Spiritualizing Human Relationships II

Seeing Through the Spiritual Eye

Spiritualizing our contacts with others means feeling our basic original spiritual connection with one another; that is, that we all are part of that divine being, one without a second, ever pure, ever free and ever blessed and relating to others on that plane. This should be spontaneous and easy, but yet in practical life it appears to be an uphill task, it becomes just a mental process. We are not creating a real spiritual relationship, but rather effecting a change of attitude.

Directly or indirectly, we have to try to assert our essential relationship with the Divine within. We are all tiny waves and bubbles in that vast ocean of consciousness called Reality or God. Any bubble to bubble, or wave to wave relationship comes and goes, bringing both happiness and misery in its wake but our central relationship is to God.

Our identity is centered in our mind, predominantly in ego consciousness. Our relationships with others are normally in and through the ego, which is characterized by the attitude of “I” and “mine. To spiritualize the ego, we are asked to expand ourselves by including others. Jesus said that we should love God with all our heart, mind and strength and love our brothers as ourselves. Objectively, we make the whole world our own. Subjectively, we are instructed to connect ourselves with the Infinite or God. We need to connect our ego and the egos of others with the infinite consciousness or God. When I belong to God, all others also belong to God. If I’m a part of God, all others are a part of God. If I’m a child of God, all others are children of God. If I’m one with God, everyone is one with God.

This is how the ego gradually becomes mature so that any relationship with the spiritualized “I” and “mine” naturally becomes spiritual. Any true relationship is through spiritual consciousness. In theistic language we relate to everyone in and through God only. Cover everything with God.

When we do this, our ordinary relationships gradually become more refined. How do we do this? To start, we do this through using our creative imagination; we imagine that we are all always spiritual, always divine. Because we are imagining a fact, in course of time that imagination becomes a reality. This is an excellent spiritual exercise that should be extended to every area of life. If we practice like this, gradually we will be able to relate to others with love and wisdom.

Another important method is to raise oneself to a spiritual level and then communicate with others by letting God’s Spirit, rather than the ego speak through us.

That is how spiritual minded people need to handle all issues regarding relationships. Mere heart-to-heart talks or counseling will have only a temporary effect. Sometimes when two people are confused and relationships become sour, heart-to-heart talks may exacerbate the situation.

The central point is: we have to rise to a higher level of consciousness; thereby our interactions with people become spiritual.

For many, this approach is new and foreign. Just try it and see how it will change your life.

For Christians, take the life of Jesus as an example. In Jesus words, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

                                           Matthew 12:50 (ESTV)