When we talk of poverty, why don't we ever speak of poverty of the spirit?

Question

Poverty is usually linked to lack of financial means or physical sustenance. When we provide a spiritual education as to our Oneness with Spirit, there's an opportunity for an awakening to occur within every individual regardless of outer circumstances. While we must all come to together to support one another, it's imperative that we also wake up to all that we are in the Infinite Indwelling Presence. The farmer in rural Africa may need material support, but if s/he doesn't believe in her/his own inherent abundant nature, then the likelihood of rising above the appearance of poverty is slim. There must be an inner shift within the poverty-stricken as well as within the rest of us to facilitate an abundant life for all.

Answer 1

I agree with you. Perhaps the reason that poverty is linked to only physical elements is because it is much harder to help those who are in spiritual poverty. How do you measure this kind of help? And, there are so many different theories of what spiritual help people need, it is hard to come to a community decision on what help could be offered. Regardless, I agree that the world should not only focus on helping those in need physically, but also spiritually and emotionally.

Answer 2

You do have a good point there one must come to terms with the oneness of Spirit to deal with poverty issues. Poverty can affect the mind, heart and spirit...and if a person's way of thinking about himself is not changed from within no matter how much wealth or sustenance he has accumulated that person will remain trapped into that same vicious cycle poverty and lack.

Answer 3

Mother Theresa once said something to the effect that there is a sort of poverty in the US that could not be fixed with material aid. There are lots of people in India who are poverty-stricken in terms of material wealth, but very very rich in spirit and they are happy. I am from there, and believ me, the people there suffer less from depression than here in the US--where the average income far exceeds the wealthy in India. I find it interesting that you make an analogy referring to the farmer in Africa--when in reality, he is probably more insightful & spiritual than the average American in America. We are a culture of poverty because we have learned to accumulate possessions and we are attached to our posessions---as well as to our egos. That is why in the field of American psychology/psychiatry we try to help people get to their ego. In India, you start wtih the ego and transcend it. The innershift you talk about occuring among the poor really applies to the poor in the US. I find the most startling thing about poor poeple in the US is that they forget to dream and aspire to treach their potential. There are vast amounts of opportunity here and it seems that many have bought into a cycle of poverty. It becomes a sort of family legacy. This is an intiguing topic....

Answer 4

I think most people have little or no awareness of what the term even means. The spiritual realm seems to be something of an afterthought for most Christians. We focus mainly on the physical realm, I suppose because it what SEEMS most real to us on this earth.

Answer 5

agreed.... but in order to help enlighten a person who is really and truly hungry and starving you first much help feed that person the only thing you learn on an empty, grossly extended stomach is how it feels to slowly painfully stare to death in a world that wastes enough every hour to feed all those hungry. great question would love you as my next door neighbor

Answer 6

That is the worst kind of poverty.