On May 17 I offered service at the Circle of Gratitude and Love Learning Center. The subject was Finding the God Within. Today I'd like to offer a few thoughts based on that presentation.
We have been told throughout the ages that the key to being close to the Divine is to look within for the Sacred within ourselves. And yet many continue to look outside themselves for manifestations of God. We read again and again that we are children of the One, but forget it as soon as we turn our eyes to the material world.
I have found that by praying often during the day - not just beginning and ending each day with a prayer, but offering prayers repeatedly - it helps me remain close to the Sacred. Other practices that help me are using a mantra and practicing meditation. All of these help remind me that I am a child of the Sacred, and that my greatest task in this life is to come closer to the source of all life.
Yes, all of the above are useful. However, they are only the beginning. When we manifest our spirit - our True Self - in the material world, we realize our true potential as spiritual beings. That is why many work so hard to serve others. We know from the teachings that we are called to serve our fellow man to the best of our ability. We are told that our greatest rewards are derived from this service.
Forgiveness is one of the most spiritual acts we can perform. Just as the Sacred immediately forgives our acts of transgression, we must learn to forgive others. Therefore, when someone's actions or words hurt or anger me, I do my best to remind myself that I am far from perfect. While that person's actions may be different from mine, they are no different on the basic level. All misguided action separates us from God, and keeps us from accomplishing our mission.
When we respond to another's actions based on the God energy within us, we cannot hold negative thoughts. When we look at the other person and see the God within them, we cannot judge and find them lacking. All we see is a reflection of ourselves, and of God, in that other person, and we recognize that we are all doing our best.
Our challenge is to continuously recognize the God within ourselves and all others - not just fellow humans, but all of creation. The whale manifests God as much as we do. The tree lifting its branches to the sky is a manifestation of God. Even the rocks - called by some "the grandfathers" manifest God in their unique way.
When we recognize the God energy within all things, we come one step closer to reuniting with the creator of all things. When we focus our existence on the Sacred, we remember that our journey is not about being better, but simply actuating our True Self – that part of us that is God, the part of us that is One with all things. And we find the God within.
Finding the God within is an important step in living a life with Spirit.
In peace,
Lane
We have been told throughout the ages that the key to being close to the Divine is to look within for the Sacred within ourselves. And yet many continue to look outside themselves for manifestations of God. We read again and again that we are children of the One, but forget it as soon as we turn our eyes to the material world.
I have found that by praying often during the day - not just beginning and ending each day with a prayer, but offering prayers repeatedly - it helps me remain close to the Sacred. Other practices that help me are using a mantra and practicing meditation. All of these help remind me that I am a child of the Sacred, and that my greatest task in this life is to come closer to the source of all life.
Yes, all of the above are useful. However, they are only the beginning. When we manifest our spirit - our True Self - in the material world, we realize our true potential as spiritual beings. That is why many work so hard to serve others. We know from the teachings that we are called to serve our fellow man to the best of our ability. We are told that our greatest rewards are derived from this service.
Forgiveness is one of the most spiritual acts we can perform. Just as the Sacred immediately forgives our acts of transgression, we must learn to forgive others. Therefore, when someone's actions or words hurt or anger me, I do my best to remind myself that I am far from perfect. While that person's actions may be different from mine, they are no different on the basic level. All misguided action separates us from God, and keeps us from accomplishing our mission.
When we respond to another's actions based on the God energy within us, we cannot hold negative thoughts. When we look at the other person and see the God within them, we cannot judge and find them lacking. All we see is a reflection of ourselves, and of God, in that other person, and we recognize that we are all doing our best.
Our challenge is to continuously recognize the God within ourselves and all others - not just fellow humans, but all of creation. The whale manifests God as much as we do. The tree lifting its branches to the sky is a manifestation of God. Even the rocks - called by some "the grandfathers" manifest God in their unique way.
When we recognize the God energy within all things, we come one step closer to reuniting with the creator of all things. When we focus our existence on the Sacred, we remember that our journey is not about being better, but simply actuating our True Self – that part of us that is God, the part of us that is One with all things. And we find the God within.
Finding the God within is an important step in living a life with Spirit.
In peace,
Lane
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