Let It Happen

Saturday, August 23, 2008

One of my favorite things to do – and one of the primary ways I spend my time – is to shop and browse for, buy, and consume various media that serve to provide deeper insight on inner peace, happiness, and so on. I spend a great deal of time and money on these things: books from Amazon.com, audiobooks from iTunes/Audible, and so on.

I wish I could say that I effectively and unfailingly implement into my own routine all of the wonderful spiritual principles I learn from these sources. I don’t.

I still don’t even meditate every day, despite the knowledge that meditation is one of the most important, simple, easy, basic, powerful, and even life-changing practices in which one can possibly engage. I fail to meditate regularly even though its benefits are beyond description or compare when performed once or twice daily over weeks, months, and years (though its positive effects are worthwhile even if performed only occasionally).

I do not even have to wonder if what I’ve read about mediation is really true; numerous scientific studies spanning decades leave absolutely no room for doubt. In fact, some of the more recent research into meditation – such as those experiments described wonderfully in Lynne McTaggart’s 2007 book, The Intention Experiment — has revealed staggering, almost unbelievable results! Perhaps I will write and bloviate more on that later; maybe that would help kick me arse into meditation gear!

However, I have proven to myself that regular reading, studying, and writing in these areas — as opposed to actually doing all the spiritual work these books recommend — is beneficial to me, even if far less so than putting it all into daily practice. The reading of it alone has increased my insight and knowledge on these matters, and its constant exposure through reading and sharing keeps it in the forefront of my mind for more of the time than it would otherwise be. Inner peace-centered reading has helped tremendously in the percentage of time I spend being mindful of the present and not living in clock time: fretting about the past or worrying about the future, which is where most humans, including this one, spends a huge majority (far too much by a long shot) of their very limited time.

Things I read about in books — and hear others talk about — can be nice, but it starts to really matter to me only when it is shown to be true through my own experience.

The other day, I offered a new spiritual DVD to a dear friend and fellow AA, someone that I know to be on a wonderful spiritual path, if judging only from his sharing in Nashville AA meetings. His response was that while he genuinely appreciated my offer to lend him the DVD, he did not care to watch it, as he has already found what he is looking for, spiritually speaking, and does not want or need to read or listen to any more spiritual materials, beyond that which he gets through AA (illustrated Big Book online, with definitions) and his church. What he already has is enough for him and works for him, he said.

I was taken aback, for I had assumed he was just like me in his hunger for — and delight taken in — exposure to fresh insights that serve to assist on one’s journey to enlightenment (or heaven, kingdom of God, or that certain special peace that passes all understanding, or inner peace, or spiritual insight, or whatever one might choose to call it)! I cannot pass up the stuff; it is fuel for me.

Then I quickly remembered a couple of basic precepts I must hang on to: NEVER make assumptions and NEVER take anything personally! Remembering these rules (they are actually two of the Four Agreements, one of my favorite books) definitely helped me tremendously. It was no big deal. SO WHAT if someone does not want to watch some DVD? It’s trivial! It’s funny.

It’s ridiculous — and even egotistical — of me to think or assume that others want to read or view the same media I do! However, one of my primary joys is to share these materials with others who are on a similar path, so I do it all the time. This is something that brings me great joy.

In case anyone is curious, the DVD I offered to my friend was of those Nooma DVDs from Rob Bell, specifically Nooma 001 – Rain ; and while the message was good, the material turned out to be too narrow for my taste, as it is Jesus-centered (not that there’s anything wrong with that, BTW!). I gave it to my parents, who are active in the Church of Christ. I believe they will enjoy it. I think any Christian would.
Above all, this experience reminded me of a quote I have always liked: “Beware of those who believe they have found God, but listen those who genuinely seek God.” I have already begun to compile a list of wonderful (IMHO!) quotes on this very subject.

Please revisit this Nashville recovery and spiritual blog again soon to read these kick-ass quotes and further ramblings. Also, please do me a biggie and share your reaction via comment at the end of these posts; despite all the verbal comments from friends and other AAs about this blog, and in spite of the respectable web statistics re: visitor traffic on these posts, comments are rare.

Please leave a comment, if only occasionally.

More on Trudging the Road to Enlightened Destiny

Catholic Register: Beware of Those Who Say They’ve Found God
Buddha on the Road
Essay: Fear, Reason, the Human Condition

Filed under: Religion, Acceptance, Mindfulness, spirituality, Books, Inspiration, Daily Actions on August 23rd, 2008