Partial transcript (thanks Dale!) from our last Session "How to decipher between materialism and spirituality"
Admission: I fit God where I want him into my life; God is not exactly first. Underlying fear, not trusting in God. Fear about the future of my child.
Response: That is materialism, plain and simple, and if we can name it, and see how grotesque it is, then we will do something about it, but if we think that is just the way things are--no! it is materialism, directly opposed to spirituality.
Admission: It always comes back to fear, fear of losing something good, fear of an outcome, that is where I fall into it.
Response: And that is materialism. As long as you are in that state, there is not much you can do about it. You must rise above it and get thought spiritualized. This is another one of the absurdities in CS practice, generally: not recognizing that if you are in a materialistic state, you cannot take CS and patch it up. CS requires that you get out of a materialistic state.
Materialism is identified by limitation, doubt, fear, excess, never satisfied, desire to dominate, control, pride of life, perennial self-awareness, personal sense, that is all materialism. I do not care what class instruction you have had, what kind of a practitioner you think you are, how nice you are, if you have got any of that it is materialism.
Spirituality is expressing universal Love. Now, this is what we are striving to maintain, to sustain. If you love correctly, spiritually, you will not be selective in how you love.
You will be at peace with yourself, generally, there are times when you are stirred, but generally you are not subject to this constant accusation that you are not doing it right, you are not good enough, that is materialism. Spirituality, you are at peace with yourself, with God I should say, generally.
Expansive thought, new every day, that is spirituality. If we are humdrum, boring, that is materialism.
Spirituality, you are fully satisfied; you are seeing the need and meeting it in others. Not being selfish, but seeing the need and meeting it as God directs instead of being self-absorbed.
Spirituality is enabling; so if you have a practitioner who has got you so you are dependent on them, they are like a crutch, that is materialism, not spirituality. Spirituality should be enabling the patient to stand with God and have more trust in Him.
Submission to Principle; Thy will be done, Father, not my will.
Acknowledgement of God in all good is spirituality; the desire to do His will, even when it is unpopular, that is spirituality.