It is: “All are called, but few answer.” Consider that for a moment. “All are called” rather than the old thought and belief, “Few are called.” You have been called to the other shore. “Koi paraga?” Are you willing to answer the call, to do what is necessary to make this life-altering and life-affirming journey?

Many deny the call, reject the call, ignore the call. All the while the call continues. The image comes to mind of a phone ringing endlessly in the background while the meaningless business of life takes precedence. Then one gets farther and farther removed from the ringing, lost in samsara, the suffering of the world, living the painful life of separation, rather than rising up into the wholeness that is being offered, rising into one’s holiness and getting on the ferry for the other shore.

My mother is now elderly and has suffered greatly from the loss of her husband, my father, and the two strokes she has experienced. Her pain is compounded by some deep family difficulties. In earlier, stronger times she was a demanding, commanding force to be reckoned with. She was forever the lioness with her three cubs. When I was in Unity ministerial training in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, we would talk on the phone at least twice a week. I will forever remember one conversation, perhaps the only conversation I can recall from so long ago.

It was a most intense and stressful time for me during my first year of studies. All that had previously been held dear by me was unraveling. I was living in the questions of what is real and what is illusion. I was exploring the validity of my previously held beliefs. And I wasn’t sure I had a grasp on either. In the midst of this mental whirlwind my mother called. She could tell by the tone of my voice that something was not right.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Oh . . . nothing that I could actually describe to you, Mom,” I replied weakly.

Concern rose in her voice. “What do you mean you can’t describe it to me? What’s happening?”

“Mom,” I stammered. I tried to calm myself. “It is just so bizarre. It’s frightening and confusing. It’s just bizarre! It’s surreal!”

“Joan,” she replied firmly, “I do not like the words you are using.” Then with sincere concern she asked, “Are they brainwashing you?”

I paused for several long moments before I answered. “Yes, that’s it. They are brainwashing me—not in the World War Two or Vietnam tiger cage sense—but it is brainwashing nevertheless.” The realization had struck me that every single thought, belief, idea, perception, concept rising out of me was being scrutinized . . . by me. As each one arose, I would be forced to ask: Is it factual? Is it helpful? Is it meaningful? Is it valuable? Is it beneficial? Is it true? If the answer was “no” to any of the questions, I was encouraged to let them go. So, yes, I was being brainwashed, but in a most spiritually sound manner. The experience was like my gray matter daily being removed from my skull and purified by crystal clear water, washing away all my false concepts, cherished beliefs and erroneous notions.

So, yes, Mom. I was being brainwashed in order to discover that there was another shore, then later, after many years of a devoted and intensive spiritual practice, to be able to catch that mystical ferry to the other shore.

Asked what he taught, the Buddha responded, “What do I teach? Whatever is fascinating to discuss, divides people against each other, but has no bearing on putting an end to sorrow. What do I teach? Only what is necessary to take you to the other shore.” Oh my God, I love that!

What is life like on the other shore? The seemingly evasive answer is that one has to experience it oneself to know. And that is true. But generally it is leaving separation behind to experience oneness with all. It is releasing in harmony to know peace. It is knowing serenity, contentment, caring and generosity. It is the wonder of having exactly what you need when you need it without struggle. It is giving up effort and instead allowing the Universe to support you. It is what Jesus taught about living in the Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom of Heaven can be likened to the Other Shore. It is the Other Shore.

Few believe this is possible, few answer the call, but to those few who do the hitherto unimaginable becomes real. How? By living each aspect as taught in the Eight-fold Path. By practicing compassion, generosity, loving kindness. By substituting yourself for others. By faithful daily spiritual practices. By cleansing the scales from your eyes and seeing the beauty that surrounds you. By opening yourself to boundless happiness. It also means giving up the drama and struggle and removing yourself from unhealthy and unwholesome situations and people. Ultimately it means to conquer the whole field of mind to become a Buddha or Christ.

From the Dhammapada: “Keeping company with the immature is like going on a long journey with an enemy. Therefore, live among the wise, who are understanding, patient, responsible and noble. Keep their company like the men moving among the stars.”

The wise live on the other shore. The foolish ones are unaware of the possibility of more. It is true that those living on the original shore can be very annoying in their endeavors to keep the seeker from catching that ferry, as they continue to pretend the illusion is real. The one who catches the ferry is a threat to the ones who would rather stay in their misery. Says Robert Thurman, “Western society is intolerant of people being happy.” You know the old cliché “Misery loves company.” The miserable ones do not want you to leave them and cross to the other shore.

Someone else’s opinion or belief is never a reason to stay on the original shore. In fact, there is no reason to stay. You must answer your call, do your work, catch your ferry, and live in the possibility of boundless happiness on the other shore to become a Buddha. Choose your Buddha nature over what the throngs are doing and how they are living. Always choose Buddhahood.

Time and space will continue to exist, but the enlightened being knows it’s not real to him, although it is still real to other people.

Take all this material and spiritual information, digest it, make it your own. Allow it through practice to become your living truth, your soul’s knowing, so that you may know that the great and vast truths of Buddhismare as important and relevant today as when the Buddha walked the earth. May we all know that the lotus of eternal truth still is rising out of the mind stuck in the mud of the world of samsara. See in your mind’s eye the lotus rising through the illusion. And the lotus still blooms.

May you be filled with loving kindness.