http://www.care2.com/greenliving/seeking-signs-of-spiritual-growth.html
Seeking Signs of Spiritual Growth
Adapted from The Third Jesus,by Deepak Chopra (Harmony Books, 2008).
The soul is the highest form of the self. It doesn’t unfold biologically like a child’s brain and behavior. But in other respects there’s an undeniable similarity: The soul works beneath the surface, and when its work comes to fruition, consciousness shifts.
In the case of childhood development, it may seem that nothing is actually happening. If you make a video of a 3-year-old’s typical day, you won’t see isolated moments of epiphany or awakening where the child says, “Aha, I just had a glimpse of what it will be like when I am 4.” Appearances are deceiving, however, because invisible changes are occurring beneath the surface, and when they come to fruition, the child will consciously know that something happened. Old interests fall away; new ones arise. A stronger sense of confidence emerges, along with a more formed sense of self.
It would be wrong to say that children are the puppets of biology. They have to participate in their own development, taking an active interest in exploring the world and finding out their own potential. When this doesn’t happen, when the child is inert and passive, the diagnosis is autism. In spiritual terms, the same holds true. The seeker must take an active interest in the soul’s unfolding, or the result will be inert.
That’s why I find myself reluctant to use the word seeker, because it denies the spontaneity of inner growth while at the same time implying that the goal is outside the self. Seekers seem like hunters on a safari to capture the soul. The spiritual path isn’t like that. The goal is within and ever present. Better to say that one is trying to uncover the true essence of the self. We have all loved at times, felt compassion and risen to acts of selflessness. This is the way the model of Jesus resonates with personal experience. We know the difference between being awake and asleep, at least vaguely, and being awake feels better. It produces a better life.
You must keep in mind that the real you is love, is truth, is God. By removing the obstacles and resistances that hide your essence, you reveal yourself to yourself. Essence, being permanent, can’t be destroyed, only masked. It patiently awaits the day when you wake up to who you really are.
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9 comments
add your comment »I also wanted to address what "me" wrote, that s/he is so spiritual but hid it. That's wonderful that you're finding your centre and your true self! It's really an amazing experience to be able to not hide your truth. Keep on doing that. It's been a lesson of my life as well. I was and am deeply spiritual and connected and sensitive as well, but people didn't understand, so I hid it, and took a lot of criticism for it, when I did not hide it. It's not just people with asperger's.
But, it may be that people with Asperger's are souls who decided on the other side that you wanted to experience this kind of heightened sensitivity and awareness - definitely, I am sure you as a group and you individually have a specific reason for being here as you are. (Like the rest of the world!)
I'd be interested to discuss with you what the difference in perception is between your way of seeing the world and mine as a "neurotypical" person. (first time I'm learning that word!) How do you think it's different?
What's your name?
Peace, Rachel
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Thanks for sharing. It's very interesting to me to read this. People of all ways of being can be deeply spiritual - I doubt if Deepak Chopra was really cutting down autistic people. But - educate me, here - isn't it true that some autistic people are not connected with their surroundings, that emotionally, isn't that like being uninvolved, or shut off in some way?
For myself, when I was younger, life was so overwhelming that I coped by sleeping. If things got bad, I went to sleep. More recently, I "drug" myself by staying up too late and being exhausted, or drinking milk, which I'm allergic to, or being addicted to the computer lol! These are all ways of disconnecting and disassociating from a person's reality, and so not being involved in the creation of our own lives. That is what I took Mr. Chopra to be talking about.
Peace, Rachel
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i'm 23 and I have asperger's syndrome and I'm just now coming to terms with the spiritual aspects of it. as a kid I was incredibly spiritual but I have enough social intelligence to know when to conform so I shut that side down. now, I feel a rebirth of my true self, and I'm not afraid to let "neurotypicals" know that autistic people are very sensitive and spiritual even though we can't communicate it efficiently. I feel a psychic kinship with my "kind" even though explaining this to normal people makes me sound crazy. its almost as though we are a different species. I wish normal people could "wake up" and realize that there is not one "right" way to perceive the world. thats why autistic people are here, to provide a new perspective.
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Judith, I couldn't agree more with your comments about autism. I have a child with asperger's and feel he is extremely perceptive and spiritual. Deepak should read about the Indigo Children. Hopefully he didn't mean it the way it came across, as I love his books and daily articles.
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read it over, ooops, thats what happens when you skim
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was there a deeper reason that you used is instead of are??? silly samantics
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Your daughter sounds simply wonderful Judith.
This book sounds interesting I will have to have a look!
Jx
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I am reading that book now. It is really good. I recommend it.
When he speaks of the child, I see this daily with my 2 y/o daughter, and spiritually, I see it with myself.
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I love your writings and your insightful teachings but I must take you to task for your comparison of autism with a being who is "inert and passive" My daughter has autism yet is far from being inert and passive. While she doesn't, and never has, explore the world as a "neurotypical" would, she has deep spiritual insights that could not come from an "ordinary" development. Her senses are so exquisitely tuned that every sensation is magnified. She notices the tiny details that I miss. Today, a minute spider on a web as we were walking along. I swear she reads my mind and often says what I was going to say or remarks on something I was thinking. Quite matter of factly she refers to speaking to her dead grandfather or my grandmother among others. She likes to heal and enjoys reiki very much. She will come and put her hands on my aching shoulders and neck in exactly the right place and soothe them. On top of that she has a wicked sense of humour which can send her off into eyes streaming guffaws of mirth. And she is full of love. Not passive, not inert but dancing to a different beat.
with love,
Judith
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