We live in the midst of the age of spirituality...the final period of time preceeding the dawn of the "Second Coming of Christ"...a time during which a final all-out campaign to "buy" as many souls as possible is being waged by spiritual entities (who made the supreme choice to break away from God and be God).
~~~~~
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The Meaningful Existence
None of us would like to reach the twilight of our lives and depart from this worldly existence with the belief and (sinking) feeling that our existence was purely just our body's robotic execution of actions as governed and driven by the various forms of programming in our mind. We have a soul that yearns to govern and drive the activities of our mind and body...a soul that wants to allow the love within it to flow via the acts of the mind and body...and thereby bring true (spiritual) choice and meaning to it all.
If we value our existence, we will find and develop the connection between our mind and soul...and we will do so beginning TODAY (if we haven't begun so already).
If we value our existence, we will find and develop the connection between our mind and soul...and we will do so beginning TODAY (if we haven't begun so already).
How exactly do we find and develop this connection? The answer lies in two universal truths that the great spiritual teacher Jesus taught during His ministry - "seek and you shall find"..."ask and you shall receive". This is how I went about finding and building the connection between my mind and my soul.
The most essential element in the discovery and development process is solitude. We need to find a place...a peaceful place...where we can free our mind of all manner of distraction whenever we are engaged in this process. Make this place within your own simple abode if you have to. We also need to forcefully free our mind completely of all material needs and worldly concerns (truly powerful distractions for the mind) just like we would do when we engage in the act of fasting. Consider for example the "forty days and forty nights" of fasting that Jesus did in the dessert right after His baptism and just before He went about His ministry at full speed...an act of preparation that brought the connection of His body and soul to the very highest level (the kind of level necessary in order for His mind to fully draw the energy and strength required to carry out the supreme sacrifice He was about to fulfill).
I share a well known meditation (from Psalm 46:10) that is very appropriate to reflect on as we talk about solitude and spiritual discovery - "Be still and know that I am God".
When the mind finds and connects with the soul, it will surely find and connect with God. Conversely, when the mind finds and connects with God, it will surely find and connect with the soul. With that last sentence, I offer you another glimpse on how my learning about and following the Way of Jesus was very instrumental in my mind truly discovering and connecting with my soul...and with God.
~~~~~
The Supreme Choice
As I described in my essay on free will, there are only two core choices made by a spiritual entity - chose to be in union with God or chose to be God. I classify these choices as supreme because of the momentous effect and consequence that each choice brings about. Thus, I refer to each of these as the supreme choice.
Not convinced about the supremacy of these choices? Let's reflect for a moment on the two greatest documented moments of temptation in the history of mankind. Both of these have one thing in common, both focus squarely on a single, principal objective - entice and lure the object of temptation into making a choice to break from God and be God. If a tempter had one and only one chance at tempting a spiritual entity, why would the tempter waste it on something of lesser value and significance. If I were the tempter, I would go straight for the "kill"...and getting such an entity to make a choice to be God is a definite, super-duper, slam-dunk "KILL".
The first greatest moment of temptation brought about mankind's fallen and imperfect state when Adam ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil after being told that by doing so, he would have divine wisdom and thereupon become equal to God.
The second greatest moment of temptation came in the form of a series of temptations designed to subvert the mission of the new Adam in redeeming mankind from the consequences stemming from the choice made by the first Adam. In all three documented attempts, Jesus was tempted to perform Godly acts to benefit Himself (temptation to be God) and make a choice to break away from God.
In rebuking all such attempts and temptations, Jesus went on to fulfill His mission of redemption for mankind and by His sacrificial death on the cross, He filled the gulf that separated mankind from God (created as a result of the first Adam's choice) with His blood, thereby enabling all souls who chose to be in union with God to reconnect with God via this blood.
~~~~~
Not convinced about the supremacy of these choices? Let's reflect for a moment on the two greatest documented moments of temptation in the history of mankind. Both of these have one thing in common, both focus squarely on a single, principal objective - entice and lure the object of temptation into making a choice to break from God and be God. If a tempter had one and only one chance at tempting a spiritual entity, why would the tempter waste it on something of lesser value and significance. If I were the tempter, I would go straight for the "kill"...and getting such an entity to make a choice to be God is a definite, super-duper, slam-dunk "KILL".
The first greatest moment of temptation brought about mankind's fallen and imperfect state when Adam ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil after being told that by doing so, he would have divine wisdom and thereupon become equal to God.
The second greatest moment of temptation came in the form of a series of temptations designed to subvert the mission of the new Adam in redeeming mankind from the consequences stemming from the choice made by the first Adam. In all three documented attempts, Jesus was tempted to perform Godly acts to benefit Himself (temptation to be God) and make a choice to break away from God.
In rebuking all such attempts and temptations, Jesus went on to fulfill His mission of redemption for mankind and by His sacrificial death on the cross, He filled the gulf that separated mankind from God (created as a result of the first Adam's choice) with His blood, thereby enabling all souls who chose to be in union with God to reconnect with God via this blood.
As Jesus Himself taught, there is "no greater love than a man lay down his life for a friend". The act of supreme love in the form of the willing death of Jesus on the cross is the only spiritual antidote potent enough to neutralize and wipe away the poisonous effects of the supreme choice made by the first Adam. With this explanation, I hope that we can all appreciate and understand why this sacrificial death was necessary.
Can you see why this narrative is referred to as "The Good News"?~~~~~
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The Way
Jesus is the Way,
the Way to your inner peace.
Jesus is the Light,
the Light for your darkness.
Jesus is the Truth,
the Truth that your mind seeks;
the Truth that your soul possesses.
There are many other ways available to you.
He is the true Way in my belief.
I make no apologies for expressing this.
In this you cannot sway me,
as you sort through your own leanings.
He is the Way that I have accepted.
He is the Light that I have chosen.
He is the Truth that found me.
I make this statement here,
I make this statement now.
All saints have discovered Him,
with no one ever turning back;
and always with supreme devotion,
in the living application of their belief.
Be inspired to believe,
through the example of their lives;
the example of their love.
~~~~~
the Way to your inner peace.
Jesus is the Light,
the Light for your darkness.
Jesus is the Truth,
the Truth that your mind seeks;
the Truth that your soul possesses.
There are many other ways available to you.
He is the true Way in my belief.
I make no apologies for expressing this.
In this you cannot sway me,
as you sort through your own leanings.
He is the Way that I have accepted.
He is the Light that I have chosen.
He is the Truth that found me.
I make this statement here,
I make this statement now.
All saints have discovered Him,
with no one ever turning back;
and always with supreme devotion,
in the living application of their belief.
Be inspired to believe,
through the example of their lives;
the example of their love.
~~~~~
Monday, July 20, 2009
Free Will
There are many interpretations, beliefs, usages and concepts concerning the term "free will". The term has been applied to various acts of choice in our existence. This essay is an attempt to describe and define free will in the truest sense of the term (as I have managed to decipher it).
Free will is, quite simply, the natural right of spiritual entities to make a choice. Let me be clear in stating my belief that spiritual entities and only spiritual entities have free will. True free will resides only in the spiritual domain and is exercised in and only in that realm.
Physical entities (the human mind for example) do not have free will...not a single one does. Society, in general, believes and want us all to believe that all choices we make are the exercising of our free will. In the majority of cases, these choices are made by the mind and the mind alone. The truth is that all such "choices" (made solely by the mind) are not real acts of choice but rather, are the natural acting out of our programming (inherent human nature or mental/social conditioning).
Not convinced by that last sentence in the preceding paragraph? Let's look at a few simple examples. When we chose to look the other way as thugs severely beat another person right in front of us, are we exercising free will? When we chose to allow anger and hate to enter our hearts in response to the actions of others that we perceive as acts of disregard or disrespect for our feelings, is this the exercise of free will? If you subscribe to what I believe to be so concerning this truth, your answer to both questions would be a resounding "NO".
Let's look closer at some of the choices our mind has made in our lifetime. Were not a lot of these "choices" made in response to fear, insecurity, greed, envy, or pretentious pride? Even some of those choices that (on the surface) look like selfless acts of "love", were these not actually motivated by our natural programming to feed our selfish physical, intellectual and emotional needs? Let us also not underestimate the powerful programming within us that drives us to commit acts that satisfy our five senses and even gain pleasure from them.
To recap, as long as the "choice" is formulated solely in the mind (non-spiritual realm), it cannot and should not be construed as the true exercise of free will. These types of choices are not true reflections of who "we" are. And if judgment exists in the spiritual realm, it certainly will ignore and not take into consideration all choices made at this realm.
The truth about the concept of free will (as presented here) might be a little too much to accept for those who are ingrained with the notion of accountability as it is commonly used in the context of responsibility for one's actions and choices. Try to keep in mind that the term "responsibility" is a concept that relates to the establishment of order within society and the role that is expected of us (by members of that social order) in maintaining a desired order. Although it also relates to the relationships between members of society, between two people, it does so at the non-spiritual level...the realm where the concept of "reward and punishment" is more aptly applicable and used in. In this regard, society will cast judgment upon our choices (and the consequent actions) based on the soundness and maturity level of our mind.
The soul of a human being is a spiritual entity...as such, it has free will. One excellent example of the true exercise of free will is the influence of the soul on the mind to overcome its programming (in all its many forms) in order to consistently carry out acts of true love.
~~~~~
Free will is, quite simply, the natural right of spiritual entities to make a choice. Let me be clear in stating my belief that spiritual entities and only spiritual entities have free will. True free will resides only in the spiritual domain and is exercised in and only in that realm.
Physical entities (the human mind for example) do not have free will...not a single one does. Society, in general, believes and want us all to believe that all choices we make are the exercising of our free will. In the majority of cases, these choices are made by the mind and the mind alone. The truth is that all such "choices" (made solely by the mind) are not real acts of choice but rather, are the natural acting out of our programming (inherent human nature or mental/social conditioning).
Not convinced by that last sentence in the preceding paragraph? Let's look at a few simple examples. When we chose to look the other way as thugs severely beat another person right in front of us, are we exercising free will? When we chose to allow anger and hate to enter our hearts in response to the actions of others that we perceive as acts of disregard or disrespect for our feelings, is this the exercise of free will? If you subscribe to what I believe to be so concerning this truth, your answer to both questions would be a resounding "NO".
Let's look closer at some of the choices our mind has made in our lifetime. Were not a lot of these "choices" made in response to fear, insecurity, greed, envy, or pretentious pride? Even some of those choices that (on the surface) look like selfless acts of "love", were these not actually motivated by our natural programming to feed our selfish physical, intellectual and emotional needs? Let us also not underestimate the powerful programming within us that drives us to commit acts that satisfy our five senses and even gain pleasure from them.
There are choices that are made by our minds but which originated in our soul. These choices are the true exercise of our free will. Our soul makes a choice and it influences our mind to fulfill the choice. Our mind, in turn, controls our body to carry out the act associated with that choice.
At the very root level, there are only two core choices that the soul makes...two simple yet all-powerful choices - chose to be in union with God, or chose to be God. All other choices are merely sub-choices in support of one of these two.To recap, as long as the "choice" is formulated solely in the mind (non-spiritual realm), it cannot and should not be construed as the true exercise of free will. These types of choices are not true reflections of who "we" are. And if judgment exists in the spiritual realm, it certainly will ignore and not take into consideration all choices made at this realm.
The truth about the concept of free will (as presented here) might be a little too much to accept for those who are ingrained with the notion of accountability as it is commonly used in the context of responsibility for one's actions and choices. Try to keep in mind that the term "responsibility" is a concept that relates to the establishment of order within society and the role that is expected of us (by members of that social order) in maintaining a desired order. Although it also relates to the relationships between members of society, between two people, it does so at the non-spiritual level...the realm where the concept of "reward and punishment" is more aptly applicable and used in. In this regard, society will cast judgment upon our choices (and the consequent actions) based on the soundness and maturity level of our mind.
The soul of a human being is a spiritual entity...as such, it has free will. One excellent example of the true exercise of free will is the influence of the soul on the mind to overcome its programming (in all its many forms) in order to consistently carry out acts of true love.
~~~~~
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