Life throws so many experiences at us from unexpected directions. From the time we are little children and our world is full of adult knees to the time when we look in the mirror and wonder who that old person is who is staring back at us, it is a roller coaster ride of experiences.

What is this life all about? It is a question that makes us go deeper than just living on the surface. The quest for meaning can be the beginning of the greatest adventure in life—the search for God-realization.

In this venture into higher consciousness we are told to keep our minds on God as a means of purifying the mind and having direct perception of the Truth. What we find in doing so is that life rudely interrupts our best intentions for this practice. Earning a living, our social relationships, the desires of the body and distractions of the world, those thousands and thousands of big and little situations that draw the mind everywhere except to God. It seems that life itself conspires to stop our making real spiritual progress.

In part, the problem is that we imagine these distractions are not part of our practice; we would be so much better off if we could somehow just get rid of them. However, a little analysis reveals that these are not things that keep us from our path, they are the path itself. We have been conditioned to think of all these distractions as something different from God. They are not. In truth, they are God come to us in these various forms.

At last you come to terms with the fact that daily life, its distractions and its desires are really dynamic expressions of Divine Consciousness. When you have understood this you have found a key to understanding life in a new and transformative way. The life-energy and intelligence found in all life, even life that apparently runs contrary to elevated consciousness all comes from one original Source.

A way to reconnect to this universal vision in which all is God is to allow all input into your brain, all thoughts and all feelings, remind you of God. In your mind you create a bridge to God with each and every experience. For instance, a beautiful sunset reminds you of God; that is an easy one. Then you think of the food you eat as ingesting God; this is more unusual but you can work with it. Tougher categories come as sexual drives, an impulse to lie, fear creeping into your awareness, anger erupting; looked at properly all of these lower impulses can become bridges back to God. However, since these thoughts have taken you into the opposite direction of God in the past they represent an even bigger stretch for you in your practice.

By connecting a thought or feeling to God you break the spell of separation. For example, take the sensation of pain. It can definitely be a distraction; even the thought of having pain in the future can take the mind far from God-consciousness. You build a bridge to God by thinking of the life-energy that is in the pain impulse itself; that life-energy gives the electrical impulse its power to travel to your brain via nerve pathways. By connecting to the life-energy that is behind the pain impulse and affirming that the life-energy comes from God— you are directing your mind directly back to its ultimate Source, and as a result you feel greater strength, peace and an ability to weather any storm coming your way.

Another example: you are feeling a sexual drive that is drawing you away from God. You then sense the power of God as the energy behind the drive. This bridge to God you are making releases the purity of God, you realize how limiting the sex impulse is, how narrowly it focuses your mind and you suddenly feel a release from it and an expansive freedom. You can do the same with fear, anger, depression, the feeling of being overwhelmed; all situations can be bridged back to the Infinite thus connecting you to all the attributes of Spirit and freeing you from the limitations imposed by the separation from your higher Self.

Keeping your mind on God then becomes practical and is rooted in your day to day experience. It creates a magic touch when your lower impulses receive Grace and are transformed into something higher, better. This “Midas touch” does not make ordinary objects turn into metallic gold; rather ordinary experience is touched by transformative Spirit and becomes the gold of God-consciousness. Take heart, you are not left helpless against an onslaught of materialism; rather you have the means to connect with God in all circumstances and thus build a bridge to the Infinite.

Health Note: The result of my last CAT and PET scans found that there is a mass on my liver that is 2 cm by 2 cm. A biopsy will be performed on Thursday at 4 p.m. to determine the nature of the mass. The time required for the procedure will be 1 hour, and I will be in the hospital for a total of five hours, including prep time beforehand and observation afterward.

I deeply appreciate all the prayers, long distance Reiki, and suggestions for optimizing health you have so lovingly given me. I continue with the program the oncological Naturopath has prescribed, both for food and supplements. I have also received two of the six injections for the vaccine that has been made with my own body cells. I will continue to give you updates as I know more. It is likely, based on past experience, that the biopsy results will be known sometime next week.

Mother Hamilton & Saint Teresa of Calcutta: Two great servants of God

Normally our interests lie very close to home; we are mostly interested in what will satisfy our senses and the ego. Through evolution of consciousness we grow to want what is best for our family, a circle of friends, perhaps our hometown and even our country. Through this enlarging circle we can see the gradual expansion of interest, heart and spirit.

Entering into a spiritual understanding of life makes you know there is no part of life that is not connected to the whole, or to yourself.  Compassion arises in the soul in which the interest of another becomes important to you. It may be the suffering of a child, an animal, or a group of people that is not a normal member of your circle of association. You find yourself sacrificing for others without thought of reward for yourself; just as saints around the world have spent themselves in such service to humanity.

