Imperfect Perfection

Many religions hang their collective spiritual hats on an imperfect dogma of perfection: that we are imperfect at birth and though we should strive for perfection we will always fall short, requiring leadership and earthly direction from others for our ultimate salvation. To be clear: Religion and religious teaching and guidance have been indispensable in mankind’s climb up the ladder of Spiritual consciousness, but just as the student who must eventually graduate and take their place in the world, building on what they have learned by turning knowledge into demonstration, so must each of us in our relationship with the Miraculous.

Just as families have difficulties from time to time, usually rooted in misunderstanding, intercession of a professional can be helpful to work through an issue, to provide fresh perspective. In the final analysis however, the real work takes place between the family members, the professional merely an aid. Just as in the secular, spiritually we make use of what religion and spiritual teachers provide and are quick to see where they are right, but we must never lose sight of the true nature of our relationship with the Divine and the ultimate responsibility in raising our consciousness lies with each of us.

By a wholehearted reliance on A Power Greater Than Ourselves, though none of us will ever be perfect in faith for fear is a powerful foe and the one true adversary, our continued willingness to pray demonstrates a perfection in seeking and in this, our perfection is realized.
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© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved Miracles Of Recovery, Overdose Death, Alcoholism, Wayne Dyer, Drug Addiction, Zen, Emmet Fox, Opioids, Heroin, Einstein, AA, Healing Path Recovery, Drug Rehab, #Drug Addiction, #Drug Rehab, #Healing Path Recovery, #Heroin, #Opioids  

Where They Came From

The mottoes Easy Does It, One Day at a Time, First Things First, Live and Let Live and Think, Think, Think adorn the walls of 12 Step recovery meeting rooms and clubs around the globe. Few realize however these concepts entered AA’s collective consciousness most likely from Emmet Fox. The early members of what would become Alcoholics Anonymous* residing in New York attended Dr. Fox’s gatherings in the 1930’s in the ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria, Steinway Hall even The Hippodrome as attendance grew. This continued up to the start of World War II when large gatherings were suspended out of security concerns. The early AA members** who did not live in New York studied Dr Fox’s teaching through his best sellers The Sermon on the Mount, Power Through Constructive Thinking and Sparks of Truth which is a collection of teachings originally published as a series of inexpensive pamphlets. It is in these pamphlets that the mottoes later adopted by AA are found. Additionally, in early pamphlets published by the first recognized AA group, King’s School in Akron, Sermon on the Mount is suggested reading, listed right after the Holy Bible.

*Though AA dates its birth from 6/10/35 the first AA meeting (the group broke from the Oxford Group (Moral Rearmament) and stood in singleness of purpose in helping those suffering from alcoholism) did not take place until 5/11/39 in Cleveland Ohio, the secretary Clarence Snyder, a few months after the Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous) was published. Source: Bill and Lois Wilson’s personal correspondence in archives.

**Bill Wilson sponsored (helped sober up) Emmet Fox’s secretary’s son, Al Steckman. Al would go on to be the first editor of the AA Grapevine and has been credited with coining the phrase “I am responsible” at the first AA International Convention. Source: Igor Sikorsky Jr. AA’s Godparents 1990.  https://miraclesofrecovery.com/

© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved Miracles Of Recovery, Overdose Death, Alcoholism, Wayne Dyer, Drug Addiction, Zen, Emmet Fox, Opioids, Heroin, Einstein, AA, Healing Path Recovery, Drug Rehab, #Drug Addiction, #Drug Rehab, #Healing Path Recovery, #Heroin, #Opioids

Conflicts and Intuition

How we respond to conflicts in our lives is an indication of our Spiritual condition. The usual ways most respond is to either square up and meet force with force (usually verbally) or to withdraw as rapidly as possible, the often remarked on fight or flight reaction. Living on the Spiritual Basis provides another path, a third way. As soon as we become aware of a troubling situation, directly or indirectly touching us, we immediately turn to silent prayer, seeing the situation and all involved in Divine Presence, bathing them and the situation in Divine Love, trusting in prayer and spiritual enlightenment for resolution. You will be amazed how often seemingly explosive situations will deflate rapidly by a simple heartfelt application of Divine Love. If, however, any direct action is required it will be made abundantly clear in an intuitive thought and though these times are exceedingly rare, we must not shrink if called to act.

