Spiritual Archives - The Spiritual Quest

Spirit of the Collective

There is a powerful spirit that connects and holds together our tribal groupings. These connecting energies are powerful enough to override our own individual spiritual attainments.

Many people in the spirit of the mob will act out of character with their individual personalities. Act in ways they would not act alone in a similar situation. For example kicking a helpless person on the ground perceived as “the enemy”, this violates most civilized tribal society rules. We need to see this tendency in our own community group in our political and/or religious ideologies.

When we discover people in our own group lashing out with hate and violence we are likely to shrink back in cowardly fear. Believing if we push against our own ideology they will turn on us in a similar way. Unless you were defending a fellow friend or family member the courage needed to speak-out against such hatred is hard to muster.

As we look at the tribal battles surfacing across the planet there are no good-sides, there are only competing sides. We do well to ask if our side is acting with violence and hatred. Can we truly embrace such evil tactics and remain spiritually centered? Do we really want this to manifest in our own physical experience?

Who is promoting or glorifying such violence? What ideological tribal vision would ever want to condone such violence? Who would want their family and friends to be so threatened? Such barbaric behavior is instigated among ideological devotees who flame the negative sensations of fear and anger. They blame all their suffering on “the others”, and then attack out of this dark state of fear.

It is incumbent upon us as spiritual individuals to protect ourselves from this hostility. We need to lovingly challenge our own tribal community to turn off the ideological banter and propaganda. We need to adopt and create a new bigger tribe of human connection built on love and respect.

It has to start with our own willingness to display spiritual openness toward those of other tribes. Be courageous enough to call out the bad actors within our own sphere of influence.

Leading the Way in Spiritual Openness

Those on the spiritual quest who have managed to gain control of their own inner spiritual sensations must become the leaders of our new world. As we dare to call out those in our own tribal alliances many of the peace loving majority will stand up and have our back. As we see others taking such bold actions to lead the way toward loving openness and connection we need to step up and support them as well.

The earth is now going through a major shake-up as we transition from our animalistic instinctive desires for self-survival to the next level of loving human connection. Those who lash out at others, who are still unconsciously driven by their tribalistic insecurities, will continue to suffer more and more as their tribal world and animalistic behaviors dissolve.

All of humanity is spiritually changing. The vast majority of human beings have already experienced their own tribal battles or watched the abuse of other human beings. They fear being exposed to such pain and suffering. They worry about their own personal futures. Through this chaos we are triggering a new spiritual awakening. We can no longer resist the powerful desire for positive change.

All of humanity will transition to this new love space as we finally reach spiritual openness on a global scale. Sadly, until this is fully implemented, those who remain on the dark-side will continue to suffer. Those fighting and promoting hatred will become louder and louder until they cease to exist or convert to accepting this new spiritually united world.

Tap into your own spiritual acuity. Soberly consider your own inner spiritual conditioning on being open to others. Look inside to find where you are blocked, where you harbor hatred. Where you label others and feel negative sensations about them. Our spiritual openness to these discoveries will help unite and heal our ailing planet.

Humanities Transformation into Spiritual Adulthood

Here is a hypothesis on human transformation into adulthood, presented as a supposition or proposed explanation to explain the chaos engulfing America and western civilization. This is presented as a starting point for a discussion to further explore and investigate ourselves from a spiritual point of view.

By spiritual we mean beyond the limited structure of science, math and deductive reasoning the foundations of Western Civilization; to also include the esoteric, emotional, supernatural and other phenomenon that penetrate the human psyche.

Individual Chaos The Path to Sanity

As individuals we grow by pursuing our own desires as we seek to satisfy ourselves entirely. We learned to balance our individual animalistic tendencies to encompass our tribal ideals and cultural expectations to maximize our self-serving interests.

Humanity as a collective has been growing and developing along this same egotistical self-serving path since the beginning of time. People have been dividing by family and then geography into local communities. Next we developed allegiances to regional group identities. This development process was also driven by our individual desires for sanity and survival.

