Thursday, August 29, 2013

Can Knowledge Bring Me Spiritual Well Being?

By Carl Serapian


Many of us read through self-help books or spiritual writings on regular basis. We do it early in the morning or prior to bed time. We can feel a sense of peace inside of us and somehow more powerful. Several of us can mention beautiful citations from holy books and even know by heart the story of Buddha. Can this knowledge deliver spiritual well being?

Knowledge means typically a buildup of information. When we collect stories and facts, we might gladly point out that we "know".

Having explained that, the spiritual path is somehow different. Spiritual well being is not originated in knowledge; it is absolutely just how life is developing in front of you, not what you "want" it to be.

You can be happily having a talk with a person about what Buddha has actually shared with his disciples, feel good for a little while yet still, you know the "problems" that are awaiting you as you leave this talk. Your partner, your employer or your bothersome kid are waiting for you and you understand very well that you cannot escape them! In these circumstances, what is taking place behind-the-scenes, behind your "desire" of well being -by sharing nice things- is your genuine experience. Your issues did not vanish, they're just on stand-by.

You might try to hide that experience with beautiful thoughts, drugs or work but it will never last. Sooner or later you will fall down and experience sadness or whatever emotion you have been bottling inside of you.

To answer the question: Can knowledge bring me spiritual well being? I would claim that know-how could be a fantastic intro to it yet on its own, it would certainly never ever bring you to it. Interest and the yearning have definitely their place on the spiritual path. But the real yearning, beneath the one to discover is the one of liberation. Know-how doesn't liberate you for too long. In the long run it could actually get you further and further away from the spiritual path.

Think of just how it would be if you can experience life at its highest. Think of that sensation of liberation lasting for moments, hours and days at a time.

See how it will be if you're in touch with a continuous "understanding", a minute to minute "knowing of the beautiful truth", regularly there in your heart (not in your head), regardless of what unthinkable scenario is occurring in your life.




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