Relaxed Contrary Action

Living on the Spiritual Basis we stand vigilant and are never afraid of questioning or re-examining any belief or position regardless of how long we may have held it. The truth will set you free is true whether we have been on the path a few months or most of our lives. When we first embark on the path of Living on the Spiritual Basis we are confronted with large, easily recognizable defects and shortcomings. As time flows by the impediments to spiritual growth become smaller, less pronounced, often obscured by a layer of misunderstanding or complacency masquerading as truth which requires greater, deeper vision to see. The natural response is to work harder, dig deeper and faster to ferret these things out. The problem is our spiritual vision is not sufficiently refined to adequately recognize them; so contrary action is called for.

So we relax, we take it easy. Hard work in this area only makes the work harder. Continue to pray and meditate daily, asking to be shown the way of patience, tolerance, kindness and love. In natural course, the partially hidden shoals will become visible and can be addressed spiritually. To be clear: we do not work on them; Divine Consciousness makes them visible and when we are spiritually ready, removes them. Our part is to remain willing, willing to go to any lengths to be spiritually aware, humble in service.

By embracing spiritual living in this way you will find the wind at your back most of the time, but if for some reason you discover you are facing the wrong way, relax and trust in Divine Mind to alter your direction back to the true path.

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© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved

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“But for the Grace of God go I” 2019

Walking the way we talk. When we espouse one thing but act in a contrary manner not only does it make us look untrustworthy but also opens the door to all manner of spiritual disease and unease coupled with a corresponding disconnect from truth. Wishing to be happy but seeding unhappiness, wanting to be loved but unwilling to demonstrate love, demanding respect while being disrespectful, holding truth and fairness as essential while speaking falsely and treating others unfairly, in a manner we would not tolerate, are all examples of spiritual disease, a demonstration in conflict with our stated intention. These are gross examples, readily identifiable and addressed if we truly wish to change.

But what of the subtler forms: condescension and self-aggrandizement couched in seemingly “well-intended” but not fully considered verbal asides, comments and actions. One of which, which I found particularly painful since I had used it often was “But for the grace of God go I.” The phrase always made me a little uneasy, though for years I could not suss out why. When the truth finally hit, I became physically ill and spiritually unsettled. Consider the full import of the phrase: it implies that God withdraws or withholds Divine Grace from some unlucky souls! And fortunately, I’m not one of them!  Really? That some are “chosen” in some way, greater in God’s sight than another? Or, being flawed, prone to error in thought in deed, especially when fearful, we could err so egregiously that we are “cast” aside? If God is the embodiment of Love and we are all children of the Miraculous, Grace freely given because of this love and intimate connection, how could that be possible? I wrestled with this for a time, looking for a loophole to crawl through, but they all ended in the same place: base condescension and the spiritually corrosive “holier than thou” sensibility.

Wayne Dyer suggested in all things we “think from the end.” Applying this concept here I now understand that no one stands above another Spiritually, and though each of us will reap the harvest from the seeds we have sown, for good or ill, Grace is a gift that cannot be earned or lost and to believe that in anyway anyone is beyond Grace or has lost it, we then set ourselves up for a life of disharmony at odds with the truth of being.

“For we are human, weak and prone to wrong, and by Thy Grace alone are we made strong.”
Henry Coyle

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Real Action

How many Spiritually based websites or pages do you visit or follow? How many spiritually themed books are on your real or virtual bookshelf, by how many different authors? Perhaps Chopra, Fox, Dyer, Gibran, maybe Schuler, Wilkerson, Grizone and Warren are a few of them? How about The Secret or the heavy hitters: The Bible, Vedas, Torah, the Buddhavacana, Bhagavad-Gita, Quran or maybe the Book of Mormon? All these apps, pages and books are helpful, but without action, demonstration in purpose, nothing of any lasting value is achieved, any more than reading about a diet results in weight loss. Being informed and inspired is a first step, but nothing concrete happens until we act. Knowing when to stop seeking and start doing can be a fearful transition since commenting on a play is seemingly safer, easier, than being on stage.
When I wore a younger man’s clothes and was very impressed with myself, I would look at my bookshelves loaded down with spiritual tomes with a sense of self-important satisfaction. Believing knowledge equaled demonstration, I had convinced myself that I not just talked the talk but walked the walk. I could not have been more wrong. When the truth finally hit, it was devastating. I had a head full of knowledge but had put precious little of the “great truths” I said I believed in into action, and what I had put into action was inconsistent and haphazard at best. I was the antithesis of spiritual truth, talking the talk but not walking the walk consistently.

