challenges

I suddenly remembered this from a reading during one of our recent services:

To love.

To serve.

To obey.

To be silent.

transfiguration

As quoted by TM:

Be not disheartened because of thy disadvantages, for thy very disadvantages, given a spiritual direction, shall be transfigured into advantages. Spiritualize thy feeling. Then, when no malice or nervous irritation exists in thy nature, thou shalt stand on thy ground, and yet be a light and help unto many, though thou shouldst not even see them.

-from a Guru Mysticist

perfection of personality

As quoted by TM:

From the Voice of the Guru –

…and remember full well that in work, it is not so much the perfection of work as the perfection of personality through work which should be the goal.

“anticipate evil thought”

I’ve noticed that when I got messages from TM, I’ve been thinking of or going through the exact same thing:

When temptation comes, it often comes, as it were, of a sudden, before the mind has time to become award of what is happening. One is apparently hurried on to the point of yielding. All saints understand this. Therefore they anticipate evil thought; defeating its strength and the possibility of its arising by strenuous good thought. By Thought is one made and unmade. Beware, then, that thou dost think good thoughts.

the worldly vs. the eternal

As quoted by TM:

Let thy possessions be those treasures that perish not. The increase of Insight is its own reward. The more thou dost perfect thy nature, the more readily dost thou acquire eternal possessions by which thou shalt, in time, purchase the Kingdom of the Self…

You yourselves must make an effort. The Teachers can only impart wisdom; the pupil must assimilate, and this assimilation is the making of character; it is making wisdom one’s own. By himself is one saved, by none other.

Therefore, arise. Be diligent, and stop not till the goal is reached…

the importance of prayer

This message from TM gave me hope:

Pray, pray–pray constantly, pray always. And be not discouraged in the evil hour; be not discouraged when thou dost fall. God is always near. He knows thy woe and thy sincerity, but never leave off calling upon Him! Even in thy sin be strong in prayer…

…Make but the feeblest effort; even that shall lift thee up into the kingdom of righteousness.

-from “In the Hours of Meditation” by Frank Alexander

looking back, moving forward

Another year. Another opportunity. Another beginning.

I am in a different place from where I was when 2009 started. For one thing, I remember the feeling of wanting to hang on to the status quo at that time. I remember it well — in the shower, feeling very content and wishing, pleading almost, that things didn’t have to change. But I knew that by the end of the year, things would be drastically different.

Specifically, I knew — knew — that by the end of the year, one of my parents would be gone.

I remember the feeling of not wanting it to happen, of asking, “Please, can’t things stay the way they are?” And then, receiving the impulse, the feeling of utter resignation — of feeling very small and insignificant — because, after all, this was the Divine Plan.

And who was I, mere human, to dictate to Life, to bargain for more time with my parents, to even pretend that I was so special so as to be above the Law?

+++

The lapse between posts does not equate with this soul’s lack of progress. At least, I hope not. Last year was certainly a challenging year for me, on all levels. The fact that I can see where I was this time last year and recognize a different person… hopefully that means something.

The trip helped, too. Upon arriving home, I could feel a different me — one who wanted to make up for lost time and get things done. And that seems to be the theme of my life — making up for lost time.

I look back at last year, and filled with hope, love, and gratitude, move forward.

Happy 2010 to all.

why one must not give up

As quoted by TM:

When the spiritual life is entered upon and the aspirant presses forward towards the highest ideal, then it is that great trials appear to menace his progress.

discipleship

As quoted by TM:

For several lifetimes a devotee, or a pupil-to-be, unfolds through that stage called probation. At this stage, God-worship should be constant, particularly as the expression of innermost longing for Divine Reality. The application of spiritual principles to the growth of character requires vigilant study by those who are aspiring on this general level of development. When the desire for God is equalled by a willingness to change and to grow spiritually, the individual is slowly and watchfully graduated into the state of discipleship.

the fulfillment of Self

As quoted by TM:

If you are a true Christian Initiate, fulfillment is infinitely greater than self-expression and self-freedom. It is something so extraordinary that I begin to understand what Jesus experienced when He was able to say without effort or doubt, “Take up your bed and walk, your sins are forgiven.” I can imagine nothing more wonderful than that, to say to somebody helpless and bound, “Be strong, vigorous and whole,” and to see it accomplished in the twinkle of an eye. The man got up and walked, and people were astounded. In our day and generation, we know of so many broken bodies and shattered minds, would it not be ecstatic to be able to say to all those people, “Be whole, vigorous and happy,” and to know that it would function!