How to Deal With Spiritual Tests
Dear friends,
I saw a great quote recently: "People are like tea bags—you can’t tell how strong they are until you put them in hot water." Interesting and well put...
The title this week is actually a trick title (I guess that's like a "trick question”?). All tests are spiritual tests. That's because we are children of Spirit at all times, and not just when we are aware of it.
My spiritual teacher was traveling giving lectures. He stayed at someone's home. At one point the man gave him a tour, and proudly throwing open his meditation room door, he said, "This is where my spiritual life really happens!" This is a deep misunderstanding.
Sister Gyanamata, one of the greatest disciples of Yogananda, said, “I have come to measure spiritual advancement, not alone by the light that surrounds one when he meditates or by the visions one has of saints, but by what he is able to endure in the hard, cold light of day.”
All tests are spiritual tests because a calm heart is absolutely essential to feeling Spirit's presence and for knowing what our best and highest next step is as we seek that deep inner peace and joy that only Spirit can provide. Deep attraction or infatuation with something, as well as deep fear or abhorrence of something, both show a karmic seed that needs to be released through calmness and acceptance.
We become strong by wrestling with those stronger than we are. Seeing every challenge as an opportunity is not easy, but is extremely useful and ultimately rewarding. Our tendency to feel “Oh no!” when something unpalatable approaches does not serve us.
I will add my oft stated caveat about not letting the mind go to an extreme, and thinking "Are you kidding me? I am supposed to see 'X' as an opportunity?!" {Fill in with your least favorite circumstance.} Start with the little tests and build strength over time. To quote Sister again, "Change not one whit of my circumstances. Change only me.”
May we always remember that Spirit knows better than we do what our next steps are. May we then, as much as possible, develop an attitude of thanks rather than resistance.
Blessings,
David G., manager
For the staff at East West