Bubbles wrote:Sensei HP wrote:... There was never a time when I didn't exist. Neither was there a time when you or any of these kings didn't exist. And there will never be a time when either of us won't exist.
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This means that the soul is eternal and it just takes different forms from time to time.
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Just like one gives up old clothes and gets into new ones, similarly, the soul also gives up one form (body) and takes up another.
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Our body is being compared to clothes here. This shows that the body is insignificant and the soul is what matters.
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The seers of truth have concluded through careful studies that there is no endurance of the non-existant (our body) and there is no change in the existence of the eternal (the soul).
These are profound thoughts. How do we relate these thoughts to our everyday lives ! I remember having read in Swami Vivekananda's writings that the spiritual consciousness of a person depends on how evolved he is. A rare few amongst us can perceive spirituality and are eligible for Moksha. Others are not even on the same level to think of life in those terms. I had believed that at that time. But, if anything, it just made me self-centred, which I realized at a later point in life. It sets you upon thinking of your soul, your enlightenment, your moksha, your self.. While I'm all for self-improvement and an aim to become a better person each day, such abstract spiritual concepts as 'soul' , 'moksha', 'eternity' do not help me in this.. and moreover while I'm set about self-improvement I do not forget my friends, family, relationships and numerous other 'concrete' parts of my existence. Could anyone throw a light on how we can practise spirituality without compromising on any of these ?
<my 2 cents>
Spirituality is about finding eternal happiness (through slowly attaining detachment).
Now if you believe in soul and hence in karma, then you will know that any happiness comes because you have earned it through deeds done in the past.
Eternal happiness (i. e. spiritual evolution) is the greatest gift of all - so to get it, you have to have done deeds in that league.
So your mind will not enter the spiritual path just because you try to get it there (e. g. by reading religious texts or meditating), just as you will not become rich simply because you work very hard. You should have the karma to deserve that.
I have seen people who haven't put much effort in praying, actually see/experience God, and I have seen people who pray all their lives, never experience anything. It strengthens my belief in the above.
I do not think we should forcibly try to become spiritually evolved.
We should try instead to be good human beings. We should help others, going out of our way to an extent where it means compromises in our own lives.
And pray for a little while every day. Just to the extent that it keeps you interested, or at least doesn't seem like an effort.
I think we should live life logically. At every step, ask ourselves what is the logical thing to do now based on our own understanding and experience of the world in our lifetime, instead of thinking about religion and God. Enjoy what life is giving you, be selfish as along as that doesn't harm anyone unfairly.
If spirituality does not make sense to you, do not try it. If you have the karma for it, it will come to you anyway
. We should just be good, and we should not be bad - that much is logical, even if you do not believe in the karma theory since you have not seen it in your lifetime.
</my 2 cents>
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) ... Param Atma ("WHOLE" Of You ... ) ... 
