For many years of my life, I thought the spiritual path had something to do with following one of the major world religions or pursuing an Eastern practice. I even thought it had something to do with morality and ethics.
Today my comprehension of the spiritual path has changed completely. Instead of the complexity of any of the disciplines to becoming a good person, I have found that the path is simple. In fact, some of the greatest atheists have followed it better than many theists. An example that comes to mind is the famous British Philosopher Bertrand Russell, who lived an impeccable life of wisdom, compassion, and grace..
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." That is the spiritual path. Everything else--all the theology, philosophy, and practices--lead you to that singular ideal.
Physically, do you like to be murdered, wounded, beaten, or raped? Emotionally, do you like to be humiliated, disenfranchised, betrayed, abandoned, disrespected, alienated, and cast aside? Mentally, do you like to be cheated, swindled, lied to, vilified or misinformed?
Of course not. In fact, your whole body just cringes at the thought of such mishap.
Yet, this is what we do to others. If we are truly savage, we abuse others physically. If a little more sophisticated, we abuse others mentally and emotionally.
And in this process we abuse ourselves.
In actuality, there is no enemy, for we are all connected at the collective unconscious, and the misperception that "they" are different from "us" has been the historical cause of most human suffering. Often this abuse is perpetuated from the collective rules referred to as ethics and morality. What is ethical and moral is defined by who is making up the rules.
Yet the bell that tolls for another, also tolls for thee.
Why do we act in a way that injures others?
It is because we feel a deep void inside of us and we lash out like a wounded animal. We relate to the world from the wounds of apathy, grief, fear, lust, anger, and pride. By striking out, however, we only deepen our own anguish. Although we are only trying to survive, we achieve only more peril.
A spiritual person, however, comes from a completely different perspective. He or she is motivated by feelings of courage, acceptance, and peace.
What does the spiritual path have to do with good psychology? Everything. A sound mind in a sound body.
Can the spiritual path be defined in an even simpler way? Yes. It can be defined as love.
When you love, love, love--you'll be happy, healthy, wealthy, and wise.
The opposite of grief, misery, and unending travail is the spiritual path. While many disciplines may lead to it, the heart will show you the way. Once we shed our habitual narcissism, then the way to courage, acceptance, and peace becomes possible.
Resource Box
Saleem Rana got his masters in psychotherapy from California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, Ca., 15 years ago and now resides in Denver, Colorado. His articles on the internet have inspired over ten thousand people from around the world. discover how to create a remarkable life
Copyright 2005 Saleem Rana. Please feel free to pass this article on to your friends, or use it in your ezine or newsletter. It's a shareware article.
maid service near Lake Forest ..It seems to me that our moment to moment relationship... Read More
Mother Nature has this uncanny tendency to turn upon herself... Read More
Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in... Read More
Christians all over the world will all be tempted in... Read More
Let's take a look at all these aspects. The bible... Read More
My favorite scripture is Roman's 8:28. "And we know that... Read More
Since I awoke from my three month coma in August... Read More
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,... Read More
Life is growth. For many people life is like a... Read More
I want to share with you something that happened to... Read More
I started reading the book "The Purpose Driven Life" about... Read More
Can I be honest with you? There are days when... Read More
Those five words are from a song that I remember... Read More
Humanity is entering a very critical time in its path... Read More
Don't be confused that a saint is a religious leader... Read More
Talking about your "soul" and the deeper things in life... Read More
Every workday, five days a week, I take the light... Read More
"Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my... Read More
As I sat down today to write this article, I... Read More
This question, "what is grace" plagued me more into knowing... Read More
What the Animals Tell Us"I am the Sun's son. I... Read More
"Our mind is capable of passing beyond the dividing line... Read More
Is it not true that only after gaining Enlightenment (Self-Realization)... Read More
Do you ever get into those moods where you just... Read More
Aristotle referred to happiness as the most we can achieve.... Read More
top rated cleaning service Des Plaines ..While I do hope to avoid arguing the merits or... Read More
Michael Shermer speaks with the energy and passion of an... Read More
A feeling of fulfillment is something we all seek. Here... Read More
???Now is the time for all good men to come... Read More
If you would like to learn to read tarot cards,... Read More
"Quantum Physics is the science of gods? Newtonian Physics is... Read More
Stress is amazingly persistent, even seductive. We get used to... Read More
Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell recently starred in the movie... Read More
Just for a moment think of what is stopping you... Read More
Self-actualization comes down to three basic premises: this is who... Read More
There's a Native American belief that before we are born,... Read More
James 1:23-24Anyone who listens to the word but does not... Read More
We all have spirit guides and we all benefit from... Read More
Yes, we are living in a world where we are... Read More
What kind of foolishness is astrology? You read about Sun... Read More
I know eyebrows are probably raising about now, but let... Read More
(Channelled)Roy, what a marvellous job you are doing on your... Read More
Maybe once in a lifetime, we find ourselves seeking spiritual... Read More
Can I be honest with you? There are days when... Read More
All of my life I had heard, read and sang... Read More
There is an inherent generosity in the human spirit to... Read More
Many may wonder what is God's will, or how do... Read More
So I met a friend recently and we went to... Read More
You have everything you need: a miraculous body, a phenomenal... Read More
The tongue is such a tiny little organ. Yet, it... Read More
Spirituality |