Reliance on Physical Existence

Meditationtime Forum Post

Date:  Posted 3 years before Oct 25, 2016

MiBeloved 3 years ago

It is necessary for the student yogi to develop resistance to the influence of persons who are primarily reliant on physical existence, and whose intense focus is on that. This is not easy because 99% of the human population is either focused into the material energy or claims spiritual aspirations with the bottom line of taking any risk to ensure the status quo in material existence.

Many friends of mine, for instance make a claim to spiritual life, but when push comes to shove, they are unwilling to sacrifice their material situation to pursue spiritual life. They want to have it on both sides, successful material life with lots of money, with conveniences for enjoying in the physical body and with twisting and turning the spiritual philosophy so that it justifies a materialistic life.

Association with such people is risky, because their influence may penetrate the mind of the student yogi, and then he or she will begin acting in a way which is counterproductive to progress.

Usually people are concerned about a student’s lack of interest in pursuing the materialistic course of life, the recommended fool-proof one which yields a high salary, posh accommodations and a reputable name for the family. Their proposition is straightforward:

Do both spiritual and materially rewarding activities. Be successful in both. You do not have to become poverty stricken to be a spiritual aspirant. Elevate your family financially and also do meditation to salve your conscience and have peace of mind.

Question is:

What should the student yogi do when this pressure is felt and when he or she feels that one thing must give or another thing must take?

What are the odds of being successful in spiritual life and also becoming wealthy and materialistic simultaneously?

Is every yoga student a potential yogi millionaire?

MiBeloved 3 years ago

Sunil Mark-Singh:

Hey, love your post. Think it is really interesting.

I am going to be honest and say that I am striving for both.

I hold both developing myself at physical and spiritual level to be challenges that I want to pursue. I think it depends on why I want to take these on.

I want to create wealth for myself, family and friends, but also to help others who are less fortunate have opportunities that perhaps are not so clear. I want spiritual to understand life on a deeper level.

One thing I learnt - there is no right or wrong - just opinion. I think it is important to be in both worlds. We live in the physical world so it’s important to strive for what makes us happy, however spiritually is a place where the physical falls away and it becomes our own safe haven.

That is the way I see things. Just my bit 

Cheers

Sunil

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Caroline Barnes:

Perhaps the focus naturally shifts as we age?

I, for one have given up all material ambitions more than once in my life, but life has always brought me back to the basic reality that to keep the body alive I have to work, and many times I have found that extremely frustrating.

Success and prestige...........nah, never been really interested, perhaps that is more a male thing?

Caroline Barnes • @Sunil wrote: I want to create wealth for myself, family and friends, but also to help others who are less fortunate have opportunities that perhaps are not so clear. I want spiritual to understand life on a deeper level.

Caroline Barnes Response:

I often see/hear people who are focused on material wealth come up with this and it seems to me to be a justification for the fact that they want wealth, power, and prestige. Hey, if that is what you want go for it, don't waste energy pretending you are doing it for others, that is what I would call disingenuous. Once you've got it, that is another story.

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Alfredo Delregato, MS, CIH, FLAC, FMA:

Always so nice to feel your presence.

Post above right on the money. Age factor quite accurate too. As for work, that is the reality, I also have to work, and skillfully, here and there, avoid it as much as possible, taking in as little as I can.

Michael Ji post is so important, and so accurate. I see this in me and many others, but have, luckily, learned to avoid the pitfalls of the company of the people he describes so well.

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Sharon Coriaty:

I try to strike a chord of balance. Balancing the need to financially create enough wealth that I can support myself and my daughter, but also maintaining a life of integrity, being of service to others as well to myself. I do think you need a certain degree of ego to navigate through this world...but again, is about living an authentic life..

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Sunil Mark-Singh:

Thank you for your comment Caroline.

Success is different in the eyes of everyone. You have already projected what you believe to happen onto me. Remember just because you have seen/heard it doesn't make it the absolute truth.

I ask why you believe I would say that I want to help others as my main justification to gain success. Well my upbringing, I never quite had what other people had, the opportunities etc. In fact I created my own. I put myself through university, I started my own business when I finished and now am starting my second. I always make sure that I build myself, but when people need support, I make sure I do my best to give them the information what they need. I am passionate about this and about conservation. Those are two of the things that I know I can make a significant difference with. Spiritually in my opinion accompanies this, it can help me focus on another dimension and to question something entirely different. It will get me away from the physical side and into a more relaxed and healing state.

