Spiritual Realization

Lesson 10: Review

These are some of the main points from lessons 1 to 9,
which you can review at any time.

Lesson 1: The spiritual self
Lesson 2: A world of illusions
Lesson 3: Indoctrination, dogma, and delusion
Lesson 4: Grace
Lesson 5: Spiritual practice, meditation, and prayer
Lesson 6: Stepping out of the karmic system
Lesson 7: Spiritual healing and wholeness
Lesson 8: A "path" with heart
Lesson 9: Spiritual freedom

Lesson 1: The spiritual self

part 1

The search for who we are begins with consciousness itself. Consciousness is more than an awareness of what is external to you; it is an awareness of what is within you, and who you truly are, on the deepest level.

You are not the body. You are not a body that has a soul. You are a spirit or soul that has taken on a body. Think about this a bit, to see how this shifts your perspective on who you think you are.

Of course, the world-at-large tells you who you "are," too, who you should be, what is expected of you, how to act so as to be accepted, approved of, and rewarded in this life. Yet, none of that is necessarily a validation of who you truly are. More often, it is programming, an invalidation or misidentification of who you are.

Now you have an opportunity to know your self, more deeply and truly than you may have in a very long time, to come closer to who you really are. Not who you have been told you are by the world, but who you realize you are within you. The truth of who you are, and what you know on the deepest levels of your being, will resonate within you. Call it deeper feeling, resonance, intuition, knowingness, insight, or realization — the word doesn't matter. What matters is that you find that place within you which validates who you truly are, rather than being content to remain lost in a world that invalidates you in countless ways.

This is an opportunity to come closer to the highest good, within you.

It is all right there. Here. Now.

part 2

Spirituality is how you live in relation to others and your self — in the highest sense, in a way that works best for you and everyone else. Spirituality is not something that is separate from your life. It is reflected in every choice you make. All of the practices you may have learned already — such as learning how to solve problems; finding what is right, good, and true to you; being centered in your self, and relating to others with love — are all part of being spiritual.

Spirituality is a choice you make, and are already making. It is not foreign to who you already are.

This is about who you already are, but may not realize, fully experience, or know.

There is the quality of dignity, wholeness, and unboundedness that you may see in a deeply spiritual person. It is the true dignity of life, based in a larger sense of connectedness. And we all need to find that. It is the essential quality of Divine beingness.

part 3

Have you ever felt as if a part of you was missing? Do you already know all that you are, all that you could be? You are much more than the personality you have taken on, or the role you play in this life. We all are. We need to look for that "something deeper," within us, or we may not even realize it is there — or that it is what we are truly looking for.

Spend your time and your life wisely. Do not sacrifice what truly matters — love, peace, inner joy, and harmony — for what matters not. Look beyond the physical outer world, and search your inner being, for what you want most in life. And find it within you.

Joy and peace are qualities of the true self, the inner being, and cannot be found outside you. They are found by quietly turning within, by detaching from the relentless, self-negating, self-destructive, influence of the outer world — not by getting lost in it.

part 4

Did you know that you go through life seeing reflections of yourself in everything and everyone?

The way we artificially hold everyone separate from us keeps us from knowing who we are, and who they are, more fully. It distances us from a Greater Reality.

We will discuss the concept of how spirit takes many forms, and soul is something which extends before and after your present life. But, for now, consider the possibility that Spirit — or your own soul — has within its depths the experience of many lives, the lives of people who are "advantaged" as well as "disadvantaged," rich and poor, of different races, ethnic backgrounds, sex, education, ambition, spirituality, and so on. All of that is held on the spiritual level.

When we see people who appear to be very different from us — whether they have a different language, ethnicity, race, sex, age, body type, or whatever — they really aren't that different from who we are, who we have been, or who Spirit knows us all to be.

part 5

In this life, we all walk our own path. Sometimes, there is someone to share part of the path with you, in friendship, loving relationship, or spiritual journey. But, even then, you still have to walk your own path. You need to find your way from where you are to where you want to be — your own way. No one can do that for you. And, you can't do that for anyone else.

Consciousness connects everything and everyone. That is already a greater reality. As we may come to understand or experience our greater connectedness, or greater consciousness, we still need to discern what we experience. The fact that there may be a common underlying energy field or consciousness in the universe, as we know it, does not mean we no longer need to discern what is right, good, and true for us — we do.

part 6

Looking more deeply within you, you may come to realize that you actually have an inner nature, an inner consciousness, an inner being. You do. That is coming closer to who you truly are. Soul is a deeper level of self-identification, more in touch with your spiritual nature. And yet, even the soul is not the ultimate spiritual Being. The soul is compartmentalized in worldly experience, life after life, taking on so many worldly experiences — or karma — that it often becomes more a product of the world than a reflection of pure Spirit.

No matter what lessons, or how many lessons, or how valuable the lessons, you imagine you are learning on Earth, they are ultimately an illusion. You don't need to learn to be who you already are. And, forgetting who you are — and living life that way — does not teach you how to be more of who you are; it only conditions you to accepting life divorced from your true self and Source.

Life is movement; movement means action towards an end. Ask yourself: what purpose is your life fulfilling or accomplishing? Are you really seeking — and settling for nothing less than — your highest good? What if you could have that now?

part 7

There is a spiritual flow to life, a way in which your life works, on a deeper level. The more you experience connectedness, the more you experience flow. Flow does not mean everything in life becomes easy, you experience no problems, or suffering disappears. It simply means that the movement of your life experience proceeds from a more subtle, spiritual, fulfilling place within you, rather than being a more gross reaction to everything outside of you.

What we may refer to as "flow" in our modern language may be what was called "the Way," a long time ago. There is a Way in which we connect with, experience, and move with a Greater Reality. It is a connection with truth, peace, love, and light. There is a natural benefit in aligning ourselves with the proper Way; it brings us closer to the True Source. Ignoring, resisting, or reversing this connection causes the benefits which might otherwise flow to us to no longer do so. If we lose the inner qualities of truth, love, and simplicity, our outer life becomes more delusory, unsupported, complicated, and problematic.

So, there is an upward spiritual current or flow, and there is a downward one as well. One leads us higher, spiritually; the other, lower. We choose our direction, within us. We can see what the flow of our life really is, and make better choices.

part 8

You can either adapt yourself to the world around you — which is what most people do, habitually, unconsciously — or you can get free. Realize, that is a choice you have the power to make, here, now. If you do not know how, you can learn.

The way you live is a direct result of who you are or who you know yourself to be, the values you have, your sense of spiritual connectedness and flow, the inner resources you may draw upon, and whether you are led by spirit or shaped by the world-at-large. You make a choice, in each and every moment, either going along with the way things are — believing things are as they should be, or the way you have been taught or told — or seeking something more.

This is about you, the real you. It is about the inner being, the one with origins in Light. It is about the true self, the authentic self, who you are beyond the role you are playing or the traits you chose when you came here or the vehicle you came in with. You can live from the surface of who you are, a superficial life, or you can live from the depths of your being, and have a more deeply rewarding existence.

Living with soul means questioning how you are living, why you are living that way, and what better choices you can make. Why are you the way you are, with yourself or with others? Don't just take it for granted that you are that way. Ask the question. See what might be different from what you think or believe, what might be more true to who you really are. Living with soul does not mean accepting everything as it is, as the way it should be. It means questioning.

part 9

Honoring the Divine does not mean holding the illusion that everything and everyone is perfect. Illusions honor no one. In acknowledging and honoring all that is good, we need to discern between illusion and Reality, truth and falsehood, right and wrong, good and evil. There is a difference.

