So this is me resuming the blog. Used to do it a couple of years back, then it got me a job writing articles, and then I got better at it and even got a few keywords to the first page of Google search results. Then stuff happened, stopped that job… Long story short, I’m back. As of now, I have no plans to continue writing about VR and fiction. Will just be writing a main blog here when I feel like it. Alright. Start!
Today I wanna write about spirituality which I feel is an extremely underrated concept. Like, I think that when most people hear the word spirituality, it’s simply far too removed from their everyday lives for them to have any inkling of what it could be. Like, at most, they’d just relate it to being religious and devout and all that!
And then maybe the average person would think like this: Huh! Just a bunch of tradition that requires me to go through musty ritual after musty ritual! I’d rather just go lie on the sofa and watch Netflix yo!
Like, seriously. To many a person, there is no incentive for them to devote themselves to what seems to have no direct standing in their lives. Like, oftentimes they’d just go with the flow and join in the show just because it’s the norm, the standard way things are done within their family, culture, etcetera.
At least, that’s the more ‘rational’ way of thinking about it!
After all, this world seems to be so full of strife, instability and imbalances. Our direct experience, which shapes how we view the world, generally does not seem to show us that there is a higher power shaping everything behind the scenes!
…
Anyway, let’s talk about spirituality now.
So basically, think of it this way. Spirituality teaches that we human beings are really these mind-body-spirit complexes. The mind aspect is basically like the thoughts that run through our heads. The body is the physical vessel that we navigate the world through.
And as for the spirit?
Well, it’s basically this inherent essence of us that goes along for the ride, that which lives eternal even after body+mind have perished!
Okay, alright. Cool. But what does all this spiritual stuff, the esoteric beliefs that rely on faith and cannot really be proven in any way, have to do with me? Like, this sounds cool and all, but it’s seriously irrelevant and impractical and not very helpful and I’ll probably just totally forget all of this in ten, twenty minutes!
This is generally the unspoken consensus.
And the way that spirituality is practiced by a lot of people doesn’t seem to be very tempting either!
Here’s a more extreme scenario.
Go meditate. Clear your mind of all thoughts. Transcend them. The internal world is the only thing that you have control over. Whatever circumstances may befall you, your true self is always eternal and in no way affected by it.
I will transcend all suffering. Whatever may happen to me, I am in this state of inner bliss because the true world is just an illusion…
Bla bla bla! …Now, doesn’t seem very fun, does it?
Grrr!
Hey, living on this earth, I wanna live to the fullest yo! So you’re telling me that no, the best way to live on this earth is to totally detach yourself from it and not actually live?!
And even do all sorts of musty old rituals everyday?!!!
No, not for me!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dude, let’s just scrap that notion of spirituality altogether!
Yep!
Now, how about an alternative approach to spirituality that actually feels good and relatable?
Hmm…
Alright. Let’s begin.
So first of all let’s try to comprehend the vastness of the power of the universe, or God or source or the cosmos or however you might refer to it.
Did you know? Our astrological sign that most of us know about is just our sun sign! There are many other signs the planets were in when we were born that together consolidate our birth chart!
Did you know? If you research your birth chart, you’ll find out a lot about yourself that maybe you’d never thought of before!
And you can do that in not just astrology, but things like numerology too.
Like, for example.
Astrology:
I have a stellium (several planets) in the ninth house. The ninth house is ruled by Jupiter and is all about growth and expansion and all that.
Numerology:
I’m a Life Path 7 in numerology. That is like a seeker of truth who is really inclined towards self-discovery and all that.
Life circumstances:
I studied philosophy in university.
Hmm… doesn’t that match somewhat?
And there’s many more where that came from, that can be derived simply from your date and time of birth and even name alone!!!
That’s just a sneak peak of the majestic power of the grand universe.
So basically, even prior to your incarnation, the universe has already decided what kind of person you are going to be. Maybe you had a say in it before your incarnation. Who knows?
Conclusion: Nature? Uh… Nurture? Hmm… The universe? Oh holy in its omnipotence for sure!
But anyway, back to the topic.
