It is a natural thing when coming into this world, without a living awareness of your larger existence, to feel that this body and this world is your all and all. However, this becomes a problem since everything here is temporary. The basis for your existence is quicksand flowing through an hourglass. This can only provoke anxiety on some deep existential level, especially as you see the sand running out for yourself or others.

The question then must be asked, “Is there no alternative?” And this has been the prodding for spiritual quests since man has walked the earth; from looking up to the stars from a warming fire to using an electron microscope when exploring the atomic building blocks of creation.

Through the renaissance and the age of reason science gained much deserved credibility for answering questions as to the nature of this universe. However, if questions regarding the nature of soul, the why of life becomes the topic, you are summarily sent to the philosophy department. Quite often in the philosophy department you are shown the structure of a valid argument (is your argument properly formulated?); but not much there to satisfy a questing soul. That deeper yearning is considered by the philosophical to be the province of emotional religionism and held at arm’s length by the logical as stemming from a magical brew of illogic. And when you turn your attention to much of what religion is today, you find it formulated on faith, “Here is the creed, accept the creed and the real answers for the soul will be found when life is up.” Ah, what to do for a questing soul who does not have faith in the creed?

In my case, as with many of us, my interest took me to those who spoke of having actual experience of states of consciousness that positively described what, at my core, my soul needed to know. Beyond being interesting, these experiences made my soul say, “Yes!” These are mystical experiences, that is reaching beyond the five senses, and are not the product of logic, but they hold up to logical scrutiny when you accept the premise of the experience. They also have the added virtues that they are not formulaic, nor in need of accepting a creed, but based on seeking out and having your own experience. If science, philosophy or the acceptance of a creed satisfies a soul, then that is sufficient. However, I needed something more—I needed to touch Truth and to experience it in such a way that my soul found complete satisfaction in the here and now.

A product of this exploration not only emphasizes the temporary nature of life in a body, nothing great in that obvious deduction, but it gives me experiences in what transcendes transitory nature; the ever-existent Soul. In this experience I was lifted above the imprisoning limitations of normal ego-bounds, and I saw and knew that “I” was never created, for I was without beginning or end–it was liberating beyond belief. I saw that I existed before taking incarnation in this body, I knew that I would continue to exist after this body has returned to its natural elements. I experienced that I have always been, and will always be. I found this awareness to be sublime, filled inner assurance and satisfying for what my soul had been questing.

Today the exploration continues, however knowing the truth of the existence of transcendent Soul is a definite foundation upon which to build. It is a reminder that, for this body, the possession of any material thing, having a position in life, membership in a family or any other relative connection to creation, I am a renter, not a buyer—everything created comes with an expiry date.

There is the story of the manager of an estate. The owner was rarely seen, so the manager alone was responsible for its smooth functioning. After some time, the estate manager became arrogant in his position. One day the owner arrived with a new plan for the estate which did not include the need for the manager. The manager was sent packing, with nothing but the few possessions he could call his own. Likewise, we should all be proper managers of what God has given us, knowing that one day we too will be sent packing with nothing but our self, the quality of our being to recommend us. We will then report to the supreme Creator, who is no respecter of title, money or position–all stand equally before the all-knowing One. Only one thing will count: the quality of your inner self—built with a lifetime of what you think, say and do—your consciousness that exudes from your innermost being. That is what lasts, and that is what counts.

Spiritual progress does not mean development only in one aspect of a human being. His emotional, intellectual and dynamic nature should evolve simultaneously. It is rightly said Karma is the foundation, Jnana the upper structure, and the dome at the top is Bhakti.                                                                                                              Swami Ramdas

Papa says so much in language that is easily understood by sincere aspirants—it is a gift of his spiritual genius. However, we may benefit from contemplating what Papa writes here, and expand on how we can apply it in daily life.

Great masters such as Swami Ramdas like for us to live a balanced life. Papa and others, such as the Buddha, experience intense sadhana or spiritual practice in order to realize the great Truth. Upon attaining the supreme state of realization they are then in a position to say what was essential in their journey, and what was either not essential to their attaining realization, or is not universally necessary for all aspirants, and therefore need not be duplicated. Buddha articulated the “Middle Path,” which was not what he practiced, but it was what he prescribed to all who followed his teachings to attain Nirvana. Papa also went through extreme practices, but after attaining Sahaja Samadhi said that others need not be so austere.

