Truth is a pathless land.
Man cannot come to it through any organisation, through
any creed, through any dogma, priest or ritual, nor through
any philosophical knowledge or psychological technique. He has
to find it through the mirror of relationship, through the
understanding of the contents of his own mind, through
observation and not through intellectual analysis or
introspective dissection.
I'm happy to say that in its first month, the Mystic Visions
Discussion Forum seems to be taking off. If you like what you
read in this ezine, this is your place to comment on the
articles, ask questions and interact with other readers. You will
also find extra content from me there. Since this is an ezine
that focuses on both Personal Development AND Esoteric
Spirituality, I expect some interesting conversations to develop.
This is already happening. If you have not already done so,
please take a look:
I promised you that we would be talking about Prosperity
Consciousness. This month's Personal Development article starts
off on this topic. It's a big subject and I hope to follow
up with other articles related to this theme. This present
article sets the theme, so to speak and deals with some basic
considerations we need to be aware of.
Who am I to talk on this topic? Well, I'm not Bill Gates -
that's for sure! However, I have achieved the happy position to
not have to work for a few years. So I suppose I have achieved a
bit more than most people in this direction. And, God willing, I
will continue to make advances in this direction.
So mine is an
ongoing journey of discovery, and I hope to share with you
whatever insights I gain along the way.
Regards,
Asoka Selvarajah
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Until recently, scientists were giving us an increasingly
mechanistic view of the Universe. The "billiard ball" model of
reality - namely, that certain knowable causes always give rise
to certain predictable effects - increasingly dominated all
areas of our society. Scientists expected that one day, they
would have a complete explanation for ALL phenomena. God
increasingly became the "god of the gaps" - the gaps that
Science could not explain....yet.
However, the advent of Quantum Mechanics and Chaos Theory in
particular have ended that dream forever. Instead of speaking
of certainties and laws, we must now deal with probabilities
(i.e. likelihood's) and a constant interplay between Order and
Chaos. Royal Society Biologist, Rupert Sheldrake, now threatens
to upset the established scheme even further with his theory
that there are in fact no "Laws of Nature", but rather
ingrained habits built up through countless repetitions!
So everything in Science is in a dramatic state of flux - one
that has yet to feed down to the layman. Most people are still
caught in the 19th century hangover of Scientific Rationalism.
This loosely states that the only things that exist are those
that can be verified experimentally, and that logic is the only
valid function of the brain for determining true knowledge
about reality. This notion still pervades all areas of society.
However, it is an utterly false one. In truth, the universe is
increasingly revealed to be a place of profound mystery. The
more scientists discover, the more they gasp at the immensity
that remains to be discovered. In truth, the Universe is
something incomprehensibly complex; from the smallest
sub-atomic particle to the vast dimensions of galactic
super-clusters. It defies the finite capacities of our minds.
Moreover, for those who have eyes to see, the universe is
also revealing itself to be a place of infinite intelligence.
Whether it be Dr. Deepak Chopra telling us about the incredible
wisdom stored within the Human Body, or Geo-Physicist James
Lovelock postulating that the entire Earth can realistically be
considered a single living organism - Gaia - many scientists
are embracing a holistic approach to reality at all scales.
Within this new reality of the universe as BEING, the ancient
methods of perception emerge once more as potentially valid
ways of examining reality. In particular, the ancient method of
the Oracle deserves our re-appraisal.
Long maligned by Science as contemptible outdated nonsense, and
by mainstream Religion as the work of the devil, Oracles
nevertheless enjoyed a long and respected history in the
Ancient World and throughout prehistory. Science has rightly
put an end to such notions as the flat Earth hypothesis, and
the belief that earthquakes and storms are the work of
unappeased gods. However, Oracles - such as the I Ching and
Tarot - seem as resilient today in our modern technological
civilization as they ever were. Ironically, Astrology even uses
the latest computer technology to do its work far more
efficiently and quickly than has ever been possible before!
Before we discount this tendency as solely limited to the realm
of the feeble-minded, we should remember that no less a mind
than the great Swiss psychologist, Carl Jung, took Oracle
systems VERY seriously indeed and worked extensively with the I
Ching and the Tarot. It is an indisputable fact that numerous
Investment Banks around the world use Financial Astrology to
assist in their trading decisions. Moreover, the brilliant 19th
century banker, J.P. Morgan - whose bank bears his name and is
today one of America's most prestigious financial institutions
- is famously quoted as saying, "Millionaires don't believe in
Astrology. Billionaires do."
Hence, despite the ravages of Science and Religion, Oracle
systems remain popular and robust in mainstream society, and
are espoused by genius and simpleton alike. Why is this? Why
have they not gone the same way as belief in Santa Claus or
Werewolves?
