Spirituality Simplified: The Past is the Past
BEST of PONDER on THIS for Thursday, July 1st, 2010 by Jeff Maziarek in SPIRITUALITY SIMPLIFIED
“The past only has an impact on the present when you continue to waste your powerful thought and feeling energies on something that no longer exists at all, other than in your own mind. Whatever it was that happened is finished now, and no matter how uncomfortable it was for you, you need to come to the understanding that at some level you chose it, and that it helped to build your character and make you a stronger individual.
Whenever you do find yourself wondering why something turned out the way it did, I suggest calling to mind the old adage that often times ‘God does work in mysterious ways’. The truth is, you really don’t know the ‘big picture’. So, even though you might be inclined to feel sad about a certain event in your past, make the decision to accept the realization that there is a higher order to things, and that something good will eventually come of it.”
Jeff Maziarek, in “Spirituality Simplified”
For more from Jeff Maziarek, check out: www.PonderCentral.com and www.SpiritSimple.com
Also, check out Jeff’s blog at: http://jeffmaziarek.spiritsimple.com/
David Hawkins’ Healing and Recovery
Healing and Recovery by David R. Hawkins
Recently I read a fascinating book by David R. Hawkins called “Healing and Recovery.” Much like his landmark title “Power versus Force,” this book is packed with valuable information that challenges conventional approaches to healing. Typically, medical treatment is based on treating bodily symptoms that are allegedly causing the illness or disease to be present. In Hawkins world, this is not the appropriate way to address the problems. Why not? Because whatever is found in or on the body that has led to a health issue is NOT the cause of the problem, but merely the effect of something held in consciousness (or, in mind, if you will).
While this is not radical teaching in the world of mind-body medicine, in mainstream medicine it sure is. Hawkins’ discussion is packed with some very solid theory to support his views. As such, in my view it is a very practical book. In it Hawkins describes how he healed himself of numerous illnesses, including hypoglycemia (it took two years by the way). One of the techniques he applied was a series of affirmative statements, one that he would use whenever thoughts would crop up about the disease or symptoms in question. Here is that affirmation:
I Am an Infinite Being
I am NOT subject to that
I am only subject to what I hold in mind
That does NOT apply to me
And I hereby cancel it and reject it.
From my perspective, this is really powerful stuff.
Bye for now.
Check out this and other articles by Jeff Maziarek on his new blog:
http://jeffmaziarek.spiritsimple.com/2010/05/15/healing-and-recovery-by-david-r-hawkins.aspx
Elements of Prayer: A Post From www.SpiritSimple.com
The Nature of Praying – from “Agartha” by Meredith Lady Young
Recently I came across the following content about “prayer” from Agartha by Meredith Lady Young and was inspired to share it with you today:
“Prayers are personal and yet there are aspects of praying which need to be noted. There are elements within the prayer framework which help the individual send out the most appropriate requests for guidance and action.
- An opening or salutation – A loving introduction to the forces which one perceives as the focus and outgrowth of one’s being draws the energy of that presence within range of one’s own physical being. Whether or not the word “God” is used, an appropriate designation of the energy or presence to whom one is speaking is necessary.
- A statement of thankfulness for those gifts and perceptions already received – This approach acknowledges one’s own connection to the Universe or God and reaffirms one’s own awareness that gifts of understanding have come to allow the individual to move toward the Light.
- Verification of the problem or focus of prayer – The prayer process invokes eventual healing through the individual’s ability to precisely understand the situation and in so doing more clearly see the matching piece which is the solution. Clarity of thought in this case brings the energy of the dilemma to a head and causes the matching energy of the solution to be equally focused and thus obvious to the individual.
- Affirmation of one’s belief in an appropriate solution – If one does not believe that a solution of some type is possible, then one has no business praying, for no solution will be forthcoming. It is only through one’s belief in a possible solution that appropriate avenues of help will be noticed. In other words, if one is closed to healing vehicles, then none will be found even though they exist in one’s life.
Praying causes energy, celestial and physical, to be directed to a specific area of one’s life, and repetition of the same prayer is very effective in drawing in appropriate telepathic vibrations…In other words, when one uses the same prayer over and over, it builds not only the intensity of the invocation, but also the clarity with which the Universe’s response can be heard, seen and understood.”
*This excerpt was posted by Jeff Maziarek on his Spirituality Simplified Blog (http://jeffmaziarek.spiritsimple.com/).
Walking The Path of Spiritual Growth
By Jeff Maziarek, author of Spirituality Simplified
From my experience while traveling the path of spiritual growth, I can confidently say that once you begin in earnest to seek a deeper understanding of yourself, as well as the nature of existence itself, it’s impossible to turn back. The more you open your mind to new ideas and concepts, the more you will want to explore. There is no way around it; it actually gets into your blood.
