Enlightened self interest - a path to Spirituality

[diogenes66]

One of the biggest obstacles for many people that prevents them from following the spiritual path in life seems to be a general misunderstanding about just what “spiritual path” means. they perceive that there are actually negative aspects to it. Some people just don’t believe in God, some have a problem with religion in general. Some, see people who do follow a spiritual path as being “holier than thou” or self-righteous’

There is however a very appealing way to look at it ! Spirituality in life is actually a matter of enlightened self-interest, a purely selfish act. Selfish is not necessarily a bad thing! Like spirituality, its meaning is also misunderstood.

The only thing that anyone really wants out of life is to be happy. The problem is that as we grow up in this world, for a variety of reasons, we end up completely misunderstanding just what it is that makes people happy in life. throughout our lives we are bombarded with ideas that reinforce the concept that “things” will make us happy. That the “right” job, the “right” partner, the “right” car, house, clothes, etc. will give us this elusive thing called happiness.

We have all heard that tired old saying that “it’s an Inside job” over and over again but we have been so brainwashed by advertising and societal concepts that we either don’t believe it or just don’t understand what it really means.

By the time we get to a point in life where we start thinking about such things, we are also aware of how incredibly difficult it would be to make the kinds of changes and our lifestyle that would be required to begin living our lives based on spiritual principles. It requires a radical shift in our thinking processes and our approach to dealing with life situations. It is so difficult In fact that usually only people who are In extreme emotional pain or life-threatening circumstances become willing to get involved in the process. People who are alcoholics are addicts are have terminal diseases are often able to make the huge shift in consciousness that the process requires. Great pain, physical or emotional, is a powerful motivator.


There is however, an equally powerful motivator --- Spirituality feels good !! In fact, it feels so good that once experienced it produces a craving to feel more of the same much like alcohol and drugs do. This is the very reason that alcoholics and addicts do what they do --- they want to change their feelings and feel good, be happy. Hence that other corny old saying “High on Life”. The problem is that it usually takes time and hard work to achieve the paradigm shift required to start generating the “feel good” effect, unlike the instant gratification of drugs and alcohol.

It might sound a bit cynical [in truth it really isn’t] but it is a fact, a basic part of our human nature, that in the end, we make all decisions based on our own self interest. Even the most noble acts that people often do are based, not on their inherent “nobility” but on the fact that they make us feel good about ourselves and are therefore selfish in nature ! That isn’t a bad thing it is simply part of our basic survival instinct.

So here’s the good news --- the spiritual path is actually the easier softer way to live life. Seeking and doing only those things that make you happy will lead you to a higher consciousness. It’s not about being “good”, going to “heaven” or about being religious and praying to the “right” God. It is simply about following your own unique individual bliss, it is about living your life doing only those things that make you happy by your own definition.

Here’s where it does get just a little bit tricky --- we really don’t know what makes us happy !! We have been brainwashed all of our lives into thinking that materialistic things outside of ourselves could make us happy !

Here too, is where self-interest comes in. Ones only goal, only purpose in life becomes to find a way to shed all of the negative brainwashing and programming that they received in the past and focus entirely on discovering the true nature of their own individual self and to focus only on being that !

[Dr. Sohiniben Shukla]

Dear Friend,
The Path to Spirituality if not ment for everybody but who are ready to give up all the Material Things and Then when enters then He/She will be sucessful.
You can not know any thing about spirit if you have lots of desires in your Mind and Heart.
Who is free from these Burden then can walk with ease on the Path of Spirituality.
SohiniBen.

[Diane J. Zimmerly FLUFF]

Nice. Thanks for sharing your thoughts brother. I agree and the only thing I would add is to be totally responsible for all our thoughts, words and deeds.

Fluff

[susan]

...Hey Diogen...im with U on everything U say here ..really enjoyed reading this...its exactly the way i see it....cool..x..*..