In a world characterised by a multitude of opinions, beliefs and identities, diversity is often celebrated as the greatest good. But don’t we also need the simplicity of the heart?
Not in the sense of impoverishment, but as a deep reflection on the essentials that underlie all diversity, a spiritual transformation that leads to the essence of being human.
In a time when life is becoming increasingly complex, many people feel the need for inner clarity. This clarity can be found through the simplicity of the heart.
The illusion of diversity
The modern world thrives on diversity: cultural, religious and ideological differences shape our society. These differences are often presented as a strength and are a source of creativity, innovation and dynamic progress. On the other hand, however, no matter how valuable diversity may be, it also leads to conflicts, misunderstandings and divisions. Diversity is often also a stage for ego competition, where everyone fights to propagate and assert their own perspective.
In this diversity, it is easy to lose ourselves. The countless voices, opinions and views that surround us daily can become a noisy tumult that confuses the mind and weighs on the heart. Many people feel lost in this world of infinite possibilities and seek a deeper meaning, something that brings all these different parts together.
Jan van Rijckenborgh, one of the spiritual leaders of the International School of the Golden Rosycross, describes in his books how we can see through and overcome the dualistic nature of this world. To find clarity, to find a state of inner unity, we have to break through the illusion of opposites and discover the divine spark in ourselves and in all life.
A path to simplicity
This is where the concept of simplicity of the heart comes into play – not in the sense of being simple-minded or naive, but as a return to the essence, to unity. The simplicity we are talking about here is a state of being that exists beyond diversity. This path leads us to the inner source that unites all opposites. We can walk such a path if we have the courage and longing to do so. It culminates in experiencing, sensing and recognising the divine spirit spark within us. We become aware of our true nature – beyond ego, social conditioning and superficial identities. It is a state of deep connection with the self, the ‘other’ in our own being, the universal.
The medieval mystic Meister Eckhart (1260-1328) describes simplicity (“Einfalt “) as the highest goal of spiritual life. For him, simplicity means that the soul empties itself to make room for God. ‘The more man goes out of things, the more God goes into him, says Meister Eckhart. There is a profound truth in this statement: in a world that is constantly striving for more – more knowledge, more wealth, more power – the solution lies in letting go. The soul that dwells in simplicity recognises that true fulfilment can only be achieved by becoming one with the divine. This becoming one leads to a state of ‘serene being’, in which all worldly things lose their significance and the divine presence pervades everything.
The Bible also speaks to the importance of a simple heart. In the New Testament, it says: “The light of the body is in the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. “(In today’s language: If your eye is simple, your whole body will be full of light.) (Matthew 6:22). Mindfulness, prayer and the practice of inner silence are tools that can help us to break through the noise of diversity and find clarity and simplicity. It is about silencing the many voices in our heads and hearing the soft but clear voice of our hearts. In this silence, we realise that what divides us is only a superficial illusion, and that, at our core, we are all part of a greater whole. It is this realisation that enlightens. Then it becomes light within our being, and the voice of the heart becomes the voice of God speaking to us. This is why the psalmist says, “The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding simple. “(When Your word is revealed, it enlightens and makes wise the foolish.) (Psalm 119:130).
Simplicity in diversity
The discovery of simplicity does not mean rejecting or negating the world’s diversity. Diversity is a natural expression of the fullness of life. We can and should appreciate it in all its facets, even enjoy it. For we are part of it. But it can only truly fulfil us if we see it rooted in a deeper unity. This unity is divine simplicity, which exists beyond appearances.
Jakob Böhme, a German mystic of the 16th/17th centuries, describes the journey of the soul as a path from ‘multiplicity’ to ‘unity’. For Böhme, multiplicity – the uncountable diversity of the world – is a manifestation of the divine wealth of creation, but also a challenge. The soul must penetrate this diversity and return to its origin, to the unity of being. Böhme writes that this return to simplicity is not easy. It requires a deep inner transformation and the letting go of the ego. In his works, he speaks of the ‘inner birth’ of the divine in the soul. This process leads to a deep spiritual simplicity that recognises the essence of all things in their originality.
The call for simplicity of the heart may be an answer to our deepest longings. Perhaps it is the key to a new understanding of humanity and life where peace, harmony and unity are not just ideals but a lived reality. The diversity of life receives its true beauty in the unity of its source. In the simplicity of the heart, universal love breaks into the turmoil of our world. The path to simplicity, the path of love, is marked out within us. We can walk it, indeed, we can become this path ourselves.
