This weeks question comes from a meditative community member in Finland.
“I had a day-dream that a family member was going to try to get me to make up with another family member who did some underhanded things towards me. I also felt very strongly that the one family member was going to ask me to do a huge favor for the one I have problems with. This favor would really be tough on me and a great sacrifice.”
A few days later, I was invited to a dinner by the same peace-making family member in my daydream. I am also confident that the one I had problems with would be there. Do you think that somehow I made this situation occur by my thoughts and feelings, or do you think it was a premonition of things to come? Which one is it?
Craig’s answer. It is probably both. We are always creating our whole world so that we can get the growth and lessons out of the situation. The main thing that sticks out is, that you have been warned by God, your deeper self and the Universe what is coming your way. Trust it and be prepared as to how you are going to handle the situation. As we progress spiritually, we are often prepared for situations in advance. Our job and lesson is to take heed and act in light of the information that we have been given.
Early this week I was marveling at an epiphany I had. It was not the first time this idea came to mind but it was quite deep to me all the same. I found myself thinking about how much time and energy we spend building our ego and proving ourselves. I call it building up our false self, because realizing our true self would be something all together different.
When we are building the false self we are trying to get the world to see how great we are or how worthy we are. This is the part where many of us will say “yea, I know people who seem to spend their whole lives doing this. That’s what Bob does, always trying to prove.” But wait, forget about Bob. This is what we do. You and me. Even those of us who are working on ourselves. We spend most of our time trying to prove ourselves. We have to make sure everyone knows how much we can get, how much we can achieve, how smart we are, how we are special, kind or different, edgy, self realized, God realized, you name it. We spend most of our energy doing this, proving. Some of us don’t want to be great, just not lesser than. We just want to be worthy and have people understand that we mean well. Others of us are so cool we don’t care what anyone thinks. This is also a way to let the world know just how realized and unattached we are. And our attention is still on how we are perceived all the same. But what happens when we let go of this false self that we have spent so much energy building up and defending.
The answer is we become free. We become free for however long we are able to let go. We don’t worry about what people will think and our dealings become much more pure. We also become one, instruments of God and the Universe. As a matter of fact, in addition to meditating often, it is a good idea to remind ourselves that we are not who we and others have thought us to be. We are simply here to be of service in whatever way the Universe sees fit. We can also think of God working through us as we perform our various activities. We can say “I am just doing what God wants me to do, serving the way that is best for the Universe and all involved.” We can mean well, do our best and not be attached to how the situation works out. We can feel good because if we are judged we know that is not us that is being judged we are just instruments following the plan as we best understand. We are even open to changes in the plan if we are made aware there needs to be. If we move forward in this way, we will find less of our ego involved and feel much more free and happy as we carry out our missions, and live our lives.
Moses the prophet, Russian icon from first quarter of 18th cent. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This is question I received from a very advanced meditation student last week.
“I have a lot of work to do here lately. I feel like I may have to meditate less than I have been, due to lack of time. Will this make me be less centered? Will I lose some ground in my life spiritually?”
My answer.
There is a story about a great one who was close to God. Let’s say it was Moses. He was proud of how close he was to God. Then God decided to give him a lesson. God told him “I will show you one of my favorites. Moses says “what do you mean, one of your favorites. I thought I was your favorite.” God says to watch. He shows Moses a man with a family working in the field. The man works all day long. Every morning he wakes up and says Ram Nam. Ram Nam. Praising God. In the middle of the day, he stops and once again says “Ram Nam. Ram Nam.” At the end of the day after working all day to take care of his family and being with his family, he says once again Ram Nam, Ram Nam, and falls asleep. God says “Do you see why he is one of my favorites?” Moses replies, No. I pray and meditate all the time. This man does not even come close. God says “OK. I want you to do something for me.” Moses says “anything. Just tell me what to do.” God says “I want you to carry this glass of water to town and back. It is very important that you don’t spill a single drop.” God fills the glass to the top and gives it to Moses. Moses carries the glass oh so carefully being sure not to let a drop spill. It takes him until the next day. When he returns he tells God. ” I did it. Just as you asked. I carried it all the way and back without even a single drop.” God says, “very good. Now, how many times did you think about me, meditate or pray to me. Moses says, “none. I did have time. I was too busy doing what you asked.” God replies, “that man who I showed you has to work to take care of his family and the farm for me all day, and he still finds time to think of me and pray to me, three times a day.” This is why he is one of my favorites.
My point is, as long as you take time out for God and you are sincere while you are serving, you will be one of God’s favorites. Do the work that you need to do. Think of God and meditate before work and in the evening. If you can, chant your mantra in your mind during your work day or while driving in the car etc. Or when you have time, listen to talks and lessons that remind you of the deeper side of life as you drive. Or instead of watching your regular television show, turn on a movie that reminds you of spiritual life, even if you can only watch it for a half hour. If you do these things God will be with you in all your steps.
The following passage is taken from my first book, What If My Soul Is Eternal And Heaven Is Everywhere. It was my message for today. I hope it you enjoy it.
I look at life as being a grand play. I’d say it is the greatest, most beautiful play, or movie, or opera that you could ever imagine. We all play our roles, and each one is different. We’re given our roles based on our individual capabilities and on our mind state also. When we’re placed in these parts, our job is to play them to the fullest, to get the best out of them. There are many lessons that come along with each role. We get these lessons based on who we are and our conceptual way of looking at the world. As that changes, so do our roles. The grand director of this play would be God Himself. So each time we go into these roles, the way we handle them, and the way we internalize what happens during the scene, determines what’s going to happen next in our lives. So, you could say that we’re actually a co-producer with God in this great, grand, mystical play that we’re living out.