We individually love and hate as we battle for supremacy in our relationships, while we create and contribute to community structures all to support our own self-serving objectives. We all individually grow through this internal conflict of chaos to resolution. We ultimately define ourselves by our tribe, our ideals, our expectations and our responsibilities to people who are “like me” all driven by the animalistic instincts of self-interest.

We progressed as a species and further sub-divided into ideological and social constructs that established additional unique tribal alliances. These sub-groupings led to further chaos and division. Tremendous human suffering ensued as each tribe and society battled for relevance and superiority over “the others” … driven by the animalistic desires for survival by dominance over natural resources for sustainability of one’s self-interests.

Further Chaos The Path to Enlightenment

Each tribe and community group established social compacts based on love and mutual consideration. That is the spiritual feminine energy of nurturing and caring for one-another within the group, this too was driven by self-interest of mutual survival. We encourage each individual within our groups to pursue their dreams and ideals to better self-serve the interest of the group.

Since the world is now fully explored and basic survival is no longer the driving force of our character, we are expanding into the enlightenment phase of human development. We are moving beyond the individual enlightenment of self-interest to a holistic ideal of altruistic selflessness.

Our children realize that our future cannot sustain the animalistic processes of self-interest and dominance of one group over another for survival. As all previous generations before them they feel it deep down inside that the system requires change. They have yet to individually mature to the point of actual acceptance of “the others” as they perceive them.

The chaos will continue as long as we clutch to our tribal identities. We do this by negative stereotype labeling of “the others”. Labels of socialist or capitalist’s, bigots and racists, Nazi-Fascist, religious fanatic, homophobic, greedy, lazy, selfish, ignorant, stupid, careless and any other negative identity that they can assign to “the others” … this is a last ditch attempt to hold on their individual selfish egotistical identities.

The Path to Further Enlightenment

We are now uniting as a global tribe and we need to unite the ideologies from all sides of self-interest. Into a positive agenda that moves beyond basic survival of the individual and our tribal identities towards our ultimate spiritual character traits of thriving as a unified whole.

This is reflected in the desire of millions of people who see the imbalance of power and resources and thereby seek to rectify this injustice by demanding fundamental changes within the hierarchy of civilization. Balancing this dichotomy within the psyche of the individual is spiritual attainment, but is reaching this balance within our physical reality ever attainable?

Will we ever stop ascending as a species toward dominating our physical reality? Are we capable of uniting around the spiritual ideals we strive for individually? Ask yourself are you willing to fully accept and acknowledge “the others” however they are labeled?

Test yourself by asking how open-minded and accepting you are of others. Are we entrenched in non-acceptance of others or are we evolving toward greater spiritual attainment?

For now it’s a path for you as an individual, are you on the path?

Spiritual Peace … Is Fairness and Equality The Answer?

Successful relationships among people requires a 100% committed effort by all toward the success and strength of the relationship. Equal 50% – 50% contributions to mandate equality will never lead to long-term success. Rather a 100% commitment to the success of the relationship by each individual involved is the formula for success. Equality is the formula for failure.

Without some bias or “politically correct” indoctrination, any reasonable evaluation on mankind, by a fair-minded individual, will acknowledge that the evidence is overwhelming that all men are not created equal. Some are born physically strong, others mentally tough and intelligent, some are caring and nurturing, some are tough and rugged, some are male and some are female, some are trans-gendered, some are cross gendered some are dual gendered, some are tall, some are short, some are bald others hairy, some are fair skinned others dark skinned. By any reasonable unbiased observer the facts are overwhelming that nothing is equal about the individuals that make up mankind. Most reflect a combination of the above referenced differences and we could add a thousand more to the list to multiply the diversity.

Nowhere in nature does equality exist. It’s a human concept that is doomed to failure. A seed that lands in a field by the river in rich soil will grow taller and stronger than a seed that lands at the bottom of a dense forest. Is it fair that one seed gets better conditions in which to grow? How difficult a process would it be for us to plant trees and focus on equality for every tree. Would that lead to more growth or less overall? Such an undertaking would be extremely difficult to manage because we would have to cut back every strong tree.

If we still relied on trees to build houses and heat our homes would an equality approach be sensible? It is a certainty that we achieve less overall when equality is the goal. Now what result would such an approach have among mankind, would we thrive if we tried to make equality a goal? Such endeavors are misguided and show a lack of appreciation for nature.

