Saving your Self … (09/03/09)
There is a common enigma faced by all beginners on “The Way”; for all those belonging steadfastly to any religion or immersing themselves in any religious practice. It seems that their personal beliefs about “salvation” get in the way of their re-discovery of Heaven — that their personal ideas about “morality” keep them from engaging life’s moments with selfless virtue — that their personal preconceptions about “peace” (a.k.a. comfort) and “joy” (a.k.a. pleasure) keep them from attaining a state of being that is truly Peace-full & Joyous …
At some point, however, these “seekers” finally engage the Ultimate Gift that has been continually presented to them since their conception: the ability to consciously choose to live each moment of their lives as if it were both their first and their last — with the Wonderment of a child and the Gratitude of a sage.
And how do they do so? Simply enough — by engaging life with moments of purposeful, selfless Kindness.
And yet how can this be true? After all, we all do “nice things” for others almost every day, and yet often do not experience such pure Bliss when we do so.
So what is different about this Ultimate Gift?
“I’ve spent a Lifetime looking in the mirror, and yet have never Seen my Self.” ~ Pastor Dan Lewis
Well, the only difference is a HUGE one, and it rests in both the intention that founds our “good deeds”, as well as the intensity of attentiveness we exude while making them.
You see, it is not enough for us to merely “do good” in order to get a reward; it is not enough for us to merely “do good” because we are obligated to do so by law, and it is not enough for us to merely “do good” in order to gain the approval of others.
No, to obtain the Bliss of ONEness — to obtain a deep & lasting Salvation, we must Do Good simply to Do Good.
*We must choose to be kind solely for the benefit of the other.
*We must choose to act in order to relieve the other’s burden or further their Joy, regardless of what happens to us or for us as a result.
*We must remove ourselves — our fears & our desires — completely from the picture, and we must do so consciously, both before we act and while we are acting.
And if we do so, then any deed we engage will be a selflessly Kind one — and will bring the very Bliss of which I speak.
“The process is irrelevant … It is the moment that matters.” ~ Pastor Dan Lewis
Now in order for you to experience what I am talking about, there are two methods that I have personally experienced to be empirically effective …
The first method is a simple one — simply act with Kindness; as irrationally and as anonymously as possible. This is the “express lane” to Peace, and it never fails.
The second method takes a bit longer, but can be equally powerful. It requires us to focus within; to cleanse the self-centered mind-set that has kept us from experiencing true Peace in the past. And it does so by first pausing in silence, then by thinking on one of our “enemies”, then by remembering what they did to harm us in the past, then by mentally forgiving them for that trespass, and then by going forth to do an anonymous act of Kindness for them. The sheer irrationality & courage of such a radically Loving deed will rattle your ego enough to give you the glimpse of Bliss that has been obscured by your previous life steeped in desire &/or fear.
“We must confuse our ego-selves in order to Communicate with God.” ~ Pastor Dan Lewis
And that about sums it up …
This is the smooth Road to a Meaning-full Life.
This is the direct Path to real Happiness …
This is the Peace-full Way.
“The Kingdom of Heaven is not coming at some point in the future with things that can be observed … for the Kingdom of Heaven is already within and all around you.” ~ Jesus Christ (Luke 17:20-21)
;