General FAQ's
1. There are many religious, spiritual, psychic, and personal growth disciplines available nowadays ... how do I choose?
One of the best indicators is a feeling of joy and lightness. Trust yourself. Originally and historically, all meditation and prayer forms - all techniques and rituals - were created to stimulate the desire for the Soul & a personal feeling of Divinity. It's your own desire that does the work ... not the technique or ritual. Believe it or not.
And as your desire grows, the need for rituals and techniques becomes less.
2. What do you mean by the words "entering your own Divinity"?
Maybe the best way to explain this is with a short exercise. Subvocalize the question, how do I enter my Soul? Allow your lips to move as you form the words silently or with a slight whisper. Repeat 3 or 4 times, closing your eyes as you ask and softening the boundaries of your personality as you listen. Divinity is inside.
3. You may see the term 'guru' on this website ... why?
Because we're idiots? Gee, I sure hope not. As it happens, both of us have a Christian background that led inexorably to seeking a living spiritual master or guru. Sometimes, we will use Sanskrit words (with definitions) because there are no good words in the English language for the same thing. In this case, guru means 'liberator from darkness' (gu: to liberate; ru: darkness).
In a very real sense; a mentor, a good teacher, or a parent can be your guru. And in the newest waves of consciousness on our Earth your own Soul - or your music and your art - can be your guru too. It really is that simple ... best not to get too hung-up on philosophy.
4. Is there a difference between psychic and spiritual experiences?
Kind of ... you could say the difference is rooted in each individual. Some people and practitioners like to dabble with The Infinite - and to never go too far beyond what excites or titillates their egos and personalities. And so, their experiences will generally be confined to the psychic realms of the Universe.
But, when you feel the pull of deeper experiences - a thirst for limitlessness, then you begin to migrate into the Great Unknown. In a nutshell, spiritual experiences are like entering a good mystery ... you have to let go.
5. This all sounds so, you know, New Age.
Really? If you look back, historically there have always been individuals who could hear God and the many voices of Divinity. Christian Mystics for example. What may be different at this time in our history is that anyone can now, more easily, access spiritual experiences. That can be a little scary for some people. It's not about what you believe, or any dogma ... God is about direct personal relationship & experience. Remember that your Greater Self and Soul is achieved through inner depth, emotional maturity, and strength of personal experience.
6. Is any of this fun?
Ha! Good question. Well, sure ... sometimes. Like anything in Life that takes effort, there are good times and crummy times. Immensely good times ... and immensely crummy times.
A spiritual master once made the blunt suggestion to learn spiritual (or inner) discipline at the earliest possible moment in Life. Then, all education, recreation, art, career development, and Life exploration proceeds more smoothly and fully.
And that can be fun.
7. You keep mentioning emotional maturity - why?
The history of spirituality and religion is littered with the dead bodies of spiritually-inclined individuals who did not pursue their psychological, emotional, and relational growth. Not a good thing from a cultural point of view.
We, as a species, have this hidden fear of failure in the face of God; so we build belief systems, and rituals, and techniques, and training systems to touch the face of Spirit. On the psych-emotional level it's pretty complex, and often mixed-up with control issues, as well as the fear of growing beyond family, friends, and tribal structures/strictures.
But, on a personal level it's pretty simple ... all-round, balanced growth and deepening maturity is the best approach to happiness.
8. What's the biggest stumbling block in this inner work?
Two things come to mind. First, a sense of powerlessness, a belief in your own smallness. Second, that Spirit can be pre-defined ... Living Spirit is either live in the moment, or it's not really alive. Actually, a third block to stumble over just came to mind: ego & personality - when ego & personality are dominant ... the Soul takes a nap.