Who Are You Without Your Spiritual Story?

Please, don’t talk to me about ‘Pure Awareness’ or ‘Dwelling in the Absolute.’
I want to see how you treat your partner,
your kids, your parents, your precious body.

Please, don’t lecture me about ‘the illusion of the separate self’ or how you achieved permanent bliss in just seven days.
I want to feel a genuine warmth radiating from your heart.
I want to hear how well you listen,
take in information that doesn’t fit your personal philosophy.
I want to see how you deal with people who disagree with you.

Don’t tell me how awakened you are, how free you are from ego.
I want to know you beneath the words.
I want to know what you’re like when troubles befall you.
If you can fully allow your pain and not pretend to be invulnerable.
If you can feel your anger yet not step into violence.
If you can grant safe passage to your sorrow yet not be its slave.

I want to know YOU. Before ‘the spiritual one.’ Before all the clever words.

If you can feel your shame and not shame others:
If you can fuck up, and admit it.
If you can say ‘sorry’, and really mean it.
If you can be fully human in your glorious divinity.

Don’t talk to me about your spirituality, friend.
I’m really not that interested.

I only want to meet YOU.
Know your precious heart.
Know the beautiful human struggling for the light.

Before ‘the spiritual one’.
Before all the clever words.