--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the spiritual life it is not necessary…" description: "\"In the spiritual life it is not necessary to have a complete map of the path in order to begin traveling. On the contrary, having such complete knowled..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/239/meher-baba-2986_contrary_in-the-spiritual-life-it-is-not-necessar_1271485.png" --- # In the spiritual life it is not necessary to have a… ![“In the spiritual life it is not necessary to have a complete map of the path in order to begin traveling. On the contrary, having such complete knowledge may actually hinder rather than help the onward march. The deeper secrets of spiritual life are unraveled to those who take risks and who make…” quote by Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/239/meher-baba-2986_contrary_in-the-spiritual-life-it-is-not-necessar_1271485.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/239/meher-baba-2986_contrary_in-the-spiritual-life-it-is-not-necessar_1271485.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/239/meher-baba-2986_contrary_in-the-spiritual-life-it-is-not-necessar_1271485.png) > “In the spiritual life it is not necessary to have a complete map of the path in order to begin traveling. On the contrary, having such complete knowledge may actually hinder rather than help the onward march. The deeper secrets of spiritual life are unraveled to those who take risks and who make bold experiments with it. They are not meant for the idler who seeks guarantees at every step. Those who speculate from the shore about the ocean shall know only its surface, but those who would know the depths of the ocean must be willing to plunge into it.” [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spiritual growth requires taking risks and diving deep rather than staying on the safe shore; over‑planning can hinder progress. **In simple terms:** Spiritual seekers must risk and explore, not over‑plan. Key Takeaway Take bold steps into the unknown. Themes spirituality risk exploration growth Mood hopeful introspective Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - meditation retreats - pilgrimages - personal experiments - learning through experience Key Concepts mysticism experiential learning faith Questions to Reflect On - What “ocean” are you hesitant to plunge into? - How can you balance preparation with daring? A Different Perspective Risk can lead to loss; not all are ready for deep immersion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Depth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depth/) [Experiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiments/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-life/) ## Related quotes > [Those who speculate from the shore about the ocean shall know only its surface, but those who would know the depths of the ocean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/those-who-speculate-from-the-shore-about-the-ocean-shall-know-only/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [To learn to play seriously is one of the great secrets of spiritual exploration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-pollack/to-learn-to-play-seriously-is-one-of-the-great-secrets-of-spiritual/) [Rachel Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-pollack/) > [My lighter, more superficial side will always steal a march on the deeper side and therefore always win. You can't imagine how often I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/my-lighter-more-superficial-side-will-always-steal-a-march-on-the/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [“I'd rather he not know the depths of my crazy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-hodkin/i-d-rather-he-not-know-the-depths-of-my-crazy/) [Michelle Hodkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-hodkin/) > [Idlers do not make history: they suffer it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kropotkin/idlers-do-not-make-history-they-suffer-it/) [Peter Kropotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kropotkin/) > [Sometimes I think that idlers seem to be a special class for whom nothing can be planned, plead as one will with them -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/sometimes-i-think-that-idlers-seem-to-be-a-special-class-for-whom/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [All poets are idlers, even if all idlers are not poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/all-poets-are-idlers-even-if-all-idlers-are-not-poets/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [The idea of a government is to create an ordered, willing work force where there's no trouble. I think idlers are generally seen as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/the-idea-of-a-government-is-to-create-an-ordered-willing-work-force/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [The faster you go, the idler you get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferreira-gullar/the-faster-you-go-the-idler-you-get/) Ferreira Gullar > [“When I pretended to be precocious, people started the rumor that I was precocious. When I acted like an idler, rumor had it I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/when-i-pretended-to-be-precocious-people-started-the-rumor-that-i-was/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [Beauty, pleasure, freedom and plenty of sleep: these are the hallmarks of a successful idler's break. Travel should not be hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/beauty-pleasure-freedom-and-plenty-of-sleep-these-are-the-hallmarks/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [ The perfect woman, you see \[is\] a working-woman; not an idler; not a fine lady; but one who \[uses\] her hands and her head… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/the-perfect-woman-you-see-is-a-working-woman-not-an-idler-not-a-fine/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [Truly, the bench is a boon to idlers. Whoever first came up with the idea is a genius: free public resting places where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/truly-the-bench-is-a-boon-to-idlers-whoever-first-came-up-with-the/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [Writing a book is a brilliant thing because once you've finished it, you've done it, and there's the potential for it to go on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/writing-a-book-is-a-brilliant-thing-because-once-you-ve-finished-it/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [By amusing myself with all these games, all this nonsense, all these picture puzzles, I became famous... I am only a public entertainer who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/by-amusing-myself-with-all-these-games-all-this-nonsense-all-these/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) ## More by Meher Baba > [The seeker asking, Where is God? Is really God saying, Where indeed is the seeker!