Can we unfold our latent divine nature?

All of us have the power to unfold the latent divinity which lies within ourselves.  But at the same time we must remember the Beatitude: “Blessed are the meek”. Meekness and faith in oneself must go together. However, this faith is not of the lower self, the ego, but faith in the higher Self, faith in God within. With that faith comes self-surrender and the strength which is gained through freedom from the ego.

When we are a sincere seeker after the truth of God, we will be guided by the spirit. If we are not interest in realizing God, Christ himself may stand before us to teach us, and we will not appreciate him or recognize his greatness. We will turn from him as the multitude did. But if we are a spiritual aspirant and study the life and actions of an illumined soul, we cannot but glorify God, because we will feel the presence of the Father. An example of such a person was Jesus. This reminds me when he said: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. We can only become that light of the world if we obtain illumination by uniting ourselves with the light, the light which dwells in the hearts of all.

Unfortunately many seekers of God are taught by men who are not illumined. When that happens religion degenerates. It is not good enough relying on one’s degree of a theological college: book learning cannot give one illumination. One may have studied scriptures, history, philosophy, and be versed in theology, dogmas, and doctrines, and give wonderful sermons and yet be a baby when it comes to spiritual life.

People’s lives need to be transformed. One must first seek God.

We need to recognize, that there are two kinds of knowledge, the lower and the higher. The lower consists of academic knowledge, like science and philosophy. Even knowledge of the scriptures is considered of lower knowledge. Higher knowledge is the immediate perception of God. Those who are illumined by this higher knowledge do not need book information. They teach from their inner experience. Their hearts have been purified and illumined and their light shines and gives comfort to all. 

A perspective on physical, mental and spiritual healing

Many people suffering in body, mind and spirit could benefit greatly by understanding the divine laws, of healing.

Understanding the laws of healing can help us to understand the inharmonious conditions producing pain, suffering and unhappiness.

As human beings we are subject to three kinds of disease, those that affect the body, mind and soul.

To be free of bodily ailments requires physical healing, yet we need to accept, that many of our physical inharmonious conditions have their root in the mind. The mind is susceptible to stress, worries, fear, anger, greed, selfishness and jealousy, all of which produce mental discomfort, but also have their effects on the body. We all know people who are suffering from stress and what effect this has on their lives and the lives around them.

The path to spiritual wellness may involve meditation, prayer, affirmations, or specific spiritual practices that support the connection to a higher power. Practicing the science of Yoga leads one to a higher

Having compassion, the capacity for love and forgiveness, altruism, joy, and fulfillment, adds to spiritual health. So do religious faith, values, beliefs, principles, and right moral contact.

Reaching Spiritual Wellness

It is important for people to explore what they believe. If one is concerned about spiritual wellness, he must be willing to transcend any limited self-concept and focus on higher realities. He must question his own nature and his purpose in life. In addition, he must harmonize that which lies within with the social and physical forces that come to him from the outside.

We can evaluate our spiritual wellness by asking these questions:

    Do I make time for relaxation in my day?

    Do I make time for meditation and/or prayer?

    Do I listen to my intuition and act upon it without     

    questioning?

    Do my values guide my decisions and actions?

   

If we answered "No" to any of the questions, it may indicate an area where we need to improve our wellness quest.

Spiritual Wellness is a personal matter involving values and beliefs that provide a purpose in our lives. While different individuals may have different views of what spirituality means, it is generally considered to be a search for meaning and purpose of our human existence

The Soul or Self as a reflection of Spirit

Our soul, being a reflection of the spirit of God is haunted by the ignorance of not remembering its true nature. When the soul identifies itself with the mind and body, it forgets that it is part of the spirit of God and instead concentrates on what it is not. The first idea that enters the mind is ‘I’ and mine and in this manner, the ‘I want’ begins. This ignorance creates disharmony between body, mind and soul and as a result, we undergo suffering.

Realized souls who have healed themselves of ignorance, think of the body as a dream of God.

Physical pain does not necessarily bring mental suffering. We can see this, when we look at the martyrs whose minds were fixed on God. But mental suffering is generally accomplished by physical suffering.

 ‘When the eye of wisdom is opened by meditation, ignorance and physical agonies are dispelled by God’s light reflected in the soul’.

Jesus was aware of the causal relation between body and mind and between soul and God. This is how he was able to restore any body and mind of people from suffering.

There are various ways of healing. Delusion is dispelled by knowledge and meditation through the contact with the ever new Bliss of God

Attending religious services and keeping good company only shows, that we are interested in spirituality. Being spiritual is a way of life.

Liberation from delusion can be achieved by following the correct guidelines. This is not according to dogmatic beliefs, but through God knowledge. We must keep seeking God until we become settled in that unquestionable God realization and then surrender our delusion in Him.