Our concept of honoring the Divine means surrendering all our worries, doubts, and fears, all our problems and difficulties, all our pain and suffering, to God, asking that they may be dealt with in the best way. That is what "surrender" means to us: connectedness to our True Source. It is not forsaking dealing with our own problems as best we can, living in a state of spiritual denial, or holding an illusion that everything is "perfect." Nor is it submission of our will to any absolute, authoritarian dogma or ideology, out of fear of eternal damnation; or taking a place in the pecking order of a hierarchical organization which determines our spiritual "worth" or worthiness, from a place of ego and self-aggrandizement.

Pause for a moment and realize, the more attention you give to what you feel is right, good, and true for you — in your own heart — the closer you may come to the Divine, and the closer the Divine may seem to be to you.

part 10

Have you found who you are in the Divine, and who the Divine is in you? Do you know that you could be magnificence? Or has the highest part of you been invalidated, disallowed, or rebuffed by the world-at-large, by others, by your circumstances in life?

Realize, you are not the role you are playing in this life, or the labels you have been given. You are not just a body with a given sex, age, ethnicity, race, religion, nationality, or daily activity. You are something more than that. You are not the labels you wear. You are not your beliefs. You are not what you may have been led to believe you are; you are not what you think, or what you feel, or what you want. You are not what you do. You are not your personality. You are not what you have done in the past, or what you will do in the future.

You are something much more fundamental, unchanging, deep, and real than all of that.

You are a being, an enduring consciousness, soul or spirit. And your existence transcends life and death as we know it in this world.

It is not merely a goal, desire, or fantasy to fly free, spiritually. It is the truth of who you are, and who you can know your self to be.

Lesson 2: A world of illusions

part 1

We live in a world in which everything is changing, all the time. Nothing is set, nothing is fixed, nothing is permanent. Everything comes and goes. It is only an illusion that there is permanence or unchangingness to anything in our world, or our life.

We all live in this world of illusions.

The more illusory your existence, the less in touch you are with the true ground of your being.

In this world, nothing is as powerful as an illusion. The only way to be free from the overwhelming, captivating, seductive power of illusions is to find something more real which is more rewarding, more good, more true to you. Otherwise, you may have little interest or movement in the direction of Reality.

Our materialistic consumer society breeds endless illusions, and labels them as real, while it dismisses the most real and valuable spiritual things as some sort of superstitious, irrational, or unproven idea.

You have to sort your way through all of that, to come closer to what is real, what truly matters in life, what has greater meaning and value. For a very long time, many spiritual traditions have correctly observed that the materialistic life or the material world itself, and the spiritual life or the spirit, have very little in common.

part 2

Although you think you are seeing the world as it is, with all of your senses, you are not. And, even if you were seeing the world clearly, without the usual filters of perception, you would still be far removed from Reality.

Judgment is a filter, as are ego and emotion. What we see is filtered, shaped, formed, or distorted by these influences, which we may never question. We imagine we are seeing reality or the truth, no matter how distorted our perceptions or interpretations may be, as a result of ego and emotion.

You would be surprised at the extent to which things are different from what we believe, individually or as a society.

part 3

There is a strange phenomenon in which a person can be living in a state of bondage, bound by the enjoyment of the things they take pleasure in, and never realize they are living in a prison of their own mind, their own choices, their own desires. They never question their behavior, or what they are doing with their life, because their basic assumption is that they are doing exactly what they want to be doing, and getting what they want.

The truth is, it is all illusion. Everything we experience is merely an interpretation, representation, imagination, appearance, illusion, manifestation, or reflection of something — it is not "the real thing." In fact, what we "experience" may not be very real at all.

There is the touch of the Divine, which is real, and everything else, which is illusion.

part 4

Suffering is not a "gift." Problems are not a "gift." Adversity is not a "gift." And people who cause us problems and suffering in our lives are not a gift, and not our "greatest teachers."

There could not be a more unjust or nonspiritual system than that of karma. The karmic system is an aberration from any true loving, helpful, system of learning. In order to appreciate this fact, you need to know that there is no such thing as karma, suffering, pain, disease, death, or separation from God in the rest of the Divine creation.

No one has ever learned anything of value from suffering, other than: suffering has no value.

part 5

There aren't really any paths to enlightenment.

That doesn't mean there is no such thing as a more enlightened state of being, but rather there is no road map or path that is sure to lead to such a state. It may or may not help to have a description of a place you would like to go, without actually being there or having a real way to be there. Enlightenment is not a fixed state of being. It isn't a place you arrive at.

We are supposed to live from Grace, with a connection to peace, joy, love, and the highest good, within us, here, now. It is not something which is removed from us or separate from us, but something we are meant to experience now. Imagining that there is a path to where you are supposed to be now, only puts that in the way.

part 6

There have been some well-meaning people in places of spiritual authority, who have taken it upon themselves to uphold a tradition, to try to impart knowledge, or to live a life distinct from the norm as an "example" of enlightenment.

That being said, the vast majority of gurus, lamas, "masters," and appointed spiritual teachers have not led humanity to enlightenment, by their example, their teachings, or their adherence to tradition. There is much knowledge in spiritual traditions, but wisdom can only be found in us, in the seeker. And those who experience a higher state of consciousness are often unable to assist anyone else in the experience of that higher awareness.

part 7

The world may be filled with illusions, but they constitute a real problem or trap. Whatever keeps you from realizing the truth is a trap. Whatever keeps you from awakening is a trap, whether it is pleasant or unpleasant.

part 8

Money, sex, drugs, alcohol, power, relationships, materialism, religious indoctrination — all of these are just traps that increase suffering and exploitation, even though they may make you "feel" good.

Most people have no idea that they have been conditioned and programmed from a time that precedes their physical birth. On the astral level or "soul plane," every basic ability or weakness you have, physically, mentally, emotionally, psychically, or otherwise, was programmed prior to your physical birth. Your parents were determined as well, usually to maximize the programming effect, or the "lessons" you were to learn in this life, in this virtual world.

part 9

We are not supposed to hold everything in life (including ourselves) to the lowest standard of ego, emotion, and desire, but to the highest standard of Goodness, Truth, and Light. Unless you do so, every step, every thought and action, every desire, will be measured against a false standard. Your every step is going in the wrong direction, spiritually. But, because the world rewards such behavior with ego pride, aggrandizement, approval, money, pleasure, and recognition, you might imagine you are going in the right direction. As long as you keep getting that reinforcement for your behavior, you might never look back. And, you might never look more deeply within yourself. You can live your entire life like that, never taking a single step in the direction of True spiritual Peace, Truth, Love, and Light. All you have are false, empty, substitutes for what remains missing within you.

part 10

New Agers have a saying that they "create their own reality." But, that isn't the case. Generally, we live in a world of illusions and create even bigger illusions. It is extremely rare for a person to have any sense at all of the Greater Reality.

Our lives are filled with political "realities," economic "realities," scientific "realities," and so on, which have almost nothing at all to do with Reality. They are more a realm of illusion. Things we believe to be real and true today turn out to be illusory and untrue, tomorrow.

How many people think that "reality television" is Reality, or that what their politicians say must be true? How many people think televangelists are their link or connection with God? How many people cannot tell the difference between what is real and what is illusion in their relationships, or sell out, or settle for not having real love in their lives? Too many.

It is very rare to step outside of our conditioning and programming, see things as they really are, and respond from a place of higher consciousness, true awareness, wisdom, truth, and integrity. Instead, we have been compromised in being in the world, and are overly shaped and conformed by the world.

Lesson 3: Indoctrination, dogma, and delusion

part 1

What is between you and God? Nothing? Something? Is there a gap? Is there an obstacle? Is there a clear connection? Is something in the way, and if so, what is it?

Organized religion tends to have that effect. It isn't just the preaching of eternal damnation which puts people off, but the replacement of a direct connection with the Divine Being via a church authority or intermediary. It doesn't matter what that person says — even if it is really nice — the fact that they are self-righteously positioning themselves between you and God, compromises your own relationship with God. They may, in fact, be doing little more than standing in the way.