Might the reason for their persistence be that Oracles are a
legitimate and valid function of the human brain? Could it be
that, like concepts of conscious and subconscious, and the
left-handed and right-handed functions of the brain, there is
actually a part of your brain that is hard-wired to receive and
process information in an oracular manner?
This notion might seem revolutionary. However, it is not
at all unreasonable. Recall our earlier discussion about how
Science seems to be revealing the universe to be a place of
Infinite Intelligence and Being. What if the Cosmos really does
function through Synchronicity (meaningful coincidences), as
Deepak Chopra's SynchroDestiny work and James Redfield's "The
Celestine Prophecy" suggest? Would it then be unreasonable to
postulate that Nature might have directly hard-wired into us a
means to perceive Reality this way?
It is not unreasonable at all. In fact, it is quite likely.
This would explain how Oracles thrive despite Rationalism's
best efforts to eliminate them. You cannot eradicate a
legitimate function of the human brain through argument any
more than you can insist that everyone's right leg is a useless
physical leftover from a primitive past!
So where does this leave us? Quite simply, the Oracle is where
our individual soul touches the Soul of the Universe. Whereas
logic speaks to the scientific/logical left side of our brain,
the oracle communicates information from the heart of the
universe, through symbol and image, direct to the
artistic/symbolic right-side. Each of us is bombarded daily from
society with logical/scientific input. We need to redress the
balance by stimulating and using the artistic/symbolic right-side
of the brain. This will in turn enhance our overall capacity to
function in life. Oracles systems like the I Ching and Tarot can
help us do that.
In doing so, we need not approach with an attitude of deep
fear, as if we are about to lose our souls. Such fears were
propagated by established religion for purely political
reasons. After all, if you are truly able to obtain essential
knowledge and communion with the Source/God directly, why
would you need the expensive trappings of large buildings, the
priesthood and regular financial donations?
Rather, we should remember that serious scientists like Jung made
studies of the Tarot and I Ching, in line with his studies of
Symbolism and the Human Mind. Moreover, the latest scientific
revelations of the Universe show it to be a place of meaning and
incomprehensible intelligence. Thus, Oracle systems - which seem
so in tune with these discoveries - acquire a legitimacy and
basis of credibility that they could never have had in previous
centuries when these facts were unknown.
Hence, you should choose an oracle and use it regularly. The
Tarot and I Ching are particularly recommended. Write your
results down in your Journal. Regular use will exercise this
vital brain function. Like anything that is exercised
regularly, this brain function will strengthen and improve and
give you increasingly reliable results.
In doing so, you
strengthen your intuition and put yourself in direct contact
with the Source of the Universe itself.
Copyright Asoka Selvarajah 2000. 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
Whether you are new to meditation, or are already experienced,
this book has a lot to offer you. Tulku Thondup - Tibetan
Buddhist monk of the Nyingma tradition - offers us an intensely
practical and compassionate look at meditation. Focusing on the
stresses and strains of daily life as it does, "The Healing Power
of Mind" is perfectly tuned to the needs of the modern world.
As the title suggests, this is primarily a book about using the
mind, via meditation, to heal yourself of a range of mental,
emotional and physical conditions. The early chapters discuss the
ability of the mind to heal, and give you practical instructions
on how to commence a meditation practice. From there, a
well-balanced mixture of Buddhist teaching and practical
meditation visualizations is given. The emphasis is always
intensely practical, i.e. how to use meditation to improve the
down-to-earth quality of our lives.
Topics covered include developing confidence, dealing with
physical ailments, how to deal with problems, techniques for
releasing healing energies, how to use the Buddhist practice of
Mindfulness to approach the daily life in a healing manner, and
much more. A variety of different meditations are given for each
situation. "The Healing Power of Mind" is written simply, and
you can easily understand and put its teachings into practice.
Your life can be transformed completely by putting the power of
your mind to work to heal. Try it for yourself.
Dream-Minder is a software program that sits on your computer
desktop and helps you discover your goals, dreams, values and
talents! It reminds you of them regularly, and keeps what is
truly important in your life before you throughout the day.
There are many wonderful benefits to this program. First, by
being continually reminded of them, you are better able work on
your goals and dreams regularly. Second, when it pops up (at a
time interval that YOU specify), its gentle music and beautiful
imagery give you a perfect stopping point for the day. The
pictures of natural scenes are particularly wonderful and can be
viewed full-screen while the gentle soothing music plays. A
moment to pause, breath deeply and find your inner core again.
DreamMinder also contains a session that helps you go inside of
yourself, reflect, and decide what is important to you. You can
then enter it into the program and this builds more material to
present you with during the day. So it adapts beautifully to your
exact needs.
There is also a section where you can record all the achievements
and milestones in your life. That way, you can look back on the
often and encourage yourself whenever you face a tough challenge.
There is also a built in Journal to help you record your deepest
insights and hopes.
It is so easy to forget our goals and dreams. In the midst of a
busy day, Dream-Minder keeps you focused what really matters to
YOU. There isn't another program quite like it.
