It occurs to me that the New Age clamoring towards the spiritual may not be the most effective way to achieve harmony on our humble planet.
Many of the meditational practices for which we strive were developed in the Orient, many thousands of years ago. These practices were fantastic for the time that they were developed, and can certainly still be useful today. However, it becomes apparent that new techniques and tools for psycho-spiritual advancement are necessary given the developments that have occurred in the last millennia, and particularly in the last century.
Trying to adapt a practice for the 20th century that is solely based upon ancient Eastern traditions is like trying to jam a square peg into a round hole. Don't get me wrong - practicing mindfulness, clearing the mind, and working with Chi can be invaluable tools - but it's becoming increasingly obvious that we must develop other faculties in order to engage with the nuances of modern life.
Of these faculties, willpower and the power of thought are of paramount importance.
Meditation without willpower can create passivity or indifference and can lead to the "none of this really matters, since it's all an illusion" syndrome. One achieves a passive and equanimous state of mind, believing themselves to have reached 'the goal,' and proceeds to sever their proactive engagement with the rest of society.
The world is increasingly coming to be a reflection of human thought: technology, society, warfare, space travel, and many more things are, by and large, manifestations of human thoughts and ideas. If we do not exercise our mental faculties to keep up with the increasing demands of a society which itself has emerged from the seed of human thought, then that society will leave us behind.
Life without the clarity and strength of thought can lead to diversion, confusion, and disillusionment.
Strengthening the power of individual thought allows for us to produce or to grasp ideas without the befuddlement of judgments, illusions, and bias. Strengthening the power of will allows us to work with these ideas and bring them into being as a part of physical reality.
Thirdly - and this is something which Eastern spiritual traditions have advocated for millennia, which is just as relevant (if not more so) today - one must exercise the faculty of love, for if one exercises either willpower or thoughtpower without forethought to love, their deeds may become tainted and impure.
However, exercising the faculty of Love on its own would be folly. This is what many New Age practices propose, preferring to focus solely on "love and light." Yet this is precisely where they fail, because without recognizing the Will or the Mind, Love can fall short.
Exercising love without willpower can become an entrapment, encouraging people to sacrifice their passions or purpose so that they can remain comfortably soothed in the blanket of love. Exercising love without clear thought can lead to misguided compassions and enabling of the self or others.
It is only as we learn to develop our power of will, clarity of thought, and freedom of love that we can bring about the changes that this world and our fellow humans are in need of.
