Could it be that once you choose to take a “spiritual path” you then cannot possibly be on one?
Does your spiritual path help you differentiate your ‘self’ from others? Are you somehow different from those ‘ordinary’ souls who have not yet consciously chosen a spiritual path? Maybe they will choose “spirituality” in the next life or the one after.
Thank god, you are evolved!
But if this is what you SEE, how could you be?
Always differences made of “judgment.” This is how the guilty seek reprieve from the world in order to embrace a fraudulent sense of innocence. But true forgiveness collapses all levels and observes that in our differences we are joined as One.
Did you catch the breaking news? Change is no longer certain! This is because time is vertical and not horizontal. We merely experience centuries of believing we're different, while we've always been the same.
I recently came across this monumentally profound quote from another “spiritual enlightenment” website (and there seem to be millions of awakened ones teaching awakening):
“The sole purpose of the universe is the evolution of the individual spirit-consciousness”
Of course, that makes perfect sense!
Yet, I wonder if my rather un-spiritual, non-religious, Nascar-loving neighbor Bob, knows that "the sole purpose of the universe is the evolution of the individual spirit-consciousness."
Hmmm...I'll bet he doesn't. Well... he's a nice guy, anyway... so... I wonder if it matters if he doesn't know that "the sole purpose of the universe is the evolution of the individual spirit-consciousness"?
Sadly, most spiritual theorists fail to grasp the paradox and merely mouth antiquities. Words like “sole” and “individual” seem poor teaching tools, since ego yelps with glee at what those words actually signify.
Now it can comfortably settle back on its cushion and say 'so-long' to the world of “illusion.” It can gloat over how splendidly it has transcended egoic material wants and desires and revel in its austerity. Now it can forget the troubles of the world in its quest to awaken to “truth.”
But what of the rest of us?
Are we NOT seeking? Are we nothing but mundane and ordinary working-stiffs, blinded by our ignorance?
What of the “everyman” who toils in slavery to the world’s conditioning, is he NOT “spiritual”? He must be, for if he is not, how can you be?
Do not forget the 'everyman' of the world, for he is YOU.
Where is the division? What imaginary thin line separates you from him? Do you really think, all smug and spiritually complacent on your cushion, that you are different in some way? Is your "awakening" merely nothing more than a contrast, rather than an end to all contrasting? Has your “spiritual path” caused you to inadvertently look down upon the everyman. Do you pretend or deny consciousness of this disengagement? Do you believe your enlightenment will save them?
Who do you think you are, God?
When you experienced that whiz-bang of the 4th Jhana, were they with you? If not, than what good was it?
What happened to "no child left behind"?
Crawl down in the ditch and engage with your world, because without them you are merely a caricature of a self, mouthing the pithy quotes of the venerable. Awakening is intimate engagement of the many to discover One in the world. You can’t do it alone.
Get off your cushion. Enlightenment is engaged and anything less is more of the same blah, blah, blah.
But then...so is this...Ha!
Peace Angels,
mikeS
7 comments:
Spirituality is a trap. The ego loves 'beautiful' concepts such as Oneness and purpose of life. Ironically, aspirituality too has been repeated enough that it has become a distinguishing badge for the few of are in the know. The traditionalists may be neck deep in concepts, but then the non-dualists are proud of their tradition of non-tradition, neo-advaitists seem to completely miss the irony of putting those two words together, atheists are fervently religious about atheism. There is no getting away from it. Until there is.
Kaushik,
Yea! So many "lightworkers" out there spreading the light because darkness is scary. However, I note from your blog posts that you've been there and back.
Yes, no getting away from it until you're away from it. Which leads me to believe that there is little one can do to "awaken" authentically. If you do "awaken" then most likely you've had nothing to do with it. And if you "awaken" because you did something than most likely you're not "awakened." Ha! what a paradox!
Thanks!
mikeS
"lightworker"
or "old soul"
or "indigo"
now there are three popular labels that ego just LOVES! (well - my ego finds those terms rather irritating) They are the terms of the new dogma... the continuation of "them" and "us".
Arpita,
Interesting you bring this up, since I recently discussed my concerns about the "lightworkers" on my Gaia blog. I believe I may have pissed some folks off, but most did not let on that I had.
I think I'll repost that essay here and see what comes up.
"indigo" I had heard of but "old soul" is a new one to me.
Thanks,
mikeS
hmm - interesting you haven't come across the "old soul" - it is very popular here in spiritual/new age circles. similar to indigo where the person is supposedly "highly evolved" in comparison to most of the schmuks on earth.
... many channelers (and the people that pay for their services) will call themselves old souls.
" Crawl down in the ditch and engage with your world, because without them you are merely a caricature of a self, mouthing the pithy quotes of the venerable. Awakening is intimate engagement of the many to discover One in the world. You can’t do it alone.
Get off your cushion. Enlightenment is engaged and anything less is more of the same blah, blah, blah. "
It's vitally important,however,to realize dat detachment(wordly pursuits all are ultimately transitory - therefore not worth chasing ;do we want true lasting happiness or just the shadow of it?),just like hard work,is another INDISPENSABLE quality needed for realization(frm state of ignorance 2 awakening)to take place.
Consider deeply,the attitude of 'eat,drink and be merry' is truly not a wise way of living.
What do u really mean Mike,by engagement?
Hey Seeker!
Sorry, it took so long to respond to your question, but I work alot of hours.
Essentially, My current belief holds that the greatest joy one can experience is though depth of engagement with and though others. We experience this joy even in our mundane existence as 'self' interacting with other selves.
This is how we come to know our 'self' as 'others' and this is the vehicle to that elusive 'oneness' or non-dual experience. Tentatively, I belief that there is no work on 'self' that can be fulfilled through and by 'self' alone. All eastern practices have primarily one objective and that is to attain 'insight' unavailable through conditioned existence. I merely hold that such insight is available through the depths of intimate understanding of another, which is transferable upon an experience of 'world.'
Certainly there are many Buddhist practices and ideologies which adhere to this. However, my feeling is that the west has ignored these practices and ideologies, substituting only more 'self' oriented focus and individually enhanced and separation promoting specialties.
The austere and esoteric self practices have replaced non-dual unity that is authentic intimate engagement with others and the world.
This is a bit simplified, but i hope you get my point. The ego is hypnotized by the whiz-bangs of "awakening" that really may not provide any insight at all. It is in plumbing the depths of engagement with others that such insight is accessed.
Thanks for the comment and the question!
mikeS
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