Papa goes on to verbally paint a picture in the above writing that Karma Yoga is the foundation for spiritual living. Karma means action; it is what you physically do in life. You are to live a life of purity, starting with eating healthy foods in moderation—not with avarice; you work and do all in the spirit of service to God in others—not for greed; and all that you speak is in concert with the highest truth you know—do not lie. In your spiritual quest you build the foundation of your spiritual life with actions that match what you know to be the highest light.

When Papa says the intellectual builds the upper structure of spiritual practice, he is not speaking here of gaining additional facts, reading books for knowledge or any other type of, what you would normally think of as, intellectual endeavors.  Jnana means wisdom, and more specifically, discrimination. In your spiritual practice you must make choices along the way, and the higher up you go on the spiritual ladder of consciousness the more discernment you need. Krishna stated that extra-ordinary powers are pitfalls for real aspirants. Mother taught us to, “Keep your mind on God.” A statement so plain that you may not comprehend its full significance until you are well along on the path. Keeping your mind on God translates into not getting seduced by sex, greed, power, name or fame, and the many other traps that present themselves to you as you ascend the spinal stairway. Discernment is absolutely necessary as you build a life upwards—knowing that you must have a solid foundation and well-constructed upper stories to prepare yourself to succeed in the great quest.

Bhakti, intense love and attraction for attaining the supreme state of God-realization makes the dome for your temple of spiritual practice—that which caps the spiritual life with success. The drawing power of love is required for the kind of complete self-surrender that is necessary to be subsumed in Divine Consciousness. There is no greater power in all of creation than love; it makes you want to be absorbed in your Beloved and lose yourself in Him. Physical activity done in service and the practice of wise discernment by themselves are not enough to take you all the way. When lifted into the highest centers of consciousness you focus on one thing, the Goal of goals—consummation in samadhi by ultimate Love. Divine Union is the consequence of this total surrender and leaves behind all spiritual practices when lover and Beloved merge and become One.

Building your spiritual temple by constructing a solid foundation, intelligently designed frames for the upper structure, and a brilliantly radiating dome in your daily life is a wonderful thing; it shows you what is needed in order to realize God. But knowing the way and being immersed in the supreme Reality is not the same thing. Be inspired by these beautiful teachings from Papa: take the complete plunge into spiritual life with total enthusiasm—be absorbed into the Infinite Beloved who dwells beyond time and space and all form—realize the Truth even as the Buddha, Papa and Mother so fully immersed themselves in the highest Reality, and then help others to build their own temples of spiritual practice with nothing but the very finest materials.

My Guru-lineage and realized Masters the world over

to whom I bow in humble gratitude

Thursday, November 23—A National Day of Thanksgiving.

An observation I have made through the years—when feeling close to God gratitude comes naturally; and whenever I am mindful of feeling gratitude, it lifts my mood and makes me feel closer to God—gratitude and God are definitely closely linked. A prescription I make when someone is feeling depressed: for at least 30 days make a list of at least three things you are grateful for at the end of the day. Believe it or not, someone who is feeling very down has a hard time coming up with even three things. However, paying attention to three gratitudes daily makes the difference; it lifts the mood and zeroes the attention in on looking for what is good, instead of only seeing what is wrong.

There are many reasons why individuals become discouraged about life, some personal, some global, but a negative-tamasic mood robs one of joy and draws a curtain between the soul and the true Self. We must have perspective in life, and knowing that the Light perpetually shines in the darkness is the greatest reason for optimism at all times and in all places. Everything works for ultimate good, and through intense focus on God, the soul is lifted out of duality and is established in bliss. For spiritually aspiring sadhakas, this is the ultimate for which to feel gratitude; to know that you have the Goal of goals in mind (a remarkable purpose), and the capacity to achieve this Goal in this lifetime is cause for great celebration and joy—a true day of thanksgiving.

What a wonderful thing to have a day dedicated to Thanksgiving. But, do not limit giving thanks to just one day—but for all days. Start a conversation with God that lasts throughout your waking hours. Look for micro-events that you might normally take for granted, and then express your gratitude to your Creator for it. I think of those whose legs do not work, and then my ability standup and walk from here to there—an action many take completely for granted; yet, how wonderful to be able to do just that—to simply get up and walk. Or, to look out on the day with two eyes that see, to breathe freely, to move a hand, even to have a thought—especially a thought of our infinite Beloved. Notice micro-events all through the day, then say, “Lord, what a wonderful thing to be able to do: to look at the sky, breathe the air, give someone a smile, strive for a goal; this life is a miracle in action, a joy to behold! Even the things that dissatisfy me, You have put it into my mind that life can be better, that I can work for improvements; for that inspiration to improve, I give thanks.”

