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From: johnw@farside.eng.ready.com (John Wheeler)
Subject: Re: Spirituality as an Ordeal
Date: Mon, 24 Jun 91 23:15:37 GMT
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In Article: 170 of soc.religion.eastern Mr. YEE writes:

"The spiritual process is something else totally. It is an ordeal that 
will break your heart, your mind and your ego...."


I think this statement is based on a rather unclear view of the matter. Since
the goal of sprituality has as its aim the awakening to the source of
happiness and freedom, it follows that each step towards the goal must
itself be an experience of happiness and freedom. Mr. YEE seems to have
overlooked this in his evaluation of the spiritual path.

If this is so, to experience spiritual practice as being an ordeal,
struggle, battle, etc., could only be a sign that one has veered off into
a mistaken, unfruitful approach, in my opinion. 

The notion that the spiritual process "breaks" the ego, is somewhat
humorous. Philosophies such as Buddhism and Vedanta, point out that the 
"ego" is the mistaken idea that one is a separate, limited, individual 
entity. The ego being an illusory notion, it is in fact non-existent. That 
which does not exist, by definition cannot be broken. 

Perhaps Mr. YEE was being facetious and humoring us?