CREATIVITY | LIFE | INSPIRATION
Beyond the Tangible Confines of Boundaries: The confluence of reason and emotionality
In response to Dancing Elephants Press Prompt 13/52
# Dancing Elephant Press # DEP book project
A concept is hard to define but easy to describe. A connection with oneself reciprocating in a million ways. A heart sings praises of the One without an inclination to meet or see. A force that is more potent than a hurricane yet gently as morning dew.
The mind refuses to compartmentalize feelings into dogmas, maxims, and traditions. It exists beyond the known boundaries and flourishes boundless. It crosses the parameters of good and evil. It moves past the strict confines of natural and unnatural. It defies logic and theories.
It’s an enigmatic presence that can be felt, touched, missed, remembered, and shared; everyone is welcome. No entry fee is required. No timings are set. No requirements are instituted. One can come to stay forever or leave within seconds. No repercussions happen. No blame game is played.
Those who stay can witness transformation rising above the mundane into something pristine. Scarcity turns into abundance. Sadness into happiness. Poverty into wealth. Those who experience all this write the holy scriptures or change the world with their actions.
The world may have given them illustrious names or built impressive institutions in their honor. Some of them became popular with the masses while some got hatred of the thousands. Nevertheless, all of them would be in agreement-the Presence is extraordinary, and it urges everyone to do the impossible.
Where the stillness of mind is forgotten, where weaknesses are non-existent, there is just happiness, where distinctions disappear, and similarities accumulate.
All the wonders of the world are combined together when one gets to that level. Flying high but never high enough. Functionary normally in abnormal conditions. Fatigue never bothers them. Few remain mesmerized and never come out of the serenity.
Where it’s sought is most likely not found. Seekers sought magical euphoria. Seekers have to open their hearts to feel the presence and convince the minds of its existence.
Seeking truth might seem strenuous, yet it’s right in front or within. Seekers find ways to open the eyes, regulate the heart, and slow the pace to merge in a flow full of positivity, power, and purity.
Experimentations are unnecessary. Efforts, if superficial, half-hearted, and cynical, then spirituality might seem cumbersome. Examples from others can be used for inspiration, but one has to explore the inner cores of the soul to be fully satiated.
Experience comes through small acts-smiling, meditating, praying, and sitting in silence. Ideologies are a good way to start the journey, but a deep understanding of the meanings, interpreting the metaphors, and sieving through the rhetoric takes us closer to the level of consciousness we need to reach.
Practice is acceptance, affirmation, or awareness that we are part of a larger force that wants us at peace, in love, and in service of others. Particularities are not prescribed, but consistency helps; any act has the capacity for a ripple effect if it’s done sincerely.
Spirituality saves identities when worldly labels are ripped off. When societal norms force one to shun the symbol of designation. When the worldly paraphernalia withers away. The essence of humanity remains intact in oneself to start, love, and trust again.
Skeptics ask if it has color, ethnicity, gender, or race. Would any of these markers help? Does it favor the rich over the poor? Does it prefer privileged over marginalized? Does it play the majority versus minority tactics? Does it take fame and numbers into consideration? Does it reward biases and shortcuts? The answer lies underneath the cloak of our spiritual robes; wear it, and it will become obvious.
Spirituality is the primary source of sustenance-filling the hearts with contentment, the mind with stimulating innovative ideas, and the soul to be free of impurities to become a part of nothingness whenever summoned. Worldly successes give a lot of credibility to humanity, and they should be pursued with fervor but attaching too much importance belittles our self-worth.
However, spirituality helps to disassociate from failures and maintain a balanced perspective, as in the larger scheme, it’s best to be satisfied with the results and move on.
Spirituality is the single source of certainty in the uncertain world where ideas are thrown away like trash, knowledge is questioned, and facts are disputed where there are no guarantees of life, ethics, or the future.
Spirituality lets one navigate this chaos calmly, constructively, and cogently without losing touch with self, morality, and the soul. One can never lose a way to recalibrate with the universe and count the blessings instead of enumerating grievances.
One can never lose a way to recalibrate with the universe and count the blessings instead of enumerating grievances.
Routines, rituals, and routes instill discipline to be immersed in pursuing spirituality. People follow strict routines to maintain the rhythm of practice and not to deviate, be disrupted, or be disillusioned because the routines allow them to be a part of something beyond their control.
Rituals lead to spiritual pathways, especially when one is confused about the requirements and expectations. Rituals help establish structure in the discovery process and set patterns to find the right path.
Rituals are symbolic as they might light up a dark alleyway on the spiritual journey or make it easier to cross it safely. They act as a means to get fully immersed in the ocean of spirituality.
Routes are ways, contours, highways, whatever one prefers to fast-track our journey toward the ultimate destination. Philosophical, theoretical, and institutional frameworks are paradigms providing a helping hand and a preferred by many to take their lead in the spiritual journey.
Intellectual insights into these frameworks might provide some direction, but it also depends on the individual’s comfort level and desirability to use the available routes.
Each journey is full of struggles, trepidations, confusion, and doubts; sometimes, it takes lifetimes to reach the lighted path. No one can guarantee when it will come, where it will come, and how we will recognize it.
What one can do is embark on the journey of self-discovery and purification and align the heart with the soul with as much sincerity as possible.
A suitable conclusion:
“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
© Fatima Imam (All Rights Reserved)
This post is written in response to Dr. Gabriella Korosi’s prompt for Dancing Elephant Press:
Sincere thanks to the illustrious editors of DEP: Dr. Gabriella Korosi Dr. Preeti Singh Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles Sharing Randomly DR Rawson - The Possibilist for providing an amazing outlet for my creativity. ❤️❤️
NancyO’s post about ten things she loves about herself impressed me so much:
Libby Shively McAvoy’s self-love article about self-love motivated me a lot: