Steve McSwain writes:

How do I know when I am advancing on the spiritual path? What is a “sign” of spiritual maturity?

I would answer with a few questions of my own.

Must everyone believe as you believe in order to accepted by you?

Do you insist that what you believe is right and, by implication, suggest that what others believe must be wrong?

When you suggest that you, and other folks like you, “just believe the Bible,” for instance, are you aware that what you are really saying is that you believe your “version” or “interpretation” of the Bible and that equally devoted followers of the Bible frequently interpret the same Bible differently but just as sincerely as you do?

So, can you make room for others? Can you be honest enough to admit that you, and others like you, might just be wrong yourselves?

When you are able to make your “truth” claims with passion and sincerity, but at-one-and-the-same time clothe them with love, humility and room for others to believe and so hold to equally meaningful “truth” claims for them, you, my friend, are, in my own opinion, advancing in the direction of spiritual maturity — true enlightenment. Or, if you prefer, simply human maturity. Continue reading “A Sign of Spiritual Maturity” →

Life lessons from Phil Hansen:

Robert Fuller writes:

Confusion about fundamental notions such as selfhood, identity, and consciousness distorts personal relationships, underlies ideological deadlock, aggravates partisan politics, and causes unnecessary human suffering. A better understanding of selfhood holds the promise of resolving perennial quarrels and putting us all on the same side as we face the challenges in a global future, not least of which will be coming to terms with machines who rival or surpass human intelligence.While we all casually refer to our self, no one knows quite what that self is. Nothing is so close at hand yet hard to grasp as selfhood. To get started, think of your self as who or what you’re referring to when you use the pronouns “me,” “myself,” or “I.”

via Robert Fuller: Who Am I?.

“We are like children building a sand castle. We embellish it with beautiful shells, bits of driftwood, and pieces of colored glass. The castle is ours, off limits to others. We’re willing to attack if others threaten to hurt it. Yet despite all our attachment, we know that the tide will inevitably come in and sweep the sand castle away. The trick is to enjoy it fully but without clinging, and when the time comes, let it dissolve back into the sea.” ― Pema Chödrön 

via Mindful Musings: The Benefit of Building Sand Castles. (Quote of the Day).

What

Do sad people have in

Common?

It seems

They have all built a shrine

To the past

And often go there

And do a strange wail and

Worship.

What is the beginning of

Happiness?

It is to stop being

So religious

Like That.

~ Hafiz

via What do sad people have in common? by Hafiz | Electronic Poets.

A few words from Brian on the book…

“How’s your financial blueprint? Don’t worry, I didn’t have mine either until I read T. Harv Eker’s great (and surprisingly funny!) book. If you’re committed to creating financial freedom (who isn’t?) then my strong recommendation is that you add this to your must-read list.”

In today’s challenge, we’ll take a quick look at some of Brian’s favorite big ideas (this book is so full of them he had to stop himself at 21!) – everything from defining financial freedom, learning to play to win, and seeing how the size of your character determines your response to various sized problems.

What you’ll see is that T. Harv believes strongly in the fact that: “Your inner world reflects your outer world,” and dedicates a great deal of the book to teaching us how to change our thinking – to reprogram ourselves to think and act like rich people do.

So… let’s get to work on that financial blueprint, shall we?

To take part in today’s challenge, simply watch Brian’s video above and share your responses to it below (and to get a copy of the book, just click here).

via Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: The Philosophers Notes Challenge – Day 4.

See on Scoop.it – Living Business

Officer Brigitte Brousseau is a certified yoga teacher. In this 1 minute video, she discusses how she has become clear with the responsibility and power to take away another’s freedom.

See on www.elephantjournal.com

Self-confidence.

Don’t you just wish that you could hit a magic button and it would come to your rescue when you need it the most – or for some of us, each and every day?

In this empowering 13-minute TED Talk, athletic director and head coach of the Varsity Soccer team at Ryerson University, Dr. Joseph, explains why he believes self-confidence is the most important skill in both athletics, and in life.

We really enjoyed this motivating talk as it reminded us that even if we’re not blessed with a natural healthy glow of self-confidence – it’s a skill that can be mastered, no matter how lacking in it we may be.

via How to Exude One of Life’s Most Important Skills (By the Bucket-Load!).

Welcome to day 3 of the challenge!

Today’s challenge is on Spiritual Liberation by Michael Bernard Beckwith.

For those not familiar with Michael, he is the founder of the Agape Spiritual Center, where his talks have been described as “electrifying,” and he also was one of the featured teachers in The Secret.

“My central message is not about religiosity or churchianity. It is about aspiring toward spiritual liberation, which I define as becoming free from the narrow confines of fear, doubt, worry, and lack, and living instead from a conscious awareness of one’s Authentic Self, one’s true nature of wholeness.

Spiritual liberation results from discovering and expressing the intrinsic qualities of enlightened consciousness that have been ours since the moment we came into existence. Simply put, all that is required to live up to our highest potential is already inside us awaiting our conscious activation. Living up to our potential is about becoming more ourselves, more of who and what we are as awakened beings, a central theme you will encounter throughout this book.” – Michael Bernard Beckwith from Spiritual Liberation.

via Spiritual Liberation: The Philosophers Notes Challenge – Day 3.

Okay guys, are you ready for day 2 of the challenge?

This time we’re going to be studying How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie.

Carnegie is also the author of the famed, How to Win Friends and Influence People, so we can’t wait to start today’s challenge.

Our favorite quote from the book is:

“Seventy per cent of all patients who come to physicians could cure themselves if they got rid of their fears and worries.”

We love that line. It reminds us of a quote from another great book by Jose Silva, The Silva Method, where Mr. Silva says that he believes 90% of illness is caused by stress and our own negative beliefs. 

So, are you ready to take part in today’s challenge?

Simply watch the above video, and tell us what’s the biggest takeaway you got from this lesson, and how you can start implementing the wisdom from this book into your life.

via How to Stop Worrying and Start Living: The Philosophers Notes Challenge – Day 2.