There are many who probably have no idea who T. Lobsang Rampa was. Incidentally, today (January 25) happens to be his 30th death anniversary, so it is just as fitting that this article come out now lest people forget his contributions to the spread of the esoteric sciences.
The "T" in his name stands for "Tuesday" so the complete name is "Tuesday Lobsang Rampa." It stems from the Tibetan practice of prefixing the day one was born in to one's name. Lobsang Rampa came out with the book The Third Eye in 1956 which was supposed to be an autobiography of his life growing up and training in a lamasery in Tibet. It also described an operation whereby his third eye was fully opened, giving him enhanced clairvoyant abilities.
T. Lobsang Rampa went on to author 18 more books, the last being published a few months before his death on January 25, 1981.
Controversy arose soon after publication of The Third Eye when a private investigator found out that the person calling himself T. Lobsang Rampa was someone named Cyril Henry Hoskin, a British native and an ordinary working man who had never been to Tibet. Although Rampa never denied that the body was born as Cyril Henry Hoskin, he said that the soul of T. Lobsang Rampa took over the body through a process called transmigration of the soul when Rampa's original physical body became too worn out to continue (Rampa's horrific experiences are detailed in Doctor from Lhasa and The Rampa Story). Because of this, Rampa was continually hounded and criticized by the press throughout his life.
Normally, that would be that and we wouldn't take a second look at an alleged crackpot writing fiction. However, I have recently finished reading all 19 of Rampa's books, and I found that a lot of the esoteric subjects he had discussed were already familiar because of the pranic healing courses I had attended plus the different esoteric works I already read prior to encountering Rampa's books. For instance, he talks about the silver cord, the higher soul, the astral body, colors of the aura, among others. Any student of the inner sciences would understand these terms. To the sincere student, Rampa's books are serious works about esoteric subjects.
If we look at it, how else could an ordinary working man have amassed such in-depth knowledge about the esoteric sciences? And this in the era before the age of the Internet and when such occult information was not so easily accessible? In the body of esoteric literature, such transmigrations are not as rare as we think. For example, the spirit of a very advanced Hermetic adept is supposed to have taken over the body of Franz Bardon when he was 16 years old.
Aside from traditional esoteric subjects, Rampa also discusses about inner earth, extraterrestials and the true history of the human race. Although I do not have direct knowledge of those subjects, since he was spot on about the esoteric topics then I tend to give weight to these other subjects.
Even with my background, my understanding of esoteric sciences was definitely enriched by reading Rampa's books, and he writes with such a humorous air and wit that these normally heavy subjects are surprisingly easy to read and absorb. In fact, my best friend who can't make heads or tails of traditional occult works was able to read through The Third Eye and Doctor From Lhasa and is in fact starting on the third volume.
My first encounter with Rampa actually happened when I was still in high school. It turns out one of my brothers had a copy of Doctor From Lhasa and while I simply treated it as a novel back then, I was intrigued with the concept of astral travel and in fact told my best friend about it. A few months back I was surprised it had made an impression on my friend when he mentioned that he remembers our talks during those times. I had forgotten about it myself until my friend reminded me.
It really is too bad that esoteric subjects or anything deviating from the "official" line is usually not taken seriously and often discouraged, although I would say more and more people are getting into these inner sciences compared to before (and I guess we can thank the Internet for that). But if one were interested in starting to learn these inner sciences, you won't go wrong by starting with T. Lobsang Rampa's books.
Although he has gone off to a much better place, to our eternal benefit the knowledge Rampa shared is still here with us to stay. He may not be as famous as some avesha avatara, but his works definitely rank up there in terms of how much they help in advancing the consciousness and understanding of those willing to tread that path. His coming definitely was a blessing to the human race, though not many know it.
Here's to T. Lobsang Rampa, and an overdue thank you.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Friday, December 31, 2010
Looking Back
As the current year heads to a close (already?!), a lot of people are probably furiously writing down the latest batch of resolutions to greet the year ahead. Of course, are we going to write down a new set of resolutions or a rehash of the previous year's unaccomplished ones?
And yet despite whatever difficulties we may have faced, it's always important to maintain that sense of gratitude not only for the year that has passed, but also for the year that's coming. We're alive, at the very least, and that in itself is enough to be grateful for. In the esoteric sense, it means we're still here to accelerate whatever lessons need to be learned, so we have the chance to really progress faster.
A lot has changed for me, not just in comparison to the beginning of this year, but also looking back over many years. I used to be part of the daily grind of trying to work my ass off for culturally conditioned goals such as the career climb, more money in the bank, etc. But then I discovered pranic healing and my life went in a different direction.
I'm lucky in the sense that I have a job that is home-based and so I have more opportunities to pursue my true interests. And if the job does not give all that one may have been conditioned to expect by working (travel perks, a house, car allowances, etc.), it at least allows me to earn enough to pay the bills while still allowing me to do what I really want (esoteric studies), as long as I live modestly. Ideally, one's job should be there to support one's abilities and life interests, although realistically most people spend majority of their waking hours at their jobs.
By normal standards, my life can be said to be pretty boring. But from where I stand, I'm actually so excited about every day that comes. And I guess that's something that everyone has to assess every year. What do you really want to get out of life? Are you working to merely pay the bills, day after exhausted day, in the pursuit of some goal that you don't really relish once you get it? Are you frustrated at not being able to pursue your childhood dreams? I know of many people who wanted to be something else, like a painter or singer, but were discouraged because "there's no money in it" and so are forced to become dentists or call center agents.
But as year passes year, are you really where you want to be, and more importantly, are you on your way to it? The answer is as varied as the number of people on the planet, and each life plan works its way out differently, but it's a question that can't be ignored and one must always keep this in mind. Life gives us hard choices, and circumstances may derail us, but just be honest with your inner self, and perhaps this new year will bring you a renewed sense of purpose...and hope.
And so I end with this blessing: May you all be blessed with waves of Divine Light, Divine Love and Divine Power, so that you and your family may properly and rapidly achieve and accomplish your true purpose in life. May this be a life filled with joy, prosperity, good health, happiness, accomplishment and spirituality. With full faith, so be it!
Happy New Year to all!
And yet despite whatever difficulties we may have faced, it's always important to maintain that sense of gratitude not only for the year that has passed, but also for the year that's coming. We're alive, at the very least, and that in itself is enough to be grateful for. In the esoteric sense, it means we're still here to accelerate whatever lessons need to be learned, so we have the chance to really progress faster.
