What Spiritual Frontier Lies Beyond our Dogma?

This morning I sent a clever and fun You Tube short to a friend.  I remarked that when in India I often was amazed and delighted by what practical innovators they are.

 

 

The video is shared at the end, but it got me thinking further about something that’s been on my mind lately.  So called “New Age” ideas have formulated now to the degree that the arena is somewhat dogmatic, here and there.  There are isms – phrases and wisdoms and “truths” that we hold dear and that we use as yardsticks for ourselves… and others.

 

Here are a few of those dogmatic ideas we might want to examine.  There are hundreds of them.

 

“I created this unhappiness myself, It’s my fault.”

“They created this situation themselves.”

“People who are suffering agreed to do so (often for some greater good.)”

“If your life has any problems in it, you’re doing something wrong.”

“You can become enlightened and then your problems are over.”

“Enlightened“ people don’t talk about.” 

 

These can become unhelpful.  Even destructive.  There’s often truth in them, but at some point each idea began to veer toward judgment (of self or others) and from there to disconnecting us from our compassion.  To me, anything that does that needs rethinking. 

 

Today’s message is an invitation to begin to notice where dogma has crept into your spiritual life.  Note: It’s not an invite to notice where it’s crept in other’s spiritual lives, hehe.  The opportunity here is to look at what’s become rote, judgmental, unhelpful and dogmatic in our own spiritual practice and views.  It’s a fruitful ponder, if continued over time.

 

If we see where we’re getting boxed in by our own beliefs, we then can be the Spiritual Innovators we came to be, freely uncovering our connection to our truest identity, and discovering the real opportunities of that. 

 

It’s best not to invent a box where one isn’t needed, right?  Making a box causes us to miss the innovation.  The spiritual frontier that lies out beyond our personal beliefs – our dogma – is where the real joy and fun of innovation is.  AND, that’s the surest way out of Dogmaville.

 

Here’s the innovator video that sent me in this direction today, enjoy!  I’m sure it’ll give you a giggle.  I know what I’m going to keep in my trunk for road trip emergencies now… rope and a skateboard!

 

Sending you love and laughs,