Tag Archives: spiritual growth

Silence

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I spent some hours of Saturday in silence. I was going to sleep in but couldn’t, so I meditated a bit longer than usual. I meditated alone that day and it was very peaceful and I promised myself I would allow that peace to continue throughout the day.

Sunset from where our workshop is.

Sunset from where our workshop is.


I had worked my hours for the week and this was my day off, but I wanted to do something in silence where I could meditate in activity. I chose this day to go back to digging my trench. It’s been out there calling me, but there have been other projects I needed to do first. Since this was my day off, I gave myself permission to do as I pleased. It’s been raining often so the ground is fairly soft (it’s a heavy soil mostly made of red clay and some sand and rocks, when the rain comes it’s softer for a few days and then it dries out again and it’s almost like concrete and seems fairly impossible to dig) and the sun was just starting to shine through the thinning clouds.

Snow on Bench near Temple at The Expanding Light

Snow on Bench near Temple at The Expanding Light

As I prepared my tools and looked at my work I had the thought that anyone else might think I was out of my mind, but I couldn’t wait to begin. I had been silently chanting since my meditation and I continued for hours as I worked in the soil. It is hard work for the body. Different parts of my body were complaining, but I pushed on at a steady pace. I was sweating a good amount and it felt refreshing to do so.

Heron near pond at Ananda Village

Heron near pond at Ananda Village


When it came time to take lunch inside, I was ready to rest and eat. I decided to eat at a table set aside for people who want to be silent. I quietly began to eat my meal and I listened to random thoughts in my mind as they attempted to disturb my peace. I didn’t give in them and just sat quietly eating my meal. I kept my gaze away from people and in time noticed I could feel something inside of me. Something was there. It was quiet, peaceful, joy. It rose up in me and I was deeply blessed. It came again and again and my eyes wanted to weep but I didn’t let them this time. Instead I offered it back to God in prayer and gratitude.

The simplest things are asking for my calm attention. The more attention I give to life, the more it seems to speak to me in return. It's a silent conversation, one that I'm more aware of now than ever before.

The simplest things are asking for my calm attention. The more attention I give to life, the more it seems to speak to me in return. It’s a silent conversation, one that I’m more aware of now than ever before.

This feeling continued when I went back to digging. I talked with my guru and told him I would dig this ditch for a thousand miles and for the rest of my life if it pleased him. I feel so free in my heart right now. Something is happening to me here. I’m learning what no one could ever teach me in a class or book, or when living in the city. I’m learning something new about me and about my relationship with God.

Meditation on the ridge at the end of day before dinner. When Ashleigh and I meditate we often think of you. We pray that your lives will be as blessed as ours. That your peace and joy grow with the realization that God is within you and that He is the only reality.

Meditation on the ridge at the end of day before dinner. When Ashleigh and I meditate we often think of you. We pray that your lives will be as blessed as ours. That your peace and joy grow with the realization that God is within you and that He is the only reality.

God Bless You,

turiya

How to Measure Spiritual Growth

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Speaking with a friend last night the subject of “change” came up and while this person had a very good attitude about the change they are going through, this reminded me of times when I have experienced much change. Sometimes it can feel as if we have lost our footing and we are not sure if we are actually making upward progress, or slipping into a deep crevasse. At these times it has been helpful for me to think of life as surfing a wave in the ocean. To succeed we must remain nearly as fluid as water while riding the changing wave to our goal. Spiritual growth is a flow, it’s not bashing through the waves with jet power. For me it’s all about working with life in harmony with eternal principals that are always present. In these principals I find the firm grounding I desire, even when my actual path has never been predictable.

(Eternal Principals: We may listen to, or ignore them, but they never change. For example: It’s never right to hate another. To do so brings pain in my heart, therefore I know I have gone against myself in this act.)

This morning I was studying one of my favorite books of all time in preparation for a study group that I lead in Los Angeles and felt inspired to share these quotes with you. I offer these because they have helped me in my most difficult times, and I hope they do the same for you.

The book is called, The Art and Science of Raja Yoga, and was written by Swami Kriyananda. These excerpts are from chapter 14.

“Remember, the surest guideline of spiritual progress is the growing sense that God’s is the only power in life—a growing sense, because this understanding must be dynamic, not passive. (Too many devotees shrink from acts demanding courage and initiative, out of fear of strengthening their own egos. But how can one realize God as the Sole Doer, when nothing ever gets done?)

“The basis of all true progress is right attitude. If you are becoming more kind, more self-giving, more calm, you may be sure that you are progressing whether you see visions or not. If you are succeeding in relinquishing your likes and dislikes, and are learning to accept even-mindedly whatever experiences life sends you, then you have much cause for rejoicing. If you find that you have fewer and fewer desires for the things of this world, know that you are truly finding freedom. And more important still, if your love for God is growing ever deeper, know that you are fast approaching Him. And if through all the trials of life you always feel joy inwardly, a joy that nothing can shake, know that you have Him already to a wonderful degree.”

Have a great day!

turiya

Why Worship Anything?

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From “Rays of the Same Light,” by J. Donald Walters:
“One who accepts sincerely does so in order to become changed, to grow spiritually, and not to parade before the world his outward affiliation with this religion or with that.”

The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (or Divine Mother), are all aspects of our same one being. But saying this, and realizing it are two different things.

I believe that by training our heart’s love, and our deepest thought to remain fixed on God through regular deep meditation, and by living as if we are only channels for the Divine will, we can overcome the limitations of our own false self image. As we loosen the hold of old thoughts and habits, which cause us to relate to life and people as anything but God, we experience greater freedom ourselves.

Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater!

Buddha, Jesus, Krishna, Moses, Muhammad, are crucified every day by many of their own followers, and the institutions created by them.

Worshiping God is not self-deprecation; it’s a way of training us to accept our own greater reality as one with all. I don’t mean to worship a religion, or institution that claims to speak in the name of this master or that. These are only human expressions based on whomever they view as the source of their inspiration. Strive to see God in all things. God is the sea, and people, circumstances, and things are only waves on its surface.

Why reinvent the wheel?

Learning is not achieved only through the intellect. It’s important to put yourself in the vibration of those who manifest the qualities you wish to develop in yourself. Immerse yourself in the vibration of the spiritual master you feel drawn toward and those living representatives of your teaching that manifest the qualities you desire for yourself.

Read and meditate on their words, poems, and music. Live as if they are right with you all the time. Commune with followers of your teaching and work with them to share inspiration with all. This is all to help you attune your consciousness with the ray of grace that comes through your path.

Be true to yourself.

Blindly following a path or its teachers is not the way to salvation. Even within our teaching (once we find it) we must listen to our own intuition and only embrace what feels right in our own heart of hearts. Deep inside of you and beneath the turbulence of emotional feeling is your intuitive sense of what is right and true. NEVER go against this. Any teacher, institution, or counselor that asks you to go against what you feel is right, has crossed a boundary that raises a big warning flag.

Don’t expect humans to be perfect. You must never give your own free will away to human followers of even what feels to be the truest teaching. They have egos too, and again, they should never ask this of you.

But strive to give your will to God directly. God speaks softly in the heart. And serving God through the institution where He comes to you most clearly may be a very good thing, but never let the importance of  “the work” replace God’s voice and His Joy in your own heart.

God can speak to us through all people and any situation. Developing our intuitive feeling through meditation will greatly help us know what is true, and what is not, in all situations.

Mistakes are required for learning.

Don’t be afraid of making lots of mistakes. Just try your very best, to do what is right for all concerned.  Learn from it, let it go and try again. Repeat daily. :-)

What is Spiritual?

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I’m now thinking it may help to understand where I am coming from in these posts if I define what I mean when I use the word “spiritual.”

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To me, “spiritual” means, “that which is expansive to ones consciousness.” Spiritual growth (in my mind) is the increasing experience of unity with all.

A mother naturally includes the welfare of her children as part of her own reality. This is potentially expansive to her consciousness, but expansion is not limited to moms. By willingly putting the welfare of others before our own, we grow in patience, acceptance, kindness, and joy. Aligning our actions with what we feel is right for all, instead of what we personally prefer is spiritually enriching.

If pride of heritage, country, religion, etc. causes us to favor one group over another, we are shrinking the size of our family, and our love. The more conditions we put on our love, the less joy and love we experience.

What is forward for one person can be backward for another. All that is important, is that we learn and grow. Comparing ones spiritual position with others is a trap. This is a negative habit of the mind that keeps us separate. This is the exact energy we must overcome to experience our higher nature.

Spiritual growth is a gradual process of releasing attachment to the little wave of our ego, and awakening to the reality of our oneness with the whole sea.

I think of great saints as perfect moms. But they love all of humanity as their children, or as their family in God.

Spiritual growth is not easy when we face a big test, but it does bring an increasing experience of joy and fulfillment over the long term. And this is how to gauge our own progress.

Joy to You!

turiya

Spirituality & Relationships Pt 2

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How do you keep yourself from not being affected by their mood swings?

Understanding the source of the moods may help. It all depends on how we look at things. It’s pointless to blame others for what we are feeling. If we are reacting to their mood swings, it’s up to us to recognize this and let our (unreasonable) expectations go. Work with “what is.” A healthy level of non-attachment may allow your relationship to deepen instead of shrinking it with a controlling energy that is unhealthy for both of you.

“Love” that is based on what we want or like is a reaction. It’s not real in itself. This is what I call “human love,” it’s based on circumstances. Circumstances will change as people grow.  Relationships that are based on “human love” are fragile at best. The conditions we prefer are like a “bucket,” which holds the “milk” of love, patience, and joy we share. With every change life brings, a potential leak occurs in this bucket, which causes drama, fear or suffering, and strains our ability to support each other. This is why most relationships do not last.

At some point we have to decide if we are married to the conditions we prefer, or to supporting the higher essence of our partner; their conscience. The changes we face offer new opportunities for growth, and help us refine our understanding of love. How we respond to changes in each other defines our love. Sometimes a partnership will begin as a conditional one, but the pair develops a deeper bond by overcoming obstacles together. If one focuses on the higher essence of their partner they may find a more lasting way to love & support them, raising the level of the relationship toward a more unconditional, divine form of love. This is a more clear expression of the Love each of us receives from God, what I call divine love.

Mood swings may be a symptom of inner struggle or the result of over-indulgence of the senses. Either way they are on the surface of ones being.

If person A is reacting negatively toward person B, or is angered or resentful or intolerant of changes B is going through, this could be a good time to sit down and look at what is really trying to happen in this relationship. Is each person allowing the other the freedom needed to continue living a healthy expansive life?

Mood swings that are directed at another are not cool. But mood swings that a loved one is dealing with but not directing at you personally, or blaming you for, are something you might choose to accept.

More coming. Post your comments below. I look forward to hearing from you.