A lot has changed for me, not just in comparison to the beginning of this year, but also looking back over many years. I used to be part of the daily grind of trying to work my ass off for culturally conditioned goals such as the career climb, more money in the bank, etc. But then I discovered pranic healing and my life went in a different direction.
I'm lucky in the sense that I have a job that is home-based and so I have more opportunities to pursue my true interests. And if the job does not give all that one may have been conditioned to expect by working (travel perks, a house, car allowances, etc.), it at least allows me to earn enough to pay the bills while still allowing me to do what I really want (esoteric studies), as long as I live modestly. Ideally, one's job should be there to support one's abilities and life interests, although realistically most people spend majority of their waking hours at their jobs.
By normal standards, my life can be said to be pretty boring. But from where I stand, I'm actually so excited about every day that comes. And I guess that's something that everyone has to assess every year. What do you really want to get out of life? Are you working to merely pay the bills, day after exhausted day, in the pursuit of some goal that you don't really relish once you get it? Are you frustrated at not being able to pursue your childhood dreams? I know of many people who wanted to be something else, like a painter or singer, but were discouraged because "there's no money in it" and so are forced to become dentists or call center agents.
But as year passes year, are you really where you want to be, and more importantly, are you on your way to it? The answer is as varied as the number of people on the planet, and each life plan works its way out differently, but it's a question that can't be ignored and one must always keep this in mind. Life gives us hard choices, and circumstances may derail us, but just be honest with your inner self, and perhaps this new year will bring you a renewed sense of purpose...and hope.
And so I end with this blessing: May you all be blessed with waves of Divine Light, Divine Love and Divine Power, so that you and your family may properly and rapidly achieve and accomplish your true purpose in life. May this be a life filled with joy, prosperity, good health, happiness, accomplishment and spirituality. With full faith, so be it!
Happy New Year to all!
Friday, November 26, 2010
Interactions with Polarity
Last week I took advantage of the holiday by heading to the nearest cinema to watch Megamind. I was looking for something light and funny, hence the choice of movie.
I hope I'm not giving too much of the story away to those who haven't watched it yet, but the movie is told from the perspective of Megamind, an alien refugee turned into a super villain. He has an archrival in the form of Metroman, also an alien refugee from a planet near Megamind's homeworld. They constantly battle for control of Metro City, with Megamind always getting the short end of the stick until one day, he unexpectedly wins and suddenly finds himself grappling with his purpose in life now that his opposite is gone. In several scenes in the movie, it was mentioned that for every yin, there needs to be a yang, otherwise life would have no meaning.
I don't know if the writers knew it, but they were touching upon a subtle esoteric truth. What gives this plane meaning as a place for learning lessons is the concept of duality, the so-called Hermetic Principle of Polarity which states that everything has opposites, or two poles. Yes, here I go again, launching into a discussion of metaphysics, using a comedic movie as basis, no less! But one does what one does.
It is a paradox, because it is hard to imagine how pain, loss, hardship or any of the other negative manifestations can give meaning to life. And yet they are a necessary part of this existence. Hermetic scholars call this the Divine Paradox, which is an aspect of the Principle of Polarity. The concepts of Good and Evil are examples of this polarity.
There are many facets by which we could look at polarity. Just so we can get a glimpse of its meaning, I will discuss three facets. Polarity as it appears in interactions with other people, polarity in nature, and polarity within the context of the Greater Reality.
As anyone who has ever been married would (or should!) know, one can never always get one's way. And even if there are instances where one somehow managed to get one's way, it would not be in the way that one exactly wanted it to be. Everytime you want to do something or buy something, you will more often than not hear an opposing view, and if you want the marriage to last, you compromise.
We often see opposition or opposing views as a bad thing. However, since we are not perfect, then our own views may not always be the best or most appropriate, and this is where an opposing force plays a role. The opposition can come in the form of someone arguing against your views, or in the form of a setback. If you learn from the setback or from the argument, you come out the better for it. You also become more flexible and adaptive. But if there was no opposition, then there would be no way for you to know what may be lacking with your own point of view. You would also tend to be too rigid or hidebound.
Before I go on, I'm not saying that you should go about arguing with everyone or pursuing negative situations in some sort of sado-masochistic spiral. All I'm saying is that polarity (positive and negative) has its place, and the purpose is for one to grow and learn. So there should always be balance within the opposites (another paradox!).
Polarity, or opposition, can even be seen in how Nature works. For example, if there was no traction between your shoes and the ground, you would slip. If an astronaut was on a space walk without a lifeline, if he drifted even one inch away from the satellite or spacecraft he might as well be a million miles away. He won't be able to propel himself towards the object simply because he would have nothing to push against, nothing to oppose his force and put Newton's Third Law into effect (i.e. for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction). Interestingly, cause and effect is basically what karma is. Without duality, there is no way for karma to take effect.
In the Testament of Solomon, different forms of illness and disease have guiding intelligences, often called "devils" with their particular names, and to cure illness one simply had to call on the angel that is the opposite of the particular devil. Seeing how Nature works, with the interaction of both building up (positive) and breaking down (negative), a particular passage in The Magus of Strovolos makes more sense, where it says that in Nature, angels and devils actually work in harmony together.
Controversial as it may be for some (or maybe a lot), Franz Bardon says that good and evil are constructs that man has made in order to rationalize one's existence, but in reality, everything is interconnected and has its place in Creation.
Imagine if there was no decay on Earth (decay often being categorized as a negative force). The Earth would absolutely be filled over with everything from leaves, fruits, feces, and all manner of things that would normally have decayed! Imagine also if food never got digested. Remember, breaking down or "destroying" is a negative activity, therefore if your food could not be broken down, then you would starve to death. And so, positive and negative have their places and their roles.
All of the above explains somewhat the operations of duality, but does not really try to explain why bother with it all. Why do we have to incarnate into duality, anyway? And so we touch upon another facet of polarity.
An inkling may be found in various esoteric texts that state that one can only ascend to planes of existence that one is in similar vibration to. This is simply the Law of Attraction at work, which says that "like attracts like, opposites repel." So if in this life you were always tormented with jeers and insults, you would not encounter these people in the higher astral realms. You are in oneness with those you are in vibration with.
Spiritual evolution involves learning lessons, and working towards a greater understanding of Creation. But apparently, not all lessons can be learned by remaining in the higher planes. Let's say for example that one used to be a slave with a cruel slave master. You are basically a good person except that you really hated your slave master before you died. In the higher realms, you wouldn't encounter the person who used to be the slave master, because you are in different vibration from each other. Yet you need to learn the lesson of forgiveness.
