The Dispassionate Disciple

Though there are many attributes of consciousness that must be demonstrated when on the Path, none are more salient than dispassion. Symbolically portrayed to us in the biblical story of Jesus walking on water, dispassion requires that the soul have regulatory oversight of the emotional body, and to do so without any repression applied to it. In short, it requires that we develop relative mastery over the emotional dimension of life.

Over the course of time, each of us must one day evidence the ability to rise above emotion (the watery dimension within) and thus no longer be swayed by the tides of the emotional body. This can only be accomplished when we become observant of our emotional passions, and to do so with a sense of detachment. Herein is a clue as to how to cultivate dispassion in our lives. It requires that we learn to intentionally hold ourselves apart from our emotions while wisely observing them as they occur.

It should here be mentioned that the development of a dispassionate stance does not mean that life is experienced with lackluster, or is flat and void of affect. Instead, it simply suggests that the disciple is now able to use his or her emotions, rather than being used by them. The key to spiritual dispassion is to deliberately choose a passionate perspective, rather than allowing the emotional body to make the choice for us. Essentially, the indwelling Self must direct the emotional instrument, rather than the reverse.

William Meader

 If you found this interesting, you might also like an article entitled The Path of Purification,
or view a video entitled, Revelation.