Lessons

Our deepest roots are our natural state of peace and bliss. In meditation and quiet introspection we bore deeply into our internal-eternal Source--consciously widening those life-giving channels of nourishing contentment and bliss.

The opening channels allow us to integrate peacefulness and balance into our fast-paced living--taking the edge off our worldly state of frenzy.

Incorporating lovingness into meditation and introspection opens wide the access to our even deeper universal roots, where we are all interconnected.

Ever-flowing harmony and love energize us completely--allowing us to extend the branches of our arms into the many leaves of action in our life.

Our True Identity

We assume varying roles during the course of each day and at the different stages of our life. Underlying all these roles, we have an identity that is unseen by our eyes, but ever present; observing all we do in the world. We are blind to this reality - we are unconscious of this reality till we become awakened spiritually. This reality is our true identity. This is the identity of our True Self.

In the consciousness of our True Self, we are not affected by the on-going changes in our emotional, mental, and physical realities. In our True Self we are steeped in contentment amidst worldly turmoil.

We can perceive, and identify our True Self when we are in an elevated state of consciousness. Eventually, we can stay in awareness of our True Self, in this elevated state of consciousness, while concurrently being active emotionally, mentally, and physically.

Being conscious of our True Identity is as if we are wearing an unseen life-preserver in the ocean of life's events; we float above the turmoil. We remain aware that every situation we are in now and forevermore has a resolve that can retain our peace, (the state in which we can have contact with our True Self), as long as we act for the best at each moment.

The elevated state of consciousness where we are aware of the true identity of ourselves is a state of "active" meditation. The state of meditation--communion with the reality of our True Self - is achieved through a step-by-step process:
1) The mental desire to know the identity of our True Self;
2) The emotional longing to experience the state of permanent love;
3) The practice of keeping the body still for short periods of time, such as by sitting in a meditation pose, (in order to not be distracted by physical activity); allowing time for loving introspection;
4) Holding positive attitudes in thinking and living;
5) Acting in alignment with the best resolve for each situation;
6) Practicing unconditionally caring love for all.

Of these 6 conditions, the most important one is to love all with unconditionally caring love. Unconditionally caring love sets our mind in a positive direction, and automatically raises our consciousness so we can perceive what our physical eyes cannot see. We gradually rise above outer and inner turmoil to experience the permanent consciousness of joy. The permanent joyful state is the quality of our own dear True Self.

By acting lovingly with others, we come to further experience that our True Self is infinitely expansive; with no physical, mental, or emotional boundaries, as our own physical body seems to have. There is much comfort in the consciousness of knowing the identity of our True Self. Wherever we go, whomever we are with, feels like our home and our family. We feel our very own Self in all.

Lesson 20.

Our conscientious actions expand our consciousness of who we are, why we are on earth, and our role in the universal plan.

An analogy: The higher we climb up a mountain side, the more our view expands. First, we see other hillsides enclosing us--continuing the uphill climb we at last look way beyond other mountain tops, freed of barriers to our vision.

The air at the mountain top is clean and clear, and the actions of a clear and clean mind are simple and pure, loving and expansive--no hills of ego or self-centeredness blocking our view point and actions.

Why stay down in the tangled undergrowth of self-centeredness when by walking upward, and looking outward from our self-centered interests, we can enjoy the panorama of unlimited consciousness?

Creator--Creation

To create an enjoyable dinner, we first visualize how the meal will look and taste--we then buy and eat the food.

On the universal scale we see the visions that have been brought into physical form--the sky of stellar objects, plants, animals, ourselves--everything. All the aspects interrelating through exchanges of energy that complement and support each other. All the parts harmoniously compounding one upon the other in their various roles, forming the whole.

We are curious about the nature of the Universal Creator that has manifested the physical-mental dimension--harmonious, rhythmical, cyclical, growing, diversified objects, and the higher forms of intelligent existence.

In the foregoing example, we saw that our dinner began as a vision, followed by a thought process directing the physical action necessary to produce it. Following this logic, we see that our precisely planned and harmoniously functioning physical universe came about from a well thought out and implemented vision.

