People seem to think being spiritual means doing whatever you please just so long as it makes you feel good, happy, enjoy life and allows you to pretend you’re somehow growing and developing for the better when you’re not. You may be in some ways, but not spiritually.
Taking part in rituals like banging drums, waving around burning white sage, sitting in circles chanting, doing guided meditations and the rest they offer is nothing to do with spirituality. It’s just an interest like any other interest that only achieves making you feel good.
Orthodox religions are little better. They do ritualised services, prayer groups and charismatic renewal groups that teach and achieve nothing much at all in a spiritual sense except to make you feel pious or somehow mystical. Priests read bible passages they’ll then do sermons on. Readings they don’t actually explain or teach about properly or give the meaning of.
Both the New Age/spiritualist or Orthodox religious practices are worthless if wanting to achieve something far deeper than this world has to offer. They’re good in some ways giving people what they want, but none on its own stretches anyone or makes them look deep inside to see one’s own faults and failings. They go no further than surface and are always just the same things being said or done over and over again. All are aimed at getting people to follow man’s ways more than God’s.
Spiritual leaders or teachers that are most sought after today are sadly, those who actually teach nothing spiritual, nor help anyone nourish their soul, but they make a fortune from promising they can do both by practising some of the rituals mentioned above.
So what is a true spiritual leader or teacher and how can they help you develop properly spiritually, helping you understand what needs to be done? True spirituality or growth doesn’t involve symbolic gestures, taking part in group sessions for rituals, meditations or attending services. It is best achieved alone and by reaching deep inside oneself, searching, seeking and learning about who we are as individuals.
It isn’t just our earthly bodies we need to look after and nourish, it’s what lies deep within us that needs to be too. In fact, that hidden part of us that only God sees is the most important part. We are born earthly creatures, but with a soul deep inside us that is not of this earthly world. A soul that needs nurturing and nourishing for when we leave this world and go to another beyond earthly realms. Nourishing the soul is the real reason we’re here.
I don’t actually like the word spiritual, as it can actually stop us achieving what we’re here to achieve. The more we think we’re spiritual beings, the less we actually are. Titles are a man made thing everyone seems to think are needed to tell others about who or what we are and aimed at elevating us above others.
Instead of focusing on giving yourself or others titles, we just need to ask of ourselves, are we leading good lives? Are we honest, pure of heart, humble, respectful of all living things; Nature, people, animals or creatures living alongside us? Are we content with only the simple things in life rather than always striving for more and more materialistic things so many believe they need, but actually don’t. Are we honest? Do we seek to get anything we can with no regard of the cost to others? Do we seek approval and attention of others in our daily practices or seek just God’s approval?
Reflection and contemplation on our own faults, failings, wants, greed, dishonesty, lies no matter how great or small is important. Digging deep and seeing what God would see if we were to stand in front of Him today to be judged by Him. It isn’t the good we do we need to focus on, it’s what we may have done wrong, knowingly or otherwise, that should be our focus.
On that final day of judgement would we be secure in the knowledge we lived our lives as much as we could in ways God asked of us, or did we just do as we pleased while expecting Him to forgive and forget – regardless of us being non repentant? Did we aim to please and impress mankind worried about what others may think of us or how they may view us, or was it being in God’s favour we were more concerned with?
The sad thing about today’s world is no one thinks they should be judged on their behaviour, words or deeds. That’s because false spiritual practices pander to people rather than help them save their souls. Everyone is taught God is all forgiving with no need to repent. That everyone can do as they please if they feel it’s right for them with no regard for anything beyond the here and now.
Do as you please by all means. Strive for what you want by taking part in mindfulness and wellness retreats; retreats and classes alleging to teach healing, Reiki or mediumship with promises you’ll progress in spirituality if you do so. You’re made to believe you’ll somehow become a mystical, magical spiritual being capable of doing things that will make you into something you actually aren’t and never will be – all for a great price.
None of this is real and none of it will take you even one step towards spirituality or being a better person, but it’s what people want and prefer to truth and reality. It’s what is charged high prices for, what many will pay a lot of money for. The more one is charged, the more people are fooled into thinking it beneficial and real.
Going to orthodox church services, praying each day, being very religious, taking part in everything they have to offer does not make you a spiritual being either. Nothing of the above will help you on the day you stand in front of your Maker to have your whole life judged to see what your final outcome will be.
A true spiritual leader will challenge you, teach you to challenge yourself. Teach you to see your worst faults, to seek within so deeply so you find and see what God sees. They teach and encourage you to see deep into the heart of who you really are rather than the surface shell we show to the world. They will teach us to seek and find what’s really in our hearts, not just what we think is there.
Baring one’s soul and seeing all that lies within it is one of the hardest tasks a human can do. It is very hard to achieve, takes time and great effort, can be very painful, but will change our whole aspect on the meaning of life. It will cause much pain and many tears before we can find comfort and inner peace. It takes a lifetime to achieve, but is the most important, crucial and worthwhile thing any of us can or ever will do.
We should be focusing more on what’s not of this world than what is. Focus on what lies beyond, Who lies beyond. Until you are prepared to do this, can accept that only by doing this can you grow spiritually and be ready to meet your Maker, then you’re not anything other than just being of this earthly world no matter what anyone tells you for a price.
While you believe you’re the master of your own destiny, you’ll have learnt nothing. While every part of you is more about earthly practices, impressing earthly people and yourself about how spiritual a person you are, the further you are from being or achieving it.
As Jesus told us, “…whoever loses his life will save it…”
“..If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me…”
When you understand the true meaning of these words, you’ll be on your way to learning why you’re here and what’s needed to save yourself and maybe be ready for heavenly realms beyond this one.
Thanks, Lorraine, it’s always good to be reminded of all these things.