…true spontaneity is not simply doing what we feel like
doing and not doing what we don’t feel like doing. That is simply
reacting…. - Eknath Easwaran, “Words to Live By”
Spontaneity is living in the now which requires training,
the self-training of bringing the thoughts back to God, over and over and over
again. It may be that that is the only acceptable self-determined object,
giving our thoughts over to God until it is no longer a self-determined
objective but a way of living.
We can be truly spontaneous by the God thoughts that occur
for the benefit of others…or at least not solely for the benefit of ourselves.
The trouble with writing or speaking this is the reasoning mind rolls its eyes
and calls it sanctimonious or some such. The reasoning mind does not
automatically do “for the benefit of others.” The reasoning mind is all
about “what’s in it for me?”
The reasoning mind legislates for itself…that’s why therapy
is so sought after. Therapy lets us do what we want to do to begin with (talk
about self), charges us money which we can ill afford to pay...which relieves us
of the guilt of being self-absorbed.
Therapy, however, does not bring us true spontaneity. According to Easwaran, “We are being truly spontaneous when we can respond calmly,
constructively, and compassionately to a difficult situation.” Also known as,
living in the now.
Thank You.
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