Healing of psychological issues is best done through honest self analysis, and introspection. Concentration on spiritual thoughts during meditation eradicates the cause of mental disorder by changing mental habits.

In may be appropriate to ponder this statement of Einstein: ‘A problem can never be solved at the level it was created, it must be solved at the next higher level’.

Why meditation?

In meditation the mind becomes internalized and withdraws the life force from flowing outside through the senses. It is by being inner directed where we can deal with the problems that are recorded in the mind. We can also use the prana, life force (through breath) in meditation to burns out the grooves or patterns of mental habits that are lodged in the brain. We know, that all habits are mental in nature.

Physical and mental methods of healing the body

As already mentioned, ailments of the body have in part psychological roots. Bodily afflictions can be treated in two ways: by physical methods and by psychological ones.

The process of healing the physical body is done by stimulating the life force which affects the cure; by medical drugs, herbal treatments and the various techniques of mental and spiritual therapy. All are valid methods of healing to the degree that they harmonize and restore the proper flow of the life force or energy in the body.

Another healing method is fasting to purify the body of toxins and to rejuvenate the life force. In fasting, the will reverts to dependence on spirit and draws energy from the cosmic source. Note: One should not fast more than three days.

The use of fresh herbs

Fresh herbs have shown since ancient times. The benefits are those of destroying bacteria in the blood and eliminating poisons.  (Top herbal remedies for bacterial infections comprise Aloe Vera, Barberry, Goldenseal, Garlic, Cinnamon, Thyme, Cloves, Cayenne Pepper, Horseradish, Cumin, Oregano, Basil, Rosemary, Lavender, Nutmeg and Peppermint. Most of these herbs destroy the disease causing bacteria). Yet we should never discount the effect that the mind has on healing.

Those who place all their confidence primarily in medicine weaken their mind. The mind is still the determining factor in the healing process. Doubt, depression, pessimistic thoughts, lack of will, weaken the flow of healing energies, as well as the conscious direction of the mind’s power of positive thought , prayer, affirmation, visualization, will, cheerfulness, which stimulate the natural healing process of the body with vital life force necessary to restore health.

We need to learn to draw more on that all healing power of the mind while at the same time remembering, that the mind draws its power from the soul, along with proper eating, exercise fresh air, sunshine, hygiene, physical and mental relaxation, and conscious re-charging of the life force through correct breathing.

Yoga exercises are an excellent means of adjusting the spinal vertebrae to release pressure on the spine nerves and bring about the normal flow of life force.

We can do much toward the quality of our life through conscious living and thinking.

The source from which the world and the mind rise,

And into which they set, is termed Reality (God), which

Does neither rise nor does it subside.

And always remember Einstein: ‘A problem can never be solved at the level it was created, it must be solved at the next higher level’.

Transparent

Transparent, like a glass is clear

And the water, cold and pure-

See right through me,

I'm almost not here...

Letting go, in the night,

All of me is in the light.

I'm here and there and in between-

No-one knows where I've been:

Through the halls of paradise,

Glories seen through these eyes,

Untold, unknown to others view,

Only shared by me and You.

Seeing through the looking glass,

Past is future, future's passed.

Time's compressed into a moment,

Here it is and now it's spent.

Look around, what do you see?

It's all an illusion, a fantasy

Played upon the grandest scale,

Inquired of by many, to no avail.

Mental constructs, make believe,

Makes no sense of what they see.

With inner silence, comes a clue,

Independent of virtual view.

Matter flees, self is gone-

There is nothing left to stand upon,

But the Cause of it all,

Is That in which I dwell.

Through every form and throughout space,

Flows peace and love and God's grace,

Which draws us out and brings us in

And reveals the Life we're living in.

Devotion

Devotion is intense love for God. It is a deep yearning to experience love in its purest and highest form, to unite with that which is eternal and unchanging. We get a glimpse of this through our worldly relationships, especially with those who have touched our hearts the most. Some scriptures tell us we do not really love others for their own sake but rather for the Divine that resides in them.

The path of devotion allows us to use all of our senses, all of our emotions, and all of our actions to express love in our daily interactions and offer them to God or Christ. In our devotion we need to realize that God is the underlying principle of pure consciousness.

Devotion is both the means and the end: lower devotion, is the way to cultivate higher devotion, which is union with the Divine.

The intrinsic nature of man is immortal bliss. On realizing it, one becomes free from suffering and completely satisfied, having no more desires.

St. Anselm of Canterbury (a Benedictine monk, abbot, philosopher and theologian of the Catholic Church, who held the office of archbishop of Canterbury from 1093 to 1109), wrote:

“I have found a joy that is full and more than full. For when heart and mind and soul and all are full of that joy, joy beyond measure will still remain.” After the initial intoxication with bliss, one enjoys the delight of inner silence. In the depths of this silence, one realizes a complete unity with others, and comes to understand that we are all the same, there is no separation.

