| It seems that we are in a time of spiritual | | | | being able to make real, lasting and significant |
| enlightenment, as more people are gaining an | | | | changes that can lead to real happiness, rather |
| awareness of the value of meditation techniques, | | | | than just an illusion of it. With honesty, one can |
| yoga practices, and other methods of | | | | look at the real truth and then have a realistic |
| self-awareness that are instrumental in fostering | | | | place to begin to improve. |
| spiritual growth. However, there are many | | | | Thirdly, honesty is needed to help people eliminate |
| different aspects of spirituality to consider and | | | | fake personalities, which must be eschewed in |
| often it can be easy to miss some of the most | | | | order to enjoy true spiritual enlightenment and |
| fundamental and simple things. One of these | | | | growth. Most people put an enormous amount of |
| fundamentals that can either help or hinder | | | | energy, thought, and anxiety into creating and |
| spiritual development is complete honesty. | | | | then maintaining completely false portrayals of |
| Everyone knows that honesty is a good and | | | | themselves. |
| valuable characteristic to cultivate, but it is not as | | | | They become more like characters acting in a |
| often recognized as a necessity when seeking out | | | | play than real people engaged in real life. In order |
| spiritual growth. However, as most people move | | | | to have any hope of enjoying true spiritual healing |
| along through their spiritual journey, most people | | | | and development, a person must peel away these |
| start to really discover the significance and | | | | false personas and be sincere and forthright |
| importance of honesty as it relates to their quest. | | | | beings. |
| There are four primary areas where honesty | | | | The fourth way that honesty plays a role in the |
| comes into play most significantly. | | | | spiritual journey is through the use of meditation |
| The first area is in facing your weaknesses. In | | | | techniques. When a person begins a session of |
| order to enjoy significant spiritual growth, a | | | | meditation, they should be aware their flow of |
| person must be able to honestly see, | | | | thoughts. |
| acknowledge and evaluate his weaknesses. No | | | | For most people who are just learning to master |
| one is exempt from have having shortcomings, | | | | their minds through meditation, they will discover |
| but they can interfere with spiritual development | | | | thoughts that are filled with false reasoning and |
| if the person tries to justify them away or | | | | justifications. The best way to begin to control |
| refuses to see them. Only when a person is | | | | this flow of thoughts is to deal with them in an |
| honest with him or herself will they begin to | | | | honest and forthright manner, then setting them |
| change. | | | | aside and allowing the more centered and real |
| Secondly, honesty is needed in facing up to the | | | | thoughts to come to the surface. |
| realities of your life. You need to be completely | | | | As you continue on your path of spiritual growth |
| honest about the state of affairs of every aspect | | | | and development it will be helpful to always keep |
| of your life. Stop clinging to the image that you | | | | these for aspects of honesty in mind and review |
| want to present to the rest of the world, and | | | | your progress with them. As you do, you will |
| begin to embrace the true state of your life and | | | | enjoy moving to higher levels and stages of |
| your relationships. | | | | spiritual development, which will lead you toward |
| The problem with clinging to the image, which is | | | | your true spiritual life. |
| most likely "perfect," is that it gets in the way of | | | | |