Approaching conflict this way we tap into unlimited power and potential, rejecting human limitation and fear-based thinking and reacting, raising the consciousness and Spiritual condition of all involved for “When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change.” 
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© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved Miracles Of Recovery, Overdose Death, Alcoholism, Wayne Dyer, Drug Addiction, Zen, Emmet Fox, Opioids, Heroin, Einstein, AA, Healing Path Recovery, Drug Rehab, #Drug Addiction, #Drug Rehab, #Healing Path Recovery, #Heroin, #Opioids

Prison By Choice

Wishing to get even, to take revenge, to balance the scales, to repay in kind are natural human sentiments, a wild justice; all manifestations of living on the secular basis. Conversely, Living on the Spiritual Basis teaches us that “hatred ceases not with hatred.” Though the crimes and acts committed may be horrendous, even beyond the pale, we must take a higher road mentally to be free. To be clear: those who have transgressed society’s laws and been found culpable should suffer the punishments stipulated, the principle though of condemning the act, not the actor paramount if we are to be free of the bondage of self and limitation thinking.

Our course then is to turn to a Power Greater Than Ourselves, and though the guilty may have committed acts seemingly unforgivable, we must give them over root and branch, otherwise we suffer along with the guilty for it takes two to make a spiritual prisoner, the guilty and the jailer and is not the jailer as surely in prison as the guilty? The jailer having it worse since the guilty are trapped until they become willing, while the jailer chooses to return of their own free will day after day, perpetuating resentment and condemnation in their heart, choosing morbid reflection over spiritual freedom. Prison or freedom, standing in the light or cowering in the dark, limitation or unlimited growth, the choice is always ours. “Let there be peace, and let it begin with me.”
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© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved Miracles Of Recovery, Overdose Death, Alcoholism, Wayne Dyer, Drug Addiction, Zen, Emmet Fox, Opioids, Heroin, Einstein, AA, Healing Path Recovery, Drug Rehab, #Drug Addiction, #Drug Rehab, #Healing Path Recovery, #Heroin, #Opioids

Moment by Moment

“We have ceased fighting everyone and everything, for we are on a new basis, the basis of trusting and relying on God.” This principle is at the heart of Living on the Spiritual Basis. To believe that any of us have achieved perfection in this is foolhardy. Our time in this flesh is marked by progress not perfection in our spiritual growth, so we stay ever vigilant, day by day, occasionally moment by moment. We turn to Him who has all knowledge and power for the right words or action when we find ourselves in conflict either with the world or within ourselves, remaining open minded and though perhaps trembling, willing to do His will, not ours, for in this lies the heart of the process of Living on the Spiritual Basis.
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© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved Miracles Of Recovery, Overdose Death, Alcoholism, Wayne Dyer, Drug Addiction, Zen, Emmet Fox, Opioids, Heroin, Einstein, AA, Healing Path Recovery, Drug Rehab, #Drug Addiction, #Drug Rehab, #Healing Path Recovery, #Heroin, #Opioids

Crap Sandwich

Einstein once remarked, “The most important decision you will ever make is whether you live in a friendly or hostile universe.” Spiritually, if we live in a hostile universe, then no matter what we do, there really isn’t any hope for us. The hostile universe is dominated by a “score keeper” God, holding that we are full of sin, so all we can do is the best we can, knowing that when this flesh fails the piper will be paid. So, forgive the language but this lacks something without it: “Life is just one big crap sandwich, believing in God just means it comes with fries” pretty much sums up the hostile universe point of view.

But what of the friendly universe? When the Carpenter delivered the Sermon On The Mount, he summed up our relationship with God simply with the words “Our Father.”  The friendly universe then builds on a basic criterion: we are all connected, equal in His eyes regardless of circumstance or station, “the realm of Heaven roomy, all inclusive, never exclusive or forbidding; open to all who earnestly seek.” 

We have all made mistakes, however in the friendly universe we are forgiven as soon as we ask, if we mean business. The key being that we truly wish to change and grow spiritually, so past transgressions no longer bedevil us or are repeated. Forgiveness is meaningless however if it is only sought as a means simply to avoid or lessen the consequences of our actions. For forgiveness to be operative we must desire to change with all our heart, finally realizing that though willing, the flesh is weak, we must have help and that help comes from “A Power Greater Than Ourselves.”

