Discovering The Truth About Your Spirituality
By not writing about it, I would deny each of you access to questions and thoughts that can help you truly fulfill your purpose in life.
I am not talking about the politically correct, watered-down version of spirituality that typically refers to our core values; I mean the foundational beliefs on which our lives exist and function.
The objective of this article is to expand your thinking about spirituality. All I ask is that you be open to my comments with an investigative and inquisitive mindset. In the end, you will make your own personal choices.
Finding true purpose in your life means going on a personal quest to find answers to the following questions.
Are human beings spiritual? How can I know? If we are spiritual, what does that really mean? What is the truth on this subject? How can I tell spiritual truth from falsehood? What is going on here in this universe? What is true, real, false, unreal, good, and bad? How can I validate what is true? What criteria are reliable? What is the origin, source, and purpose of life? What is at the foundations of life? Why does life exist? My life? How should I conduct my life and how should I love? Should I even concern myself with these types of questions? How do I know my life has meaning? All assumptions currently held by mankind on spirituality cannot all be true. This means that some people in the area of spirituality still believe the world is flat, even though there is evidence to the contrary. Natural laws and truth apply equally to spirituality as they do to the rest of our lives. That means we don’t create spiritual laws; we discover what is already true. The law of duality applies to spirituality as is does to all other conditions for mankind. You cannot have light without darkness, push without pull, high without low, fast without slow, or good without evil. That spiritual truth is different than—and should not be confused with—the way individuals wish to express and live their spirituality. Our lives operate under natural laws and truths; regardless of your opinions about these laws, the laws themselves do not change. One example is gravity. Just because you don’t understand it doesn’t mean gravity doesn’t exist. And when people believed the world was flat, their collective opinion did not make it so.
This principle of natural laws and truth equally applies to spirituality, spiritual truth, or spiritual law. The focus should be on discovering spiritual truth, not creating it.
One rule we need to embrace is that all individuals should be respected as they go through their spiritual search process. Nor should anyone expect his or her journey to occur while reading this article. The journey takes time and personal reflection.
Consider the first question: are human beings spiritual? To answer, we must consider the origins of our existence. We have only two choices: are we all just an accident or are we part of a greater plan created by a spiritual being? So many individuals take our complexity for granted.
Here are two ideas to ponder.
1. If we are an accident, natural laws must apply to the process.
A few years ago, I had the pleasure of listening to a brilliant mathematician and scientist who took the time to calculate the implications of the theory of evolution. His presentation documented the fact that it’s mathematically unfeasible for all origins of life to come from a single point, as suggested by some. From his research, he found evolution required genetic mutations and progress of such magnitude, it was simply not possible. In addition, he pointed out that current science revealed that most species that mutate die. (Mutations are required for this theory to be fulfilled.) On the other hand, how can an individual confirm whether he or she is part of a greater plan or spiritual power?
The next thought is profound to this process. I would like you to think about it long after you read this article.
2. We as individuals actually create nothing and discover everything!
Let me explain what I mean by this. All items, inventions, and findings already existed before they were discovered. They were simply found. Advancements of a new cancer treatment, the hydrogen fuel cell, or traveling to Mars are examples of humankind’s realizing its potential—the ability to find it or do it was ALWAYS there. Einstein confirmed this in his equations that show energy is never created or dissipated, but simply shifted into another form.
So where did all this potential come from?
If we are spiritual, truth must also be discovered, not created. After a decade of purpose work, I find that individuals wrestle with their purpose and meaning in life until they can clarify their beliefs about their spirituality. I believe that clarity about your existence is the most important issue you can address and that every other purpose process, personal development system, or learning experience is insignificant by comparison.
I want to leave you with a few final thoughts. Yes, I do personally believe we are not an accident and that we have a specific spiritual heritage, origin, and one God. Those are my beliefs. You must, however, personally discover and confirm your spirituality for yourself. Some of you are clear and confident; others are unsure or indifferent. Regardless, I challenge you to confirm your assumptions and clarify your spiritual beliefs because they affect everything you will do or will become in your life.
Beliefs Are Your Assumptions about these 9 Points. These are, of course, tough questions. Your beliefs are the foundation cornerstones of you think, judge, plan, hope for, and seek to achieve. They form the basis for all moral and ethical decisions. They are the screen through which you filter and interpret your world. Your beliefs also determine your mental attitude to some extent — in terms of your being basically hopeful, neutral, or pessimistic about life.
