Our task is to strike a balance, to find a middle way, to learn
not to overstretch ourselves with extraneous activities and
preoccupations, but to simplify our lives more and more. The key
to finding a happy balance in modern lives is simplicity.
Sogyal Rinpoche
Editorial
,
As some of you may know, I am very well advanced in writing a
book on the Higher Self. It has taken a lot of research and
thought, and should be out in a few months. In the meantime, the
first article in this month's issue features an excerpt from that
book. It looks at the idea of setting goals in the spiritual
context, using union with the Higher Self as an example. You may
not have considered an approach quite like this before, and so I
hope you find it of value.
The second article arises from some tough experiences I had
recently and reminds us to seek the things that matter most in
life. It is a simple message, but also an important one that is
all too easily forgotten.
I think a prize should probably go to the reader who spotted my
"deliberate mistake" in the Fibonacci article last month. Yes, it
really proves that people are reading this ezine most attentively
and even doing the calculations, when there are some! Anyway, the
corrected article, along with much interesting discussion and
feedback from yourselves can be read at:
Some approaches that are very useful to us in the spiritual quest
are (a) setting a clear goal, (b) affirmations and (c)
visualization. These can be regarded as separate techniques, but
they work very well together.
We shall examine goal setting and affirmations, using union with
the Higher Self as an example.
A goal has often been defined as a dream with a deadline. In
everyday reality, this is the best approach. In other words, one
sets a timeframe for when you will have attained your goal. In
spiritual matters, this is inadvisable. It would be clearly
absurd to say "I achieve full contact with my Higher Self within
60 days".
However, you can set a goal for the state you will have achieved,
and this is well worth doing. If done like this, it forms a
mission statement that you can review daily and remind yourself
constantly what your chief target in life really is.
It is best if you formulate your goal in your own words because
then it will feel right to you as you read it, or say it. There
are just a few simple principles that should be applied however.
First of all, a goal should be stated in the present tense. Do
not say, "I WILL achieve union with my Higher Self". Future
tense goals are vague, woolly and indefinite in their attainment.
When you set a goal, use the present tense. In the example just
given, a better way to express the same idea is:
"I am in perfect union with my Higher Self", or
"The Higher Self expresses perfectly in my life each and every
day."
Again, use you own words to create an excellent statement of
purpose that is right for you. If you are uncomfortable with the
phrase "Higher Self", then use whatever you are comfortable with:
God, Source of Life, Divine Spirit......
Another important principle is to state your goal in positive
terms. The two statements given in the above paragraph are good
examples. Do not state it in negative terms or use the word "not"
in it. For example,
"I am not fragmented and separated from my Higher Self any
longer" would be a bad way to express it.
Why? The subconscious mind,
which you are trying to make your ally in this quest, simply does
not heed the word "not". So your goal ends up reading like this:
"I AM fragmented and separated from my Higher Self"
which is definitely NOT what you had in mind!
Therefore, your goal statement should be in the present tense and
stated in positive terms. It should also be something that is
worthwhile to you. In other words, simply stating that you
achieve union with your Higher Self is rather too abstract. After
all, what does this really mean? If you have no idea, then it is
next to impossible to motivate yourself on a regular basis in
pursuit of a goal that is "out there" somewhere and seemingly has
little relevance or benefit to your daily life.
Here are some suggestions for an end-goal statement that fit all
these criteria:
"I live in complete and open communication with the source of
Divine Consciousness within me. The knowledge of the universe is
mine and my life is filled with harmony, peace and joy."
"The Higher Self, my own true self, lights up every area of my
life and is my source of Joy, Understanding, Love and Wisdom at
all times and under all conditions."
"Divine Consciousness expresses its fullness within my being,
completely and eternally. My Being is one with Universal
Consciousness and I enjoy full access to the knowledge of the
universe."
These are just examples, although you might like to take one of
them and adapt it for your own use. Alternatively, come up with
you own end-goal statement that best fits how you would express
the state of perfect harmony and communion with your divine inner
essence.
