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Spirituality IS the ongoing PURSUIT of . . .
1. Right identification of self and other as spiritual Children of God.
As opposed to:
A. The tendency to define/confine oneself and others by identifying the self with ego, lower mind, and aspects of behavior or appearance.
2. Spiritual rightness, Divine Will, and spiritual wisdom via spiritual attunement -- though all the events and conditions of living.
Spirituality IS NOT:
A. Chronic focus on ideas, concerns, impulses and goals of the lower mind.
3. Evolutionary ascent by virtue of FULFILLING Divine Law.
Spirituality IS the ongoing IMPLEMENTATION of . . .
1. Living in right relationship to both God and man.
Spirituality IS NOT:
A. Living a prodigal (doggedly self-determined) existence in pursuit of selfish goals or provincial objectives.
2. Doing whatever is discerned to be BOTH presently appropriate, and spiritually consistent with eternal principles of rightness.
Spirituality IS NOT:
A. Doing anything that is out of tune with one or with both of those two factors.
3. Guidance by the still small voice within, or by other agencies of authentic spiritual transmission, in the spirit of faithful, cooperative obedience.
Spirituality IS NOT:
A. A primarily self-directed life consisting mostly of actions selected and performed as a result of personal whim or preference, and without true spiritual wisdom-guidance.
B. A life lacking diligent pursuit of true wisdom, which is lived, consequently, in the dark -- without knowing what is right.
C. Knowing what is right, yet stubbornly resisting doing it.
D. Insatiably pursuing spiritual insight and understanding WITHOUT both fully acknowledging and diligently acting upon what is already known to be true.
4. Self-transcending, generous, heartfelt, humanity service in the spirit of brotherly/sisterly love.
Spirituality IS NOT:
A. A life which is chronically long on self-service in pursuit of personal gain -- either material or spiritual -- and chronically short on active, self-transcending, generous, heartfelt, humanity service.
5. Appropriate and necessary personal self-help efforts -- including, on the practical level, diligent pragmatic work; and, on the spiritual level, deep reflection on matters of spiritual rightness.
Spirituality IS NOT:
A. The irresponsible request for intuitive understanding without deep personal consideration and reflection.
B. The passive reliance on blind faith (the belief in dogma or precept without intuitive validation of what is learned and believed).
C. Irresponsible hope for magical salvation via blind faith adherence to spiritual dogma, religious affiliation, ritual observances, or spiritual techniques.
Spirituality IS the ongoing ACCEPTANCE of . . .
1. The various challenges, difficulties, and exertions of life (because the right handling of these challenges is essential to evolutionary progress).
Spirituality IS NOT:
A. Irresponsible requests, due to laziness, cowardice, or weakness of will, for release from the various challenges, difficulties, and efforts (because the handling of these is essential to evolutionary progress).
B. Irresponsible and impatient requests for Providential intervention, before a full, diligent, thorough, and sincere personal effort has been made.
C. Circumstantial "dependence" on Providence or magical intervention in the midst of an essentially prodigal lifestyle.
2. The sovereign will of fellow creatures, and the of the various lawful consequences and outworkings resulting from the exercise of that will.
Spirituality IS NOT:
A. The attempt to fight against the concerted will of sovereign beings, or the tendency to blame upon God the inevitable misfortunes resulting from the gross misapplication of that will.
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