J. Krishnamurti was quite critical elf the concept of self-development, he compared it to the renovation of a prison cell. His main point was that by trying to be something that you are not today, you run after the carrot like a donkey. The revolution has to take place here and now.
I am not sosurer about this, to be honest. I think we constantly need to cut 'interferences' out of our system that stand in the way of the Tao. The ongoing adjustment of 'not this and not that' seems to be the only way to stay on the Tao. As the Course in Miracles writes:
'You still oppose the Will of God by a little. And that little is the limit you would place on the whole.' When it comes to God, no interference is allowed. Keep on cleaning up my friend, while your Self is developed, and always has been, we still need to do some cleaning to reveal the diamond in the rough.
Showing posts with label self-development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label self-development. Show all posts
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Against the Wind
You probably know this song, it has a nice tune, but the lyrics feel lonely and sad. I know that many believe in the "Going with the Flow" philosophy, but you probably will face stretches along your spiritual path that feel lonesome and uphill.
Our journey is all about dismantling the "I" to see what lies beyond. Ignoring the demands of the "I" can at times feel like having needles under your skin. Let me give you a pretty trivial example. I have stopped drinking coffee just because I observed an energy source at the back of my head that doesn't require additional stimulus. Boy, do I miss my coffee!!! Similarly, I quit drinking my occasional glass of beer or wine since alcohol lowers your mindfulness. As you know, mindfulness and will power is what it takes to keep the demands of the "I" in check.
Actually, the spiritual path traveler is in this respect not any different from anyone who aspires to accomplish a particular goal and pushes her own boundaries in the process. I would love to hear from you what little sacrifices you have made along your journey.
Our journey is all about dismantling the "I" to see what lies beyond. Ignoring the demands of the "I" can at times feel like having needles under your skin. Let me give you a pretty trivial example. I have stopped drinking coffee just because I observed an energy source at the back of my head that doesn't require additional stimulus. Boy, do I miss my coffee!!! Similarly, I quit drinking my occasional glass of beer or wine since alcohol lowers your mindfulness. As you know, mindfulness and will power is what it takes to keep the demands of the "I" in check.
Actually, the spiritual path traveler is in this respect not any different from anyone who aspires to accomplish a particular goal and pushes her own boundaries in the process. I would love to hear from you what little sacrifices you have made along your journey.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Flash
The other day I was sitting happily at home when suddenly I experienced a flash going through my body. The feeling was sexual in nature, but I have no memory any longer what it was about. It came and it went and all I could do was to wonder about the nature of the experience.
I think all thoughts, desires and biological stimuli are nothing but flashes. It just happens that we don't perceive it that way since our brain and body go on autopilot afterwards. When our attractive neighbor shows up, some of us first have the thought of how attractive this person is, followed by a bunch of thoughts that probably don't belong into this blog. Just imagine how much energy we could save if we just left it at the first thought, i.e. the realization that this really an attractive person and then we move on with our life.
J. Krishnamurti often stated that desire is a consequence of thought. When we see a nice car, house or attractive person, why don't we leave it at this observation. The next thought that we have to possess them is desire; this chain of thought is sometimes useful, but most often a futile waste of time and energy.
It seems that our spiritual path is all about self-mastery. Not that we should suppress our feelings and desires, but that we become so in tune with our mind and body that we are able to perceive flashes and are able to react to them or ignore them as we deem necessary.
I think all thoughts, desires and biological stimuli are nothing but flashes. It just happens that we don't perceive it that way since our brain and body go on autopilot afterwards. When our attractive neighbor shows up, some of us first have the thought of how attractive this person is, followed by a bunch of thoughts that probably don't belong into this blog. Just imagine how much energy we could save if we just left it at the first thought, i.e. the realization that this really an attractive person and then we move on with our life.
J. Krishnamurti often stated that desire is a consequence of thought. When we see a nice car, house or attractive person, why don't we leave it at this observation. The next thought that we have to possess them is desire; this chain of thought is sometimes useful, but most often a futile waste of time and energy.
It seems that our spiritual path is all about self-mastery. Not that we should suppress our feelings and desires, but that we become so in tune with our mind and body that we are able to perceive flashes and are able to react to them or ignore them as we deem necessary.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
The Final Illusion
It ain't about how fast you get there
It ain't about the other side
It's the climb! (Miley Cyrus)
Enjoy your journey, whether you think of yourself as climbing one mountain after the other, or whether you think of yourself as sitting on a couch and letting the life lessons pass by one by one in your personalized video game. The important thing though, your life happens now and nothing else matters. If you are looking out to the other side you might trip over a stone.
So what is the final illusion? It is looking out for the final liberation, samadhi. How do you know who is looking? Is could be the mind with its endless urges for the more and the better. You tell yourself, once you are there everything will be better. I remember a thought once popped up in my head which said, "if enlightenment these days comes a dime a dozen, who will read my books when I reach samadhi?". I couldn't help laughing at the naivete of our ego. But that is what our mind does. It just takes the concept of the more, power, security, etc. and wraps some spiritual clothes around it. So enjoy every step of your journey and watch out for the final illusion.
