Each time I was present in groups where they exchange comments among those present, from different disciplines who knew, from a list of rituals that followed, the courses involved, what they paid for them, or trips and seminars ... in order to listen to them gave me the impression that progress in the spiritual path is only for the people blessed with a wonderfull life ...
This life has smiled on them and can be paid courses, trips and seminars, they can spend many hours a day to various disciplines of meditation.
From all the experiences that I always remember, there is one that comes to this reflection, in 1996 when I finished my last day of the seminar of my initiation into Reiki I, a fellow of the seminar raised the teacher, wondering how to save the $ 500 needed for the next seminar, Reiki 2. The answers and solutions seemed misplaced and unfair, for she was a mature woman, blind and poor. He had counted on these two days all the difficulties she had to save money for that seminar and it would be virtually impossible to save 3 times more for the next.
Many other similar situations sometimes lived for many other seminars, courses and trips ... These events then are restricted to the elect?
Perhaps the privileged can like the song says "buy the Stairway to Heaven "?...
I am convinced that in any way. The advance on the spiritual path, does not go hand in hand with the push that a person can give to another who walks its way. The progress, can only be made by itself. No one can walk on the other, or climbing a spiritual ladder rung of the name of another.
Having the privilege to receive teachings from one or more teachers, useful to see from different perspectives, how to walk the unique path of each. But to get a master degree in a discipline for the sole merit of having the money to pay for seminars means that person is advanced above of another person who could barely pay an initiation.
Where is the breakthrough for me, is all that could be sustained achievement in every day, every week and every month a person to maintain their desire to improve, accept old mistakes, refine and change. Constantly, every improvement involves the beginning of a new cycle, each small step up is achieved, will have a better perspective to choose where to go, but there will always be to maintain the humility that is probably what is missing more than progress was made.
And this is neither pessimism nor conformism, to myself the humble are those who actually advance, those who seek to convince their friends all they know, all that have evolved and achieved, is nothing more than an advertising his own ego than a true sign of its progress and evolution.
Not all that glitters is gold, you can not buy the rise of a single step on the ladder to heaven. The doors will not open because it is the golden key bought, or because it is followed to the letter the way said a teacher. No use having the best library if it is able to interpret what is read.
Comparative not think that a person is a saint because he is seen smiling every day in his temple, where he is safe from many experiences that others have faced.
Comparative not think the balance that shows a hermit who lives secluded in his hermitage, because there sure has a life of peace. Should be brought to the chapel and into the jungle that master of problems experienced by many for whom time is more balanced and more fighting to follow their best possible way.
That blind companion plunged into a world of trouble, probably today after 15 years spent is understood it is probable that it did not matter could not have done more seminars, matter that would thereafter to continue to cultivate his soul.
Cultivating the soul, temper the spirit everyone can do it, no good comparisons and there is no advantage for either. Everything tends to swing, because from what I have to live, the spirit and soul are tuned and grow when one manages to overcome the difficulties, and again up the trips.
And of those falls more boisterous, who manages to keep going without succumbing, you have probably gained more than a stepping stone towards heaven.
A hug for all my readers, Paul Barbé
