Seasons of the Soul

The State of Love Part 1

by Stanley Peele

People seek God and enlightenment in many ways. There are a multitude of spiritual paths. Christians and Jews go to seminaries to study and become ministers, priests and rabbis. Buddhist monks study and meditate for years in order to become a part of the "Buddha Mind." Hindus study for years under the guidance of a guru to attain enlightenment. Each religion or philosophy has its own spiritual path.

And each path has validity. For some, the path of Hinduism is the perfect path; for others, Christianity is the blessed road to God. And there is a way for all of them to enter paradise. This is by entering into a State of Love. This State of Love is more than the love that exists when one person falls in love with another person. It is more than the physical act of sexual love; and more than the way we love our home, our dearest friends, or our pets.

This State of Love is capitalized here. When we enter this state, our love transcends the love we have for any particular person. It is love for all things: people, animals, plants, insects, and all the earth. It is love for our enemies as well as our friends. It reaches into the smallest atom and out into the vast reaches of the universe.

When we look at the world we see war, famine, anger, and cruelty. Six billion people are struggling for safety, shelter and food. This has been the way of the world for thousands of years. It has even affected the meaning of the words we use. We live in a place of anxiety and denseness.

Many disciplines seek to throw off this denseness. Yet the heaviness has become so pervasive that it takes a mighty effort to escape from it.

One of the ways to throw off this heaviness is called A Course in Miracles. It seeks not only to change our way of thinking, but to clarify the meaning of the words we use. The ways of the world have so engulfed us that this pathway to love takes a sustained effort. We have to retrain our mind.

The last 3 sentences of the introduction to A Course in Miracles are:

Nothing real can be threatened.

Nothing unreal exists.

Herein lies the peace of God.

At first glance, these words are almost incomprehensible. Then, as we study the course, we realize they turn the world upside-down. The meaning of the words is so deep that it takes 1188 pages to explain them.

Atheists and agnostics may reject the course, for it assumes the existence of God. Yet the information in the course can be valid for them. All they have to do is to substitute their own word for God - such as "the source" or "the collective unconscious."

In fact, to enter into a State of Love, it is not necessary to believe in any religion. Come as you are!

Young children are more likely to be able to 'see' that which is hidden to us, and to reach a condition of true compassion and caring, for they are less burdened by the harshness of the world.

It does not take long periods of formal scholarship, nor entry into any secret society to reach a State of Love. The state can be found suddenly as you stand at the bottom of a waterfall hearing the joy of falling water; - or while standing barefoot on the beach feeling the kiss of salt air in your face; - on a mountaintop where the air is pure; - or listening to great music; - or in a thousand other places.

The difficulty comes when we step away from the waterfall, or when we climb down the mountain. For then we meet the denseness of this world. Then the feeling of universal love dissipates.

How do we go into a State of Love? And once there, how do we stay there? I have written a book, A SIMPLE GUIDE TO SPIRITUAL HEALING. It shows a way to do this. (My book is only one of many other books that explain this.)

Here are some suggestions to help you on your path into a State of Love:

1. We start with thankfulness. Whatever troubles come our way, we are thankful for what we have. We are thankful when good things happen to others. And thankful even for the pain, illness and hard times that come our way.

2. The next step is to examine ourselves and see if we have real dedication. We must have a desire to reach enlightenment. Some of us want personal gain, power over others, fame, or the desire to be loved by others. The desire for the spiritual path must extinguish all these side roads. It takes courage to look at ourselves with straightforward honesty. We should embark on the journey with humility. We should desire to be a benefit to others without expecting any reward.

3. A State of Love is a place where we see goodness in the face of everyone we meet. We do not judge them; nor do we judge ourselves. We have universal love, love that surrounds and embraces all that is. What are your feelings when you see a cockroach? When we are in a State of Love, then our love does not go out to some things, yet feel repulsed by others. It cannot be turned off and on like a water spigot. It is like warmth from the Sun which shines upon all the earth.

