Every individual human has some form of spirituality. Their spirituality serves as their vision which informs every aspect of their life.
This vision works, in a hierarchical sense, from the top down. It starts with a grand design, which provides a framework which explains life. Working alongside that grand design is an ultimate goal, which describes how to live in that framework, including some things one should strive for. From there it trickles down to eventually inform one's smallest thoughts and actions from moment to moment.
For many their grand design adheres to a spiritual dogma, or religion, which consists of a deity, or multiple deities, who in turn lay out the ultimate goals for its followers. For those not adhering to any dogma, their grand design tends to consist simply of the universe, or cosmos. For those who don't fit into either of the above categories, their grand design usually falls under science, or atheism (though many atheists unknowingly fall under the dogma of science).
Here is my own spirituality. I ascribe my grand design to the universe. My ultimate goal as an individual is enlightenment. To me, to be enlightened is to love unconditionally, be the best person I can be, to be completely present in every moment.
To attain unconditional love I must walk and master five paths, each ascribing to an aspect of my human condition. Those five paths refer to attachment, expectations, judgement, awareness and acceptance.
Attachment is an aspect rooted deeply in Buddhism. The idea behind it is that we develop attachment to external objects that bring us joy, but when those things are no longer around, we experience negative emotions such as sadness, anger and envy. If I can overcome my attachment I won't suffer when such objects are not in my presence.
Expectations. Similar to attachment, we develop expectations for specific outcomes around external objects or events. When those outcomes fall short of our expectations we experience sadness, anger and disappointment. If I can let go of my expectations I won't be disappointed by unsatisfying outcomes.
Judgement is an ancient mechanism, used as gossip, which worked in smaller more closed societies to moderate behaviour. It also helps us form our own identity, by helping us figure out where and how we fit within our society. However, judgement limits our beliefs and leads to premature conclusions towards ourselves and others. It creates contempt and oppression, and just plain hurts. If I can eliminate judgement, I can let go of limiting beliefs about myself and others, as well as avoid hurting others.
Awareness. In order to transcend attachment, expectations and judgement, we need to become fully self aware, to notice every little thought and action especially regarding the above three. Choosing the opposite would be living in ignorance is bliss. This truly does work for some, but most of us are choosing this in denial. If I attain full awareness I will recognize my past and present patterns and behaviours, and the way they impact others around me. I will no longer see my mistakes as negative events to judge myself by but as learning opportunities to integrate, as mere bumps to navigate along my five paths.
Acceptance. Once we attain full awareness we are able to accept all things as they are. When I accept things as they are, I'm no longer holding on to my past because I've come to terms with it. I see how everything in it including my traumas shaped who I am today. And there is no worrying about my future, because I will see how the present moment will shape it, and I am ready to embrace it when it comes. I can be truly present.
These are the five paths I walk to becoming enlightened, to attain unconditional love, a love so pure that it accepts every thing without judgement, that gives purely out of compassion without expecting anything in return. It allows us to adapt to and accept change, to let go of things we cannot control, to fully be with the flow.
As I mentioned earlier, the ultimate goal in my life is enlightenment. However, I practice the five paths even with respect to this. Thus, I have no attachment to this goal, nor expectations to reach it, and I accept and will not judge my own limitations in reaching it.
Not only that, and it seems contradictory at first, but I accept that it is human to experience these aspects. They come from the ego, which is a part of who I am... I am human, thus I have attachments and expectations, I judge, I lapse in awareness and I do not accept all things as they are. To transcend these things is to transcend my own ego and thus my own humanity, which is near impossible. In fact only the Buddha and a very few select others have transcended these five paths, attained unconditional love and become enlightened.
Thus, my more realistic ultimate goal looks like this:
Enlightenment is a worthy goal, but one never to expect to reach.
Another mantra I live by is everything in moderation. If I can manage and maintain a healthy balance of a moderate level of each of the five aspects, I will consider my journey a success.
Enlightenment also doesn't have to be an end goal. As long as I am doing my best and being present, then I am practicing enlightenment.
When I break it down, I realize that there are as many spiritualities as there are individuals of the human species, and they come in many forms. One's spirituality can adhere to a dogma, or it can cherry pick from many different ones. One set of ultimate goals that I found very useful in forming my own spirituality is in a book called The Four Agreements, which outlines four simple but powerful actions to practice. Another is in an ancient science called Ayurveda.
So what's your spirituality? What are your ultimate goals in life, and what are the paths you walk in order to reach them? Can any of the paths I walk bring clarity to your own?
