In my previous post, I utilised a nutritional metaphor to describe the process of assimilating Spiritual Truths (i.e. Ultimate Truths concerning God and His Creation - with a particular focus on the human-spiritual aspect).
I used the analogy of BREAD in order to make more readily understandable the vital importance to our mental-emotional-spiritual integrity and 'well being' of assimilating Spiritual Truth.
But what if one has no 'appetite' for Spiritual Truth? No hunger? What if one is already sated on other, less spiritual fare? How do we create desire for Spiritual Truth?
The other 'co-essential' factor in this 'spiritual equation' is known as dis-associative meditation. It is the process of 'clearing a space' in preparation for the taking in of 'spiritual food'. In keeping with our already established nutritional metaphor, it coincides with the process of elimination - in all its forms.
In psycho-spiritual terms, it involves 'di-vesting' oneself of all the hoarded 'junk' that is cluttering up our minds and hearts. It is a de-identification process, and involves an active attempt to 'eliminate' all aspects of ones life which can be identified as 'anti-spiritual' - all those factors of ones experience which prevent the (spontaneous) 're-identification' with Spiritual Truth. It is a necessary preparation and precedes the second process of assimilation of Spiritual Truth.
This is, in fact, the method by which we begin to feel - desire for something else - something clearly transcending our everyday worldly sense of who we think we are; as well as what our purpose in the world might be.
In time, this (at first intermittent) 'hunger' develops into a longing for Spiritual Reality which draws us forward - in time; to the Goal of All Creation, which is to Realise Consciously our already existing Oneness with GOD - The Ultimate Reality. This is, of necessity, a gradual process.
To put it in the simplest possible terms, we need to begin by having a critical look at our current, habitual daily intake - what we 'take into' ourselves; not just on the physical level, (i.e. in terms of actual diet) but also, (and this ,in fact, the most crucial point - what we take into ourselves mentally and emotionally; and what we 'take in' - to become ourselves, that is, what we identify with mentally and emotionally.
For those who find this particular symbolism useful, the end of the waning moon cycle (what is otherwise known as the New Moon) today, (i.e. Friday, at 2:25 P.M.; local Sydney time - it is now 2:50P.M. as I write this) - in astrological terms, Sun conjunct Moon, is an excellent time to begin this PROCESS, as it represents a kind of 'dying to oneself' - a 'di-vesting oneself' of all 'in-essentials' in ones life.
(Note: 18/08/2012; At the time of writing the above, roughly four weeks ago, I had no idea of what I would now call 'co-incidental events' ocurring worldwide; in particular the Colorado 'shooting massacre', which, given the time difference between Colorado and Sydney, (approx. 15 hrs. behind Sydney time) - would have been unfolding at precisely the time of the 'new moon' - otherwise known as the 'dark moon.' In Hindu culture this time is known as Amavasia; the 'darkest night' of the month. There is considerable superstition in Hindu culture, and elsewhere, regarding this monthly occurrence. On another level, it can be compared to the monthly menstrual cycle, which still has significant taboos attached to it in a number of cultural contexts, worldwide.
There were, in fact, a number of other significant events which occurred at about the same time as the Colorado 'event.' For example, the bus load of Israeli's 'blown up' by a suicide bomber in Bulgaria, as well as a Taliban attack on American supply trucks on the Pakistan/Afghanistan border crossing. However, the significant event that came to dominate the news cycle more than any others was the Colorado mass shooting).
All the false identifications with 'externals' - with illusions. In the
Christian tradition, this 'process' is represented by the literal metaphor of baptism. A 'washing away' - a 'dissolving' of all previous identifications with worldly illusion. I cannot think of a better metaphor for the process of 'de-identification' and 'elimination' of 'sins' - or impressions of past experience, which 'impregnate' ones consciousness; (a.k.a. sanskaras).
In terms of human life, these can be either 'sins of commission' or 'sins of omission.' That is, the left over experiential imprints of past actions - 'sins of commission' means actions one ought not to have done but did; 'sins of omission' means actions that ought to have been done, in a specific context, but were not done - allowing other actions to occur more or less 'by default.' The impressions that result from the later scenario are of the precise actions which were done, in place of the specific actions that would have been more appropriate from a psycho-spiritual point of view. They are no less 'positive' or binding on consciousness. From this point of view, it would be fair to say that there are really only 'sins of commission' - whether the 'specific action' was intended or not. The only real difference is between 'knowledge' and 'ignorance.' Did I really know the true significance of what I was doing, at the time I did it?
However, it is literally impossible 'to do nothing.' The expression, "nature abhors a vacuum" comes to mind. There is only one state of consciousness that I am aware of where it is possible 'to do nothing' and that is the ultimate 'end state' of 'Truth Realisation' or "God Realisation."
The very moment of 'dying to self' (through 'baptism') is the very moment of 're-birth in the Spirit.' Spiritual Rebirth - which is a re-awakening to the real significance of the 'spiritual' and a re-cognition of its unassailable primacy over matter. There is a latin saying: 'Death is certain; the hour is uncertain." I would like to paraphrase this as: "God-Realisation is certain; the hour is uncertain."
MeherStar
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