What's In Your Mixing Bowl?

We always demonstrate our spiritual understanding. Our actions, the manner in which we live and treat our fellows demonstrates our spiritual understanding. What we truly believe always manifests in our lives, how could it not? Consider cake making: whatever is put in the mixing bowl will be in the final product. A baker would never put something inedible or spoiled into the mix and then not expect it to be in the finished cake, yet many do exactly that with their lives. Living on the secular basis, at a base level of spiritual consciousness, many speak in spiritual terms, but their actions betray their true beliefs, particularly in times of trouble. This produces a spiritual dissonance that results in inner turmoil, confusion, fear based living and decisions. An unwholesome mix indeed.

Living on the Spiritual Basis, at raised levels of consciousness, we ask in prayer and meditation for direction and guidance, trusting in infinite God rather than our finite selves to restore and maintain our peace of mind. The result of this mix being serenity, peace of heart and spiritual understanding in living demonstrated, resulting in a most pleasing cake indeed.

© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

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What Lengths Are You Willing To Go?

What Lengths Are You Willing To Go?

Living on the Spiritual Basis, the basis of trusting and relying upon God, it would be foolish not to think of what the full impact of this ultimately means in our lives. As our consciousness rises, it becomes clear that many of the scariest aspects of God are human constructs designed to control and manipulate. Though usually based in some scripture or spiritual teaching they require some rather interesting interpretations while ignoring or even attacking anyone or anything that does not comport with their particular view. Living at levels of raised awareness we do not argue with or contradict those who hold on to a punishing, rigid concept of God. Today we are peaceful warriors letting our lives carry the message, though fearlessly testifying to the truth, when asked.  

I believe, and believe this holds true for all, that God is “Our Father” and wants all His children to be Happy, Joyous and Free, as any loving parent would. That we are forgiven as soon as we ask as long as we walk the way we talk (much easier said than done). No sin so grievous that it places us beyond redemption, as long as we mean business, God will restore us to sanity, a demonstration of true grace (to be clear: grace does not necessarily erase the earthly consequences of our actions, it does however provide us with the strength and courage to face them). The realm of Heaven being roomy, all-inclusive, never exclusive or forbidding, is open to all who earnestly seek, regardless of present conditions or circumstances. All that is required is an open heart, an open mind and the willingness to go to any lengths for a spiritual awakening.

© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

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The Golden Rule And Children Of Eternity

The Golden Rule And Children Of Eternity

A simple form of the Golden Rule:

“Treat all in the same manner you wish to be treated in.”

Living on the Spiritual Basis our consciousness has risen. Today we look upon all as children of a Loving Creator, each possessing the spark of the divine, all equal in his love and sight. So what separates us is our demonstration of The Golden Rule, for all reap as they sow and when we are denigrating or objectifying anyone for any reason the reward is clear, the consequences spiritually assured. Living at levels of raised consciousness we have come to know this, so we salute the innate spirituality in all, having learned that pain is the only instrument sharp enough to cut away the excess of self. To be clear: on the surface, many appear to skirt this truth, living seemingly at odds with Divine truth and prospering. Death is the great equalizer, no one immune. At the moment of translation whom would you rather be, the individual who caused suffering and pain for pleasure and/or profit or the person who stood firm in faith and lived by the Golden Rule? Consider the words of Victor Frankl "We have come to know man as he really is. After all, man is that being who invented the gas chambers of Auschwitz; however, he is also that being who entered those gas chambers upright, with the Lord's Prayer or the Shema Yisrael on his lips."

The Golden Rule entreats us to demonstrate the same love, tolerance, kindness and patience we wish to know in our life towards everyone, regardless of circumstance, for we are all truly children of eternity and each of us ultimately reaps the crop our actions have sown.

© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

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Embers In Consciousness

Embers In Consciousness

Living at raised levels of consciousness our harshest critic is always ourselves. As our awareness increases, we naturally hold ourselves to higher and higher levels of conduct, not only in demonstration but also in the very thoughts that surface in our mind! No one who steps, by choice, on the path of Living on the Spiritual Basis has control over the thoughts that float up into their awareness. No one. What we do have is a tool kit, a spiritual tool kit, so that when negative or destructive thoughts materialize in our minds eye we address them in the light of raised consciousness.

The mistake routinely made is one of comparison. Somehow, the thought is born that we should be further along the path, these negative thoughts are an indication of lack of progress on our part. Nonsense. A cloudy day is just a cloudy day unless we chose to believe the clouds are an indicator of impending doom. 

A thought only has power if we choose to empower it. 

Self-condemnation empowers the negative, invites into our consciousness needless suffering and restricts, stifles growth. Do not let impatience drive you to despair, to needless wear and tear in your psyche. Our life isn’t a race. When a “curious” thought surfaces do not waste time trying to figure out where it came from or why it appeared, for to do so opens the door to reflecting morbidly, which should be avoided like the IRS. Upon becoming aware of the discordant thought, gently give it over to God in directed prayer. Later in meditation we ask God if there is anything additional He would have us see.

Remember the lesson of the campfire ember: when a burning ember from the fire lands on our shirtsleeve if we brush it off immediately no harm will be done. If however we stop to contemplate on it the sleeve will have a hole in it and probably a welt left on our arm to mark our hesitation. The only embers we remember, the ones that caused damage, are the ones we “thought” about. With God’s help brush off those curious negative embers reflexively; remembering the sun is always shining behind the clouds.

© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

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A Thrilling Experiment

A Thrilling Experiment

Belief without demonstration is merely theory, so this experiment is a concrete exercise in raising our consciousness. For the next 24 hours make this a singular focus, begin by demonstrating patience, tolerance, kindness and love towards all, with special emphasis on those whom we cross paths with who are impatient, intolerant, unkind and unloving. Silently praying for them, avoiding confrontation

Next stay cognizant of the words you employ. Speaking only in accordance with your belief in God. No negativity, gossip, sarcasm or cute cutting little remarks (regardless of how funny or clever they may be) when asked a question, whether it be from a loved one, friend, child, employer/employee or stranger frame the answer as if God were speaking through you.

Finally, and perhaps the most difficult aspect of all, is to guard our thoughts. Stay ever vigilant of your thinking, measure each thought against the absolute truth of living life in His presence, at higher levels of consciousness. Simple but not easy and possibly the hardest thing you have ever attempted, but the rewards are immense.

No one will not do this perfectly, far from it actually, but that does not mean we should attempt this with anything less than full commitment for half measures avail us nothing. It is easy to see why the experiment is only for 24 hours.

Finally, if you can, carry a small note pad and write down your thoughts through out the day but don’t get caught doing it or tell anyone what you’re about. If there is a chance someone will see you writing, then don’t. As you move through your life, these notes provide a wonderful snapshot of who we were and how far you have come. Guard this experiment as if it was your most valuable asset, for in the end it will pay dividends that will last a lifetime, for once our consciousness is raised, we are changed forever.

© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

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Ready Or Not?

Ready Or Not?

So many times in life we have thought we were ready only to find that a little, or a lot, more seasoning was needed. Typically this discovery happened after we were up to our necks. No? How about that position you thought you were ready for, so many want the title “Boss” until they get it. Or that home improvement project that looked so easy on TV. Not to mention, but I suppose I am, all those times as teenagers we were convinced we were ready to be grown up, “responsible.” When our children go through those years all we can do is suggest they slow down and enjoy the time, since once you become “responsible” that horse has left the barn and will never return. They will probably listen as well as we did at that age.

Spiritually it is impossible to demonstrate beyond ones understanding. Many have tried and great has been the fall. Conversely as you grow in spiritual understanding new horizons and opportunities naturally unfold. God, “Our Father” waits in readiness for our advancement. Truly the keys to the kingdom are in our hands, the timing ours. As we grow day by day in understanding by Practicing the Presence of God, raising our consciousness one day at a time, we embrace the Truth of Being; that we are timeless children of the Great Creative Life-Force; connected to all, God immanent. So, just for today, pray gently and meditate on God’s love and guidance, and if your teenager asks for the keys to the car, try not to dwell on what you did in your parent’s car once you were out of sight.

© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

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Our True Duty

Our True Duty

“If you have no time for prayer and meditation, you will have lots of time for sickness and trouble.” Pretty much sums it up. Our duty, now that we have placed our feet on the path of Living on the Spiritual Basis, is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us. We do this by wholeheartedly out picturing our belief in God’s perfect love and guidance in every area of our existence, holding to the bedrock truth that God will not, cannot, ask us to do anything beyond our present reach, to sacrifice our integrity, our spiritual growth or cause us pain and suffering of any kind. “We are sure God wants us to be happy, joyous and free. We cannot subscribe to the belief that this life is a vale of tears, though it once was just that for many of us. But it is clear that we made our own misery. God didn’t do it.”  We hold to God‘s love, and though trembling, stand; demonstrating the truth of being, fulfilling our duty, a day at a time.

© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

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Mercy Realized

Mercy Realized

Being merciful toward others is of course laudable, but what of the mercy we fail to show ourselves? Do you mentally (or worse, out loud) chastise yourself when a mistake is made or when some negative or objectionable thought floats through your mind? We all make mistakes and curious thoughts float up in everyone’s consciousness, so we must put away the mental cat of nine tails and always demonstrate mercy in our own house, our consciousness. God, Our Father, wants all His children to be: happy, joyous and free. So we stop berating ourselves and thank God for knowing Him better. We can then learn from mistakes and address those curious negative thoughts that seem to appear from nowhere by turning to Him in prayer, asking if there is anything to be learned (sometimes there is, but not always, often a cloudy day is just a cloudy day) and move on. Under no pretense do we engage in a mental hunt for the cause of the discordant thought, attempting to root out the whys of it in our psyche. To do so only opens us to the deadly trap of reflecting morbidly and in the lexicon of the ancient mapmakers: there be dragons. If there is something to be known or learned, God will make it abundantly clear, so ask Him; but don’t go looking for dragons, they bite.

© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

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Mercy Demonstrated

Mercy Demonstrated

To show mercy to those in pain, whether physical or emotional, is of course a quality to be cultivated. But how merciful are our thoughts? It is the secret place the The Carpenter is really speaking too with the lesson: Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy (Matthew 7:1-5). To help someone but hold contempt in our heart for them for any reason, demonstrates having missed the point entirely. Having embraced Living on the Spiritual Basis does not mean we ignore the contemptible acts of others, but we must not confuse the act with the actor. So we act by praying for their raised consciousness and in focused meditation seek to improve conditions.

Remember all transgressions will ultimately be addressed in the proper manner, for we are all responsible for our own demonstration, reaping the crop our actions have sown. A more seductive form of contempt is when we decide that someone is beyond the pale, incapable of growth or spiritual understanding for any reason. The most spiritually handicapped individual’s life will improve when we shine the sunlight of the spirit, to the best of our current ability on them. Sometimes the change in condition will be instantaneous and obvious, often however it will be more subtle and that is none of our business anyway. What matters is our demonstration, for by our action we have raised not only our consciousness and the consciousness of those around us, but the entire world, for it is an ultimate truth, that everything and everyone are connected.

© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

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Outlining And Being "Convinced"

Outlining And Being "Convinced"

The meek shall inherit the earth. To be meek, spiritually, is to be so raised in consciousness that we are open to God, demonstrating faith without reservation, convinced that His will for us is always joyous and positive, having ceased “outlining” how we think God should act in our lives. We have, in truth, completely placed our will and our lives in His hands, withholding nothing. Unfortunately there really isn’t a word that accurately reflects this. Meek comes close, but I can’t help seeing a mouse in my minds eye as a representation of meek or Mr Bean as a human analog. Perhaps if meek became convinced it would read easier. Blessed are the convinced: for they shall inherit the earth. 

© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

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