Spirituality is all about discovering our inner self, the part of us which is beyond the physical, mortal or limited existence.
While there are many of us who discover our spiritual truth through regular meditation and spiritual training, some of us experience an awakening all of a sudden, whether through dreams or near death experience. But have you ever thought where is the best place to work on your spiritual growth?
Away
“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page” – Augustine of Hippo
Humans have a tendency to glorify mysteries. To explore the mysteries of far off lands has always been a dream of many.
Perhaps you are also a person who feels Goosebumps when you see images of exotic landscapes. Maybe a particular country or a site attracts you too much since your childhood. You are a person who has always wanted to travel to new lands.
Maybe as a child, you loved fiction in which they talked about far off lands of great wealth, beauty and adventure. Or maybe, you like the story of Treasure Island where the main character is washed up the shores only to discover riches in an uncharted area.
You feel that being away from home you are finally free of all the burdens. You feel a new found pleasure in being lost in the journey. The moment you get down from the transport (train, plane, etc) for a new journey, your imagination takes the flight.
You feel as if all your chains have been removed. You say, ‘This is what my life was meant to be about.’ With each new visit, you add a bow of knowledge which gives you satisfaction and a sense of achievement.
Home
But, if you are a person who feels sick in the stomach after a week-long trip, then perhaps home is your style.
You love to express your joy with moments shared with the family, the friends and partners. You feel that one need not travel to find great experiences, one just needs to open their eyes to see the beautiful things happening around.
You feel deeply connected to the places and people. You grow vegetables in your garden, paint your walls and spend time with your kids. Home is like a getaway from the world for you.
So, as Jack Kerouac said, “I saw that my life was a vast glowing empty page and I could do anything I wanted.” Whatever your expression of spirit is (home or away), do just that.
What do you think? Do we improve spiritually if we stay home or if we go away?
We would love to hear your opinion on the topic!
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1 comment
I believe spiritual growth happens both home and away. Speaking for myself and my own experiences.
When vacationing at the beach/ocean I have always felt such peace and calm. Like, my mind body and spirit were reawakened by hitting the refresh button by simply just being at the beach. The early morning walks, the salty moist air, watching the sun rise, the solitude of the early morning vacant beach, the sound of the calm earth being wakened by the rhythmic strength of the tireless ocean. It’s the Earth’s gift of balance and duality – The meeting point of push and pull, calm and rage, erratic emotions and peaceful stability.
The stagnation of day to day routine and responsibilities becomes spiritually debilitating over time, so a weeklong trip to the beach has always been a great ‘away’ spot for me. This refresh at the beach creates room for growth for me. But I’m always ready to get back home after a week.
Traveling to Ireland has always been a conscious and subconscious dream of mine. As a youngster I would dream of the rocky green coastline, and when I woke up I’d draw and color what I had seen in my dreams. To be present in the space that once occupied my ancestors just felt like a natural thing to me, yet I felt it was too far out of reach for me. But when I traveled there in 2017 the first breath of Erie air I inhaled outside the airport felt like home! After more than a week there, I didn’t want to return home, I wanted bring my loved one’s there! It was the most spiritual experience I’d ever had in my life. Only took 32 years for that! I cried when it was time to leave, and I’ve missed it ever since I left.