If you are realistic, from a human standpoint there is many more things you do not have control over than what you do. And, in your daily life you must choose to focus your mind on certain things, and not others. That is efficiency. When something requires your attention you screen out of the conscious mind that which is not essential to the moment. That way you can concentrate your energies on what is needed. Through habit, many focus on what is, or can go wrong—not on what is going smoothly. An airline pilot told me that his primary job is to anticipate what can go wrong, such as a lightning storm ahead, and then avoid it. This is putting looking for problems to positive use. However, most who focus on what they do not like or are afraid of, are not using their time and energy to good effect. They simply repeat frightful or repugnant thoughts over and again without any purpose, except to wear themselves out and to cause great unhappiness.

You must use wise discernment in choosing your thoughts. Ask yourself, What is the practical effect of this thought? Does this thought keep me safer, make me more productive and happier? Or, does this thought sap my life-energy, rob me of joy, and bring me to a standstill? Your thoughts steer your life—are you skillfully navigating toward positive goals? Or, are you getting stranded on the shoals of indecision, or mindlessly headed into storms of chaotic living? Your thoughts are the one thing you can definitely choose; with practice you become master of what you focus your powerful mind upon to bring about only the highest-minded results.

I do not know why in modern culture there is such a cynical dismissiveness of the lessons that the story Pollyanna teaches. You will hear, “Oh, don’t be Pollyannaish,” said with complete ridicule. But let us look at the story. A little girl is living with her missionary parents in a far-off country, and really wants a doll for Christmas. Instead, what comes by way of donations are crutches. She is so disappointed. Her father knows her deflated feeling, and kindly suggests that she play The Glad Game. Think of all the things she is glad for; that is the game. Isn’t she glad she doesn’t need crutches? She tries it, and feels better. Then, she makes The Glad Game her habit. Her parents subsequently die and the little girl is sent to live with a relative who does not want or like her. But, she continues her Glad Game, and she is so infectious about it she changes the people around her for the better—eventually even her bitter aunt opens up. The Glad Game her father taught her not only helped her survive psychologically, but it attracted people to her, and even changed the lives of a community. What would critics have you tell her? To face reality. She had a load full of hard reality in her life she could scarcely avoid! She survived and even thrived through terribly difficult circumstances by looking for the good; when it seemed that life gave her nothing but hard knocks. Sounds like a lesson we could all draw inspiration from, not deride from some superior tower of ridicule.

So, play your own Glad Game with God—bring to mind the micro-reasons for gratitude in your daily life. When you have enough money for food and shelter, it is no small thing; to have the power to walk, talk and carry on in your life, it is a miraculous blessing; daily you have an enormous opportunity to fill your life with gratitude. And most of all, you have been taught the truth by the greatest of spiritual masters, you are on the path to become a spiritual master yourself, and you have spiritual brother and sisters to help you on your way—these are the greatest blessings and more than ample reason to have gratitude every moment of every day. Cultivate your gratitude conversation with God until it is the most natural thing in the world, and you will find that life is, perhaps, made up of a very few big events that many people look for to validate something to be grateful for, but easily has unending micro-events in everyday existence that the gratitude habit makes you aware of, and brings to you joy and true happiness for yourself and those around you. A very happy day of Thanksgiving to you and to all.

Adam just sent this link for a U of W medical article, quoting scientific studies that confirms that gratitude is healthy for:

• A stronger sense of well-being
• A healthier heart
• Love your job
• Sleep better
• Cope with stress

Glad science is catching up!

https://rightasrain.uwmedicine.org/mind/well-being/5-surprising-health-benefits-gratitude?utm_source=UW+News+Subscribers&utm_campaign=5bfa191485-UW_Today_Wednesday_November_22_2017&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0707cbc3f9-5bfa191485-307232301

There has been much in the news about men in high positions who have abused their power by taking advantage of women, anywhere from exercising poor judgement about sexual advancements to criminal molestation and rape. It is as if the stars have taken a turn and what has occurred behind closed doors has now come into the open.

After Cain murdered his brother Able, he infamously said to God when he was asked about Able, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9) The answer is, “Yes, of course you are!” Not only do you not murder your brother out of jealousy, but you are here to positively love and care for him. And for the one who parses words may ask, “Who is my brother?” The same question was put to Jesus when he was asked, “Who is my neighbor?” The Master answered that question by relating a story about the good Samaritan. The hero in the story, a man from Samaria, stopped to help a hurt man on the side of the road after a priest and Levite had passed him by (both were considered holy men by birth). Remembering that Samaritans were considered untouchable by those in Jesus’ audience, it was just such an unlikely fellow who rendered assistance to the stranger. The moral of the story; all humanity are our neighbors and our brothers. (Luke 10:29)

This applies to our sisters as well. Mother Hamilton loved the differences between the sexes, and she emphasized with us the proper relationship between the two. Some thought Mother was not with the times; however, great principles prove themselves to be timeless. We collectively suffer when true principles are trampled, we are all affected when any one of our sisters are treated with disrespect—her inner qualities not seen or even looked for.

