Thursday, February 21, 2008 at 2:02am
Is the spiritual life full of hardship?
Column: wavelength
Hello, dear reader,
I have a story for you, and I wonder if you will agree with my assessment.
I recently heard a lecture by a woman who is a healer and teacher. She is also a longstanding devotee of a holy man in India. She lives her life as a spiritual practice, which, undoubtedly, accounts for her luminous appearance, gentle manner and grace-filled actions. This woman is truly a delight; she has been connected to the other realms since her childhood. She has had numerous experiences of the unusual, the numinous and the divine. In other words, she knows of what she speaks.
That last sentence, along with the following, has me churning to discern what is my truth.
Let me explain:
In her lecture, the teacher made the point that the spiritual life is full of sacrifice, and the more spiritual you are in the world, the harder life is.
The statement had me squirming in my seat. This didn't feel right to me. Happily, one of the students questioned the teacher on these comments. "Good," I thought. "The teacher will clarify this point."
The teacher reiterated her thoughts: The more spiritual you are, the harder your life is. The student who asked the question looked panic-stricken at the thought that she was about to embark on an even harder life.
From my perspective, the spiritual path is part and parcel of the path to consciousness. And when we expand our consciousness and become more aware, we find ourselves acting more responsibly.
For example, years ago, a former client said to me that now that she was more aware, she could no longer throw out her stinky cat food cans. Now, she had to wash and recycle them.
The spiritual path is a lot like those cat food tins: The more aware we are, the more personally responsible we become for our words, thoughts and actions.
And as for sacrifice, it is certainly not limited to the spiritual realms; sacrifice is part of life. Ask anybody. We all know sacrifice. We have made acts of sacrifice on behalf of a loved one, toward a personal or professional goal, for the well-being of our community, and, even, for the greater good.
When I drove home that evening, I found myself still rankled by the teacher's statement. It seemed too simplistic, too black and white and, for my money, not terribly helpful.
I don't think the math adds up; my teacher's equation would read: increased spirituality = a harder life. That doesn't compute to me. It is too limiting, and it seems antithetical to the peace and joy one finds in connection with the divine.
Life, by definition, is filled with hardship. Life is also filled with great happiness and joy; there are many in-between moments along the emotional spectrum. We are, after all, humans. We have choice, baser instincts, lofty ideals, stingy hands, open hearts and the like.
If I have increased spirituality, wouldn't I feel at peace with the world, one with everything and be lacking in judgment? Therefore, if I am peaceful, connected and detached with non-judgment, doesn't it stand to reason that my life would be easier?
I understand that getting to those more expansive, accepting and loving places can be challenging. I won't argue that. The spiritual life requires an integrity, a mindfulness and a level of compassion that can stretch us. I have certainly screamed, "Uncle" more than once to the Gods. Yet, those stretching moments take me to a better place. I end up happier, more satisfied and more complete with myself.
I guess my equation would look like this: increased spirituality = stretching + increased awareness = peace + happiness + more wholeness. And, mind you, this equation is ongoing, like the circle of life, leading me to more and more expanded states of heart and mind and soul and greater dimensions of wholeness.
For me, the spiritual path is a tremendous blessing. Spirituality has given me enormous resources to deal with challenges, sabotaging emotions and the unknown. With my spiritual backpack in place, I can comfort and forgive myself when I have pulled a bonehead move. I can also sit in the dark and know that it is temporary. I am able to view everything through the lens of new learning. I am aware of the spark of divinity in us all.
I see the spiritual life as life-giving. It opens and expands me. It makes me a better person. I like myself more. The spiritual life gives me that big viewfinder; it allows me to see the world in a broader, more inclusive way.
With the spiritual life, I can forgive you, and you can forgive me. I can revel in gratitude and appreciate beauty. I can offer a hand and feel 10 feet tall; you can give me a hand, and I can feel whole. All things are possible, and miracles do happen. Unconditional love can heal, and one act of service can be the catalyst for a lifetime of difference.
Does this sound like hardship to you?
— — —
Dr. Adele Ryan McDowell, Ph.D., is a psychologist, empath and shaman who likes looking at life with the big viewfinder. Her email address is {email ARMCDOWELL@aol.com}ARMCDOWELL@aol.com{/email}. © Copyright 2008 by Adele Ryan McDowell.
