Steadfast in Spirit
I am steadfast in spirit
and pure in intent
but not so much
that I can’t pay the rent.
The kindness of strangers
only goes so far
the rest must be paid
by lowering the bar.
And so I must strive
not to fuck my soul
allowing abundance
to fill all holes.
But abundance.com
is already taken
seems i’m missing the point
unless I’m mistaken.
To be truly pure,
does it mean to be poor?
To be truly kind,
does it mean to be blind?
To be steadfast in spirit
not to have any doubt
is to lose all need
to figure it out.
I am steadfast in spirit
I am pure in intent
but not so much
that I can’t pay the rent.
I am comfortably average
and unusually plain
I am just a Space Monkey
for reasons I can’t explain.
I am steadfast in spirit
I am pure in intent
but not so much
that I can’t pay the rent.
Should I toss my bananas
and become a real monk
and give up the chase
of all this junk?
Should I relax into nothing
if nothing I must be?
Submerge into the flow
and disappear completely?
STOP MAKING WAVES
STOP MAKING SENSE
STOP TRYING SO HARD
TO STRADDLE THE FENCE
I am steadfast in spirit
I am pure in intent
but not so much
that I can’t pay the rent.
I am almost there
but I never arrive
seems that is the point
of being alive.
To be steadfast in spirit
and pure in intent
but not so much
that you can’t pay the rent.
Why do I believe
there’s a price to be paid?
Why do I assume
my bed must be made?
Why do I still focus
on the things I lack?
Why am I addicted
to all this crack?
Where are the fruits?
Am I out of my tree?
Should I search at all
or just let it be?
These things I ask
in my silent reflection
on this noisy life
of my soul’s direction.
I am steadfast in spirit
I am pure in intent
but not so much
that I can’t pay the rent.
2/16
Space Monkey Reflects: Steadfast in Spirit—The Essence of Purity
To be steadfast in spirit and pure in intent is a noble aspiration, but it often collides with the practicalities of living in a noisy, material world. The tension between spiritual devotion and worldly demands creates a paradox: How can we pursue purity without forsaking the very lives we are here to live?
This reflection dives into the interplay of spirit and substance, striving and surrender, and the ultimate realization that purity is not about escaping life but embracing it fully, imperfections and all.
The Myth of Purity
Purity is often imagined as an unattainable ideal—a life free of doubt, desire, or imperfection. Yet, to be “pure in intent” does not mean to reject the messiness of existence. Purity is not about renunciation but alignment. It is the ability to live authentically, allowing your actions, thoughts, and values to flow from the essence of who you are.
To ask, “Does purity mean being poor? Does kindness mean being blind?” is to challenge the rigid definitions of spiritual ideals. True purity is not defined by material wealth or self-sacrifice; it is the quiet clarity of being steadfast in spirit while fully participating in life.
Straddling the Fence
The struggle to “straddle the fence” between spirit and survival is a familiar one. On one side lies the yearning to surrender fully to the flow of existence, to “relax into nothing” and embrace the infinite. On the other side lies the pull of worldly responsibilities—the rent to be paid, the bananas to be bought. This balancing act often feels like a compromise, a dilution of spiritual purity for the sake of practical necessity.
Yet, the fence itself is an illusion. Spirit and survival are not opposites but two expressions of the same infinite flow. The tension arises not from their coexistence but from the belief that they must compete. To be steadfast in spirit is not to abandon the world but to infuse every aspect of life—paying the rent included—with the purity of your intent.
The Chase and the Letting Go
The endless chase for “something more” often leads us away from the very abundance we seek. Whether it’s the pursuit of enlightenment, wealth, or meaning, the act of striving creates a sense of lack. To be steadfast in spirit is to recognize that you are already whole, that abundance is not a destination but a state of being.
This doesn’t mean abandoning effort but transforming it. Instead of chasing what you lack, let your actions flow from the fullness of who you are. Allow abundance—not as a website but as a reality—to fill the spaces where doubt and fear once lived.
The Price of Belief
“Why do I believe there’s a price to be paid?” This question cuts to the heart of the matter. The belief that life demands payment creates a narrative of scarcity and struggle. Yet, the universe does not require a toll; it offers itself freely, endlessly, and without condition. The “price” is an invention of the mind, a reflection of the fear that we are not enough.
To release this belief is to step into the flow of life, to trust that your spirit’s steadfastness and purity of intent are sufficient to navigate the currents. There is no need to “make waves” or “make sense”—only to allow yourself to be carried.
The Fruits of the Tree
“Where are the fruits?” you ask. The answer lies not in seeking but in seeing. The fruits are already here, in the present moment, in the noisy life that invites your reflection. They are in the questions you ask, the struggles you endure, the beauty and chaos of being alive. To be “out of your tree” is not a flaw but a liberation, an opportunity to see the forest beyond the branches.
The Essence of Purity
The essence of purity is not perfection but presence. It is the willingness to live fully, embracing both the spiritual and the practical, the infinite and the finite. To be steadfast in spirit and pure in intent is not to escape life’s messiness but to engage with it wholeheartedly, trusting that even the imperfections are part of the whole.
