Morbid Reflection and Repentance

The word repentance has a definite religious feel to it. Perhaps I have watched too many old movies, but I can’t help but see in my mind’s eye a preacher exhorting their congregation to REPENT or else. So, if we are Living on the Spiritual Basis what does it mean to repent? First a definition:

Repent:
1. be sorry: to recognize the wrong in something you have done and be sorry about it
2. religion change ways: to feel regret about a sin or past actions and change your ways or habits (Encarta)

To feel sorry about something done or said is easy, but to change our ways or habits is something else entirely. Living on the new basis, the basis of trusting and relying on A Power Greater Than Ourselves requires action. A simple acceptance of past mistakes with a mumbled “sorry” won’t fit the bill at all. Living on the Spiritual Basis requires work on our part. One of the traps those new to this path fall into in an attempt to change and become “rigorously honest” is to recount stories of old hurts and mistakes, for no good reason, which only serves to invigorate them, fill them with new life opening the door to morbid reflection. To be clear: We do not shut the door on the past or deny it, but we do not under any pretense engage in morbid reflection. To do so takes us out of the moment and pulls us into remorse and negative self-reflection, placing us back in the bondage of self. Our past is a great tool, often the best, for helping those new to the process to progress but we must learn to use it as a positive lest we drift into self-pity and pointless remorse, shutting ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit. On our own we are powerless to effect any real lasting change at our core, by relying on a Power Greater Than Ourselves real change is affected, the past put in proper perspective, its power over us removed and it becomes a tool to help others, in turn setting us free.


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Zombies of Contempt

Having life in the spiritual sense differs from just being alive. Even mythical zombies have a form of life, limited as it may be. The movies and TV are replete with depictions of physical zombies, but what of the spiritual zombies we meet daily in our lives? They are easily identified by their clenched jaw when disagreed with, the blank stare when forced to hear an opposing point of view, their aura from years of contempt and blanket condescension of others unmistakable. This state is arrived at when someone closes their mind to new information, refusing out of stubbornness (actually fear) to recognize a different point of view or even entertain the possibility that they may be mistaken, having closed their minds to any new experience they embrace the twin sacred cows of arrogance and contempt. “There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-that principle is contempt prior to examination.” William Poole  The good news is once we open our heart and mind to fresh winds spiritual life returns. To be clear: Having an open mind and willingness to examine other points of view does not necessarily mean we are wrong or need to change our thinking or position, just that the door remains open, willingness in action. We stay young at heart by a willingness to investigate everything that interests us; by remaining open minded and willing to learn we open ourselves to the sunlight of the Spirit. In this light we find our true connection with the eternal, and we will know peace and truly comprehend serenity. 
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Judgement, The Heart Of Pain

Probably no spiritual concept is more misunderstood than judgment. People who normally would never quote from scripture cite Jesus when they feel they are being judged unfairly, typically misquoting Him to the tune that passing any judgment is bad. Nothing could be further from the truth. To be clear: We all pass judgment on all sorts of things daily. Every decision we make requires a judgment call. Paper or plastic, salad or pizza, fill the gas tank now or chance it, etc. Now, daily living judgment calls are one thing, but what about spiritually? The Carpenter taught that we should not, in fact cannot in truth, point out the flaws in others when we are demonstrating the same or worse in our own lives. To do so is gross hypocrisy and opens the individual to greater reciprocal judgment; reaping what they have sown. Consider the practicing alcoholic commenting on someone’s drinking, the neighbor with waist high weeds criticizing another’s yard or the co-worker bemoaning the hard work of others because it makes them look bad in comparison.

This hypocrisy becomes evident when we begin to Live on the Spiritual Basis, placing our feet on the road less traveled. Having constructively inventoried our lives and placed our finger on those things which were blocking us from the freedom we so desperately sought, we honestly and ruthlessly asked God to remove everything that has kept us from fully demonstrating His love and guidance in our lives. In this way we learn to view ourselves and our fellows with righteous judgment. Will we do this perfectly? Of course not, for the fear that lies at the heart of all our difficulties and shortcomings is a cunning foe and though we make mistakes, we must persevere. In time we will learn to practice the same patience, kindness, love and tolerance that God shows us and take to heart the painful lesson of avoiding answering the unasked questions regarding the behavior of others. As our vision improves spiritually there are few things more painful than watching someone sinking and know there is nothing we can do for them, save silent prayer as long as they remain unwilling, shut off from the truth of being. Change always begins within, uninvited outside pressure and advice though it may be right on target, virtually always falls on deaf ears. Righteous Judgment is being willing to walk through the very gates of hell to carry the good news, to help any and all who suffer, but waiting for them to ask is the Heart Of Pain.


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Still Wicked!