You at the end of the day create your own reality. I am sure there are plenty of people out there who do not work and practice spirituality. You have just convinced yourself that it is not possible and that is why you find it frustrating. You say you have given up physical? Does that mean you gave up your house? Your clothes? These are all part of the physical reality and I would argue, in my humble opinion, that physical is equally as important as the spiritual. It is about balance.

Life is full of challenges, I say why not go for them, however it is always important to remain humble and to give back what you gained, because life should be about sharing what you have learnt.

Cheers,

Sunil

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Colleen Dick:

Good for you, Sunil.

Perhaps the Spiritual and Physical are not so separate after all, but more a matter of priority and motivation. Spiritual progress may be made more difficult by sickness, hunger and poverty, or these things may serve as a wake-up call. It depends on the state of the heart and mind. Simple faith, hope and love will create opportunities for spiritual growth and physical well being. We serve God as we serve our fellow beings.

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Caroline Barnes:

Caroline Barnes • @Sunil wrote: Does that mean you gave up your house? Your clothes? These are all part of the physical reality and I would argue, in my humble opinion, that physical is equally as important as the spiritual. It is about balance.

Caroline Barnes Response:

Hi Sunil, I could say 'go teach your grandmother to suck eggs', but I want to answer you seriously LOL!

When I was 19 I joined what was popularly known, in those days, perhaps before you were born, as a cult. That meant that I gave up everything, owned nothing and lived in an ashram typesetting, and worked every day for the furtherance of the cause. (Perhaps I really should write a book about it.) I lived like that for fourteen years, and was celibate, by the by, and for most of that time I was very happy. (I did have a few clothes, as I lived in a cold climate and the concept of naked Sadhu's would not have gone down well in London or Edinburgh, say.)

That is just one example. More recently, at the age of 59 I left everything, house, car etc and came to Belize with almost nothing. I have to say that was not really my idea of how to run my life, I rebelled quite a lot internally, and felt quite outraged that spirit would demand something like that of me when most people are retiring and looking forward to a time of rest and/or self-indulgence.

I am telling you this just so you know I am not just full of hot air.

And I will turn the question back to you.............have you given up your house, your wealth, your clothes?? Just asking, but that is not really the issue anyway.

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Caroline Barnes:

Thanks alfredo, for your comment. I suspect that you do 'get' what I am talking about, perhaps, so far, the only one who does!

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Colleen Dick:

I admire you, Caroline. A part of me is with you, but I feel an obligation to my posterity.

The question remains, is it evil to be wealthy or is it a matter of priority. In all spiritual traditions that I am aware of pride and greed are condemned. I like this scripture which puts it into perspective:

17 Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.

18 But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.

19 And after ye have obtained a hope in God ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.

(Book of Mormon, Jacob 2)

Matthew 6, in the New Testament also explains the priority: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

It is easy to rationalize and get off track, so it is necessary to be continually mindful.

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Caroline Barnes:

Yes, very necessary, Colleen.

I'm not trying to antagonize anyone, or judge anyone's motives, and we all have different paths to walk, but I just want to be clear that for most people the pursuit of wealth and prestige is just that, and the 'oh, I'm only doing it for my family, or to help others' is a spurious argument, and in most cases a self deception. If you want wealth, hey go for it, enjoy it, and if you help some others along the way, even better, but at least be honest that that is not your primary motive.

I just have this strong inner sense that integrity will get you pretty far in the spiritual sweepstakes, and the first priority is surely that.

And let’s not forget that 'I only did it for my family' is a common excuse for many misdeeds.

chris_hall1951 3 years ago

Thanks for the insight, thanks for letting us know, that our friend's are not necessarily the friend's of our soul being freed from the material nature. True friend's are those who are supporting our efforts at liberation, the other type is the friend of our lower nature, that nature that wants us to be perpetually entangled in samsara,  misery likes company.

Thanks for the warning Sir.  Will the real friend's please stand up, and may the phony ones get the hell out of Dodge!

All Hail and Infinite Obeisances to "An Axis Supreme".

Jai Sri Sri Krishna-Balarama,  Jai Radhe!