Hi moonrambler, and everyone else....
I would like throw in something...
A very simillar idea exists with money. The more you have, the less spiritual it can make you . Or some would call it distracted.
So, as a result some very noted gurus and swamis have made negative statements about possessing money. Then a bit further, some have suggested to stop being concerned about bills, rent, and retreat into the caves to meditate, ect. Then more extreme, the idea you can't possibly ever become enlightend as long as you live in a house in a city with any type of modern convenience. And finally there is the image of the guru wearing nothing and owning nothing except a loin cloth sitting peacefuly in the sand, eyes closed in meditation.
Not a guru sitting on his porch wearing a t-shirt or jeans but usually just that.
It gets more and more extreme and even the gurus and scriptures tell funny stories about the obsession.
The ironic thing is that it may be easier for a wealthy person to approach enlightment simply because he or she has the time and place to meditate in peace. And in order for meditation to give benefit, one has to focus.
On the other hand the working class or poorer person may have a harder time meditating when he or she is distracted by thinking of paying the bills, fixing the car in order to get to work, ect...
Even the wiser gurus have admitted leading a lifestyle of self denial and meditating doesn't always mean one reaches their goal.
I think one way of looking this is it's ok to care of physical and emotional needs first in order to be able to meditate, focus or follow a spiritual practice in peace without distraction.
That one way I have of seeing, what does anyone else think?
Take care........  |