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/the-seeker-asking-where-is-god-is-really-god-saying-where-indeed-is/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [Seek a reality deeper than the changing forms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/seek-a-reality-deeper-than-the-changing-forms/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [Art, when inspired with love, leads to higher realms. Love art and that art will open for you the inner life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/art-when-inspired-with-love-leads-to-higher-realms-love-art-and-that/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [The best way to cleanse the heart and prepare for the stilling of the mind is to lead a normal, worldly life. Living in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/the-best-way-to-cleanse-the-heart-and-prepare-for-the-stilling-of-the/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [As you all become more intimate with Me, with opportunities to come closer to Me, all that is good and bad within you comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/as-you-all-become-more-intimate-with-me-with-opportunities-to-come/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [Let not the dirt of the sanskaras of your thoughts and deeds touch you, by surrendering every thought and act at the feet of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/let-not-the-dirt-of-the-sanskaras-of-your-thoughts-and-deeds-touch/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [Those who constantly want something will never feel happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/those-who-constantly-want-something-will-never-feel-happy/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [Love and forgiveness is not for the faint-hearted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/love-and-forgiveness-is-not-for-the-faint-hearted/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [The best course for My lover is to remember Me wholeheartedly as much as one can…and leave the rest to Me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/the-best-course-for-my-lover-is-to-remember-me-wholeheartedly-as-much/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [The purpose of life is to realize God within ourselves. This can be done even whilst attending to our worldly duties...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/the-purpose-of-life-is-to-realize-god-within-ourselves-this-can-be/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [God alone is real, nothing matters but love for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/god-alone-is-real-nothing-matters-but-love-for-god/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [There is no higher or lower goal. There is only one goal, Self-Realization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/there-is-no-higher-or-lower-goal-there-is-only-one-goal-self/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [Sometimes our weakness is considered strength, and we take delight in borrowed greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/sometimes-our-weakness-is-considered-strength-and-we-take-delight-in/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [God alone is real, and all else is illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/god-alone-is-real-and-all-else-is-illusion/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [Those who speculate from the shore about the ocean shall know only its surface, but those who would know the depths of the ocean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/those-who-speculate-from-the-shore-about-the-ocean-shall-know-only/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) [Explore all 143 Meher Baba quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) ## More Contrary quotes > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) James Nayler > [Alcohol doesn't console, it doesn't fill up anyone's psychological gaps, all it replaces is the lack of God. It doesn't comfort man. On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-duras/alcohol-doesn-t-console-it-doesn-t-fill-up-anyone-s-psychological/) [Marguerite Duras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-duras/) > [No truly conscious human being sabotages himself - it's impossible, because it's contrary to Nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/no-truly-conscious-human-being-sabotages-himself-it-s-impossible/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [If you abide in the love of Christ, rooted in the faith, you will encounter, even amid setbacks and suffering, the source of true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-you-abide-in-the-love-of-christ-rooted-in-the-faith-you-will/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [With a full century of contrary proof in our possession and despite our demonstrated capacity for cooperative teamwork, some among us seem to accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/with-a-full-century-of-contrary-proof-in-our-possession-and-despite/) [Dwight D. 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Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [I am not Christ or a philanthropist, old lady, I am all the contrary of a Christ I fight for the things I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/i-am-not-christ-or-a-philanthropist-old-lady-i-am-all-the-contrary-of/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [“Do they think that they have given us great pleasure by telling us that they hold our soul to be no more than wind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/do-they-think-that-they-have-given-us-great-pleasure-by-telling-us/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [God has given this way of life to Israel: to abstain from everything which is contrary to nature, that is to say, anger, fits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poemen/god-has-given-this-way-of-life-to-israel-to-abstain-from-everything/) [Poemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poemen/) > [ We have reached a situation where a theory has been accepted as fact by some, and possible contrary evidence is shunted aside. \[This is\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-shapiro/we-have-reached-a-situation-where-a-theory-has-been-accepted-as-fact/) [Robert Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-shapiro/) > [Christianity, righty understood, is utterly unlike religion that man invents. It is so completely contrary to the way man does things that it must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-halverson/christianity-righty-understood-is-utterly-unlike-religion-that-man/) [Richard Halverson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-halverson/) Browse all 1,589 Contrary quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the spiritual life it is not necessary to have a complete map of the path in order to begin traveling. On the contrary, having such complete knowledge may actually hinder rather than help the onward march. The deeper secrets of spiritual life are unraveled to those who take risks and who make bold experiments with it. They are not meant for the idler who seeks guarantees at every step. 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