The Purpose of Spiritual Practice Reveals Itself
by Robert Meagher on 10/04/22
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During April, I experienced a protracted bout of influenza.
For 10 days I pretty much stayed in bed, only to get myself out of bed to do
something, anything to relief my discomfort. It was only after 14 days that I
started to feel well enough to return to regular activities. It is during times
of unwellness—dare I say suffering—that spiritual practice, if one has a
spiritual practice, comes in very handy.
I remember about 4 or 5 days into the illness, I wondered if
I might need medical attention (in the form of hospitalization), as I simply
could not stop coughing. The pain and discomfort in my chest worsened. Days 6-9
saw the virus move into my nasal passages and head. Yet the coughing
maintained, although not so virulently.
Throughout the 14 days of unwellness, there remained a
steadfast reminder of the very simple spiritual teaching… “This too shall
pass.” It’s true, everything and anything ephemeral shall pass. We may not know
how it will pass, but it will pass. This gentle, constant reminder “This too
shall pass.” always offered me the opportunity and gift of acceptance through
the teaching… “Let go of what was. Accept what is. And have faith in what will
be.”
Even when I was feeling my most uncomfortable, I repeated
the mantra, “Accept what is.” It was in the acceptance of my current state /
condition that I consciously allowed forgiveness to permeate my state of being.
I have had a tendency during past illnesses (e.g., colds, flus, etc.) to feel
sorry for myself, whine, complain, commiserate, get angry and cranky. There was
none of those emotions this time around. It sort of surprised me. But I
realized my spiritual practice was paying off!
Each day when we sit down to meditate, read spiritual
teachings, participate in dharma through community interaction, or whatever our
spiritual practice may be, we are training our minds to be at peace with
whatever presents itself to us.
While I cannot say I felt ‘at peace’ for the 14 days of my
unwellness. The absence of feeling sorry for myself, whining, complaining,
commiserating, getting angry and cranky, suggests to me I was at peace. This
simply would not have been possible without my spiritual practice. Why I engage
in daily spiritual practice had not only revealed itself to me, but it has
increased my resolve and commitment to maintain my practice.
Robert Meagher has
been ordained as an Interfaith Minister and certified as a Sacred Attention Therapy (SAT) Therapist. Robert is the Founder and Spiritual
Director for Spiritual Guidance and Co-Founder of the Center for Human Awakening.