Giving and Spirituality

[Lightkeeper]

Someone told me the other day that the best way to spiritual growth is by giving to others. What are your thoughts on this?

[Nick_A]

Originally Posted by Lightkeeper

Someone told me the other day that the best way to spiritual growth is by giving to others. What are your thoughts on this?

This reminds me of an account I read regarding a man who may well have been the greatest man of the twentieth century. Some may call him a spiritual teacher, and others the Devil, and another the reincarnation of Christ, No one knows for sure.

Anyhow one of his new students asked if his mother could be introduced to him. He said yes.

It turns out that she was an influential person in the community and known for her altruism. As she was telling him about all what she was doing he remarked that he understood well the burden of responsibility since he had 82 wives.

She became insulted and soon left. She returned a week later and said she now understood something new about herself.

[shaw-n]

NA said:

This reminds me of an account I read regarding a man who may well have been the greatest man of the twentieth century.

And who would that be?

[shaw-n]

We are all ONE, and so when you are unselfishly giving to others it is coming from that awareness of that connection.
People tend to be pretty self absorbed, but this is no surprise given the state of materialism and instant gratification and me now me first ideologies.
So for a person to make that sacrifice and go help others should have the desired effect of causing them to be aware of their larger reality which encompasses all people/all life.

Really "spirituality" is just a deeper awareness, that is all.

Most people are shallow in their awareness and are just aware of the superficial realities.

Typically it takes a serious trauma to wake people up (to cause them to become aware of what we term the "spiritual").
Some may be able to gradually develop a greater awareness, but if you do not get the proper training as a child in such things you become "set" into a mode of awareness which leaves much to be desired and so the trauma method is pretty much the only recourse open at that point.

[arthra]

Originally Posted by Lightkeeper

Someone told me the other day that the best way to spiritual growth is by giving to others. What are your thoughts on this?

Being selfless or evanescent is how I've heard it:

"When we reach the city of selflessness then the beauty of the Beloved becomes manifest to us. Unless we are selfless we cannot see that reality. If self is forgotten then reality will take the place of self."

Even those who give to others (commendable as that may be) may be taking credit for it..

- Art

[Lightkeeper]

I was wondering about her statement. Isn't she saying there is a payback for giving? If we give with the thought of payback, would that be a selfless act? She talks a lot about what she gives. If we do selfless acts would we talk about it?

Which came first the spirituality or the giving?

[Nick_A]

Originally Posted by Lightkeeper

I was wondering about her statement. Isn't she saying there is a payback for giving? If we give with the thought of payback, would that be a selfless act? She talks a lot about what she gives. If we do selfless acts would we talk about it?

Which came first the spirituality or the giving?

The woman in my anecdote above sincerely believed she was completely motivated by the needs of others. She came to see that her motive was the need to be in control, to have people need her. It was essential self knowledge for her.

[shaw-n]

Hi Nick
You did not answer my question.

[Nick_A]

Originally Posted by shaw-n

Hi Nick
You did not answer my question.

The trouble with names of people that have gone beyond classification is that they attract all sorts of naive preconceptions. Even now someone like Simone who was a lone wolf is simultaneously known as nuts, a self hating Jew, Christian Mystic, the "New Saint" and the only great mind ot the times.

With this person it is even worse and since I've been helped a great deal from becoming aware of his efforts, it is more polite just to consider ideas rather than names in such a secular setting that is so quick to label and be governed by labels without experiential understanding.

[Lightkeeper]

With this person it is even worse and since I've been helped a great deal from becoming aware of his efforts, it is more polite just to consider ideas rather than names in such a secular setting that is so quick to label and be governed by labels without experiential understanding.

This is very exemplary of the problem you are having on this forum. You assume no one but you can discern truth. You appear fearful to reveal this person's name. You are afraid to stand by your own choices or you would reveal this person's name.

When you have worked more with your inner self you will have your own revelations and won't have to depend the revelations of others.

I hope you have the courage to start a new thread on the above mentioned person and open a discussion on whether or not this person was or is great.