So participate in and study the things that sing to you Spiritually, but instead of always looking for something new, return to an old friend and give it a look with the “new pair of glasses” your living experience has provided you.

Today I “keep it simple.” I revisit a small group of authors and books that have touched me deeply and profoundly over the years. Some of these books I have read for decades and though I have traveled their path many times, I continue to find fresh insights, for my spiritual vision has thankfully improved with age and action in purpose.

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Overcoming Limitation Thinking

Regardless of path or discipline, teachers of spiritual principles agree on this point: freedom comes when limitation is overcome. On the surface the differences in approach from one school of thought to another can often seem dramatic if not downright contradictory, but in essence they are all tools to address the same thing, our perceived loss or missing connection to true Source/Higher Self which provides clarity, direction and serenity in our lives. To be clear: We are not/cannot be disconnected from Source, for we are comprised of Source. Flesh is ephemeral, but our Spirit, soul if you prefer, is eternal, has always been, will always be, was never born and can never die. We choose to believe in a gulf or lack of connection out of fear and the seeming unfairness of life. Our ability to comprehend the totality of existence with our limited understanding of the Miraculous leads us down paths of denial and often into spiritual “make believe.” It is seemingly easier to hold that we are living at the whim of creation or conversely chaos, therefore taking no responsibility for our lives, than to live in purpose, coming to grips with the truth that we are where we are because of every choice and decision we have ever made. Fear modulating between what if there is no God to God will punish me for I have chosen and/or acted poorly.

In truth: When we know who walks beside us every day, on this path we have chosen, we will never be afraid again. Just as every child is connected to their parent by blood, we are connected to Ultimate Source in Spirit. Arguing over the title of this Source is one of the Adversary’s, Fear, greatest tricks to keep us locked into the bondage of self, limitation ascendant.

To free ourselves from the self-imposed fetters on our spiritual life we must strip away the lurking fears holding us back and step out in faith, the faith generated from the certainty of our true connection with Source. Living any other way is existence restricted, fear rather than faith dominate, living in the light desired but giving in to the carnal always beckoning shadows of limitation thinking, Fear’s handmaiden. We overcome limitation by standing, though often trembling, in the light, proclaiming our love and steadfast belief in our connection to and with the Miraculous.

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Forms of Meditation: Focused Meditation

Focused Meditation: Is employed to address a specific problem, difficulty or question. Again, find a quiet place where you will not be interrupted or disturbed and perform the cleansing breaths previously outlined. If asked what you are about, do not explain the specifics of the meditation, for in so doing you invite failure since our time in meditation, to be vital, must be treated as sacred “me” time in concert with source. Speak of it in general terms with those seeking help but keep the specifics between you and Divine mind. Now, in your mind’s eye visualize the issue at hand. Avoiding judgement, observe the issue troubling you in all its aspects, the individuals involved and possible outcomes without consciously outlining a solution. After you have thoroughly explored, without words, the issue, silently ask for the correct course of action to become evident. End the session thanking the Universe (God) that you now know it (Him) better, take a cleansing breath and go about your day. Again, avoid telling anyone about your meditation for this opens us to negative judgement.

Purpose: In focused meditation we invite Universal Mind to address our difficulties, without outlining solutions. In short order you will intuitively know what to do, amazingly the answers will just come. In this way we begin to rely on the infinite, all knowledgeable Source instead of our finite selves.

Over the last few days some simple methods of meditation have been outlined, there are many others. In closing hold this truth evident: the purpose of meditation is not to become better at meditation, that will happen naturally in time, the purpose is simply to meditate. Be consistent, don’t struggle and in short order this quiet time with the Miraculous will become as natural as breathing.
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Forms of Meditation: Chanting

Chanting Meditation: Begin with three cleansing breaths. You will want to find an undisturbed, quiet spot, that is additionally out of the earshot of others. You will not be shouting, though you can if you like, but you will be speaking aloud. The chant can be anything really, however it is suggested that it have some spiritual significance to you. Keep it short and simple: God is great or There is only one God or Divine love drives me or be still and know that I am God you get the idea. Close your eyes and begin chanting until the transition. What is the transition? It is the moment we touch the part of our mind which typically only surfaces in dreams. The first time you experience this transition it will frighten you. This is natural, for the transition is dipping down into the subconscious where we truly touch the infinite.