The creator of the universe used methods we do not wholly understand--as our minds are part of what was created. But we can come to experience our existence as an essential interlocking part of the harmony of the large universal home by living in the way that allows us to function easefully within the natural rhythms and cycles of everyday life. We do this by caring, sharing, and loving--with all forms of creation touching our life.

The more consciously in tune we become with the basic principles of creation--which comes down to living our part harmoniously--the closer we come to experiencing our Creator.

Rhythms

We observe the harmonious patterns of the natural universe--flowing, mixing, moving. But as with the swirling of oil and water, all retain their individual characteristics.

The harmonious rhythms of music, pleasing to the ear, inspire us to dance--to move. And within every atom of every musical note, microscopic atoms dance around each other in continuous patterns, gracefully using space, place, and time as their dimensions of expression--just as we can in all of our daily interactions and activities.

Dualities

Events in life are bitter and sweet--how we handle each situation is what matters.

Wisdom, which comes from analyzing what we've been through and applying the insights, is what helps us maintain our balance and harmony during rough times.

The dualities of life have a common heritage--they are part of the changing physical and mental creation. We claim what is ours beyond duality--harmony and balance--by applying wisdom and acting lovingly for the highest good of the situation.

Part of the One

Harmony is the product of lovingness. When we take time and energy to act lovingly, events fall easily into place--each loving act adding to our awareness of having an expansive nature.

Lesson 21.

Example is a Teacher

When we see a person happy and content we want to know how their happiness was attained. We observe the way they act in all situations, what they say, and their lifestyle. The example of their very life teaches us the way to find happiness for ourselves.

In everyday living we observe the interaction of adults and children. Children follow the example of the adults they are around. Children are molded more by example and their own experiences, than by book learning or what they are told. If a child is treated well with fairness and respect, he grows up possessing those same qualities. If a child is abused or lied to, that makes up the background for his adulthood.

Our own pure thoughts, words, and actions can bring about change in the hardened ones if they are given enough time and exposure. Because all are in search of happiness, and happiness is a soul quality, apart and unaffected by changes in the natural world and human mind, eventually a person exposed to good will find their inner source of happiness. (Perhaps not in this lifetime, though, in reflecting on the states of mind of hardened criminals.) Sometimes many lifetimes are spent in the search for happiness; going down paths of selfish living before turning around and following the path up the mountain to the ultimate summit where the clear view stretches out forever--free of any briars, any obstacles encountered from the limited convoluted attitude of selfishness.

To raise our own level of fullness in joy and happiness we need to live lovingly and conscientiously. Every day. Every moment of every day. Then we are also being a good and uplifting example to those around us. In the interim, the lives of spiritual masters and saints serve as role models--their lives showing us how to attain lasting happiness.

Recognizing a 'Spiritual' Teacher

In the early stages we are attracted to a spiritual teacher by our level of comfort and synchronicity with that person, or through their teachings, by observing and agreeing with their lifestyle, or admiring the way they handle events in living--and whether they love all non-partially, with equal caring concern. We feel uplifted thinking about this person and in their presence. We feel inspired to do good and be good for the sake of ourselves and all humanity.

The impact on us by a spiritual teacher crosses many planes of our existence. Upliftment, inspiration to become better people, these are the feelings we receive through contact with the spiritual teacher. The spiritual teacher's job is to show us the way to become masters over our actions--to be able to control our mind and not have our whims control our thinking and action. The spiritual teacher can inspire us because he or she has found the Self, and this realization opened the door of access to infinite wisdom.

The spiritual teacher's ability to raise our consciousness into enjoyment of self-effulgent happiness is proof of the direct transfusion--mind to mind--soul to soul. That is the gift of such a relationship with a person that pure.

We can not teach what we do not know and understand firsthand. Every moment we experience change. The backdrop is the conscious spirit that energizes and guides the movement in every atom of mental and physical existence.

The spiritual teacher leads us to realize that our own pure conscience is our ultimate guide. Till we can calmly follow our own cleaned up conscience, a person, a master--in person, or through the guidance of written recordings, is there for our assistance.

Integrating Spiritual Insights into Everyday Living

When we get a flash of insight about our lasting nature, we bask in its warmth for awhile- -then we seem to forget its message. After many similar flashes we consciously start thinking about the revelation's usefulness in our daily life.

