Seicho Jutsu

Evolving the Spirit

By Daniel Verkerke

To evolve one’s spirit is to develop the ability to distinguish between emotions we consciously govern and emotions governed by others. True spiritual growth begins with this awareness: recognizing the difference between being directed by external forces and directing oneself from within.

Everything begins in the spirit "our emotional being". Emotion precedes thought. When we see something we desire, the feeling comes first; thought follows as a tool to fulfill that desire. If we want a new phone or computer, we begin with attraction or longing. Only afterward do we calculate the means — perhaps a payment plan, perhaps finding employment to afford it.

The same principle applies to character. When we witness someone act nobly, we feel admiration before we intellectually analyze the behavior. We may then ask ourselves, Under similar circumstances, would I act the same way? Emotion initiates; thought strategizes.

Yet many people never consciously cultivate their spiritual being. They move from one emotion to the next, reacting to external stimuli without reflection. In doing so, they surrender authorship of their inner world.

Within the Seicho Jutsu practice of “Emblem Theory,” we learn to balance and counterbalance our emotions. Unbalanced emotions can create tremendous disruption, not only within ourselves but also among those around us. At times, extreme emotional imbalance is described as temporary insanity. For those who never develop equilibrium, that imbalance can become a permanent state.

Spiritual development increases as we deepen our emotional awareness and strengthen our ability to restore balance. Emotions are not abstract forces; they influence the physical body. They alter heart rate, metabolism, endorphins, adrenaline, and even muscular tension. In moments of heightened emotion, the spirit can override physical limitations.

The greatest challenge for many is discerning what, or who is influencing their emotional state. When you experience a strong emotion, pause. Ask yourself:

Where did this originate?

Is someone attempting to manipulate how I feel?

What might their motive be?

Manipulation often operates subtly. Some individuals generate happiness only to later use guilt as leverage. Others amplify fear or anger to provoke reaction. The ability to accept joy without dependency and reject sadness without resentment reflects maturity of spirit. It demonstrates awareness and self-development.

Emotions can be triggered and intensified to such extremes that people lose themselves entirely. One of the most important lessons in spiritual evolution is simple: do not act while unbalanced. Restore equilibrium first.

Many emotions counterbalance their opposites. Consider the experience of love and hate. After the loss of a relationship, some choose hatred as a coping mechanism. Hate temporarily shields the pain of love. Yet once balance returns, hatred must also be released, as it too disturbs equilibrium. Growth requires neither clinging nor suppression, but conscious regulation.

Life itself is an opportunity to develop the spirit. The physical body, along with the five senses, serves as an instrument for experience. We can strengthen or neglect this instrument. Some abuse their bodies and ignore their spiritual development. Others cherish both as interdependent aspects of existence.

Whether we cultivate positivity or dwell in negativity ultimately depends on our spiritual maturity.

Science reminds us that energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only change form. The same principle applies to the energy within us. While we inhabit the body, we shape and transform that energy through thought, discipline, and awareness. After we leave the body, that energy continues its transformation within the greater universe.

Our spiritual energy evolves through lived experience. Some people believe they lack control over addiction, habits, or destructive decisions. They claim it is simply “their nature.” In many cases, this reflects underdeveloped emotional discipline rather than destiny. While we are all different in temperament and strength, growth remains possible for anyone willing to cultivate it.

Total belief means alignment with one’s spirit. Certainly, some circumstances lie beyond our control. But belief in one’s ability to direct the body and mind strengthens the capacity to do so. If we do not consciously manage our emotions, others or circumstances will manage them for us.

The world is full of energy. The universe moves and redirects it constantly, whether we acknowledge it or not. Our role is not to control the universe, but to master the internal currents within ourselves.

To evolve the spirit is to reclaim authorship of emotion, restore balance, and transform energy into purposeful growth.

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Here is a good reference to "energy can not be created or destroyed, it only changes form". Who would have thought cremation simplifies the process. Very interesting in regards to atoms as well.

What Happens to Your ATOMS After You're Cremated? — Feynman's Physics of Death Discover what actually happens to the 7 octillion atoms in your body during cremation — and why physics proves not a single one is destroyed. This video expl...