Purpose: By staying focused on the chanting, the conscious mind loses its grip and the sub-conscious floats to the surface and we transition into a waking dream. With consistent effort and practice you will find yourself actually leaving the conscious realm entirely and walking the hidden world of the sub-conscious. Your body will continue to chant but you will lose awareness of it as you travel the astral planes (yep, there are more than one). If you walk this path, make sure your body is left in a safe place for in a deep meditation, though still connected to your body you will not feel it in any real sense.

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Forms of Meditation: Reflective

Meditation is a topic that seems to cause much unnecessary grief and consternation. Many hold to the false notion that meditation is “quieting” the mind. Well, the mind will not be quieted! Our mind is always in motion, right now your mind is regulating all the various systems and organs in your body, making thousands of silent decisions about hormone levels, blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, digestion etc. All taking place without any conscious thought on our part. Therefore, to be clear, the mind is never quiet, meditation reorders our conscious thoughts, allows our mind to naturally find true focus and in focus lies peace.

When a new student first begins meditating, typically they begin with a picture in their minds eye based of some actor’s portrayal. Even documentaries usually get it wrong since those doing the reporting usually have little or no personal experience with meditation. So, let us begin at a simpler level. First, lay aside your conceptions of what meditation is or isnot. Meditation is a tool and there is more than one tool in the tool chest.

Reflective Meditation: Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed for 15 minutes or so. Avoid if possible, telling anyone what you are about. Pick any spiritual tome that appeals to you and read a few lines, never more than two paragraphs. Then take three cleansing breaths: breathe in gently and deeply through the nose and then gently exhale through the mouth. Now, with eyes closed, reflect in your mind’s eye on what you just read. Consider each word along with the overall import of the passage. Do this for 15 minutes or so. When done perform another cleansing breath, thank Source (God) for time spent and go about your day. If in the course of the meditation your mind begins to wander, gently bring the focus back to what was read. If it wanders again, take a cleansing breath, thank Source (God) for time spent and go about your day. Note: Do not struggle or condemn yourself in any way if you are unable to spend 15 minutes in the beginning. No marathon runner started out running marathons. Additionally, do not set a timer or wear a watch or have a clock in your field of vision to peak at. In time, this will not matter but when first starting out it is a distraction. Your body has a wonderful natural clock; allow it to do its job. Do be consistent. Spiritual exercise is the same as physical exercise; we only reap the benefits if we are consistent.

The purpose: to give the conscious mind a break from the cacophony of thoughts and the information deluge we are subjected to. In time, a short time, you will begin to look forward to these quiet breaks (not quiet mind). You will begin to feel renewed and refreshed after these short sessions, your mind and thoughts more ordered, with less mental energy expended needlessly.

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Worldly Clamors

When we first experience the gifts from Living on the Spiritual Basis, it is natural to want more. In short order we begin to try to reach beyond our understanding, seeking in prayer to accomplish things that are contrary to the path. Naturally, the answer to these requests is silence. God never says no, for no does not exist in the vocabulary of the Divine. Many confuse God’s inaction with his passing judgment in the negative, which is not possible. To be clear: The Universe will not grant a request that is not wholly positive to all concerned. The real trouble begins when we, in our limited vision and understanding, try to read the tea leaves, to understand the infinite with our finite vision. The questions that naturally abound here are legion. How could a “loving” God allow: suffering innocents, war, financial struggles, debilitating illness, and on and on. In the midst of pain and/or loss it is difficult to keep hold of true perspective: that we are in fact eternal beings, this flesh a mere conveyance of our eternal consciousness, that we have always existed and always will, this day a single day in eternity, the Miraculous that we are part and parcel of not limited in vision and understanding.

