Recreation

Do spiritual people have fun? Must spirituality and purification follow a puritanical model? A monastic life and a path of self-denial and even asceticism may be right for some types of people. However, for most of us who seek to blend a normal life in society with a pursuit of the spiritual depths, uncompromising austerities only serve to erect a wall around ourselves, cutting us off from friends and family. The walls of piety are walls of egoism. We do indeed need to be serious, not outwardly, but inwardly in our persistent and humbling efforts to be present.

As long as we hew to moderation, avoiding attachment, addiction, and destructive habits, we have no problem with play, with fun, per se. Enjoyment of the arts, sports, creative work of all kinds, hobbies, feasting with friends, all are natural to us: recall the biblical admonition to be like little children.

The hidden, spiritual efficacy of fun lies in our letting go, not being so stuck, letting our energies flow freely to recombine in new ways, tapping into our spontaneous and creative core. Spirituality must not become rigid and sterile, for then our path is surely blocked. Instead we cultivate the joy of living and a sense of humor. One clear test is whether we are able to play with children, or play with our friends.

The question of fun also touches on the question of spiritual effort, like the effort to be present. While we do need to persevere in our work of presence as often and as long as possible, there are times when it is inappropriate. The work of presence involves the sensitive and conscious energies. Recreation can involve a higher energy, the creative. So if we try to be present while, for example, making love or making music or laughing at a joke, we may interfere with the effortless presence and creative energy of those situations. Recreation is a type of relaxation that loosens us up, helping to prepare our ground for new spiritual factors to enter.

Since recreation invites a higher energy, should we not just drop our spiritual efforts and focus on enjoyment and creative situations? That would be unbalanced. We would soon be floundering again with little presence and the truly creative energies would not find as ready a vehicle in us.

Periods of recreation, like periods of prayer, meditation, and the work of presence, are a necessary part of a balanced path. We seek wholeheartedness in all we do, including the enjoyment of living.

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