However, one can be of service to others from two vastly different motivations. Initially service can be for the aggrandizement of the ego, “Look what I have sacrificed for others, no, I mean it–look at what I have done for others.” Or, sacrifice and service is driven by what is satisfying to God, not motivated by what others think.

We may be misled by the word sacrifice, thinking there is no satisfaction in it and that we must simply suffer. This notion comes from the mental conditioning of the ego. In reality, in harmonizing your life with God there is a transfer from self-interest, which creates suffering, to an enlightened Self-interest, which brings systemic harmony and joy of service.

Ordinary self-interest is driven by the needs of the body and the ego-mind. It can be the narrow self-interest of a child in order to satisfy his or her needs for food, warmth, comfort and the developing needs of an ego. Ordinary self-interest can also be the more intricate calculations for gaining wealth, power and prestige in the world; always the needs are driven by the body and the ego-mind.

Enlightened Self-interest comes from a wider identification with creation; seeing the world through the mind of the Creator. Looking out upon the world there is no perceived difference between the happiness of others and yourself. True Self-interest is not calculated for doing some good, rather  it is a spontaneous response to the collective needs of creation that springs from an intuitive understanding of the Creator’s will.

Real Self-interest is not attached to outcomes, it does not care who sees or does not see, and it feels spontaneous joy in performing the activity itself. True Self-interest gives joy to the giver as well as the receiver. There is no “martyrdom complex” in which the giver must suffer alone, rather giving is an expression of Divine will and therefore brings total freedom to the servant of God.

In God-consciousness all mankind and all creation are part of you, and you feel joy at the physical, mental and spiritual progress of creation. You also feel pain at the suffering and mistakes for those who are none other than your Self. God’s compassion flows through you and you feel the all-encompassing Divine Comforter inter-mixed with tender, even painful compassion for others.

The Divine Presence in you now naturally radiates out of you to uplift and heal creation of its suffering. We all broadcast what we experience in life to those whom our lives touch. Being in tune with the Divine Presence increases the power of what you transmit; bringing solace, beauty and purity to this world. God uses you to broadcast His love and compassion to all creation! There is truly nothing more useful or deeply meaningful for you than to lead a life of true Self-interest.

Picture: In front of the Taj Mahal; a most perfect building

It is springtime and there is a building boom going on in our neighborhood. Not only is Jerry and Lois’ house coming to completion, but there are four other houses being built nearby. Other than design differences, there are noticeable distinctions in the quality of materials and craftsmanship in each one. Our mail lady is a self-appointed evaluator of such quality; saying Jerry and Lois’ home is very high quality, unlike their neighbors! Ram’s fun.

Whatever part you play in life there are principles of high quality work that will have vastly different results depending on the work ethic you put into it. Whether you are an accountant, a builder of homes, a clerk in a store, a raiser of children, whatever it is, quality definitely counts. And many times the distinctions are not that noticeable on the outside, but the outcome over time will tell a very different tale.

Oftentimes one will put effort into one part of life, but ignore the qualities in other parts. This imbalance will show increasing results as time goes on. One may want the latest and greatest television or camera, but go into debt to get it; ignoring their financial health in order to have their passion fulfilled. One may eat only organic natural foods, and smoke cigarettes or marijuana; ignoring the risks and obvious filth that comes with inhaling smoke.

To have a balanced life we must to have high quality living in all its aspects. We may have a very good professional life, but ignore or take for granted home life. We have all had at least some experience at what quality is like. When you handle some fabric that has exquisite craftsmanship, or you closely observe a beautiful flower, or listen to enchanting music you do not need anyone to explain to you its fineness; you simply know it.

Thinking about applying the principle of quality to all aspects of life you can immediately identify when it is present, and when it is absent. Refining your intuitional sense, the uplifting characteristics are felt deep down. It may be when you meet someone, see a building or observe a magnificent landscape, it resonates in you at your solar plexus; peaceful, uplifting and expansive.

Your spiritual practice at once stands alone, and it is also connected with every part of living; it is at the center of your life when you put God first. Spending quality time with God (you know when you have and you know when you have not) emanates out to all other activities. The feelings of upliftment, peace, love and joy permeate your entire day, both changing its quality, because of the state of being you are in, and attuning you to bringing in more of its highest vibration, by the choices you make.

Look to the highest quality in every part of your life. You are building a perfect house in God every day of your life. The materials you choose and the care with which you build both increases your satisfaction today, and will make a vast difference in your life and the lives of all those you touch as time unfolds. Create with the uplifting quality of God in all you do and experience the difference.