4. We let go of our prejudices and greet the world with the openness of a child. We cast off our blinders and see the world with youthful freshness. Each day is an adventure! It is no accident that children are able to see things of the spirit that we cannot see. In 1858, St. Bernadette was able to see the Lady of Lourdes, yet none of the adults could see her.

4. We have to let go of drama. If someone curses us, we do not feel antagonism toward that person. Their words do not fluster us, and we return love to them. We see the good in the person even as he is cursing us. We are like an ocean liner sailing through the sea. We sail through thoughts of bitterness. We are undeterred. There is neither anger nor judgment; we simply sail ahead. The harsh words pass by us, just as the sea passes by the ocean liner.

5. We live in forgiveness. The Course in Miracles is based on this idea. Those taking the course find a new and powerful meaning of the word 'forgiveness.' This concept will not be explained here for this article is not long enough to give a full explanation. Suffice it to say that when we forgive others, two things happen: First, we find that we also forgive ourselves; and second, we cause a miracle to take place.

6. We live and breathe patience. We are patient with our friends and with those who are unkind to us. According to Edgar Cayce, when we are patient and calmly accept people with loving kindness, we actual enter into another dimension of existence.

Each of these six things are interwoven. Thankfulness melts into forgiveness; and forgiveness and patience magnify each other.

copyright 2007

Important Information About Autism

I was sent this e-mail with links to the two news stories below. It points out the dangerous turn we have taken with over-vaccinating our children, and with the ingredients in those vaccinations that contain toxic loads some children cannot handle.Autism used to be found in one out of 10,000 children. Now it is found in one out of 150 children, and I was told yesterday that in the area of Cottage Grove, Oregon, it is one in 67 children! This is absolutely unacceptable! In the second video you will see how one doctor in N.Y. is working successfully to return children to normal through a shift in diet and removing the toxins from the body.

For those of you who have been frustrated by the pat answer of physicians who are married to the drug model for any and all ailments, this is a breath of fresh air. Please circulate to any young mothers or expectant mothers so that they can be informed. And be sure to watch both videos in order.
KJ

First Video:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tah7PLj8sAk

Second Video:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmOIuDiJ2OY

An Easy Way to Make A Fresh Start in Life by Dick Kazan

I have been receiving Dick Kazan's inspirational weekly e-mails for the past year, and he graciously agreed to allow me to publish his latest one for you to enjoy. You can visit his website to see more of the wonderful stories he provides about real people who overcome seemingly insurmountable odds to achieve a dream. Every time his e-mail arrives, I make sure to read it, because it starts my day on a positive note, giving me something to think about and aspire to! www.kazantoday.com

Today: An easy way to make a fresh start in life.

Recently, I arose early and watched the sun rise, as its bright orange rays lit the sky and warmed everything it touched. Only moments before, the sky had been pitch black and gloomy but now it became as blue as the Pacific Ocean on the shores of Maui. The silence that had prevailed quickly gave way to the birds that began to fill the air with the joy of their songs, as if celebrating a new awakening. It was a lovely to behold, and to realize that nature doesn’t worry about yesterday, it begins each day anew. Why shouldn’t we?

We can’t change what happened yesterday. But we can learn from our experience and grow from it. If we’ve done something wrong, we can make amends by our actions and may even bring good cheer, where yesterday we brought sorrow. If a new idea burns within us, today is good time to act on it, even if only to take the first step, for even the greatest of accomplishments begins by doing something simple.

When Anne and I were in Vancouver this last summer, several residents of that beautiful city told us how the winter storms had destroyed thousands of trees in their beloved Stanley Park, as they bemoaned the loss, feeling that their park would never be the same. But as I looked at the fallen underbrush caused by the ravaging storms, I saw the wonders of new life. Tiny seedlings had taken hold, and though small, already their bright green pine needles and little branches reached up to the sky. And the sun bathed them in light and warmth. When I inspected those baby trees more closely, I discovered they were growing from a rich dark brown soil, under the remains of the former trees. I could easily press my finger a few inches into it and feel its warm, soft texture.

