Insulting Spirit or Exposing the 'me'?

Don't bend; don't water it down; don't try to make it logical;
don't edit your own soul according to the fashion.
Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.
~ Franz Kafka

While it isn’t my intention to insult anyone (Alright, for the purposes of this topic it IS my intention to insult everyone, and I’ll explain that in a moment) I would like to offer a few suggestions for your reading enjoyment and/or disdain.

For what it’s worth, I have examined and explored the worlds authentic wisdom traditions for almost twenty years and have provided hundreds of workshops on numerous topics such as Spirituality, healing and personal exploration to thousands of participants.

Recently I have surveyed much of western Canada on the topic of ‘Spirituality’, and what I have found is this: there is very little that actually addresses the nature of genuine Spirituality.

What is usually called Spiritual is actually self-esteem building, identity strengthening, various approaches that attempt to solidify, heal or grow the ‘me’, as well as entertaining new-age fluff (as well as many attempts to use spirituality as a 'catchphrase' to sell something). And while some of these efforts are at times useful, they have little or nothing to do with Spirituality.

Spiritual egoism? Spiritual self-esteem? Spiritual comfort? Spiritual marketing ploy? Spiritual nice-ism?

The spirituality these people are speaking of is at best comfort and consolation through belief systems. Make no mistake about it; anyone is free to call anything by any name they choose. You can call the earth flat, you can call asleep awake, and you can call the ‘me’ spiritual, but the false does not become the real, no matter what you call it or how much you believe in it.

In my deep Life explorations and experiences, Spirituality has seldom been a feel good endeavor leading to warm fuzzies and chicken soup. I would define spirituality as the movement toward the real, which means away from comfort and consolation. This often means disillusionment via the abandonment of unnecessary beliefs. What are unnecessary beliefs?

I'll leave that one to you, but let me ask you a few questions: Do you need to believe you exist? Do you need to believe in your direct experience? Do you need to believe you are alive now? Do you need to believe in this moment? Do you really need to believe in anything at all?

If you think so, why? Security? Comfort? Conditioning?

Beliefs are what separate us from directly experiencing Life here now. Belief is what we create to comfort us from the enormity of Life. Belief consoles us in our fear of the mystery that is Life. Belief is the glue of the false 'me'.

What am ‘I’ then, if not a ‘me’?

What I am, IS Spirit! I am alive AS Spirit and so are you!

Imagine a wave, moving across the vast ocean. This wave is traveling in a certain direction at a certain speed. It is a certain size and will last a certain length of time. It is surrounded by numerous other waves that also appear to be separate. Each wave is only seemingly separate, while in reality each wave has never for a moment been other than an expression of Ocean.

Now, imagine you are that wave, and the Ocean, is the Ocean of Spirit ...

To be alive is to BE Spirit. Spirit is what you ARE in the deepest sense. Read that again:

Spirit is what you ARE. Spirit is the underlying aliveness of existence that is ever-present.

That is you. Not you as a me, you as IT in it's entirety.

Take a moment now to repeat to yourself 'I am - I am' and locate where 'you' exist in the body. Pay attention to the wordless experience of the ever-present fullness in the center of the chest radiating outward through the body and beyond. Give some attention to that experience of 'I Am-ness always.

To BE Spirit is never dependent upon outward circumstances.

Now, if you have been insulted by the harshness of these words I apologize for my polemics.

I have a question: Can 'Spirit' be insulted? My point is this: the feeling of insult is a caused by becoming identified with a limited and limiting story of a ‘me’, produced by the mind and felt in the body. The ‘me’ was exposed, and your true identity ie Spirit was lost in favor of the story of ‘me’.

That story is not what you are, but it does produce the illusion of a ‘me’ to which it belongs. If there’s a story I must be the storyteller, right?

Wrong!

Authentic Spirituality is not about improving the storyteller or the story, but recognizing that the storyteller and the story are both expressions of Spirit, and that there is nothing you can do to become more 'spiritual', any more than a wave can become more Ocean.

That may not feel good or safe, but if it’s all about ‘feeling good’ and safety, then we are not talking about Spirituality.

There are plenty of worthy endeavors to explore, and of course you can call them Spirituality if you like.

But when you are ready you will be drawn to a realm where it will be seen and known that there is no one to heal although healing may happen; no one that grows although growth may occur; and the ‘me’ is but a playfully insulting belief that happens to no one at all. And that’s just the beginning.

Believe it … or not…

 

Is It Time For Your Jump Start Your Heart -
Purpose and Passion Strategy Session?

---

* 2008 All Rights Reserved.

Aaron McNaught, aka "The Wake Up Guy", is the author of five books, a Life Coach and Transformational Speaker who practically owns the term. (Google "Transformational Speaker" in quotes and see for yourself). Aaron is known for his demonstration of awakeness and has committed his life to bringing light into the world.

For more info about books, speaking engagements, retreats or coaching services, call 403.346.4882 or use the contact form in the top right corner of every page.