I am sure many of us have had moments when we were not at our best in how we have treated one another. However, let us learn from our mistakes and strive to do better. Remember, nothing is done in secret that will not be shouted from the rooftops! Let us be our brother’s and our sister’s keepers; to support one another in bringing out the best in one another. Our time here is short, but we are accountable for what we do, so let us do right at all times and in all places; and more than that, see all others in their true essence, as beings of Divine origins, and to be respected as such.

I listened to a recording of Mother talking one-on-one with a devotee from many years ago. It is an interesting glimpse into her teaching someone one-to-one. In it she tells this man that his spiritual approach has been mental only, that he meditates but it is only out of curiosity; dry of devotion. On the other hand, he is extremely critical of those who are around him. As a result, Mother was feeling the effect of his actions in her own being very greatly; making for an experience that was very tough for her to handle.

In her conversation, she told this man he must develop love. That Mother only gave love, and if one does not, then there are karmic consequences. That every action has an equal and opposite reaction. She emphasized again, an opposite reaction—we pay the price in body, mind and soul for the choices we make. Mother went on in this conversation with this individual to talk about many things, but this part of her conversation struck me because of something that happened afterward.

I met with this same man some thirty years later. What had he done with Mother’s exhortation, that he cultivate love and not a mind that criticizes and finds fault with others?  When I met with him, he was married to the woman he had been in love with since high school.  He was, however, disappointed with her, making remarks that were dismissive and expressing his disappointment. In the privacy of his den he told me that he thought that there was a conspiracy in which Jews controlled the reins of power in this country, and globally. He was also bitter about what happened to his son, who had a mental illness.

Now, I reflected upon these things. Mother giving this man all the love of God, working with him to love God, to give love for hate and to love at all times. What I experienced thirty years later was a man filled with bitterness about many things. I did not find him filled with joy, light, love of God and his fellow man. No, I found him living in a type of mental and emotional prison.

To generalize from this particular situation, we must, each of us, really analyze ourselves: Is your circle of love growing? Is your heart softer and more open? What is the trend of your mind—do you know God and experience Him more and more? You see, what is the use of saying we follow a spiritual path if our thoughts and actions do not increasingly manifest the truth we have been taught?

I have seen firsthand the principles Mother taught about karma. She quoted the great Newton and his third law of motion: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction; she emphasized the word opposite. That is due to the fact that what you do comes back to you. Oftentimes your mind is the instrument of your own torture when you cultivate a negative attitude. You may be certain that an individual who harshly criticizes others will slice and dice himself when a quiet moment comes; that one cannot possibly feel close to God.

Time slips by so easily. Certainly, there can be situations in which time seems to creep, but then we come to a point when we look back and suddenly so many years have gone by; things we had thought to do have not been done. On my first pilgrimage to India I met a famous swami at Anandashram, Swami Chidananda. He had a saying, Do it now, DIN!  When it is the right thing to do, then DIN, do it now. We must take ourselves in hand and really make the effort if we are to fulfill what our deepest Soul yearns to accomplish in this life.

Whether it is to make health changes, to be more loving in relationships, a change in attitude, getting up earlier, meditating longer, expanding your circle of love, or total surrender to God—DIN, do it now! Do not ignore the call to dive deeper, soar higher; do not live with regret for a single day wasted. You are not here to lead a half dead zombie-life, sleepwalking through old habits that no longer serve you. Rather, you are here to live a dynamic life filled with love, light and wisdom—a God-realized life.

On November 11 the armistices for WW I was signed at 11 o’clock (11-11 at 11 in 1918). This ended the fighting in what was billed as the war to end all wars; we now know the fallacy of that a hope. From the time Grog hit his neighbor over head for an extra portion of mammoth, there has been conflict and violence amongst mankind. It is a sad commentary on human development, and an enormous waste of lives and materials that could have been used to improve the lot of all. Instead, violence has been used in one way or another to beat each other over the head for much of our recorded history.