Once you know that the connection with the Divine is supposed to be right there in your own heart, you may begin to realize the extent to which everything else is a distraction from your own direct connection. You do not connect with God through another person, through a book, through a social meeting or church service. You connect with God in your own heart.

And that is entirely between you and God. It's nobody else's business. And, it is surely not anybody else's job or responsibility. It is something you need to do for your self.

Learn to discern the difference between what is the Way, within you, and what just gets in the way.

part 2

If your needs are being met by organized religion, that is just fine. Many people feel that way, and we are not trying to convince anyone to abandon what they feel is working for them. However, if you have a questioning mind, and are interested in answers beyond what you may have already been taught or told, we will provide further perspective, here.

You need to understand one basic thing: nobody is an intermediary between you and the True God. It doesn't matter if they call themselves pope, infallible, appointed, anointed, called, elected, chosen, "father," "reverend," or anything else. They are putting themselves in the place of the most holy; they are putting themselves between you and the Light, between you and inner conscience. That is their goal, to separate you from the Light of conscience within you, to become an intermediary, to be in charge of your blessings and the sponsor of your prayer requests. You have to see how this empowers them and disempowers you.

part 3

"Religious" does not mean "spiritual." And spiritual does not necessarily mean religious. Religious does not mean true; it does not mean right; it does not mean good. The most piously religious people, throughout history (and to this day), have believed in torturing, killing, or slaughtering those who do not have the same beliefs as them.

Review history, and see what has truly happened. No organization has caused more suffering, bloodshed, torture of men, women and children, plundering of more nations and decimation of their people, their cultures, and their free thinking than organized religion — in the name of "god."

You need to hold yourself to a much higher standard of spirituality. That doesn't mean being more fanatical and absolute in your religious indoctrination, but rather, looking within your own heart for what your own conscience says to you, and following that.

part 4

If there is one spiritual responsibility we each have, it is to step out of darkness into the Light.

Discern, find the truth that resonates within you, which is different from the common conditioning and popular programming. Let go of any investment you may have in the propaganda, indoctrination, and hidden agenda of the unquestioned social order, politics, economics, business, government, religion, education, and so on. You will begin to see the extent to which your thinking and behavior are controlled by forces outside you.

part 5

We understand that there is a great deal of appeal — to the ego — in being told you are God, that you can have anything you want, that everything is perfect and getting better. It sounds marvelous. But, it is nothing other than an illusion, and a very negative one at that, no matter how glorious it sounds. Because anything that gets between you and the Truth — no matter how grand the illusion you may be given — is intended to perpetuate suffering, not to overcome it.

Until you realize that the karmic system is not Divine, just, or fair, and that there has been no escape from its endless system of suffering, you may not question all of the channeled teachings which declare that everything is perfect and we are all learning wonderful lessons and growing into wonderful spiritual beings. If you assume that all channeled teachings are Divine, and that they inherently have more love, wisdom, and truth than you are capable of finding within your self, you are merely setting yourself up to be overshadowed by the grossest falsehoods and delusions — which you fail to discern, for your self.

The belief that "it's all God" goes hand in hand with the belief that "it's all good." After all, if everything and everyone is God, or of God, then how can anything not be good? That, unfortunately, is the conclusion of many spiritual people, who simply do not realize otherwise. They imagine or believe they have found the highest truth, but it is only an illusion.

part 6

Well, no, it isn't all good. Evil is not good, or just as good. Suffering is not good. The lives we live in spiritual darkness, oppression, ignorance, and delusion are not good.

There is darkness and there is Light, and they are not equally good. Everything in life is not equally good, or all good. Some things are really, really bad for us: physically, mentally, emotionally, psychically, and spiritually. Refusing to understand that does not protect us from harm; it is called denial.

Realize: we are not here to "equally embrace the positive and the negative." There are different energies or influences, choices and directions, that flow to and through us, all the time. When you perceive this, you come to understand the need to choose the positive and reject the negative. One energy or flow elevates us; the other diminishes us, in small or great measures.

The test of spiritual maturity is not whether you can make everything bad "good" in your mind, everything wrong "all right," everything oppressive "liberating," or everything hurtful "healing." That is nothing more than delusion or an inability to discern the truth about anything.

part 7

There is a popular belief that we simply need to live "in harmony with Nature," in order to have a more perfect existence. The idea is that Nature is a perfect example of everything being in perfect harmony. This is, of course, not at all true.

People actually worship nature. They make offerings to nature, in an attempt to placate it. And, they have been doing so for ages, in all cultures.

Yet, there is some small truth to the idea that we can come closer to who we truly are by living in a more simple and direct way with nature. The more "unnatural" things that fill our lives — the products of science, technology, chemicals, genetic modification, drugs, and so on — the further we move from any sense of what is simply right, good, and true for us.

part 8

The greatest confusion propagated via mythology relates to the pantheon of "gods." There are countless tales in all cultures, about creation of the world and mankind, the interactions of the "gods," and the relationships between "gods" and human beings. And they are generally false.

In the tales of Greek, Roman, Mesopotamian, Hindu, and other ancient cultures, there are tales of "gods" who are often insanely egotistical, perverse, self-absorbed, and misogynistic. They cavort and do whatever they like, taking little note of what effect this may have on human beings. Many of these "gods" take great pride in subjugating humanity, manipulating and degrading it.

What possible relationship is one to have with the True God, in light of all of these false "gods"?

God is not some uncaring, insanely jealous, hateful, hurtful, self-absorbed, unapproachable being. The True God is pure and good — the Highest Good. The True God is so kind, loving, and caring as to dwell in our own hearts. That is the only place we are to find God, and the only God we are to have a relationship with.

part 9

Most people are being swept along by the river of karma, individually and collectively. Entire nations have karma, egotism, arrogance, cultures of materialism, spiritual pride, and delusion. And, when one is born and raised in such a system, it can be very hard to see it for what it is. If everyone else around you, parents, peers, and others, all have the same beliefs, programming, socialization, customs, culture, and traditions, you may not question them.

Are you self-righteous in your beliefs? Do you believe everything you have been taught or told, or every word of your scripture? Do you believe it would be egotistical or arrogant for you to think for your self? Have you been indoctrinated to believe that questioning things is a form of spiritual failing or ignorance?

The exact opposite is true.

Until you question what you think or believe — no matter how many other people, or who they might be, believe it — you have not taken the first step in spiritual responsibility. If you are depending upon the force of the river of karma to carry you along to a proper destination, you could be disappointed where you wind up.

part 10

Major religious traditions all have a promise of salvation for the devoted. Those who follow the dogma, ritual practices, and philosophy of their ancestors are said to achieve some kind of salvation, or go to "heaven."

Everyone prefers to think that their specific beliefs, and their specific church, guarantees them — and only them — a seat in heaven. Their seat in heaven will be just like their seat in church: filled by a person who lived in a world of illusions, who failed to understand the most basic realities of life. A person who may be able to sing hymns or recite chapter and verse, who enjoys the music, who socializes, who enjoys the sermons, who is often ego-emotionally addicted to religion, and who does not in any way discern the truth for themselves.

Lesson 4: Grace

part 1

Humanity has been living under a system of karma, not divine grace, for ages. It is a system which does its best to exclude divine Grace. The karmic system is based in duality, polarity, opposites: positive and negative. And, although there are countless teachings which praise the karmic system and its "lessons," no one has ever gotten out of the karmic system; no one has ever graduated from it; no one has ever gotten free. It is not a system of freedom, or liberation from darkness, but one of bondage. Despite the karmic system — or rather, because of it — this world has never gotten free from suffering. Wars have never gone away. Hate has never gone away. Pain and suffering have never gone away.

What has gone away, gradually, over time, is our sense of connection with the Divine.

