Each moment is an ending and also a beginning. In each moment is a chance to discover what it is to be human and what it is to be life. Success to me is being happy in the process and realizing that we may never really fully understand what it is that we are.
All of our business, scientific studies, learning, teachings and physical possessions are not what we are and yet life would be meaningless without them. At some point it may all be gone as our life flashes before us in the last thirty seconds of our brains waves. What then is next?
Does the wave die when it hits the shore? Does the leaf die when it falls from the tree? Certainly there are things that continue beyond the day to day changes we see around us.
Spiritual success is hard to define. Even the effects of spiritual success are hard to define.
When we look beyond the veil nothing seems clear:
Several things seem to be associated with a life of practice and piety. In no particular order:
- Humility
- Gratitude
- Concern for Others
- Compassion, or personal suffering from the hardships of others
- The Extension of Consciousness
- Equanimity
- Focused Awareness
- Being Love– there is no need to love something or be loved by something, love just is.
- Letting go of the need to be right
- Intuition
- Emotional control – responding appropriately rather than reacting impulsively
- The melting away of religious dogma
- The dark night of the soul.
- Realisation of the sanctity of life and the conditions required for it to arise.
- The integration of practice to where each moment becomes a meditation
- Everything is funny, or at least most things, lol.
- Material success.
- A wider definition of what you are
Certainly there are other things. From time to time people have talked of the miracles attributed to those who practice deeply. It seems like all of life is a miracle and some have opened their eyes to see that.
Letting go of the need to be anything... in each moment arises a spiritual death and a new beginning. Success is somehow found in the moment as energy moves through the body, the world and the universe.
Do we dream ourselves into existence? Do we make our own reality? Do we even ask such questions or are concerned with the answers? Lol.
To a degree I think material success is a part of spiritual success; I expect that others might disagree. Someone who is aware, mindful, open to change and not angry all the time might find that life is easier to find material success in. Having ample wealth can be a way to live more generously or at least not be as much of a burden on others.
Still the burden of material objects can be very heavy. There is something to be said for the, “one robe, one bowl” lifestyle although I have no personal experience with that.
Chop wood, carry water, find spiritual success... chop wood, carry water. Or maybe, take pictures, write blog post, find spiritual success... take pictures, write blog post, lol. I don’t know if I can define any exact moment or characteristics associated with spiritual success, however some have claimed great epiphanies where their lives have changed significantly seemingly at once.
To me personally the question is rather open ended. The perpetual work in progress only it’s not really work per say.
Thanks for reading! I always value your support and comments. The pictures were taken by me with my Galaxy S9+. Text and graphics copyright lightsplasher & litesplasher.