On a personal note: I am as limited as you, my vision restricted by this flesh and the clamors of this world. A sick, suffering child or loved one, pain and grief rained down on innocents often seemingly for no reason, leaves me as heart sick as you. But we cannot get sad enough to help the suffering. We cannot get sick enough to help the dying. We cannot get poor enough to help those who lack. We cannot meet hate with hate and expect peace. What we can and must do is pray to the best of our current ability and understanding and trust (demonstrated faith) that on the day of our translation from this flesh all mysteries will be revealed.

The path is simple, but not easy. Each day Practice the Presence of God in all your affairs. Pray to be shown the way of patience, tolerance, kindness and love. Pray as well for those suffering, asking in meditation what you can do each day to be of service to and for them, leaving the ultimate outcome to God. In this simple way the universe responds, God’s will realized, true timeless healing manifest. If we can do this, even while trembling, keep an even mind though the Adversary Fear claws at us, we touch the heart of faith, walk in grace and are reborn daily in Spirit.

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Fallow Fields of Ignorance

Know anyone so set in their ways or thinking dynamite couldn’t move them off a position or opinion? Most individuals by the time they have reached their 40’s have pretty much sorted out what they do or do not believe, have become “set in their ways,” their mind effectively closed to differing opinions or points of view, any new growth effectively choked off by the weight of a “settled” mind, their character fixed, the definition of a “closed mind.”

IGNORANCE: n
1.  lack of knowledge or education
2.  unawareness of something, often of something important

Somewhere in the sands of time the term ignorance transformed from a simply descriptive term to a pejorative, to be ignorant simply means we are unaware, lack knowledge or worse, refuse to learn.

Our spiritual schooling involves the development of every aspect of character, for who can truly say they understand another until they have walked a mile in their shoes?

The lessons needed to learn to become truly spiritually aware are legion. Consider: To truly understand leadership first the lessons of humility and the necessity of resisting the siren song of corruption absolute power sings is necessary. To live alone and be at peace or live among many comfortably, learning to view all as equals, children of the Miraculous, regardless of how they may offend. To learn these things and so many others and to do it from both the male and female perspective is a task far beyond the capacity of any single lifetime clearly, so our long spiritual schooling is not constrained by our limited understanding of time or the finality of flesh. Our Father is eternal and so are His children. “We are as old as eternity and as young as God.”

So our job now is not to concern ourselves with past lessons or those yet to come, but to reside in the moment, for though He was there yesterday and promises to be there tomorrow, He resides in today, with us, His children. By keeping our eyes on Him who has all knowledge and power, ignorance melts away, closed minds open anew and our growth in spiritual understanding blossoms.


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Fears’ Last Redoubt

One of the greater hindrances to our continued spiritual growth is the fear of exposure, spiritually. We have become consistent and faithful in our spiritual work and demonstration, confronted the fears which have blocked us off from the Sunlight of the Spirit; have acknowledged and become willing to address our shortcomings and defects of character, apologized to those we have harmed and, with God’s help, steadfastly begun to amend our behavior and we have truly begun growing in understanding and usefulness. Prayer and meditation coupled with ongoing personal daily inventory have placed us in the unique position of carrying the Good News to those who suffer and seek and selfless service work has become a way of life, as a result we have reaped the promise of a conscious contact with the Miraculous. Friends, family even casual acquaintances have begun to see and comment on the positive changes in us. Then a remarkable thing happens, when asked about the new way of living we retreat into self. Instead of shouting the good news, we act like an embarrassed child looking down at our shuffling feet mumbling quietly “It’s nothing.”

Having persevered with the soul searing process of uncovering and addressing the causes and conditions which blocked us from a personal relationship with Source, having arrived at the final step, we balk. Fear has seeped in and it becomes seemingly “easier” to backtrack, to dissemble, to rehash or even redo work already completed than to stand in the light, exposed. Why? Because when you raise your head above the crowd, you make yourself a target for others.Take heart, every pilgrim of the path has experienced this.Fear is an implacable foe, it never rests and is always seeking avenues to attack and control us. Break through this final barrier and stand as a child of Wonder, unafraid of the inevitable slings and arrows cast your way. When struck, and you will be, thank God for knowing Him better and pray for those casting the aspersions “for they know not what they do.” In this way, we break free of the final fetters of the adversary Fear and place ourselves finally and completely in God’s hands, ready to serve in any manner He would have us, becoming Peace, poise and Serenity personified.

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