Language and Spirituality

Some languages, at least the ones I use daily, seem ill-equipped to speak spiritually and I find this can cause a lot of misunderstandings in conversations. We often stumble upon words which has no set definition but captures a general theme or general feeling, like love.

One can say "I love steak" but that is a selfish, conditional love. You love steak because it tastes good, and because it satisfies you.

On the other hand, one can love their family, their community, their god, unconditionally, and that is unselfish love. Actions borne out of this kind of love is not bound by the karmic wheel and thus they are pure.

Yet, many are caught up in a literal dispute about love -- whether one loves the other, how much does one love the other -- without knowing which love they're talking about: conditional? or unconditional? We should take heed and know the difference, because one brings suffering, and the other brings calmness.

"Freedom" is another spiritual word that can be ill-defined. One might say "I believe in the freedom to do what I desire". That too is a selfish, conditioned freedom. "What one desires" is predetermined by impulses and conditions, and so it is not freedom. One might feel proud that they are exercising their freedom, but in reality, what they are experiencing is the propagation of the karmic wheel.

On the other hand, there is the freedom from suffering, from impulses, and to "do the right thing", which is the selfless, unconditional freedom. The freedom to do the right thing has no "I" in it, and that is why it will result in spiritual nourishment. We should be careful not to mix up the two when disputing about freedom. The selfish freedom brings chaos, and the selfless freedom brings peace.

I am sure there are many more spiritual words that are caught in this type of literary prison. The pattern should be similar: there will be one selfish and conditioned definition, and there will be one selfless and unconditioned definition. Debates around the word mix up the two definitions. You should know in your heart that the selfless one is the one worth pursuing.