This discovery is a fascinating process; one that is incredibly rewarding, and at times very demanding as well, simply because spiritual growth requires that you step out of your comfort zone. It also requires that you become increasingly open-minded, and focus more and more of your attention on the present (i.e., on this life), rather than looking toward the potential afterlife rewards typically touted by organized religion.
Traversing this path is a lot like walking a high wire without a safety net, because unlike traditional religious practice there is no rigid dogma that exists to provide you with all of the ‘answers’. Instead, on this path you take on the responsibility for finding your own answers to questions such as: Who or what is God? What is the proper code of conduct for me to follow? What is the purpose of my life? What is the meaning of life in general?
Amazing Offer from Jeff Maziarek!
Jeff Maziarek, author of Spirituality Simplified, is offering an amazing deal on a really great book. Check out this e-mail I received from Jeff today:
Special PONDER on THIS for Thursday, April 16th, 2009 - Sale Price for Spirituality Simplified by Jeff Maziarek through April 30th
Since my book “Spirituality Simplified” was originally released, I have made a concerted effort not to promote it any more than other books referenced on Pondercentral.com. For just today I am departing from that approach, because it’s “spring cleaning” time at our house, and I would really appreciate your support in helping me clear some additional space in my office!
So, from now through April 30th, Spirituality Simplified will be available on www.spiritsimple.com for a special sale price of $5.00 per copy (more than a 68 percent discount from list price). Shipping and handling (S&H) for U.S. customers has also been reduced to $2.50 per book, for a total of $7.50 per single copy delivered. Illinois residents will also be required to pay 35 cents for sales tax. Customers outside of the U.S. can also buy the book for $5.00, but the final S&H amount will depend upon their specific location.
Please note that the shopping cart I use is securely processed through PayPal, which does not require buyers to set up an account on their site in order to make a purchase; they will simply process the credit card transaction.
To order a personally endorsed copy (or copies) of Spirituality Simplified, please click here to visit the purchase page on Spiritsimple.com.
Thanks in advance for your consideration.
*I’ve read this book and can highly recommend it. And, at this price, Jeff is practically giving them away; so I can’t think of a better gift to get someone — or a better opportunity to get a great deal on a great book! ~Pete Koerner
Congratulations To Jeff Maziarek And Ponder Central
We would like to congratulate our friend, Jeff Maziarek, on his 10th-Year Anniversary of publishing inspirational posts on www.PonderCentral.com! Keep up the great work, Jeff!
Here’s Jeff’s Anniversary Post:
PONDER on THIS Reaches 10-Year Anniversary
“Today marks the 10th year anniversary of PONDER on THIS. If someone had told me a decade ago that I would be compiling and sending these messages for this long I would have never believed them. It’s just another confirmation that time does indeed fly.
When the service started we had perhaps 30 subscribers, and now we have hundreds. Interestingly, when I scanned the list of email addresses in the database today I recognized that some folks have been on the list for the full ten years, and a handful of others for nearly that long. It’s been my pleasure to share this inspirational content with each and every one of you, and I sincerely hope that the messages have provided you with value for however long you’ve been a part of this community.”
Best regards,
Jeff
www.Pondercentral.com
Spirituality Simplified: Are You Sure That’s Really Love — Or Could It Be "Attachment" Or "Need?"
“Our culture’s fascination with romantic love is really quite pervasive. If you have any doubt about this, just listen to many of the most popular songs during the past 100 years or more, and you’ll hear all kinds of lyrics about how badly someone needs someone else. For example, ‘Baby I need your lovin,’ or ‘If you leave me now, you’ll take away the biggest part of me,’ etc. We are literally bombarded with this type of programming in music, and in films, books and TV shows as well. As such, it’s not surprising that so many people develop the belief that they NEED a romantic partner in their life.
The reality is that whenever you approach a love relationship from a position of need, you’re putting yourself into a very uneasy position. Think about it, if you come to believe that you truly need another person to be fulfilled, you can never rest easy because there’s always the possibility they may have a change of heart and leave, or worse yet, die. That’s why the age-old advice that we should first be able to live happily on our own is so very practical.”
Jeff Maziarek, in “Spirituality Simplified”
*Be sure to visit Jeff Maziarek at: www.PonderCentral.com and www.SpiritSimple.com for more inspiration and enlightenment — and to find out more about his book, “Spirituality Simplified.”
Spirituality Simplified: Who or What is GOD?
By: Jeff Maziarek, author of Spirituality Simplified
Let’s face it: the truth is the only time any of us will absolutely know for certain who or what God really is, is when we finally leave this planet, moving on to the next dimension. For centuries mystics have reported that the reality of God is truly unknowable. Nonetheless, throughout recorded history men and women have shared their opinions and viewpoints about the essence of God, the Creator, the All-That-Is, and so on.
