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5) Spirit.
Here, the sage manifests, and beyond the mystic. Mysticism entails states of consciousness that arise and dissolve, a mystic moves in and out of these states of Spirit expressing. Mysticism is known in the arising of what could be called spiritual highs. Some mystics are more devotional, others more intellectual. The sage is situated beyond all states, as Spirit is state-less. A sage may have experiences of mystical nature, the sage, however, does not seek such experiences, he or she finds a calm joyfulness in simply being. The sage gives little importance to the heightened states, if any. The sage lives from Spirit, not to Spirit by peak spiritual experiences. The sage will appear as a more ordinary being than the mystic, possibly not even being known by others as a sage, for he or she does does not manifests the qualities that attract persons seeking mystical highs. Persons are attracted to mysticism oft, for it appears to meet the grandiose wish to be a spiritual super-person, able to demonstrate a spirituality impressive, special.
In actuality, the sage is a rather mundane, unimpressive being, unless one discerns the sage as sage. Then, the simplicity of the sage shines forth in its silent, unassuming Glory. Buddhist have a saying that addresses this sagacity.
Before seeking enlightenment, mountains were mountains and rivers were rivers. When seeking enlightenment, mountains were not mountains and rivers were not rivers. After enlightenment, mountains were mountains and rivers were rivers.
Here, the waters get muddier, all language, based in diversity, dual in nature, cannot speak into the absolute simplicity of Spirit. Whatever your concept of God, or Spirit, I have said before is wrong. We each are mysteries arising from Spirit, Spirit is the Mystery of mysteries. For our purposes, whatever your idea of God, whatever language you use to refer to Spirit, Spirit is the Ground of soul, mind, body, matter.
So, logically, longing and belonging is about Grace. Grace, being Spirit, is the Ground of our yearning to sense connection with others, seen and unseen. We long for communion, for more than associating with others; we long to belong. In communion, so in Grace, we discover belonging. Therefore, succinctly, longing and belonging is a spiritual matter. Only in and through Spirit can we enjoy a communion, an intimacy, that fulfills our deepest yearnings to share love with others, love beyond that of the body-mind. Love, as Spirit, appears, however, all the way into matter, for Spirit, Totality, cannot be absent from any aspect of its creation. Love, as all else, is expressed by the embrace, more or less, of consciousness, expanding from matter, increasing to an embrace beyond even embrace, Spirit.
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