Equality is the source of every division and problem in our world. We cannot fight against nature and expect to succeed. The minute we begin to put energies into fighting against nature, by demanding equality within the system, the whole system suffers. We hurt ourselves and the collective suffers too. Hurt and pain to other individuals within the collective are the direct result of seeking equality, such an endeavor is the wrong approach.

The spiritual approach to peace and harmony is where every individual human being needs to be recognized and be nurtured to grow to their fullest potential. Not tearing down the successful to accommodate the weak but rather supporting the weak to find their place within the overall collective system to contribute back to the whole.

Peace comes through 100% acceptance of others and a 100% commitment to supporting the collective well being of all in the system. This is holistic spiritual unity. This is the spiritual approach that will lead humankind to great heights as we work together as a collective for the good of all, and not by seeking equality taking sides one against the other.

Climbing The Spiritual Ladder … Experience It

Mastering the spiritual journey, individually we must engage and commit to each step throughout the process, there’s no short cuts.

As we climb in our physical world each step brings us deeper and deeper joy. A small child learns to roll the ball to Mommy and laughs with delight. As she grows she learns to bounce the ball and re-catch it again, another deeper level of satisfaction. Next she can bounce the ball off the wall, off the ground and into her hand again. Alas she desires further progress, but to become a master requires commitment and sacrifice. It takes months and even years before she can juggle three balls, then four and more.

The spiritual climb follows a similar process, the early steps are easy and joyful. To become a master requires sacrifice and commitment. Learn to swallow your inner most spiritual sensations of guilt, fear or apprehension. Feel it swimming in your stomach, examine it, hold it, experience it and you will learn to grow through it. You will find it as frustrating as the little girl mentioned above as she fumbles and drops, again and again through each successive step of her progress. She suffers many, many defeats during her journey to becoming a master juggler.

We don’t climb to the highest levels on our positive experiences. It is through the negative, frustrating and sometimes painful interactions that we achieve the greatest growth. Be it in juggling or in our spiritual states, there’s always challenge and frustration along the development path.

Each successive step is harder and harder to master. However each step brings us deeper and deeper joy and satisfaction as we master it. So embrace the negative it’s the area to explore for advancement. As we wrestle with it, rehash through it, swallow it down, digest it we finally master it. We attain another step on the spiritual ladder.

As we reach new heights we experience a deep joy, but that joy quickly reverses as we discover the next rung to conquer. Can we ever return the joy of the early steps of our spiritual climb? Yes, when we share that step with someone else new to the experience, just like a master juggler rolling the ball with a small child.

As we share our experience we relive the joy, hoping the newly exposed will also commit to mastering the next step. We cannot do if for them we can only encourage, prod and challenge them, hoping to keep them engaged to becoming masters too.

The same is true in mastering the spiritual journey, individually we must engage and commit to each step throughout the process, there’s no short cuts. Each successive step requires more and more concentrated effort. Through repetition, analysis and continued commitment internally to our spiritual state we progress.

Every genuine point of progress along the climb is experienced alone. Once we achieve a plateau the pleasure and satisfaction is always there for us, but soon it becomes insufficient and our next level of advancement becomes our driving desire to keep climbing.

If we stay among children we may deceive ourselves on our progress toward mastery. It’s easy to feel like an accomplished mathematician in a room full of first graders. We all can become masters if we genuinely desire it. It’s not easy, it’s complicated and requires lots of repetitions and struggle, and no one can do it for us.

The spiritual journey is a unique path of progress for each one of us. As we attain mastery we immediately know those who are close to mastery and those who are pretending. Alas we also know those who have skills we have yet to master, this is your next level. Inquire of their journey secrets to get to know the road signs and paths to hasten your own advancement, but remember that only you and you alone can do the work to experience the mastery.

No matter how high you climb there’s always another step and fewer and fewer masters to share their experience. When you find yourself alone in your own space of mastery, new developments come slow but when they do arrive the Joy is Immense.

This posting is a spiritual sharing. I invite you to measure your progress against your own inner compass, it will not deceive you. No Master can do it for you they can only point you in the right direction.

