Clarify Your Aspirations

Adya talks about 5 foundations on which his teachings rest and the first of these is to "Clarify Your Aspirations."   This means:

"knowing exactly what it is that your spiritual life aspires to, not as a future goal but in each moment.  In other words what do you value most in your life-not in the sense of moral values, but in the sense of what is most important to you." (The Way of Liberation, p. 3)

He suggests that we contemplate and meditate upon this question until we are perfectly clear about what we aspire to.

What I might aspire to in the big picture is to help the world to heal, but taking this question down to a moment by moment experience changes my response somewhat, making my goals more specific.  The goal that I aspire to at this point is to live each moment with an open heart thus allowing myself to stay connected with my authentic experience (i.e., noticing when I close in fear and choosing to relax my heart) and with the energy of Spirit.

"The importance of this first Foundation cannot be over-emphasized, because life unfolds along the lines of what you value most...Generally most people have competing and conflicting values, which manifest as both internal and external conflict.  So just because you think something is your deepest value it does not mean that it actually is.  By deeply contemplating and clarifying what you value and aspire to, you become more unified, clear, and certain of your direction."  (The Way of Liberation, p. 3)

I have experienced some of this (internal) conflict this week...despite my aspiration I found myself at times feeling defensive and closed.  Staying aware of what I aspire too in each moment has reminded me to stay open.

If you would like to share your thoughts, I would greatly appreciate hearing about your aspirations (either by posting on the blog or sending my an email).