How then may these two dissimilar vibrations be brought together to interact? That's when the souls of both the slave and slave master reincarnate on this physical plane. Perhaps this time the slave master incarnates as the child of the former slave. As a parent, the former slave now has power over the former slave master, and has the choice either to forgive or to mete out centuries-old payback (in which case the two will remain in close proximity for several more incarnations until the lesson is learned). You cannot say you are a forgiving person if you haven't found yourself in a situation that tests your ability to forgive.
I hope I'm not presenting things too simplistically, but I hope I was able to show, even a little bit, how polarity fits in with our physical reality. Hopefully, now you are able to maintain a more positive outlook every time you encounter situations that may seem negative to you at first, because there are always two sides to a coin, and if one side seems dark, all you need to do is to look at the other side*wink*.
I hope I'm not giving too much of the story away to those who haven't watched it yet, but the movie is told from the perspective of Megamind, an alien refugee turned into a super villain. He has an archrival in the form of Metroman, also an alien refugee from a planet near Megamind's homeworld. They constantly battle for control of Metro City, with Megamind always getting the short end of the stick until one day, he unexpectedly wins and suddenly finds himself grappling with his purpose in life now that his opposite is gone. In several scenes in the movie, it was mentioned that for every yin, there needs to be a yang, otherwise life would have no meaning.
I don't know if the writers knew it, but they were touching upon a subtle esoteric truth. What gives this plane meaning as a place for learning lessons is the concept of duality, the so-called Hermetic Principle of Polarity which states that everything has opposites, or two poles. Yes, here I go again, launching into a discussion of metaphysics, using a comedic movie as basis, no less! But one does what one does.
It is a paradox, because it is hard to imagine how pain, loss, hardship or any of the other negative manifestations can give meaning to life. And yet they are a necessary part of this existence. Hermetic scholars call this the Divine Paradox, which is an aspect of the Principle of Polarity. The concepts of Good and Evil are examples of this polarity.
There are many facets by which we could look at polarity. Just so we can get a glimpse of its meaning, I will discuss three facets. Polarity as it appears in interactions with other people, polarity in nature, and polarity within the context of the Greater Reality.
As anyone who has ever been married would (or should!) know, one can never always get one's way. And even if there are instances where one somehow managed to get one's way, it would not be in the way that one exactly wanted it to be. Everytime you want to do something or buy something, you will more often than not hear an opposing view, and if you want the marriage to last, you compromise.
We often see opposition or opposing views as a bad thing. However, since we are not perfect, then our own views may not always be the best or most appropriate, and this is where an opposing force plays a role. The opposition can come in the form of someone arguing against your views, or in the form of a setback. If you learn from the setback or from the argument, you come out the better for it. You also become more flexible and adaptive. But if there was no opposition, then there would be no way for you to know what may be lacking with your own point of view. You would also tend to be too rigid or hidebound.
Before I go on, I'm not saying that you should go about arguing with everyone or pursuing negative situations in some sort of sado-masochistic spiral. All I'm saying is that polarity (positive and negative) has its place, and the purpose is for one to grow and learn. So there should always be balance within the opposites (another paradox!).
Polarity, or opposition, can even be seen in how Nature works. For example, if there was no traction between your shoes and the ground, you would slip. If an astronaut was on a space walk without a lifeline, if he drifted even one inch away from the satellite or spacecraft he might as well be a million miles away. He won't be able to propel himself towards the object simply because he would have nothing to push against, nothing to oppose his force and put Newton's Third Law into effect (i.e. for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction). Interestingly, cause and effect is basically what karma is. Without duality, there is no way for karma to take effect.
In the Testament of Solomon, different forms of illness and disease have guiding intelligences, often called "devils" with their particular names, and to cure illness one simply had to call on the angel that is the opposite of the particular devil. Seeing how Nature works, with the interaction of both building up (positive) and breaking down (negative), a particular passage in The Magus of Strovolos makes more sense, where it says that in Nature, angels and devils actually work in harmony together.
Controversial as it may be for some (or maybe a lot), Franz Bardon says that good and evil are constructs that man has made in order to rationalize one's existence, but in reality, everything is interconnected and has its place in Creation.
Imagine if there was no decay on Earth (decay often being categorized as a negative force). The Earth would absolutely be filled over with everything from leaves, fruits, feces, and all manner of things that would normally have decayed! Imagine also if food never got digested. Remember, breaking down or "destroying" is a negative activity, therefore if your food could not be broken down, then you would starve to death. And so, positive and negative have their places and their roles.
All of the above explains somewhat the operations of duality, but does not really try to explain why bother with it all. Why do we have to incarnate into duality, anyway? And so we touch upon another facet of polarity.
An inkling may be found in various esoteric texts that state that one can only ascend to planes of existence that one is in similar vibration to. This is simply the Law of Attraction at work, which says that "like attracts like, opposites repel." So if in this life you were always tormented with jeers and insults, you would not encounter these people in the higher astral realms. You are in oneness with those you are in vibration with.
Spiritual evolution involves learning lessons, and working towards a greater understanding of Creation. But apparently, not all lessons can be learned by remaining in the higher planes. Let's say for example that one used to be a slave with a cruel slave master. You are basically a good person except that you really hated your slave master before you died. In the higher realms, you wouldn't encounter the person who used to be the slave master, because you are in different vibration from each other. Yet you need to learn the lesson of forgiveness.
How then may these two dissimilar vibrations be brought together to interact? That's when the souls of both the slave and slave master reincarnate on this physical plane. Perhaps this time the slave master incarnates as the child of the former slave. As a parent, the former slave now has power over the former slave master, and has the choice either to forgive or to mete out centuries-old payback (in which case the two will remain in close proximity for several more incarnations until the lesson is learned). You cannot say you are a forgiving person if you haven't found yourself in a situation that tests your ability to forgive.
I hope I'm not presenting things too simplistically, but I hope I was able to show, even a little bit, how polarity fits in with our physical reality. Hopefully, now you are able to maintain a more positive outlook every time you encounter situations that may seem negative to you at first, because there are always two sides to a coin, and if one side seems dark, all you need to do is to look at the other side
Thursday, November 4, 2010
The 90-10 Phenomenon
There is an esoteric law called the Law of Correspondence which, in hermetic parlance, states that "As Above, So Below; As Below, So Above." In material science, we see this principle reflected in the concept of fractals. Whatever pattern or design that you see on the macro level, will also be the same underlying pattern in the micro level.