Money causes most people more emotional problems than almost
any other life issue. How many times have you heard that "Money
doesn't grow on trees", that "Money is the root of all Evil" or
that anyone who is rich must, by definition, be either a crook
or extremely hard and tough? Most people have extremely
negative associations about Wealth and Money that were gained
subconsciously whilst growing up.
The world's spiritual traditions seem to be in agreement:
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one
and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and
despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
Matthew 6:24
Other world religions say much the same. Buddhism certainly
sees earthly wealth as a source of desire and attachment;
both of which are viewed as detrimental to spiritual growth.
Yet, most personal development teachers today tell you that
you can "have it all" and extol the virtues of becoming
wealthy. Moreover, it seems to be a very modern version of
spirituality that says you can be rich AND highly spiritual. So
who is right?
Within a strictly limited sense, both are correct. However, the
balance is extremely hard to maintain correctly.
Given that the Universe and the Source that created it are
infinitely abundant, it is entirely correct that you should
expect to be similarly abundant in your life. You have a right
to wholesome expansion and wealth. Poverty is not intrinsic
within creation - rather it is created by Man himself!
However, there is a big problem, and this is what the teaching
from Jesus above highlights perfectly. It is the problem of
focus.
Whatever we focus our minds upon, for good or ill, always
expands. This is one of the fundamental laws of life. No matter
what anyone tells you to the contrary, making money is hard. It
does not come easy to most people. Moreover, making a LOT of
money is VERY hard and takes a tremendous level of concentrated
focus. It also requires a commitment that is primarily
EXTERNAL, i.e. devoted to the outer material world.
Herein lies the apparent conflict. The truth is that powerful
spiritual development ALSO requires a tremendous level of focus
and commitment. It is not a part-time activity either.
Moreover, the focus is primarily INTERNAL. If you now read the
verse from Jesus again, you will receive a fresh perspective.
It is not that money is intrinsically evil: rather, the
accumulation of it, for someone with limited years on this
earth, is a major distraction because of the level of focus it
requires.
Whatever you focus upon expands. If you set your mind upon the
external world, this will assume increasing importance in your
life. Spiritual growth will increasingly become a hobby or
something to be crammed into your spare time. If you vigorously
dispute this, ask yourself the following questions. (1)Do you
make sure you get three full meals a day? (2) Do you also make
sure that you meditate (or pray) three times a day for the
same amount of time?
Do you see the point and the problem? Whatever is most
important to you is what you spend most of your time doing and
thinking about. This is why most spiritual traditions advise
against the external focus which the pursuit of material wealth
entails. The Spiritual Masters know human nature too well. They
know that given half a chance, we will veer off the path and go
off chasing soap bubbles.
Happily, there can be a satisfactory resolution to this. The
answer is twofold.
The first principle is that if you make the spiritual path (and
this does NOT mean exclusively the Christian path) your primary
focus, then you will eventually master laws of the universe
that will ensure your abundance forever. Moreover, abundance
here is interpreted in the widest possible way, as well as
many ways that we can't conceive of with finite minds! If you
can truly tune yourself to the ultimate Source of all abundance
in the universe, then how can you remain poor in any sense?!
This is what Jesus had in mind when he said,
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness:
and all these things shall be added unto you."
Matthew 6:33
In other words, bring your finite Mind and Being increasingly
in tune with the Source of infinite abundance, and you cannot
help but manifest abundance too. Moreover, you will do it with
ease, at will, and to a greater level than you ever believed
possible for yourself and others. If the universe is infinitely
creative, then you can be too once you are in tune with the
spiritual laws by which the universe functions.
The second principle - also implicit in the verse above - is to
decide from the outset what your true life purpose and hence
priority is. Then determine NEVER to let that balance between
spiritual commitment and external effort be undermined. When we
work upon an external goal - particularly financial abundance -
it is VERY easy to allow that goal to consume an increasing
amount of time and mental capacity.
Decide from the outset that you are going to focus upon the
process of being excellent in the field of endeavour that is
your life's purpose. Then pursue it with the intention of being
the very best you can be, rather than focusing primarily upon
some monetary result/goal at the end of the process. You can
certainly have a monetary goal. However, just be aware of the
danger of letting this becoming the primary obsession. Don't
ever let it happen. Also, always continually re-assess the
balance and level of commitment between your externally focused
activities and your spiritual goals. Never let that balance
slip.
In conclusion, it is possible to be financially abundant whilst
following a spiritual path. However, it is very difficult -
much more so than most personal development gurus would have
you believe. It is for this reason that the great Spiritual
Masters strongly discouraged trying to do both.
However , by
using the two principles mentioned here from the outset, it is
possible to create abundance in your life in the widest
possible sense of the word.
Copyright Asoka Selvarajah 2000. All Rights Reserved.
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