A plan for integrating perception of knowledge from the first flash is:
1. Keep a small notebook handy and write down the insight as it occurs.
2. At day's end review what was recorded.
3. Allow a minute to think about how the insight could be useful in daily living--to bring a greater sense of harmony into life.
4. Plan and put the new insight into a written affirmation.
5. Next morning, upon waking, repeat the new affirmation and repeat it often during the day. Stick with this affirmation until the next insight comes.

Spiritual knowledge is meant to be useful in regular daily living. there is no other usefulness for it--it is meant to be integrated into our moment to moment actions. A jar full of spiritual vitamins does no good sitting on the shelf. Each tablet of insight must be consumed so it can circulate fully through our system, energizing us with awareness of our inner state of vibrant lasting happiness.

L etting
I ntuition
F ind
E xpression

We perceive and receive spiritual insights by the example of others more consciously-spiritually evolved than us; by reading uplifting writings and scripture from the ages; and by feeling the uplifting effects from these sources in our own increase in joy. It is then up to us to integrate our new insights into our life.

To Be Divinely Human

To be divinely human is to express each facet of our being with highest regard for ourselves, others, and all creation. It is taking the spiritual insights that we have integrated into our daily lives and then sharing our expanding consciousness with others through caring actions--

Lesson 22.

We continuously create our reality by our choices, moment to moment--creating and maintaining harmony by following our conscience and acting for the highest good. Personal integrity takes courage.

We are being courageous in living according to our conscience when it would be easy to hide from others that we are not following our conscience. It is easier to slide down the hill of life, maintaining or digressing in our current state on consciousness, than to follow the sometimes hard climb up the path of what we know is right.

The reward for continually upgrading our personal integrity is that we become more conscious of our harmonious self-effulgent nature.

Through living with personal integrity others notice that we can be trusted--we become a trustworthy friend, an asset to our world family.

The Purpose of Guilt

Our conscience is the voice that speaks to us via uncomfortable feelings in our body. When our body is uncomfortable thinking about what we said or did, we are getting a mental signal--a signal from our conscience--that we need to upgrade our thinking or acting, or both. Following our conscience harmonizes our life.

In retrospect, we can not undo what has occurred. But when we become aware that we should have acted differently, we can then make amends. And we then need to make amends.

We have this present moment to begin following the guidance of our conscience, directing us to the resolve that serves the highest good of the situation--the highest resolve being that which helps without hurting anyone physically, mentally, or emotionally.

The Safety-Grip of Conscience

A parent holds his young child's hand lightly, but securely, as they walk briskly along the beach. The child does not even have to watch his parent while they go along--the handhold between them providing security and guidance to travel safely around obstacles.

As long as we hold to what is right, by following the guidance of our conscience, we travel safely along the paths of life; growing into fuller consciousness of our Source--fuller consciousness as humans.

Lesson 23.

We know that reflection gives us insight into a situation. But, reflection also opens a door to a pathway in our mind that allows us to actually gain more concrete knowledge about anything--whether that is a more intimate relationship with our Source--our Creator Sustainer--or an aspect of our Creator's creation.

The journey inward along the pathway of reflection is a step-by-step walk, bringing us ever closer to what we want to know. Each step, each successively clearer thought, shows us an additional piece of the puzzle of the information we are seeking.

Reflection is a natural process of our mind for problem solving. We spend time thinking about a situation. Eventually, a resolve comes to us that will suit the situation--whether it is with interpersonal relationships or for more understanding to resolve a technical question.

To use reflection for problem solving:
1) Maintain a positive attitude and frame of mind.
2) Identify the question, (with either a relationship issue or a technical matter).
3) Consider, by taking quiet time for step-by-step introspection, all the possibilities that come to mind, whether previously known choices or brand new concepts. (In reflection each step on the inner path opens up the view of more and new possibilities. And, by continuing the process of inner reflection, still further new possibilities open up. On and on.)
4) Evaluate the pros and cons of each old and new idea.

Finally, adapt to and carry out the resolve, idea, or new process that advances for the good, without causing a setback for anyone or anything.

Shadings of Reality

As with nature, conditions and situations are in shades and gradations.

