Gabriola Ecumenical Society

You are a Divine being.  You have been created out of Divinity through Divine actions and are the physical embodiment of Divinity itself walking upon the Divine earth for a few breaths until you return to your non-physical Divine existence.  If you have forgotten this, remember; it is very important!

In the spiritual world the term “action” is a treasure box, filled with possibility, challenge, and mystery.  In sanskrit, the term for action is “karma”; karma simply means action.  Yet, contrary to popular misunderstanding, our karma is neither good nor bad, it is simply action, but it includes all of our actions occurring at all of the levels of our being.  Whether it is a gross action such as eating a meal or speaking to someone, or subtle actions including thoughts and the emotions that precede thoughts, all actions are karma.  And each of these actions, indeed each and every action you have done throughout your life has left its residue in the deep recesses of your consciousness where they create habit patterns that colour our future actions; this is the law of karma.  If we could make a pie chart from all of your past actions, categorizing them into various slices of helpful and unhelpful deeds, we would have a beautiful chart that could be titled “My Personality”.  And if the pile of actions that fell into the category of “compassion” is really big, it is very likely that you will act from a place of compassion in the present because you have been practicing for this moment all of your life.  Similarly, if the pile of actions that fell in the category of “fear” is even bigger, then fear’s paralyzing grip will colour so many of your thoughts, your words, your physicalmovements.  This is the law of karma.

As beings on the path of spiritual awareness, we all want to do good in the world.  We all want to engage in helpful actions and to avoid unhelpful actions both for ourselves and for the world.    With even a simple understanding of the nature of karma, we can begin to understand the reasons for why we sometimes cause harm; it is the hand of our past reaching out with a firm grip and binding us to our old habits.  But if we have the courage and the strength, we CAN break from the bondage of our past and walk in our Divine birthright.

The probability of our success will be greatly enhanced if we harness the power of our entire being.  For example:

Unhelpful Scenario: You lash out in anger toward someone because of the momentum of your addiction to fear. This is not helpful in the present AND it further strengthens your addiction.

Slightly Helpful Scenario: You do not lash out in anger with your words or physical actions, but still harbour fear to the point where you are simply suppressing the urge to be angry.  This is perhaps better for your friend, yet you are still cultivating the subtle karma of fear through the action of your thoughts.

More Helpful Scenario: Trying to see the Divinity within yourself and your friend, because you are practicing doing so, fear does not arise in your mind with enough force to colour your words or actions regardless of external circumstances. Yet there may still be a twinge of emotion beckoning you to return to the comfort of your old friend fear.

Most Helpful Scenario: Having practiced seeing, experiencing, and understanding through your Divine Eyes, love, compassion, and empathy have displaced fear in your emotions, in your thoughts, in your words, and in your physical movements regardless of external conditions. 

To live a life of complete Divine awareness is extremely rare.  Even Ghandi described how he struggled throughout his life with the tension between his inner thoughts and his external actions.  While it may not be easy to reach the highest height, it is very easy to begin the journey and to make phenomenal changes in your life and in the world!

Begin simply, pick an action – your daily prayers, making a meal for loved one, walking in nature.  Before you begin that act, generate the emotion of Divine Love in your heart.  Let that emotion grow strong so that it penetrates your mind and thoughts.  Then, engage in the act in such a way that your heart, mind, and physical action are harmonized in the Divine Reality.  It is said there are only three things needed for success in this sacred endeavour: practice, practice, practice.  The more you practice seeing the world through Divine Eyes, the deeper the habit will become.

Remember!  You are Divinity itself!  Through your actions, you have the ability to create Heaven on earth.  Never stop!

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