Reconnecting with the Divine — beyond the system of karma in which we all live in this world — is a process of living with Grace. And, we are talking about genuine grace. Something entirely different from what has existed in this world before. Something different. Something wonderful. Grace is not something that will adjust you to the karmic conditions of your life, or give you a better illusion, or set you in concrete in the density of this dimension. Rather, it will give you a place to stand, within you, outside of the karmic system. It will give you back your self.

The essence of Grace is liberation, getting free from what binds you, traps you, hurts or harms you, brings you down, weakens, abuses, corrupts, or possibly even destroys you.

The way to live by Grace is to step out of the karmic system, not to get better at living within its limitations, and certainly not to become a better part of any system that keeps others from being free.

part 2

There are angels and spiritual guides in our lives, generally unseen and unacknowledged. They are there to help to uplift us, to raise us out of the countless problems and unavoidable suffering that are experienced on this level. They are non-physical beings who work on a spiritual level, and interact with us, here, to bring about a more positive outcome for us.

Like the subtle voice of conscience or intuition — which is our own inner spiritual being — there is the quiet guidance of spiritual beings, which we are free to consider, discern, and follow, or not.

Angels and guides do not interfere with our free will. The "force" of good is not a domineering or compelling force; it does not make us do anything a certain way. It simply gives us perspective so that we can make better choices. We are invited to have a larger or more true perspective.

part 3

Once you know that there is a karmic system in place, and it has been there for eons, and countless beings serve to perpetuate it — and no one has been allowed to rise out of it or move beyond it — you begin to recognize the same old words of appeasement in the most common guidance. You are merely encouraged to do better, to learn from your lessons, to not look at suffering as punishment, to believe that you can and do create your own reality.

We are here to invite you to step out of all of that, to move beyond it.

If you will open to that possibility, you will open to the possibility of True Grace and spiritual freedom. Until then, you will merely find endless reassurance for remaining stuck in the old karmic system. And, no matter how much you imagine you create your own reality, all you can co-create is the perpetuation of the karmic system, and the endless suffering of others it creates.

part 4

Many people have experienced and written about the "dark night of the soul." It is a time in which there seems to be no Light available to us, when we feel so far from the Divine that we almost lose hope. It is as if the Light has gone out, but we yet struggle to not succumb to darkness.

It happens. And, it often happens to those who most earnestly seek the Light.

There are times when nothing works for us, when everything we have learned is of no help. It happens, no matter how "advanced" you believe you might be. Allow your ego to be humbled in those times, rather than taking it as a challenge to your ego. There is a time for everything, and you may need to just be with where you are, until it passes.

We are not here on this Earth to be tested, to be separated from God only to prove that we can find our way back. That is the madness of the karmic system, not the will of God.

Remember, if there is ever a time when your connection with God seems to be lost to you, you are not lost to God. Grace is with you, now.

part 5

Do you find grace and goodness in your relationships? Grace is not in some distant realm or future. It is meant to manifest here, now, in your own life, in you. You just have to know what to look for.

Are you in spiritual relationship with someone?

It is surely a gift of the Divine, to walk through this world with others, in spiritual relationship — with those who help us to rise above where we have been or may presently be. It is, in a sense, like walking with our spiritual guides and angels.

part 6

If you have been on any spiritual path, followed any spiritual tradition, engaged in any spiritual practices, you need to understand this, now, deeply. They do not connect beyond the world of the unreal, the realm of illusion, and that includes those that explore the astral levels or journey to other levels or worlds. They do not transcend the karmic system. They do not free you. They do not allow the connection with Grace. And, it doesn't matter how noble sounding they may be, or how they claim to connect to "source" or "god" or the "abundance of the universe."

There is the connection with Grace, and there is everything else done in the name of spirituality, religion, and "god." Unless you have a connection which takes you beyond the karmic system and all traditional practice and understanding, unless you get off the false "path," you are not truly connected with Source, with God, or with Grace.

Grace completely bypasses the entire karmic system, regardless of whatever spiritual path or teaching or practice you may have followed. It bypasses all of that. Grace is the connection of our True Source, the Divine Being, directly with our own heart.

Grace is your connection to the Kingdom of God, the Divine Creation, a realm of pure love, light, peace, joy, and freedom from all suffering. It isn't something you can work at; it is something you have to ask for in your own heart, knowing it is a real possibility. Then, Grace comes to you.

part 7

If you could make choices that led to greater good in your life, in the highest sense, wouldn't you make those choices at each moment? You can learn to do that. The process is one of questioning, discerning, and aligning with the Highest. It does not require intellectual reasoning as much as a simple openness of the heart to what is ultimately right, good, and true.

Grace is that which, once you accept it and align yourself with it, and live from there, is like a light shining on your path. You are led by that Light, by Spirit. And, if you stumble, fall, misstep, or take a wrong turn, that Light once again shines on you and your path to show you the Way.

There is a Light or higher consciousness which shines on everything we do, but what we choose to do in relation to that is up to us. Not everyone "lives in the Light." Some people live as if there were no higher consciousness, responsibility, wisdom, or truth available to them. Others seek those qualities in their lives. The choices made by one person who does not admit of any higher consciousness, higher power, or God in their life can be rather self-serving or self-destructive. They tend to not serve the highest good of all.

part 8

Sometimes, hope is the only thing keeping alive our connection with Grace, or our highest good. Without hope, we have nothing. What causes us to have hope when that is all we have, when the hope for something better is all we can find within us?

Hope is very simply the spark of the Divine in us, refusing to go out. We refuse to let the Light die out in us, no matter what we have experienced, no matter how oppressed, hurt, terrified, empty, lost, or powerless we might feel in our lives.

Sometimes we have to imagine something better, something almost beyond belief, in order to allow ourselves the chance to open to it, connect with it, or receive it. This imagining is not just idle fantasy; it is a spirit of hope, and a faith in things unseen.

Hope opens our heart to the Highest Good of all, because what else would we truly hope for?

Believe what is in your heart. Trust what is in your heart. And, do not let anyone or anything put out the spark of hope in your heart. Not anyone.

part 9

So many people go through their entire lives, as if carried by a current, with the past determining their future. And they do not know how to step out of that current, and be happy, here, now. Or, they might know how, but they have forgotten.

Joy is given to you, now. Are you accepting it, seeing it, recognizing it, living it?

part 10

Love says, I love you — who you are, despite what you have been through, even if you cannot find it in you to love yourself. I still love you. I have always loved you. I will always love you. Whatever you think has made you unworthy of love, is only illusory. It is temporary, passing. Let it pass. Return to love.

The love of the divine has never left you.

Know that. And live with that spirit of love, always. Ask that whatever may be in the way of love be released. Ask to be free to love and be loved. You are, now. Know that, and live that way.

part 11

We need peace, because peace is a quality of spirit — it is who and what we are.

If we seek peace, we seek relief from all of the troubles of life in this world. If we seek peace, we seek grace. Call it by any other name, we seek the spirit of peace because that is connection with our higher self, our spiritual nature, our True Source.

Step into Grace, and step out of the karmic system.

Step into Grace, know what that truly means, and practice living in a spirit of peace, love, wisdom, joy, and Light.

It's a choice you make. It isn't something you merit, accomplish, control, or create. It isn't a goal. It is what you are, already.

Grace is knowing this, accepting it, and being free.

Grace is immediate. Living with grace may take practice.

Lesson 5: Spiritual practice, meditation, and prayer

part 1

There are endless so-called spiritual practices, so what kind of spiritual practice would be right for you? That is something for you to decide. Some people go from one spiritual practice to another, without any commitment, looking for something new just because they haven't tried it yet. That is like preparing for a meal by tasting everything in the kitchen, but never sitting down to a full meal.

The times demand a different spiritual practice, one not steeped in dogma, doctrine, ideology, philosophy, religiosity, or social acceptability. Those are all the domain of social conditioning, programming, and indoctrination — all of which are in the way of true spiritual practice, not the means for engaging in it. True spiritual practice needs to be a lot simpler, more direct, more experiential, and something that can be brought into the body so that it is there, not just in your mind or your belief system.

