Spiritually Mature

 

"Immature, underdeveloped people are impulsive.  The opportunistic are self-involved.  In the mature human, greed and self-obsession have given way to generosity, selflessness and a disciplined will that, finding a deep joy in charity, can give to others.  When we speak of "arrested development," we mean adults whose grown-up bodies are actually housing children.  These are the narcissists who, despite advanced chronological age, see narrowly, fearfully, perhaps in an infantile way.  They are emotionally blocked by childish responses or rebellion, fixated at the very point they encountered obstacles, but stopped growing.  Some experience that should have been dealt with, overcome and assimilated was repressed, leaving such individuals still reacting to life and trying to solve daily problems out of the framework of the old, infantile perception...

From a developmental frame of reference, it is clear Jesus of Nazareth was a whole, self-realized, completed "personality" - the epitome of the illumined man.  His active, eternal demonstration of love exemplifies what human love could be, were we spiritually mature ourselves.  Love, reliability, empathic understanding, a generous spirit, the ability to experience another as oneself, keeping our word, an ability to affirm life fully in the face of death - these are all traits that flow from a supremely well-defined, elevated consciousness, from a will that gives us the faith and self-mastery to say, "Thy will be done." and from the commitment that supplies the wherewithal to follow through with a task or promise, regardless of sacrifices or discomfort. While Cain asks "Am I my brother's keeper?" the New Man responds by selflessly giving his life for his brothers...

Of course, individuals contribute in differing ways and degrees, both of their material possessions and of themselves.  But for the spiritually mature, gifts of self always flow out of a full heart, unselfishness and love, agape - concern for the other."

Excerpt from Ordinary People as Monks & Mystics, Lifestyles for Spiritual Wholeness by Marsha SinetarIf

If you wish to deal with and overcome childhood responses, start with The Inner Knowing Course.

Comments

[Ross - Tolemac]

Hello Elicia.

Thanks for this excerpt. I had not heard of this book previous to seeing it here, but now I'll have to pick it up on my next trip to the bookstore. Having been trained as an "urban mystic", I am always interested in what others think and believe about modern mystics and their preactices. This looks like a great addition to my collection.

"Tolemac"