A exploration of spiritual stillness, 30 day fast of reading, studying and practicing the 26th verse of Tao Te Ching. (Living Calmly) The month long spiritual exercise in accepting and being gracious for what lies ahead. Being a avid hack writer, I’ll post 30 days consecutively, thoughts on “Being Content.” Poems, exercises, take-home assignments, etc.
Day 10, Love or Fear
A uncontentious mind lives with constant fear. Catastrophic preludes running a steady undercurrent which stagnates all spiritual growth. The fearful subconscious becomes adrenaline which drives us to spiritual instability.
We fear everything, losing jobs, relationships, health, God’s favor, our pets. Perceived enemies bring out the best in us, (We think) we erect mythical creatures, to do battle against.
Fear becomes comfortable, a right of passage. Without fear who would we be? Everyone a potential purveyor of our demise, our personal executioner.
Life has two emotions all decisions are based from; Love or Fear.
A brief inventory of self-perspective would reveal
Fear of…
dying
children suffering
sickness
going broke
homelessness
aging
not being Loved
unsuccessful
pain
marriage
divorce
recession
devil
God
etc, etc, etc
If we are to still the mind, we must find a new why to think, to chose. Unfortunately the spirituality of fear was embedded in us by trusted tutors.
Parents, ministers, pastors, teachers, guardians spread fear as an acceptable behavioral control method. Fear doesn’t work, it fragments the mind, breaking it up in small patches. Only you can break away from this antiquated form of control.
The strongest notion of fear remains the acceptance, “We must fear God.” This is a notion from man, man recreated God in his image. One with hate, gives love under certain conditions, unfair judgment, and eternal damnation.
How can you love, and the God of Love has those characteristics. You must choose your path, a path of love or fear.
Discover your spirituality without the narration of others, I have no guide, but let your experience be your teacher.
A content mind is void of fear,
The Rambling Taoist said,
July 6, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Very true words, yet very difficult to implement consistently.
raw28 said,
July 6, 2009 at 10:14 pm
True, breaking the habit of fear originated actions very difficult.