To understand and work within reality requires thoughtful introspection, followed by action for the highest good. Following our conscience produces the highest good. We hear the voice of our conscience, our inner guidance, when we are feeling relaxed, in harmony.

Keeping a positive attitude while thinking over issues, aligns with our conscience, producing conscientious plans and actions for the highest good.

The more we practice being conscientious, the more easily we act conscientiously, expanding our consciousness of the many shadings and gradations of any situation.

Lesson 24.

What is Consciousness?

Pertaining to our soul, consciousness is awareness of and alignment with the highest good as we perceive it, in every new moment of our existence. As our level of consciousness rises, our desire to harmonize prevailing circumstances with the highest good becomes automatic. Consciousness aligned with the highest good is like waking up--with a sigh of relief--from a dream where events were happening beyond our control. Awakening into consciousness allows us to enjoy our natural peace and contentment. As we become more fully awakened we harmonize with the greater picture, because we are adapting more ease fully to changing circumstances and relationships as they occur--without resistance.

To develop our own consciousness, and its result--a life of contentment--requires maintaining an ethical lifestyle combined with the choice to act for the highest good that we are aware of in each moment, even when we would prefer to do or have something different.

Our Unlimited Soul Dimension

Our soul truly is of unlimited dimension. But at physical conception our soul centers its seat of consciousness in a 'bodily' disguise. We dress our soul, (along with the mind it uses to assimilate and relate with),in the costume of a body for the purpose of gaining more consciousness of ourselves.

Our body and mind are composed of elements that derive from energy. The body elements are composed of earth elements and at physical death go back to their elemental form. The elements composing the mind are of a finer nature in relation to the elements composing the physical--but they are still definable as energy. At physical death the mind survives and accompanies the individual soul until man no longer needs the mind's help in realizing his only permanent nature: his soul.

The soul is not composed of energy or elements. Its property is permanence. The property of the body-mind changes form, energy to matter back to energy. In the written word and on the intellectual plane the body-mind and soul can be explained. But the soul can only be realized by experiencing its nature--and this happens quite easily through the practice of meditation. In meditation the body becomes still. The still body helps by example to still the running of thoughts through the mind. The mind should be give none thought to concentrate on to still itself--an uplifting word or phrase is appropriate. By this continued practice the body-mind is made aware of its permanent self or soul or individualized spirit.

Contacting and Experiencing Our Soul

In meditation the soul observes a constant hum of energy at first observed in the head. By deduction we analyze and find it is not part of the mind because the mind can have thoughts going on while the hum is still present in the background.

The property of this cosmic hum is one of constancy--always present in us in our every atom, in every atom in nature and every atom of the mind. This cosmic energy vibrates continually, upholding all creation. Scientists can see that the movement within the atom is continuous. The fine form of the cosmic hum is what sustains this atomic movement. In scripture this intelligent creative aspect of God, this cosmic hum, is known as 'The Holy Spirit', third person in the Trinity, the force creating and sustaining the manifest universe. (This is but one example of how parallel scientific and religious understandings are.)

Who is listening to or observing this cosmic hum? The Soul. Our individual soul observes the actions of our mind and mind-controlled body always. But the soul is never touched negatively by our thoughts or actions. Our soul observes as if from a grand stand, watching the parade of events go by. We get so involved with the passing changing events that we identify with each new 'float' as it goes by and forget that we are just observers. In meditation we have the chance to sit back as observers once again and watch the parade go by.

For eons, our soul carries along the package of an unseen mind--an unseen mind that reacts to input; processes data; stores and processes and stores ever more data--data that is acted upon in our subsequent mental thoughts and physical actions. This package of evolving mind aids our continual growth in consciousness of the very soul that is carrying it along. And when we grow so much in Self or Soul consciousness that we need not use the package of mind or body to gather experiences leading to our fullest bliss; we then abandon the limited baggage of both our mental aspect and physical body forever.

In Summary: Through meditation we have contact with our soul and come to feel our integral link with every other soul. And through meditation we become aware of our life's purpose--growth in awareness of our everlasting home in joy, peace and never ending perfectly fulfilling love. We each then stand at the center of the universe; aware that we--as Soul--are an infinite body of bliss.

Lesson 25.

