We’ve all been there: At the end of an inspiring retreat or workshop, our aspiration is burning brightly and we feel dedicated to practice more, to meditate more, and to go deeper into our new way of being. But as we return to daily life, we are bombarded with work, social media, relationships, and more. Slowly, we lose that spark, and our aspiration fades away.
This loss of aspiration should alarm us immediately! Once we lose our aspiration, everything else follows: we lose our focus, we lose the state of love, we lose our path – and with each day we become more and more trapped in the old shell of our ego.
Aspiration is the Fire that Keeps us Moving Upwards
Aspiration is the upwards pull that keeps us on track in our spiritual evolution. Among all the other forces that pull on us in all kinds of directions, we need to connect to the trajectory of our highest aspiration and follow it every day. Otherwise, we will soon get lost again, being preoccupied by juggling the different areas of modern life without a clear centre and direction.
If you feel that the fire of your aspiration is decreasing, take care of this before anything else! With the little fire you have left, make it a bigger fire. The part of you that realises that you are not aligned with the momentum you’ve had before is enough: now you can correct your course and reignite the joy of spiritual transformation.
3 ways to increase Your Spiritual Aspiration
- Read spiritual texts and biographies or listen to inspiring lectures
- Be in the company of spiritual people
- Find a spiritual community to be part of
Ideally, we can be around like-minded spiritual aspirants physically, but if this is not possible, at least meet up online. We are social beings; we need community! We might think that we are independent individuals, but society and the environment are huge influences on us.
Here is another simple yet powerful practice to increase your aspiration:
Focus on your heart and realise the longing you already have there. Ask yourself: “Why did I start on the spiritual path?”. Contemplate your small aspiration quietly, and it will grow bigger.
Make the level of your aspiration a priority. Take this aspect very seriously if you want to have real results and progress on your path. Growing your aspiration is almost the entire spiritual path! The moment you lose your aspiration is the moment you lose your path! On the other hand, once your aspiration is overwhelming and continuous, you attain the path.
This article was transcribed by Nina from the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hkwk8SPxGPw