What is Spirituality?

The genuine spiritual person is in control of themselves and their inner spiritual condition and these people are found in all walks of life.

What is Spirituality?

The term spiritual … something we cannot see or touch. Words like love, joy, peace, long-suffering, goodness, kindness, faith, mildness and self control are spiritual sensations. The other side of spiritual sensations are fear, anxiety, frustration, anger, stress, etc. These sensations are part of our being. These spiritual sensations are by design, by a designer (God, Nature, Instinct, etc).

By our focusing on these inner spiritual sensations, both good and bad, we are able to adjust our lives, conduct and actions in a way to maximize the good feelings and minimize the negative. By ignoring these sensations or trying to suppress them is defying nature and working against ourselves.

This leads to further unpleasant spiritual sensations and more extreme actions that lead to greater uneasiness. At ease is the opposite of dis ease. A person at ease is a spiritually balanced individual, one who embraces all internal sensations using them as a compass to guide one through life, balancing them in the tumultuous energy fields that surround them. Our actions create energy and send off spiritual vibrations to those around us. What signals do I send off by my actions in this world?

Every individual is unique in their personal experiences and spiritual sensations. Meaning there is no “one-way” …. “one-path” … “one-formula” … “one-religion” the only “one-thing” is the individual and their work on themselves alone. Measured only by their inner spiritual sensations to guide them to their “true-path”. The true path is genuine love for every person on this planet, balanced against our internal spiritual compass to guide us on the path to living a genuine spiritual life.

The genuine spiritual person is not confined to any nation, religion, ethnic or social group. The genuine spiritual person is in control of themselves and their inner spiritual condition and these people are found in all walks of life. Are you a spiritual person?

We are only capable of working on ourselves. As individuals we can strive to connect and feel the world around us. Particularly sensing and feeling our fellow man. We are all spiritually molded by our environment, we have no choice on how we grow-up. The environment makes us connect with our fellowman, those “like me” which is all created by our environment. It’s why certain religious views, clothing styles, music preferences all vary by geographical locations.

The influence to “fit-in” is our ego … wanting to connect with others for our own benefit. I suggest that the genuine spiritual quest is to rise above our egos and recognize that a spiritual connection must be measured by how we connect with those who are not “like me”. If you’re nice to your friend what extraordinary thing have you accomplished?

If we can learn to feel and connect with those who are different from us. Those who’s views are foreign to our own, those who cling to views we’ve outgrown or progressed beyond, or perhaps maybe we are the ones that have yet to make the growth? The only area we can make progress is on ourselves by rising above our egos and sensing the love for our fellow man that is the ultimate spiritual attainment.

The Truth Poem

This poem was written on August 20, 2011.
Truth runs deep … how deep? … Will we ever know?
It seems so firm, yet it’s elusive … If your honest not in denial
It’s pursuit is a pleasure although sometimes it feels like it’s a trial
Try your hand at finding it … it is our life divine …
When you believe you have found it … you will block it’s further shine.
Truth is not the destination a place at which to stay
rather it’s the process revealed along the way
Please join in on this life process … it is a genuine life mission
if you think you have “The Truth” your life will be imprisoned
So be open … be honest … accepting all as Him
if we reject anyone or anything our vision will be dimmed
Please keep the course … pursue the faith … accept the advice above
The depth of truth we should all pursue is the path of light and love
Originally published on the poetry pieces blog under the introduction piece.

Faith and Beliefs Are They The Same Thing?

I have faith that a car approaching me in the opposite lane of a divided highway will stay on their side of the road. This despite the factual belief that it can cross onto my lane and crash head on into me.

One can rediscover faith by removing it from religion and superstition … adopting it as as the best way to live in all areas of life.

faith-beliefs
Faith and beliefs are not synonymous, many different beliefs are held by people with faith. Belief is an opinion derived by experience. Whereas faith is a conviction that requires no experience. Beliefs are derived from critical thinking through evaluating information and evidences to which one is exposed. Faith is above and separate from our minds and from critical thinking. Faith sees beliefs for what they are, limiting and limited.