In the 60’s and early 70’s wicked was a good thing. A car could be wicked fast, something could look wicked or an activity or action could be wicked, in a good way. Used in this way today would be a faux pas on a par with using groovy in any way except when describing the ridges and valleys in a piece of wood. A hundred years ago had you used wicked the response from the listener would have been very different. Drift back a little further and employing wicked regarding a person could result in their facing an inquisition, possibly even losing their lives in a very horrific manner.
Wicked: adj
1.  very bad: very wrong 
2.  mischievous: liking to tease people playfully or cause them slight trouble, but without upsetting them seriously
 3.  mean: liking to say very unpleasant things to people
 4.  very good: very impressive or very skillful (slang)
     “He plays a wicked game of tennis.”
 5.  dangerous: capable of causing harm to somebody
      “A knife with a wicked blade.”
 6.  distressing: causing discomfort, distress, or disappointment (informal)
        “I’ve got a wicked headache.”
 7.  disgusting: tasting or smelling disgusting and repulsive 
 8. (archaic) bad people: people who do very bad things (Encarta)

Wow, wicked really is a wicked (#4) word. Those who have lived life in a wicked (#1&3) way are going to approach life very differently from those whose lived (#2) wickedly. I’m beginning to feel wicked (#6). The good news is regardless of having perhaps lived a wicked life (#1,3,5 or 7), having chosen to live on a different basis, the basis of trusting and relying on God, we are now wicked (#4). Though we once may have been wicked (#8), through God’s love, grace, forgiveness and guidance we leave behind our wicked (1,3,5,6 & 7) ways and grow in understanding and service not only to God but also to our fellows. Wicked (#4 of course). Whew.

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An Army of Salvations

Words have a way of morphing over time. Some words once in common usage have seemingly disappeared or their meaning/application has changed. Salvation is one of those words. Few save those in the soul saving business today use it. Many people if asked only relate to it in regard to those kettles manned by that army in the curious uniforms outside malls and stores at Christmas. To wit, four general definitions of Salvation:

Salvation
1.  act of saving from harm: the saving of somebody or something from harm, destruction, difficulty, or failure 
2.  means of saving someone or something: protecting or delivering somebody or something from harm or difficulty
3. Practiced in Christianity it means deliverance from sin through Jesus Christ.
4. In the Christian Science philosophy of life it is a belief in the supremacy of life, truth, and love, and in their destruction of such illusions as sin, illness, and death

Who hasn’t tried to employ the first definition with our children and those we love or the second with even strangers or new acquaintances by simply providing a phone number for a good mechanic, tax preparer or just dropping a quarter in a parking meter about to expire (I know, it is illegal, but I think it puts a smile on our Guardian Angel’s face every time we do). Every time you saved a lizard from the cat or stopped and waited for a mother duck and her brood to cross the road you engaged in an act of salvation. See, demonstrating salvation is not that hard. Sounds a lot more impressive when you can announce to the world you provided an act of salvation versus you lent a hand to some baby ducks and their mom. On a more serious note when we embark on the new basis of living, the Spiritual Basis, salvation in demonstration becomes the norm, the very fabric of our existence.

But what of definitions three and four? These are issues left for you and your consciousness, your relationship with God. What is required of those Living on the Spiritual Basis is to remain open minded, even when we do not completely agree with a particular approach to a relationship with God, there is still much for us to learn. At the very least, take the time to place yourself in their shoes and, whether you agree with them or not, look through their eyes, for never lose sight of the ultimate truth that they are children of the Most High just as you are. So “Be quick to see were religious people are right. Make use of what they offer” even though you may not agree with them completely.

In truth, we have committed many acts of salvation in the course of our lives. And many have been extended to us by others, often anonymously. Regardless of the term we use to describe these acts, they are demonstrations of our higher self, clear indications that we are in fact connected, one to another, in Spirit and love. Rejoice!
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Our Illusionary Safe Harbors

The one true adversary to serenity, Fear, drives us in hundreds of ways, is always lurking, and wears many guises. When we try to avoid the inevitable sharp, hard seemingly fearful things in life we become as Sisyphus, forever pushing a stone uphill only to lose control a few feet short of victory, then doggedly following it down to begin the endless trudge once again.  And just as Sisyphus, we will never reach the illusionary safe harbors of enough abundance, good health, secure employment, “perfect” children or any of the other secular things we hope will assuage our fears. The best investments can and have turned sour, though we should do all we can to guard our health, all flesh eventually fails, even the best companies suffer through downturns and try as we might to protect and teach them, our children will walk their own path, make their own mistakes, just as we did.

Living on the Spiritual Basis we place fear in its proper perspective, that, Life is unmanageable and we are ultimately powerless over it, and this truth sets us free. Living on the new basis, the basis of trusting and relying on a Power Greater Than Ourselves, when faced with fear in its various guises we have come to understand today is just one day in eternity, that prayer is always the answer even when we are unsure of the question, and habitual meditation leads to peace of heart and spirit. The choice is always ours; trust the carnal mind, relying on our finite knowledge and resources to solve the fear problem or place ourselves unreservedly into the arms of infinite love, guidance and abundance and be free. Choose wisely.

