What was once a pursuit of higher knowledge has become an internal dialogue of knowing thyself.
The world today is full of keywords and marketable ideas that sound great in a video or an article. Beyond being sold into the belief that spirituality is about magic and special experiences, we have to become grounded in the unmarketable truths.
One notion that resonates and humbles me is the idea of how little we actually know about life. Sure, I can position my image and write with sophistication, trying to convince people I’m a spiritual expert. However, I have had many mystical experiences, and because of them, I understand that true understanding comes through humility.
The clarity of my mind tells me to never forego the wisdom of the people around me. The average everyday person is just as spiritual as the being who dresses in fanciful robes.
Not one-size-fits-all
Spirituality is not a one-size fit all way of being. It is more about being true to our own design and inner nature. Singing with the birds, chewing a piece of gum or driving a car are activities that can be just as spiritual as reciting a prayer.
What matters is not what we are doing, but how we perform the activity itself. If we act upon every moment with true focus and the intention of being conscious, then we are willingly working on being a spiritual person.
Whether we are aware of our lives or not, being in a spiritual process is not an indicator of great wisdom or grand foolishness; each person walks through life at their own pace.
We won’t find the answers we seek by reading an idea that manifests through the experiences of someone else. We can read countless books, watch hours of interviews or have deep discussions with peers about what we believe is the true path, but this won’t guarantee that we walk away as a spiritual master. What separates those who know and those who do not know is the ability to see beyond the sense of self.
The practice of meditation is the gateway to reminding us of who we were before we became who we are. When we know our past, we can better determine our future by actualizing the present.
When we entered this world, we came into it without any ideas or thoughts about what or how life should be. As we aged and transformed, the environment around us shaped us into who we are. Our thoughts and values were placed before us, and as a child, we knew of nothing else; we accepted all that was presented and took on an identity. We forgot the wonder and mystery of life.
Without remembering the past, the vast awareness of a child, we let the world fool us into believing what it has claimed as truth. We must remember and claim what we have left behind. Our truth, the truth of humanity, is waiting. It can’t be found in a book or bought. The way to the truth is discovered through silence and deep reflection.
Self-discovery
The world within us can either be a luminous shelter or a darkened cave. The less we see or ask of our own nature, the less light we will carry within us.
Patience and endurance are the virtues that will be challenged. This quest of self-discovery is not resolved after one minute of inner inquiry; it is a lifetime pursuit that will make us feel lost, confused and uncertain. What we are after is worth it, as this gift is more valuable than gold or earthly riches.
The knowledge of self, the understanding of our true inner nature, is what we must reclaim. Once we have it, we will never lose it. The strings of fate will make themselves apparent and our minds will flourish like a lotus flower rising from the mud.
This path is not easy, nor is it simple. Constant action and focus will guide us towards our own truths. Once we remember who we are, we will know what we must do. The world will become much clearer. All that can be asked of us is if we’re ready to take the first step. No teacher or master will walk with us on this journey. Only we can reclaim what we have lost.
«RELATED READ» THE POWER OF THOUGHT: Reflections on identity and time»