When we look at the earth there is enough, and more than enough food and materials for prosperity for all mankind; including leaving vast tracks of nature intact as natural habitats when all is intelligently used. This last year we drove around this North American continent and there were long miles of territory that was just as nature made it—excluding the road we were driving on. With a dedication by all for clean air and water, to treat nature as our essential partner and not just a product, we can have a very nice lifestyle and a healthy environment that will satisfy our Creator that we have been wise in our use of His gifts.

A very positive thing today is that the casualties of war have dropped. Measuring by this past decade, and comparing it to the cold war era the number of deaths from war is now three times lower, and by WW II numbers it is now one hundred times lower; that with a much larger population today. Each life is precious and is a child of God, so one is too many to lose to senseless violence. In addition to the violence of war there continues to be slavery, violence in homes and on the streets, and a lack of justice for many in this wide world. However, even with these problems that affect our dear brothers and sister in humanity, we may also take joy that war casualties are so reduced.

From Buddha and Jesus we have the examples of loving compassion as a hallmark of their lives and teachings. Looking at the world through their eyes we see all humanity, nay, all creation as intimately connected with our own, their welfare is not separate from ours. Papa Ramdas embodied this universal vision, Master and Mother gave the love of God to one and all. Surely the world has had teachings and examples enough for us to know what is right and wrong, yet human nature periodically wants to exert itself to dominate over its brothers and sisters; not lift them up.

In the face of so much of what we see and hear of selfish disregard for others, what are we to think? What are we To do? The most basic teaching is one that can be understood by all, it is called the Golden Rule: Do to others what you would have done to you—in other words, treat others exactly the way you want to be treated. There it is, a little thoughtfulness about what that means to each of us would make this world a heaven on earth. To start the ball rolling you start by embodying this principle in your own life from this day out—to be kind, considerate, truthful, and compassionate.

Sitting at the feet of one of India’s greatest God-men, Swami Satchidananda, I was privileged to see and hear him offer his wisdom to those who came to him. In one instance Swamiji was proactive in influencing an all-India situation that could have resulted in a war. There was a movement urging Hindu’s to travel to Ayodhya to tear down a Mosque built on Hindu holy ground 500 hundred years before. Even though there were those of Islam offering to move the Mosque, these firebrands were determined to have a show of force. Swamiji offered to give the leader of this movement time to speak at the Ashram. It was in Hindi, so I did not attend. Several of the Ashram walked away from his talk, saying they could not understand his logic.

After the man’s talk Swamiji met with him privately to reason with him, that his actions would lead to violence—but to no avail. Tens of thousands boarded trains for Ayodhya and a firebomb landed on a train car, killing over 40 people. A tragedy that lit a match in a tinder box of sentiment. An incident Swamiji had tried to avoid. It reminded me of Krishna mediating between the Kurus and Pandavas that would have avoided a tremendous war, and Rama who sent emissaries to Ravana to negotiate a resolution that would have made the ensuing war unnecessary. Even though these incidents did not avoid conflict, they are examples for us to follow in our working for peace.

Time and again I witnessed Swami Satchidnandaji counsel loving action in the face of difficulties. If someone in the family was misbehaving, then to serve that one with love was the proffered advice. It was sometimes a different approach than I would have thought of at the time, but always consistent with loving compassion as the highest principle. Today we celebrate Swamiji’s birthday (Nov. 12), and the two themes of peace in the world and Swamiji’s life of dedicated service for finding peace within, peace in families, communities and the world fit together perfectly.

One must not think that Swamiji lived in some “bubble,” insulated from life’s difficulties because he spent his years in an ashram. All the world’s problems came through the gates of the Ashram; he dealt with every sort of human trouble. In fact, in his early days at the Ashram he thought he should live in isolation, because he could not serve at the Ashram with perfect equanimity in the face of what he saw.  God had other plans for him however, and after a time in which he lived in a hut next to the Ganges, he was called back to seva for Papa, and would never leave again.

Those of us who live in families with challenges, in work places that disturb our peace, or are made uneasy by world situations can take a page (even a whole book!) out of Swamiji’s life and strive for compassionate peace in all situations. Although he was quiet, he was courageous in standing up for principle in the service for peace. Swamiji was definitely a titan member of the Golden Rule Club, and each one of us may add our part to solving war and conflicts through our working for peace within and peace without, even as he so beautifully did throughout his life.

A crucial decision you make in life is when you make a commitment to be a life-long learner. It is a theme you can and need to commit to daily. To learn from your experience is the basis for all personal and spiritual growth to follow. You must be able to observe yourself and others accurately, then discriminate between what works and does not work for your good and the highest good of all concerned—this is the way of learning from your experience.

