THE SPIRITUAL TOURIST'S GUIDE TO CASUAL SPIRITUALITY

PART TWO (Conclusion)


Just about everyone whom I have known who lives a deep and purposeful
spiritual life has certain qualities. These are focus, commitment, a
sense of oneself being worth the investment of time and effort, and the
knowledge that they were not alone. All of these are founded on the
profound knowledge that all is LOVE and that God is the essence of love.
In New Thought we say that Love is also what we are. That whatever God
is, we are that too. In How to Speak Religious Science, Dennis Merritt
Jones writes:

"He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is Love." Love is the
self-givingness of spirit to its creation and is a cosmic force whose
sweep is irresistible. Love is the highest vibration in the universe;
nothing can withstand its embrace. The opposite of love is fear. In the
light and vibration of love, the darkness of fear cannot exist. To know
God’s presence is to experience unconditional love. To see the presence
of God in others is to love them. Unconditional love is always the
answer.

This passage brings to mind what it would mean to be a tourist on foot,
the kind of tourist that the Peace Pilgrim was. Can we be that
courageous? Can we trust God for each and every part of our experience,
for each bite of food that we eat, for the place where we sleep, for the
nature of our work each day and for the bounty of our personal spiritual
experience? Could we let go of the trappings of our life as she did in
answer to the call of Spirit? Can we go on foot wherever spirit leads
us? Notice how extreme that might feel? And yet, each of us has a
yearning to go farther, to go deeper, to know God better and there is
really only one place where we need go to do so, within ourselves. So
let’s do that today.

So let’s clear off our laps, adopt a good meditation posture now, close
our eyes, and for a short bit of time, let us go within and contemplate
what kind of spiritual tourism we wish to engage ourselves in at this
time in our lives. (You could read this into a recorder and then follow
your own voice giving this guided meditation)

Picture yourself flying over the earth in a great jumbo jet. Notice the
great mountain ranges of Spirit, Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism with
their great contemplative and meditative practices. Will you take a
smaller aircraft and fly closer to the ground of being now? Will you
commit yourself to engaging in meditative practice, if for only ten
minutes a day listening to the still small voice within?

Will you take that smaller aircraft and flying it over Zen
Buddhism now, will you choose mindfulness practice, choosing to be aware
moment-by-moment in your life? Will you now choose to think more deeply
before you speak, knowing that your words have creative power?

Will you reverse the path of negative thoughts when they arise,
practicing more carefully the affirmation of the deepest desires of your
heart so that more often in your day you radiate out the light of love?
Will you affirm now the practice of thinking consciously for the good of
all humankind as often as you can, increasing the frequency of such
thoughts as you grow in the demonstration of Love for all?

When Jesus said, "Know the truth and the truth shall set you free," he
was simply saying to the degree you know the real truth about yourself,
you will then be free and able to direct your own life in wonderful,
creative, meaningful ways, simply by understanding that your every
thought is creative.

"The practice of Truth is personal to each, and in the long run no
one can live our life for us.
To each is given what he needs and the gifts of heaven come to all
alike.
How we shall use these gifts is what matters..." Dr. Ernest
Holmes, The Science of Mind

The truth about you is this: "God in you, as you is you." God really is
all there is. Know this truth and you are free to express your true
Self! Spiritual tourism is not something that we have to be worried
about. It is our self-exploration in action. It is our
self-knowingness and it is up to us how we go about it. Your life is
already always dedicated to this exploration of self and we are
overjoyed that you have joined together with us for the tour!

Thank you for being with us to share in these words.

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A SEASON FOR NONVIOLENCE resources and information at:
http://www.agnt.org/snv02.htm

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God blesses us always and in all ways,

Love, Susanne

EMAIL: Dr.Susanne@...
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We study together in a chatroom. You are invited to come for a visit to
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September 2: WISDOM OF THE BIBLE
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Season for Nonviolence

January 30 - April 4, 2004

Season for Nonviolence is a national 64-day educational, media, and
grassroots campaign dedicated to demonstrating that nonviolence is a
powerful way to heal, transform, and empower our lives and our
communities. Inspired by the 50th and 30th memorial anniversaries of
Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this international event
honors their vision for an empowered, nonviolent world.

http://www.agnt.org/snv02.htm

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