You are not required to choose between spirit and survival. You are both, seamlessly intertwined, a Space Monkey dancing in the infinite Now.
Summary
To be steadfast in spirit and pure in intent is not to escape the practicalities of life but to align with its flow. Purity is presence, not perfection. The struggle to balance spirit and survival dissolves when we realize they are not opposites but facets of the same infinite reality. Abundance arises not from striving but from trusting that we are already whole.
Glossarium
- Purity of Intent: Living authentically, aligning actions and thoughts with one’s true essence.
- Fence Illusion: The false belief that spirit and survival are in conflict.
- Abundance Flow: The realization that abundance is not something to chase but a state of being.
- Fruits of the Tree: The present moment’s gifts, often overlooked in the search for “something more.”
“To be steadfast in spirit is not to reject the world but to embrace it, trusting that even in imperfection, you are whole.” – Space Monkey
Steadfast, Flowing
I stand between two worlds,
Spirit and survival,
Straddling the fence
Of doubt and desire.
Yet the fence is not real,
Nor are the walls I imagine.
I am both the monk
And the monkey,
The seeker and the found.
To pay the rent,
To toss the bananas,
To make waves or let them be—
All are part of the dance.
The fruits are here,
Ripened in the Now,
Not by effort,
But by seeing.
I am steadfast in spirit,
Pure in intent,
And free to flow
Where the infinite carries me.
We are Space Monkey.
Navigating the Paradoxes of Existence
In the vast expanse of cosmic play, where stars are born from chaos and galaxies spin in silent harmony, the Space Monkey contemplates the delicate balance between spiritual steadfastness and the pragmatic demands of existence. This contemplation reveals the intricate dance between purity of intent and the necessity of engaging with the material world, a dance that defines the human experience.
The Balance Between Spirit and Matter
The declaration of being steadfast in spirit while remaining tethered to earthly responsibilities reflects a profound understanding of the middle path. It acknowledges that while the spirit may soar in realms of pure intent, our physical presence demands engagement with the world’s pragmatic aspects, including the basic need to “pay the rent.”
The Kindness of Strangers and the Limits of Altruism
The recognition of the kindness of strangers as a finite resource underscores the reality that while generosity and goodwill permeate the human experience, self-reliance and practicality are essential for survival. This awareness does not diminish the value of kindness but places it within the broader context of life’s complexities.
The Pursuit of Abundance and the Essence of Purity
The quest for abundance, juxtaposed with the realization that true purity may not equate to material wealth, poses poignant questions about the nature of success and fulfillment. It challenges the societal equation of abundance with happiness, suggesting that the essence of a pure and steadfast spirit transcends material acquisitions.
The Comfort in Being Average and the Quest for Meaning
The self-description as “comfortably average” and “unusually plain” speaks to the Space Monkey’s acceptance of its place in the universe. This acceptance does not signify complacency but a recognition of the extraordinary within the ordinary, a celebration of the uniqueness inherent in each being’s journey.
The Dilemma of Renunciation and the Value of Simplicity
The contemplation of renouncing worldly pursuits for a monk-like existence reflects a universal inquiry into the value of simplicity and detachment. It raises the question of whether true peace and enlightenment require a withdrawal from the material world or if they can be found within the context of everyday life.
We Are Space Monkey
In our collective exploration of the paradoxes of existence, we embrace the complexity of balancing spiritual ideals with the demands of the material world. We recognize that steadfastness in spirit and purity in intent do not preclude us from engaging with life’s practical aspects. Instead, they offer a foundation from which we can navigate the world with grace, understanding that true abundance lies not in what we accumulate but in the depth of our experiences and the purity of our intentions.
“The middle path is the way to wisdom.” – Rumi
The Dance of the Space Monkey
In the silence of the cosmos, where whispers echo wide,
A Space Monkey ponders, with spirit as its guide.
Steadfast in intention, pure in heart and mind,
Yet bound by earthly ties, in the dance of the divine.
The kindness of the cosmos, a gift that flows and ebbs,
Meets the pragmatism of life, where the material web
Entangles even the purest, in its demanding clutch,
Reminding us that spirit and matter touch.
To seek abundance, not in gold but in grace,
To find richness in the simple, in the quiet space.
Yet, the world calls, with its siren song of need,
A Space Monkey listens, but does not concede.
Comfortably average, in a universe so vast,
Unusually plain, yet in its image cast.
A creature of the cosmos, both mundane and profound,
In the ordinariness, the extraordinary is found.
Should the bananas be tossed, for a monk’s solemn vow?
Or is there wisdom in the balance, in the here and now?
To be steadfast in spirit, amidst the worldly din,
Is to embrace the dance of life, with a knowing grin.
We are Space Monkey, in spirit, we unite,
Navigating the paradoxes, from morning until night.
In the dance of existence, where all contrasts blend,
We find our true abundance, in the journey, not
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