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 is basically an accumulation of information. The nature of the mind is that it is always looking to accumulate things. When we accumulate knowledge, we can proudly say that we "know". We can have interesting conversations and debates with other people. We are excited to continuously learn, it's a beautiful thing.
Having said that, the spiritual path is somehow different. Spiritual well being is not rooted in knowledge; it is your experience as it is really happening from within. What does that mean?
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 with denial, food or work. However it will certainly never last. Eventually you will experience some despair or whatever emotion you have been bottling inside of you.
To answer the question: Can knowledge bring me spiritual well being? I would say that knowledge can be a great introduction to it but by itself it would never bring you to it. Curiosity and the yearning have certainly their place on the spiritual path. But the real yearning, beneath the one to learn is the one of liberation. Knowledge doesn't liberate you for too long. In the long run it can 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.
How will it be if you're in touch with a constant "knowing", a moment to moment "knowing", always there in your experience no matter what impossible situation is happening in your life?
Knowledge is basically an accumulation of information. The nature of the mind is that it is always looking to accumulate things. When we accumulate knowledge, we can proudly say that we "know". We can have interesting conversations and debates with other people. We are excited to continuously learn, it's a beautiful thing.
Having said that, the spiritual path is somehow different. Spiritual well being is not rooted in knowledge; it is your experience as it is really happening from within. What does that mean?
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 with denial, food or work. However it will certainly never last. Eventually you will experience some despair or whatever emotion you have been bottling inside of you.
To answer the question: Can knowledge bring me spiritual well being? I would say that knowledge can be a great introduction to it but by itself it would never bring you to it. Curiosity and the yearning have certainly their place on the spiritual path. But the real yearning, beneath the one to learn is the one of liberation. Knowledge doesn't liberate you for too long. In the long run it can 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.
How will it be if you're in touch with a constant "knowing", a moment to moment "knowing", always there in your experience no matter what impossible situation is happening in your life?
About the Author:
Carl Serapian is an innovator in the field of personal growth with over 10 years of research. For a limited time and for free, he's sharing his discovery of a simple yet powerful meditation rooted deeply in the yogic science of spiritual well being. You can find it on his latest website that teaches exploring and sustaining the spiritual path without having to change your current daily activities.
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