Now, if we had to wait to be “pure” to become worthy of God’s love none of us would make the cut. To be clear: we are worthy right here right now; all that is required is a wholehearted commitment to seek a relationship with God. How is this done? Through prayer, service and meditation coupled with willingness and an open mind. When approached this way the path of our enlightenment naturally unfolds before us, but we must continue in the work. Visualize it this way: We are in a rowboat with God and God doesn’t row. His hand is on the tiller and we row with our back to the direction traveled, our eyes fixed on Him, lest we become fearful and try to steer the boat by pulling a little harder on one oar or the other, resisting God’s guidance. If we ultimately lose faith and grab the tiller, He will not fight us, but He will not row. Lacking our demonstration, our rowing, our little boat is left to the mercy of contrary currents and swirling eddies of self-centered fear, even though our hand is on the tiller. The good news is as soon as we retake our seat and pick up the oars, He will resume the tiller and though we may be fearful and trembling, we find freedom from the adversary fear by once again demonstrating trust in the infinite, rather than our finite selves. Oh, and He brings much better sandwiches.
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© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved Miracles Of Recovery, Overdose Death, Alcoholism, Wayne Dyer, Drug Addiction, Zen, Emmet Fox, Opioids, Heroin, Einstein, AA, Healing Path Recovery, Drug Rehab, #Drug Addiction, #Drug Rehab, #Healing Path Recovery, #Heroin, #Opioids

Bench Warming

Intellectual discussions concerning spirituality can be interesting, even invigorating, but have no real value without a corresponding demonstration. Consider: someone decides to become a snow skier. They proceed to read books and magazines on skiing, attend lectures and seminars, learn about different kinds of snow and meteorology, purchase the latest skiing attire and buy the best skis. Are they a skier? To the casual observer they seem to meet the criterion, for they “know” all about skiing and have all the latest and best equipment. Problem is they have never actually skied. Now, a seasoned skier would not be fooled for a moment, they would listen and know in short order their “knowledge” was all theoretical, none of it based in actual experience. Clearly, being a lodge or “bench” skier has its advantages: you never get hurt (as long as you don’t insult an actual skier) and you stay warm and dry with minimal wear and tear on your gear and wardrobe. The only problem being the point of skiing is to well, ski.

Now most who decide to ski, do in fact hit the slopes. Spiritually however many choose to remain in the lodge, convinced self-knowledge sufficient, taking the “slopes” unnecessary. Both cases of bench warmers demonstrate the same truths: lacking demonstration self-knowledge avails us nothing that faith without works is dead and though they wish to enjoy a certain reputation they know in their heart they don’t deserve it. Knowledge has little or no value until it is put into action/demonstration, for when we lack the faith to put what we “know” to work, we allow fear to dominate us. For faith to be vital we must leave the “lodge” and hit the slopes, and just like the beginning skier, regardless of how much we think we know, we are going to fall, make mistakes, end up hurt and a little sore, all the while gaining invaluable experience, the theoretical becoming the practical, faith in action.
Oh, and never ski on old wax, but you already knew that.

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Weighted Down By Our Possessions

A famous carpenter remarked a couple of thousand years ago that “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:25). Well, I have never seen a camel small enough or a needle big enough for this to happen, so I originally surmised, mistakenly, this meant being materially rich was something to be avoided. Yeah, didn’t make much sense to me either. So clearly, I lacked understanding. So, a little context first: according to many historians ancient cities were often surrounded by high, thick walls with large gates to facilitate traffic in and out of the city. At night the large gates would be closed, and small easily defended man-sized doors were the only way in, these doors were known as the Needle’s Eye. So perhaps a clearer translation would be: It is easier for a camel to pass through the Needle’s Eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

Now, camels could be brought through the Needle’s Eye, but it required unloading them first, which is the spiritual crux of the teaching. Camels don’t care what they are carrying, rocks or gold makes no difference to them, only that it eventually comes off, the sooner the better.  In this the camel often seems wiser than us. Whether we are rich in physical possessions or not, we carry all sorts of baggage, impediments to entering the Kingdom of Heaven. Selfishness, hubris, spiritual pride, condemnation, bigotry (overt and subtle), hatred, self-centeredness, fear in a hundred guises are all examples of “possessions”, the things we choose to define us, which keep us locked in the bondage of self. Living on the Spiritual Basis we have become willing and ready to be free of this bondage, setting aside our possessions: physical, mental, and emotional, performing the work daily to become and remain “poor in spirit.”

Remember, poor in spirit does not mean poor spirited, conversely it means we have unburdened ourselves of our baggage, the things blocking us off from the sunlight of the spirit, by a simple reliance on “Our Father”, turning in all things to Him who has all knowledge and power, finally realizing the truth of our connection and birthright as children of the Miraculous.

