as inherently bad (or good), which can reduce or release our suffering. Neutrality brings to us an impersonal realization that what happens to people may not be so…well, personal. At a minimum, it offers a perspective above the haze of harsh judgment. With a shift in awareness and a steadfast grip on the wheel pulling us toward right-or-wrong thinking, we arrive at a paradox. Though our heart may feel lighter and freer, our ego–driven by order, duality, and survival–can begin to panic. When those sharp peaks and valleys of extremes soften into gentle waves, the ego may interpret the smoother ride as boring, or even as an indication of lifelessness. It is here we come upon apathy. When we encounter apathy, we often misperceive what we experience. Is this depression? Not caring? Am I numb to life? If we have identified strong emotions and opinions with caring deeply, and grown appreciative of this aspect of being human, apathy can be an uncomfortable state. Not wishing Omtimes.com to idle in unfamiliar territory, our ego rushes back to duality assuming we have gotten off our spiritual course. Our spiritual growth gives us the capacity to appreciate the wholeness of life, acutely recognizing that the multitude of shades, shapes and experiences are far richer than any duality-based definition. Whether we strive for it, or the occurrences of detached awareness happen spontaneously, the sense of feeling apathetic is simply a part of our awakening process. Neutrality not only allows us to notice the depth and complexity in all things, it offers an underlying contentment to our observation. If we refrain from judging the spiritual apathetic state and allow ourselves to venture deeper into it, we discover its foundation; we realize the perfection in everything. According to Merriam-Webster, the simple definition of apathy is “the feeling of not having much emotion or interest: an apathetic state.” With neutrality and January 2016 D Edition