Discovering Spirituality

Is a life that is considered normal really abnormal? Does conforming to western social definitions of success really end up being successful? When we look at how a successful lifestyle is achieved and what it is built from, can we truly say that this is successful? The image of success of course revolves around obtaining material wealth; you have the car, the house, the good looks, the holidays, the boat, the big TV and on and on. We could say that the successful individual has intelligence, they have vision, determination and passion, which are to be commended. But are these virtues more about image or being seen with the appropriate milestones of success? They are for all intents and purposes social cliches. What if there was another kind of success; what if you redefined you own success milestones that did not revolve around accumulating possessions? For example, today you say to yourself "I will not lie", or "today I will be thankful for what I have", o...

For many, the most sought after state of being is happiness, people just want to be happy. The trouble is, most people have a rather limited perception of what happiness is. It is usually associated with the external, wealth, power and the satisfaction of desires. But when the fleeting success is over there is still a yearning for more and so the cycle continues.  This is in general, how society frames success and when all is said and done, what are you left with? Mores to the point what did you have? It's funny how the path of true meaning is at odds with the false meaning which is defined by society, in fact they are polar opposites.  When the individual succumbs to how society defines life's purpose it is clear that they are not thinking for themselves. To exist within a society there are certain responsibilities and frameworks. Most of the population live confined within these frameworks, which creates varying degrees of resentment that is tolerated by the po...

The ascension of man. The evolution from instinctive savagery to enlightened being is not only tied to life experience but also positive emotional intelligence. It is one thing to live, but if that life is lived as a primitive being then emotional intelligence stagnates and does not grow. The links between the physical and spiritual world are through the application of intelligent thought and emotional evolution. Primitive emotions are very chaotic and raw, like an untamed horse. It is usually very reactionary and self serving and protectionist. The character is the application of thought and action, along with the outcome. The response being experienced between the revealed thoughts of the expressor and how they receive the expression. The individual develops an identity, a picture of themselves based on the accumulated life experience and genetics. The character is made up of characteristics and responses to external and internal stimulation. The character ...

Primitive man had a need to create Gods. An entity to be revered or blamed according to its nominated purpose. A figure to be exploited and feared. By creating a figure of authority and power man regarded himself as lesser than a these Gods. Gods and demons were used as moral benchmarks to manipulate and modify and even to explain human behavior itself, effectively creating systems to control the group or society. In time, human understanding begins to grow, the many gods become one, but this single God is still regarded as a figure of authority as well as a benevolent creator, the giver of life. The development of the subsequent religious texts focus on Gods true word as a moral foundation to help the individual lead a more spiritual life. A life that is closer to God. But there is still conflict as mans perception on God still has him in a position of authority. Living by Gods edict could be seen as a form of moral bondage and a denial of true freedom. This conflict of ...