Living In Spirit

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Consistent Action, Day By Day

What do you believe, really? A double minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8). Is there a bookshelf full of spiritual books near you? Remember how uplifting they were when first read? Your Erroneous Zones, The Sermon on the Mount, The Purpose Driven Life, Joshua, Make Your Life Worthwhile, Never Alone, Just Like Jesus, The Secret, The Power of Intention, A Course In Miracles are just a few within my arms reach. All interesting and uplifting in their own right, providing valuable information, I found however that they are all variations on the same theme. Living on the Spiritual Basis.

Today mine eye is single and my vision has never been better. As has been said, Many roads lead to Jerusalem, but we must pick one and stay on it, investing time and study in the path chosen. A casual reading or passing assent avails us what all spiritual half measures deliver, nothing. To grow in awareness and understanding requires consistent unselfish constructive action on our part, being irresolute, complacent or cocky leads only to tears.

So we do not allow the tides of popularity to sway us, we have set our feet strongly on a chosen path, profiting in knowledge, growing by demonstration. We do remain open-minded, learning from all but clear in what we believe and the path of enlightenment we have chosen to follow, remembering, this is the road less traveled and there will be times when we seemingly are walking alone but in truth, He is always by our side.

#The Secret, #Wayne Dyer, #Serenity, Enlightenment, #Zen, #Emmet Fox, #How To Be Happy, #Golden Key, #Pope Francis, #Chopra, #Jesus, #Einstein, #AA, McRaven,

Friday, July 15, 2016

Piercing Ourself With Sorrow

Who has not heard, or some variation of, this quote: For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10). Well, at least the first part anyway. Consider how many “successful” people throughout history have attempted to translate wealth into a position of power, to impress their will on others because of the false belief that financial success equals spiritual success. The supposed entitlement that wealth conveys unfortunately for many builds a barrier to enlightenment that often becomes insurmountable. To be clear: money is not the problem, the love of it is.

If our definition of success is based solely on possessions and wealth, we will have “gained the world but lost ourselves”, remember, he who dies with the most toys still dies and as much as we may wish to, we can’t take it with us. Many have tried and all have failed, we find them, disinter them and then parade them and their cherished possessions about, kind of creepy if you really stop and think about it, this grave robbing. Clearly it didn’t work out so well for them, did it? Additionally we all know or know of a family torn apart over an inheritance, money trumping love and family.

Living on the Spiritual Basis we learn to use money as the tool it truly is, to live well, enjoy life and praise God through our actions, demonstrating the path in every arena. God wants all His children to be happy, joyous and free and if we have been blessed with substantial resources, we seek ways to help others, preferably anonymously. For in this way we steer clear of the trap of love of money and avoid piercing ourselves through with many sorrows.

#The Secret, #Wayne Dyer, #Serenity, Enlightenment, #Zen, #Emmet Fox, #How To Be Happy, #Golden Key, #Pope Francis, #Chopra, #Jesus, #Einstein, #AA, McRaven,

Thursday, July 14, 2016

The Way Of The Tyrant

Living by spiritual principles is not easy, no news flash there, and unfortunately many that do disagree on the path. Constructive conversation in congenial tones, on any topic, should be sought; unfortunately many are incapable of this. Their beliefs fall into the “my way or the highway” school of judgment, raised to Sacred Cow status, which leaves no room whatsoever for conversation, let alone congeniality. Spiritually, the “either get it my way or burn” club are individuals who have fallen prey to the temptation to exercise personal power over others, to make them toe their line, even to use others to advance their personal agenda, all for the greater good of course. The indelicate machinations of politicians notwithstanding, history is replete with those who may have started out with noble ideals who then began to believe their own press and (often unconsciously) placed themselves on the pedestal of “I know better” transforming from teacher to leader to tyrant.

Tyrant: 1. Absolute ruler: an absolute ruler who exercises power cruelly and unjustly
2. Authoritarian person: somebody who exercises authority unjustly and oppressively.

To avoid this temptation is simple but not easy. It begins, and ends, with the absolute truth that all are equal in God’s eyes. The opening words of the Lord's Prayer,“Our Father”, states without doubt our relationship with Him who has all knowledge and power, all equally loved, the opportunity to live on the Spiritual Basis open to all, the key to freedom from this ignoble sin for when we look down on or speak derisively to or about anyone we open the door to the tyranny of spirit, hiding behind the straw man sentiment of “it’s for their own good.” To be free, we must salute everyone's innate spirituality, recognizing the nobility of their spirit even though they are incapable of reciprocation.

We must never shrink when confronted by life's tyrants, standing firm in truth, stating our belief with clarity and tact, resisting the temptation to reply in kind or worse or seek compromise employing mollification of our belief as a method of avoiding the necessary confrontation. Tyrants only view this as weakness, our failure to stand strong in faith providing them license. An individuals demonstration belongs only to them, for all reap as they sow. Living on the Spiritual Basis we stand and deliver; without judgment or rancor, for flesh is ephemeral, the soul eternal. We will all fall short of this ideal, for such is the nature of being human, so we must always be gentle when dealing with ourselves, profiting from all experiences, sharing openly and honestly our highs and lows, successes and failures. Remember: liking or agreeing with someone is not a requisite for saluting their innate spirituality; but this recognition is our ultimate responsibility to one another as children of a loving God. In living this way we remain free of the temptation to exercise personal power over others.