July 30, 2012
The Holy Life
There is something so incredibly life-affirming about the kind of joy and fellowship that emerges when many human beings, inspired by spiritual values and a higher sense of purpose, come together. The Buddha, when asked if association with like-minded people was a part of the holy life, is reported to have declared: “Association with like-minded people is not a part of the holy life, it is the whole of the holy life.” The longer I have been teaching, the more obvious it has become to me that the Buddha was right—association with like-minded people is the whole of the holy life. And that is simply because the holy life, the spiritually enlivened and awakened life—if it’s to have any real impact on the world—is about creating and sharing higher values with other human beings. When insight and revelation are being experienced as part of a shared higher state, something truly sacred begins to occur. The potential of a new, more enlightened world emerges here and now.
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Andrew Cohen is a spiritual teacher, cultural visionary, founder of EnlightenNext, and the author of 
I have felt that whenever I am in company with spiritual people, I myself get more charged, new ideas emerges, higher strength in some known good ideas is experienced.
Namaste Andrew,
Indeed,it is this sharing of imperishable jewels with our fellow man that is considered to be the highest charitable act a human being can perform. Bringing about transformation through self transformation is the very foundation of bringing down heaven on Earth or even establishing a kingdom of God. It is a duty of sensible children of God to transform atheists into theists.By doing so a new golden aged world is inherited as a reward.
Regards
Harish
Thank you for today’s quote Andrew. I have experienced deep joy, and heart opening expansiveness when engaged in authentic conversations with other evolving human beings committed to spiritual development.
And, I have also experienced an even deeper joy, and connection to my authentic self and to source energy or what I believe you would call evolutionary intelligence after consciously choosing to spend more time alone connecting to my thoughts and feelings on a very deep level without judgment or attachment, yet not being in a formal meditative state. During these times I was renewing my energy on all levels – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually but doing so alone while also going about my daily routine in a more mindful and simplified manner which included some engagement with others.
I would be curious to know your thoughts on this latter experience as well.
Blessings,
Michele
Bigots are also “like -minded people”.
“like-minded people” are closed because they know the answers!
It is so hard ,often, in very small towns like I live in, to find “like-minded people”, but I have been able to seek a few out and being with them brings me joy, they renew me. Thank you for your insite.
The greatest gift happens when you can break through your own egoistic and culturally-bound ideas of “spiritual” and “holy” — and see the divinity in every being — every human, every animal, every tree and shrub, every mound of earth. Then your sanga is the entire Universe and you join in a larger Love which flows like a river to all — not just those few humans who you might personally encounter who are “enlightened” or trying for that. The culture we most need to change is within ourselves; the sanga we most need is with All That Is.
One of the realizations that I had during last year’s Tuscany retreat was the importance of communion with other Evolutionaries. I was compelled to become much more involved with my regional group, and that has made a big difference for me during this past year. I’m very thankful for the kindness and support of the group, and it is exciting to be a part of this.
Thank you for your thoughts on the holy life. So simple.I work with a small group of Occupiers in Denver who are learning to live the holy life with one another as they examine and deepen their commitment to activism in the light of the sacred. We draw on many wells . Your work, Andrew, is very important to us.
There is something so sad and sick about this line of thought, Everyone is seeking to ‘fix the world’. There is nothing wrong with the world. There is something wrong with the People in it. The world is functioning perfectly. Could it be any other way? It is the jewel of the creation and as such multitudes of races off world seek to come here.
All those seeking to ‘come together’ and ‘fix’ the world are severely asleep. The world needs no fixing it is a perfect reflection of the people in it. It could be no other way. Indeed, he who seeks to fix others and the world, are sadly performing no service to the life here. In their zeal to change what is around then and raise others vibrations, they seek to deprive those of the very ‘healing’ they need. No one can really help anyone. All must help Themselves.
How arrogant all ‘these self appointed ‘fixers are’ Is it their service to deny growth to all the people who Most Need it? These ‘healers’ must know better than The Creation? How sad to see this sect scurrying around trying to stave off the correction that must come.
Just look at all the counties at war with one another. this is Gods Plan. This the only way at this juncture of a Awareness that ‘Healing” will occur. When enough humans have been damaged by death, and war Maybe they will start to awaken and see another way. All those seeking to short circuit the process, are simply depriving the lost souls what they need. Who are you to try to alleviate suffering. You would deprive the world of its lessons?
We are in Earth School here.
Better to fix YOURSELVES than to try to fix others. Who gave you such a foolish task. I for run have found Solitude the answer. A wonderful gift. By keeping myself in joy and love , I seek to give the Earth Happy Steps… This is what it so sorely needs. Most ‘fixers’ really need to fix themselves. In their heavy handed approach to reform the problems of the world, these very activists, are a part of the problem. They are so angry with the way Things Are
that what they really give to the world is the very angst, they seek to Cure…
It’s too sad.
