A DEMOCRACY OF ENLIGHTENMENT

Each and every child on earth is born ecstatic – it’s natural to all human beings
And not just reserved for “spiritual greats” – whether avatars or Messiahs –
It’s something everyone on earth possesses – as a birthright –
In other words, when human beings are born – they’re born into ecstasy –
It’s what human life, potentially, is.

However, to retrieve that initial spiritual capacity later on in life as an adult,
We’ll have to unlearn almost everything we’ve so dutifully mastered
And give up the “person” we’ve worked all our lives to become
In order to discover that ecstasy – a second time.

Mystics call this “the pearl”
I call it the “true self”
Each person has an absolute right to it –
And, if they truly want it – it’s always there.

We don’t have to overcome Himalayan mountain ranges of self-doubt –
Or eventually come to know “everything in the world” –
We just have to be willing to accept our “true self” –
The one we were originally born with.

This is the gift God has wanted to re-give us the most!

IT LOOKS EASY BUT, ACTUALLY, IT’S QUITE HARD

I talk a lot about the “true self” –
Because as soon as you discover your “true self” – you’ll be “enlightened!”

It’s both the easiest, as well as the hardest, thing in the world to accomplish –
To give up your false self – your ego –
In order to find your “true self” –
That is, the individual you were born to be.

It’s what Jesus eventually came to understand –
That your old self has to “die” in order for your “true self” to come fully to life.

LOST INNOCENCE

It would be some miracle if we could ever find it again –
Lost somewhere during the course of early childhood.

If, for a moment, however, we put down our more serious pursuits
And start looking –
With patience, we’ll find it’s still there.

And, if we start re-cultivating that spring-green patch of early innocence,
One day, out of it, might grow a gentle mature human being
Who – because of gratitude –
Could well be on the way to becoming “whole” – that is to say, “holy.”

Later, when God looks down
At all the human beings in the world exhibiting gratefulness –
Because of that gratitude, from God’s point of view, they’ll light up
And can be seen.

THINKING ABOUT BEAUTY

One can’t “see” beauty except through love –
In fact, beauty will refuse to come into existence without its presence.

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One can’t “recognize” beauty without truth
Because, without it, one can only make out a fuzzy, indistinct façade.

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One can’t “enjoy” beauty without justice
Because injustice causes us to forget everything else.

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Beauty is “fresh” … “fragile” … and always “temporary.”

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Beauty is the most valuable thing that’s actually not a “thing.”

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Beauty is like God – evanescent – so we’re often uncertain about its very presence.

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Beauty’s central to what makes life worth living.