Don't Mistake Avoidance for Enlightenment

or Building a Life Grounded in Truth Part 2

This week we are considering how to use spiritual laws in our lives.

"We are in the world and of it and it is good that this is so".  

 Ernest Holmes, Science of Mind pg 56.2

Dr. Holmes goes on to say the world is ok when we view it correctly.  

I think it is easy to interpret "viewing it correctly" as choosing only to see what we individually label as good.  But when we do that, are we in the world and of it or are we trying to rise above it so that it doesn’t touch us? Honestly, only you can answer this question.  

Holmes is clear that “we will not refuse to help the helpless or lift up the fallen, but we will refuse to wallow in the mud because of our sympathies”.  This takes skill building.  

Do not think that just because you don’t experience something that it does not exist.  And please don’t mistake your avoidance for your enlightenment.  It takes the skills of self awareness and alignment to recognize which state we are in; and the two go hand in hand as we practice mindfully being present in the world and with each other.

Maybe correctly viewing the world's state of affairs or a friends challenges means that we acknowledge the situation, and then rather than immediately praying it away, we pause long enough to stand in love and see the human condition that now exists in the human experience so that we can walk through it and into a greater wholeness.

Reflection Practice

Consider what is grabbing your attention this week?  Can you mindfully be present with what comes up long enough to see what this situation is bringing up for you?  Take a few minutes to investigate your feelings.  Go beneath the feelings and allow your inner wisdom to guide you to what wants to be known by you, why is this situation or person grabbing your attention?  Journal or contemplate this and see what you discover about yourself?

Building a Life Grounded in Truth Part 1

Welcome!
I am dedicating this blog to Center For Spiritual Living’s 2019 theme Spirituality in Action

For January our topic is Grounded in Principle
There is a tradition at Centers for Spiritual Living where we review our principles during the month of January.  We intentionally come home to our basic ideas.  So far we have reviewed the first 3 chapters of the Science of Mind book by Dr. Ernest Holmes.

The Thing Itself - Absolute Cause - The Seed
The Way It Works - Absolute Law - The Soil
What It Does - Absolute Manifestation - The Plant

When we understand the creative process, how the Universe moves from consciousness to form, we can align ourselves with this process and learn to work with it. Ideas and thoughts are like seeds.  The universe needs us to decide what seeds we want to plant.  Universal principles or spiritual laws then accept these seeds as our ideas or thoughts that we are planting.  It (the Universe) is just the medium, like soil, for our ideas, our beleifs and our thoughts.  The ideas we nurture and cultivate become our reality, our experience... the plant.

As individuals that practice and integrate spiritual principles in our lives (can I call us spiritual live-ers?) we understand this powerful process.  Our words and thoughts are creative.

We know truth,
We speak truth and then
We experience truth.

Quote:
"The arrogant have not perceived the simplify of faith, but the pure in heart see God.  The farmer has seen the Heavenly Host in his fields.  The child has frolicked with It at play. The mother has clasped It to her breast and the fond lover has seen It in the eyes of her beloved.  We look too far away for Reality."    Ernest Holmes, Science of Mind

Affirmation:
There is a power for good in Universe greater than I am, and I say YES! to its' perfect expression through me!

Reflection Practice:
Consider what truth you want to experience today; what values do you want your reality to be reflective of?  What ideas and thoughts are you seeding to that end?

Spirituality in Action in 2019

Welcome!

This year Centers for Spirituality is focusing on Spirituality in Action.  Each month we'll look at a principle and how we can incorporate it into our lives and begin to walk it out into the larger community.

Here is the program for 2019

January    Grounded in Principle
     Book of the Month - Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes

February  Seeking the common good & Oneness
     Book of the Month - Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World
                                     by H.H. Dalai Lama
March       Choosing Integrity, being truthful in facts & motives
      Book of the Month - The Inward Journey by Dr. Howard Thurman

April         Promoting Diversity through unity and inclusion
      Book of the Month - Stained Glass Spirit by Tracy Brown

May          Demonstrating care for each other through Compassion
      Book of the Month - The I of the Storm by Dr. Gary Simmons

June          Protecting the vulnerable & Empowering each other
      Book of the Month - A New Republic of the Heart by Terry Patten

July          Advocating freedom of thought and Creativity
      Book of the Month - The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton & L. Hardin

Aug          Respecting other nations & peoples, being Grateful
      Book of the Month - The Gentle Art of Blessing by Pierre Pradervand

Sept          Ensuring good stewardship of creation through Love
      Book of the Month - Spiritual Ecology:The Cry of the Earth 
                                          by Llweellyn Vaughan-Lee
Oct           Cherishing the human family and our Unity
      Book of the Month - The Principle of Oneness by Russell Anthony Gibbs

Nov           Practicing moral Spiritual Leadership
      Book of the Month - The Tao of Leadership by John Heider

Dec           Celebrating all spiritual paths  
      Book of the Month - Thou Art That by Joseph Campbell

** Some books may change as we get closer to the monthly topic

Each week I'll post a brief summary of the ideas from the previous Sunday's talks and offer a reflection practice for you to consider.

Here's to a powerful year of taking these powerful principles into action.

Love,
Alice