The conundrum is that in order for us to experience this gift of life, with all its pain and pleasure, we require intellect, but with it comes certain flaws such as ego and fear. But how does the intellect play a role in Spirituality?

To survive as a species, especially when we were more primitive, we were dependent on our intellect and fear to keep us alive. The human body compared to other creatures in the animal kingdom is very weak and frail. Neither do we have strong jaws with sharp teeth, fast legs for running, nor strong arms for climbing or fighting. But to compensate for our weaknesses we are blessed with fingers that have the dexterity to create tools, weapons, traps, and many other useful devices for survival - enhanced and accentuated by intellect. Intellect has allowed us to be creative in compensating for our hairless bodies and build shelter to protect us from the cold and has has allowed us to design weapons for protection against predators as well as for hunting. by virtue of our intellect we have gained dominion over the entire Earth.

On the other side, we are also spiritual beings connected not only to each other but to all things in this vast Universe. In the dense vibration of the physical body it is difficult to balance the remembrance of our spiritual essence with the perceived threats that exist in the mundane world of dense matter and ego identification. Threats certainly do exist for the physical body, so if we are in reality Spirit why do we cling to life? Why not allow life to end and be finished with the physical form and return to our spiritual Source? In a normal functioning human brain we are programmed from conception with one primordial purpose: to survive. Whatever happens in between the 70 years (give or take) between birth and death are our lessons. Intellect is a necessary component to these lessons, and our mastery of it will determine how close we are able to come to unifying body and mind with Spirit.

To be evolved spiritually we need to move beyond intellect and into intuition. Modern man in most civilized societies has advanced far enough that we do not need to be so dependent on intellect; it is time that we move deeper into intuition. However, the mastery of life comes when we can exist in an elevated state (ie. intuitively) and switch temporarily to the intellect when necessary without being dominated by it. The key is to have the mastery of command over the mind (intellect, fear, ego. etc.).

It is important to remember two things: Good and Evil are man's creation; the Universe is also subject to the same calamities as man, that of creation, growth, and death as represented in in the Vedas as Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

The Universe is created (Brahma), it is sustained and expands (Vishnu), and then ultimately is destroyed (Shiva) repeating in a trillion light-year cycle over and over and over again. We are but a microcosm of the macro-Universe. Death and destruction are as much a part of the Universe as they are of Man and this cycle is a simple fact of existence. Nothing stays the same, and change is inevitable. The Universe does not know the difference between good and evil, life and death, pain and pleasure...it simply flows in its cycle. Man's intellect is what determines what is good and what is bad. But this is logical because our physical bodies want to survive, to be in the "sustaining" state - not in the birthing or decaying state. This middle state is the most pleasurable for the physical body, and allows us the auspicious moments to expand and experience the physical dimension, which as Buddha states, even the Gods are envious of. The signals of pain, while are a physical phenomenon, warn us when we need to protect our bodies. Pain is in reality as precious as pleasure and cannot be judged as good or evil. Do not all things we deem as good or evil help in some way towards our inner growth? We only see the immediate impact of such things; we do not recognize that the Karma of good and bad, right and wrong plays itself out over millions of incarnations.

Whether we or our actions are perceived as good or evil does not change the fact that we are all Divine; even the most treacherous and cruel share the same inner Light. So, while we are in a physical body on this Earth, why not make life more simple and allow each of us to survive with the least amount of fear, pain, and suffering? Let us remember and recognize the inner Light within ourselves, our friends and families, and especially in our enemies so that all can be elevated by the power of Love, Forgiveness, and Kindness.

~ Sevara