Sinner and Beggar

 In the holy city of Tiruvannamali, Tamil Nadu, India, the Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram is off the main road in a relatively quiet neighborhood. The practice is simple and elegant, chanting the holy name. 

Even this name belongs to my Father. This Beggar does not exist, only my Father exists everywhere. 

The subtlety here is that Yogi as Beggar, the Manifested self, seems to be saying that in reality only the Divine exists, the Absolute Being. Mumbo Jumbo? Yet how else can one relate to others having experienced ego death? The corporeal self remains and the realized Self speaks through it, if it speaks at all. 

So why bring this up? This realization that I can have a history as a sinner and Beggar and at the same time have the Divine Self accessible is central to my life. Everyone has that Self within that illuminates everything we do and say, even if it is distorted by pain, desire and conditioning. 

There can develop a powerful fascination with this living truth. Over time the sense of I Am That, the Divine Self, becomes as established as the material world we have always seen around us. Simply put, that is Insight. Seeing inwards that which is permanent, the most real thing in our current state of consciousness.

Everything that caused pain, unfulfilled desire and led to our conditioning is seen clearly and begins to slip away. And we will know peace.

What goes on?

 

The tension between Ritual practices and Mystical insight can destroy an organization.

What goes on in spiritual organizations has fascinated me for a long time. Sorting out what attracts people, what is offered and why people are at odds has taken a lot of work. And not everyone is interested in finding out. Mostly because they are content with their individual views and beliefs and not willing to see another perspective. In fact, my experience is most people react by expelling the 'other.' 

Several areas of resistance to seeing clearly are: 

I got mine. Being established in the hierarchy, real or perceived, people refuse to give up their status or perks. 

Comfortable routine 

1. Like hearing my story. Telling others about my experiences becomes of primary importance. Reliving memories replaces community building.

2. Devotion to an elevated founder. My love of the person who taught me elevated me and disagreeing with me is disrespecting them. Personal growth is diminished in the group as a whole. 

Understanding the dynamism of Spiritual organizations,  known as pastoral care*, provides a context for discussion and seeing our prejudices clearly. Of course it takes work and that is part of the spiritual journey. 

The tension between Ritual and Mystical practices will destroy an organization.

*Pastoral care

Pastoral care is a form of holistic support that addresses the spiritual, emotional, and practical needs of individuals, traditionally provided by clergy but now often offered by trained laypersons and professionals in various settings (e.g., hospitals, schools). Its core functions include healing, sustaining, guiding, and reconciling. 

The Role of Ritual

Rituals are formalized sequences of actions, often embodying core values or sacred narratives, that help individuals and communities find orientation, meaning, and connection, especially during times of transition, crisis, or loss of meaning. 

Structure and Meaning: In a modern world often devoid of consistent rituals, these practices (e.g., blessings, anointing, specific prayers, or even non-religious farewell ceremonies) can provide a needed sense of order, stability, and completion during disorienting life events.

Physical Expression of Care: Ritual actions are not just symbolic; they are the physical expression of care itself. The bodily motions of turning toward a suffering person, for instance, are ritualized actions that "restructure in the very doing of the act themselves," making the practitioner a caregiver.

Community and Identity: Participating in rituals reinforces shared community identity and support systems, helping individuals feel less isolated in their struggles. 

The Role of Mysticism 

Mysticism, in the context of pastoral care, refers to the experience of a direct, personal connection with the divine or a profound sense of ultimate reality, often cultivated through contemplative practices like prayer, reflection, and solitude. 

Mystical experiences emphasize an individual's direct, inner experience of the sacred, which can be a powerful source of healing and meaning, particularly when formal religious structures may feel inadequate.

Transformation: The mystical journey is often centered on personal transformation and growth, helping individuals navigate challenges and find a deeper connection with themselves, others, and the divine.

Embracing Mystery: A pastoral approach that values mysticism recognizes that some aspects of life and suffering are mysterious and cannot be fully explained by rational thought. It encourages caregivers to be present in this "fog" with the care-receiver, rather than always providing immediate answers or theological explanations. 

Attachment

There may not exist an area of human thought/feeling that better highlights the disparity between the spiritual and psychological as attachment. At the core seems to be the perception of reality as being permanent or impermanent.

Let's start with the 'western' view. As the following graphic illustrates there are value judgements for each axis of style. 

Individuals with a secure attachment style, the double positive in this scheme, tend to have stable and healthy relationships. "Stable" can mean steady, firm, or not likely to change (e.g., a stable relationship). And so we see this is not a statement based on permanence but probability, as in not likely to change. 

In Buddhism, attachment is considered a primary cause of suffering because it is a form of clinging to impermanent things like people, objects, or ideas. This clinging creates a cycle of desire, disappointment, and distress when circumstances change, which is inevitable. Within this context relationships exist with an awareness of impermanence. Everything is impermanent in this life. No blaming or value judgements.

There is a continuum of sorts here in my view. It is helpful when enmeshed in relationships to see the psychological aspect and degree of suffering one is experiencing. As one moves from enmeshment to attachment to detachment to un-attachment to non-attachment the realization comes. It can lead to the spiritual insight of impermanence and detachment with Love.

It's the journey of my life. And it is worth the effort having worked with therapists through attachment styles and spiritual guides to somewhere approaching detachment with Love or non-attachement. Not everyone has come along for the ride. 

If you follow either set be prepared. Some people are invested in relationships just the way they have always been, pain or no pain.