Given what we said about motivation earlier, you are well advised
to add a sentence to your goal that is inclusive of other living
being. For instance, we can modify the second goal to read:
"The Higher Self, my own true self, lights up every area of my
life and is my source of Joy, Understanding, Love and Wisdom at
all times and under all conditions. Through this perfect union I
now enjoy, my efforts are devoted to uplifting and helping all
living beings."
Of course, none of this implies that you are supposed to know or
understand the state of perfect union before it has happened.
Starting out, and for most of the journey, there is no way we can
know in advance what the final state of bliss will be. However,
there is validity in expressing our spiritual goal in the form of
a succinct statement such as those above and dwelling on it,
pondering it, making it the object of our desires and gradually
internalising it until it becomes part of our very being. After
all, even if our ego-consciousness, i.e. our everyday waking
consciousness, has little or no experience of the Higher Self,
the fact is that the Higher Self does.
Remember, the Higher Self is part of you; part of your very
being. It is closer to you than any person you know, or anything
you may have experienced. It is not distant from you; it just
seems that way because your mind and heart are a million miles
away from living life as you were actually intended to. Instead,
the ego consciousness has usurped the rightful place that the
Higher Self, the real you, should hold. So, by creating this goal
statement and affirming it, you commit your mind totally towards
the union that will one day be yours.
Do also remember that this approach is merely one step towards
the goal. You are certainly not going to achieve union simply by
stating this goal alone. However, it is part of the fabric of
what we are creating; an essential and powerful part. Nothing
worthwhile in life is ever achieved without tremendous
determination and focus. It is the same with spiritual matters.
Of course, you will be waylaid. And yes, it is a long and arduous
journey with seemingly little to show for it at times. Often, it
may not make much sense to you at all. But that is precisely why
you must have a goal - a clear vision you can hold up before you
of what you want to attain. This principle is true in the
everyday world and it is especially true in the spiritual, where
we have little direct experience of that which we seek.
Once you have created your goal statement, type or print it and
place it in several prominent places where you can see it
(obviously discreetly - you don't really want your boss asking
you about it!).
You should memorize it and bring it to your
attention as often as you can .
Copyright Asoka Selvarajah 2001. All Rights Reserved.
Asoka Selvarajah is a writer on personal growth and
spirituality,
and the author of "The 7 Golden Secrets To Knowing Your
Higher
Self". His work helps people achieve their full
potential, deepen their
understanding of mystical truth,
and discover their soul's purpose. Learn more about his work
Published by Inner Traditions. 1088 Pages. 2 Large Volumes.
This monumental work is THE single most important study on
Ancient Egypt from the esoteric Symbolist perspective. Translated
into English for the first time, The Temple Of Man represents the
culmination of twelve years of intensive fieldwork on the Temple
of Luxor by one of the greatest thinkers of the 20th century.
This beautiful two-volume set reveals the mathematical, medical
and metaphysical sophistication of Ancient Egypt. It demonstrates
clearly that Ancient Egypt, not Greece, was the cradle of Western
science, culture and civilisation!" Moreover, Schwaller de Lubitz
was THE first to propose an advanced pre-existing civilisation
before Egypt, and to suggest that the Sphinx is water eroded;
which has only been scientifically demonstrated beyond doubt in
the last few years. These ideas have become popular recently
through writers like Graham Hancock and others.
If Sacred Science and Ancient Mysteries fascinate you, if you
want to delve deep into the secrets of Ancient Egypt, then Temple
Of Man is indispensable. It is the grandfather, the sourcebook,
for most of what has been written since about Ancient Egypt from
the esoteric perspective. Highly Recommended.
In the midst of our busy, frantic, high-tech lives, it is vital
to keep hold of the real reasons why we are here; the things that
really matter.
It's far too easy to get entrapped by high-tech society and
its toys, or by career and its never-ending promises. Should we
get the latest DVD system? Or satellite TV? How's the car doing?
Perhaps a new one wouldn't be a bad idea. And don't forget the
computer, plus related software! Oh, and then there's the mobile
phone. Do you have the one that sings and dances yet?......