This esoteric law forms the basis of all patterns, proportions and progressions, and by keeping this law always in mind, one is able to clue in to some important patterns and perhaps derive some insight into the workings of the universe. It also allows one to make sense of the different symbolisms found in many esoteric works. The Kabbalistic Tree of Life is one such pattern that can be applied to many fields of metaphysical thought. The Power of Three is another such example.
But for the purpose of this article, I would like to focus more on the 90-10 phenomenon (as I call it), simply because of some observations I was able to pick up that carry this pattern. For instance, it is often stated that our conscious mind only represents 10% of our mental power, the remaining 90% being our subconscious.
In terms of religious custom, we are asked to keep 90% of our income, while tithing 10% to the church. When we are asked to roughly measure success or progress, more often than not, we instinctively say that "we're 90% there." And here's more, the tip of an iceberg is typically only one-tenth (10%) of the total volume of the whole thing, the other 90% being underwater!
What is the significance of this particular proportion? Why not 80-20 or 95-5? Why does the 10% usually represent what is manifest or visible, while the 90% is the hidden portion?
Let us return to the Kabbalistic Tree of Life since its symbolism can help us. The tree of life is typically depicted with ten sephira, with one hidden sefirot (for a total of 11). According to Kabbalah, reality is made up of ten dimensions, and our physical reality represents only one of those dimensions. The lowest sefirot in the tree of life is called Malkuth (Kingdom) and is often taken to represent this physical dimension.
Since Malkuth represents one-tenth of the number of sephira found in the tree of life, and in Nature we find that 90% represents the hidden, then if we apply the symbolism of the tree of life, it follows that the 9 other sephira (or dimensions) is hidden or veiled.
In one of my previous articles, I discussed the theory of why we tithe, and in the article I included the Kabbalistic explanation of why we tithe in the proportion of 10%. Since physical reality is the lowest of the ten dimensions, it is the dimension of the Adversary. Therefore, giving away 10% cuts away the force of the Adversary from our income and our lives.
But to me the proportion holds an even deeper symbolism. Although majority of people's consciousness can only encompass our physical reality, it is not the whole story. In fact, physical reality only forms a fraction of that story. It is also the part that is temporary and that we let go off upon death. Therefore, by giving away 10% of one's income, one acknowledges the impermanence of physical possessions and should recognize that the greater portion that is not perceived by our physical senses is our true treasure.
This is all well and good, but is there any scientific basis for all of this? Interestingly, scientists, through their calculations, have also speculated that there are 10 dimensions. In quantum science, this is posited in string theory.
And here's one other interesting tidbit: scientists have discovered that matter as we know it only represents 10% of the universe! The other 90% is the so-called dark matter, which scientists are still trying to detect but which their calculations show should be there. It seems the 90-10 phenomenon is pointing us to something more fundamental about the make up of the universe after all.
This is the beauty of symbolism, which instantly reminds us of certain lessons via condensed imagery and structure. Unfortunately, you must be aware of what the lesson is in the first place, otherwise the symbol has no meaning for the person who sees it. Why is there a need to remind ourselves of lessons? So that it imparts firmly into our subconscious, which is 90% of our mind, by the way!
This esoteric law forms the basis of all patterns, proportions and progressions, and by keeping this law always in mind, one is able to clue in to some important patterns and perhaps derive some insight into the workings of the universe. It also allows one to make sense of the different symbolisms found in many esoteric works. The Kabbalistic Tree of Life is one such pattern that can be applied to many fields of metaphysical thought. The Power of Three is another such example.
But for the purpose of this article, I would like to focus more on the 90-10 phenomenon (as I call it), simply because of some observations I was able to pick up that carry this pattern. For instance, it is often stated that our conscious mind only represents 10% of our mental power, the remaining 90% being our subconscious.
In terms of religious custom, we are asked to keep 90% of our income, while tithing 10% to the church. When we are asked to roughly measure success or progress, more often than not, we instinctively say that "we're 90% there." And here's more, the tip of an iceberg is typically only one-tenth (10%) of the total volume of the whole thing, the other 90% being underwater!
What is the significance of this particular proportion? Why not 80-20 or 95-5? Why does the 10% usually represent what is manifest or visible, while the 90% is the hidden portion?
Let us return to the Kabbalistic Tree of Life since its symbolism can help us. The tree of life is typically depicted with ten sephira, with one hidden sefirot (for a total of 11). According to Kabbalah, reality is made up of ten dimensions, and our physical reality represents only one of those dimensions. The lowest sefirot in the tree of life is called Malkuth (Kingdom) and is often taken to represent this physical dimension.
Since Malkuth represents one-tenth of the number of sephira found in the tree of life, and in Nature we find that 90% represents the hidden, then if we apply the symbolism of the tree of life, it follows that the 9 other sephira (or dimensions) is hidden or veiled.
In one of my previous articles, I discussed the theory of why we tithe, and in the article I included the Kabbalistic explanation of why we tithe in the proportion of 10%. Since physical reality is the lowest of the ten dimensions, it is the dimension of the Adversary. Therefore, giving away 10% cuts away the force of the Adversary from our income and our lives.
But to me the proportion holds an even deeper symbolism. Although majority of people's consciousness can only encompass our physical reality, it is not the whole story. In fact, physical reality only forms a fraction of that story. It is also the part that is temporary and that we let go off upon death. Therefore, by giving away 10% of one's income, one acknowledges the impermanence of physical possessions and should recognize that the greater portion that is not perceived by our physical senses is our true treasure.
This is all well and good, but is there any scientific basis for all of this? Interestingly, scientists, through their calculations, have also speculated that there are 10 dimensions. In quantum science, this is posited in string theory.
And here's one other interesting tidbit: scientists have discovered that matter as we know it only represents 10% of the universe! The other 90% is the so-called dark matter, which scientists are still trying to detect but which their calculations show should be there. It seems the 90-10 phenomenon is pointing us to something more fundamental about the make up of the universe after all.
This is the beauty of symbolism, which instantly reminds us of certain lessons via condensed imagery and structure. Unfortunately, you must be aware of what the lesson is in the first place, otherwise the symbol has no meaning for the person who sees it. Why is there a need to remind ourselves of lessons? So that it imparts firmly into our subconscious, which is 90% of our mind, by the way!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Become a Lawyer!