And I could see how this lesson from nature could benefit you and me. We can blame the past for our problems and if we want to make any improvements, it will be like trying to plant new seeds in scorched earth. Or we can learn from our experience, and use it to make a fresh start, just as the seedlings found a home in the warm nurturing soil.

For as nature shows us, tomorrow is a new day, filled with opportunities if we welcome them.

Success Tip of the Week: If we carry grudges against others, we must try hard to forgive them for those grudges do nothing but hurt us, and the negative energy may prevent us from even seeing new opportunities.

copyright 2007

In the next KazanToday: A man crushed by the Great Depression who ultimately found greater meaning in his life.

The Power of Perseverance

The power of intention is an important ingredient for achieving an end result. But intention by itself is not enough, because we will be presented with challenges and potential blockages on the road to our accomplishment. The feint of heart will see the stumbling blocks as signs that they should alter direction, and sometimes the road blocks do present a message that requires adjustment. However, we are also tested as to the level of our commitment to a process we have intended. Was it something that has true staying power, or was it a whim? When something is deeply anchored in our psyche as being a right course of action, perseverance will follow. We don’t give up. We are willing to climb the highest mountain or forge the lowest valley in pursuit of our dream. And THAT is what separates the people who achieve their dreams from those who don’t. Perseverance attracts assistance by sheer force of will…of knowing that regardless of whatever things are in the way, or how long it takes, one will continue until the goal is accomplished.

There is no blame in giving up, just an immutable law of cause/effect. What we intend must be fueled by a decision and the action through which to achieve it. Wishes or momentary enthusiasm do not build a house. Only taking hammer and nail with a viable plan and doing the work required to get the job done will bring our intention to fruition. So when we have something we say we really want, the tester will be our ability to persevere. And as we do, the blockages crumble and we bring our intention to fruition.

Perseverance! Where in your own life can you point to perseverance having made the   difference in the outcome of what you wanted?KJ

Your Presence Is the Present

As the frenetic pace increases towards holiday shopping, I was brought back to Christmases of long ago when people would gather together, much as we do at Thanksgiving, to give thanks for one another and for sharing a thoughtful gift or meal as an expression of that appreciation. The gathering was more about thanks than giving and getting, and yet, like so many things born of a noble idea, once the marketers get hold of them, the beauty and true meaning of the holiday is lost.

Being of an age where I have what I want, gifts become something I have to find a place for or wonder what to do with, and it becomes an exercise in pressure as to what to get for someone who can get what they want for themselves. So this year, I decided that I would ask my friends and family NOT to give me a gift…that their presence was the present, and that I’d like to schedule meaningful time with each of them, doing something together that is joyous to us both as a way of saying thank you and appreciating each for the gift of their presence in my life.

In addition, I pondered about my own gift giving, and determined that I would instead donate money to a charity that seeks to give to those who have very little. This would be a gift that would truly make a difference, and in the process would make me feel that I honored my friends and family in the giving.

My new motto for the holidays is, Your Presence is the Present, and I thought I’d pass it along to you in case you, also, are turned off by the commercialism of a time that was meant to be a celebration of Light.  KJ

Reason, Season, or Lifetime Relationships

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

Author unknown

Autumn Falls

As I look at the leaves on the trees and then after a storm on the ground, I think of them becoming part of the mulch that will form new soil for next year’s growth. And in this, how we humans are presented with the harvest of our year’s endeavors that becomes the “mulch” for next year’s beginnings. 

In the telling, I wonder how I could possibly write a seasonal newsletter before the flavor of that season is revealed to me. I wonder how magazines are able to be written before a month or quarter is truly upon us. Is it done a year ahead? And if so, how can this moment be captured before it occurs?

