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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© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved

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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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© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved

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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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© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved

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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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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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© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved

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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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© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved

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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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