Symptoms:

1. Uplifting thoughts flow through our mind;

2. We become more aware of the underlying reality of creation, while simultaneously seeing the overview; (The expansion of consciousness is both inward and outward.)

3. Our body feels energized for no apparent reason;

4. Even while our body feels energized we are physically at ease;

5. We feel interconnected--a vital part in the web of creation;

6. Kindness spontaneously flows from us, without forethought, through our actions--interactions.

Conditions that bring on blissful energy:

1. Environmental: the companionship of kind and caring people; beautiful surroundings--such as nature, art, and music that stimulates a vibratory resonance in our physical body in the area of our upper torso and arms;

2. Emotional: caring actions with our family, friends, and community;

3. Mental: holding a positive attitude; reading literature that expands our consciousness; practicing reflection on esoteric qualities; meditation; making choices for the higher good and then acting on them, consistently;

4. Physical: eating the cleanest diet possible; remaining drug free; participating in a regimen--such as a combination of hatha yoga stretches, postures, and regulated breathing, along with walking or swimming.

Repairing our shortcomings--that we may experience bliss:

Shortcomings are areas where we are lacking in virtue. It is good and useful for us to take a personal inventory of our personality and actions to see where we can improve ourselves.

Shortcomings are obstacles to enjoying life fully. If another person points out a shortcoming to us because they care about us, we should consider and evaluate their point of view. And if they have nailed a shortcoming in us, we have the opportunity to develop the virtue that we are lacking--propelling us onward toward our full capacity for fulfillment and happiness.

The pathway to Self-Realization is a refinement process--a process that includes making efforts to remove our shortcomings. As we grow in consciousness we become aware of our shortcomings, and sparked by the desire to enjoy more and more happiness we, ourselves, take steps to refine our ways of being and doing.

Lesson 26.

In our quest to know Truth, we climb over solid walls of limiting formats into the brilliant sunlight of illumination--illumination transforming our mind with the Truth that unconditional love is the bearer of harmony and balance in our world of physical, mental and emotional aspects.

Our mind, when freed of preconceptions and alive with curiosity for Truth, harmonizes, aligns, plugs into the main computer--aware of and able to use the universal principles of harmony and unconditional love.

Compartments of Mind

The flexibility and coordination that is possible within our brain tissue allows analytical and discriminative thinking to cooperate with orderliness and harmony--reaching the clearest understandings and best solutions.

We have a hand in balancing our mental state effectively, based on our brain matter's current state. If our brain matter is deficient, mind works through a distorted vehicle. But our mind can train healthy brain matter to take on new functions. We see this in people who have suffered brain damage and have had to relearn information and functions with a part of the brain that normally is serving a different function.

By will-power we implement positive attitudes--overriding urges and compulsions that come from the instinctual part of the mind. And we move towards balance--reversing digressions--by following guidelines that serve as our safety net till we develop a strong conscience. These guidelines include: ethical, moral, religious, and civil codes of behavior.

Intuition in Communication

Intuitive information comes up in our mind through our more evolved brain area.

We access intuitive knowledge by:
1) taking time to formulate a question and waiting receptively for the responsive thought;
2) paying attention to our bodily feelings of comfort or distress.

Our all-over bodily sensations are our personal barometer; gauging where we stand in relation to issues and events. Reading our own degree of easefulness or unrest, we can determine, and then implement, the action necessary to maintain or restore harmony and balance.

As most communication is through body language, it makes sense to pay attention to bodily feeling when thinking about issues and while communicating with others.

Wisdom's Portal

From birth onward, we take in information; categorizing, incorporating, as we find useful.

Wisdom's portal is our discriminating mind--our innate capacity to use input and stored information for the highest good

To set the stage for the practical application of wisdom requires us to calm our body and mind. When our mind is upset, our body feels agitated; resulting in myriad stress-related symptoms.

Immediate steps to calm the mind and body, regaining equilibrium are:
1) slow rhythmic breathing;
2) complete bodily relaxation;
3) meditative introspection;
4) the attitude of surrendering to the highest good, rather than holding onto the point of view that is producing our stress.

A purified, discriminating mind sorts and sifts out facts of current reality, then chooses the best course of action to maintain or regain equilibrium.