Blame and shame are two mindsets that inhibit learning. I sometimes joke that to assign blame early and often is a management tool. You see this with some personalities, their default is to blame others. An enormous consequence of doing this is that it engenders feeling powerless, you are at the whim of what everyone else does. It also tends to make the mind bitter towards the world that is forever letting you down. Hearing a woman say that all men are such losers, begs the question, is there a flaw in her analysis? First is an assessment of the truth, are all men are losers? This is unlikely, or at least men are no more so than women. And the second ignored truth, she is unwilling to take responsibility for the men she chooses to get involved with, nor her part in the unfolding disastrous relationships. With this blaming attitude she is not going to learn from her experience—to be savvier and choose differently, as well as to go on and learn how to develop intimacy—something she definitely wants in her life.

Blame is a fragile ego that is aggressively finding fault in others in order to avoid personal accountability. In the prayer from Anandashram it states, Who is to blame is not important, only, how shall we set the situation right. This is a tremendous statement, for blame is no longer a focal point, rather the mind becomes intent on resolving an issue. Certainly, we must be able to analyze what went wrong, and that will make each person’s actions clear, however the focus is on to how to set the situation right, not who did what.

The second attitude is shame. Shame can be an automatic feeling with some, that no matter what happens there is a deep feeling of exaggerated responsibility. Shame wants to hide, to put it all away. An overdeveloped sense of responsibility will not see the truth of a situation. Shame is something I came into this world with, for as a child I did not want to be seen, and I felt a burning shame for when things went wrong.

However, shame is a distortion of truth and is therefore false. Also, the desire to hide from facts stops our learning from experience in its tracks. Blame and shame are equally culpable for being villains in our desire to grow from every situation—they are two sides to the one ego-coin and are therefore equally untrue. We must be able to overcome these tendencies of mind. When similar situations occur again and again, a pattern repeating itself, then we must see clearly without the prejudices of our familiar attitudes of blame and shame.

Detachment is your great ally in knowing the truth. Anger and fear—connected with blame and shame—can rule the mind. When detached you can look at a situation coolly, without being overheated by anger and fear. You begin by watching your breath. As you observe yourself breathing you then become aware of your body. Is it holding tension? Is fight, flight or freeze running throughout your system? As you breathe with all of this you do not judge, you are simply a witness to what is. You are also aware of your thoughts. Are thoughts triggering panic or rage? Breathe, be aware of your thoughts. Through the observing-self you step back from pure identification with your thoughts, emotions and physical sensations that had been demanding all the attention.

With detachment you become quiet, still. In that still-quiet your reasoning and intuitional minds are optimized. You open yourself to what the truth of a situation is; your thoughts slow down, emotions are quieted, your body relaxes—these are all signs that you are successfully detaching from the dominance of body and mind. In this state you may open a connection to Divine Intelligence. What is the truth here? You set aside your ego-prejudice. You take the risk that truth may completely annihilate what your ego-mind would like, or who you judge to be at fault. Truth trumps opinion. This requires your surrender to something greater than your self.

Truth may reveal itself instantly, or it can take time for it to unfold in your mind. There may be many lurking, closely held opinions and emotions that polarize truth away. There have been questions I have had that simmered for months, even years, then one day, quite mysteriously, one came to the front burner and in a flash my question was answered. It can take time to step away from these deeply held limiting beliefs—to be detached. When you are detached, calm and simple, then truth will approach you, make itself known to you.

There is truth with a small t—what the truth of a particular situation is—then there is Truth with a capital T, a direct revelation from the Super-conscious Mind. To really be a life-long learner means that you seek out both levels of truth and Truth—this is the greatest quest in life. There are many scientists, philosophers, and people of all walks of life who interest themselves in what the truth of a particular situation is; but there are few who take the journey all the way to the Truth of what God is. The surprising thing, Truth may reveal itself through observing a flower, or come from the lips of a child. Both Truth and truth often come in prime simplicity, going directly to the heart of the matter. Be an explorer of truth and Truth—be forever a life-long learner.

Carla and I have wheels under us once again, this time moving south. After a wonderful stop in Ashland where I met with aspirants and we had a potluck followed by Service, we continued our way, 1,200 miles, to Indio, California. It is here that my brother, who recently left the body, had an RV space at a deluxe park. Parked a few spaces away are motorhomes that are worth more than 2 million dollars each. As you might imagine the grounds are most impressive—ponds and waterfalls, grassy stretches with bougainvillea, petunias and roses in prolific bloom. We have come to stay until the new owners take possession—meanwhile we are cleaning and preparing the space; the summers leave a generous amount of dust and cobwebs to be hydro-washed, thoroughly swept and polished.