I’ve mentioned it before, and wonder if you’ve also noticed that you cannot project how you will feel, or the insights you will have in the future based on your present vantage point. Looking at the leaves and trees, and translating them to us, how do we know what this year’s nakedness will feel like until the cloak we’ve worn is dropped to reveal the essence of ourselves? I am not the same person I was last fall. My reactions this year are quite different from last. We tend to jump too far ahead - to want too much explained before it’s time.

So the message of autumn is beauty and exquisite color, followed by necessary shedding and the cleaning up process to remove the remnants of our activities…the leavings. From this we move to winter and pondering…to the barren external landscape that offers room for inner reflection. No more are we dazzled by the leaves, or the colors, or the changing weather. There will be no visual distraction.

             
But for now…the falling leaves…the brilliance…this autumn!

Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is an opportunity to reflect in gratitude for what we have, rather than what we don't have. It is the one holiday that has not yet been made into a commercial bonanza (well, not as much as others). It used to be that it was a sacred holiday in terms of NOT having anything related to Christmas until the day after. Not so anymore. Seems that Halloween is the new marker for putting up all the December hoopla. Commercialism assaults us from all sides, but this one day is still a special one. We pause to take time to give thanks for the giving, and for the friends and family we have near or far. We take time to appreciate the many gifts and blessings available to us in this country if we will but look and reach out to grasp the opportunities provided.

May you take this day to heart, whether you are with family or alone. It is a reminder that this country was able to continue because of the kindness of strangers who fed the colonists and helped them through a harsh winter. It is a reminder that regardless of circumstance, we can all give something to another. And it is also a reminder to say Thank You.

Thank you for reading Seasons of the Soul. I appreciate your readership and your comments!

Kathleen

Books Can Change Our Lives

Books provide amazing opportunities to enter a world of imagination through reading. No matter what our lives, when we find a book that “speaks” to us, we ignite an inner receptivity that shifts the focus of our perception and takes us into another world. The number of people whose lives have been changed by a book is well noted, and yet – if we look at the larger context of how this occurs, it is because an individual is transported out of their current mindset and brought into a world of ideas.

The reason reading is an important opportunity is because it engages the imagination. Watching a movie dictates what you see and manipulates how you interpret it. Your imagination has very little to do with the process. But in reading – you must visualize constantly. You have to see what is described, and each person may perceive what that looks like through a different perspective. You have to imagine the sound of each voice as the character speaks to you. You engage your feeling level as crisis or events occur that may be threatening or heartening. All of it requires you being the camera that catches the frame presented. The process of reading engages the creativity centers within us all – and that is an important and vital function of helping us to flex our imaginer muscles.   

As a child, life was filled with bleak moments. My parents were ill, and there was little in my environment to give me hope. Yet, I became an avid reader, and through books, was transported into a world that enlarged my own – showing me that many things were possible. I was able to dream of what I might become, no longer limited by the seeming reality of my environment. As I grew older, I recognized how important it is for children to learn reading at an early age. Giving the gift of reading is one of the most precious gifts we can bestow on a child, and when I was a PTA president and leader of Girl Scout troops, I always placed reading as a high priority on the list.

Think about your own life, and how reading has impacted you. What books made an indelible impression, or caused you to take a different path? Do you still read, and do you allow yourself to dream – regardless of age or circumstance?

Reading is a thread that weaves the tapestry of hope for better yet to come. And it is free. KJ

On A Lighter Note - My Favorite Fudge

It only takes 5 minutes of cooking time, and is the creamiest, most satisfying fudge I’ve ever eaten.

1 can (6 oz) evaporated milk

1  and 2/3 cups sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1 and 1/2 cups diced marshmallows

1 and 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate pieces

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Grease a 9 by 9 by 1 and 3/4 inch pan. In medium saucepan, combine evaporated milk with sugar and salt. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat, and simmer, stirring constantly for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Add remaining ingredients, stirring until marshmallows melt. Pour into prepared pan; let cool. To serve, cut in squares. Great for the end of the old year or beginning of the new year. YUM!