Chinese Association of Idaho State University (CAISU)

Alcohol or Pot - Which Is Worse for Your Spirituality?

Not-knowingness

The mind thinks it knows, which leaves no room for unique and unconventional approaches, innovation, creativity and the like. Doing it "the way it's always been done" stamps out the creative impulse, like a donkey who rushes to stomp out a fire. The seat of invention is the Higher Self, while the seat of convention is the brain. The brain is most comfortable with sameness and fitting in with the group, and conformity. It feels safe yet mildly unchallenged when conforming. It gets bored and weary of "staying in line," yet stays in line because it fears striking out on its own. Those with a strong drive for security will not allow their conventionality to be ruffled or disturbed.

When I began I stated that spiritual awakening is a process of learning to welcome the uncomfortable, and it is distinctly uncomfortable to not know. It is uncomfortable to be the student and not the teacher. It is uncomfortable to strike out in an unknown direction, particularly one in which the end-result is not immediately apparent. This is risky business. Our minds warn us to be on guard, to resists going too far out on a limb. These safety messages are mostly counter-
productive to our spiritual growth, and to the growth of the personality. Stagnation is the result of thinking the same thoughts and showing a disinterest in anything which smells remotely of risk. There is only one option if we wish to grow spiritually, and it really isn't a choice at all, because life has a way of pushing on us what we came here to learn: we must grow. Even when we fight it, eventually we see that growth is inevitable. The only choice we have is how fast or how slow to grow.
For those of you earnestly seeking to rid yourselves of outdated habits and negative thought patterns, one way is to take a step forward towards that which seems most uncomfortable; running forward into risk rather than away from it. As Buddhist nun and author Pema Chodrin advised, "Lean into the sharp edges." Without leaning towards enlightenment, the old patterns remain ensconced, and the scene will never brighten-the mind content to rest in its own comforting darkness. I can't think of anything less conducive to growth than sameness.

Leaning into the sharp edges

The question we are then faced with is: How do I lean into the sharp edges? What steps are necessary to take? This is an ironic question considering that what is necessary for your unfolding enlightenment is for you NOT to take any steps at all. "But I can't lay around like a slug all day," your mind might argue. Point taken. A life of utter inactivity would be counterproductive to your survival and happiness. The soul desires expansion and evolution; there's nothing spiritual about stagnation. To live on a mountain top like a yogi might sound enticing, but we would stagnate pretty fast living the life of a recluse. For most of us, inactivity is not the challenge. Most of our minds demand activity, interaction and stimulation. I am speaking to those of us who have been programmed to think of achievement and accomplishment as valuable and important, and who have difficulty keeping our minds still and at rest. For those of us with active minds, who enjoy keeping busy, the thought of standing still too long creates a sort of ill-at-ease feeling. Yet there is nothing at all wrong with rest, peace and inactivity (so long as it doesn't impede on our plans, says the mind). This type of production-oriented thinking is common to Individualistic societies like America, and can result in feelings of
inferiority and "not good enough," even in feelings of shame when we aren't busily proving our worth. Women are especially notorious for being the most overloaded member of the household, feeling as if everyone else should come first in their role as mother or caretaker. Besides a feeling of having to earn our keep, we feel as
if we need to prove our happiness to others: our wealth, even our attractiveness. This is a symptom of deep-ceded inferiority feelings which are the antithesis of peace and unconditional positive regard towards the self. Other feelings such as competitiveness and comparison well up when we haven't taken the time to simply "be."
If you feel as if you are trying too hard to be accepted, liked and respected, then you probably are. You may need to step away from the mad rush long enough to realize that if you died today the world would go on perfectly well without you. The world wouldn't stop turning, and even the ones who love you the most would eventually move on. It is the mind which believes you are irreplaceable, or so important that you mustn't take time to stop and "smell the roses."