Feminine Spiritual Development

Feminine spiritual development has not been very well addressed in the spiritual literature of recent history, but there are references in some early texts. When a woman pursues spiritual practice, she does so with the same potential as her male counterpart. Her potential is the same, but her approach differs. In a general sense, women are more emotionally inclined. They are involved with relationships and family. For most women, marriage is of great importance. In general a woman's life is more concerned with emotional bonds, family bonds.

Now for some women this can be a detriment to the pursuit of the supreme. Some women become so involved with these emotional relationships that they cannot stop to contemplate their own existence. They become externally immersed. This is a detriment to their spiritual development and this pitfall more likely to be experienced by a woman than a man. However, other women are more self-reflective. Although they value love and external security, they are drawn to more subtle sentiments. They enjoy inner contemplation. For these women, self-reflection becomes stimulated and they seek happiness not only from family but also from the supreme. Generally speaking, their approach is more sentimental, more emotional than that of a male. There are, of course, always exceptions depending on temperament, but in the main this is true. The approach to the supreme is through sentiment. They desire to feel their Lord. They do not wish to analyze him, nor do they wish to understand him. They simply desire his proximity. This is their approach.

So women's psychology is sentimental with a yearning for close proximity. In the female, attachment tends to be more developed. As I have said, this is for many women a hindrance and prevents them from initiating spiritual pursuit. But for those who do begin the journey with a little bit of seriousness it can become an advantage. When attachment is for the supreme entity and an emotional approach is taken, experience comes readily. Such women get very nice experiences in a short time. So, for most women, their spiritual assets are emotional approach and attachment to the supreme. Emotional approach means that feelings are more readily stirred and sentiments aroused. She is more likely to feel a loving feeling, a warm and connected feeling, and to form attachment to this experience of proximity.

So for a woman who desires spiritual development, the emotional sphere should be vibrated and the natural inclination for attachment in relationship directed toward the supreme. She must become attached to the sublime, emotionally involved in the relationship to the supreme. Then progress will be made. If she adopts a more rationalistic approach, trying to comprehend, to contemplate the sublime in a detached and mental fashion, she will not stay interested. Her natural inclination for family and loving bonds will fill her mind and she will have trouble finding the time for her spiritual duties. In this way many women have found spiritual practices impractical and abstract, having nothing to do with daily living. Finding little time for such nonsense, they have rejected obscure and impractical spirituality. Women are practical. They have families to rear and work to do; they have no time for impractical and esoteric approaches.

So to capture their interests, their hearts and their minds, a practical approach is required. The approach for women should be sentimental and practical, not abstract and lofty. She does not want such obscure approaches. Her heart must be stirred as well as her mind. It should not divorce the person from day-to-day life. It should enhance daily life, child-rearing and worldly activities. It should not be obscure. When a sensitive woman seeks the supreme with a sincere heart, she must be given such an approach. Spiritual practice must enhance devotional sentiments and emphasize application in worldly relationships.

In these occult practices there should be some emphasis on directing love and sentiment toward the supreme. Bhakti, or devotion to God, is more accessible for the female than the male. This emotional path is the best suited for the majority of women. Although there are those who are suited for more esoteric and theoretical practices, most women will progress most speedily if the emphasis is upon bhakti, not jinana, the path of knowledge, or even karma, the path of service. So practices that stimulate the heart and direct the mind in love for the supreme are most suited for women.