Losing the Desire to Debate and Explain

[deeprivernz]

Hey Jinzang, I'd like you to know that you are not alone on this post in questioning Ariel's

I can see that in arguing, they’re looking to strengthen their ideas and beliefs about spirituality, not actually see the Truth.

For me, the Truth is so absolutely subjective. Each person finds their own Truth (and, yes, this is me explaining my Truth! LOL ) and I get a reaction whenever someone claims that they have/know THE TRUTH and is applying it to everyone, or more specifically - ME!
So this is where I am at, at this stage of my journey. I suspect that I am still very much influenced by my upbringing - my father was a preacher and he preached what he believed to be THE TRUTH every Sunday. I'd like to think that one day I may feel clear around this subject and then, perhaps I will have no need to react/debate whenever I come across someone propounding The Truth. I can feel that Truth sneaking up on me!

[jimburkins@yahoo.com]

In the early stages of my own 'awakening', I devoured literature that was related to the process of what Jung called 'individuation', or 'self-actualization'. Finding people who were willing to discuss - and even debate - the new concepts that I was learning was almost an obsession, for me. The need gradually tapered off, and now I find myself very much alone in my understanding of these concepts involving 'spiritual evolution', as they apply to me. Since we're all individually designed to figure out these spiritual growth concepts (if we choose to), then what that ultimately means is that we have to figure these things out for ourselves, and our understanding of them will never match those of any other human's. Still, we are human, and thus tend to run our ideas past people with whom we feel a kindred spirit. We can't simply assume that our own understanding of any given concept is ironclad. Discussing spiritual concepts with others has the opportunity to provide us with humility - when they open our eyes to something that we've perhaps blinded ourselves to, thanks to the ego.

[CaterpillarWoman]

In the early stages of my own 'awakening', I devoured literature that was related to the process of what Jung called 'individuation', or 'self-actualization'. Finding people who were willing to discuss - and even debate - the new concepts that I was learning was almost an obsession, for me.

Me, too. I read all kinds of stuff, some of it pretty flakey, some of it very valuable to me at the time. I haven't read a work of fiction in years, because I've been spending all my reading time on non-fiction relating to this topic.

I kind of glutted myself on it. I think about it now and I look at my bookshelves and I go, "Ugh," the way you might if you looked at a hot dog after competing in a hot dog eating competition.

The need gradually tapered off, and now I find myself very much alone in my understanding of these concepts involving 'spiritual evolution', as they apply to me.

Yes. Exactly. It appears to be unique. The process is always similar, but the actual experience and understanding is completely unique. That's one of the keys. People look for "one true way" or "one true path" or some sort of homogeneous, one-size-fits-all experience, and it just doesn't work that way.

Since we're all individually designed to figure out these spiritual growth concepts (if we choose to), then what that ultimately means is that we have to figure these things out for ourselves, and our understanding of them will never match those of any other human's.

I love you.

[jimburkins@yahoo.com]

CaterpillarWoman, if you decide to return to the decadent world of reading novels, I highly recommend "A Man In Full", by Tom Wolfe. I love you, too.

[deeprivernz]

Can I join in this mutual admiration group too? Jim and Caterpillar woman - you are both expressing exactly where I am at. It's been a lonely (spiritual) journey these last few years and it's so nice to be communicating with others who understand.
Love to you both
River

[jimburkins@yahoo.com]

I think it was M. Scott Peck who disgtinguished the difference between 'loneliness', and being 'alone', by saying that loneliness is when you can be in a room full of people, and have no one to relate to at your level of 'awareness'; being alone is when you can be in a room full of people and have no one to relate to at ANY level of awareness. Those alone times are what force us to go to those dark places where we would otherwise not go, and those places are the very ones that we need to explore, in order to continue the process of self-actualization, or individuation. It's the most fun one can have with one's clothes on - or off.

[jimburkins@yahoo.com]

And yes, River, you are more than welcome to join this mutual admiration society.

[CaterpillarWoman]

And yes, River, you are more than welcome to join this mutual admiration society.

Absolutely!

Group hug!