Spirituality is not a test of allegiance to what does not work; it is the ever-present opportunity to choose in the present moment, here, now, what does work.

part 2

If it's working, you'd know it. You'd experience it. It would be so simple and obvious that you couldn't overlook it. It would be right there.

The question is: what can you do, here, now, to connect with your higher spiritual nature? If you are doing little or nothing that you can feel — in your heart and soul — then what do you need to do differently?

It is all too easy for a person to fill their mind with chapter and verse, endless repetition and recitation of tradition, doctrine, dogma, and scripture, without ever finding it in their heart. A book is just a book. You do not find God in a book, even if there are countless people who imagine they find God in a book; you only find an interpretation, representation, illusion, programming, or indoctrination. What you are looking for is to be found in your own heart. Looking anywhere else is delusory.

part 3

Mindfulness is greatly overrated. It does almost nothing to connect you with a Greater Reality, or Truth. Mindfulness is the practice of simply observing what one experiences — thoughts, feelings, and so on — without in any way trying to discern, understand, or realize a greater truth. It is considered sufficient to simply be aware. But, you cannot come to the truth without discernment, or by refusing to see what is good or bad, right or wrong, true or false. Refusing to discern in this way is not "enlightenment" but a state of passivity (mistaken for peacefulness) and mindlessness (mistaken for mindfulness).

Mindfulness is most often practiced as a way of accepting everything as it is, as the way it should be. This is nearly the opposite of spiritual wisdom, since almost nothing here is the way it should be.

There is an enormous amount of negativity in our society and in our environment, and it is necessary to put up barriers to this negativity, not invite it in. In our modern society, it is more valuable to learn to reject all of the incessant programming, pollution, and sensory stimulation — by discriminating — than it is to just soak it all in.

Basically, we have to think for ourselves and discriminate about what we see, think, feel, and experience. We have to make choices about what we let into our minds and what we do not. And we have to learn to distinguish between what is right, good, and true for us and what is not.

part 4

Questioning is the opposite of accepting your programming, conditioning, and indoctrination.

Unfortunately, our education trains us to look for all the answers outside of our selves. We seek answers that are (or seem to be) rational, reasonable, logical, acceptable, in accordance with what we are being taught or told. It is very hard to step out of what we already know or believe, including the spiritual "path" that has been laid before us by many other practitioners and authority figures.

True questioning is a process of being contemplative, being aware, holding a question in mind, and asking for answers from within ourselves. Often, this is best done with eyes closed in a more meditative state, at a time when we are not going to be disturbed by external influences.

So, it is not easy to question things. But it is vitally important to do so. Unless and until you do, you will not have found or exercised your free will and your own innate ability to discern for your self the truth of things. You will not have practiced learning to know what is right, good, and true for you. Instead, you will have mistakenly accepted everyone else's answers as your own.

part 5

Everyday life is, unfortunately, often a practice of sustaining our illusions; spiritual practice is the process of freeing your self from those illusions.

Learn to be centered within yourself. You can deal with everything and everyone around you from a much more stable place of being, in a way that is more true for you. Learn what it means to be less ego-emotionally reactive to everything (or any one thing in particular) or everyone (or any one person in particular). Practice that daily.

Learn to follow your heart, and find your own meaning and value and purposes. Take time to step back from the incessant rush of the outer world, and find what matters to you in your own heart. If you need insight, understanding, or guidance, learn to listen to your heart, and what resonates as true within you.

Learn to think of yourself as a spiritual being, and be more aware of things that occur on the spiritual, subtle, or energy level. There is flow, and energy, all around you, in you, and through you. Learn to recognize this flow, learn what creative flow is, learn what spiritual flow is — how you make subtle shifts within you or have simple realizations, and move towards a truer state of being.

That is what spiritual practice is about. It is not about perfection — which is not attainable. It is about moving towards the experience or quality of being that you aspire to.

part 6

What runs through your mind, incessantly, as a product of your worldly experience, is not awareness but programming. What you have never questioned, rules you. True inner awareness and free thinking are not possible without going beyond the common mindset or programming of the outer mind, and the most commonly accepted social conditioning since physical birth. Creative vision and understanding are overshadowed by many grosser influences that cloud judgment and reduce awareness.

Though we might tend to imagine the outer world is fixed and "real" and the same for all of us, we come to learn that our inner worlds are all different. How we experience the world is different for each of us. What we experience, what we perceive, how we interpret or understand it, is different for everyone.

Awareness brings us back to self-awareness. We are the witness to all that we perceive, think, feel, or desire. All of those things are as outside of us as the outer world. We are neither defined nor bound by what we perceive, think, feel, or desire.

Taking this one step further, as we engage in our spiritual practice and become more aware, we find that we are moving in a certain direction: away from being lost in the outer world (and our inner experience), toward something much closer to who we truly are, toward our Source.

part 7

By "true source" we mean the Divine, the True God.

Many people acknowledge, align with, or honor sources other than the True Source. This is not the most progressive form of spiritual practice. For example, some people refer to "the Universe" as "source." They declare that all of their needs are (or will be) met by the Universe. They mistakenly ascribe a certain kind of divinity to the universe which should be reserved for God.

Our True Source is not the universe.

For a very long time, there has been both spiritual darkness and light in this universe. The whole universe is polarized into positive and negative spiritual aspects and energies. For a very long time, spiritual practice was traditionally a form of balancing of these energies, accepting the positive and negative and calling it all "one." This may have been the way things were done in various spiritual traditions, but it was not the ultimate truth or reality. It was actually a form of spiritual compromise.

True Source — our original Source of Light — has no darkness within it. It has no evil within it. It is a more pure, divine, and free state of being, free from suffering, death, and all the pain and trauma of the karmic system which defines our universe and life in this world.

This Purity is what we aspire to return to, in consciousness, to be free from all spiritual darkness, evil, suffering, and oppression. Very simply, on the deepest level of our being, we want to be free, free from all that would keep us down, free to return to our True Source. This is the essence of every true spiritual practice: seeking spiritual freedom, alignment with the Divine, and a return to Purity.

part 8

Prayer is simply asking for what is right, good, and true for you — in the highest sense.

Prayer is entirely between you and God. There are no intermediaries in prayer.

Prayer can be an acknowledgment of our connection with God, and a way to seek a proper relationship. It can be for us or for others. And, it can be a way of seeking to reestablish our conscious connection with God when we do not have that in our awareness.

It is not the forcefulness of the prayer, the words, or whether or not anyone else hears it that matters. In fact, what matters is what is in your heart, not the words you say.

You do not need to go through any other person, any institution, or any scripture to commune with God. You do not need to recite chapter and verse. You do not have to say any specific words, and you do not get some greater benefit if you recite the exact words that you may have been told or taught by others. God is not that small.

Listen with your heart. And, be aware as you walk through the world, of new paths and choices and chances that open up for you. Allow prayer to be an expression of gratitude for how you are led.

part 9

Meditation is about being.

Beingness is the existence of the inner being, the spirit or soul, the consciousness, the silent witness of all that we experience or do in this so-called life. The inner being has true qualities of permanence, constancy, imperturbability, knowingness, and vision — which are so often missing in the outer world.

The qualities of true beingness include love, power, honesty, wisdom, peace, perseverance, and glory (of the divine source). And these are the exact qualities that are enlivened, appreciated, and expressed more fully when one gives oneself the chance to simply be — without doing.

When you begin to meditate, you may at first feel as if you are outside looking in; soon you will feel that you are on the inside, looking out. This is unfolding of the inner being.

part 10

Ideally, meditation is not something that is only practiced when we sit and withdraw from the world. It can be something we do actively, in the world.