I have a story for you, and I wonder if you will agree with my assessment.
I recently heard a lecture by a woman who is a healer and teacher. She is also a longstanding devotee of a holy man in India. She lives her life as a spiritual practice, which, undoubtedly, accounts for her luminous appearance, gentle manner and grace-filled actions. This woman is truly a delight; she has been connected to the other realms since her childhood. She has had numerous experiences of the unusual, the numinous and the divine. In other words, she knows of what she speaks.
That last sentence, along with the following, has me churning to discern what is my truth.
Let me explain:
In her lecture, the teacher made the point that the spiritual life is full of sacrifice, and the more spiritual you are in the world, the harder life is.
The statement had me squirming in my seat. This didn't feel right to me. Happily, one of the students questioned the teacher on these comments. "Good," I thought. "The teacher will clarify this point."
The teacher reiterated her thoughts: The more spiritual you are, the harder your life is. The student who asked the question looked panic-stricken at the thought that she was about to embark on an even harder life.
From my perspective, the spiritual path is part and parcel of the path to consciousness. And when we expand our consciousness and become more aware, we find ourselves acting more responsibly.
For example, years ago, a former client said to me that now that she was more aware, she could no longer throw out her stinky cat food cans. Now, she had to wash and recycle them.
The spiritual path is a lot like those cat food tins: The more aware we are, the more personally responsible we become for our words, thoughts and actions.
And as for sacrifice, it is certainly not limited to the spiritual realms; sacrifice is part of life. Ask anybody. We all know sacrifice. We have made acts of sacrifice on behalf of a loved one, toward a personal or professional goal, for the well-being of our community, and, even, for the greater good.
When I drove home that evening, I found myself still rankled by the teacher's statement. It seemed too simplistic, too black and white and, for my money, not terribly helpful.
I don't think the math adds up; my teacher's equation would read: increased spirituality = a harder life. That doesn't compute to me. It is too limiting, and it seems antithetical to the peace and joy one finds in connection with the divine.
Life, by definition, is filled with hardship. Life is also filled with great happiness and joy; there are many in-between moments along the emotional spectrum. We are, after all, humans. We have choice, baser instincts, lofty ideals, stingy hands, open hearts and the like.
If I have increased spirituality, wouldn't I feel at peace with the world, one with everything and be lacking in judgment? Therefore, if I am peaceful, connected and detached with non-judgment, doesn't it stand to reason that my life would be easier?
I understand that getting to those more expansive, accepting and loving places can be challenging. I won't argue that. The spiritual life requires an integrity, a mindfulness and a level of compassion that can stretch us. I have certainly screamed, "Uncle" more than once to the Gods. Yet, those stretching moments take me to a better place. I end up happier, more satisfied and more complete with myself.
I guess my equation would look like this: increased spirituality = stretching + increased awareness = peace + happiness + more wholeness. And, mind you, this equation is ongoing, like the circle of life, leading me to more and more expanded states of heart and mind and soul and greater dimensions of wholeness.
For me, the spiritual path is a tremendous blessing. Spirituality has given me enormous resources to deal with challenges, sabotaging emotions and the unknown. With my spiritual backpack in place, I can comfort and forgive myself when I have pulled a bonehead move. I can also sit in the dark and know that it is temporary. I am able to view everything through the lens of new learning. I am aware of the spark of divinity in us all.
I see the spiritual life as life-giving. It opens and expands me. It makes me a better person. I like myself more. The spiritual life gives me that big viewfinder; it allows me to see the world in a broader, more inclusive way.
With the spiritual life, I can forgive you, and you can forgive me. I can revel in gratitude and appreciate beauty. I can offer a hand and feel 10 feet tall; you can give me a hand, and I can feel whole. All things are possible, and miracles do happen. Unconditional love can heal, and one act of service can be the catalyst for a lifetime of difference.
Does this sound like hardship to you?
— — —
Dr. Adele Ryan McDowell, Ph.D., is a psychologist, empath and shaman who likes looking at life with the big viewfinder. Her email address is {email ARMCDOWELL@aol.com}ARMCDOWELL@aol.com{/email}. © Copyright 2008 by Adele Ryan McDowell.