|
Monday, October 27, 2003
True spirituality
By Orlando P. Carvajal
Uncut gems
(Part 1)
IF IT quacks like a duck, takes to water like a duck, it must be a duck.
This is a popular way of saying that we are identified by our actions, these being expressions of our inner thoughts and desires. It is important, however, that the first to observe our actions should be ourselves.
We should be the first to know by our actions which of our two egos is in control of our life. We ought to be the first to know who we really are. We know, for instance, that our false ego likes to create conflict in our lives with such negative emotions as envy, greed, lust (for power and carnal pleasure), revenge and so forth and so on. We also know that the only way out of our misery is touch base with our true ego, our spiritual self, and act out its positive emotions of love, care, forgiveness, understanding and so forth and so on.
A lot of people confuse spirituality with religiosity. Hence, they make being spiritual such a complicated and difficult affair. What is difficult and complicated about being spiritual is keeping at it for the simple reason that our false ego persists in getting us to follow its unspiritual path.
To be spiritual is simply to express or act out the thoughts and desires of the spirit in us. Basically there are two such desires. One is to be thankful for everything we have received and the other is to share our spirit of good only and always with our fellowman.
We have to thank God or the Cosmic Intelligence (if we want to be secular about it) for everything that happens to us because all these events, wanted or unwanted by us, constitute our unique path to self-development that culminates in union with God. Complaining and whining about our misfortunes are the acts of our false ego, which only has eyes for a life of ease and luxury.
We will be surprised how much satisfaction we get if we spent more time looking for something we can be thankful for in the midst of what otherwise would be troubled existence. There is always something to be thankful for. In fact, we can be thankful for everything if we really thought about it. This is to live the life of the spirit. This is to touch base with our true self.
Besides being grateful, we also have to make sure that we give something good to others. We cannot do this if all we want is win and get ahead of everybody. We cannot do this if we cannot lose an argument or if we quibbled over our share of material things. We cannot do this if we go through traffic bullying our way past everybody.
If we cared for the fellowman, we will do a good deed for him daily. An act of kindness a day goes a long way in keeping us in touch with our true and spiritual self. The best part about this is there is always something good we can do to others. The supply is unlimited and so we are never disappointed. It is what we can get from others that is limited because it is not within our control. The taking, not the sharing, ends because it is the work of our lower nature. Giving is eternal because it is the basic expression of the spirit.
The end result is peace. We will be at peace with ourselves, with people around us, with the world. Then we realize nothing else matters. The true self is now in control and true spirituality has put us on the road to God's Kingdom.
(October 27, 2003 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
