Spiritual Awakening
If you are looking for enlightenment, you may ask yourself where
do I begin?
There is only one place you can start your journey of
enlightenment, and that is your life's journey.
A place you could start is where you are right now.
Let's start with the knowledge that you already know, the
answers you are seeking, you are simply pretending that you do
not know or that you have forgotten. First you must start to
understand the apparent paradox that you are alone on your
journey, and yet you are at one with everything and everyone
else in the universe. You need to acknowledge that you are a
divine being, a part of "all that is".
Know that all that has gone in your life before this moment has
brought you to where you are right now, that there is a purpose
for everything that happens. Rejoice in every obstacle you are
faced with in your lifetime, and that it is both a gift and an
opportunity. This has certainly enabled you to grow.
Remember that the only thing that stands between you and your
goals is your hearts desire, your greatest wishes, and
fulfilment or is it your fears.
Start to face the truth and take note that every moment is an
opportunity to create a new reality, NOW, and in every moment of
your life. Base this on the unlimited possibilities of what can
be, not on your fears of what has happened in your past.
Start to understand that your successes and your happiness is
limited, only by what you believe is possible. The range of
possibilities are only restricted by limited human
understanding. Trust the universe, it will show you the answers
when you are open to receive them.
Now perhaps some of these ideas are new to you, perhaps you want
to reject them as nonsense or as impossible, that is your right.
You don't have to accept anything in life or what I say. You
have your own free-will to reject or accept that there might be
something in these ideas, even if it is not clear, right now,
what or how or why.
As you continue your journey of enlightenment and self-discovery
you may find some things that made no sense at the time, might
then begin to seem possible and perhaps even probable.
What is important is that you apply yourself with an open mind
and an open heart. Rejecting everything that is out of your
hands just because it does not make sense will not lead to
spiritual understanding.
Everyone's path is different so do not assume that what works
for someone else will necessarily work for you, or vice versa.
You need to find for yourself those things that work for you and
those that do not. You will also find the speed of your journey
and the timing of events in everyone's lives will vary. Its
important not to give yourself a hard time just because events
are not happening as quickly as you would like or that your
experiences are different from someone else's.
Spiritual awakening is about understanding your higher
consciousness. It means letting go of old beliefs and fears,
releasing old ways of being, and doing and thinking in ways in
which you feel comfortable. It means accepting responsibility
for your life and accepting the power you have. This means not
placing your power over others but using that power on yourself.
The mind can be a barrier to spiritual enlightenment. You should
experience your life not contemplate it. You need to look deep
within yourself to find those things that are keeping you in the
past. You will need to face up to your fears before you can let
go and move on.
It will certainly get uncomfortable at times but remember there
is no growth without risk and enlightenment can not work without
growth, love, trust understanding and compassion. You are
perfect just the way you are although if you wish to grow in
love and light you need to be prepared to place yourself into
situations that will take you too the limits and you may feel
uncomfortable.
The fact is that they are only uncomfortable to you, no one
else. There may be times when you need to face up to some
unpleasant truths. You have nothing to gain by trying to deceive
yourself or others. When you take the easy options it will not
lead to growth and enlightenment.
So are you ready to take the risk and to take yourself on?
There are no teachers; you are your own teacher. Just as you
would learn from a teacher you learn from yourself. The two go
hand in hand, just as the only way you can receive is for you to
give, the only way to be loved is to give love back, and the
only way to be forgiven is for you to gain forgiveness.
The most important thing to remember is to love, respect, and
honour and forgives ourselves as well as others.
This journey of self-discovery and enlightenment can be
difficult and lonely.
The one thing I can assure you is that once you start your
journey you will not want to stop. You will find that despite
the discomfort you will almost certainly feel from time to time
you want to keep up the momentum. Just remember true friends are
those who tell you what you need to hear, not what you do not
want to hear. So choose your friends carefully.
This is a journey so enjoy the travelling and don't forget to
smell the roses on the way.
I was passed this short story and through it would be nice to
share with you.
Water Bugs and the Dragonflies Written by Doris Stickney
Down below the surface of a quiet pond lives a little colony of
water bugs.
They were a happy colony, living far away from the sun. For many
months they were very busty, scurrying over the soft mud on the
bottom of the pond.
They did notice that every once in a while one of their colony
seemed to lose interest in going about with its friends.
Clinging to the stem of a pond lily, it gradually moved out of
sight and was seen no more. "Look" said one of the water bugs to
another. One of our colony is climbing up the lily stalk. Where
do you suppose she is going?
Up, up, up it went slowly. Even as they watched, the water bug
disappeared from sight. Its friends waited and waited but it
didn't return.
"That's funny"! Said one water bug to another.
"Wasn't she happy here? Asked a second water bug.
"Where do you suppose she went?" wondered a third.
No one had an answer. They were greatly puzzled.
Finally one of the water bugs, a leader in the colony, gathered
its friends together "I have an idea. The next one of us who
climbs up the lily stalk must promise to come back and tell us
where he or she went and why."
"We promise to", they said solemnly.
One spring day not long after, the very water bug who had
suggested the plan found him self climbing up the lily stalk.
Up, up, up he went. Before he knew what was happening, he had
broken through the surface of the water, and fallen onto the
broad green lily pad above.
When he awoke he looked about with surprise. He couldn't believe
what he saw. A starling change had come to his old body. His
movement revealed four silver wings and a long tail. Even as he
struggled he felt an impulse to move his wings. The warmth of
the sun soon dried the moisture from the new body. He moved his
wings again and suddenly found himself up above the water. He
had become a dragonfly.
Swooping and dipping in great curves he flew through the air. He
felt exhilarated in the new atmosphere.
By and by the new dragonfly lighted happily on a lily pad to
rest. Then it was by chance he looked below to the bottom of the
pond. Why he was right above his old friends the water bugs!
There they were, scurrying about, just as he had been doing some
time before.
Then the dragonfly remembered the promise: "The next one of us
who climbs up the lily stalk will come back and tell where he or
she went and why.
Without thinking the dragonfly darted to reach the bottom.
Suddenly he hit the surface of the water and bounced away. Now
that he was a dragonfly, he could no longer go into the water.
"I can't return!" he said in dismay. "At least I tried but I
can't keep my promise. Even if I could go back not one of the
water bugs would know me in my new body. I guess I will just
have to wait until they become dragonflies too. Then they will
understand what happened to me and where I went.
The dragonfly winged off happily into its wonderful new world of
sun and air.