People say, "attitude shapes belief." I say the opposite. What you assume to be true causes you to have a certain attitude. Emotions follow from that attitude.
Some people have very clearly defined assumptions about what they believe, but most people are just not clear. Others dismiss the issue as "philosophic fuzzy stuff" that they don't want to deal with right now. The caution is:
You can continue to clarify your beliefs over time. As you do so, you will discover greater depth of meaning in life and work.
Until next time keep
Ken Keis
Ken Keis, MBA, CPC, is an internationally known author, speaker, and consultant. In the past 20 years, he has conducted over 2000 presentations including 10,000 hours of coaching and HR consulting. He has published over 400 articles, and designed more than 40 business management, leadership, personal development, wellness or sales processes—authoring 2 million + words of content along the way.
For information on CRG Resources, please visit http://crgleader.com
Coming To Your Own spiritual Awakening
Spiritual awakening refers to soul awakening, self-development, self-transformation, leading a balanced and integrated life, leading an internally joyous life, and leading a spiritual life.
In one sense, spiritual awakening is ingrained as the by default universal purpose in the DNA of each of us. And we are already undergoing spiritual transformation - the pace and method and outward conditions differ. Becoming conscious of this silent awakening, we become open to make little practical steps in our life to expedite the process.
When we look around and see the world, we find that there is a gradual progression in the manifestation of spirit or consciousness in nature.
There are mountains, hills, stones, ground, river and other water bodies that seem to be inert or dead. We sense the functioning of spirit in them as well. Mountains and rivers have their own cycles of life.
The next advanced form comes in the form of plants and animals. There is gradual complexity from one celled plants and animals to giant ones.
We find the pinnacle of the manifestation of consciousness in human beings. Let us become humble because with this truth comes the great responsibility for manifesting the full potential of spirit in our life. Perhaps it is the true purpose of all of us; rather all of us are guided by destiny and our present actions to serve this purpose in conscious and unconscious ways.
When we experience that there is something grand, something magnificent, supernatural or some creative or governing principle in life, whatever you call him - and remember it is not about thinking, it is about experiencing - we open ourselves to the possibility of spiritual awakening on a conscious level.
Spiritual awakening is a gradual process; it is the unwritten commandment that we are unconsciously following. The only need is to become aware of it and then making little steps toward it consciously.
The Four Classes Of Spiritually Advancing Persons:
When we are leading a normal life, we are also making spiritual advancement. It is happening passively.
When we are leading a religious life, following truly the teachings of any religion, we are progressing toward this goal much faster. The original teachings of each of the different religions revolves around the same principles that progress us spiritually.
The core practices of any religious path are practiced by very few individuals, and they are the scientific means of spiritual awakening. Few individuals are able to dive deep enough in these precious teachings and implement them in their lives. They are truly practicing the essence of all religions even though they might be following a particular religious path.
Next in line are the spiritual teachings. They are different from religions and morality, even though they include all the good things of them. Spiritual teachings are the direct means of spiritual awakening in a direct and practical way. These are the underlying science of all religions. They are the different pathways of freedom in Spirit.
The spiritual development can be tremendously advanced when we come in contact with spiritually advanced or enlightened person. It is like transformation of a piece of iron into a magnet by Coming in contact with a magnet.
Understanding The Practical Aspect Of Spiritual Awakening:
Spiritual awakening is the unfolding of Spirit in us. We know in theory that we are souls but our thoughts, speech and behavior are far away from the spiritually attuned life.
Under normal conditions, we are influenced and attached to objects of five senses of sound, touch, vision, taste and smell, and to prejudices, biases and conditioning of our mind.
When we are advancing spiritually, we become connected at first with our own soul - the consciousness in us. And then, Spirit begins to influence our mind and body. This is like gradual spiritualization of our entire being.
We become more peaceful, more content, more productive, more integrated, more in harmony with us and with all of nature. We feel connected. The bonds of senses and bad habits begin to loose their hold on us.
Ultimately they shed off as if they had been foreign to us. We begin to accept ourselves, we become more connected, and we manifest the joy that is our nature. Remember pleasure is derived from contact of desired sense objects to senses and joy is our internal nature.
I remember the saying of one great saint. He preached to his disciples, "The true sign of spiritual advancement is getting non-causal joy during your spiritual practices and feeling glimpses of it during your working hours. Gradually as you become more and more intoxicated with this joy, know that you are progressing in Spirit. You will be fulfilled with this joy like no other things." This equals to the rejoicing in Spirit mentioned the teaching of Christianity.
