SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 343

WE ARE EXPLORING THE HEAVENLY ATTRIBUTE OF TRUTH

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

+

Those who want to know the truth of the universe

should practice the four cardinal virtues.

The first is reverence for life; this manifests as

unconditional love and respect for oneself and all

other beings.

The second is natural sincerity; this manifests as

honesty, simplicity, and faithfulness.

The third is gentleness; this manifests as kindness,

consideration for others, and sensitivity to

spiritual truth.

The fourth is supportiveness; this manifests as

service to others without expectation of reward.

The four virtues are not an external dogma but

a part of your original nature.

When practiced, they give birth to wisdom and

evoke … blessings.

- Lao Tzu, Hua Hu Ching,

translated by Brian Browne Walker

This was the OneSpirit Daily Inspiration on October 2, 2016

+ Truth is Love. Truth is Wisdom. Truth is something we manifest more and more as we find within ourselves these virtues and offer them as a blessing.   

+ I would love it if you offered a guest post.  And, I have work to do on the Abundancetrek Truth page. Maybe you can help.  Send an email with the subject “Truth” 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

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 305

WE ARE EXPLORING THE HEAVENLY ATTRIBUTE OF ABUNDANCE.

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

+ Here are 8 principles of abundance offered by Laurence Boldt in The Tao of Abundance:

·         The Nameless Tao - Wu-ming - Recognizing the unity of all things starts you on the path to true abundance.

·         Nature - Tzu-jan - Learning to receive opens the door to your greatest good.

·         Ease - Wu-wei - Following the path of least resistance brings success with ease.

·         Flow - Ch’i - Circulating the energy in your life strengthens health, deepens relationships, and generates wealth.

·         Power - Te - Honoring your innate dignity and actualizing your inborn abilities is the road to authentic power.

·         Harmony - Yin/Yang - Balancing yin and yang eliminates stress and brings peace of mind.

·         Leisure - Jen - Taking time to be, to grow, and to nurture your relationships gives you the strength to persevere.

·         Beauty - Li - Achieving your destiny is a matter of trusting and embracing the organic pattern of your life.

+ Boldt drives home the idea that the universe is FOR us and not against us.  He points out that Western theology and philosophy has all too often led us to believe the opposite.  This has contributed to our anxiety and our belief that scarcity and not abundance is the norm.  This leads to greed and destructive competition.  The Good News is that there is an awakening going on.  People are becoming more and more aware of how good it is for all of us to cooperate, share, trust each other, accept each other, work tirelessly and effectively for the common good.  This is happening.  Trust the process.  It is natural and it is good and it is amazing.

The Tao of Abundance is one of my favorite books which I go back to again and again.  It is very comprehensive and full of illumination and inspiration.  A good summary is at http://www.soulfulliving.com/tao_of_abundance.htm and I invite you to visit the Laurence Boldt website > http://www.empoweryou.com/

+ Although Spirituality & Practice doesn’t have Abundance per se as a practice, they do offer an abundance of resources  on many practices which are all about abundance including:  Gratitude |  Wonder | Connections | Attention

Also, many of their Twelves Galleries focus on abundance.  With the following links you can quickly  choose among them >
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/galleries/category/12s
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/galleries/category/12s/2
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/galleries/category/12s/3
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/galleries/category/12s/4
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/galleries/category/12s/5
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/galleries/category/12s/6

+ I would love it if you offered a guest post.  And, I have work to do on the Abundancetrek Abundance page.  Maybe you can help.  Send an email with the subject “Abundance” 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

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 165

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF SIMPLICITY

+

Those who are known

As Real People

Are united in essence

With the Way,

So they have endowments yet

Appear to have none;

They are full yet

Appear to be empty.

They govern the inside,

Not the outside.

Clear and pure, utterly plain,

They do not contrive

Artificialities but return

To simplicity.

- Lao Tzu

Simplicity, patience, compassion.

These three are your greatest treasures.

Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.

Patient with both friends and enemies,

you accord with the way things are.

Compassionate toward yourself,

you reconcile all beings in the world.

― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.

― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

+ What is real anyway?  Are you real?  Of course you are but there are, most likely, aspects of your life which are unreal.  Discovering our real self and the reality of our existence is a life long journey into the unknown and mysterious.  It is quite an adventure.  Lao Tzu, and other ancient teachers of the Tao, or The Way, offer us plenty of wisdom on this quest but perhaps the most important thing he ever said was that those who know do not speak.  Reality is elusive and mysterious and always surprising us and changing us.

Clearly this practice of Simplicity has its foundation in the Journey of the Mind practices of Stillness, Detachment and Humility which we explored in posts 1 through 64. The Tao Te Ching of Lao Tsu has stood the test of time and is universally revered, particularly by Zen Buddhists, for its clarity regarding these essential practices.

+ You can see many more Lao Tsu quotes at https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/2622245.Lao_Tzu

    

+ Simplicity is not one of the 37 Spirituality & Practice practices BUT put Simplicity in their Search Engine and you come up with 314 items including 117 quotes, 156 books, 11 practices, 9 teachers, 1 arts link, 11 e-courses, 7 films and 1 blog as of 6/4/16.  Go to http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/search/?q=Simplicity

+ I would love it if you offered a guest post on this practice or any practice.  And, I have work to do on my Simplicity Page.   Maybe you can help.  Send an email with the subject “Simplicity” 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