May 1960

The essential character of our ad- others. Apparently these suspicions venture mercifully overruled most of and resentments worked only inour mistaken attitudes. As I see it wardly on ourselves; to our deterioranow, we wcre too mental and notional tion. Occasionally they were evi-

The Voyage of the Golden Rule about the whole project. We spent denced as an aggressive manner or much time and effort speculating and words toward others. analyzing the possible moves of the An aggression, as I see it, is an government. I feel this was pure act that makes another feel inferior Excerpted from the book “The Voyage waste. It only diverted our attention . . . . Like strontium ninety it is a of the Golden Rule-An Experiment with Truth” from our true intention. It tended to dangerous and insidious poison. I By Albert Bigelow play into the hands of the govern- feel it is much more harmful to me ment, to play the game their way, to than to any of its objects. It is really put the confrontation on a basis of a form of withdrawal, is it not? It D ESPITE our high inspiration and our high intent, we made many mistakes. These are personal opin- I begin to mastermind. I wish to dominate. Now I am protecting and defending an idea, belief or theory. intrigue and plotting, and to make divides rather than joins men. It tries our protest a mental rather than a to put men out of the human comions. Not all will share my view. Now I become more interested in moral protest. . . . munity rather than to build the Most of our mistakes were caused using men than in relating to them. We were impatient. “Inipatience,” blcssed community. It is a mistake by carelessness. We got into trouble, Now I am afraid-afraid of losing my said Gandhi, “is a phase of violence in m y CilsC. It was particularly a I feel, to the degree that we failed idea, my theory, my institution, my . . . .” Patience accepts facts as they mistake in our protest because it was to care about our attitude. We were position, and-oh, yes-my prestige. arc; not as they should be. P:I t’~ence so at variance with the method of our careless about prayer. By prayer I do Now I have mislaid the key to Truth, particularly accepts consequences of protest. not mean a prescribed practice but to God, to Love; I have lost Fear- deliberate acts. . . . “You certainly made people think” rather a yearning of the heart to be lessness-the king of virtues. Then Another part of impaticncc is an is a constant comment. I take that loyal to the best in ourselves. When fear brings dishonesty, deceit, and undue interest in the effect of one’s to mean that Golden Rule came I am prayerful and attentive my atti- self-deceit. Violence is the result of acts. But it is the effort and the pro- across and comniunicated as we tude takes care of itself. I do not fear. Now I would force my views, priety of the effort, not the elfect, thi~t hoped it would. What Golden R d e have to think about practicing loving- impose my ideas on others, coerce is our real interest and satisfaction, said was, “We are not telling you kindness and understanding, I am others to my way before they have is it not? The social order of which WHAT to think, but w e m e saying,. kind and I do understand. understood or accepted the rightness we are a part and in which we have in thc most dramatic way we can, T o the degree that I leap to follow of my way. I am no longer persuad- been raised, puts a horrible emphasis that this is a NEED to think.” the soaring of my spirit my prayers ing. on success, attainment, and constant Golclen Ride had no slick answers will be answered. T o the degree that Subtly and swiftly my Adventure progress. As a rcsult, the value of but it did persistently pluck at the , I am careless in prayer and aspira- of the Spirit has run aground. I am our acts is frequently determined by sleeve of conscience and ask if the what is elfcctive. Again the end is cmpcror was wearing any clothes. . .. , 1 tion I begin to deteriorate. Impercep- stranded on the sands and shallows tibly the full tide of goodness begins of my insecure conceit. I am alone. mistaken for the means. We were by So we made people think because to ebb away. My private preferences I can make no progress, the tide is no means free of a self-conscious dc- they wanted to think. All of us yearn and aversions begin to take charge. foul against me. No longer am I swept sire for approbation and approval. to clear up the confusion within our- I mistake the end for the means. No along in company with my brother Mercifully we wcre aware of the dan- selves. All of us long to end the conlonger are my head and heart in bal- on the flood tide of love and under- gers of this trap. . . . flict within ourselves. All of us have ance, my mind starts to take over. standing. At times we were distracted by a deep, secret, and dominant want. Reprinted with permission o f the publisher, Dorrblecluy & Cortrpany, Inc. lack of faith in the power of good in We want a conscientious conviction.