Spiritual Bypass: When Bliss Becomes Avoidance

Anger burns. It rises in our bodies—sometimes in our racing hearts, sometimes in our flushed cheeks, sometimes in our churning stomachs. But what happens when we try to hold that burning sensation with compassion? Can we speak loudly and firmly while still maintaining kindness?

The relationship between anger and compassion isn't as oppositional as we might think. Neuroscience reveals that compassion activates brain regions closely connected to action, much like anger does. Both emotions can motivate us to make change—they just fuel us differently. While anger provides an immediate surge of energy, it often leaves us depleted. Compassion offers a more sustainable power source, though one that might not cut through noise as effectively. The challenge lies in harnessing anger's volume with compassion's endurance.

Many spiritual traditions emphasize transcendence and bliss, but this can lead to what's known as "spiritual bypass"—using spirituality to avoid difficult emotions rather than processing them. True spiritual practice involves facing our anger, not escaping it. By acknowledging where anger lives in our bodies and honoring its message without letting it consume us, we develop a more integrated approach to challenging situations. Taking one breath and one action at a time allows us to respond with committed compassion rather than reactive rage. How might your relationship with anger transform if you approached it with curiosity rather than judgment?

Link to read more about spiritual bypassing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritual_bypass

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Opening Music by Jeremiah Alves from Pixabay

Closing Music by Aleksandr Karabanov from Pixabay

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much metta,

Dr G

https://www.pranhwellness.com/