3 Advantages To Living on the Spiritual Basis

 

Living on the Spiritual Basis provides 3 Advantages: 

 

1) Disciple. "We are undisciplined. So, we let God discipline us...". "For we are now on a different basis; the basis of trusting and relying upon God. We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves. We are in the world to play the role He assigns."

 

2) Flow. (The best definition of this is Wu-Wei (Zen)) "Self-seeking will slip away." "We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.""...we have ceased fighting anything or anyone..." The only condition is that we trust in God and clean house. The "cleaning house" is doing the introspective work to truly know who and what we are (causes and conditions). Truly, the road less traveled.

 

3) Connection: EVERYTHING and EVERYONE are connected. There is no fate or coincidence, only synchronicity. No one stands above another, or below, though the World presents all manner of subjective (predominately self-centered) criterion to define us, none of which are valid. The process connects us with the truth if we choose to embrace it.

 

Having embarked on this journey of discovery we employ every tool, learn from all who cross our path for all have something to teach, letting go of all NEGATIVE judgements toward others and OURSELVES, for they, like us, are children of a Loving God, whether they believe it or not, and it is never our job or responsibility to answer unasked questions or give unsolicited advice, even if it is accurate and timely.

So, we are left with the 3 questions of true and ultimate value: Who am I? What am I? and Why am I? No book, teacher or philosophy can answer these questions for us fully, for the truth ultimately lies within. The answers can be found if we trust in God, release negative judgements, and demonstrate love, patience, tolerance, and kindliness toward all, but particularly the unlovely, to the best of our ability, every day. So, chop wood and carry water, study all that appeals to you, learn to listen with your heart, for this is where the truth is waiting. This is the way of being IN the world, but not of IT, the path of the peaceful warrior in Spirit, remembering always, it is another beautiful day in paradise.

Killing Buddha And Embracing Dragons

On ancient maps when cartographers would reach the end of what was known they would often write “There Be Dragons” to denote the unknown existing beyond the edges of the known, fear inculcated as fact. Being a metaphysician, I find that margin note quite appropriate when embarking on any attempt to teach spiritual truth and principles. With thousands of different Christian Churches, Islam with over a billion followers and radical disagreement among its adherents to the interpretation of the prophet’s words, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and God only knows how many other religions big and small believing in all manner of things, many of whom claiming they are the only, one true path or church, the appearance of dragons on this subject is guaranteed.  

So, in order to continue, I need to fly my flag: I am a First Century or red letter Christian if you prefer. In many bibles the words attributed to Jesus are in red, so my faith begins with those words, everything else filtered through them. I do not believe there is a need for anyone to “interpret” the Christ teaching for us since we are asked by the Great Carpenter to read with inner light, the spark of the Divine that is within all, regardless of our station in life or current circumstances. Of course we should stay open to all teachers; the mistake is when we make them “sacred cows”, placed on a metaphysical pedestal, beyond question or error. As the Buddha teaches: “Embrace nothing: If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha. If you meet your father, kill your father. Only live your life as it is, Not bound to anything.”

To be clear: we will have many teachers in the course of our existence. We learn from them, but remembering in God’s eyes all are equal, student and teacher, and when we are called on to teach, and we will be, we rejoice. All that is required to become enlightened is an open mind and heart, coupled with a willingness to serve a greater destiny than our limited (secular) imaginations can conceive. So, listen to opposing viewpoints and engage in constructive dialogue where appropriate (be very wary of dragons here and never argue with a closed mind, leave them gently with a silent prayer, for this is how we kill the Buddha) and filter everything through Spiritual Truth, as you understand it. If you’re not quite sure what your spiritual truth is, I’m sure there is a book around here somewhere with some red words in it, as fine a place to start as can be found. Checking my six for dragons.


ACIM, Alanon, Sober Living By The Sea, Zen, The Secret, Road Less Traveled, Power of Intention