Spirituality means waking up. Most people, even though they don't know it, are asleep. They're born asleep, they live asleep, they marry in their sleep, they breed children in their sleep, they die in their sleep without ever waking up. They never understand the loveliness and the beauty of this thing that we call human existence. You know- all mystics- Catholic, Christian, non-Christian, no matter what their theology, no matter what their religion- are unanimous on one thing: that all is well, all is well. Though everything is a mess, all is well. Strange paradox, to be sure. But, tragically, most people never get to see that all is well because they are asleep. They are having a nightmare.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Most people live unconsciously without appreciating life, while mystics see the underlying goodness.
- In plain terms
- Many people sleep through life without waking up to see its beauty.
- What can you take from it?
- Wake up to the beauty of existence around you.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When was the last time you truly woke up?
- What beauty are you ignoring?
Another view
It assumes suffering is just a failure to wake up.
More from Anthony de Mello
People who want a cure, provided they can have it without pain, are like those who favour progress, provided they can have it without change.
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