May/June 2000 Spirituality
Journey to the Luminous - the Spiritual Quest of a Contemporary Seeker
by Aaran Stevens
"Write
down what you see and hear, that you may not forget," Sant Kirpal
Singh Ji Maharaj, one of the great contemporary Mystic Adepts, advised
his young disciple, Arran Stephens in 1967. Arran's diary of experiences
and observations on his quest for spiritual enlightenment became
the genesis of his newly published book, Journey to the Luminous.
In an amazing tale spanning several decades and continents, Nature's
Path Foods' founder, Arran Stephens, spins the story of his journey
from farm life in British Columbia through bleak experiences on
the streets of Los Angeles to a search across the Indian subcontinent
for meaning and truth.
"Spirituality has always been the leaven to the loaf of existence,"
says Arran. "With sustained inner practice, even the most limited
mind begins to soar free from its usual ruts. We then see how we
are interconnected with every other being, like points of light
in a radiant, networked universe. Human compassion and the desire
to serve this expanded Self begins surging in our veins, and in
a million little ways, the innate nobility of the soul finds expression
in deeds. In a society that flows towards selfishness and sensual
gratification, the truth seeker appears to move upstream, swimming
against the current of the status quo."
Anyone interested in the search for Truth will resonate to Arran's
intimate observations. Through his eyes and heart, the ecstasy and
sometimes anguish of the Path are movingly portrayed. As part of
a chosen entourage traveling between ashrams and villages, Arran
tells you of momentous experiences, explorations in the nature of
miracles, he describes a brief descent into hell as well as flights
into higher planes of consciousness. His story is a personal memoir
transformed into a universal story of every heart's search for meaning
and truth.
Arran's spiritual quest becomes intertwined with success in the
commercial world. This part of his story is filled with ups and
downs, of mistakes and recoveries, all bound together with human
understanding and the joy of spiritual practice bearing fruit. "I
am an artist, idealist and businessman," says Arran, "an admittedly
odd combination. I was privileged to participate in the birth and
flowering of the natural food business in the late 60's and my involvement
with various entrepreneurial vehicles continues to this day." Arran's
company, Nature's Path Foods, is the largest organic cereal company
in the Americas. His grounded insight captures the value of meditation
and moderation in our world and demonstrates the struggle and reward
of living a spiritual life.
His book, Journey to the Luminous, is richly illustrated, containing
70 photos portraying life in India with several spiritual Masters
along with illustrations by the author. It is the story of one man's
path to spiritual consciousness and is deeply respectful of the
traditions of all religious seekers in the great quest for spiritual
awareness.
Arran Stephens will be in Portland on Friday, June 23rd sharing
his story at the Friday Evening Forum sponsored by New Renaissance
Bookshop, 1338 NW 23rd Avenue, Portland. Tickets are $15 and available
from New Renaissance, tel.: 503-224-4929. For additional details,
see page 19. Also, an excerpt of the first four chapters of Journey
to the Luminous can be found on the Nature's Path website: www.naturespath.com/journey.