As conscious Beings with awareness we can recognize the varied beliefs derived and subscribed to through human intellect. Beliefs surrounding god, nature, politics, religion, theology, money, government, race, etc. etc. All these belief systems require one to engage intellectually with personal experience or shared knowledge.

Faith requires no such conditioning. Genuine faith cannot be shaken by any belief system. Faith allows for and encourages a willingness to explore ALL beliefs. Faith allows one to quickly see beyond the limitations of any belief. Faith allows one to recognize that beliefs are prejudiced from one’s own point of view.

Faith is fair-minded treating all viewpoints equally without regard for one’s own feelings or vested interests. Faith delivers a person from the prison of beliefs and delivers an awareness that all beliefs are limiting and actually work against faith. Faith is open to all beliefs understanding that beliefs are the framework that builds societies and are adopted for harmonious living.

Faith moves one through the contradictions and complexity of human beliefs allowing the willingness to explore and confirm all beliefs in an open-minded manner knowing they are limited to those who hold to them.

By being open to all beliefs and conditioned thought patterns we encourage unity and oneness. By holding to one belief as true over another denies faith which is open oneness and completeness. Resist limiting beliefs embrace the abundance of faith.

Spirituality and The Path of Ascension

What goes on in our heads is a network of ideas and beliefs that have been formulated by our own experiences, our community, our society and our dna. What control do we exercise over our development? In Kabbalah we say we have no freedom, we are products of our environment. The only control we exercise in our own development is in the environment we put ourselves.

Chances are the person most open-minded is the person who has held many beliefs but is always questioning those beliefs. The process of asking the question is the only way to get the answer. The truth is in the question not in the answer. Any answer by definition is limited to the perspective of the individual making the conclusion.

Once we believe we have “the truth” we are done growing. Until we question our own conclusions we will stay stuck in “our truth”. Truth is in everything and in everyone; and until we can accept everyone and everything we will not obtain “the truth”. Words and arguments are so limiting and weighty, while openness and love is so empowering and rich with blessings. The minute we feel the need to defend our position we are stuck in a limited belief.

We don’t stop a belief or drop an understanding we expand our understanding to encompass more. Most of us know what it’s like to be a small child believing in Santa Claus; we still believe just in larger more encompassing way. Learn how to open your heart and mind to what others have to say, especially those who disagree with your conclusions.

This is a fabulous way to fast-track your own understanding and spiritual development, we don’t need to defend our positions because there is nothing to defend. The truth is not a belief it’s a process. A process of accepting and understanding everything and everyone with love.

Stay open and stay loving with those with whom you disagree and you’ll see the wealth of wisdom that resides inside your own consciousness. No need to fix anyone else or prove your wisdom that’s the ego talking. Your path is a process of accepting … we call it ascension or elevation where you begin to see things from a much higher point of view, a view above reason.

Using Ego as a Tool For Spiritual Growth

EGO … we are quick to assign it as a negative characteristic, yet it’s a part of who we are and it is a tool that moves us toward greater enlightenment. Our drive as humans to progress is an internal disruption, a sensation that requires resolution as our egos must know what true reality is.

How does the ego come to know the true reality? It all begins with information accumulation. As we acquire information we define it and categorize it and it becomes “our truth”, which indeed it is, but is it “the truth”?

Once it was a true reality that the earth was flat …it was truth based on all human observation and community understanding of the time. Yet today would we say that was truth? Truth is a perspective relative to our own conclusions. How do we break the hold our ego’s have on “our truth”?

The first indication of a “break-through moment” is when you ask a question within yourself that challenges your current belief. The very fact that you ask the question is evidence that you’re ready to expand your truth. “Ask and you shall receive” was the promise; the action of the request demands that the ego gets the answer.

When someone else asks you a question that challenges your current belief that’s a different situation all together. The ego now takes over all reasoning and it is set-up to defend itself at all costs. The question itself does not lead to growth … it’s whose asking it.

Are you trying to grow, ascend and become enlightened? Do you want to see and experience true peace within yourself and within the world? Sadly most people are stuck in an ego belief system that keeps them held back from such growth.

