“Nothing Special”
To be “spiritual”, just follow your heart.....
“There is nothing special about living a spiritual life.
It’s no more than just doing what comes naturally.”
Question: “What does an artist have in common with a plumber,
a carpenter, a monk and an accountant?”
Answer: “They are all, through their work, doing what each of
them needs to do in order to advance their spiritual growth.”
“What?” you may ask, “How could the work of a plumber,
or an accountant, possibly be of any relevance to their spiritual growth?”
In order to answer this, we need to come to a fresh understanding as to the true
purpose of work, art, and living. And to have a fresh look at the true meaning of
what it means to be evolving spiritually.....
We live in an age of specialization. Everyone is expected to be a specialist in
something or other. And, in becoming more and more focused on our own specialty,
it's as if each of us views the world through a narrow window, a window that severely
restricts our view of anything that is happening outside of our own narrow specialty.
An accountant knows nothing about plumbing, and a computer programmer knows
nothing about pottery.
While it may be necessary, for a number of quite valid reasons, for each of us to
choose a specialty for our work, with which to make our contribution to the functioning
of our society, most of us tend to become very narrowly focused within our specialty,
and we thus lose sight of our many similarities that we all share.
For instance, whenever any of us completes a difficult job, we feel that wonderful feeling
of satisfaction of a job well done. No matter whether we have just completed the building
of a house, the winning of a sports tournament, or the big overhaul job of a motor vehicle,
we stand back and savor the moment of the completion of the work, we revel in the sense
of achievement that we have reached the goal of the completion of the work.
What is the true purpose of work?
If we put aside the obvious answers like “To earn money with which to obtain our
share of the proceeds of other people's work, within their specialties, that we cannot do
for ourselves”, or “To make our contribution to the functioning of our
shared society”, what are the real reasons that we plunge ourselves into our specialist
craft?
One possible answer could be related to the fact that all work involves an act of creation.
The potter creates a pot, the carpenter creates a house, the accountant creates a perfectly
done set of books. And, it is in the appreciation of ourselves as the creator, that we achieve
that great sense of satisfaction of the job well done.
Also, during the act of creation, we become one with the work itself. The creator and the
creation merge into one harmonious entity, one gestalt, one organic whole.
Another reason might be that in the action of the doing of our craft, we are completing
some higher purpose, some fulfillment of an inner yearning, a yearning that comes
from deep inside of us.
Could it be that one of the purposes of being here in a physical body, upon a physical
planet, is to give us the opportunity to do creative things at this physical level?
By literally rolling up our sleeves and getting our hands dirty, by plunging into the muck
and mud of the planet, we have the opportunity for experiences that can only be had
while in a physical body.
And, as all levels of being are connected, maybe whatever we do with our body has
a spiritual pay-off. It is widely accepted that the emotional, mental and spiritual levels
of existence all affect the physical body. So, surely, anything that we do with our body
at the physical level must have an affect at the emotional level, at the mental level,
and at the spiritual level?
So, just maybe this inner craving of the artist (giving the word artist a very broad definition,
ie. anyone who practices any form of craft, including most so-called “work”
activity), comes from a deep intuitive knowing as to what is needed to be done at the
physical level, by this particular person, in order to achieve a spiritual result.
Just as our physical body grows and matures and changes right throughout our life,
so too does our emotional body change and grow and mature, as we learn and integrate
our life's lessons at the emotional level. In a similar way, it could be said that we have
a spiritual body, and that in order for our spiritual body to grow and mature, it is
desirable that we carry out certain activities at the physical level.
These physical activities that are necessary for the continuing growth and maturing of
our spiritual body, ie. for the growth and full flowering of our soul, are the same
physical activities that bring a feeling of joy to the craftsperson when engaged in the
expression of his craft.
And, just like our physical body needs physical exercise to fully develop and to reach
its full potential, so too does our spiritual body need the appropriate exercise in order
to grow and reach its full potential. Some of this spiritual exercise that is needed is in
the form of what we have traditionally classed as “spiritual practices”
(eg. meditation, prayer, ritual, etc.), however some of the activity needed by our soul
is centered around physical activity.
As each of us is unique, it follows that each of us will have a unique mix of physical
activities that we need to engage in to meet the needs for our soul growth. And, as we
progress on our journey through life, these needs will change. These physical activities
can be as diverse as dancing, singing, playing a sport, gardening, most so-called
“work”, just about anything that involves physical activity. We each
intuitively know what we need, and we will find ways to satisfy these needs.
This is why people who have chosen to follow a full-time spiritual calling, like monks,
do not just sit meditating all day. They also work in the monastery garden, they prepare
the meals, they sweep and wash the floors, they do all manner of physical things.
Most martial arts originated in monasteries. This was not just to train the monks in
weapon-less self-defence. It was to give them opportunities to fulfill their soul's inner
craving or full expression by engaging in physical activities.
All of the great teachers and masters have known of this need of the soul for physical
expression. Yoga is an advanced form of physical activity with a spiritual purpose,
as is T'ai Chi and all martial arts. Rudolf Steiner brought eurythmy to the world for the
same reason. All indigenous peoples have their own forms of dance, song, etc, and it
is not performed just for the emotional satisfaction, the physical exercise, or to please
the tourists!
And, when an indigenous people are subjected to the culture shock of their culture
being suddenly overwhelmed by an alien culture, they suffer a spiritual sickness if
their traditional way of life (including their arts and crafts, and their “work”)
which is programmed into their genes, is lost to them. There are other equally important
factors in this spiritual sickness, eg. alienation from their traditional lands. This happened
to the Mãori people of New Zealand during the colonization of our country right through to
the present, to the North American Indian peoples when they were herded onto the
reservations, and in possibly the most tragic example of all, the Australian Aboriginal
people over the past two hundred years.
This inner need to engage in the physical activities that are programmed into one's
genes is one of the reasons why all colonizing groups bring their own culture with them,
like our European forebears, when they arrived here in New Zealand in the 1800's,
sought to make this country into a “little England”.
A powerful motivation indeed to, for example, transport a grand piano half way around the
world on a sailing ship!
Where does all of this leave us now? I believe that each of us needs to look deep within,
and to follow the inner urgings of our soul. For example, for all of my life I had a powerful
yearning to learn to play the piano. This yearning could have gone unfulfilled, however,
in 1997, at the age of fifty, an opportunity appeared, and I seized it.
l will never be a brilliant pianist! In fact, my keyboard talent is very limited: I really struggle
reading music and I cannot play “by ear”. However, I have learnt five or six
tunes that I really enjoy playing, and I derive great satisfaction from playing these
competently. “To derive satisfaction from painting, one does not need to be a Picasso or
Mihaelangelo!”
There are skills that we do become masters of, and there are other skills that we have
a need to practice at a basic level. Both types (the master and the beginner) can be of
vital importance to our inner development.
So, follow your heart! What is your soul telling you about your inner yearnings?
Listen to your inner guidance, and do not be afraid to follow your dreams!
This article, by Peter Archer, was originally published in 2000, in the New Zealand magazine,
“Quest”.
If you have found that this article resonates with you, or if you would like to discuss
any aspects of the issues raised with Peter, you are welcome to
Peter.
