Spiritual work in times of crisis – inner security instead of outer fear

23.11.2001

Autor: D. Harald Alke

A standpoint, not an encyclopedia entry. The timeless core of a seminar by D. Harald Alke (2001), prepared for those seeking meaning. Background knowledge: encyclopedia entry Consciousness & mind; related exercise: Meditation on a single point.

The world appears, from time to time, as churned up as rarely before. It is precisely then that the glance inward is worthwhile: what happens outside is – spiritually regarded – less significant than what happens in our heart and consciousness.

What is a crisis?

A crisis always arises when something familiar changes and we cannot keep up with it quickly enough with our habits. What we perceive as a crisis is thus the step into a new stage of development. Perhaps we must rethink values or let go of the accustomed. How well we deal with it depends on how flexible we stay.

The centre is you yourself

You yourself are the centre of your world. Whoever wants to change something constructively should first see to it to be healthy and stable themselves. For that reason I ask you expressly: do not believe in me – believe in yourself. My tantra and yoga master put it thus: “If someone is worth something to you and you want to help them, then lead them to themselves – not to you.” Exactly that is my offer here: suggestions, so that you take yourself seriously again, accept yourself and hear your inner voice once more.

Listening to the heart

In us a voice speaks that knows what is what – tradition locates it in the heart. Many people have unlearned how to heed it; some hardly hear their own heartbeat any more. And yet this small heart, which beats tirelessly a whole life long, sets a whole rhythm of life. Whoever learns again to listen inward gains a sure feeling – also for what is going on in other people.

Mental hygiene

Energy is information – and attention is energy. For that reason mindfulness is worthwhile as to whom and which moods we expose ourselves. There are encounters in which someone dumps their emotional “rubbish” without wanting to change themselves, and leaves us exhausted afterwards. Help is good – but only where there is a resonance and a real readiness. Whoever comes three times with the same pattern and wants to change nothing is not seeking help, but energy. And: a sick helper is not a good helper – so first come into form yourself.

Do not let yourself be drawn into the fear

In unsettled times, dramatisation constantly floods us. My advice: observe critically and at a distance, but do not go in emotionally. For a simple principle holds: one is drawn into an event only as far as one has an inner resonance with it. Whoever lets go of the fear takes its power from it. And whoever manages to live without this permanent alarm becomes – quite of their own accord – the calm pole for the people around them.

Connectedness, humour and trust

In a deep meditation I once received a plain answer to the question of our task: “Cover the earth with life.” In that moment everything was connected with everything – and it became clear: there are actually no mistakes, only a temporary disturbance of communication with the great whole, and that is reversible.

Let us therefore not take ourselves too importantly and too heavily. A wise saying runs: “Nothing is true unless it makes you laugh.” Real, natural things – a playing animal, a sunset – awaken joy. By this joy we can orient ourselves. For life never ends; it only changes its form.

Note: This article renders a personal, worldview-based view and is no medical, psychological or political advice.