So wow. Nice backstory. But still, does that change anything about how we live?
The answer is… nah. Not really. Just that this nondescript thing known as metaphysics can actually be quite useful, actually!
Question: Why are we placed in such circumstances in such incarnations?
Wait. Scrap that. That’s totally irrelevant!
Instead, think about it this way.
We were placed into this ‘game’ as these ‘characters’. We have the actual life experience of them as our living vessels.
Well, what should we do then?
Obviously, we should strive to be living to the fullest! Obviously, there is this path of ‘I’m not going to participate in this game. I’m just going to abstain. No desires, no lunacy, no suffering…’. Or, you could go the path of ‘Alright then! I’m just gonna max everything out yo!’.
And now for the final section of this article.
So how exactly does spirituality help with us maxing out our lives?
Basically, us human beings are by nature limited. That which created us may be limitless, but we ourselves are limited. Like, namely, that which we can place our focus and thoughts on. Consequently, so many things may bypass our attention.
Like, here’s an easy example. Let’s say you have a grandparent. That grandparent’s spouse has passed and they are currently living alone for most of their lives, with no one but themselves as their company. Now, if you were aware of that, wouldn’t you naturally just spare a minute or so to call them everyday?
Well yeah, you say.
But, did you?
Uh… no. Why?
Simply because you didn’t think of it! Yes, you technically had that knowledge, but… It escaped your attention, wasn’t in your mind!!! And, effectively, you weren’t aware of it!
And so many people only appreciate others when they are no longer around…
Sad.
Anyway, the whole point is that one’s focus and attention is limited. We tend to direct and focus our attention to some things that really capture our interest… Yet, at the same time we tend to neglect many things as well.
And here is where spirituality steps in.
Oftentimes, we humans habitually live in a very automatic autopilot state.
For some of us, we are very caught up in the material. It’s always about getting the next car, going to the next bar to party, etc.
It’s just a forever daze, the endless chase…
Now here’s where spirituality comes in.
Previously, it was just automatic to you. You never ever thought about an alternative before. It’s just this way it’s always been.
But now…
You start to gain self-awareness of how you have always lived. And then you ask: is this really how I want to live? And then you realise: no. And then you start to create for yourself a life you really want.
This is why you hear how much people change after near-death experiences! They are rudely jolted out of those self-induced anaesthetics!
Seriously. Think about it. What truly is most important to you?
As you work on your spirituality, you start to notice more things about your lived experience. And accordingly, you are able to make those nigh essential alterations!
Here’s an interesting fact. You’ve probably heard of yoga. But, did you know that the word ‘yoga’ actually means union?
Like, yoga is a spiritual practice that can help with attaining union for your mind-body-spirit!
Meanwhile, meditation leads to mindfulness, which… put it simply, refers to being mindful and correspondingly aware of all the things you never were aware of before.
So in essence, you can think of spirituality like a bridge. By expanding your awareness to encompass things that always eluded you somehow before, you come to know them and are thereby able to embrace them and bring them to their fullest potential.
Spirituality absent: You’re going through life in a daze. Aw.
Spirituality present: You’re going through life as a co-creator with the universe! Because, apparently, the universe WILL recognise and support your efforts and escort you where you wanna be.
So, enough said.
Effect: They say that the universe puts people through similar situations or ‘patterns’ time and time again until people have finally learnt from them for good and are no longer trapped in them.
Cause: People have energetic blockages in their bodies that attract events of the same frequency to them so that they’ll learn from it.
Bla bla bla.
No need to think about all that complex stuff if you’re but a mere beginner at this.
All you need to know is this.
The essence of spirituality is to not take everything for granted and make sure that you really approve of them before you stamp in your seal of approval.
Alright? Sound easy?
It may, but it’s hard!!!!!!!!
So, for the sake of your future self, a character that’s flourishing and living to the fullest, start making some time for contemplation today!
Little by little, whilst enjoying the present moment as well, make little change by little change till ultimately you’ve maxed your potential, thus becoming what spiritualists commonly call the higher self!!!
I’m out! Have a great life!