The Appetite for Spirituality: A Journey Beyond the Self
In the pursuit of spiritual growth, there is a profound paradox: appetite comes from eating. Unlike physical hunger, which arises naturally, the desire for true spirituality — selfless, unconditional love and bestowal — does not come instinctively. It is a taste we must cultivate, a yearning we must nurture through practices that initially feel foreign, even undesirable. This journey begins not with an inherent longing for divine qualities but with a willingness to step into the unknown, guided by the right environment and method, until a new, transformative hunger emerges.
The Unfamiliar Path
On the spiritual path, we are called to pursue something we neither understand nor desire at the outset. The qualities of pure, selfless love and unconditional giving stand in stark contrast to our innate, egoistic tendencies. We are wired to seek personal gain, comfort, and self-preservation. Yet, the spiritual journey invites us to transcend these instincts, to embrace a deficiency — a sense of lack — for something greater than ourselves. This deficiency is not natural; it must be carefully developed through practice, intention, and the influence of a supportive environment.
The process begins with an act of faith: engaging in practices that feel unfamiliar, even artificial. We may not yet yearn for spirituality, but by immersing ourselves in the right setting — surrounded by others who model selfless love and bestowal — we start to glimpse its beauty. Through their positive examples, we are stirred by emotions we might not expect: envy, jealousy, lust for more, and a craving for honor. These egoistic qualities, often seen as obstacles, become the very tools that awaken a new desire within us. They spark a hunger for something we never truly wanted before.
The Power of Environment
The right environment is the crucible in which this transformation occurs. Surrounded by others who embody the qualities of unconditional love, we begin to feel a pull, a subtle envy for their serenity, their purpose, their connection to something greater. This is not a flaw but a feature of the human condition. Our egoistic drives — envy, lust, the desire for respect — can be harnessed as catalysts for spiritual growth. They ignite a yearning to emulate what we see, to acquire the “godly qualities” of selflessness and bestowal that once seemed so alien.
In this environment, pretense is not a sin but a starting point. We may begin by “pretending,” acting as if we already possess these qualities, showcasing them to others and ourselves. This is not hypocrisy but a deliberate practice, like a method actor preparing for a role. By imitating the behaviors of love and giving, we start to internalize them. Over time, what was once an act becomes a genuine need — an insatiable appetite for true spirituality.
From Ego to Divinity
Remarkably, it doesn’t matter if our initial pursuit of spirituality is self-serving. The desire to acquire these qualities for personal gain is a natural starting point. What matters is the process: through the right method and environment, our Deficiency evolves. We begin to feel a genuine need to embody pure, selfless love — not for ourselves, but for others, for the sake of giving. This shift is nothing short of miraculous. What was once revolting or undesirable becomes the very thing we crave most deeply.
As this new yearning grows, we open ourselves to a higher force — reality’s single, benevolent governing force. This force, often called the Creator, responds to our deficiency by granting us the qualities we seek. Like a method actor who fully inhabits a character, we “dress” ourselves in these divine attributes. Selfless love and unconditional bestowal become not just actions but our very essence. We begin to exist through these qualities, gradually aligning ourselves with the Creator’s nature.
Becoming the Creator
This transformation is not a denial of our original nature but a transcendence of it. We do not erase our egoistic tendencies; we rise above them, using them as a contrast to highlight the beauty of our newfound qualities. This contrast is essential — it allows us to verify and justify the Creator’s benevolence. By achieving similarity to the Creator against our original, opposite nature, we come to know and embody the divine in a way that is both profound and authentic.
In this way, we become “the Creator” ourselves — not in a literal sense, but in our capacity to love unconditionally, to give selflessly, to exist for the sake of others. This is the ultimate fulfillment of the spiritual path: to transcend the self, to cultivate an appetite for divinity, and to embody the qualities of the single, benevolent force that governs reality.
A Journey Worth Taking
The spiritual journey begins with a single step into the unknown, fueled not by desire but by curiosity, envy, or even a fleeting wish for something more. Through the right environment, method, and practice, we awaken a new hunger — a Deficiency for selfless love and bestowal that transforms us from within. This is the paradox of spirituality: by eating, we develop the appetite; by acting, we become. And in becoming, we discover the true meaning of existence: to love, to give, and to align with the divine force that shapes all of reality.