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Shouldn't We Strive for Happiness and "Better" Things? Dear Susan, In reading over your web site, the obvious question seems to be "Do you therefore feel that we should not attempt to strive for happiness and "better" things? I know the answer is in your writings but I cannot help feel that there is a touch of Hinduism in what you are saying and therefore we should just accept what destiny has laid out for us. From Derek P.
Barcelona, Spain Susan's answer: Dear Derek: Some things are definitely better than others. But better is only that --better. It is neither spiritual, nor is it the half-way point between the material condition and Spirit, as is commonly imagined. Resignation to suffering, shying away from evil, or bland denials regarding its existince have nothing to do with genuine spirituality. Simply shrugging our shoulders with a "What can we do?” attitude, or a philosophical acceptance of evil may parade as spiritual surrender, but all of these actually stem out of a fear of evil and a too dim awareness of God’s healing power and transforming love. I am personally in favor of better—IF that “better” is the by-product of our grounding in Spirit. Should we strive for happiness and better things? The problem is better things don't bring happiness. They only bring relief. Relief can be good but it is not freedom. It is only better. Improved social, financial and political conditions only touch their particular area of stress, as do better psychological and emotional conditions. They can't get to the root problem. And the only happiness that can endure against the constant ups and downs of the human condition is not social, economic or political freedom but spiritual freedom. Furthermore, our definitions of better are often misinformed and at the expense of others. Contrary to popular opinion, the unenlightened mind cannot grow itself up into spiritual awareness. Illusion doesn't "grow into "truth. It dissolves, and what remains in its place is truth. The mistaken "doctrine of improvement" has given rise to eons of endeavor--first through traditional religion and now more recently through self-help. Getting better is big business. Why? Because it guarantees a long, industrious career for guess who--the personal ego. I mean, it doesn't just take years. It takes lifetimes! And more lifetimes. And more...Hey! I'm gonna' be around for a long, long time! "Better" is a long road--the way a hamster wheel is a long road. It takes us nowhere, and we can drive ourselves crazy in the process of trying. Spirituality is about one central thing--not self promotion or self-improvement, but rather becoming the space where Spirit lives its life as us. Dedication to this "striving" is the wisest investment of our time and energy and the only true promise of a genuine "better." Susan
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