Best of luck in your journey.
This vision works, in a hierarchical sense, from the top down. It starts with a grand design, which provides a framework which explains life. Working alongside that grand design is an ultimate goal, which describes how to live in that framework, including some things one should strive for. From there it trickles down to eventually inform one's smallest thoughts and actions from moment to moment.
For many their grand design adheres to a spiritual dogma, or religion, which consists of a deity, or multiple deities, who in turn lay out the ultimate goals for its followers. For those not adhering to any dogma, their grand design tends to consist simply of the universe, or cosmos. For those who don't fit into either of the above categories, their grand design usually falls under science, or atheism (though many atheists unknowingly fall under the dogma of science).
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| In India and Nepal I was awed by its monasteries and temples |
Here is my own spirituality. I ascribe my grand design to the universe. My ultimate goal as an individual is enlightenment. To me, to be enlightened is to love unconditionally, be the best person I can be, to be completely present in every moment.
To attain unconditional love I must walk and master five paths, each ascribing to an aspect of my human condition. Those five paths refer to attachment, expectations, judgement, awareness and acceptance.
Attachment is an aspect rooted deeply in Buddhism. The idea behind it is that we develop attachment to external objects that bring us joy, but when those things are no longer around, we experience negative emotions such as sadness, anger and envy. If I can overcome my attachment I won't suffer when such objects are not in my presence.
Expectations. Similar to attachment, we develop expectations for specific outcomes around external objects or events. When those outcomes fall short of our expectations we experience sadness, anger and disappointment. If I can let go of my expectations I won't be disappointed by unsatisfying outcomes.
Judgement is an ancient mechanism, used as gossip, which worked in smaller more closed societies to moderate behaviour. It also helps us form our own identity, by helping us figure out where and how we fit within our society. However, judgement limits our beliefs and leads to premature conclusions towards ourselves and others. It creates contempt and oppression, and just plain hurts. If I can eliminate judgement, I can let go of limiting beliefs about myself and others, as well as avoid hurting others.
Awareness. In order to transcend attachment, expectations and judgement, we need to become fully self aware, to notice every little thought and action especially regarding the above three. Choosing the opposite would be living in ignorance is bliss. This truly does work for some, but most of us are choosing this in denial. If I attain full awareness I will recognize my past and present patterns and behaviours, and the way they impact others around me. I will no longer see my mistakes as negative events to judge myself by but as learning opportunities to integrate, as mere bumps to navigate along my five paths.
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| Meditation is a way to build awareness and unconditional love |
Acceptance. Once we attain full awareness we are able to accept all things as they are. When I accept things as they are, I'm no longer holding on to my past because I've come to terms with it. I see how everything in it including my traumas shaped who I am today. And there is no worrying about my future, because I will see how the present moment will shape it, and I am ready to embrace it when it comes. I can be truly present.
These are the five paths I walk to becoming enlightened, to attain unconditional love, a love so pure that it accepts every thing without judgement, that gives purely out of compassion without expecting anything in return. It allows us to adapt to and accept change, to let go of things we cannot control, to fully be with the flow.
As I mentioned earlier, the ultimate goal in my life is enlightenment. However, I practice the five paths even with respect to this. Thus, I have no attachment to this goal, nor expectations to reach it, and I accept and will not judge my own limitations in reaching it.
Not only that, and it seems contradictory at first, but I accept that it is human to experience these aspects. They come from the ego, which is a part of who I am... I am human, thus I have attachments and expectations, I judge, I lapse in awareness and I do not accept all things as they are. To transcend these things is to transcend my own ego and thus my own humanity, which is near impossible. In fact only the Buddha and a very few select others have transcended these five paths, attained unconditional love and become enlightened.
Thus, my more realistic ultimate goal looks like this:
Enlightenment is a worthy goal, but one never to expect to reach.
 |
| My own spirituality is strongly inspired by nature |
Enlightenment also doesn't have to be an end goal. As long as I am doing my best and being present, then I am practicing enlightenment.
When I break it down, I realize that there are as many spiritualities as there are individuals of the human species, and they come in many forms. One's spirituality can adhere to a dogma, or it can cherry pick from many different ones. One set of ultimate goals that I found very useful in forming my own spirituality is in a book called The Four Agreements, which outlines four simple but powerful actions to practice. Another is in an ancient science called Ayurveda.
So what's your spirituality? What are your ultimate goals in life, and what are the paths you walk in order to reach them? Can any of the paths I walk bring clarity to your own?
Best of luck in your journey.
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| Life is a beautiful journey |
