Call yourself “spiritual” – is that a religion?

Does it mean now you judge people because they don’t understand how elevated you are, because that’s what you are now, elevated. Above other people.

Swami Satyananda taught regarding the uncertain concept of the immaterial – “Spiritual life begins with a question: “Who am I?” “Where have I come from? What is my path of arrival? What will be the dock of my departure?”

We need to keep coming back to our origin – where did we come from – honour that part of our journey – and then see the expanse of our lives in terms of where we are going to end up – how will we depart this earthly venture?

Who are we? This is the question – as it keeps us grounded. It keeps us aware that we all inhabit human bodies, that we all are of flesh, blood, and bones. If we relate ourselves to our human body, we can embrace our corporeal appetites without judgement, criticism, blame, shame, avoidance, suppression. Then we can reach for Spirit from a whole place. The heavens may seem above, and the earth below. Yet that is an illusion. In some traditions, Heaven is on Earth! At least it can be.

It seems “spiritual notions” are causing a great deal of judgement and confusion in our modern world. People who have studied yoga, become yoga teachers, meditated, visited ashrams in India, studied religion/s, become teachers, or devotees, or who simply read a few spiritual books are still wracked by judgements, insecurities and their woundedness still continues, their shadows grow longer, their darkness ever-more repressed.

They wanted to escape themselves – but they can’t. They failed. And they’re angry. Maybe they even divert their anger at people who are not as spiritual as them, who have not suffered like they have. The people who have had less tragedy can’t relate to their lofty status.

Toko-pa Turner, writes in “Belonging: Remembering Ourselves Home,”

“While the New Age has awakened many to the power of creative intention, it has simultaneously pathologized the so-called ‘negative emotions’ and stricken them from our social palette of acceptability. We live under a kind of hegemony of positivity which emphasizes pleasure over pain, gain over loss, happiness over sadness, and the creative over the destructive. We are taught to ‘rise above’ things like anger, anxiety, sadness—and by whatever means necessary, stay in bliss and light. This kind of bypassing is dangerous because it teaches us to not only dissociate from the multiplicity of ourselves but from the magnificent spectrum of life itself.”

There is a bypassing of conscience here. I have felt judged because I ate fish – that I’m not spiritual enough. A conscious person would never eat flesh after all. One day everyone will  be raw vegan as that’s the most spiritual path. Or breatharian. Because we can live off air and sunshine.

Maybe I’m not on your level.

I’m sorry.

I do breathe the same air – and walk on the same earth – and drink the same water. Sometimes I don’t even meditate at all. Some days I do no yoga or stretching, some days I’m just bone lazy. OK I’ll admit it, I am not perfect (surprise surprise).

I am just so tired of all the judgement and hypocrisy. From these so-called “spiritual” people or “conscious people” (be weary of them) who go around telling people they are looking for a “conscious” man or woman. Run away.

The worst judgement I’ve experienced lately was at the hands of a “conscious woman” who on repeated occasions got mad at me. The one time because I said “come to India” and then she thought that meant I wanted to travel with her (like together) and I admitted that wasn’t my plan. She become furious. I wasn’t on her level. The next time she asked me about her profile picture on Facebook – what do I think? I told her it looked a bit serious – “I would love to see your beautiful smile.” She was so angry, she was seething. I wasn’t appreciating her radiant light. I clearly wasn’t conscious enough to appreciate that she breathes a higher gas and farts a higher vibration. She admitted to me that it was her “spiritual ego” – and urged me to appreciate her spiritual ego – because I needed to honour that part of her. Seriously.

All I got was that she is above reproach and can throw her fury around because it’s just her “spiritual ego.” Who could be worthy of such a towering spiritual being!

I’m sorry but this kind of behaviour is what psychologists are for. Since when did “spiritual” people stop going to psychologists? They need to go! I’m sorry if I seem too judgemental – but since when did spiritual become the new crazy. It’s like the craziest people I’ve met lately think they are spiritual. So therefore not mentally ill!

Maybe we need to just remove this “spiritual” concept from our vernacular and identify in a different way. The old religions seem unable to hold people to their narrow worldview. So the new age has taken people hostage – and these people are the new “spiritual.” Let’s just be human.

Being human is more than enough for me!

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You are a creation of God.
This is why you really are good enough.
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You are awesome as you are, and I love you!
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Image via Wikimedia Commons (WikiMedia)
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