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‘Spiritual mastery does not refer to religion. It refers to our ability to recognise our unity and shared responsibility with every other human being. It helps us to feel connected to a power greater than ourselves, whether this is referred to as divinity, the higher self or nature. So why is it that we struggle to integrate our spirituality into our everyday life?’ asks Belinda Doveston.

Although many of us recognise that we are spiritual beings having a physical experience, it sometimes feels that the only way we can connect with that Divine Spark is to disappear into the Himalayas to contemplate our navel. Unless we are born into that kind of life experience we have a unique lesson to learn, that of bringing a spiritual awareness into our everyday physical reality. Spirituality, like meditation, is not a task to be done but a way of life. Just like going to church on a Sunday only does not mean we are applying what we have learnt in the rest of the week, so do we need to find ways to integrate the spiritual with the physical.

The first step in this process is to work on our belief systems about the physical world. Although we have already covered Physical Mastery in the first instalment of this series, it is worthwhile here revisiting our relationship with our physical bodies and the material world. Do we see our physical body as a burden that we drag around with us? Do we feel that money is a necessary evil to be tolerated? Is there some part of us that regrets moving into a physical body in this lifetime? Do we feel bogged down by the day-to-day chores that physical life demands? If you can identify with any of these questions then perhaps you need to reflect on how you feel about your physical self.

While we continue to feel restrained by the dense, physical plane, yearning to be free in spiritual energy, we create a separation between where we are, the physical, and where we want to go, the spiritual. This gap in perception makes us feel disconnected, incomplete and obsess with even more attachment for the search for this ‘Holy Grail’. This duality, or separation between the personality (or lower self) and soul (or higher self) is the root cause of the world’s suffering we see all around us. If we truly felt connected to our selves and our higher power, would we really be able to hurt others?

There are many signs that tell us we are creating a closer link to our souls. For one, we start realising that we are interconnected with all other forms of life, leading to a great sense of responsibility for making a difference. At first this awareness may be too heavy for some, leading to an overwhelming sense that there is so much to do and so little time. In time though, this deep emotional concern gives way to an acceptance of the cycles of life and an appreciation of the karmic processes we all go through. From sympathy we move into empathy. We start making different choices in how we treat others, plants, animals and the Earth.

From this awareness we start to feel that we really want to do something that makes a difference. We want to find our true purpose in life. We may even feel confused in this process, wanting to hunt down a purpose and not simply allow it to find us. In time we start to recognise that we are being led in the right direction every step of the way. We can let go of making it happen and trust that we are being divinely guided. When we release this attachment to knowing all the answers we can connect with a powerful creative force that guides us in a way that is magical and mysterious. The Holy Grail finds us and not the other way round. Whatever may be our own personal path to purpose, we are all united in a common direction which is to uplift, inspire and guide others.

Take a look at the four aspects of spiritual mastery below and see which ones you could develop further in your life:

1. Connect to the inner spirit, realising a holistic sense of inner knowing, personal vision, harmony and unity.

In mastering our spirit we first need to recognise that we have one. This means releasing our attachment to our personality’s desires and striving for a higher level of consciousness. The Buddha said that we should search for truth as a man with a burning beard searches for water. Through personal development, meditation and other tools we can create an awareness of our personality and soul selves, thereby identifying our purpose in life and inspiring our personality to live our purpose in the physical world. Through this inner unity we can also access other powerful tools of the soul, such as intuition, compassion and inner peace.

2. Understand and apply the principle of unity through diversity with others.

Once we are able to connect to some degree with our own higher self, we are then empowered to create deep and powerful connections to others. Just as in natural environments we know that biodiversity of life is essential for the overall wellbeing of all species, so too in the human family we can see that diversity helps us to become stronger as a species. When we truly understand that difference empowers us all, we can take that crucial step to recognising our unity with the whole of humanity. Can you imagine a world where we all accepted our differences? Are there differences in others you still struggle to accept?

3. Appreciate the sacredness and sanctity of all life, caring for all with understanding, compassion and love.

‘I am my Brother’s Keeper.’ This is a powerful affirmation we aspire to and live by if we have a caring and compassionate nature towards humanity and Earth’s other kingdoms. Soul awareness develops our ability to truly love others even though we may not understand their cultures and customs. Love in this sense is not emotional and does not necessarily condone the negative thoughts and actions of others. Love and compassion helps us to accept another’s point of view and their right to believe in what they do. Never be the one who destroys another’s belief system as it may be the only thing they have left. Care for and be concerned about the suffering and difficulties of others.

4. Take responsibility to leave the world a better place for future generations.

Our last aspect of spiritual mastery is to take responsibility to do something that makes a difference. If we look at our world at the moment we can see the poor legacy we are leaving for our children’s children. If we sit back and expect others to make a change how do we expect it to happen? We do not necessarily all have to become Mahatma Ghandi or Madiba, but we can each do something using the skills and resources we have. Apathy will kill us quicker than anything else, so what can you do now to make a difference?

Belinda Doveston is the co-founder and managing director of MetaVarsity, a college of metaphysics fully accredited by the ETDP SETA, focused on using practical, outcomes-based education to help you develop personal mastery in the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of your life. For more information on MetaVarsity’s learning programmes, contact +27-21-426-4538, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or www.metavarsity.com.
 
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