No, I'm not referring to the type where you need to pass the bar exams to become one, but rather the one where you become a spiritual lawyer! Before I go on, I'm not referring to church dogma, either. A theologian or canon lawyer is not necessarily a spiritual lawyer.
Life is governed by a set of spiritual laws just as surely as Nature is governed by a set of physical laws, such as the law of gravity. Actually, the term "spiritual" law is a misnomer, because they are also natural laws, meaning they are part of Nature. It's simply the way things are.
Let's take a step back first. Why is it important to be knowledgeable of the law? If you're referring to the law within a certain country, it's obvious that you need to have a rudimentary knowledge of it so that you don't get in trouble with the authorities. For the engineer, there is no way he can design an aircraft, for example, without knowledge of certain fundamental scientific laws, such as how lift is generated by Bernoulli's principle and Newton's Third Law (for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction), so that the wing should push air down, in order that the opposite action will then push the wing up, creating lift.
If then a basic understanding of laws, whether legal or scientific, is necessary to accomplish important things in life, then it is amazing how many people ignore or are unaware of the natural laws that govern the very fabric of life itself. As Franz Bardon says, the universe is a very legal universe. So a basic knowledge of its workings goes a long way to allowing us to manage our lives well and ensure our development.
Unfortunately, the disillusionment of many people with organized religion has driven many to disavow anything of the spiritual, thus throwing out the baby along with the bath water, so to speak. The sacred scriptures contain a lot of valuable esoteric knowledge, if one but had the key to deciphering them. Unfortunately, within the ranks of organized religion, the knowledge has mostly been lost and dogma has taken its place.
Okay, you may say, this is all very good in theory. But does it actually work? One only has to look at the different prosperity courses and programs by several "life coaches" (e.g. Breakthrough seminar, Firewalk seminar, etc.) to see that there is something to this. These programs actually make a lot of use of the Law of Attraction, building the confidence of students so that only positive thoughts and affirmations are entertained. And this, by the Law of Attraction, brings about the desired prosperity. Watch The Secret, because it's very inspiring. And this is just one law. What if you also gain a working knowledge of the other laws?
It would take too long to expound on all the laws, but with enough research, one should be able to get a basic grasp of them. For those who have read my article about The Master Key System, the following short list is taken from that book and should give enough of an idea what these spiritual laws are about:
1. Law of Attraction - like matter will attract like matter; negative thoughts attract negative circumstances, while positive thoughts attract positive circumstances.
2. Law of Cause and Effect - whereby you reap exactly what you sow.
3. Law of Compensation - which is why you must first give in order to receive, because anything not merited is eventually taken away since Nature seeks to find equilibrium.
4. Law of Periodicity (may also be called Law of Cycles or Law of Rhythm) - Charles Haanel says that this law is governed by the Septimal Law (Law of Sevens), whereby everything happens in cycles of sevens (seven days, seven weeks, seven months, seven years, etc.). For those familiar with Master Choa Kok Sui's Management Through Kabbalistic Cycle, which involves 7 cycles as well, you will appreciate this section. In fact, given Master Choa's prolific reading, I wouldn't be surprised if he had read The Master Key System.
5. Law of Growth - anything given thought is given life, therefore it must build upon itself.
This only scratches the surface, so I encourage you to do some research on the different esoteric laws. The Kybalion is highly recommended reading.
One of the questions that I'm sure all of us have asked at least once in our lives is, if God is perfect and good, how could He have created such an imperfect world, with all its pains and sufferings?
Since we are already on the subject of The Master Key System, let me discuss one of the entries in the Question and Answer portion found at the end of the book, because it has something to do with the question at hand.
The question was: Since the real "I" is spiritual and therefore perfect, and since it "controls and directs both the body and mind," how is it that we see such imperfect results?
Charles Haanel's answer: We see no imperfect results. We see nothing but perfection. Perfection means that the Law operates with immutable precision. Spiritual law always operates perfectly. If the individual thinks constructively, results are constructive and harmonious. If he thinks destructively, he reaps exactly what he sows. The Law works perfectly. We see no imperfect results whatever. We may freely choose what we think, but the result of our thought is governed by an immutable law.
This is important because if we stick to a purely material view of the universe, none of life makes sense. But if we begin to grasp the operation of these hidden spiritual laws, then it sheds new light on the way we live our lives. Just because you imagine one thing doesn't make it any less real, because thought has real power. An architect first thought of the building he wanted to construct, before he ever put it on paper. So everything starts from thought, and makes its way from there.
Therefore, do we continue in ignorance and blunder our way through life? Or do we try to understand Nature's secrets and thereby penetrate into the beauty of all Creation? The choice lies within each and every one of us.
Life is governed by a set of spiritual laws just as surely as Nature is governed by a set of physical laws, such as the law of gravity. Actually, the term "spiritual" law is a misnomer, because they are also natural laws, meaning they are part of Nature. It's simply the way things are.
Let's take a step back first. Why is it important to be knowledgeable of the law? If you're referring to the law within a certain country, it's obvious that you need to have a rudimentary knowledge of it so that you don't get in trouble with the authorities. For the engineer, there is no way he can design an aircraft, for example, without knowledge of certain fundamental scientific laws, such as how lift is generated by Bernoulli's principle and Newton's Third Law (for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction), so that the wing should push air down, in order that the opposite action will then push the wing up, creating lift.
If then a basic understanding of laws, whether legal or scientific, is necessary to accomplish important things in life, then it is amazing how many people ignore or are unaware of the natural laws that govern the very fabric of life itself. As Franz Bardon says, the universe is a very legal universe. So a basic knowledge of its workings goes a long way to allowing us to manage our lives well and ensure our development.
Unfortunately, the disillusionment of many people with organized religion has driven many to disavow anything of the spiritual, thus throwing out the baby along with the bath water, so to speak. The sacred scriptures contain a lot of valuable esoteric knowledge, if one but had the key to deciphering them. Unfortunately, within the ranks of organized religion, the knowledge has mostly been lost and dogma has taken its place.
Okay, you may say, this is all very good in theory. But does it actually work? One only has to look at the different prosperity courses and programs by several "life coaches" (e.g. Breakthrough seminar, Firewalk seminar, etc.) to see that there is something to this. These programs actually make a lot of use of the Law of Attraction, building the confidence of students so that only positive thoughts and affirmations are entertained. And this, by the Law of Attraction, brings about the desired prosperity. Watch The Secret, because it's very inspiring. And this is just one law. What if you also gain a working knowledge of the other laws?
