What is being on the "spiritual path" and what is not being on the "spiritual path"?

[fishbelowtheice]

What is being on the "spiritual path" and what is not being on the "spiritual path"?

Can a person even not be on a spiritual path? (by your definition of "spiritual path")

[rei]

from my perspective, we can't help but be on a spiritual path. this applies to skeptics as much as it applies to so-called "ceiling surfers." whether we choose to consider our path a spiritual one from the conscious level of self is another matter.

what is being on the "spiritual path"? living our life.

[Andrew Gubb]

I don't think anyone can not be on a spiritual path...

I don't like the idea of path too much because it resonates too much with the idea that you have nothing until you reach the destination, anyway, but that's another matter.

I think everyone looks for happiness, pretty much by definition. But maybe when they reach a certain level of awakeness they realise that certain things which are said to bring happiness don't, and some other things seem more likely to bring happiness...

Then again, I've known some pretty spiritual atheists and pretty un(by my definition of the word)spiritual "spiritual seekers".

Sometimes (often) the forms are mistaken for the spirit of the matter.

And so if you have all the spiritual forms you may or may not be wiser/more advanced than someone who doesn't.

If you have ALL the spiritual forms you're either totally asleep or you're a spiritual master pretending to be asleep so he can actually teach somebody, lol

In some book I read I liked the phrase "the pathless path", which you reach eventually in your search. When you realise there are no ready made forms which can get you there, your path ends up becoming... something not quite path-like.

Love

[Mounds]

No spiritual path here. My soul is a lump of coal.

[Maguru]

Originally Posted by fishbelowtheice

What is being on the "spiritual path" and what is not being on the "spiritual path"?

Can a person even not be on a spiritual path? (by your definition of "spiritual path")

I believe the 'spiritual path' is all about self awareness. We all have it and it is constantly changing. The only difference is that some of us know who we are and some of us think we know who we are. The awakening comes when we see we are not who we think we are.

[Mato Kinze]

The Lakota call the spiritual path "The Red Road."

Black Elk, a Lakota holy man, said this of The Red Road:
"From where the Giant lives (the North) to where you always face (the South) the Red Road goes, the road of good; and on it your nation shall walk. The Black Road goes from where the Thunder Beings dwell (the West) to where the sun continually shines (the East), a fearful road, a road of troubles and of war."

The Red Road is a Path of sacrifice and service for The People. The Black Road is one of selfishness and distraction. Those who walk the Black Road are ruled by their senses, egos and self-perceptions. They do not live for The People.

Therefore, as the Lakota see it, a "Spiritual Path" is not simply being aware, but taking that awareness and using it for the benefit of The People. Understanding coupled with action for the benefit of All is a true Spiritual Path.

[Liv]

Sometimes when I'm driving on the highway I see one car that works and works at getting further faster. They go through the same toll booth, the same exits, same lights as I do. Usually at the end, they're right there no further ahead really.

I have a feeling it's all symantics. We're alive and living so I guess you could call it a path. We're all learning, all having similar experiences, maybe some sooner than others but it's still all learning and growing. Some choose the inside lane, helping others and being an active participant in the process, and others the outstide lane choosing a more reactive learning state.

You made me wonder, if it turns out we're all on a spiritual path, do we all get to make a conscious choice to travel it aware, or do some never really understand? I'm trying to think back and identify exactly when that was. When did I change lanes?

[Diandra25]

your question is interesting and got me thinking...

my 1st reaction was thinking that we cannot manage NOT to be on our spiritual path.

but also theres the ones that awake and start to be aware that we are not our bodys and just our Soul/our energy.

and then there are the others who only live by and for the material plane...so although all of them are on their spiritual path ( they choosed what to go by),ones are more into it than others.

[ChrisL]

Hmmm....I guess if we define a spiritual path by certain specific paths - Sufi, Gnostic, Buddhist, etc - then we are "on it" if we are adhering to those principles and practices. But perhaps a spiritual path is more about committing to being fully ourselves, conscious in each moment, taking full responsibility for our lives and not blaming anything on others, being more internally-validating, living from the inside-out. And if that's the case, then not everyone is on a spiritual path. I work a lot with clients and some people simply want to be out of pain - they do not want to change or have a very high state of consciousness.

But if we're doing what I just described above, are we really on a "path", or just being? I mean, at some point, even the path needs to be released.

[devilsace]

the path i go on is my own path but it started with lavey satanism and so far has blossom into a whole new being. some would say it's a form demonology and others would say its a form of energy vampirism but my roommate says it's a giant swiss army knife or dark magic. so it's own being like i believe all path are started from a group of choices and once you start walking on that path that seems the best you start changing it and learning more and more until it gose from a windows 95 to a linux specifically designed for your needs. i believe there is no end to your path and that you will still be learning after you die.