Why – since the dawning of human life – have people continually theorized about God’s nature? Simply put, deep within each of us there is a strong yearning to know where we come from, and to where we will ultimately go whenever we do leave this treasured planet. While that longing exists in all people, many tend to block it out because it is too complex to think about when more pressing day to day concerns surround them. Others ignore the longing because they don’t know quite how to reflect or where to look for the answers. Coming to an understanding of the true nature of God often takes a backseat to earning the day-to-day living and dealing with the challenges associated with human relationships. Because of these obstacles, many people in the so-called ‘civilized world’ have chosen to look to traditional religion for answers.
In a typical Western religion, God is usually depicted as a “white-bearded male who roams around the sky creating the world.” This God is a Being that controls all things occurring in the Universe, knows exactly what everyone does, and is aware when His laws or commandments are being broken. The idea of punishment for one’s sins is at the foundation of this view of God; this God/Father holds us accountable for our wrongdoing. The errors we make are then “judged by various interpreters of his laws who throughout history have claimed access to the Divine.”
Over the centuries, a great many people have accepted the words of these privileged interpreters (e.g., priests, ministers, rabbis, religious scholars) as absolute truth; to doubt — in any way — the validity of their interpretations would be considered a sin. It is interesting that most people are unwilling to either question the authority of these individuals, or to be skeptical concerning the religious texts that allegedly contain the “Word of God.” Why?
Which of these clearly conflicting messages, then, is the actual Word of God?
Spirituality Simplified: No Turning Back On The Path Of Self-Discovery
PONDER on THIS for Wednesday, December 10th, 2008 by Jeff Maziarek in SPIRITUALITY SIMPLIFIED
“From my experience while traveling the path of spiritual growth, I can confidently say that once you begin in earnest to seek a deeper understanding of yourself, as well as the nature of existence itself, it’s impossible to turn back. The more you open your mind to new ideas and concepts, the more you will want to explore. There is no way around it; it actually gets into your blood.
This discovery is a fascinating process; one that is incredibly rewarding, and at times very demanding as well, simply because spiritual growth requires that you step out of your comfort zone. It also requires that you become increasingly open-minded, and focus more and more of your attention on the present (i.e., on this life), rather than looking toward the potential afterlife rewards typically touted by organized religion.
Traversing this path is a lot like walking a high wire without a safety net, because unlike traditional religious practice there is no rigid dogma that exists to provide you with all of the ‘answers’. Instead, on this path you take on the responsibility for finding your own answers to questions such as: Who or what is God? What is the proper code of conduct for me to follow? What is the purpose of my life? What is the meaning of life in general?”
~Jeff Maziarek, in “Spirituality Simplified”
Visit Jeff Maziarek at: www.PonderCentral.com and sign-up for daily inspirational excerpts and wisdom quotes. For more information on Jeff Maziarek’s book, Spirituality Simplified, go to: www.SpiritSimple.com
Spirituality Simplified: Wake Up To Life!
PONDER on THIS for Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 by Jeff Maziarek in SPIRITUALITY SIMPLIFIED
"No resource has had a more profound impact on my spiritual growth than the live recording of a workshop by the late Fr. Anthony DeMello called Wake Up to Life. After just one session – a mere seven hours – my life was forever changed for the better.
DeMello’s Wake Up to Life is inspirational and thought provoking, and his presentation style is both entertaining and forthright in nature. Throughout the course of this seminar, he shares many valuable insights on a wide variety of subjects, and provides a very systematic approach to dealing with negative emotions to which he refers as the “Four Steps to Wisdom.” Each of these steps is summarized in the following excerpt from Awareness, The Perils and Opportunities of Reality: the book version of Wake Up to Life:
"The first thing you need is awareness of your negative feelings. . .Get in touch with those feelings first. . . .The second step, is to understand that the feeling is in you, not in reality. . . .So stop trying to change reality. That’s crazy!. . .The third step: Never identify with that feeling. It has nothing to do with the “I.” Don’t define your essential self in terms of that feeling. . .The fourth step: Understand that when you change, everything changes."
The beauty of this approach is that it is practical, simple to understand, and easily put into practice. Based on my experience working with this technique, if you will begin to apply them in your own life, I truly believe that your relationships and overall peace of mind will improve.
For complete information regarding these Four Steps to Wisdom, read pages 78–89 of Awareness, by Fr. Anthony DeMello.”
Jeff Maziarek, in "Spirituality Simplified"
Jeff Maziarek is the author of Spirituality Simplified. For more information, visit: www.SpiritSimple.com.
Also check out the daily inspirational quotes Jeff provides at www.PonderCentral.com.
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The Belief Formula