It would take too long to expound on all the laws, but with enough research, one should be able to get a basic grasp of them. For those who have read my article about The Master Key System, the following short list is taken from that book and should give enough of an idea what these spiritual laws are about:
1. Law of Attraction - like matter will attract like matter; negative thoughts attract negative circumstances, while positive thoughts attract positive circumstances.
2. Law of Cause and Effect - whereby you reap exactly what you sow.
3. Law of Compensation - which is why you must first give in order to receive, because anything not merited is eventually taken away since Nature seeks to find equilibrium.
4. Law of Periodicity (may also be called Law of Cycles or Law of Rhythm) - Charles Haanel says that this law is governed by the Septimal Law (Law of Sevens), whereby everything happens in cycles of sevens (seven days, seven weeks, seven months, seven years, etc.). For those familiar with Master Choa Kok Sui's Management Through Kabbalistic Cycle, which involves 7 cycles as well, you will appreciate this section. In fact, given Master Choa's prolific reading, I wouldn't be surprised if he had read The Master Key System.
5. Law of Growth - anything given thought is given life, therefore it must build upon itself.
This only scratches the surface, so I encourage you to do some research on the different esoteric laws. The Kybalion is highly recommended reading.
One of the questions that I'm sure all of us have asked at least once in our lives is, if God is perfect and good, how could He have created such an imperfect world, with all its pains and sufferings?
Since we are already on the subject of The Master Key System, let me discuss one of the entries in the Question and Answer portion found at the end of the book, because it has something to do with the question at hand.
The question was: Since the real "I" is spiritual and therefore perfect, and since it "controls and directs both the body and mind," how is it that we see such imperfect results?
Charles Haanel's answer: We see no imperfect results. We see nothing but perfection. Perfection means that the Law operates with immutable precision. Spiritual law always operates perfectly. If the individual thinks constructively, results are constructive and harmonious. If he thinks destructively, he reaps exactly what he sows. The Law works perfectly. We see no imperfect results whatever. We may freely choose what we think, but the result of our thought is governed by an immutable law.
This is important because if we stick to a purely material view of the universe, none of life makes sense. But if we begin to grasp the operation of these hidden spiritual laws, then it sheds new light on the way we live our lives. Just because you imagine one thing doesn't make it any less real, because thought has real power. An architect first thought of the building he wanted to construct, before he ever put it on paper. So everything starts from thought, and makes its way from there.
Therefore, do we continue in ignorance and blunder our way through life? Or do we try to understand Nature's secrets and thereby penetrate into the beauty of all Creation? The choice lies within each and every one of us.
On the Nature of Illusion
For those of us who have done even the most casual reading about Buddhism, one of its most recognizable precepts is the assertion that everything we perceive as reality is actually maya, or illusion. This idea is not actually limited to Buddhism, because it can be found in the esoteric works of many cultures worldwide, often couched in different terms.
Reality as illusion is quite a baffling concept for the average person. After all, how was I able to type up this article if my computer was an illusion? And won't I get squished if I step in front of a speeding 10-wheeler?
Quantum physics is able to shed some light on this matter. Physicists agree that everything is energy. But while everything is in a state of flux, there are certain concentrations of energy in the universe. The basic form these concentrations of energy take is the torus.
Discussing the torus in detail would take us into the realm of sacred geometry, but since that is not the main focus of this article, it would suffice to say that the torus is a 3-dimensional donut shaped field of energy that is found in all matter. Meaning, if one had the equipment, one would see torus fields in the atoms, and even in the human body. Since a torus is a concentration of energy (energy bent into itself, with a "zero point" at the center), one can say that matter is simply condensed or stabilized energy. If you want a more detailed discussion of the torus, quantum physics and sacred geometry, you may read Souls of Distortion Awakening by Jan Wicherink.
This is the quantum physics view of reality, but it may still be too abstract for most people. So let's take it a step further. According to esoteric teachings, one can only interact with something that one is in similar vibration to. This is the Law of Attraction or "like attracts like". But to apply it to the nature of reality, let's use an example that is familiar for most people: the computer game.
You can think of your favorite computer game, whether it be a first person shooter, RPG or even MMORPG. What are common themes among computer games? There are different goals or missions to accomplish, and accomplishing these quests "levels up" your character, giving you added skills, equipment and abilities. But there's one other common thing: THEY'RE NOT REAL.
At least, not real in the sense that we can physically reach into and interact with the program. A computer dragon's fire will in no way burn you, the player, but you can't slay it either. That's why you need to create an avatar (also called a character), because the avatar, being of the same substance as the computer game, is able to interact with the program and slay the dragon, that is, unless it slays your character first!
So using the conceptual framework of the computer game, transpose it to our reality and the Buddhist concept of maya, and you begin to see the picture. Your soul is the player, and your bodies are the vehicles that your soul uses in order to interact with this world. Your physical body allows you to interact with the physical vibrations of the world (which is why you can get squished by a speeding 10-wheeler), your astral body allows you to process emotions, while your mental body is able to interact with the different ideas being conveyed in this reality, and all of these send signals to your soul, and your soul sends signals back depending on the action that needs to be taken.
The difference, of course, is that our consciousness doesn't reach so far as to encompass the true nature of reality. Some yogis have spent lifetimes (yes, plural) just to be able to get a glimpse of this Greater Reality, writing about it later so that we have something to guide us.
We know about computer games and we say "tut, tut" everytime we see computer game addicts who spend most of their time in front of the computer, the game being more real for them than the people around them. And yet many people spend their whole lives on purely material pursuits such as social status and monetary power, and accolades are given all over, and we often exert all our efforts to earn these accolades. But not one person has succeeded in taking even one cent into the Great Beyond. And so happens the greater tragedy of becoming earthbound. Earthly desires attract the soul so much, but now lacking a physical body, there is no way to interact with the riches, wine, food and mistresses that so enthralled the soul while he had a physical body. Instead of being able to move on, the soul is stuck here, in the physical realm that is not even real for him anymore.
In Georg Lomer's Seven Hermetic Letters, there is one particular exercise that is applicable here, called the death and burial exercise. Basically, you are to imagine your body as it would look like in death, as it is laid out on the coffin. And once the coffin is buried, imagine the body (your body!) decaying, being eaten by worms. Imagine the clothes that the body is wearing decaying as well, the coffin itself starting to crumble. Morbid imagery aside, Georg Lomer writes, "And you have often betrayed your better part (your soul) for this picture of misery, and you were to this body more obliging than it deserved - you pampered it as if it were your most precious possession. And what is your reward? What you see before you!"
