In search of Sprituality

The word spirituality indicates at the outset that there is something more than just the merely material. What makes this term authentic is that it may not be a simpleton of espousal of a routine ritual as one may observe in practices of beliefs. For sure, the vulgar may believe that once a certain system has been adopted or a particular dress-code is adopted and or a certain religion followed it gives the practitioner carte blanche to pronounce that one is a saviour par excellence. In the process, others in the process are lesser beings.

This verily is far from what we are trying to explore. For sure, if anyone regardless of adherence, dress code, belief-system or none someone attempts to reach out to any other regardless of whatever entity, or life specie the other is for sure a commendable being. It is the parochial state of being that transform one into an automaton, nay a mere fanatic who simply may not see beyond ness but so quickly take to a form of immersing in opinions, beliefs-systems which denigrate some other.

To be able to see above and over is a state of moving away from negativism whereby no other may be denied a right to be. Is this state possible? Or does one have to be entangled in arrogance, hatred, violence and egotism?

Our comrade knows and the other is denigrated as a lesser being. The knower walks around with an air of self prestige with others deemed to lack any being. That one claims exclusivity of belief is seen almost everywhere. What is lacking with such views are that something is and that missing aspect is precisely suffering from the egotistical trap. When one falls victim to such a mode of being the subject further delves into espousal air of self-importance as if everything needs revolves around the latter in spite of noticeable contradictions. Whilst abominable are abhorred in any authentic quarters, our comrade justify his or her activities as being acts ordained around a particular belief-system. Mahatma Gandhi for his part clearly stated that there is no belief for which he was prepared to take any life and indeed to harm any other. It is a rare few may adopt the Gandhian model perspective but the point from this is that inherent in this is the aspect of respect for any other is firmly rooted.

This respect is not something that needs be earned as in materialism but needs to come as part of a usual mode of being. In this respect, Swami Bhaktivedanta Swami writes that in one of his purport in Bhagagavad Gita 9.11 that “ a devotee should see because Krsna is present in everyone’s heart as Paramatma, everybody is the embodiment or the temple of the Lord; so as one offers respect to the temple of the Lord, he should similarly properly offers respect each and every body in which the paramatma dwells. Everyone should therefore be given proper respect and should not be. neglected.

The point of espousal of a particular way of being or a dogma is that reflection is condemned at the outset. The call is adopt and abide and often one notices that one is no more than an automaton without realising it. The idea or the espoused-parochial takes precedence. Often there are some cliches thrown about whilst the living warmth of the type Albert Camus speaks of is non existent in the schema of our comrade for who it is a question of me and the other, with the latter just viewed as inferior and the ‘me’ being what matters.

In someways, it is no surprise that this is so as what one learns following the rude awakening is centred around outdoing of the other by whatever means necessary. ….where the latter is objectified for the benefit of the subject. It is all a fiercely competitive form which is at work. Therefore when the person even where a wholly authentic form present, fail to perceive this and abide by cent per cent by that. Rather, our comrade brings the crude form thereby polluting it. ….instead of being fashioned by it as what is promoted is indeed a truncated version of spiritualism…. which then begs the question: ‘ What is spirituality?”

For sure, we may easily say what it is not: Let’s try looking at this aspect. It is not of what is perceivable, the bodily self with its arrogance, ego and that one who knows everything and perpetually live in bad faith where there is a separated mode of existence where the person always remains on a crusade at seeking to outdo the other. One who identifies with the bodily self may not really understand or transcend materialism per se. And if one does not do that, spirituality proper remains aloof and one may be prone to fail since the subject merely revels in the ephemeral which verily is the opposite of our search into being.

Spirituality is certainly a movement away from the norm of materialism and may only be found when the subject no longer resides in the realm of materialism with its codes of hatred, jealousy, and relegating of the other, any other but rather it is all about acknowledging any other as a living warmth equally deserving one’s respect respect regardless of not only being human but even if the other belongs to a different specie. Is this possible? Or should one carry on with the usual trends of existence in separatism which brings further divisions and other non-warranted ways of being.

As I write, I cannot but recall a certain Francis of Assisi who even whilst saving animals from fire refers to even elements as equally deserving respect. May such a state be possible? Or shall we carry on with our prejudices and so continue existing as we have always done in similar mode where the other remains an object to be ignored if not quite ignored. Is it possible to have a shift of consciousness?