(Note that this article is not about the small minority of individual who are obese due to an actual physiological medical condition. They are exempt.)
It’s no secret that obesity is a rampant problem throughout many countries. The insatiable appetites of the flesh coupled with the financial means to overindulge cravings and addictions have led to this ubiquitous malady. Given that obesity is now commonplace, questioning its impact on enlightenment is a valid query. If we are to surmount not just the more prevalent spiritual hindrances but those that are also seemingly more benign, subjects such as this must be broached in order to find clarity and wisdom to assist in moving forward.
By SoulJourner standards any habitual action of the flesh that reflects a negative impact on overall well being is considered suspect and terminable. Given that society has, in its politically correct trajectory, deemed obesity a disease, it is actually handicapping individuals who should see it as more than something that is actively victimizing them. Obesity must be observed as a self-imposed malady resultant from excess entitlement and lack of restraint, not something that is more powerful than the sufferer experiencing it. Now that society is being groomed to believe that being overweight is a medical dilemma along the lines of more legitimate afflictions, it will lead people to further indulge their appetites because they have been validated as “victims”; a title that, for many, makes the dilemma so much more palatable.
What needs to be understood is that obesity as a result of overeating is not a disease but the consequence of overindulgence and lack of self discipline. The body is fat as a corollary of attempting to survive the onslaught of intake that it’s been exposed to. Such actions are a humanistic trait, impoverished of spiritual enlightenment, and capable of overriding spiritual attunement due to its control over individual human behavior. One may debate that fat people can be spiritually enlightened, and can arguably attain a certain level of connection, but due to such a demanding handicap, the Soul can only take so much control. Any terrestrial action so powerful that it affects the entire biological system on a constant basis will impede the heightened spiritual abilities of the practitioner.
Now that humanity, through the social manipulation of big pharma and media, has found a way to capitalize on obesity, society itself will only suffer. These organizations are money driven somnambulant-inducing entities whose sole goal is to increase their influence and bottom line by convincing you that they are right. They want you to remain tethered to their drugs, their demanded perception of society and self, and their focus on making you a wanton subject of their practices and lies. Most people happily do this because the words of these companies validate human weakness, tell them it’s okay to be that way, and then sell them drugs and paraphernalia once they do. You have to break free from these devices no matter how affecting, calming, and manipulative they are.
In regards to spiritual attainment, unfortunately an addiction to food can and will be a major roadblock that stands in your way until the problem is rectified. Heightened spiritual wisdom does not cohabitate with addiction and until the predicament is eliminated you cannot achieve advance states of awareness that are the result of self-control, moderation, and a dis-attachment from the overindulgences of the flesh. Many find it much easier to just defend their right to obesity than to admit it as a critical flaw and something they must overcome. In these days of political correctness it’s a rare thing that someone stands up and speaks the truth despite the repercussions. In an otherwise healthy individual there is no excuse for obesity other than laziness, self-indulgence, and lack of wisdom.
Spirituality does not gravitate toward terrestrial thinkers. It’s important to recognize that obesity results in myriad issues, diseases and maladies leading to premature death, so any obese individual that claims spiritual enlightenment is actually living a life that is contradictory to that. You can’t claim spiritual advancement while at the same time committing to prematurely destroying your human vessel. Your life is an example of your Illumination and being obese while claiming spiritual advancement is a display of fraudulence at worst and misguided behavior at the very best.
It must be noted that there may be obese people that achieve a state of spiritual awareness and wisdom that is commendable. What is discussed herein is the observation that being an advanced spiritual being or teacher cannot exist in tandem with physical addictions and overwhelmingly negative terrestrial behavior. No matter how you spin it, gluttony is not conducive to Illumination. Just like Olympic athletes don’t win on a diet of Twinkies and Mr. Pibb due to the impossibility of the interaction, the same goes for the spiritually enlightened.
For those of us confronting others with the problem it is pertinent to be loving in your efforts. Harsh criticism and cruelty has no place here. Also, for those of you who are obese and reading this, please understand that this article is an expression of concern for your greater overall well-being and not an offensive against you. SoulJourner in no way practices or advocates anything but a rational and loving approach to issues such as these.
So what can someone who is obese do to overcome their addiction in order to progress further toward a brighter sense of Illumination?
1. Admit to yourself and significant others that you have a problem. This first step is important because the admittance of culpability becomes known within your sphere of influence, opening up many other opportunities for support that will be needed outside yourself.
2. Commit to being counseled by someone who is aware of your addiction that will be personally involved in your growth. These types will primarily be personal trainers, dietitians, and trained counselors. These professionals, mixed with agreements with friends and family members, will specifically hold you accountable to a program of transformation.
3. Make an agreement between yourself and your Designer to commit to an action that will bring you more Illumination through the process of properly containing your human predilections. In doing so, as your successes grow in this matter, so will your wisdom. This occurrence will organically bolster your resolve as you progress, fashioning into the physical representation of your inner identity. When the two match, your growth will increase in manifold ways; too many to describe in this article.
4. Remember that regressing and cheating are not grounds for self flagellation or effacing behavior. Just like other trespasses, they are to be forgiven, forgotten, and then overcome by moving forward with an even stronger resolve. Too many people fall prey to sabotaging self-speak when they make mistakes. This can lead to total failure and a result worse than when you first committed. It’s important to love yourself amidst your successes AND failures.
5. Don’t commit to extreme diet procedures unless you are the type that does well with that type of action. Work with a professional to discover what is best for you and tweak it as you learn what works along the way. Learn your body, your mind, your thresholds and abilities. This will slowly shape the right lifestyle for you personally; one that is not part of general plan, but one carved out just for you.
6. Utilize SoulJourner techniques outlined in the book. Chiefly, learn the ritual of doing what you have to do despite what your mind thinks. It doesn’t matter what your mind does or doesn’t want to do in regard to this issue. Learn to let your mind think what it wants, ventilate appropriately, be controlled and navigate appropriately, and still do what you need to do despite what it thinks. In other words, once you have your plan, never let your thoughts get in the way of your actions. You just do it. Period.
7. Realize that health and spirituality work in tandem. Due to this, proper diet and restraint aren’t something to be utilized to achieve a certain aesthetic and then stopped. It’s a lifestyle committed to throughout the span of your life here.
In summary, obesity is a startling issue now in society. Perhaps the few of us who dare speak boldly despite the repercussions will hopefully get through to the few who are looking to hear the truth instead of another piece on victimization. When it comes to being spiritually aware, big is not always beautiful, but self restraint and respect for your body’s health is.