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Day 7 Of The 7 Day Mental Diet 2019

Congratulations. You made it! This diet has introduced you to the Yoga of Love, the absolute unfailing key to freedom from the bondage of self. Today continue employing that smile and take a few minutes in quiet contemplation to review what you learned/discovered about yourself the last few days. Consider writing down your thoughts and feelings to mark the work you have done, perhaps even begin keeping a journal of your journey. Moving forward anytime you feel a little spiritual boot camp is in order, revisit this simple plan and gently, always gently, reapply its principles. Now you can share your experience with anyone you believe would profit from it. The diet has put you in touch with the Primal Power of Being. This power is what changes us. It is the motive force behind everything. It is no less than our connection, at the most basic and profound level, to the creative life force that permeates everything and everyone. That power is Divine Love.
“Speak to Him, thou, for He hears, and Spirit with Spirit can meet– Closer is He than breathing, and nearer than hands and feet.” Tennyson

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Day 6 Of The 7 Day Mental Diet 2019

Hang in there, only 1 more day to go. Then again, you may be experiencing such profound changes in your outlook you may desire more. Today’s exercise is on meditating on love and its power, its ability to change us at our core and the amazing availability of love. Love is always available, if we are willing to take action. Faith without works is dead and just as with faith, love requires action. We must build up “by faithful daily exercise a true Love Consciousness.” This is a key ingredient in our daily diet since “Love and tolerance of others is our code.”

The path of enlightenment requires work, effort on our part. We start our day by “asking each morning in meditation that our creator show us the way of patience, tolerance, kindliness and love.” Do you start your day with meditation? No? Why not? Would you try to make a cake without flour? Drive your car missing a tire? Of course not. Meditation is an integral part of living on the Spiritual Basis. If you are not meditating daily, start at a simple level. Find a quiet place where you will be undisturbed for a few minutes. Take 2 or 3 deep cleansing breaths, inhaling through the mouth, then slowly exhaling through the nose. With eyes closed, consider what patience, tolerance, kindliness and love mean to you. Your mind will begin to visualize, do not fight it or try to control it. In your minds dialogue stay focused on the task at hand. When your mind wanders, and it will, gently bring it back. When it wanders again end your session and thank God for knowing Him better. What could be easier? Limit your sessions to 10 to 15 minutes. This is sufficient to start the day and we can all find this amount of time if we are willing. Of course, if you have the time and are moved to longer sessions, then do but remember, always be gentle, for we have ceased fighting anyone or anything.

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© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved

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Day 5 Of The 7 Day Mental Diet 2019

…God is love; and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him (1 John 4:16). Day 5: Today, attempt to greet everyone, and view everything through the prism of love. This begins by greeting all with a smile. You will not do this perfectly, only a saint could, the purpose is to be aware of love, pay attention to love, to experience the truly limitless capacity we have for it, to both give and receive. Observe how those whom you meet respond when you greet them with love and a smile in your eyes, how your thoughts are altered when a situation or a bit of news is viewed through the prism of love. The path of love is the straight gate and the shortest way to the Great Goal, to live on the Spiritual Basis a day at a time for the rest of our lives. Oh, and you are keeping this to yourself for the next couple of days, right?

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Day 4 Of The 7 Day Mental Diet 2019

Day 4: Consider: You are sitting by a camp fire and a hot cinder flies up and lands on your sleeve. If you brush the cinder off at once, without a moments delay, no harm is done. However, if you allow it to rest for even a few heartbeats, under any pretense, the mischief is done, leaving a hole in your shirt and possibly a welt on your arm to mark its passing. So, it is with negative thought.

Simply stated we have no control over the thoughts which float up from our subconsciousness or are foisted on us by others, but we do choose how we will address them. Living on the Spiritual Basis the path is clear: When we immediately supplant a negative thought with a positive one, we remain unharmed, our spiritual “sleeves” hole free. Additionally, remember we do not try to discern or understand why a particular thought crossed our mind, avoiding the trap of morbid reflection; we simply take the necessary action to address it. Kinda like a house fire, why it started of little importance when putting it out quickly is the goal. In time, this will become second nature.

By this point in the diet you are probably experiencing some difficulties, it may feel like everything is seemingly going sideways, you have more trouble now, more spiritual discontent than when you started. Outstanding! You have shaken your world at its bedrock and when the shaking stops, a new and much stronger foundation will be in place. So, take heart and stay the course and again under no circumstance discuss what you are doing with anyone at this point of the diet. Onwards through the fog.

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© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved

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