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Spirituality: What I Have Learned So Far
By Todd | January 31, 2008
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About 10 years ago I had my first meaningful spiritual experience. I was living in New York City—broke, unhappy, and toiling at my third straight unfulfilling job. Although I had friends around and was “having fun” on the outside, I was struggling internally. The city was too big, too much going on, moving too fast, and I had not yet found myself. One random day, I had a sudden and powerful urge for peace and serenity.
I took myself to central park, and sought to find the quietest spot where I was certain I would not see or hear another human being. This was actually a tough task, but eventually I found a spot amid a wooded area and lied myself down. I stared up at the sky and just enjoyed the quiet and allowed my mind to settle down. I remember I stayed in that spot, unmoving, for several hours at which point I rose and went to buy a book on meditation.
I purchased Wherever You Go There You Are, and read almost the entire book that night. I came to the realization that earlier that day, I had meditated for several hours without knowing what I was doing. The next day I went back to the same spot, with book in hand, and practiced some of the techniques I had read about.
Spiritual Moments Are a Gateway To Conscious Living
WHY am I sharing this story? Ever since I started We The Change, old friends of mine have asked me “man, when did you begin seeing the world this way, and living in this manner”? For a while, I was oblivious as to what in heck they were talking about, but the suddenly it dawned on me: at some point along the way I had changed.
You see, while in high school and college I pretty much fell in with the typical crowds. I was not necessarily the coolest kid on the block, nor was I the outcast….I was more of a middle of the road, don’t-shake-the-boat kid who was coasting along doing things exactly as was expected.
I rarely thought of the food I consumed, the importance of where it came from, or how it was processed (not to mention how it directly affected my health). I never thought of the environment, and how seriously humanity’s collective actions contribute to its deterioration (not to mention how quickly this is happening). I never thought of having a “life purpose”, or contemplated what my greatest gifts were that I might share with the world.
I almost assuredly never considered greater philosophical questions, and never thought of myself as a tiny blip of energy living on a speck of rock amid a vast expanse of seemingly never-ending universe. And I never thought of the present moment, or had any notion of my “self” in the greater field of existence.
At 34 years old, I look back on my earlier years and wonder how I ever lived so unaware of the things that consume my mind today. I just don’t understand how I lived so unconsciously for so long!
This got me thinking: when did things start to open up for me, and when did I start contemplating life in a more “we the change” manner. I have actually given this a lot of thought, and the central park story was certainly turning point.
Awareness Expands Like a Virus
Ever since this moment, my consciousness has continued to expand. At first it was a slow progression, but the more aware I become the faster it manifests itself. There are certain times when it is easier to notice the internal “awakening”, I like to call these signposts.
A few years after my central park experience, I attended a weekend retreat at something called the Landmark Forum. A few years after this, I attended a school called the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Each event was like climbing another rung on a ladder, at which point the view of myself and the world around me became clearer.
But it is not only weekend retreats and schools that increase consciousness. It can be anything—books, conversations, coincidences, etc…each occurrence opening your eyes a little bit more. For example, I just finished The Power of Now and this has been a huge learning experience for me.
Why Is Consciousness So Important
In my opinion, the spread of individual consciousness in this manner is the very thing that can save humanity’s experience on Planet Earth. Notice I did not say “save the world” because the world does not need saving, and I can assure you that the planet, solar system and universe will continue to exist whether people are here or not!
The attitude that external solutions (particularly technology) will save us and create realistic and sustainable solutions is a very dangerous one, and pervasive in our culture. We have to realize that constantly relying on external remedies to “change the situation” is pure madness—dependence on the external is the very thing that got us into this mess in the first place!
For fundamental change to take hold, and for humans to save themselves, each individual must strive for a higher level of consciousness. But intrinsically you know this to be true, don’t you? And here is the kicker:
Once a critical mass of individuals reaches a certain point in consciousness, the collective decisions humans make will shift to more realistic and common sense solutions
The answers will never come from the outside or from someone, or something, else. True solutions come from within the individual and manifest themselves through the collective heart of what it means to be alive!
SO, is there hope for real change? Absolutely! But it comes from me and you trying right here, right now to cultivate greater awareness.
So go out and create your central park experience. OR, start realizing that these instances have already presented themselves to you and take notice of them! What have you got to lose besides your fear, anger and frustration? Absolutely nothing….
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Topics: Perspective, Spirituality/Meditation |
Great article, nice perspective on spirituality.
Posted by: Tejvan on January 31st, 2008 at 11:22 amLike you, I think we should pursue and be open to these spiritual awakenings. We can even cultivate these awakenings through various practices and readings. However, awakenings seem to happen at their own time and in their own way. Unasked for, they simply appear, seemingly with a life of their own. I marvel at this spontaneous expression of awakening. I call it “Grace.”
Aaron
Posted by: Aaron - Quiet Mind Cafe on January 31st, 2008 at 11:35 amMany people are very confused by spirituality, religion and spiritual as well as psychic experience.
Thankfully, a new teaching has appeared to de-mystify all these tangled mess of enigmas.
To have a spiritual experience is not the same as being spiritual or to attain enlightenment.
The reason is that to have a spiritual experience means that the mind is still present. You have not gone beyond it.
To be enlightened means that you have gone beyond the mind and all spiritual experiences and have reached what Buddha called Nirvana or shunyata, or “emptiness”, the very abode of Consciousness, where there is nothing.
To learn more, check out this article:
Posted by: Scogostology on January 31st, 2008 at 2:34 pmhttp://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=776920
I was a strange kid. Oh, I had friends and all that, but my greatest goals in high school were to develop my philosophy of life and to develop my interests and talents so I would never get stuck in a boring, unfulfilling job. See At Home in the Universe and Building a Solid Foundation. Good for you for wakening up!
Posted by: Jean Browman--Cheerful Monk on February 1st, 2008 at 5:39 pmJean, Tejvan and Aaron– THANKS for the comments, my favorite blogs are where people share personal stories…so I try as well!
Posted by: Todd on February 1st, 2008 at 9:03 pmTodd
[…] Spirituality: What I Have Learned So Far […]
Posted by: 4 Pillars of Effective Personal Growth on February 11th, 2008 at 9:39 am[…] Goldfarb presents Spirituality: What I Have Learned So Far posted at We The […]
Posted by: Personal Stories of Change Blog Carnival: Edition 15 » I will change your life . com on February 16th, 2008 at 10:32 pmHey Todd,
Great article, I have featured it in the Meditation, Yoga & Spiritual Growth Carnival.
http://anmolmehta.com/blog/2008/02/21/meditation-yoga-spiritual-growth-carnival-edition-14/
Cheers,
Posted by: Anmol Mehta | Mastery of Yoga on February 21st, 2008 at 1:29 pmAnmol
HI Todd,
Posted by: Christine Grasso on March 25th, 2008 at 9:33 pmGreat article. Are you doing anything with your HHC certification? I am considering going there for school. I know it would be a great “PD” experience, as you say, but I also need something that will move me into a new career.
Just curious on your thoughts.
thanks,
Christine
Thanks Christine. Not so much with IIN. As mentioned in this article, the experience was an integral part of my growth as a person…but I am not proefessionally involved as a holistic health counselor.
Posted by: Todd on March 26th, 2008 at 4:20 pmI highly, highly recommend the school though…it was AMAZING! Let me know if you need any more information.
Todd
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Posted by: How To Find Your True Purpose on March 31st, 2008 at 6:22 pm[…] Goldfarb presents Spirituality: What I Have Learned So Far posted at We The […]
Posted by: Personal Stories of Change Blog Carnival: Edition 15 on November 2nd, 2008 at 1:43 am