It’s very important we remember, that we’re playing a role, one with a number of infinite acts. When we remember this, then we are able to play our part best. Then we are able to live our life in such a way to where we aren’t so hung up on this one little scene in which we are playing. We remember that soon the scene will change and we’ll be in a different scene. When we begin to see life in this way, we’re not so attached to all the things that are going on. We’re able to function in a way that is best for everyone.
halloween (Photo credit: BEE FREE – PGrandicelli [the social bee])Halloween was a few days ago. Over the years Halloween has been quite a big deal to me. When my older kids were young I was always just as excited as the kids. I would think back on going trick or treating when I was a kid and want to make sure that the kids had the same fun I did. Every year we would have a ball. I would be happy as we walked the streets trick or treating and the kids would be happy to get their candy. Now with my youngest Jordan the tradition continues and I love it. He not only loves the school party and the trick or treating later in the evening, he especially loves the costumes. Every year after the big day, he wears his costume for the next month or two in the house, running around pretending to be Iron Man, Spider Man, or Bumble Bee, the transformer.
What I truly love the most is the spirit of the people. There are so many good people who are interested in the kids having a good time. This year a couple in our neighbor hood was so happy and excited that they took Jordan’s picture in his costume at their front door. I also met some very nice neighbors at our clubhouse Halloween party. When I was tick or treating later that same evening I had an epiphany. As we were walking, I found it amazing how many people are giving on this day. They take time to decorate their homes, and buy candy. Then they take the time to give out the candy and when the kids come to their door, the adults giving out the candy are so happy to see the kids arrive. If they have to step out and can’t be home, some leave the candy in front of the house in a basket. Amazingly no one takes advantage. The kids take one or two pieces and leave the rest for the others who may come along. I also thought about how some people complain about the holiday and talk about its history or say that it is based on evil or the dead, but all I saw was positivity. To me Halloween is about all this giving and spirit of good will I was seeing.
Things have been crazy lately. This is the beginning of my busy season with the gutter cleaning company. Sorry it has taken me so long to read your emails. In the last email you wrote, you said “I am nobody.” You are so correct. As you know being nobody also means letting go enough to allow God to come through. This evening right before reading your emails I was asking myself a question. “How can I be nobody and stand up for myself at the same time?” I notice we often have similar things going on in different ways. I too see how business can be cut throat, and people can be cut throat. My answer was to meditate and be pulled into the higher regions within by way of the inner sound and light. Then I read a page from a book called Tertium Organum. It talked about how we must reach our wider self. In the process we learn that A is both A and not A. In my case, Craig is both Craig and not Craig. It reminds me of the movie Bagger Vance when Bagger says “Oh you want to know my strategy. My player has a problem right now. He still thinks he is Rannulf Junnah.” Of course the idea was to become one. One with the club, one with the course, one with hole, one with the entire game, and let go of all the concerns with being Rannulf Junnah. The more I learn this, that I am not Craig, the better I deal with business, people and situations. When I feel this, I am less attached. When I don’t, I am attached and act out of fear and worry. I price jobs wrong and cheat myself in business and life, worried about how my actions will affect how Craig is perceived. But when I am less attached incredible things happen. My actions change and people’s reactions change. The Universe works through me. I actually get more respect without trying or caring whether it comes. Then I once again have to remind myself that I am nobody and meditate more to stay on track.
This morning I woke up early, approximately 5am. I decided to use this time to meditate
Yoga (Photo credit: RelaxingMusic)
and see some things more clearly. I wanted to have a better vision of what my next moves would be with my gutter and window cleaning business, and with the meditation and positive movement. I still remembered clear visions and wonderful signs I have already been blessed with for both, some of which I have not truly moved on. Still, I wanted to see more clearly and feel these things stronger. I decided this will be the morning for this. I went back into the bedroom and began to meditate. Within minutes I had ideas coming my way for my business. They were so clear and yes I had gotten them before. As I heard the words play in my head I felt so blissful and had a knowing that is hard to describe. Then I decided I wanted the same feeling and information for the meditation and positive movement. It came right away as I continued to meditate and listen to the Aum vibration playing in the silence. Not only did I know what to do, but I felt an enthusiasm to move on my information quite strong.
Afterwards, it was amazing to me how easy it was. For some time I had been wanting to meditate and have my renewed clearer vision and answers on these matters. I had been putting it off, possibly feeling like seeing what I needed to and feeling what I wanted to was too far off. But the moment I truly made up my mind and used the methods I have used many times before, I had what I had been longing for. I reminded myself that this is the power of intent
This morning I woke up thinking that I cannot allow any excuses. I must remain in the heavenly state at all times. I must choose heaven, right here, right now. Every day must be the best day of my life. And I must treat my life as if that is absolutely the case. I was also thinking that I have so many epiphanies and experiences to tell me that this is the case, that it does not make sense to live in any other way. Right after thinking this I opened up a book called The Secret Door To Success, by Florence Scovel Shinn. The statement at the top of the page read “Now is the appointed time. Today is the day of my amazing good fortune.” It went right along with what I was thinking. “This is the heavenly moment. Not when everything works out a certain way. Treat this moment as if it was my perfect moment and look for all the good in it and more good will magically show up. Keep looking for good later on and when later on arrives, your good will still show up later on.”
I guess what I am trying to say is we can not wait. How long have we been waiting? If you want a new car, treat the one you have like gold. You want a new business or home, treat the one you have like gold, and truly love it. Then be open to an even better one showing up. The results will surprise you. For more on this go the link at the top of the site and see my Youtube videos on Heaven Here and Now.