So, if you are trudging the road of happy destiny weighed down by your possessions, cast off your pack and leave it by the side of the road, become truly poor in spirit, weightless, cart wheeling through the Needle’s Eye, somersaulting into the Kingdom of Heaven, free at last.
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© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved Miracles Of Recovery, Overdose Death, Alcoholism, Wayne Dyer, Drug Addiction, Zen, Emmet Fox, Opioids, Heroin, Einstein, AA, Healing Path Recovery, Drug Rehab, #Drug Addiction, #Drug Rehab, #Healing Path Recovery, #Heroin, #Opioids

Silent Serenity Assassins

Some years ago, I became very ill, but since I was still “functioning” I delayed going to my physician until I was in a very bad way. The onset had been so gradual my body and life had adapted to it, my life having shrunken to the point of work and commitments, nothing more. By Fridays I was so tired I would come home and only move for necessities, resting and marshaling energy for the coming week. As my health returned it amazed me how I had allowed my circumstances to become so altered, how I had just accepted negative conditions, rationalized them without a fight because it happened gradually, under the radar of my consciousness.

During the course of our lives our circumstances and living conditions go through many alterations. Although we never fully understand going in the full extent of how becoming parents, relationships beginning or ending, relocating, changing careers, growing older will affect us, they all come with some foreshadowing, approaching head on unlike what transpired when I became so very ill which crept in silently like a snake.

Spiritually the same things happen in our lives. When faced with a definite problem or difficulty we react and take some form of action, preferably spiritual, but even running around shouting the sky is falling is action, a demonstration, albeit a poor one. Then there are the snakes. When we first begin walking the new path of Living on the Spiritual Basis, we start to truly become aware of everything around us. The scales fall from our eyes and we are seeing life and our existence with fresh vision, illumination all about us. Having had our first taste of freedom from the bondage of self we naturally believe that our days of slavery are behind us, never to return. If only it were that simple. The price of spiritual freedom is unrelenting vigilance.

Unfortunately many become complacent, in time becoming moribund, rigid in their thinking, no longer open to the fresh winds and lessons which constantly flow from the Miraculous. Though once dynamic, free and open they have unconsciously constructed walls built of the brick of righteousness set in the mortar of pride, living in the shadows where snakes reside, becoming slaves to self once again, though they often continue uttering spiritual teachings and platitudes, these principles have lost any real significance in their lives, simply nice thoughts lacking any real authority. Avoid then the deadly trap of complacency and spiritual pride by staying fresh through heartfelt prayer, service, and meditation, unwilling to accept limitation in all its guises regardless of personal circumstances, for Divine Love truly wants all of us to be happy, joyous, and free, our lives the demonstration of our true Spiritual heritage, our connection with Source affirmed. https://miraclesofrecovery.com/



© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved Miracles Of Recovery, Overdose Death, Alcoholism, Wayne Dyer, Drug Addiction, Zen, Emmet Fox, Opioids, Heroin, Einstein, AA, Healing Path Recovery, Drug Rehab, #Drug Addiction, #Drug Rehab, #Healing Path Recovery, #Heroin, #Opioids

Metaphysics: East vs West

Aristotle referred to metaphysics as the “first philosophy.” A metaphysician or metaphysicist studies all things and how they relate. Whether the focus is ontological (loosely the study of everything in our physical world) or cosmological (the study and relationship of everything in the universe) metaphysics, both approaches clearly cover a wide swath of thought and study. Though the questions may be universal, the approaches in finding answers vary. Taoism (or Daoism) best represents the oriental tradition of thought employing metaphysics.

The Taoist does not believe in the “religion” of Tao, for Tao is not a belief system in the way Christianity, Judaism or other organized religions are. Tao is a path. A western analogy would be a Christian who seeks the truth of the Christ teaching in everyday occurrences, sans the influence of dogmatic rhetoric, seeking purity of path versus strict adherence to ritualistic demonstrations.

Tao is the flow of the universe; metaphysicians study the flow. Metaphysicians studying in the oriental tradition have used the Tao Te Ching for guidance in meditation and study. Now, it would be a mistake to refer to oneself as a Taoist, for “The name that can be named is not the constant name” (Tao Te Ching). The naming of a thing limits it, the definition subverting it. Lao Tzu on the Tao Te Ching: “The Tao that can be expressed is not the eternal Tao.” The metaphysician avoids limiting terms and realizes that naming is itself contrary to the path.

Eastern metaphysicians seem to study the “first philosophy” from a more earth centered, individual, ontological perspective than western metaphysicians tendency towards the cosmological. However, when dealing with metaphysical thought, we are each the captains of our own journey to enlightenment, so whether eastern or western, the journey is the destination.

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© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved Miracles Of Recovery, Overdose Death, Alcoholism, Wayne Dyer, Drug Addiction, Zen, Emmet Fox, Opioids, Heroin, Einstein, AA, Healing Path Recovery, Drug Rehab, #Drug Addiction, #Drug Rehab, #Healing Path Recovery, #Heroin, #Opioids