Balancing SpiritualityIf your head must be in the clouds, Keep your feet on the ground.The rewards of other worldliness are dubius and besides, it's lonely up there. Whatever you may think of this physical world, it still remains the arena of which you must perform. The basic instinctual drives propel and necessity presides as ruthlessly as any nero.A cloud dweller is innevitably precipitated into the earthly melee and, unless his stance is firm, his defeat is certain. At best, he will be badly bruised. Clud fabric is tenuos; as disappointing as candy-floss melting immediatly in the mouth,however iridescent and captivating it might look. The ideal wears a material garb; it's essence permeates the HERE an NOW. And knowinly or unknowinly, all have embarked on the same journey. ''The Holy Grail'' is an earthen vessel, its contents potent with juices fermented from life's experiences. The tools of spiritual growth are at hand and their use is compulsory. They are earthly tools and seemingly unequally distributed. But if a spade can turn only a little soil, the divinity that sparks each grain is the same that fills a steam shovel's load. To ignore the tool fitted into one's hand is foolish, for practical skill is a prerequisite for mastering another more complex one.This is not to say that the human spirit is earth bound; that it can't soar and enrich itself by temporary respite from the physical preoccupations.But mystic ecstasy is as futile as dervish frenzy unless it is converted to practical utility. Countless words have been written to express the inexpressible.They are nebulous,distracting and even dangerous if they induce detachment and encourage idleness.Development of the spiritual consciousness is accomplished in the world,for the world, and for the benefit of human evolution.And that means dealing with the world,not avoiding it.Spiritual development is a turning of the inside out, a chemical-spiritual interaction for which externality is indispensible. Unless the indwelling gaze sees outwardly as well, there is no transmutation.Instead, there is the danger of spiritual pride and intellectual stagnation,an insularism that precludes true spirituality and contributes nothing to the advancement of humanity.Spirituality is not made of cloud stuff; rather it is composed of struggle and effort, the conversion of spiritual insight into practical action. The technological advances of the mordern age have finally reached such a point wherveritable spiritualperfection is demanded to harness them from beign used in less effective and destructive ways. This is the challenge,and the time is now.Earth substance provides the means, and spiritual perfection is possible. |