What Is The Spiritual Path?
August 3, 2008
For many years of my life, I thought the spiritual path had something to do with following one of the major world religions or pursuing an Eastern practice. I even thought it had something to do with morality and ethics.
Today my comprehension of the spiritual path has changed completely. Instead of the complexity of any of the disciplines to becoming a good person, I have found that the path is simple. In fact, some of the greatest atheists have followed it better than many theists. An example that comes to mind is the famous British Philosopher Bertrand Russell, who lived an impeccable life of wisdom, compassion, and grace..
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." That is the spiritual path. Everything else–all the theology, philosophy, and practices–lead you to that singular ideal.
Physically, do you like to be murdered, wounded, beaten, or raped? Emotionally, do you like to be humiliated, disenfranchised, betrayed, abandoned, disrespected, alienated, and cast aside? Mentally, do you like to be cheated, swindled, lied to, vilified or misinformed?
Of course not. In fact, your whole body just cringes at the thought of such mishap.
Homeless, Rejected, and Poor
July 28, 2008
Fanny J. Crosby’s famous hymn, "Tell Me the Story of Jesus," describes the Savior in terms of Isaiah 53: "He was despised and afflicted," and then adds, “homeless, rejected, and poor." Last week, as we sang this beautiful song, I focused on that word, "homeless," and thought about all of the connotations we give to it these days.
It’s hard to imagine Jesus as a homeless person or our usual stereotype–scraggly beard and unkempt hair, dirty clothes, body odor, panhandling, looking for thrown-away objects he can use or sell. Despised, afflicted, rejected, and poor, he would certainly be one from whom men turn away their faces (Isa. 53:3).
Yet it is in the eyes of the homeless of this world, the dirt poor, the abandoned, and the forsaken that we need to be looking for the likeness of Jesus. What did he say?
Whatever you do for the least of these brothers of mine–whether it is feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, giving clothes to those in rags, or visiting those who are sick or in prison–you are doing it for me. Thanks!
Spiritual Growth: Measures for How Youre Doing
July 20, 2008
In my yard are quarter-circles of grass growing taller than the rest. There ’s also a 12-foot circle with no grass. What explains these phenomena? Alien laser blasts? A Martian landing site? No. The arcs are where we threw lawn fertilizer, and the circle is where the above-ground pool stood. Whether growth is fast, slow, or non-existent, the difference is easy to discern.
Paul tells his opponents to stop using worldly yardsticks instead of God’s (2 Cor. 10:12). By a worldling’s measure, Paul seemed a failure, but in God’s eyes he was a glorious conqueror. By what standards should we measure spiritual progress?
The World Revolves Around Me
July 14, 2008
Lately I have become aware of a new truth that is formulating in my life.
After years of study in New Age and New Thought a new awareness of self is emerging. I created this site to pass on any new wisdom I may have gained to those that may receive benefit from it. Many times over the last year that wisdom has been reflected back to me by others that I have brought into my life either physically or from this site.
I am here alone; I have created my world and the circumstances of it. I am talking to myself and bringing awareness to myself in all that I do, I do for self. I am planting seeds along the way and return to reap the harvest every now and then. Those that I believe I am helping are helping me. They in truth are me in different physical bodies. They are my soul mates that are here in an exchange program that we are involved with.
Penthouse or Basement? The Spiritual Realm is Topsy-Turvy
July 8, 2008
Am I dreaming? The sign outside the skyscraper reads: "Spiritual Realm." I hurry straight to the elevator. "Up, please," I tell the operator.
She looks confused? "Up? You want to go up?"
"Certainly!" I swallow my annoyance. "To the top." The elevator starts ascending rapidly. I fidget.
"Isn’t it getting stuffy in here?" I remark.
She shrugs. "Yeah. A/C cuts off past the 30th floor." Ding! "Penthouse." As the doors open, a rush of heat invades the elevator.
I scream, "Shut it, quick!" Just before the doors close, I notice the sign: SATAN CORPORATION–and just below it: HERE YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE.
We fall rapidly. In moments the A/C kicks back on.
"I don’t understand. I thought God would be at the top, but it’s Satan. What gives?"
"Didn’t you check the directory in the lobby?" the operator answers. "God’s offices are in the basement."
"The basement?"
"Yup. Offices here are assigned according to hubris."
"Hubris? I’m not familiar with the term."
"It means ‘wanton arrogance resulting from excessive pride.’"
"I see. So because God and His associates are low in hubris…"
"…they’re in the basement."
No Other gods Before Me
July 3, 2008
The passenger had to be carried onto the plane and carefully strapped into a first-class seat. She said nothing. As the airliner achieved cruising altitude, perhaps the flight attendants came around. "Would you like a beverage?" one may have asked. No reply. "What about a meal?" The question was ignored. Undoubtedly, the passenger said nothing. She didn’t move, didn’t look out the window, didn’t make a sound. In fact, she didn’t even breathe.
