Spiritually Alone

Looking through some of the threads in this new wonderful forum, I have been inspired to share with you an experience I had several years ago.

While I and others have written ceaselessly about the unity of Spirit and the interconnection of all, I find myself compelled to talk about an opposing revelation that shook me to the core.

I had realized that over the past months I had made significant progress spiritually. I had just finished a meditation session when suddenly I felt felt overcome by this profound feeling.

I had realized that no matter how far I go spiritually, I cannot take my loved ones with me.

We can teach, and encourage, and point the way and work to promote growth all we want. But it is up to the individual to walk the path. No matter what I would ever do, or how far I would come, I can't throw my cherished ones in a car and take them with me.

To realize that I alone was progressing in my own way, and that those I love were to be left behind, to their own devices, it was such a painful feeling. They were suffering needlessly at the hands of things I had long since overcome. Yet, I could not elevate them above it. I could not get them to rise up.

All I wanted at that moment was to be able to share my growth. I wanted to protect them all and nuture them. Prevent them from suffering. It was such a difficult feeling to describe, and people who have not experienced it, really don't grasp what you're talking about.

I've been really heartbroken in my life, but to realize fully that I could not take others with me, was really devastating.

You see, I make this thread to explain a concept to those who have not yet begun their path. Some people think that spiritual people become devoid of emotion. But that is not true at all! A spiritual person laughs harder and cries harder. Being a spiritual person doesn't mean saying that I am a "this or that" as far as religion. It means having begun to take our own steps and experience levels of awakening. A person who just believes in something because they were brought up with these beliefs is not a spiritual person, not yet.

Spirituality nourishes, and enriches all experience. You are not losing your personality, but magnifying it infinitely. That is what I feel needs to be understood.

So, for anyone who'd like to comment, with similar experiences, or ask questions, feel free. With this bright new forum, we have lots of room to stretch our wings.

I think this is just another stage of spiritual inlightenment.
To spirutally advance you're going to have to let go of what their spiritual advancement, and concentraite on your own.

But this does not mean you have to abadon them. You should still be their friend and try to communicate your thoughts about spirtuality. And if they are suffering then you can give them some tips about how to eaze their pain and such, or if they ever ask you about your views and beliefs on such things you can tell them more about it.


But as you mentioned before you can not force them to listen to you. Because overall its their life.
And you being more spiritually advanced does not make you better them them, and it does not give you the right to tell them how to live their life.

You have to rember that their are many ways to spiritual enlightment, and that they can choose which ever way they feel best.
And if this means through the religion you where brought up to believe than so be it.

Personally I found God through questioning the faith I was brought up in. And now consider myself a man of all faiths.


Well that was my 2 cents anyways.
All the best hope you happiness and enlightnement.

PS for the being lonely part just try to find somebody you can talk to about your spirtuallity. It doesn't really matter who. Just sombody who will listen. Doesn't matter if the're spirutal or not. You talking about it with them will help not only you become more enlightened but also the person you discuss it with.
You will be suprised how much you can learn from just listening. And sometimes other peoples views will give you a new perspective from where to look at about your faith.

Maybe you can't make them come to the same level as you.

You still share each others energy. What you do will affect their life, and what they do will affect yours. If they see a positive change in you, they may start to seek what is causing that change for themselves, so all is not in vane .

We only experience our own emotion . Others affect us, but ultimately we are nothing but self, yet it is other peoples actions that determine how we see the world.

Ama

Originally posted by TheGreySwordsman

So, for anyone who'd like to comment, with similar experiences.

I have similar experiences yes.

Mostly to do with the fact that i've been alienated by people who are afraid of impacting on my spiritual/mental development as if i'm some sort of *snip* egg waiting to hatch.

Sure, being lonely is bad, but when people purposefully withhold information it gets a little tedious.

p.s; i don't know what being lonely feels like, sorry.

Such a touching subject. You say "realize fully that I could not take others with me", but you're using the metaphors of this world, not necessarily those of of your self-chosen, self-defined, spiritual destination or path.

I don't want to sound too new-agey-wishy-washy, but some things are true:

We all carry those we love, in our hearts, in our minds, and in ourselves, and that which is loved in us is likewise carried.

Our egos are what separate us from each other; they make us feel alone, they separate 'my love' from 'your love', and make us different.

I feel a worthy spiritual path transcends the limitations of the ego, without the dissolution of self. This seems a paradox.

Edit to add: And we, of course, also carry that which we hate.


[edit on 12-6-2008 by Ian McLean]

Hmmmmm, I think this is what "leaving" family and friends but gaining a hundredfold meant. The leaving can be a spiritual leaving.
But, I remember this, that we all do play in other peoples' karma.

Thank you for the support my friends. It is appreciated.

However, I do believe many of you left out the line in which I said "This occured several years ago." But no matter, I felt an urge to comment on that experience, and I'm glad I did so.

Thank you for getting involved in this thread.

I am right where you are TheGrey.

And we might be stuck here by some false understanding. Those who "know" will always tells us to push "forward."

But how can I not attribute this same thing to the materialistic world. This world which says, "screw your friends, hang out with people who will make you more successful." That's all society is nowadays, in a terribly subjective fashion. Nobody is making friends with people who they like, just people who can make them "better."

reply to post by TheGreySwordsman

Not, if you understand the concept of bodhisatva. However, it's a bind, you can say it's a burden, and ultimately it's a choice, your choice.

if you think of people as just individual peices of god then it dosnt matter so much how you advance and you cant take them with you.

everyone figures things out at their own pace. you cant force someone. sooner or later we will all wind up together again.

anyway they will figure it out eventually. if not in this life the next. or the one after that. no hurry.

But when you look at comradery and how great that is.. How can you leave anyone behind, when that means so much, to be travelling the path with someone else.

Although you may not be able to take loved ones with you, it's still possible to leave them with a part of you to continue with.

Pleasure should be gained in realising that you can teach, care, and act enough in this life to know those things will continue in the lives of those still here and so on, and so on.

It's a one way thing.....the "now" can change our creation of a "future", even after our deaths but the "past" can only be something we can gain experience from and we cannot effect it. Anyone you "knew" had that gift.