The Meeds of the Nany

I find it highly coincidental that some individuals in my building continue to leave books of a spiritual nature  on a ledge in our lobby... for anyone to pick up.
When living in a city, you can always guarantee there will be many many different types of people. And therefore ensure a range of perspectives, interests and cultures.

So I picked up this gem.
"The Way Beyond: An overview of spiritual practices" the other day by William L. Mikulas, written in 1987.

In the introduction it reads:
     So, who is going on this journey? Some travelers primarily think about the journey psychologically. They are interested in things such as maximizing their potential, self-actualization, peak experiences and peak performance, and psychological insights. Other travelers wish to move beyond ("trans") the limitation of their conditioned personal beings. Their transpersonal journey or consciousness exploration is aimed at getting beyond the restrictions and suffering of an ego-based reality.
...Some travelers perceive themselves on a spiritual journey, perhaps wishing some type of experience, communication, or merging with that which is greater than themselves and which "includes" them.
...This is a book about what to do, not what to believe. In fact, relative to the journey it is often best to "believe" as little as possible. Just follow the practices, go on the journey, and see for yourself.
...I must include the following warning: if any such practices cause unpleasant psychological disturbances, then stop the practices and consult a counselor or guide who is experienced in that area. Occasionally, a person's ego may be overwhelmed by the thoughts and images that arise...

In a different book I found at a book shop in a local tourist trap was "Beyond Religion" that talks about "alternative paths to the sacred." Psychology is in there. The "arts." There's even a section entitled "Dark Nights of the Soul."
OOOOOOoooooOOOoOOOoooOOOOOOo, I know! I'm saving it for a special day!!

So the question arises... Is this what I'm doing?
Am I seeking out peak experiences here?
Am I in search of the ultimate performance of my self?
Maybe? Question mark?

I was always intrigued in Psych101 about what was meant by the term "self-actualization" when we learned Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. I had this really snarky professor who said "it is highly unlikely that anyone in this room will reach this pinnacle of being."
And I thought to myself at the time, "That's fucking right dude! Include yourself in that mumbo jumbo!"

Now- if I am honest with myself I could perhaps be in the "cognitive needs" area, searching for meaning and being more self-aware and definitely working on creating an environment that appeases the "aesthetic needs" category (feng shui baby- workin' on it!). And speaking of which- I sincerely apologize for the ugliness of this model... all the other ones were not as complete. So here's a prettier one.

Climber person's striving for the top! (Eye of the Tiger)

However, does that mean I have the rest of the needs below figured out and secured? HELL NO!
In fact, I believe I've had to sacrifice a lot of "belonging and love needs" to work on the ones above it.
Apparently it doesn't need to strictly work that way.
However, continuing to eat, breath and sleep may assist greatly in all of the above.

So.... one last thing that I would like to examine is this idea of unpleasant psychological disturbances that Mikulas talks about. Could those be the mind's defense system to prevent a person from "overloading the system?"
Is all that's needed to achieve this higher level of being be patience and persistence? (And maybe compassion but that's doesn't start with a P.)
All you really need is a continued resolution to push past those physical and mental blocks that we develop throughout our life, despite the unpleasantness?

Doesn't that idea completely conflict with what people say is a human's natural compulsion- to maximize pleasure and minimize pain? Or would the painful journey result in the ultimate pleasure a person could experience and therefore be worth it? The grand-daddy of delayed gratification...
I remember reading somewhere that Mother Teresa could do it...
Shit man! Mother $&%^* Teresa? ...
...
... 
 eh.... 
I just suddenly got very tired...

THAT'S IT! This squirrel has it all figured out.