The passenger was Matsu, a gold-plated statue believed to be an actual goddess. The mainland Chinese sent her on a tour of Taiwan, some say as a ploy by Beijing to bring Taiwan eventually under its rule through cultural infiltration. The Taiwan Independence Party denounced the goddess’s arrival with banners that read, "Chinese people should worship Chinese gods, Taiwanese people should worship Taiwanese gods."
The Bible bluntly rejects idolatry. Isaiah speaks of a man who chops up a tree. Half of it he burns as firewood to keep warm, and the other half he fashions into an idol and worships as his creator. "No one stops to think!" Isaiah exclaims (Isa. 44:19). The half he burnt as firewood did him more good than the other half!
People Fail in Life Because They Do Not Plan
June 28, 2008
Life is growth. For many people life is like a merry go round. They feel life is going to work, paying bills, spend time with family that is it. You must always ask this question. Is this all I want in my life? Are you utilizing your God given potential? You must make a choice of how you want to live your life.
The human mind is so powerful that it can achieve whatever it wants. Past Conditioning does affect your life. Pavlov the Russian Scientist did an experiment with a dog. Every time he rang the bell the dog came to him and he rewarded with the biscuit. After a few days when the dog heard the bell it went straight to him thinking he would get a biscuit. After a week Pavlov found out that the dog would start to salivate as soon as it heard the bell because it was connecting the sound with food. The dog was thinking every time when the bell rings it is going to be fed. So Pavlov had conditioned the dog to expect food when it heard the bell ring. The same applies to human being. You are conditioned to believe that your life is going to be a failure. Every time something happens immediately we say it only happens to me. So change your past conditioning and recondition your mind with positive thoughts to reach your new destination. Look for the positives and dwell on them.
Anam Cara - Life as a Box of Paints
June 21, 2008
Lonely Song
"a box of paints - lament for my da"
It has been a wonderful morning full of feelings. Feelings arise and feelings go. First there is delight. Then there is sorrow. Then again there is delight. I sit playing guitar in the early morning sunshine and the mail arrives. In the mail is a gift from a friend. On opening this mail I find new delight. I have been sent a magazine and on the back is a love poem.
I treat each of these feelings as a simple movement of energy without judgement.
It is I imagine how children experience the world before they learn to label their feelings. This is the time before they learn to add the labels "good" and "bad" to the free flow of their energy. Whereupon feelings become emotions and emotions become blocked.
I am drawn to lamenting. This word "lamenting" is the root meaning of the phrase "to care." Anyone who cares deeply is by nature a lamenter. I sing songs of lamenting and am often moved to tears. Lamenting is an experience I love. I think in my home country of Ireland it is an experience many are drawn to via our history.
Anam Cara - Watching The River Flow
June 14, 2008
I love rivers. I have for many years lived away from rivers. Yet, when I ever felt unhappy or uninspired I would seek out a pathway along the nearest river to my home.
I have returned home to Ireland following many happy years in England. I am blessed now to live close to the River Shannon near to the first village on the Shannon. This is the village called “Dowra.” In Irish the name is an Damhraith, which translates either as “the black stream” or “the stream of the oxen.”
I live near the source of the Shannon. This is called "Shannon Pot". This place marks the beginning of the longest river in the British Isles. This is a place where the beauty of the land and myth come together. This is a deep place not just symbolized by the deep, dark peaty waters of the pool.
The Shannon Pot is a place of placidity. It reminds me of how I am to move in the world. It reminds me to go placidly amidst this noise and haste of 21st Century living. It reminds me to deepen my connection to this extraordinary flow of energy we call “life.”
You Can Influence Your Fortunes In Life
June 8, 2008
Natural laws exist that serve to maintain order in the universe. These laws are usually manifested as regularity in nature (as in the seasons) or as a relationship between cause and effect. In the physical realm natural laws exist which govern the behaviour of matter. Examples of such laws are Newton’s Laws of Motion. In the social aspect of life, natural laws also exist that regulate human activity. The Law of Demand and Supply is an example of such a law. This phenomenon is also manifested in the spiritual aspect of life. Universal and immutable spiritual laws exist which govern human creative activity.
Observation and experience show the existence of two spiritual laws. These are: The Law of Creative Accomplishment and the Law of Reciprocal Action. Let us now examine these laws.
The Law of Creative Accomplishment
The law provides that success will inevitably crown our efforts if we persevere in our pursuit of a goal and if we have faith in God. In other words, perseverance and faith in God will always lead to success in our pursuits.
The relationship between faith in God, perseverance and success was first made known by Jesus Christ. Hear him on faith in God (Mark 11:20-24):-