The point is that none of this is what life is really all about
at the deepest level. Certainly, these trinkets are fun to have
at times. Often, they can be most useful. However, all too often,
we are in danger of letting our minds get bogged down in this
stuff; paying the bills, buying gadgets, and other peripheral
preoccupations. Yes, you do have to budget time for some of this.
However, let's not budget away all the time that there is!
If you fall prey to doing so, a certain hardening of the
spiritual arteries occurs imperceptibly. What you focus your mind
upon always expands. Thus, if your focus is primarily external,
concerned with gadgets and getting ahead in life, then this is
what will inevitably grow in your awareness. At the same time,
you can gradually become spiritually desensitized; less aware of
your essential humanity and your basic capacity to relate to
others and to Nature in an authentic manner.
People tend to compartmentalize their lives in an attempt to
retain some sanity. For instance, many talk about spending
"quality time" with their family. In other words, with little
time to spare in a busy life, such people are determined that
whatever time they do spend is the highest "quality time".
However, this kind of thinking is a product of a modern
high-speed society, and betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of
how human nature really works. Children don't want "quality
time". They don't even understand the notion of it. They want ALL
the time and love that you can possibly give them! Most parents
who preoccupy themselves with "quality time", whilst indulging in
their real obsession - their careers - wake up one morning to
discover that they have missed watching their kids grow up.
We can also live for the future whilst failing to live in the
present. It's so easy to make ambitious plans involving jobs,
assets, and money in the bank. These plans promise you happiness
at some indefinite time in the future. In the meantime, you fail
to be happy right here and now! We should indeed remember to stop
and smell the roses. Instead, we motor right on by; eyes fixed
firmly on the shimmering mirage dancing on the horizon, which we
never ever quite seem to reach, no matter how fast we drive.
The point of all this is that what really matters in life usually
lies in the immediacy of the moment. It lies in relationships
with loved ones, intimate moments of communion with Nature,
dwelling in silent meditation upon your inner core, giving of
your time freely to others without harboring resentment or
regret, experiencing the journey RIGHT NOW instead of at some
indefinite point in the future.
The in-tray will always be full. That will be as true on the day
you die as it is today. On the deathbed, nobody has ever wished
that they could have spent more time at the office. The time for
living and being happy, and for sharing your life with others, is
right now. If you await some future date, when everything is
"just right", you will wait forever.
None of this implies that you should throw away goals and
strategic planning for the future. These are essential tools for
shaping the life you desire. However, it is vital to find the
right balance. This is all too often missing. The secret of
happiness is to realize that it is a moment by moment choice. To
be happy, choose to be happy wherever you are in life, and
regardless of external circumstances. Most people miss this. They
think that being happy is some rare elusive state, attained only
as a result of achieving external material, or status, targets.
In truth, you achieve happiness by consciously choosing happiness
NOW, and living in the moment.
Precious experiences only emerge when you make time for them.
They do not always show themselves during periods of "quality
time". They cannot be summoned to order. They unfold gently as a
result of an attitude to life. Moreover, they are different for
each person. These experiences can warm your heart and perform
deep inner transformation. They may be very simple; so much so
that to describe them to another might evoke a "so what?"
response. Yet, they remain infinitely precious to you.
For one person, it might be finding a baby bird that has fallen
from a nest, and having the unique learning experience of
nurturing that tiny creature for a while. For another, it might
be watching a son or daughter grow up, and giving love
unconditionally to that child. It may be the thoughts that come
to you gently, as you stroll alone in the countryside, or in the
company of your beloved.
Are you now going to "allocate" some time for these activities?
If so, you are missing the whole point. It is a matter of
lifestyle and life purpose - what you are really here for - and
not of time management. If our schedules are too long, and our
minds too filled with out own self-serving needs, such moments
will be extremely rare. Then life may "jolt us awake" with some
unexpected happening or deep tragedy.
First-hand experience of things that really matter and touch us
deeply only come if we allow plenty of untroubled time for them.
We need to always conduct our lives in a spirit of gentleness and
inner searching. Then, we shall reap the true riches within our
lives; riches that cannot be bought with money. We will live
authentically and in happiness.
This is our true purpose in life .
Copyright Asoka Selvarajah 2001. All Rights Reserved.
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