It ain't about the other side
It's the climb! (Miley Cyrus)
Enjoy your journey, whether you think of yourself as climbing one mountain after the other, or whether you think of yourself as sitting on a couch and letting the life lessons pass by one by one in your personalized video game. The important thing though, your life happens now and nothing else matters. If you are looking out to the other side you might trip over a stone.
So what is the final illusion? It is looking out for the final liberation, samadhi. How do you know who is looking? Is could be the mind with its endless urges for the more and the better. You tell yourself, once you are there everything will be better. I remember a thought once popped up in my head which said, "if enlightenment these days comes a dime a dozen, who will read my books when I reach samadhi?". I couldn't help laughing at the naivete of our ego. But that is what our mind does. It just takes the concept of the more, power, security, etc. and wraps some spiritual clothes around it. So enjoy every step of your journey and watch out for the final illusion.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
What's Your Passion?
Some of you might have read the Passion Test, a book that makes the case for following your passions and living your dream day by day. I live by that philosophy, but I wonder how we can figure out which passions lead us to our destiny and which may lead us astray from our Spiritual Path. Just because a holy book or a guru tells you something shouldn't be done, doesn't mean it is wrong for you. Conversely, just because something feels good does not mean it is your destiny. As always, the choice is up to you and it is actually not quite as daunting as it seems. You can reevaluate your choice every day as you live your passion while following your spiritual intuition.
Take Arnold Schwarzenegger as an example. Had he believed that "you are not your body", most of us wouldn't have realized how much we can create the body we aspire. Similarly, Madonna might not live up to her name when it comes to spiritual self-development, yet her "express yourself" theme gave energy to millions of people. How can their chosen path not have been their well-deserved destiny.
The Spiritual Path in the end is about overcoming your ego, and all desires are more or less tainted by it. My approach is that if you can't beat your ego, let him work for you. Over the last year I have embraced my work with new vigor, despite the fact that my ego-drive for professional success is probably unabated. Essentially, I view my current job in the financial industry as a stepping stone for my next career as a spiritual writer and life consultant. I work on my writing skills, try to master my ways to connect and communicate. I even practice a few metaphysical tricks just to convince myself, and later others, that you can thrive professionally while putting your ego at bay. I don't think I had ever as much fun doing what I am doing than today.
Take Arnold Schwarzenegger as an example. Had he believed that "you are not your body", most of us wouldn't have realized how much we can create the body we aspire. Similarly, Madonna might not live up to her name when it comes to spiritual self-development, yet her "express yourself" theme gave energy to millions of people. How can their chosen path not have been their well-deserved destiny.
The Spiritual Path in the end is about overcoming your ego, and all desires are more or less tainted by it. My approach is that if you can't beat your ego, let him work for you. Over the last year I have embraced my work with new vigor, despite the fact that my ego-drive for professional success is probably unabated. Essentially, I view my current job in the financial industry as a stepping stone for my next career as a spiritual writer and life consultant. I work on my writing skills, try to master my ways to connect and communicate. I even practice a few metaphysical tricks just to convince myself, and later others, that you can thrive professionally while putting your ego at bay. I don't think I had ever as much fun doing what I am doing than today.
Friday, April 17, 2009
How to Become an Extrovert?
In one of the discussion groups of Personal Development for Smart People Form, people described their transformation from introvert to extrovert. I reflected on my transition, though according to some I might still be considered an Introvert. After all, I still can't "work a room full of strangers". Why shouldn't one be shy when one meets somebody for the first time? No, my transition has been a different one, whereas people tended to drain my energy before, they now give me energy. What a joy it has become to bump into people.
My change in attitute started when I read the following line "If everyone is God talking, why not be polite and listen?" What a concept! People are our mirrors; we attract them consciously and subconsciously, and the all have a message for us, friend as much as foe.
Have you ever noticed how you behave when you talk to somebody? The times when you assume an arrogant pose just because somebody flatters you. Have you seen the wince in your opponent's face when you say something untactful? To some extent the spiritual path is about becoming more sensitive. You need people for that transition. What took a sledgehammer before to get into your head, now takes the movement of an eye. This process requires other people - they are your mirror. Enjoy your daily conversations with God!
My change in attitute started when I read the following line "If everyone is God talking, why not be polite and listen?" What a concept! People are our mirrors; we attract them consciously and subconsciously, and the all have a message for us, friend as much as foe.
Have you ever noticed how you behave when you talk to somebody? The times when you assume an arrogant pose just because somebody flatters you. Have you seen the wince in your opponent's face when you say something untactful? To some extent the spiritual path is about becoming more sensitive. You need people for that transition. What took a sledgehammer before to get into your head, now takes the movement of an eye. This process requires other people - they are your mirror. Enjoy your daily conversations with God!
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