What makes us identify ourselves as a Christian or a Muslim, a Democrat or Republican, a Conservative or Liberal, the 99% vs. the 1%? These are all egocentric identifications that have deeply planted roots within our psyche defining who we are. Can you uproot these limiting conclusions without compromising your identity?

Do we really need to defend our egocentric identification with some truth? We can choose to leverage our ego; to use it as the driving factor behind uniting and connecting with those with whom we disagree. When we consciously seek to find areas of connection with those with whom we disagree we can make rapid spiritual progress toward enlightenment. We quickly start seeing things differently, more clearly, creating a loving unifying internal sensation.

When you reach a point of leveraging your ego to always being open minded you’ll discover a vast resource of reasoning that will provide you with limitless powers of comprehension and insight. You will discover a love and a connection with those with whom you disagree.

When you stop fighting to support “your idea” you see that any idea is always irrelevant to the Truth of love. We can individually ascend to this ultimate love awareness by choosing to do so. Can we as a community and as a species move to the ultimate reality of … “love thy enemy as we do ourselves”? This is “The Truth” that will set you free!

Spirituality Grows With Change … Accelerate Your Growth

What is it you and your society consider “right” and “wrong” today? Perhaps what you considered “wrong” in the not-too-distant past, you might consider it okay or “right” today. How do we know what is “right”? Do we sit in judgment of another who fails to accept our own ideas about what is “right” and “wrong”? Genuine spiritual growth requires that we evolve and change our definitions of “right” and “wrong” to include others with whom we sometimes disagree.

Changing your ideas of what is “right” and “wrong” is the path of growth. You have to be open to changing your ideas, or you will limit your own spiritual growth. Change is the process of life and growth. We have to change as our world does. Our values must change too … just think of what morality was 50 years ago with respects to child rearing and modest attire.

The problem we face individually in meeting the change requirements of life is that we insist on believing that the values we have are the “right ones”. You should of course hold onto the beliefs that serve you well, as your ideas about “right” and “wrong” are the definitions for Who You Are. But do not stay “stuck” in your present beliefs if they are not serving you. A non wed pregnant teen may not meet your ideal “right” and “wrong” scenario, always be open to changing your mental constructs about “right” and “wrong”.

NEVER require another person to define themselves according to your terms of “right” and “wrong” … NEVER allow another to define that for you either. Believing that you can or should manage the growth and expansion of others, even our own children or a spouse, is a path filled with pain for you and them. You can influence others but not actually restrict them even if you wanted to; each life goes on progressing at its own pace.

Remaining the same … or seeking to, moves against the laws of life. This is foolish, because in this struggle, life will always win out. Nothing stays the same, everything is changing. Learn to influence where you can but remain open to change your truth!

Be open to change the notions of your truth, be willing to expand your internal structures of thought. Allow the deepest truths of who you are to be altered. A new broader description and idea of Who You Are is where the growth is. When you challenge your beliefs you accelerate your own growth and experience in life. Your new ideas mean your story begins anew. A better more fulfilling you and that process and your story will never end as long as you keep living via the process of expansion by change.

Please don’t close yourself off from the possibility of new truth because you have been comfortable with an old one. Your life expands at the end of “your” comfort zone. Your being open to new “truths” is where the excitement lives, that’s where you and your relationship with life becomes more fully realized; more fulfilling, more challenging, more expansive, more joyful, more happy, more complex, more enlightened, better balanced, etc.

So if it’s music preferences … religious preferences … body piercings and tattoos … sexual orientation … sexual encounters … pregnancies and offspring … divorce and cheating … parenting and teaching … political views and associations … remember there is room in this world for every person regardless of how we define “right” and “wrong”. By our showing love in all of these malformed or right formed conclusions we expand who we are and become more like our Heavenly Father who IS LOVE …

Avoid standing in judgment of another person’s “right” and “wrong” that contradicts your own. Another person’s mistakes are their own living and growth experiences. Another person’s choices and decisions are just as important to their life experience. Allow others to grow too.

No matter how “good” you think things have been, they can be better. No matter how wonderful you think your truth is, it will be even more wonderful if you stay open to change. Expand change and grow it’s the process of living a satisfied spiritually rich life.