Another important sign is feeling connected with all - nature, men and women and with all that exists. At first, the feeling of connectedness will be with our own self. Then, this experience will broaden and broaden. The whole life, whole nature, the universe will feel connected.
Most people attach miracles with spiritual advancement. It is non-issue with spiritually awakened person. Miracles are the normal functioning of spiritually advanced individuals. They are more able to experience and work through deep states of consciousness. It is natural to them.
The most important thing is to realize and accept that we are here for spiritual awakening. This realization could be instant under some instances, or it could be gradual like in most cases.
Second step is making little steps leading a more healthy, intelligent and balanced life. Third step is following spiritual practices and then adhering to some specific one that is more appealing to us.
Fourth step is not worrying too much about spiritual awakening. When you eat healthy and exercise and follow some good diet plan, you grow healthier naturally, day by day, each day. The same applies to spiritual growth. Leave this part to Spirit. Let Him take care.
www.illumen8.com To find out more about the ancient spiritual teachings and how to experience your own spiritual awakening, download The 3 Timeless Lessons In Spiritual Transformation (it's free). Click Here... to download your copy.
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Find More Spiritual Articles
Some call them dreamers. I call them possibility-thinkers. They are problem solving, solution oriented people, who refuse to settle for the way things are. They seem to have endless possibilities.
All through history men and women have dared to dream, dared to think outside of the box. These determined people believed that there was another way, a better way, or in some cases, a brand new way.
Of course, people laughed at Columbus when they heard of his vision to sail west to reach the east. To most people it sounded ridiculous, and besides, the world was flat. But he was determined.
What about human beings flying? "Not possible," everyone argued, "besides, we don't have wings." But just enough solution oriented people continued to pursue the idea.
I am still quite amazed, every time I get on an airplane. As big and heavy as it is, it can still get off the ground, climb to 35,000 feet, and cruise at around 600 miles an hour. Years ago, someone had a dream, a vision, and focused on looking for solutions. And today, we just go online and book a flight.
Speaking of gong online, look at how fast technology is changing. I remember several years ago showing my niece a 45 rpm record, and she asked me how many songs were on it. I told her, "One on this side and one on the other side."
It is remarkable to think that when I was growing up we had 3 channels to choose from on the TV. We had an AM radio, a record player to play our 45's, and a rotary telephone. Things have really changed. In fact, there seems no end to the telecommunication and technology explosion.
Today major league baseball parks are introducing apps for smart phones that will show replays and give stats. Airlines are beginning to offer wireless service for passengers, so that they can access the internet on their flight. I get to see my new grand baby every day, in real time, with HD quality, because my daughter and I both have a video phone.
So, am I trying to encourage you to go out and invent something? No, but if you want to, please pursue it with all your being. My real point is, why can't we take this same attitude of problem solving and incorporate it into our daily lives? Why don't we look at the obstacles we face with solution-oriented determination?
Why don't we refuse to settle? Why don't more people look for how to solve the obstacles that they are faced with, instead of settling, or worse, hoping the government will take care of them? When you read the Bible, it's clear that God is highly in favor of coming up with solutions, that many times were never even imagined.
If we really believe that we are God's children and that He is our Father, why not look to Him for solutions and possibilities? One key in shifting to that kind of thinking is to stop asking, "why?" and start asking, "how?"
Too often, people wonder why they are faced with the situation they are in, or why something is happening to them. Those are the wrong questions to ask because they lead to self pity. And self pity only produces discouragement and apathy.
Ask God, how to overcome the situations you are faced with. Then keep looking for solutions. What may look impossible to you, is never impossible for God.
God promised us to give us the desires of our heart. He also promised to light our path. When one is discouraged and sitting by the road, there is no path to illuminate.
So, look up, get up, and start moving forward. You don't have wings, but you can still fly. What else can you dare to do? With God, you have endless possibilities.
About the Author Michael A. Verdicchio offers a FREE eBook, "9 Keys to Answered Prayer!" at:nhttp://www.ConfidenceAndJoy.com Michael is a husband, father, minister, author, broadcaster and the voice on numerous projects and productions, Get a FREE Lifetime Membership to EnrichingYourLifeNow.com when you subscribe for FREE to his inspiring blog. ---- Article Source
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Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream
This is a trailer for the Awakening the Dreamer symposium, a presentation being offered around the USA, the UK, Europe and elsewhere. Visit www.awakeningthedreamer.org for more info.