Everything you do, everything you experience, is an opportunity to practice living, choosing, and being in a way that is more true to who you are. Think of everything you do as practicing a more true Way of being. It doesn't come from thinking about it, but from finding a place of centeredness, calm, and inner peace — a place to stand, a place from which to act, in all things.

Lesson 6: Stepping out of the karmic system

part 1

Karma means experiencing consequences from our actions. It implies that the process is fair, proper, and for our own good. This is not the case, however. Karma inevitably results in more karma, more negative consequences of our actions, in a very destructive cycle.

We have all lived many lives, in a system of incarnation and reincarnation known as the karmic system. The theory has been that in experiencing life and death repeatedly, a soul will learn all of the lessons it needs for its spiritual development, and eventually "graduate" from the system. This is, unfortunately, not true.

Something different is happening now. There is a different option. Rather than an endless assortment of options to choose within the karmic system, there is now the option to step out of the karmic system, entirely.

It is possible to reject the entire karmic system, now, and get off the endless cycle of suffering, life after life. It is possible to just say, "No."

part 2

For eons, spiritual beings have tried to balance good and evil, darkness and Light, as a way of coping with the ever-encroaching darkness. We have even sought a way out of the karmic system, but there really hasn't been any. Karma says that for each of our actions there is a reaction; and from that there is another action and reaction, and the process is never-ending.

All of this is presented to us as a form of "learning" or lessons. Karmic lessons, we are told, may be harsh or, less often, gentle, but they are always "for our benefit." We are always learning. But, what have we learned, other than that we want out of this endless cycle of suffering? Yet, that is the one true solution which the karmic system disallows. It gives us a choice between karmic lessons within the system, but does not allow the choice out of the system. It refuses to allow divine Grace.

It is not in your interest to continue to keep the karmic agreement to not know who you are. Breaking that unfair, oppressive, and self-defeating agreement is actually the only way to step out of the system of suffering which has kept you trapped for a very, very long time.

The epitome of spiritual development or unfoldment is the realization that this world — this whole physical universe — is an illusion. It is a virtual reality. Those who spiritually go beyond the physical dimension may see the physical world as an artificial creation, a virtual reality to use the modern scientific language. Total adaptation to and acceptance of the world we live in is not the Way, it is more the definition of what is in the way of coming to or knowing the Greater Reality.

part 3

There are countless teachings, traditions, philosophies and systems, which are for the specific purpose of helping you to adjust to the illusion that you are the role you have taken on in life. They help you to adjust yourself to and adapt to the karmic system.

We are going to step out of all of that.

part 4

We have been trapped within endless cycles of karmic suffering, life after life after life, for so long, that it may almost be inconceivable that we no longer have to choose to participate in that self-destructive process. We have been trained, programmed, conditioned by our experience, life after life after life, that the only choice available to us was what was the next role we would take on. We were never given or allowed the choice to no longer continue in that endless cycle. And the more we lived, the more we forgot who we were, the more karmic debts and negativity we accumulated, the more we suffered. The cycle seemed endless. And there did not seem to be any way to get out of it.

There is, however, a way to step out of your karmic agreement.

part 5

All you need to know is that you can. It is an opportunity that is available to you, now.

There is a way out. It is the way of grace, True grace, Divine grace.

Part of stepping out of the karmic system involves realizing that you do not — and never did and never will — learn anything by suffering. It involves the realization that a True God would not want any of His/Her children to suffer, or to be endlessly trapped in a system designed for suffering. It involves the realization that it would be God's will and most loving intent for you to be freed from suffering, from whatever has held you in a place of suffering for such a very long time. And, if it really is God's will that you be free, and whole, and reunited with the divine, then why would you continue to choose otherwise?

part 6

Live from grace. That is sufficient.

part 7

There is no separation from God, in Beingness. There is no separation from God, in consciousness. But, our individual consciousness, our individual being, is often not aware of the presence or existence of God, in this world. That is not a common experience. The world has so many layers of illusion, so many filters for our perception, understanding, and awareness, that we simply forget the presence of the divine.

part 8

Being detached means learning to be more objective, find the truth, listen to your conscience, and honor your inner being. It is a Way of Being. In this true state of Being, living from your center, here, now, it is possible to let go of the incessant pull of opposites: wealth and poverty, power and helplessness, love and hate, expectation and disappointment, restraint and indulgence, ambition and contentment, dependence and independence, aversion and desire. What gets lost in all of this is you; all you feel is what is pulling on you, or driving you.

Detachment simply means finding a place to stand in our own self, in the ground of our own being, so that we are not reactive to everything and everyone around us. When we learn to stand in our own being, though we are in the world we are not a product of the world; we are more connected to Source or cause, than effect.

This doesn't mean all of your problems will be solved via detachment, but they will no longer drain you, depress you, or run you. With detachment, you simply do not let things, especially problems, run your life. There is already a difference or separation between the problem (whatever it may be) and you, your self. You may or may not be able to change the situation, but you can change your relationship to it. You can change; you can let go.

part 9

There are many ways to go beyond our problems, to "let go and let God."

Many people are lost in the past, seeking to relive past glories or ruminating about past failures, disappointments, or losses. Some people feel that they cannot face the future, and therefore leave a (large or small) part of themselves in the past. The idea of detaching from something which is already past, is intolerable to them. The illusions of the past can have that strong a grip on people. But, if you wish to deal with life properly in the present, you have to withdraw (or reclaim) the part of you (or your consciousness) that is trapped or invested in the past. The past is past; it is only an illusion that you can keep it alive. This is not to say that we cannot have cherished memories, especially of dear departed friends, but rather that we need to be aware, focused, and clear, here and now, to properly deal with life, now. How well can you drive a car if you are fixated on the rear view mirror? Life is that way. It is necessary to detach from the past, to truly manage the present. Be. Here. Now.

Lesson 7: Spiritual healing and wholeness

part 1

Spiritual healing is, basically, a stepping out of deficiency, into a more spiritually whole state of being. Our "self" is spread out over many levels: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. It may be fragmented, split, weakened, or otherwise not integral, with parts of us trapped in the past, overwhelmed in the present, or projected into an imaginary future. There may be many parts of us on other levels that we are not in touch with, which need to be reintegrated, so that we may be more whole and wholly alive.

part 2

Actually, when most of us think of healing, we think more in terms of our physical bodies, or perhaps our minds and emotions. Rarely do we think in terms of spiritual healing.

Yet, we are really spiritual beings. That is who we are. So, true healing must in some way relate to who we really are, or else how could we call it healing?

It is ironic that science focuses almost entirely on the body, when we are not the body. None of us is the body we find ourselves in. We are the inner being, the consciousness, soul or spirit. But medical doctors can only see the physical body, can only understand "cause and effect" in terms of what they can measure with their scientific instruments, and choose to entirely ignore the spirit.

part 3

Parts of who we are have become separate from us. We have left parts of our consciousness in the past. We have left parts of ourselves in places, events, traumas, and possessions we have. Just think, for a moment, of all of the things you possess; think of all the places you've lived; think of stressful events in your life, including, perhaps, trauma or abuse. We lose parts of ourselves in our worldly experience; they become disconnected from us. Our self is somehow fractured, and parts of us remain trapped in past experiences, places, things, and circumstances. This is why people say they just cannot get over something, or forget it, or move on. Part of them is actually stuck there, and they cannot recover it.

So, spiritual healing requires us to return to wholeness, reclaim parts of ourselves that we have left behind or lost sight of, and heal the dis-integration that we experienced in the world.

Simply coming in to this life, we are made to forget who we are, all we have ever learned, and the "whole" of who we truly are. We are fragmented, given a physical body, and sent on our way. This is why we suffer. We are disadvantaged, dissociated, and dis-integrated from the start.

part 4

There are some spiritual teachings that say we need to accept everything, good and evil, light and darkness, right and wrong, without discerning the difference. They declare that everything is really the same, all is one, and all is well in the universe. That is simply not true.

