SPIRITUALITY

[Liberal Catholic]

SPIRITUALITY

Spirituality is Being Awake. Getting rid of all illusions.

Spirituality is never being at the mercy of any event, thing, or
person.

Spirituality means having found the diamond mine inside yourself.

Religion is intended to lead you there.
"What good does it do to win the world and lose your soul?"
Think about what you feel when you look at a sunset or are in contact
with nature.

And compare that with your feeling when you are appreciated,
applauded, praised.

The first kind of feelings, I call the feelings of the soul; the
second is what I call feelings of the world.

Think about the feeling you have when you win a race or an argument,
when you get to the top, when you reach success. Feelings of the
world.

In contrast are your feelings when you are doing some work that you
love, when you are immersed in a hobby, reading a book, seeing a film.
Feelings of the soul.

Think about the times when you have power, when you are the boss, when
everyone is looking, and you are on top.

What kind of feeling does that create? A worldly feeling!

Contrast that feeling with the joy of intimacy, with the company of
friends. You appreciate them without being captive to them, laughing
and joking. Feelings of the heart.

The feelings of the world aren't natural; they were invented by your
society and mine to control us. They don't lead to happiness, only to
excitement, emptiness, and anxiety.

Think about your own life. Is there even a single day when you aren't
consciously or unconsciously oriented toward what others think, feel,
or say about you?

Your steps are controlled; you march to the drumbeat. Look around. See
if you find anyone who is free of such feelings. Feelings of the
world!

Everywhere you find people chained to feelings of the world, living
empty. They have gained the world but lost their souls.

A group of tourists is traveling through a beautiful countryside. But
the curtains on the train are drawn and they don't see anything.

They are all occupied in deciding who will have the seat of honor, who
will be appreciated, who is best, who is prettiest or most talented.

This continues to the end of the journey. If you can understand this,
you will be free, you will understand what spirituality is.

Then you will discover what reality is, who God is, for you will see
yourself detached from one of the greatest illusions: the illusion
that we have to be appreciated, beloved, successful, that we must have
prestige, honor, power, and popularity.

There is only one necessity! That necessity is loving.
When you discover that, you are transformed. When life becomes prayer,
spirituality overflows into what we do.

- Father Anthony DeMello S.J.

Walking on Water-- Crossroads Publishing.


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