I hesitate to start this blog with a definition. My teacher has basically taught me to use no predictions, judgments or labels. So even writing a blog is tricky without violating these disciplines. Even the term “Spirituality” is essentially a label. So, as we move into this blog I would say that spirituality is connecting with our energy and dissolving the ego or control of the monster.
When we dissolve our egos to such an extent we become far more in tune with the energies that flow through us and surround us. I have already spoke in terms of “Fire chi, and Water chi”. These are the principle energies that I have been working with and attempting to balance.
Dropping the ego helps us to become more aware of what is happening to us on an energetic level which assists us in two ways. We start to release old and stuck emotions which inhibit our energetic flow and we also find it easier to achieve a balanced state of being.
As a slight aside, since starting this long journey (life long really), I observe so many people around me who are living in a very unbalanced energetic and emotional state. This can lead to all manner of suffering for the individuals and those around them.
When we choose to do the spiritual work, and for me it most certainly has been work, we choose to visit the difficult emotions that impede us. The monster will make this difficult as it certainly does not like giving up its control over us.
I sometimes feel that I paint a bleak picture of spiritual work, so I want to say here that it does bring its own rewards. I'll use the following story as an example:
I am currently going through a very challenging time at work facing two colleagues who I would say are “Narcissists”, It’s inspired me to write a blog post on the topic.
See “Narcissism”
I had another dear colleague at work who could not take the emotional strain of working with the aforementioned narcissists. My having done the work for around four years now at least let me continue on with my job until a point where I have chosen to leave. So therein is the reward, I couldn’t have coped before doing the spiritual work. My monster hoped that it would have made me so powerful that they would have quit, but the monster is fond of making these sort of predictions that trip us up and cause further suffering.
So, back to the question of the blog post, “What is Spirituality?”. I’d say it was working with your own energy and dissolving the ego. Perhaps that is a little oversimplified, but I’d say that there are some cool things that happen when we learn how to do this.
• We can start to feel states of bliss and connectedness
This has only happened a couple of times for me. I’d love to be walking around in a state like this all the time. I would say this is possible but unlikely… I still have a monster and I still have a couple of unhealthy habits that impede my energy work.
• We develop healthy boundaries
As discussed in the “Narcissist” blog post, these are very helpful in life, it makes us quietly powerful and lets us not be taken advantage of by those who are still in control of the monster.
• We can “fix” ourselves
We become independent rather than co-dependant. We start to feel that our own saviour is ourselves and stop looking toward other people or other things to help us when we feel unbalanced.
• We become Objective
This has been a natural progression for me… We start dealing in observable facts instead of emotions. We are not so easily aggravated or swayed by other peoples emotions.
• We develop empathy and compassion
This happens when our energy flows properly. We start to gravitate to what is kind and gentle but we remain strong and balanced.
• Other spiritual gifts may come
I would say this is possible but as I always mention I am still on this path and I have only had fleeting glimpses of such things. What I do know is that tuning into other peoples energy is very possible, even sensing things before they happen. It’s all energy based and we just need to be tuned in.
• We start to help others
It’s natural I believe that at a certain point of spiritual awareness that we develop a desire to help others. This includes people and animals. I’d say that while we are in control of the monster we are very self orientated, but our natural state underneath all that crap is to assist other beings who are suffering.
What I would say, as I usually like to hammer home, is that spirituality for me is hard work. There may well have been others who have found this process a lot easier. I had a very active monster at the start of this journey and my teacher really had to kick my arse so as I could start to let it go and not identify with it. I still struggle from time to time.
As a word of warning, I would say that being spiritual is not anything false. I used to think I was so spiritual because I had travelled, wore a crystal necklace, did a yoga course, said “Namaste” and a variety of other traits I had. I would say that these things have a part in spirituality but I had no idea what it really was until I met my teacher and really started doing the work.
Ultimately I’d say that spirituality seeks truth. In all aspects. In ourselves and the world around us. We disengage from the lies of the monster, and connect with our “True” selves. That change in perspective is life altering, but also brings its own set of challenges. I am certainly struggling with seeing just how many people are out of balance and suffering emotionally.
This path is one I intend to keep walking, because once you start there really is no going back. I would strongly urge anyone reading to take those first steps on the spiritual path.
God bless you wherever you may be on that path.
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