gospel of Thomas 73

Jesus said, "The harvest is great but the labourers are few. Beseech the Lord, therefore, to send out labourers to the harvest."

Reading this short parable from the Gospel of Thomas, a very simple interpretation comes to me. The harvest that Jesus refers to is our enlightenment. It is the flowering of our essence; our consciousness reaching to its greatest heights, and its deepest depths; the expansion of who we are.

And this harvest is great. It is infinite – beyond anything the thinking mind can comprehend. And yet so few people set out to reap this harvest: only a tiny proportion of human beings set off upon a spiritual journey. And if anything, that number is decreasing, as more and more of the world's population comes to live an urbanised, industrialised life; as we, as a species, plough more and more energy into technological development; and put more and more focus on economic measures of wealth and prosperity.

Such things are not bad in themselves – except that they distract us from seeking – from seeking truth; and seeking to discover who we really are. And this spiritual journey is the only source of true happiness. And that's why Jesus says, beseech the Lord, send out more labourers. And it is a labour to begin with: becoming a seeker, searching one's soul. It is hard work for a while.

But once that period of struggle and strife is over, the spiritual journey becomes a ride, as if we are surfing a wave. And it is a blessing. And it is not just a blessing for those who are undertaking their journey. The consciousness of the whole of humanity is raised by those few labourers.

So if you have not set forth yet on your own journey, I urge you to do so, forthwith, without delay. I too, like Jesus, hope that more and more people take that first step, and become seekers.