Through lower devotion we can prepare to receive the grace of higher devotion. It is a way to transform our emotions into positive, creative expressions of love and devotion to God.

Everything we do, prayer, chanting, reading scriptures, meditation, is taking is a step closer to being aware of the Divinity residing in our inner heart.

Prayer is a simple but very effective way to connect with the Divine. There are two kinds of prayer: ego-centered prayer and genuine prayer. In ego-centered prayer we approach God to petition for favors. Genuine prayer, on the other hand, comes from deeper within.

In this inner sacred prayer, we do not pray for any external favors or gifts but rather only for the strength to face and resolve with serenity all of the many problems that fill our lives. Such prayers, which are completely selfless and pure, are always answered.”

Genuine prayer includes gratitude. As Meister Eckhart said, “If the only prayer you say in your entire life is “Thank you,’ that would suffice.” Upon waking up, before you get out of bed, give thanks for a new day and for all you have, even the simplest things, like clean water, sunlight, laughter.

Contemplation is an important companion practice to devotion. Knowledge helps us discriminate between that which is eternal and unchanging and that which is fleeting and impermanent. Without a solid philosophical foundation a devotee can get lost in emotionalism, with no clear direction and goal.

In our spiritual practice, we start by studying an inspiring scripture such as the bible etc. We can reflect on just the verses alone, or choose a commentary and read a chapter a day. We then contemplate how these teachings create a philosophical framework for viewing our lives in a larger spiritual context, and how we can put the teachings into practice. We can also form a discussion group for deeper study.

The Desert - if we are serious and fully committed to our spiritual path, we will go deeper and deeper into the teachings and as a consequence may find ourselves in the desert phase or what St. John of the Cross called “the dark night of the soul.” This is where we do the real work, just as a seed has to grow its roots in the dark soil before it can blossom into the light.

The desert phase is a time of great effort and spiritual dryness, a time when we may doubt our faith and wonder why we are spending time sitting in contemplation or meditation. It is a time of deep longing and at the same time despair. At this stage, we must realize that our inner teacher will be drawing us deeper into the cave of our heart. In this phase, we seem to be caught in a no-man’s-land, the land beyond the senses, neither fully outward nor fully inward.

This is a part of the journey that seekers pass through, some many times. The sage Ramakrishna used to say that we cry for everything except God. When we truly cry for God, he said, in the same way that a drowning man gasps for his next breath, then we will know God.

“Lost am I, save for love of Thee. None can know the depth of my despair, my moments of weariness. Unless Thou stretch forth Thy helping hand, how can I reach the further shore?”

During this stage, we envision ourselves being carried in the palm of God and trust that the Divine One will bring us out of this dark night of separation, no matter how long it takes.

Acceptance, it is important to realize that in the desert stage we need to allow the unspoken parts of ourselves to rise into conscious awareness. In recognizing and acknowledging these parts, we can learn how to cultivate compassion for ourselves and others. To do this, we make a commitment to sit with whatever is troubling us and create a space for healing. We accept and offer our whole heart to God, both good and bad, without hiding from our emotional wounds, anger, fear, grief, shame, and unfulfilled longings and desires. We cannot run from our issues. Our issues, our lives are our spiritual practice.

Awakening – in a sense is processes of unlearning all that which keeps one in bondage to the world, and letting our inner guidance take over.

Another word for awakening is enlightenment, a state of self-realization beyond the ego that points to the innate potential in all of us.

Enlightenment or awakening is a profound mystery, and the best definition may be the actual experience of our own shifts in consciousness.

The most profound spiritual awakenings occur, when our consciousness suddenly recognizes its ultimate true nature.

Glory be to God

A Realm Of Space And Time

We are in a realm of space and time

Where it seems there is no reason or rhyme.

We look around for what is true,

When what's real is only found in You.

Jesus said, “I am the truth and the life.”

His word cuts like a two-edged knife,

Splitting apart both body and soul,

Leading us to God, our greatest goal.

Therein lies our blessed hope-

No need, in darkness, for us to grope;

In Him is light brighter than the Sun-

His light can shine in everyone.

Look unto Him, He's waiting for you,

With a love eternal, infinite and true.

No more will we wander, lost and confused,

Bruised, abandoned and abused.

Healing is found in His open arms,

Our hearts made new and freed from harm.

Peace like a river floods our minds,

We understand, who once were blind.

We give God thanks for His mercy and grace

Upon us all, this human race.

He turns hearts hard like a lump of coal,

Into diamonds shining in our soul.