Spiritual growth, ego and red flags.

[evmdimples]

Yesterday on another forum, someone made a comment about hoping his spiritual development would be of benefit to everyone he met during his life. Doesn't this comment demonstrate attachment to ego? Something that's in opposition to spiritual growth?

I'm in CoDA recovery and the focus is always on me, on what is going on inside of me. During my almost year in recovery I've developed spiritually in a way I didn't know was possible. But it's based on an inwardly focus, not outwardly. This person seems to be peeking outside himself to see who is benefitting. His comment immediately brought up red flags for me, about the purpose of his spirituality, which seems to have an outwardly focus. And somehow, that just doesn't seem to fit with spiritual growth, not as I understand it from my readings and personal experience. The comment also reminds me of codependency. Maybe that's the big red flag that I'm seeing. Or maybe my spiritual experience is being painted by my recovery and not allowing me to see other spiritual paths?

[yeahgr8]

Is he in AA? If so that might explain it as he will want to be able to help others:-)

[Boleo]

Originally Posted by evmdimples

Yesterday on another forum, someone made a comment about hoping his spiritual development would be of benefit to everyone he met during his life. Doesn't this comment demonstrate attachment to ego?

"Lord, make me a channel of thy peace--
that where there is hatred, I may bring love--
that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness--
that where there is discord, I may bring harmony--
that where there is error, I may bring truth--
that where there is doubt, I may bring faith--
that where there is despair, I may bring hope--
that where there are shadows, I may bring light--
that where there is sadness, I may bring joy. Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted--
to understand, than to be understood--
to love, than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life. Amen."

[evmdimples]

"As a general rule of thumb, Christian spirituality is interpersonal (between persons) while non-Christian Eastern spirituality focuses the practitioner on the self." (from a christian website).

I found the above while doing research on another subject. I think... this explains my confusion, as I lean more towards eastern spiritual practices, in these the initial stages of my spiritual re-awakening. The person in question appeared to be endorsing a form of eastern spirituality. (And why I questioned his statement.) I love the Prayer of St. Francis, and it's Christian, and now that I know about these things, it clearly reflects the interpersonal aspect mentioned above.

I love this awareness, as it helps me broaden my understanding about the differences in spiritual paths. And reminds me that there are many roads to spiritual growth, not just mine.

[Overman]

I think that 'Christian website' may be a little biased.

IMO, eastern traditions are much more collectivist in terms of spirituality.

In other words, transpersonal instead of interpersonal.