Spiritual Bypass

The term ‘spiritual bypass’ refers to the avoidance or ‘bypass’ of healing and dealing with deep-seated soul issues under the guise of spirituality.  One can wear the label of spirituality, walk the peaceful walk, talk the soothing talk, wear the right attire, shape the hair (or no hair), and yet continue to sweep the painful and unresolved wounds under the yoga mat. Spirituality can, if not understood properly, become a method of escapism. Parents having problems dealing with their teenage children may spend more hours in voluntary community service than dealing with the concerns of their loved ones.  For, to give advice to other parents is easier than to deal with the problems on your own doorstep.  Many paths advocate a degree of detachment in order to attain a certain level of spiritual enlightenment.  This can become a convenient excuse for some to relinquish all personal responsibility towards those around them.  For example if it is my duty to provide financial and emotional support towards my family, and yet I am not there for them when they need me then that becomes detrimental to my spiritual progress and can become a hindrance in my prayer or meditation rather than an aid. Some people mistake laziness for simplicity.  Something they should be paying attention to, such as dressing up for the occasion or looking after their personal belongings becomes a chore and effort.  These souls don’t fully appreciate the beauty and royalty of spiritual simplicity and unnecessarily complicate their lives even more. People may choose to stay celibate because they have problems dealing with intimacy and sexuality.  They prefer to bury the subject rather than working through it. Spirituality is meant to be a path of enlightenment and one which gives happiness.  Don’t confuse pseudo-spirituality with a genuine spiritual practice that involves real deep inner transformation. When spiritual principles are not applied properly, we are not tasting the happiness on the level it is promised. We are simply taking satisfaction from the aroma of the cuisine rather than eating and digesting it – where the nourishment lies. Spiritual principles need to be digested properly, with understanding, in balance, in the right way.  There is a fine but very important line between detachment and spiritual detachment, between laziness and simplicity, between charity at home and out in the world, between celibacy and pure love.  The path of spirituality is a path in which one finds one’s own identity, which implies that we are all individuals and cannot be cloned.  We cannot therefore copy others or their tracks and must be the pioneers for our own passage.  If we are wearing other people’s shoes then they may be too big or too small which will make us uncomfortable, and maybe even make us stop walking the journey altogether. When one starts out on a spiritual journey, one is very often feeling powerful and happy because of the immediate rewards of the spiritual way of being, but like in any marriage the real work begins straight after the honeymoon is over.  So too, after the initial highs and thrills of embarking on a new spiritual path, comes the realization that one must continue to invest time, energy and attention to keep achieving the same level, or an even higher level, of the spiritual returns. We have the choice to bypass issues that may feel uncomfortable, but know that what you resist will persist and will need to be addressed at some later date.  The avoidance and denial of deep issues creates the illusion of happiness and freedom and does not allow us to experience the ultimate soul freedom and happiness that is possible when we practice spirituality in the right way.  Use spiritual knowledge to work through your issues and not as an excuse to bypass them.  Its time… to be honest with yourself with no false pretenses, in which case you are only fooling yourself and no one else.  Have the courage and determination to look under your yoga mat which includes your pain, guilt, regrets etc, because once they are removed the soul will feel so much lighter and happier for it.  You will experience your real inner power and freedom, one that no one can take away from you.  Then you can peacefully lie flat on your yoga mat – bump free! Share these thoughts!It’s Time is spreading far and wide! Feel free to forward this wisdom, but to avoid any karmic rebound, please acknowledge its source –  ‘It’s Time’ by Aruna Ladva, BK Publications London