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| Uyboco: Authentic spirituality Posted: 24 Mar 2021 07:35 AM PDT DIFFERENT people have different understandings of spirituality. Some see it as having a relationship with a spiritual being whom one may consider their creator, savior, redeemer, and so on. Some think of it in terms of communing with the universe, creation, or all of matter, of having some sort of synchronicity with invisible, supernatural, or unknown forces. I like to think of it, simply, as having peace with myself. So-called spiritual teachers and gurus have recommended many paths to better spirituality -- joining a religious body or church, prayer, meditation, fasting, yoga, studying scriptures. Some religious groups even attempt to "measure" one's spirituality by checking attendance at services, percentage of tithes to one's income, time spent studying doctrines, etc. I have been there, done that, cried my heart out in repentance, danced my feet off in worship, studied the scriptures, prayed again and again in the quiet corner of my room, as well as joined with others in communal prayer. None of those really gave me peace, at least, not the kind of peace that I have now. But it was/is a personal journey. I do not claim to hold the 5 Steps to Enlightenment or 21 Days to a More Spiritual You that you can also achieve if you enroll in my course and pay the P1899 registration fee. Although if you want to send me money, I won't stop you. Email me and I'll give you my GCash number. What I can do is just share my experience. If that is useful for you, then fine. If not, fine as well. You see, I believe that people have perverted spirituality, theology, and so on. I believe that long ago there were people who sincerely sought the truth, had discussions with those like-minded, and recorded their reflections. Then other people came and instead of looking at these records as conjectures, pointers, guideposts or jump-off points, they made them into scriptures and systems -- to be followed to the letter or else. Instead of priests whose role is to guide each person into inner peace, they became enforcers of external practices that supposedly exhibit one's piety. In fact, one can even take courses in theology, get grades for it, and even an M.A. or a Ph.D. in it. That just goes to show that theology is no longer a search for truth but rather a system of preservation of beliefs. So what did I do? Well, the very first step I took, which I believe was the key to it all, was letting go of all my beliefs -- yes everything that I held sacred or untouchable, I eventually let go, not because I despised them but I understood the zen parable of the empty cup: I cannot receive truth in its purity if there is still something left that I am not willing to let go. Email me at andy@freethinking.me. View previous articles at www.freethinking.me.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 24 Mar 2021 07:34 AM PDT "THE Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want." There was an eighty-year-old Harvard study that wanted to find out what makes people happy. The result was it was close relationships more than fame, family, power that made people happy. Close relationships. Furthermore, they found out that close relationships led to better mental health and slower physical decline. More than anything, it was close relationships that determined the quality of life. More than genes, more than wealth, more than the trappings of the world. Let that sink in for a moment. Let us pause and look at our surroundings and ask ourselves, do these things really make me happy? Clothes? The television? The car? The house? If you wish you can open your gate and go farther. The bank account? My career? Am I truly happy with all these? The irony of it all is that the more we want something, the more we want it even more. And it shall never bring us satisfaction. We become possessed with our possessions. And like happiness, it is fleeting and temporary. If all these things will guarantee happiness why are there so many rich people who are miserable? Clearly, the answer is not in the wants and needs because they may bring temporary happiness but not joy. And it is joy that we must aspire for. In Buddhism, there is a principle called detachment. It happens when a person overcomes his or her attachment to the things of this world thereby attaining a higher perspective of life. The person becomes essentially free because he does not want nor need anything. Not wealth, not approval, not security. By having or wanting and even needing nothing, he or she is free. So lovely to think about and yet the reality is entirely different. We are all attached to something. And it is not only things that we find ourselves chained to. We are also prisoners of our own doubts, fears, past and future, anger, bitterness, arrogance, and weaknesses. We have addictions of all kinds. We are imprisoned in more ways than one. But then, "The Lord is my shepherd." Let us not mince words. Nor overthink. The Lord is our shepherd. He protects us, He shields us, He defends us. And because of that "I shall not want" of anything. The keyword there is "nothing." I will want nothing. Wow. And that transformation is not material or physical. Not wanting is unnatural if you are normal. Not wanting anything is normal if you are unnatural. If you are beyond our own nature. The transformation is spiritual. Think about this awesome thing. When you do not want anything, you are free. And your Shepherd can give that.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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