Unlock Your Inner Harmony: Adyashanti Reveals the Power of Existential Questions in Spiritual Awakening

VIDEO LINK: The Spiritual Orientation beyond Feeling Better (Excerpt)

In the video, Adyashanti, a prominent figure in spiritual teaching and awakening, explores the fundamental motivations that drive people towards spirituality. He touches upon a crucial dichotomy in human orientation: the psychological drive to feel better and the existential inquiry into the nature of life and existence.

Adyashanti begins by acknowledging that many individuals, possibly even the majority, are naturally inclined to seek ways to alleviate suffering and enhance happiness. This fundamental drive, he explains, is ingrained in all organisms, including humans. Our inherent tendency is to gravitate towards what feels good and away from what causes discomfort. This orientation often permeates our entire lives, including our approach to spirituality.

The speaker underscores the importance of achieving coherence and harmony within our personal psychology. When individuals are psychologically and emotionally divided, it becomes challenging to maintain any other consistent interest in life. Suffering and sorrow, in particular, tend to dominate one’s experience, making the pursuit of relief a primary concern. Adyashanti emphasizes that this inclination is natural, as human beings are wired to seek relief from suffering.

However, Adyashanti introduces another layer of motivation that exists within all human beings—a deeper existential curiosity about life, existence, and the nature of being. This existential attitude, distinct from the psychological drive for comfort, involves profound questions such as “What is God?”, “What am I?”, “What is life?”, and “What is death?” These questions, he notes, are not limited to well-educated adults or philosophical discussions. Even very young children exhibit an innate curiosity about existence, posing questions like “Where did I come from?” and “What is God?”

When individuals experience excessive psychological turmoil, these existential questions often recede into the background. Suffering and sorrow take precedence, overshadowing deeper inquiries. Adyashanti highlights the two primary ways people approach spirituality: through the lens of psychological relief or through an existential quest for truth. The desire to feel better often drives individuals towards spirituality, hoping it will provide the comfort and happiness they seek. This psychological orientation can be so strong that it overshadows the deeper, existential questions.

Interestingly, when existential questions evoke anxiety or discomfort, people often seek ready-made answers or theologies that offer a sense of security. These answers, while comforting, can detract from the true essence of spirituality. Adyashanti suggests that this is how many religious philosophies and theologies develop—to alleviate the existential uncertainty that these profound questions provoke.

Despite the apparent dichotomy, Adyashanti asserts that these two motivations are interrelated. The big questions at the heart of spirituality have significant implications for our psychological well-being. Ignoring one’s personal psychology in favor of existential inquiry or vice versa can be detrimental. A holistic approach acknowledges the deep connection between existential questions and psychological states.

In conclusion, Adyashanti encourages a balanced journey into spirituality—one that honors both the psychological need to alleviate suffering and the existential quest for truth and understanding. By recognizing the interplay between these two motivations, individuals can embark on a more profound and authentic spiritual path.

For a deeper understanding of these concepts and to experience the full depth of Adyashanti’s insights, we encourage you to watch the full video linked at the top of this blog post.