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Thu, May 22, 2008 09:05:17 AM


↔ just as the disease of addiction is evidenced by definite symptoms …
posted: Thu, May 22, 2008 09:05:17 AM

 

so is a spiritual awakening made manifest by certain obvious signs in a recovering addict. so i am torn between writing about the symptoms of a spiritual awakening in myself, or those i have observed in others. the question of whether or not i have seen such phenomenon is moot, because it almost goes without saying, however recognizing such happenings id what the reading spoke to me about this morning. i probably have written many times before that i i miss the symptoms of spiritual awakenings in myself,, and cataloged the entire litany of missed experiences, so i will not go there today. i probably have also written about the nature of those experiences, ands what i have observed in others, so once again i will drive down a different highway. the problem is, that being as obsessive as i am about writing this blog, and using a cyclic body of readings to draw my inspiration from, is that try as i may, i end up repeating myself. so something entirely new!
as part of my seventh step assignment i needed to learn how to be present and conscious for my spiritual self. after all, to live in the physical world, i need to be conscious of what is going on around me. for example as i drive my car i have to be aware of where the other cars are, how fast they are going, road conditions and traffic in front and behind me. slips in to unconsciousness cause me to be dangerous to myself and those i share the road with, resulting in one finger salutes and angry tirades as the most minor consequence to death and destruction on the other end of the spectrum.
when i came to recovery, i was spiritually in a coma. my spiritual side has not been totally destroyed, it had however been beaten into a deep and nearly fatal coma. across the course of my recovery, my spirit has stirred, produced an awakening then slipped back into a slumber, always less deep than before. as those awakenings became more frequent, i became more aware of the spiritual side of my life, and how it affects me everyday, every waking moment of my life. uncomfortable as it is for this rational, linear, and logical addict, my job is to tolerate and be present for the spiritual side of my life. i can no longer survive in a spiritual slumber, and tolerance is the path to acceptance. actually awareness is the first step on that path, and as i have progressed through my seventh step, i have become more aware of what is going on inside and outside of me in the spiritual realm. i am still uncomfortable when i allow myself to sense that side of life, but i am open-minded enough today to allow myself to feel my way through to being aware, and allowing myself to learn how to be present for everything that is going on today.
so although this delve in the spiritual and philosophical is wonderful, reality calls, and it is time for top get busy with what i need to do today! i guess i will do my best to be present for what ever happens today and allow that awareness to permeate all aspects of my being. that is more than enough for this addict to chew off today.

∞ DT ∞

 

djtConsulting Brand
The views expressed on this page are solely the opinion of the author.
While the author is a member of a 12 Step recovery fellowship, these writings are not intended to endorse or express the published wisdom of any fellowship.
These writings are not meant to be socially or politically correct, and if you take issue with any opinions expressed, please seek the guidance of someone wiser than me.

Another Look!

∞ on being led to an awakening of a spiritual nature ∞ 427 words ➥ Monday, May 22, 2006 by: donnot
μ i know how to recognize the disease of addiction. μ 398 words ➥ Tuesday, May 22, 2007 by: donnot
α i know how to recognize the disease of addiction because the symptoms are indisputable ω 538 words ➥ Friday, May 22, 2009 by: donnot
⊂ a spiritual awakening made manifest by certain obvious signs ⊃ 503 words ➥ Saturday, May 22, 2010 by: donnot
‰ the steps lead to an awakening of a spiritual nature ‰ 786 words ➥ Sunday, May 22, 2011 by: donnot
¥ i have a yen to continue having spiritual awakenings ¥ 684 words ➥ Tuesday, May 22, 2012 by: donnot
¤ this spiritual awakening is evidenced by changes in my life ¤ 844 words ➥ Wednesday, May 22, 2013 by: donnot
‡ i will watch for the symptoms ‡ 812 words ➥ Thursday, May 22, 2014 by: donnot
→ in active addiction, i spent ↵ 606 words ➥ Friday, May 22, 2015 by: donnot
☀ symptoms of   ☼ 774 words ➥ Sunday, May 22, 2016 by: donnot
😎 an awakening 😄 747 words ➥ Monday, May 22, 2017 by: donnot
😵 relentlessly judging 😲 526 words ➥ Tuesday, May 22, 2018 by: donnot
😈 spotting self-centered, 😇 501 words ➥ Wednesday, May 22, 2019 by: donnot
😵 certain obvious signs 😶 525 words ➥ Friday, May 22, 2020 by: donnot
🌫 controlling outcomes 🌫 510 words ➥ Saturday, May 22, 2021 by: donnot
🎢 the changes 🎢 511 words ➥ Sunday, May 22, 2022 by: donnot
🤐 the generosity 🤯 589 words ➥ Monday, May 22, 2023 by: donnot
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☯ The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao ☯

THE TAO TEH KING, OR THE TAO AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS
by Lao-Tse
Translated by James Legge

Book 1

2) Therefore the sage holds in his embrace the one thing (of humility),
and manifests it to all the world. He is free from self- display,
and therefore he shines; from self-assertion, and therefore he is
distinguished; from self-boasting, and therefore his merit is acknowledged;
from self-complacency, and therefore he acquires superiority. It is
because he is thus free from striving that therefore no one in the
world is able to strive with him.