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Detachment Leads to Spiritual
Freedom
Our Soul's Journey | by Zeal Okogeri
Attachment is among the greatest obstacles to spiritual freedom. It is the state
of being connected by ties of affection, attraction, and so forth, particularly to
the karmic conditions of life that holds one in the physical universe. This includes
ideas, dreams and consciousness of the lower self, which creates attachment to the
physical realm, desires and connections with family, friends and possessions. Attachment
of any sort is a great impediment to spiritual progress. The sincere seeker must
then practice detachment or nonattachment to move forward.
The word "detachment" sounds cold because it implies giving up all the
people and things we love. However, as we evolve spiritually, we come to realize
that it does not mean that we have to leave our friends or family or give up our
possessions. It simply means that we ought to be able to function independently of
the people and things in our lives, to give up the idea of, "I can't live without
it/them."
The word, detachment is almost synonymous with the word "freedom." Some
people derive strength primarily from their possessions. As long as they have the
nice house, money, nice car, a good job and an attractive romantic partner, they
are full of confidence and authority. Take away a number of those things, and they
speedily turn into a vegetable.
Let's consider the behavior of investors and investment professionals in the midst
of a stock market crash. A few of these otherwise normal and intelligent people may
turn suicidal. We read of stockbrokers and their clients who responded to past market
volatility by jumping off buildings. This is the zenith of "attachment."
These individuals not only decided that a stock portfolio was equivalent to human
life, but they also decided, among other things, that it would be impossible to earn
a decent living ever again. The same is true of gamblers who frequent places like
Las Vegas. A number of them never make it back home to their families. After gambling
away everything, they quietly commit suicide in their hotel rooms.
Detachment means being able to derive strength from within, irrespective of your
possessions. It is the ability to give up strong affection for the environment and
possessions, but not ceasing to identify with them. It entails becoming independent
of them, mentally free from love of the world and all worldly desires.
Without letting go of the unnecessary things we hold onto, it is difficult to move
forward. In the game of baseball, for instance, it is impossible to get to the second
base if you still have one foot on the first. One must learn to let go completely
in order to move forward. I know this is easier said than done because I myself have
had great difficulties in overcoming some of my attachments. But as with anything
else, it takes persistence. You may fall back on your attachments occasionally. But
if you don't get discouraged, if you continue trying and keep asking for divine help
in the process, eventually you will break through and will never look back.
I will share a story that touches on the subject.
The free bird
This is a story about a wealthy couple who lived in a huge mansion. They had nine
birds in a large birdcage, which was kept in the living room. Every time anyone went
to clean the cage, the birds would struggle to escape and fly away. One day while
the wife was trying to clean the cage, one of the birds managed to successfully escape.
The bird flew all the way to the top of the high ceiling of the mansion and landed
on the chandelier. The couple didn't know what to do. There was no way to reach the
bird. As they stood there wondering how to get this bird back into the cage, they
noticed there was an endless communication between the birds in the cage and the
one that had gained his freedom. The couple reasoned that the bird that had escaped
was probably telling the birds in the cage to make a go for it and escape.
But as they continued to observe, they noticed a rather interesting development.
As the conversation intensified among the birds, the freed bird kept flying back
and forth from the ceiling toward the cage. By this time, the couple realized that
the caged birds were probably urging their buddy to come back home and join them.
Realizing this, the wily couple went ahead and opened the cage door and left the
living room where the cage was kept. When they returned an hour later, the freed
bird had voluntarily rejoined the rest of his friends, again trapped inside the cage.
The couple tiptoed and closed the cage door.
The pulling force
So it is with life. When we make progress, whether it is finding a new spiritual
path, overcoming an addiction, leaving a bad marriage or relationship or leaving
an unsuitable job, the problem often lies in overcoming the pulling force of those
we left behind. Instead of moving forward with our newfound liberty, we allow our
attachment to pull us back into slavery, unhappiness and general disgust with life.
When you go back to an unsuitable relationship or situation, you are committing a
crime against soul. By the time you realize what you had done, you have sometimes
slid back so much, spiritually, that you practically have to start over, like a neophyte
on the spiritual path, to regain your spiritual grounds.
Three of the greatest impediments to spiritual freedom are attachment, hesitation
(doubt) and fear. Doubt and fear are the big ones. The ways to overcome these impediments
are by consistently doing your spiritual exercises and by surrendering yourself and
your affairs to Spirit. When you devote yourself to meditation and spiritual exercises,
you will not only overcome these impediments, but you will also inherit many spiritual
virtues, for they will come to you automatically.
Dr. Zeal Okogeri is the author of the inspiring non-fiction, God's Relentless
Generosities -- An Inspiring Journey of Soul. He lectures worldwide on topics related
to spirituality and personal development. He also maintains a Chiropractic Wellness
Center in Chanhassen, Minn. For more information on Dr. Okogeri's seminars, book,
or to inquire about health care, call (952) 975-1819 or visit www.LightBooksPublishing.com.
Copyright © 2004 Dr. Zeal Okogeri, all rights reserved. |
| Dec 2004 |
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