Each action--recorded in our mind as experience--sets the stage for the next moment's reaction.

As our pool of experience deepens, we can act from that growing depth of perception derived from our personal catalog of actions and interactions.

Wisdom's portal is developed through calm introspection and analysis--mulling over our past events; how we handled them; and what we learned from those actions.

Taking time, before proceeding, gives us space to consider options. Emotional or impulsive behavior may not produce what we would have wanted for ourselves, in retrospect.

It is more productive in the long run to be still while considering in which direction to proceed, than to race ahead just for the sake of moving and doing.

Lesson 27.

Our conscience lets us know the best resolve to our questions via the degree of peacefulness and relaxation we experience in our mind and body while thinking about a situation.

We develop a clear and pure conscience gradually when, with a caring attitude, we make repeated efforts to act for the highest good.

We are following our conscience when:
1. Our body feels relaxed;
2. Our mind is content and peaceful;
3. No one else is affected negatively by our action.

While we are in the process of developing a conscience we can rely on the dictates and moral guidelines laid out by religions and society. These outer rules guide us safely while we develop the strength of character to follow our conscience consistently.

Our conscience is our personal inner directive from our inner Source. It is worth the effort to develop this intimate relationship that always serves to produce our clearest experience of peace and happiness.

Also, acting for the best resolve we are aware of nourishes our self-esteem. We feel more in control of our lives knowing that there is a best way to resolve any situation.

As our self-assurance and self-esteem increase, we experience a growing sense of fulfillment and joy in living.

Thoughts

Thoughts flow through our mind in a continual succession--by free will we decide to give or not give additional energy to a passing thought. By developing a positive outlook we naturally begin to follow up on positive thoughts.

The following practices, used as a group, develop the habit and ability to choose a wholly (holy) positive life:
1. reflection
2. clean diet
3. ethical and moral living
4. caring actions
As our mind and body are partners in expression, when we're physically weakened we don't think out solutions as rapidly as usual--thinking as well as the body is sluggish.

When we're physically healthy we feel good. We are most capable and likely to have a positive attitude and act with care--fostering expansion of our consciousness.

Lesson 28.

A tree grows from a seed planted in fertile soil, its systems developing into maturity. The underlying roots, (sunk deep, and hidden in stable earth), supporting exposed parts. From this example, we see that underlying structures though hidden from view, support outer forms.

Like the tree, our roots are hidden from our physical eyes and senses. But, by following our inner guidance, with a loving heart, we travel the labyrinth till meeting with and experiencing our Source. Then we feel the completeness of knowing ourselves, and understand that we are here to become aware that we are one of the parts and part of the wholeness of uncreated and created reality.

Why do we visit earth?

At our beginning on earth we come as pure, clean canvasses. As our own artist, we fill up our canvas with our impressions from living. Some impressions we retain because they are beautiful to the inner eye, our conscience, and some aspects we refine till the entire canvas is a complete balanced, beautiful, inspiring masterpiece.

The blank canvas was clear, but by our good deeds and expanded consciousness the completed masterpiece is radiant.

Steps to building the masterpiece:

1. The Golden Rule: Treat others as we would like to be treated. This means to harm no one by words, deeds, or even thoughts. Thought vibrations travel between us over unseen paths, as the law of this universe is that for every action there is a comparable reaction. When we initiate good acts, our reward is that good experiences happen to us. Initiate an evil or negative thought, word, or deed and the reward will bounce back as an unhappy or painful event. Like for like. In this light, if we keep a positive attitude and help as opportunity arises, we will feel good in the moment and set the stage for further positive happenings.

2. Spending time in meditation: A still body helps still our mind. In the stillness of meditation we come to observe an inner vibration apart from our physical sense of hearing, and apart from our thoughts. Tuning in to this always present, constant, self-sustaining vibration calms us even more. The peace attained by observing this inner sound allows our mind to become very calm. Then we are able to listen to our inner voice of conscience which knows right from wrong and what is for the highest good of all concerned in our present dilemma.

So, by following the golden rule and by meditating, we set the stage for our balanced development and add to the beauty of the masterpiece of our lives that we are creating.

Attitude Makes a Difference

When we keep a positive attitude in following the golden rule, we are more likely to see good solutions. A simple chore is boring to some and joyful to others. How can this be? The action performed is the same. The difference lies in one's attitude.