It is interesting to meet the neighbors who come down for the winter months. A friendly pleasant lot, each with kind condolences for my brother. After being here for a couple of days it struck me this morning how there is a vibration of materialism here. People naturally thinking of keeping their lots and machines in good condition and repair, but more than that, the topics of conversation about their lives and the lives of children and grandchildren, travel, etc. Fairly normal, and nothing offensive at all, however I have been used to talking with those involved on the spiritual path, and while ordinary topics are part of the conversations with devotees, there is always a subtext of lives being primarily focused on realizing God.

And what a difference that makes; it opens the world to something much larger, more meaningful than simple existence. It was interesting to hear how grandparents took their children and grandchildren to South Africa for a safari and touring—interesting to a point. Then, the interest wanes as there is nothing more, nothing for the spirit. Their joy at being with their grandchildren and enjoying their excitement is wonderful, meaningful—however it does not go deep enough. It is a reminder of the vast difference in quality the spiritual journey makes in life.

The real change in leading a spiritual life is connected to an existence above this world. For the devotee, whatever happens in duality there is an unchanging supremacy of existence whose happiness and bliss is independent of ordinary life. This crucial difference is incorporated into the aspirant, woven into the fabric of his or her being to fulfill the greatest potential.

Spiritual practice keeps the devotee from falling into ordinary humdrum existence. Meditation is the touchstone to this higher existence. Giving your life over to God transforms you into being a conscious participant of Divine unfoldment. Ultimately, through the continual focus of the mind on God you become an expression of Divine Consciousness—knowing it is He alone who thinks, speaks and acts through you—now the world stands revealed as made up of nothing but God-stuff.

However, on the way up to this exalted state of awareness you stand with feet in two worlds: with one foot in material existence, the other in the awareness of God’s Presence. It is in this sometimes tenuous in-between state that you must demonstrate the utmost integrity—not slide into forgetfulness of Divine awareness. You live in this world, you fully participate in it, you share your concern for its wellbeing, yet you never forget the core of who and what you are in God. That must come first, the world second. You know that in seeking out God first, it is also for the highest good of the world. However, the world oftentimes does not share that view; so, it makes its demands on you. In the process you must choose—situation by situation you are tested to put God first.

We are richly privileged to be living this spiritual life, with the highest teachings and the greatest examples of fully realized masters to guide our way. And in living this life we are each day tested to put God first, to love Him most. Let us ever keep this lofty goal uppermost in mind, tread this path with firm steps, never wavering or faltering. The greatest happiness and spiritual wealth is with us now—it is our greatest treasure imaginable.

This writing is dedicated to all those who follow the Way of the Cross and the Christ. It has been said that one should write with one’s own blood, and this I do. For the Way of the Cross demands everything of who you are, everything you wish to be. And what do you receive in return? Everything that is God becomes our own. You walk this path alone, even as Jesus was stripped of everything, even his dignity as he went the Way of the Cross. Blessings to all who strive to emulate our beloved Christ in every detail—in his crucifixion and in his resurrection.

The Rose Blooms from the Blood Upon the Cross

It is upon this cross that I am nailed. I have come but for this purpose. The past, my limitations and my all is purged from this little cup of my self; for new wine cannot be poured into an old wineskin, least the skin burst at is seams and the elixir is lost.

I cry out in my agony, I writhe and groan, for it is a heavy price that I pay. “I cannot do this,” says my humanness, and yet somehow I do. It is Grace that has put me upon my cross, it keeps there and will not abandon me, ever. However, I am often more aware of my suffering than sweet Grace—that only wants my highest good.

I suffer not just for my soul’s sake, but for all creation. For the lifting of one link of life’s chain lifts all. “Oh Lord, when will this end?” And Grace answers, “When every contaminant has been scoured from the cup, so that nothing of the three lower natures will sour My wine of pure Spirit.” Thus am I nailed, in this way I suffer. But, it is the suffering to end all suffering. The bridge may groan under a tremendous load coming over it, but still it stands. And if this body were to drop off when the work is done? What of it! I have an eternal reward that surpasses the life of this body in the way the sun’s light is greater than the firefly.

My friends, be not afraid. Each cross is perfectly fitted to its wearer. Yours is perfect for you, even as mine has been for me. It is Love that sees you through, it is Love that makes all possible. Go boldly forward, knowing that all is in His sweet hands, shaping your soul into His likeness and image with the utmost care. For you are not different from He; He cares for you even as you love the Infinite Beloved. It is love that gives to love—and the rose blooms in the desert.

