[Update February 6, 2009 - I change my mind about that.]
9 comments:
Anonymous
said...
A spiritual journey can only be achieved as part of a full and rich life. Trying to build an otherwise vapid life around a spiritual journey is futile. We are put on earth to live, only then to discover spirituality if that gift is given to us, a gift that is noway automatic.
Good luck with living well, because only then will spirituality find you.
I appreciate your attempt at offering advice, however, I must say that some of the words you've used only have subjective value. For instance, "full and rich", "vapid life", "living well".
It's just like beauty that is only in the eyes of the beholder. One person's lifestyle may not ever be another's cup of tea, just like one man's trash is another's treasure.
The ability to entertain the possibility of this notion, that everything might be a meaningless joke, is the very basis of apophatic mysticism, love for no reason.
You are showing your innate skill again, Sophia. Bravo.
"As a listener we attend to the level that we think is most important. Failing to recognize the level most relevant and important to the speaker can lead to a kind of crossed wires where the two people are not on the same wavelength. The purpose of the contact and the nature of our relationship with the person will usually determine what level or levels are appropriate and important for the particular interaction."
The rest of this page is worth reading: http://www.drnadig.com/listening.htm
Does anyone really ever connect? Or do we just think we do because that's what we want in order to not feel so alone?
Ghandi was a freedom fighter. He also gave up everything for the purpose of his journey. It doesn't seem like that is what you'd have me do, since you don't think we should build a life around the spiritual journey. Ghandi used to be a lawyer and had a normal life until he found God.
But with God he was able to accomplish more for the world than a lawyer could.
Ghandi lived his life. His destiny found him; he did not find his destiny. Once Ghandi understood what he needed to do to be true to himself and his destiny, he accepted that fate without reservation despite the fact we always have alternate choices.
There are no shortcuts.
I am sorry I am having trouble getting these concepts stated in a way that might make them easier for you to understand them. I have been talking about how to find the path intended for you. It grows out of being equipped and worthy, not out of the individual's needs to be spiritually sated. One's spiritual path is one of necessary sacrifice and service. Enlightenment is when one is serving, as Ghandi did, one's destiny.
I can only do what I can do. I can only say these things in ways that make sense to me.
Listening and "connecting" are disparate concepts.
"I so badly want it to have reason. I want life to have a reason."
Maybe it does.
But what I like is that mystical love (unconditional love) requires no reason. That's what makes it unconditional. I have never experienced anything better.
Love just for the purpose of love... it sounds good to me. I remember I once said to myself how nice it would be to be loved by someone unconditionally. I don't know that any human being can be capable of that, so I guess if I want it I better stick with mysticism.
9 comments:
A spiritual journey can only be achieved as part of a full and rich life. Trying to build an otherwise vapid life around a spiritual journey is futile. We are put on earth to live, only then to discover spirituality if that gift is given to us, a gift that is noway automatic.
Good luck with living well, because only then will spirituality find you.
Consider Ghandi.
I appreciate your attempt at offering advice, however, I must say that some of the words you've used only have subjective value. For instance, "full and rich", "vapid life", "living well".
It's just like beauty that is only in the eyes of the beholder. One person's lifestyle may not ever be another's cup of tea, just like one man's trash is another's treasure.
Hi What's-your-name
"it is all one big psychological prank"
The ability to entertain the possibility of this notion, that everything might be a meaningless joke, is the very basis of apophatic mysticism, love for no reason.
You are showing your innate skill again, Sophia. Bravo.
ciao,
Raymond
"As a listener we attend to the level that we think is most important. Failing to recognize the level most relevant and important to the speaker can lead to a kind of crossed wires where the two people are not on the same wavelength. The purpose of the contact and the nature of our relationship with the person will usually determine what level or levels are appropriate and important for the particular interaction."
The rest of this page is worth reading:
http://www.drnadig.com/listening.htm
Consider Ghandi.
Hi Raymond,
Thanks for the boost to my courage.
I so badly want it to have reason. I want life to have a reason.
Anonymous,
Does anyone really ever connect? Or do we just think we do because that's what we want in order to not feel so alone?
Ghandi was a freedom fighter. He also gave up everything for the purpose of his journey. It doesn't seem like that is what you'd have me do, since you don't think we should build a life around the spiritual journey. Ghandi used to be a lawyer and had a normal life until he found God.
But with God he was able to accomplish more for the world than a lawyer could.
Ghandi lived his life. His destiny found him; he did not find his destiny. Once Ghandi understood what he needed to do to be true to himself and his destiny, he accepted that fate without reservation despite the fact we always have alternate choices.
There are no shortcuts.
I am sorry I am having trouble getting these concepts stated in a way that might make them easier for you to understand them. I have been talking about how to find the path intended for you. It grows out of being equipped and worthy, not out of the individual's needs to be spiritually sated. One's spiritual path is one of necessary sacrifice and service. Enlightenment is when one is serving, as Ghandi did, one's destiny.
I can only do what I can do. I can only say these things in ways that make sense to me.
Listening and "connecting" are disparate concepts.
Hi Sophia
"I so badly want it to have reason. I want life to have a reason."
Maybe it does.
But what I like is that mystical love (unconditional love) requires no reason. That's what makes it unconditional. I have never experienced anything better.
Maybe that's why I am not interested in reason.
ciao,
Raymond
Hi Raymond,
Love just for the purpose of love... it sounds good to me. I remember I once said to myself how nice it would be to be loved by someone unconditionally. I don't know that any human being can be capable of that, so I guess if I want it I better stick with mysticism.
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