The Passion Test

Mark Twain supposedly once said, "If you always tell the truth, you have to remember less." How true, and how relevant for us spiritual travelers. Somehow we keep things simple for that is how the Way is: simple, yet powerful!

I thought about this simple truism as I was reading Mark Abraham's "Meet Your Sexual Mind: The Interactions Between Instincts and Intellect and its Impact on Human Behavior", in which he was somehow bemoaning the fact that our out-dated instincts way too often overwrite the intellect. Instincts don't have to battle the intellect at all. Along a spiritual path you are gently led to hobbies, professions, relationships and creative outlets that allow your instincts to be utilized to the fullest, while the intellect has little else to do than to grasp that life is somehow perfect as is. 

The Bhagavad Gita introduces the idea that we all have our idiosyncratic dharma (mission/calling/destiny) that allows us to make full usage of our nature. Life will make sure that we are subconsciously drawn to the outlet that is most meaningful. Just do this little passion test: do you feel thrilled to do what you do, and hang out with the people that are currently in your life? If the answer is yes, know that intellect and instincts are perfectly balanced within you and no energy gets wasted along the Way. If the answer is no, don't worry; the Tao will get you there!