SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 313

WE ARE EXPLORING THE HEAVENLY ATTRIBUTE OF JOY

+ We are called to create and enjoy a realm of compassion, peace, justice and sustainable abundance for all.

+ Spirituality and Practice offers a review and an excerpt from A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle. Tolle challenges us to live in the present moment and to transform our consciousness by surrendering to the joy of Being. Here is that excerpt:

Unhappiness or negativity is a disease on our planet. What pollution is on the outer level is negativity on the inner. It is everywhere, not just in places where people don't have enough, but even more so where they have more than enough. Is that surprising? No. The affluent world is even more deeply identified with form, more lost in content, more trapped in ego.

People believe themselves to be dependent on what happens for their happiness, that is to say, dependent on form. They don't realize that what happens is the most unstable thing in the universe. It changes constantly. They look upon the present moment as either marred by something that has happened and shouldn't have or as deficient because of something that has not happened but should have. And so they miss the deeper perfection that is inherent in life itself, a perfection that is always already here, that lies beyond what is happening or not happening, beyond form. Accept the present moment and find the perfection that is deeper than any form and untouched by time.

The joy of Being, which is the only true happiness, cannot come to you through any form, possession, achievement, person, or event — through anything that happens. That joy cannot come to you — ever. It emanates from the formless dimension within you, from consciousness itself and thus is one with who you are.

+ As in the previous post, this excerpt emphasizes the important contrast of joy versus happiness.  They really are different.  In order to enjoy the truth that we really are in heaven right now, right here, we need to know the difference deep in our mind, heart, body and soul.  Keep practicing the 12 Spiritual Practices we have explored.  Go deep and realize who you really are and that you are …

intimately,

intricately,

infinitely

connected

by a matrix of

unconditional,

unlimited,

uniting

LOVE

which is

miraculous,

mysterious and

marvelous.

This is bliss. 

In the next post we will continue to explore the important contrast between joy and happiness.

+ Spirituality & Practice offers plenty of resources on the spiritual practice of Joy. Also, there is an S&P Twelves Gallery of memes on Joy. The meme for this post comes from that gallery.

+ I would love it if you offered a guest post.  And, I have work to do on the Abundancetrek Joy page.  Maybe you can help.  Send an email with the subject “Joy” or “Heavenly Attributes” or “Guest Post” to John@abundancetrek.com.

+ You can always find a link to any of the Spiritual Explorations posts by going to http://abundancetrek.com/sepostsaccess.html

+ I would love it if you offered a guest post.  And, I have work to do on the Abundancetrek Joy page.  Maybe you can help.  Send an email with the subject “Joy” or “Heavenly Attributes” or “Guest Post” to John@abundancetrek.com.

+ You can always find a link to any of the Spiritual Explorations posts by going to http://abundancetrek.com/sepostsaccess.html