There is not supposed to be any such thing as suffering, disease, death, or separation from the Divine. Yet, it happens in this localized universe, contrary to what happens in the rest of the Divine creation. It is a phenomenon or aberration which does exist, and which does not go away by our telling ourselves we cannot see it or that it doesn't exist, or that all is well. That is the worst form of spiritual denial.

Instead of living from the divine qualities of Light, Love, Peace, Honesty, Wisdom, Power, and Grace, we live in polarity or duality, bouncing back and forth between the opposite spiritual qualities of light and darkness, love and hate, honesty and corruption, wisdom and ignorance, peace and war, power and weakness, grace and bondage. The domain in which we go from one polarity to the other, over and over, is known as the karmic system.

part 5

There are some teachings which say we should not discern the difference between opposites, because that "creates opposition." That is simply not true. Everything is already structured in opposition in this universe, including our very life energy. Everything is already polarized. Seeing how it is does not make it that way.

The "Universe" is not supremely benevolent or solely good. It is totally polarized and demonstrates every form of spiritual darkness, evil, corruption, violence, abuse, destruction, suffering, and death imaginable. None of that is connected to the original Divine Source or Divine will. Imagining evil, wrong, and darkness do not exist, or it is "all good," does not ever make it so. Not now. Not ever.

So, those who refuse to discern the difference between good and evil, right and wrong, and Light and darkness only perpetuate the system of suffering for everyone else. Even if they manage to escape suffering in some way.

Opposing evil does not create evil. It does not give power to evil. It does not make evil exist. Rather, it allows connection with True Source.

Seeing what is wrong does not make it wrong. It does not give it power. It is not judging. Rather, it allows us to perceive and connect with True Source.

If ever you begin to fall for the illusion that everything is perfect, and the universe if totally benevolent, open your eyes to the suffering that all beings have had for all recorded time, which continues to this day. If you are not suffering greatly, do not use that as an excuse to ignore — or rationalize, or accept — the suffering of everyone else, including those who are living in the most horrific circumstances, right now. Accepting suffering, thinking it has value or that it is merely our own choosing, imagining that nothing "bad" ever happens to us, merely perpetuates the karmic system of suffering for everyone.

part 6

Light does not need spiritual darkness to exist; love does not need hate; peace does not need war, and so on. The true balance is simply a balance of complementary and harmonious divine spiritual qualities — without the negative aspect being necessary at all.

Realize, you do not need to live with the harmful polarization and negativity of this world — you can find your true divine essence, and live from there. The Way to do this is not by denying the existence of negativity but by living in a place of true balance — free from that negativity — as best you can.

part 7

We carry with us an impression of all prior experiences. That impression is present in our energy body, and the karma is stored in our main energy centers.

It is possible to clear out the karmic energy of countless lives by first of all rejecting karma, stepping out of the karmic system, and then transmuting all of the negative energy in or around us. Negative energy draws negative events, circumstances, and hardship to us.

part 8

Everything changes. As much as would might like some things to remain as they are, all things must change, all things must pass. This is not a bad thing.

We have to believe that nothing good is ever lost.

And we need to know what to hold on to and what to let go of.

We don't get to control everything in our lives in some magical state of enlightenment. All we can do is live our life as best we can. Some things may change a lot, others may not seem to change at all. Spiritual maturity is a process of rising above the suffering, attachments, and ego-emotional nature of our lives. It doesn't make everything perfect. It doesn't heal everything.

part 9

We have this life. It is enough to remember, understand, know, or realize who we truly are.

One life is enough to find the truth, love, peace, and hope in our heart.

One life is enough to open ourselves to receiving Divine Grace.

This world is not heaven, heavenly, or the kingdom of God. It is not our true home, source, or origin. It is what we need to reach beyond, not adjust to.

In the words of one ancient tradition: "Can the good actions or dreadful sins that a man fancies himself doing in the dream-state, lead him to heaven or hell after he has awakened from sleep?"

It is time to awaken from the long sleep, and the dream-state.

Lesson 8: A "path" with heart

part 1

We are all walking a path, whether we know it or not. You are moving through your life by making choices that seem right for you. And, in our modern society, you are most likely to evaluate the success of the choices you make in terms of the outer material world.

There is a more personal "path" in life that is available to all of us. It is a "path" with heart. This means a way to walk through the world — and to walk spiritually — not with the mind, but the heart. We are not saying to abandon reason or understanding, but to give the deeper understanding and experience of the heart a chance to develop.

We are too "mental" in our society, in our work, our relationships, our recreations, our healing approaches, and our spirituality. This isolates us and tends to build up ego, illusion, and worldly desire. There is a great need for more heart: deeper truth, appreciation, acknowledgment, compassion, and love.

We can have an open heart, and be willing to love, and experience the deeper sense of understanding, compassion, and caring that dwell within our own hearts. That does not depend upon anyone else, but you. And it does not mean you become more emotional, less discerning, or all touchy-feely. The heart is a place of balance, and it gives you balance as you walk through life.

part 2

The essence of spiritual realization and progress is opening to receive, within you.

You can know all kinds of doctrine and dogma, accept all the answers you have been taught or told by various authorities, and believe you are living a moral life, without ever opening to receive the gift of Spirit — without opening to spirit, within you.

This takes something different.

It takes an act of surrender, an act of opening to the Divine, a willingness to receive.

If there is any true spirituality, it cannot be based in causing or rationalizing suffering or harm to anyone. And, if that is what we believe, then we need to be aware of how we practice that.

part 3

There is a place to stand, within you — your true self — where you can deal with everything in the world around you, from a place of inner strength, wisdom, peace, love, and power. You can find a place of balance, the courage to question things, know what is right for you, and act from there.

Here is a simple Way.

It is simply acknowledging and connecting with the Highest within you.

part 4

Meditation is about being, being who you truly are, in the highest sense.

Some people find it very hard to just sit quietly for ten minutes, especially when they are used to constant sensory stimulation. If that is the case, you may wish to play some quiet, gentle music in the background as you sit. That is better than trying to occupy your mind with thoughts as you meditate, or being impatient and stopping. Give yourself a chance to become a bit more comfortable and familiar with your own calm, quiet, centered, inner being.

If you prefer, you can do a more active form of meditation, which follows.

part 5

There are three basic movements, or body positions, which favor the experience of being centered. The physical centering practice supports a clearer experience of being mentally, emotionally, and spiritually centered. They can all be done sitting or standing, as you prefer, though the first movement tends to be better performed sitting, the second one is equally simple either way, and the third movement may be better performed standing.

You may wish to learn and do the first movement, then add the second, and then do all three together.

part 6

There is a lot of power in movement, where you seek alignment with the highest aspect of your self, and the Divine, right here in your body. These are further exercises for grounding yourself and connecting with spirit.

part 7

"I love you. I have always loved you. I have not forsaken you; I have not forgotten you for a moment. I have reached out to you, through the illusions of time and space, and I am there for you, now, in your own heart. If you seek Truth, you seek me. If you welcome the Light that shines on your Way, you welcome me. If you accept and live in the Love in your own heart, you dwell in me, forever." — God

How would you live differently, if you knew — more than you knew anything else — that God loved you? What would you do for the love of God?

What if there wasn't anything you had to do, to merit the love of God? What if all you had to "do" was to accept that love, and return it?

As we go through this world, we have endless motivations, desires, wishes. We have so much to do, that we forget to take time to be. We do not take enough time to be with God.

The things we pursue in life — money, success, authority, status, relationships, and so on — none of these is a replacement for having a relationship with our True Source. Think about everything you want, and understand what it is you really want: you want to experience a place of fulfillment, peace, joy, and love within you. You don't really want what you think you want, as much as you want to experience those qualities within you. That inner experience is the true goal.

