You are a spiritual being.

No matter what your religious persuasion is, no matter how you have been raised, or what traditions you have established to help you in the subjects of religiosity and "life-ever-after" you are a spiritual being.

Not everybody today -- and most especially those in the Western Cultures -- see themselves as spiritual beings. Some think that maybe they are a spirit. Others perhaps hope that they will become a spirit, and still there are so many who believe that they are only a body and there is no such thing as a spirit.

For any number of reasons, there are simply those among us who have lost all recognition of themselves as spiritual beings. Yet, despite what they do not believe, they are still spiritual beings.

For a moment, let us take a look at why some of us have lost sight of this very basic simple truth: We live in a society that is dedicated to the body. Daily we are assaulted by all kinds of "body consciousness" from all aspects of life.

The physician is there to tell you that "you" don't feel well because "you" have the flu.
The psychiatrist is there to tell you that "you" have a mental disorder because "your brain" doesn't send the right signal.
The television add tells you that "you" are sad and that this lovely little pill will fix "you".
The Department Store Clerk tells you that "you" look great in red.

Now let's take a look at how easily one can lose sight of their own true self when one is constantly told by actions, styles of language, and modern cultural trends that he is a body.

Let's try to put things into a real perspective. You are a spiritual being. You generate the energy that animates your body and gives it the life force to do all the things you do. Any thought, feeling, or emotion is created by you- and carried out by your body -- you decided to show joy, and that decision sent your body into action - perhaps some smiles, or laughter, or even some jumping around and hugging. Your body didn't make this decision - you did.

You were thinking -- not your body. The brain is there to run your meat motor - not think. What does the brain really do? It moves things like arms and legs, blood and organs.

Who thinks? You do.

Take a look at this for a moment: What does a car do? Nothing until you get in it, turn it on and put it into gear. You are the driver of the car, and it follows your every command - as you deliver them. That is what you do for your body. You drive it, just as you drive that car.

So the next time you look in the mirror and say - "I feel sick, or ugly," do yourself a favor and rethink that: "My body feels sick, but I'm doing great." or "My body looks awful, I better fix it up" or - "Wow, my body is really looking in good health - I'm glad I made decisions to take better care of it." In other words, begin to separate yourself from the idea that you are your body.

This one simple action will do more to help you recognize your own spiritual awareness than you first realize. Drive that "meat motor" all you want, just do not think it is really you!