Some people think that spiritual practice is for the outsiders or a marginalized group of the population, and that it relates to other things "out there" and definitely not a solution to how to make ends meet. In others words, there is no relevance for them.
It will be refreshing if we can demystify things a little here, or at the very least allow us to understand spirituality better. Firstly, there is really nothing that makes the lifestyle of a spiritual person different in terms of what he does or maybe even encounters. He still has the thoughts and emotions of a layperson and faces the same issues in the mundane life of any ordinary man. The contrast, lies in the attitude and perspective towards life, people and experiences. He is still be able to experience and enjoy life without needing to hide in a cave. And more importantly, the objective of any spiritual practice is to be free from suffering, and we as human beings all have an aversion and intolerance to that, but are just unable to alleviate ours with clarity and awareness. The removal of our filtered lens through such practice would allow us to achieve that, and incidentally, more.
So not only do we all have relevance to spiritual practice, we all have the common ground on why we need to embark on such a journey. So why would we want to wait until the time that we face our biggest limitation in life to do so, that is, our last breath?
Saturday, July 16, 2016
Intelligence vs Wisdom
Intelligence, or commonly referred to as I.Q., is very much something that we are innately born with. The good news is: we are all born with some, no matter how little. But although the world is flooded with resources and exercises which claim to increase one's brainpower and thus intelligence, there are limits to how much this can be boosted, if any.
Wisdom, on the other hand, is not correlated with conventional knowledge. It may encompass many of the other quotients that people have invented. And the better news is: it can be developed and cultivated with your choice of going all the way from being an apprentice to a veteran.
Wise people use the macro environment to deal with issues in life, versus seeing the world as a microcosm and being egocentric. They take ownership of their own well-being and are not at the mercy of others. They allow themselves and others to be vulnerable whilst still loving unconditionally. Wise people enjoy every breath and every moment of life and yet see through impermanence and remain unattached. They see the values of others as important as theirs and recognise equanimity without judgement. They have the right view to do things versus doing the right thing in their view...
Easier said than done? Well, wise people also believe that we become what we think. So think "doable".
Wisdom, on the other hand, is not correlated with conventional knowledge. It may encompass many of the other quotients that people have invented. And the better news is: it can be developed and cultivated with your choice of going all the way from being an apprentice to a veteran.
Wise people use the macro environment to deal with issues in life, versus seeing the world as a microcosm and being egocentric. They take ownership of their own well-being and are not at the mercy of others. They allow themselves and others to be vulnerable whilst still loving unconditionally. Wise people enjoy every breath and every moment of life and yet see through impermanence and remain unattached. They see the values of others as important as theirs and recognise equanimity without judgement. They have the right view to do things versus doing the right thing in their view...
Easier said than done? Well, wise people also believe that we become what we think. So think "doable".
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
How Are You?
"How are you?" is probably the most frequently asked question when we greet someone. It is as basic as Hello!" or "Hi!". Yet few really explore the intent behind this simple enquiry. Are we really concerned with how that person across us feels? Are we really interested in his or her well-being? Do we really wish that person the best of his or her emotional and mental states?
And when we are responding to the very same question, how many times have we just said "I am fine." or "Very well, thank you!" so as to complete the loop like our first lesson in a foreign language. Or have we really asked ourselves how we are really doing?
Autistic people often cannot interpret emotional and social cues (known as social-emotional agnosia). This is caused by the abnormal functioning of the amygdala which governs our emotions, and renders them unable to perceive facial expression, body language or voice intonation. These social deficits may lead to difficulties in determining the emotional significance of external social events, thus making them appear as "aloof" or "remote". A simple question like "How are you?" befuddles them and may also sounds foreign and irrelevant.
But when we are asking this simple question with a lack of meaning and no intent of wishing the other person to be happy and well, then maybe we are the ones who own the deficits and are not being emotional sensitive. After all, it is the intent of an action that drives everything. So let us try to add a dose of compassion when we are next asking "How are you?".
And when we are responding to the very same question, how many times have we just said "I am fine." or "Very well, thank you!" so as to complete the loop like our first lesson in a foreign language. Or have we really asked ourselves how we are really doing?
Autistic people often cannot interpret emotional and social cues (known as social-emotional agnosia). This is caused by the abnormal functioning of the amygdala which governs our emotions, and renders them unable to perceive facial expression, body language or voice intonation. These social deficits may lead to difficulties in determining the emotional significance of external social events, thus making them appear as "aloof" or "remote". A simple question like "How are you?" befuddles them and may also sounds foreign and irrelevant.
But when we are asking this simple question with a lack of meaning and no intent of wishing the other person to be happy and well, then maybe we are the ones who own the deficits and are not being emotional sensitive. After all, it is the intent of an action that drives everything. So let us try to add a dose of compassion when we are next asking "How are you?".
Saturday, July 2, 2016
Perception and Anti-ageing
All living beings have to age and deteriorate given time, and there is no exemption for man. It is simply an existential phenomenon. Whilst recognizing that, we still wish to have a life that we can look back with fulfilment. Some will define this fulfilment in a worldly way or relate it to so-called success in life. I am referring to spiritual fulfilment here. We are not only bio-machines but individual beings that encompass mind, body and spirit; and all levels are both interconnected and interrelated. In other words, an individual cannot be spiritually fulfilled if there are unresolved emotional or mental patterns that are held up in the body and in the mind.
We all come with a different purpose and mission in life, through which we create our own storyline and find meaning out of it. Unique as we are, ironically we also come with an identical exercise - to know ourselves. It is by understanding ourselves that we can overcome or re-negotiate with our innate defence mechanisms. When you are willing to do it in a non-judgemental way, there will always be some aspects of you that are awaiting your discovery and acknowledgement. Each time that you find a new facet, a whole new relationship with yourself is developed - always more invigorating and yet peaceful. And with complete openness every discovery will give rise to a new perspective. All these new perspectives and learning over time will foster spiritual growth, which incidentally will also make us feel more youthful. This is the magical formula for rejuvenation as we unload our baggages throughout our life journey. Well, at least your shoulders will thank you for that.
We all come with a different purpose and mission in life, through which we create our own storyline and find meaning out of it. Unique as we are, ironically we also come with an identical exercise - to know ourselves. It is by understanding ourselves that we can overcome or re-negotiate with our innate defence mechanisms. When you are willing to do it in a non-judgemental way, there will always be some aspects of you that are awaiting your discovery and acknowledgement. Each time that you find a new facet, a whole new relationship with yourself is developed - always more invigorating and yet peaceful. And with complete openness every discovery will give rise to a new perspective. All these new perspectives and learning over time will foster spiritual growth, which incidentally will also make us feel more youthful. This is the magical formula for rejuvenation as we unload our baggages throughout our life journey. Well, at least your shoulders will thank you for that.
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