When performing actions with only thoughts of how we ourselves will benefit, we don't find lasting peace, contentment, happiness. Self-centeredness causes our mind to continually think of ways to please itself. No feelings of joy are felt because the whims of the mind preoccupy our time.

When we perform our daily work with the attitude of caring, we feel good. Just the attitude of caring draws energy into our body. The more caring we become, building up our level of happiness, the more we see the wisdom of our positive actions.

Wisdom

Experience, analyses, right deduction: Wisdom

Wisdom provides a wise dome. The dome covers us with a shield against wrong action- when wisdom is achieved, the right easeful way seems the natural way.

A way to project wisdom right now is to have caring feelings for all people and the creation. When we act from our heart, we do what is best for all. When our mind is clouded by selfishness we can not make the best decision. When we act from lovingness we are doing only good.

Purity

Purity is another quality that contributes to us creating a beautiful masterpiece of our soul. Purity is the highest level of consciousness we can realize. It is the eternal essence of each atom of us and the universe.

When a cut glass crystal is squeaky clean, sun light shining through reflects out perfectly. When our mind is cleaned and purified by right living the divine light reflects out perfectly. The divine light serves as a beacon and model to all. As a lighthouse beacon shows ships the way to safety from a turbulent ocean storm, so the divine light shining from the pure person guides and points the way for others that they may come home safely to their full soul awareness, full soul development.

Being conscious that everything we think and do has an affect on us and others, should spark us to aim for inner purity if we want to realize our easeful, peaceful Self--our soul in its fullness.

Lesson 29.

Lesson 30.

Part One: Alignment with the Highest Good

When we awaken each day we have the opportunity and choice to live in a way that we can enjoy--that will bring joy into our life. And this is by acting for the highest good of each situation that the day presents. By acting for the highest good we are assuring ourselves peace of mind--peace of mind and an energized body.

The circumstances we are in from day to day may be repetitive and similar, but our own

attitude and actions make the day painful or joyful for us. By our own attitudes and actions we are in charge of the outcome of each situation. When we are given lemons, we have the opportunity to make lemonade by 'sweetening' the outcome. We do that by taking one little nugget of truth out of an uncomfortable situation, and then using it as a stepping stone for improving the day's unresolved or inharmonious conflicts. By doing our part to be positive and constructive--by doing our best--we enjoy our native natural peace and ease. Conflict about what to do arises when we want to go with an idea we had our mind set on, before we have considered all the options.

Why feel attached or set to follow a specific course when a more easeful option becomes apparent? In the end what will best preserve our peace of mind is that resolve which feels most comfortable to us and benefits everyone involved. Looking ahead to the results of a planned action helps us evaluate the best course to follow. If a decision needs to be made quickly, following our conscience keeps our body relaxed and our mind peaceful and free of stress.

The best solution is not always the easiest way. We must have courage, summon up our energy by will power, and make affirmations to do what is best in each situation so that we can maintain peace of mind every day. It helps to remember that we will be living with the results of our decisions. When there is plenty of time to consider, write down all the options that come to mind. Make a pro and con list; then choose the course to follow. By looking at a problem as just an object, we create a little distance which gives us the
perspective of seeing that the problem is an issue to be resolved that we are involved with--but that it is not part of our permanent being.

Sometimes we are so set in our mind on a certain track that we cannot disconnect ourselves and follow the better plan. But, by surrendering our attachment to our set ideas, our thinking expands and becomes open to considering other options. An ice cube is hard, frozen; but as it sits in water, it melts and blends into the whole glass of water. With us, as we allow our hardened perspectives to loosen, we blend, harmonize, with the options that are most easeful and peaceful with the whole of our life and our daily life in the world.

Part Two: Living in our Center of Balance

If we feel agitation in our body or mind we can use mental and bodily relaxation techniques such as meditation, regulated breathing, hatha yoga, and walking to calm ourselves. While feeling calm we can reflect on the internal cause or causes of our unrest. After reflecting on the reasons and circumstances leading to our agitation we can best consider and plan how to make changes in our life that will allow us to regain our center of balance. By living in our center of balance