Necessities for Spiritual Development
Why are certain developments necessary to develop spiritual consciousness?
Imagine yourself alone on a beautiful island, watching the sunset, following the sun until it disappears into the ocean. It is a beautiful visualization and a great place to meditate and find calm and inner peace. What a great place to be until hunger strikes. Remember, you are alone on an island. How much spiritual development can occur with an empty stomach? Our brain immediately switches to survival mode, focusing on where to get the next meal.
Maslow described this beautifully in his pyramid of needs. If certain needs are not fulfilled, one could even die. Having no food or shelter is necessary for survival. Being sheltered from the cold or rain is vital to living, but some needs don’t seem as obvious for survival.
The need to interact with others is vital because being on your own for too long can cause serious psychological problems. Most hermits are described as strange and distrustful. Observing homeless people living on the street, I found out that they isolated themselves and could be described as hermits in the midst of society. This is my experience as a social worker who works with homeless people.