The world is perfectly Imperfect. It could be No Other Way. It is a product of the People who live on it.
This is the reason that Off-Worlders and God have not reached down and just cured it. In this scenario no one learns anything. Each soul must come to the light Themselves. If some ‘Guru” raises their Vibration, they inherently Rob that persons soul of the true Growth it so sorely needs.
Do they not see the disservice they are Providing?
These people are asleep. How do we know they are asleep? They are suffering. That is the way one betrays their real state. No matter how flowering and Holy they try to sound, there is No Peace, only longing for it to be different. To be Better…
The world is as perfect it could possibly be. With all these sleeping Humans. They all need a new Mercedes to be happy? They all , or most. are making Money on others unhappiness. They are in the ‘End of The World Business’ and as such are a not in a Noble form. They are severely Asleep. They are Not what the world needs.
What the world needs is for every Soul to Awaken. Their fist job should be to awaken Themselves. The world needs Happy Steps on her surface. Not Needy, Conflicted, Artificial Steps. Most who appear Wholly are broken and seek fame and money for their ministrations.
All who wish to Creations work ought Heal Themselves. Only in this way could they ever give something of value to others.
In this world 98% of Psychiatrists are severely sick themselves. This carries on to Doctors of all sorts who’s True motivations are to have a German Car and a big Home they don’t need.
The world needs to stop running to others for a fix and Heal themselves. Only in this way will the World ever heal.
I’m having a little trouble with this quotation. Like Ralph points out, even bigots are like-minded people. At the other extreme, leftist liberals are “like-minded” folks who feel good when they get together. Does this mean they are experiencing the “holy”? I think not. Having the same “mind” can simply indicate mean sharing the same cultural background. Might we not say that when “minds” are seized by the “holy” or “spirit,” then the content of particular “minds” is put into deeper perspective and seen to be partial, not an expression of the “holy.” The “holy” transcends “minds.”
Andrew – my life partner has been incarcerated in solitary confinement for 17 years in Pelican Bay State Prison. The past year he has awakened and transformed his life utterly, living from compassion and stillness and gratitude. He naturally builds community among the other men in his pod. But living in a windowless concrete 8×10 box and lack of physical/social contact is a challenge to being around “like-minded” people and building community. His “joy and fellowship” cannot be a physical thing right now, but rooted in his very beingness, his willingness to surrender to what is right now, and commit to stillness, spaciousness, generosity of heart, kindness, and spiritual depth, transcending the limitations of ego/body. I would suggest that an awakened life is not what we think it should look like – that deep transformation and service can be shared by the very commitment and devotion to wanting a better world, not by actions themselves. It is the being, not the doing, that serves. I am more impressed by what goes on under the most torturous and corrupt conditions, the light that shines, than anything that our minds can create on the outside/periphery of this mystery. Thank you.
This principle has been showing up a lot in my life lately. I am coming to see that as we become more aware of spirit, the more we automatically experience others as that same spirit or intelligence and are a part of them – i.e. no longer experience them as “other”.
The awakened mind, when connected to the oneness of universe sees much above the normal human mind. It knows no other emotions than the one which reflect love, joy , peace, kindness, compassion, empathy , ….A spiritually awakened mind thinks of sharing and creating higher spiritual values , i have personally experienced that creativity emerges when the mind is more awake spiritually whether one gives birth to new ideas in the form of writing , teaching others out of one’s innate knowledge, creates a wave of fraternity thru any modes may be philanthropy …but certainly human mind becomes positive and creative wishing and creating welfare of one and all….”The Humanity’ …where multiple humanbeings work toward a common cause….happiness , welfare and upliftment of each other thru shared ideas and Goodness !
In that case do we connect to like minds or also create like minds while working towards a goal of common cause ? I believe we do both…
I agree absolutely with Andrew though there are some sharply dissenting and carping voices as well , as reflected in some of the comments.
One candle can light many candles. If some body is in deep slumber, some body else has to wake him up ( though the sleeping person hates to be roused ). There are two ways of learning; either we experience ourselves through trial and error method ( it may take a life time to learn this way though it would be an authentic experience ) or imbibe learning from some one who is already advanced in the field. The former method is incremental, the latter exponential.
While I do not look for like minded spiritual persons, I keep in touch , thanks to internet, with spiritually enlightened persons, like Andrew Cohen and so many others. Thoughts are also vibrations which, when sent out, create a field in the universe. Good thoughts create good vibe and bad thoughts bad vibes. It is upto an individual what he chooses to imbibe.