Years ago I took a solemn vow to God: always speak the truth. There are many disciplines one can take up, but this is one of the most stringent. You may think, “Well, I generally speak the truth,” but generally won’t do—it must be every word.

When I was young I would tell a lie to avoid getting into trouble. It was based on fear; so truth and courage must go hand in hand. Even into my adult years I might have said something that was untrue, even if it was shading a thing to make myself look better. So, to speak the truth means you are simple, open—without guile or pretense—like an innocent child.

There is one essential component that must accompany truth for it to be complete, and that is love; the intention of what is said must be for the highest good of all. I have seen so-called truth used like a bludgeon; a cruel stroke not meant to heal but to hurt and dominate. This is not truth, for the intention behind the revelation comes with a crooked purpose—it is based on a lie. In the Mahabharata, Krishna works to mediate a solution with Duryodhana before the great war, but the egotistical king is spoiling for a fight and refuses to budge. After the war Duryodhana angrily berates Krishna for causing the war, and relates a number of events when blaming him—as the reader we know that what Duryodhana is saying is factually true. Krishna tells Duryodhana that all he says is a lie! To understand Krishna’s response, we must go behind the scenes and understand that the Lord is not responding to the outward facts, but Duryodhana’s premise that the war was Krishna’s fault—in reality it was Duryodhana who pushed the world into cataclysm. A series of facts alone does not alone determine truth.

I have seen an individual tell all the worst things about himself at a first meeting in a social situation. On the surface it may seem he is a humble person. But looking a little deeper, rather than self-abnegation being the reason he is truthful, he is actually trying to preserve his ego. It is an attempt to inoculate himself, “If the worst is said by me, then you will not criticize me, for I have already done that, and even exaggerated my faults.” So, you see, it is not the truth because one, it is an exaggeration, and two, the motivation is not humility, but egotism-the socially intended purpose is a falsehood.

Once when I was crossing the border into Canada the guard asked me a question—I went on to add information to my answer. He very curtly cut me off and said that I should only answer the question asked! I took this to heart. Always speaking the truth does not mean we must say everything we know; we only need to know that what we say is true. To make sure this is not a “sin of omission,” we need to know our purpose in choosing our words. If by not saying something someone is harmed, then we should carefully consider our action—we must be clear if it is the falsehood of fear or desire nature that was driving our words.

There are many tests in everyday circumstance for us to speak and know the truth. Some people have the tendency to see the worst in everything. Listening to the news can make the world seem a terrible place. However, the news is very one sided: almost all of it is bad news. Little is said about the vast, vast majority who did not suffer trauma on a particular day—because there is a lack of balance it is not the truth. On the other hand, there are those who do not want to face a truth because it makes them uncomfortable or it is painful, this is lopsided in the other direction. And, some will watch a show about an extremely bad situation, and say, “Now, that is real life!” But who’s real life is it? Does that mean that all those who are not drug addicts, victims of abuse or murder do not have real lives? And then there are those who become livid at what they hear about a public figure—yet, how are we to know the inner person and the whole situation from what is reported? Truth means we do not distort the reality—truth goes to the heart of the matter with clarity, not swayed by emotion or bias.

When truth and love go together it does not diminish the clarity of truth. There are some very hard realities about life, and people commit acts of evil that should not be swept under the rug. However, as a member of this world, and that world includes the evil which is done, if our outrage for wrong action disconnects us from God and the universal vision, then our emotional reaction cannot be said to represent the whole truth. If someone has suffered some trauma in his life, then he sees someone else suffer a similar fate and he sees red, consumed with hatred at the action, then he is not dealing with the whole truth, but a painful reaction to his own past that is projected upon the present. Those committing terrible acts must be stopped, and that is a loving act for the villain as well as the victim, because although the victimizer may be jailed and face consequences for his actions, he is prohibited from further heinous actions which would continue to further darken his soul.

To know the truth in its totality you must have a calm mind. By meditating deeply you pierce the veil of separation and realize the all-pervasive Spirit—you know truth as God knows it and through the universal vision you realize that you cannot be separate from any part of creation. To perceive truth on this level entails more than always speaking the truth—however speaking the truth is a pre-requisite to attaining and becoming established in this higher plane of consciousness. Those who lie and try to cover things up and then go on to say they represent the highest truth cannot be what they say they are.

Let us explore together the practice of speaking the truth—it is one of the great disciplines we may engage in. As we go even further into it, let us then be focused on realizing the supreme Truth at its highest level. How do we know we have come into knowing this higher truth? The great Master Jesus said that when you know the truth, it sets you free—no truer words have ever been spoken.