Building Strong Foundations

In order to grow stronger mentally, as well as spiritually, we read books and listen to experienced spiritual teachers. However, most importantly, we need to learn about ourselves, our capabilities, limits, values, and hopes. After we know ourselves well, outside influences will not be able to sway us in the wrong direction, and we will feel capable of dealing with difficult situations.
As we start to explore a more spiritual way of life, we look for material that can guide us. The internet and bookstores can provide information on how to become more spiritual, and live a better life. We can read about the meaning of life, and ways of becoming more successful in all that we do. There are many techniques for achieving desirable goals such as happiness, success at work, and at home. Listening to lectures or reading about the life and work of an inspiring person are additional ways of learning.
However, no one can tell more about yourself than you. Without looking inside, and building strong foundations, you will find yourself like a leaf in the middle of a storm, having no control over the direction in which you are moving. This is why it is essential to know who is the REAL you. Spend twenty minutes a day meditating, looking inside without judging yourself, or finding excuses for this or that behavior. Just observe yourself objectively as an outsider would do. Since we copied and adapted much of our behaviors, people who observe themselves are able to trace specific behaviors to the time they were adapted. For example, a person will observe that he started talking in a certain way after seeing a movie ten years ago. Or that he is being fast to get angry, imitating a parent’s behavior. After such an observation, he might realize that in his REAL nature he is not an angry person.
We all have some characteristics, such as irascibility or argumentativeness which we adapted over the years. We don’t like them, but learned to live with them in coexistence. After doing something you don’t like, sit quietly and reflect on that event. Go back to the event and that which preceded it. Without judging, just observe what triggered your reaction, and what could you have done differently. This exercise is similar to pointing a flashlight at a dark corner of the room. With this exercise, by “pointing” awareness at a behavior you don’t like, you will peel away much of the old you.
Continuing with this exercise, and similar others, you will realize that everything you do and much of your thoughts are goods borrowed from someone else. Much of it served you well for a long time; but it’s time to re-examine, and discard of that, that is not serving you well anymore. It is a good idea to keep a log, writing down your observations. One note of caution: to truly learn about yourself, you need to do it without an ego, or judgment. Instead, have love, and compassion for yourself, as well as the ability to forgive.
Knowing yourself well is the key for establishing goals that fit the TRUE you. And with it, brings true happiness to your life; not only when you reach them, but throughout life, as you work to achieve those goals. Knowing yourself is also the key for building strong spiritual and mental foundation, allowing you to be strong and flexible like a leaf on a tree during a stormy weather.

What Does G-D Want?

One Friday evening, as I was preparing for meditation, I decided to meditate on the question, What G-D is expecting of us? I started with visualization of bright light from the center of the universe entering my body through the crown chakra, going down through my spinal cord to the ground and back, filling and surrounding my with bright light. After I felt the presence of the love of the universe in me, I started to climb up to higher places, closer to the center of the universe. There I sat quietly, absorbing the unconditional love and unlimited good-hearted the universe is offering anyone who cares to accept it.
Feeling this pure presence of love, I asked the question, “What G-D expect of us?” Immediately, I saw myself standing in the middle of my classroom with students sit around me. I saw the light from the center of the universe entering my crown chakra, and through my heart chakra, spreading to the students. I was a tool through which the light and love of the universe could reach them. I don’t know what I was teaching, my words were not important. What made it possible for me to fulfill this role, was my willingness to spread light. I was a tool without an ego, knowing it was not about me, still feeling true happiness, knowing I was fulfilling my higher purpose in the Big Plan of the Universe.
But enough about me, the question was about the expectation from all people. So I asked it again, and saw another picture; a picture of a lawyer standing in a courtroom, speaking and defending truth and justice. This lawyer, like all of us, had a choice to make, and by choosing truth, he became a channel for the light of the universe to spread on earth. And by doing so, he too fulfilled his highest purpose in life. The energy of light and love also expresses itself through truth and justice. The message was that every man and every woman can make the choice of becoming a tool, a channel for the light of the universe to enter and touch others around them. It is true at work, no meter what you are doing, and it is true at home with family and friends.
You can choose to become a channel for the light by having thoughts of light. Expend your awareness and transform your thoughts, so you will be able to transmit more and more light. Be kind, loving, and compassionate to people and situations around you. Practice being patient with people. Love is the strongest energy in the universe, but it never forces itself on others; it’s only offering itself to those willing to accept it.
You can ask, “What if I choose not to become a channel for the light?” Imagine a sun ray with freewill. It carries the sun’s energy to the earth, but half way through, it decides that it doesn’t want to do it anymore, and stops. Where light doesn’t reach, darkness exists. The ray didn’t create darkness, but in its absent, there is no light for plants or people to grow. Darkness, negative energies, do not exist on their own, they can exist only in the absent of light. So when we choose not to be a channel transforming light, we allow darkness to manifest itself.
Like the sun’s ray, you transport the light, but are not responsible for how people choose to use it. The light from the sun creates the right conditions for life to exist. The ray of light touches the leaf, but there its responsibility ends. The plant will grow to fulfill its potential on its own. The same is true for you. You transform light to your surroundings. However, people will do with this energy what the will. You cannot force people to accept it; this is their choice. People have freewill and lessons they need to go through; with love and compassion, let them learn.
In this meditation, I was shown a great truth about the purpose of life – now you know it too.