When we think of what is pure, what comes to mind? If we were talking about water, we could say that it is just H2O, with no additives, pollutants, or impurities that would diminish its clarity or cause harm to the body. Unfortunately, for the vast majority of humans living on the planet, from the stream of negativity flowing through our television sets, to the unavoidable microplastics in every bite of food we consume, to the very air we breathe, we simply have little control over external physical conditions. The exception, of course, is turning off the television. Even a raw vegan has to breathe the same air as their fast-food-consuming brother, and what one eats may have less to do with purity than what we inwardly consume.
When one hears the term purity of the physical, the mind, and even the spirit, many immediately think we are speaking of sex, and mainly abstinence, as if sex is dirty and impure and abstaining will make one purer. This deliberate deception has been imposed upon humanity for thousands of years by many religions and their leaders, seeking to erode our freedom and control our personal lives through the illusion of sin and guilt. These false beliefs are damaging to the psyche and are little more than societal moral programming. Sex, enjoyed between consenting adults in a balanced way, is a healthful and positive expression of love, although it may not be the highest form of divine love.
So what is purity of spirit, mind and body, and exactly how does one live a more virtuous life? As with most things, wisdom lies in its simplicity. We can focus our attention on being grateful for all we have been provided, accept our current conditions and who we are today, and understand that if we want to change our circumstances, it is certainly possible. By striving to become our best selves, by being kinder and gentler, our capacity to feel empathy for others will increase. By committing ourselves to grow in an upward and outward spiritual trajectory, it will be easier to let go of the negative things in our lives that no longer serve us, such as anger, attachment, vanity and greed.
As our state of consciousness rises, purity becomes an almost effortless outcome of the process. By consciously placing our attention on the Creator, on love, on gratitude, and on goodwill for all, we will naturally assume a quality of purity and humility and live a more virtuous life. This does not mean that we have become perfect, for perfection is an abstract impossibility in this physical world. It simply means that we should not see ourselves as being above anyone else, nor see anyone else as being above us. Soul equals Soul.
When we recognize that we are Soul, of the Spirit, sent to this world to have a human experience in order to develop compassion, and learn how to give and receive love without conditions, we are well on our way to one day becoming a Coworker in the upliftment of all life. A very wise ECK Master once said, “Every thought, action and deed either purifies or pollutes." The choices we make in each moment are up to us!