Lesson 9: Spiritual freedom

part 1

Spiritual freedom is the opposite of adaptation to the world. Hence the teaching that we are to "be in the world but not of the world." The more adapted you are or become to the material world, the less in touch you become with your spiritual nature and your inner being. You become shaped by and conformed to the world. And lose your self in the world.

But, wouldn't anyone want to be free from pain, suffering, evil, ignorance, disease, and death — if that was possible? It is possible. But, it doesn't happen as a result of simply accepting all of those things as being perfectly normal, right, good, and true. Yes, they happen; no, they are not the way things are supposed to be.

You cannot live in spiritual freedom by imagining you are free, or holding the illusion that everything is perfect, any more than you can live in the desert without finding an oasis of water. No illusion of water is ever going to quench your thirst, sustain you, or give you life. No illusion of spiritual perfection in this world is ever going to lead you to Life eternal.

part 2

If you are not spiritually free, you are most likely living your life within the boundaries of the most hypnotic, habitual, unconscious patterns of behavior, and may not even be aware of it.

You are not your body, and you are not the patterns of behavior you may have. You are not your thoughts or feelings or desires or indoctrination. You are the conscious witness to all of that.

Wealth is not a means of escaping the karmic system. If you imagine that rich people have somehow risen above the system, you are mistaken. If you believe that poor people cannot rise above the system, you are mistaken. Spiritual freedom has nothing to do with anything of the material world, least of all material possessions or wealth. And wealth is not a sign that you have mastered the karmic system and all your "lessons." It is just another mirage in the desert of life.

Spiritual freedom means getting free from illusions, not embracing the biggest ones. Total adaptation to the karmic system — even if you imagine you have everything you could ever want — is the exact opposite of spiritual freedom. It is total ignorance and self-deception.

part 3

Most of us experience some major problems in our lives, disappointments, hurts, abuse, loss, trauma, conflict, despair. There is something about the most stressful events or circumstances which makes it hard to get past them, resolve them, or move out of them. And, sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we can't seem to let go or move on.

The reason why, is that part of us is trapped in that situation, still. Part of who we are, on a more subtle level, remains there, beyond our ability to retrieve it. Whether you consider the part of us that is "missing" or which feels lost to us to be part of our soul, our consciousness, our sense of worth or self-esteem, our human dignity or freedom, or our spirit, the feeling is the same. There is an emptiness in us where there should be fullness and wholeness.

You — spirit or soul — were the same before you came into this life, and you will be the same when you leave this life. You play a role in this life, and then you leave. If you have this larger perspective, you can begin to let go of all of the things that may happen to you in this life. Realizing who you were before this life, as a spiritual being, and who you will be after this life — the same spiritual being — why should anything you experience here affect you so? Only because you lose sight of who you really are.

The problem is: you forgot who you were when you came here, into this life.

The more you know who you truly are, the more spiritually free you will be. The more you live in illusions of who you are, the less spiritually free you become. You are free. Know that.

part 4

Consciousness — the "I am" that you are — is a silent witness to all that you experience, all that you have ever experienced. Consciousness is beyond — not limited or defined by — the external, physical, material world. Nothing in this world has ever touched who you truly are. Know that.

Have you ever thought, "If only I could return to the way I was before such-and-such happened. I'd give anything to be able to do that"? In reality, you already are who you were before, and who you will be after, every experience in this world. Can you come back to that larger context of experience, and know yourself as the eternal witness to everything you experience?

part 5

If by finding our Way — living in a way that is right, good and true for us — we are able to follow Spirit back to who we truly are, then we will live that Way for eternity, forever. That is the time frame that we are working on, here: forever. With this perspective, knowing you will find your way into an eternal kingdom of goodness, peace, love, and Light, you can put up with just about anything while you are still here in this world, in this body.

That doesn't mean you have to be apathetic, or just put up with things that you feel to make better. But, it means you simply do not have to do all the things you once might have thought you had to do, because "life is short and then you die.".

The question is, really, how can you live in a Way that is more true to who you are in the Divine, and who the Divine is in you?

part 6

Consciousness — who you are — is not bound in time or space. When we speak of who you are "inside," we do not literally mean to define who you are as something that exists within (or around) your body. Consciousness is unbounded in time and space.

Time and space are dimensions within consciousness, which is far more multi-dimensional. Another way to say that is: time and space are a product of consciousness.

Sometimes we get lost in "density." Things are "heavy." We feel heavy, burdened. The mind feels thick and impenetrable. Those are all illusions of the dimension we live in, time and space. Realize, even physical matter is almost entirely empty space; and the "substance" of matter is essentially energy or information, rather than anything material.

You are consciousness, pure consciousness. So, what would cause you to identify yourself with anything of the material world? You may recall the spiritual requirement that we "be in the world, but not of the world." We are to step back from the world, and come closer to who we truly are, rather than taking our identity from the world or anything of the world.

Awaken to who you are, and the dream you once imagined was so real will pass. Rub the sleep from your eyes. Let the fleeting images and substanceless illusions pass, and you will know yourself as the dreamer, the witness, the consciousness. You will know who you are in God, and who God is in you.

part 7

Do you want to know God? Free your mind, and free your spirit. It takes just a minute to step out of the endless cycle of past "life," to come into the present moment, where God is. Right here. Right now.

All of your journey in the past has brought you to here, now. You are here, now. It doesn't matter where you have ever been, or how you got here. You are here, now. You are here, in the present moment, and you are not in the past. You are free from the past. So, let go of everything from the past.

Now, imagine that you live your life that way, from this moment on, in each and every moment. There is no other true Way to live life. The past must disappear into nothingness, at each and every moment. The future is not yet here. You have the present moment to live, to Be in. Your power and spiritual strength, your spiritual vision, begins here, now. Reclaim your self, your true inner spiritual being. Your inner being may have been overshadowed by the past, or lost in the incessant rush of the past into your programmed future. Stop that. Step back. Tell yourself, "Just wait a minute, here." And do not let your past — which no longer exists — mindlessly, habitually, automatically, determine your future.

You always have this moment, the present moment, to be with God, and for God to be with you. Remember that.

part 8

God is the Light which shines on your way, which lights your path through your whole journey in life. How could God not be here, now?

You may have not noticed that Light on your path, you may have even disregarded it or been led astray by the world, but that Light did not go away.

You may have not listened to the voice of conscience, that quiet reminder to do what you know to be right, good, and true, within you, but that Light of conscience did not go away.

The Truth has always been there, in you, with you, to lead you.

part 9

Let the spirit of God lead you, quietly, from within. The less nonsense of this world you fill your mind with, the easier it will be to realize and do what you know to be right, good, and true, within you. That is God leading you, from within. It is the Way God works. There is not a lot of shouting at you, preaching at you, dogma, or indoctrination. It is simply God speaking you to, spirit to spirit, heart to heart. How could it be any other Way?

The next time the world tries to snow you under, with all of its nonsense, programming, indoctrination, propaganda, egotism, emotion, exploitation, abusiveness, corruption, lies, falsehoods, or illusions, say, "Just a minute." Step back, and quietly turn to the Presence of God, in you, for your strength. You may make mistakes in this life — who doesn't — but just keep turning toward God, and you will do just fine. Always let the spirit lead, from within you, and do not try to get ahead of yourself. Let God lead, and just do the best you can. God would not ask any more of you, or any less.

part 10

Spiritual realization is sometimes referred to as self-realization or God-realization. That does not mean that we realize we are God, even though that is how some people misinterpret the experience. Rather, we realize who we are, and we realize who God is. We realize who we are in God, and what the Divine spark is in us. We do not "become" God.

Neither do we "grow" to become who we already are. We realize who we already are, and experience that more fully, so that we live from there. It is not merely an intellectual or mental state we aspire to, but rather the return to a conscious experience of the unboundedness of our self, far beyond the constraints of "normal" life in this world. We are no longer conformed to the world.

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