Conflicts between the Real World and the Spiritual
By Shiva
@Shiva49 (26239)
Singapore
April 25, 2018 9:20am CST
We think we are the only species that can think beyond our stomach and daily survival.
We have our beliefs and also the need to survive in a real world dominated by the material spread.
We compromise to different degrees when it comes to a tradeoff between our spiritual needs and the material. For me, it is “less is more” concept, meaning, I enjoy what I have than think about those I don’t. Then I love the spread of diversity of views and occasionally chip in with my own inputs but knowing when to stop! It is tough to know the deeper meaning of creation and life. God might have created us so that he is recognized as others might merely exist blissfully ignorant of their creator!
Having been given the power to think and ponder, we also pay the price. We are in conflict deciding the right path. For some, closing their eyes to inconvenient truths comes through habit but there are those like me who ponder often – is it the right way? That means our conscience reacts and the inner voice questions and probes the path we take.
How about you? How do you deal with such inner conflicts?
Image: Inner Voice from Piixabay
6 people like this
8 responses
@Starmaiden (9311)
• Canada
25 Apr 18
I spend much time in solitude. It is the only way I can listen to my own voice. This material world is so full of "shoulds" and "don'ts" and "must do's" that the only thing required of you to acknowledge in life gets pushed way down below the surface.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26239)
• Singapore
25 Apr 18
I have heard if one keeps asking "who am I" then one day we get the answer, and even our journey towards that itself is very enriching.
Unfortunately, we are running from one destination to another without respite in a material world.
We hardly have time to retrospect, ponder and become aware of our inner yearnings that get suppressed.
Once we are guided by them, we are more at peace with ourselves - siva
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@Starmaiden (9311)
• Canada
25 Apr 18
@Shiva49 Absolutely. One of the greatest questions a person can ever ask in life is "Why Me?"
When the answer comes, they say "Why not me?" 
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@Shiva49 (26239)
• Singapore
25 Apr 18
@Starmaiden This comment makes me recall the response of Koalemos @Asylum.
When he was diagnosed with cancer I had responded that it is natural to feel "why me?".
He said he consoled himself with "why not me?"
I do hope he is well as he is not responding to discussions and comments - siva
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@Shiva49 (26239)
• Singapore
25 Apr 18
Yes, there are many ways to the same destination and we are similar whatever our beliefs are.
I cannot understand why people get hot under the collar because of different faiths.
Do good and that does require any outside input, it comes from within and is the most natural thing to do - siva
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@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
25 Apr 18
I like to resolve every conflict through praying, thinking, researching, meditating, questioning, answering, looking, listening and loving.
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@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
25 Apr 18
I am more of a person who really likes to think to the point that I overthink until I spaced out. I somehow find solace in that. If I am not thinking about things that can me go insane, I usually read or write (here). But I delve myself in prayer and in that prayer. That is the only thing that can really make me feel better.
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@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
26 Apr 18
@Shiva49 I agree with you, my friend. We have our own ways of dealing with things. I just really want simplicity in everything. Nothing complicated.
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@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
27 Apr 18
I listen to my gut instincts when faced with a problem. If something doesn't feel right I don't do it. I'm not religious but I am a spiritual person and ask for guidance when faced with something I am not sure of.
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@Shiva49 (26239)
• Singapore
27 Apr 18
I go for inclusiveness in my approach and I don't like to be restricted by one religion.
The goodness within should be allowed to shine forth and that satisfies our inner yearning and the soul which I believe is connected to the supreme - siva
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@innertalks (21109)
• Australia
26 Apr 18
"As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live."
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 to 1832), a German writer.
Faith stems from such trust in yourself, not from faith in anything outside of you.
Spiritual conflicts arise when you place your trust and faith in either the outer or the inner world. Both are just extensions of yourself, at your service, for you, in your living life inwardly and outwardly as you.
Love lives in all things, inwardly and outwardly, and love comes alive in you, for you, when you have faith in it, and trust in yourself.
There must be faith in love then, for this to happen, but the paradox of this is that that love is inside of you being the real you too, so this faith in love is really then faith in yourself too.
We are all one in love. We become one with love, when we have trust and faith in our being of our real selves. There are no conflicts in love. Conflict comes from fear.
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
This quote comes from the Christian Bible, from the book of 1 John, chapter 4, verse 18.
And in my mind, punishment, always exists because of conflict, so I could easily change this verse to this one instead, and it too would be true.
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with conflict. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
Photo Credit:
This photo is sourced from the free media sit: pixabay.com
Most conflict comes about because we try to use too much force to try to open an egg!
@innertalks (21109)
• Australia
26 Apr 18
@Shiva49 Thanks siva, You have pondered well!
Yes, the problem of conflict probably does arise because we want to remain our separate self in it all.
God is separated from his creation, not by distance, nor by love, it is by time, which allows each part of creation to feel his presence across memory.
Without memory, we would all live in the now, knowing what we know, but having no recall of what has gone before, because we would hold onto nothing but our place in it all, and so we would fit in then, blending in, rather than sticking out, because of our past histories, which we think are unique, and make us who we are.
When we recognise we are just a cog in the machine, which is God, we stop thinking about the history of our being a cog, and embrace the whole working of God then as a whole; one whole, is the whole thing!
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26239)
• Singapore
26 Apr 18
@innertalks I can feel the soul connection with the supreme being and those past, present and future.
So time is not an issue when we live with that realization but that brings in a higher responsibility that what we do matters and cannot be swept under the carpet - everything is out in the open.
Our lives stretch over years but memories are on instant recall. Let us put our blessings to the best use; no need to get weighed down but live with love in abundance and an awareness that nothing goes to waste; every moment counts for us and to the whole - siva
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26239)
• Singapore
26 Apr 18
Thanks Steve, lots to ponder from your words.
We should understand the outer world and transmit its essence to our soul to make sense of it.
I think love and living the oneness of creation aligns well.
When we do not separate ourselves from others then we are perfectly aligned. Nothing can faze us then.
We need seamless integration between the real world and the spiritual; all differences arise because we feel we are separate while in fact, we have to go with the flow - the oneness of humanity enriched by the uniqueness in each of us.
The problems of our world are due to our highlighting the supposed differences which in fact are minuscule when compared to the oneness and interdependence built in.
From "up above" we share the one home! Let us break down man-made barriers - siva
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