Why bother, you may say. What's the use of thinking that this is all one big simulacrum? And assuming this is so, what's the point of it all? The point is to gain a proper perspective about life.
I'd like to end with some food for thought from Franz Bardon, one of the foremost (if not THE foremost) hermetic adept of the 20th century. The following was written in the concluding pages of The Key to the True Quabbalah:
"Everybody must go the way by himself; no one else can do this work for him....On earth every human being has two teachers: first, himself or herself and, secondly, fate. What man is not able to achieve by his own diligence, practice, renunciation, pain, grief, etc., will be served up to him by disappointments and buffets of fate. Life is a school, not an amusement fair. Over and over again, man on this earth is challenged to learn, to develop, to perfect himself. He may enjoy the good; he should learn from the evil; but he must never say die, for nothing on this globe happens without good reason: everything that befalls him happens with good reasons and always at the right time. It is up to man himself to encounter all events courageously and to gain a wealth of knowledge therefrom for his own advancement."
No matter what your belief system may be, there is no denying the wisdom of Bardon's words.
Reality as illusion is quite a baffling concept for the average person. After all, how was I able to type up this article if my computer was an illusion? And won't I get squished if I step in front of a speeding 10-wheeler?
Quantum physics is able to shed some light on this matter. Physicists agree that everything is energy. But while everything is in a state of flux, there are certain concentrations of energy in the universe. The basic form these concentrations of energy take is the torus.
Discussing the torus in detail would take us into the realm of sacred geometry, but since that is not the main focus of this article, it would suffice to say that the torus is a 3-dimensional donut shaped field of energy that is found in all matter. Meaning, if one had the equipment, one would see torus fields in the atoms, and even in the human body. Since a torus is a concentration of energy (energy bent into itself, with a "zero point" at the center), one can say that matter is simply condensed or stabilized energy. If you want a more detailed discussion of the torus, quantum physics and sacred geometry, you may read Souls of Distortion Awakening by Jan Wicherink.
This is the quantum physics view of reality, but it may still be too abstract for most people. So let's take it a step further. According to esoteric teachings, one can only interact with something that one is in similar vibration to. This is the Law of Attraction or "like attracts like". But to apply it to the nature of reality, let's use an example that is familiar for most people: the computer game.
You can think of your favorite computer game, whether it be a first person shooter, RPG or even MMORPG. What are common themes among computer games? There are different goals or missions to accomplish, and accomplishing these quests "levels up" your character, giving you added skills, equipment and abilities. But there's one other common thing: THEY'RE NOT REAL.
At least, not real in the sense that we can physically reach into and interact with the program. A computer dragon's fire will in no way burn you, the player, but you can't slay it either. That's why you need to create an avatar (also called a character), because the avatar, being of the same substance as the computer game, is able to interact with the program and slay the dragon, that is, unless it slays your character first!
So using the conceptual framework of the computer game, transpose it to our reality and the Buddhist concept of maya, and you begin to see the picture. Your soul is the player, and your bodies are the vehicles that your soul uses in order to interact with this world. Your physical body allows you to interact with the physical vibrations of the world (which is why you can get squished by a speeding 10-wheeler), your astral body allows you to process emotions, while your mental body is able to interact with the different ideas being conveyed in this reality, and all of these send signals to your soul, and your soul sends signals back depending on the action that needs to be taken.
The difference, of course, is that our consciousness doesn't reach so far as to encompass the true nature of reality. Some yogis have spent lifetimes (yes, plural) just to be able to get a glimpse of this Greater Reality, writing about it later so that we have something to guide us.
We know about computer games and we say "tut, tut" everytime we see computer game addicts who spend most of their time in front of the computer, the game being more real for them than the people around them. And yet many people spend their whole lives on purely material pursuits such as social status and monetary power, and accolades are given all over, and we often exert all our efforts to earn these accolades. But not one person has succeeded in taking even one cent into the Great Beyond. And so happens the greater tragedy of becoming earthbound. Earthly desires attract the soul so much, but now lacking a physical body, there is no way to interact with the riches, wine, food and mistresses that so enthralled the soul while he had a physical body. Instead of being able to move on, the soul is stuck here, in the physical realm that is not even real for him anymore.
In Georg Lomer's Seven Hermetic Letters, there is one particular exercise that is applicable here, called the death and burial exercise. Basically, you are to imagine your body as it would look like in death, as it is laid out on the coffin. And once the coffin is buried, imagine the body (your body!) decaying, being eaten by worms. Imagine the clothes that the body is wearing decaying as well, the coffin itself starting to crumble. Morbid imagery aside, Georg Lomer writes, "And you have often betrayed your better part (your soul) for this picture of misery, and you were to this body more obliging than it deserved - you pampered it as if it were your most precious possession. And what is your reward? What you see before you!"
Why bother, you may say. What's the use of thinking that this is all one big simulacrum? And assuming this is so, what's the point of it all? The point is to gain a proper perspective about life.
I'd like to end with some food for thought from Franz Bardon, one of the foremost (if not THE foremost) hermetic adept of the 20th century. The following was written in the concluding pages of The Key to the True Quabbalah:
"Everybody must go the way by himself; no one else can do this work for him....On earth every human being has two teachers: first, himself or herself and, secondly, fate. What man is not able to achieve by his own diligence, practice, renunciation, pain, grief, etc., will be served up to him by disappointments and buffets of fate. Life is a school, not an amusement fair. Over and over again, man on this earth is challenged to learn, to develop, to perfect himself. He may enjoy the good; he should learn from the evil; but he must never say die, for nothing on this globe happens without good reason: everything that befalls him happens with good reasons and always at the right time. It is up to man himself to encounter all events courageously and to gain a wealth of knowledge therefrom for his own advancement."
No matter what your belief system may be, there is no denying the wisdom of Bardon's words.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Finding Ourselves
Last weekend I was browsing through the selection of Book Sale at Megamall while waiting for my wife. Then I came across this book Memoirs of a Spiritual Outsider by Suzanne Clores. It looked interesting so I decided to buy it.
I recently finished reading the book. Sometimes you come across a book that you feel compelled to read, and this was one of them. It was also in narrative format, making it easy to read, so it was a welcome diversion from some of the heavy esoteric treatises I usually read.
The book is about the journey and struggle of a typical Gen-Xer trying to find spiritual meaning in a life where religion had failed her. She couldn't accept the dogma of her Catholic religion and there were so many questions that couldn't be answered, especially from the point of view of a female in the midst of a patriarchal religion, so she simply rejected it. She calls herself an "outsider" because she does not follow the tenets that everyone around her have accepted and had taken for granted. And yet she could still feel an emptiness that longed to be filled, and this eventually prompted her spiritual journey.
Her quest for answers wasn't easy. Her experience with Catholicism has left her deeply suspicious about any system that would require her to make too many changes in her life, or might seek to control her too much. But she was still envious of the inner peace exuding from people practicing different spiritual systems. Unable to commit to any one system, over the years she investigated Wicca, shamanism, hatha yoga, vodou, Sufism (Sufism Reoriented), Shambhala and even the Burning Man, while still remaining an outsider looking in.
Because of her inner resistance, she dips her fingers into all these systems yet doesn't commit to each. She takes a little from each tradition, just those aspects that she finds useful for her. Nothing unusual here, since eclecticism has been successfully practiced by different spiritual aspirants. Yet because she has no spiritual foundation to stand on, the experience leaves her stretched and confused. I would say that this is one of the dangers of too much dabbling. A certain foundation is necessary if one is to follow the eclectic path.
Eventually, however, she comes to terms with herself and achieves a certain level of inner equilibrium. Although not all her questions have been answered, and many more still simmer up, at least she seems to have found a more stable outlook with which to pursue and understand her spirituality.
A few would recognize the author's situation as so-called "spiritual restlessness." This happens when the soul feels the urge to start moving towards the spiritual path when the personality is still too immersed in wordly affairs.
All of us, at one time or another, have raised questions such as "Who am I?" and "What's it all about?". Reading the book got me thinking about my own response to these calls. In some ways I'm lucky that I didn't have to undergo such a tumultuous process, and yet on the other hand, one can see how difficulties can forge a clearer understanding about one's place in life.
We all get these soul urges with varying degrees of intensity, and our responses differ accordingly. Yet in the bustle of life, it's easy to forget that there are other things, other realities that exist beyond the ken of our five physical senses.
Whatever our response may be, the challenge of finding answers will always be there. For those of us who are bent on our careers and various mundane pursuits, the question will come about the meaning of all we are doing. If we project ourselves to 10, 25, 50 or 100 years from now and look back, will we see if what we did now matters? Was it really that important to have devoted our life to that particular goal? By what means do we define ourselves?
Even those on the spiritual path come face to face with these questions. Are we actualizing what we are studying? Or do they remain on the mental level? It's easy to think of oneness, peace and love for all while meditating. It's another matter entirely to remember this once faced with an abusive officemate or an overdue bill.
Whatever our particular life situation may be, no matter how much we may deny it, some form of answer is called for. Each one of us is free to choose what our answer will be, and this will determine the course our life will take from that point. Our choice can be a conscious one or not, and not doing anything is a type of answer in itself. So do we go through life as a robot, or open our eyes and make meaningful change in our life? Therefore, it makes sense to become aware of our soul calling us, and reflect on what our answer will be and what it will mean for us and those around us.
I recently finished reading the book. Sometimes you come across a book that you feel compelled to read, and this was one of them. It was also in narrative format, making it easy to read, so it was a welcome diversion from some of the heavy esoteric treatises I usually read.
The book is about the journey and struggle of a typical Gen-Xer trying to find spiritual meaning in a life where religion had failed her. She couldn't accept the dogma of her Catholic religion and there were so many questions that couldn't be answered, especially from the point of view of a female in the midst of a patriarchal religion, so she simply rejected it. She calls herself an "outsider" because she does not follow the tenets that everyone around her have accepted and had taken for granted. And yet she could still feel an emptiness that longed to be filled, and this eventually prompted her spiritual journey.
Her quest for answers wasn't easy. Her experience with Catholicism has left her deeply suspicious about any system that would require her to make too many changes in her life, or might seek to control her too much. But she was still envious of the inner peace exuding from people practicing different spiritual systems. Unable to commit to any one system, over the years she investigated Wicca, shamanism, hatha yoga, vodou, Sufism (Sufism Reoriented), Shambhala and even the Burning Man, while still remaining an outsider looking in.
Because of her inner resistance, she dips her fingers into all these systems yet doesn't commit to each. She takes a little from each tradition, just those aspects that she finds useful for her. Nothing unusual here, since eclecticism has been successfully practiced by different spiritual aspirants. Yet because she has no spiritual foundation to stand on, the experience leaves her stretched and confused. I would say that this is one of the dangers of too much dabbling. A certain foundation is necessary if one is to follow the eclectic path.
Eventually, however, she comes to terms with herself and achieves a certain level of inner equilibrium. Although not all her questions have been answered, and many more still simmer up, at least she seems to have found a more stable outlook with which to pursue and understand her spirituality.
A few would recognize the author's situation as so-called "spiritual restlessness." This happens when the soul feels the urge to start moving towards the spiritual path when the personality is still too immersed in wordly affairs.
All of us, at one time or another, have raised questions such as "Who am I?" and "What's it all about?". Reading the book got me thinking about my own response to these calls. In some ways I'm lucky that I didn't have to undergo such a tumultuous process, and yet on the other hand, one can see how difficulties can forge a clearer understanding about one's place in life.
We all get these soul urges with varying degrees of intensity, and our responses differ accordingly. Yet in the bustle of life, it's easy to forget that there are other things, other realities that exist beyond the ken of our five physical senses.
Whatever our response may be, the challenge of finding answers will always be there. For those of us who are bent on our careers and various mundane pursuits, the question will come about the meaning of all we are doing. If we project ourselves to 10, 25, 50 or 100 years from now and look back, will we see if what we did now matters? Was it really that important to have devoted our life to that particular goal? By what means do we define ourselves?
Even those on the spiritual path come face to face with these questions. Are we actualizing what we are studying? Or do they remain on the mental level? It's easy to think of oneness, peace and love for all while meditating. It's another matter entirely to remember this once faced with an abusive officemate or an overdue bill.
Whatever our particular life situation may be, no matter how much we may deny it, some form of answer is called for. Each one of us is free to choose what our answer will be, and this will determine the course our life will take from that point. Our choice can be a conscious one or not, and not doing anything is a type of answer in itself. So do we go through life as a robot, or open our eyes and make meaningful change in our life? Therefore, it makes sense to become aware of our soul calling us, and reflect on what our answer will be and what it will mean for us and those around us.
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