I've
taken to sneaking out early in the mornings before the rain begins to walk in
Lithia Park amidst the Ashland Creek, squirrels, ducks, birds and trees.
For me, being in nature allows greater clarity. I find it easiest to
recognize deep truths within myself when I am in this place.
I began my morning walk contemplating how I relate to my Divine. The term "my Divine" was introduced to me through Oneness University and the Deeksha Oneness Blessing. It's meaning has to do with the way in which each of us defines our own divine aspects and the divine aspects of life and the universe. Some may regard this higher power as God, or Light, or Universal Intelligence. Some may talk to Angels or Faeries, Buddha or Jesus, Creator, Saints or Ascended Masters. Some may regard Nature itself as the entire expression of Divinity. Others may have a beloved family member no longer embodied here on earth with whom they share their most intimate thoughts and to whom they most readily turn for help.
According to the Avatars, devoted Monks and sages at Oneness University, to whom or what we relate doesn't matter so much. Each of us has full authority to define our higher power in an image and likeness that suits us. It's the "if" and "how" we relate that can make a profound difference in the quality of our life experiences. We've been advised that the best way to cultivate a strong, loving and powerful relationship with our Inner Divine is to use the very best relationship of our life as a model, be it mother or father, sister or brother, husband, wife, minister, mentor or friend.
Personally, I would suggest improving upon even our best relationships by adding qualities that may be missing. How would you describe the very best relationship you could ever have with someone? Would it be loving? Joyful? Playful? Productive? Respectful? Truthful? Empowering? Trustworthy? Dependable? What if you could throw in 'capable of providing everything you could ever ask for’?
Through the years that I've been contemplating these questions I've come to the conclusion that my Divine Indweller has many different faces, but the benevolent characteristics and capabilities that I've assigned to each of them are very much alike. The issue confronting me was not the nature of my Divine, but the nature and quality of the way in which I engage with it.
This is where my contemplation about unworthiness enters the picture. And authenticity. I can't expect my very best relationship to reflect qualities that I myself do not demonstrate or honor. And considering that Divine Consciousness has no self-concept and is bound by the Universal Law of free will, any response it generates to me is likely to be of the same manner in which I engage with it.
Divine. Omnipotence. Unconditional Love. Supreme Consciousness. Mother Father God. The Source of All That Is! Have I felt worthy enough in my requests and expectation of results, or trusting enough of the profound power that is available to me? Have I really been transparent and truthful in my relationship with my Divine?
I began my morning walk contemplating how I relate to my Divine. The term "my Divine" was introduced to me through Oneness University and the Deeksha Oneness Blessing. It's meaning has to do with the way in which each of us defines our own divine aspects and the divine aspects of life and the universe. Some may regard this higher power as God, or Light, or Universal Intelligence. Some may talk to Angels or Faeries, Buddha or Jesus, Creator, Saints or Ascended Masters. Some may regard Nature itself as the entire expression of Divinity. Others may have a beloved family member no longer embodied here on earth with whom they share their most intimate thoughts and to whom they most readily turn for help.
According to the Avatars, devoted Monks and sages at Oneness University, to whom or what we relate doesn't matter so much. Each of us has full authority to define our higher power in an image and likeness that suits us. It's the "if" and "how" we relate that can make a profound difference in the quality of our life experiences. We've been advised that the best way to cultivate a strong, loving and powerful relationship with our Inner Divine is to use the very best relationship of our life as a model, be it mother or father, sister or brother, husband, wife, minister, mentor or friend.
Personally, I would suggest improving upon even our best relationships by adding qualities that may be missing. How would you describe the very best relationship you could ever have with someone? Would it be loving? Joyful? Playful? Productive? Respectful? Truthful? Empowering? Trustworthy? Dependable? What if you could throw in 'capable of providing everything you could ever ask for’?
Through the years that I've been contemplating these questions I've come to the conclusion that my Divine Indweller has many different faces, but the benevolent characteristics and capabilities that I've assigned to each of them are very much alike. The issue confronting me was not the nature of my Divine, but the nature and quality of the way in which I engage with it.
This is where my contemplation about unworthiness enters the picture. And authenticity. I can't expect my very best relationship to reflect qualities that I myself do not demonstrate or honor. And considering that Divine Consciousness has no self-concept and is bound by the Universal Law of free will, any response it generates to me is likely to be of the same manner in which I engage with it.
Divine. Omnipotence. Unconditional Love. Supreme Consciousness. Mother Father God. The Source of All That Is! Have I felt worthy enough in my requests and expectation of results, or trusting enough of the profound power that is available to me? Have I really been transparent and truthful in my relationship with my Divine?
I
have learned that my personal authenticity is key to my ability to be integral
in any shared relationship. This
awareness was not necessarily something that was instilled in me during my
upbringing. However, I do believe
that each of us has the responsibility to cultivate inner integrity which means
to be truthful with one’s self first and foremost. Only then will we be able to share in the grace of authentic
relationship with others, even the Divine Intelligence of life itself.
Speaking
to and with God is certainly not a new concept or idea, but if you are anything
like me you might appreciate updating or even upgrading your understanding of
how to best commune with this higher source of wisdom and knowledge. Even
miracles are possible when we learn to engage through our authentic self. It is entirely up to each individual to
determine what that truly means and how to go about it. For me it has become a daily
contemplation. I am learning to be
a witness to myself, my behaviors, and the stories I tell myself and
others. It is the willingness to
be honest with one’s self that is the means by which we become conscious of our
behaviors and the untruths that we harbor within us. Conscious awareness is all
that is necessary for change to happen.
Sri Bhagavan, the Avatar and
founder of Oneness University, has this to say about the presence of God and
access to the benevolent nature of the Universe: “In Oneness there is no creator 'God', the
creator and creation are one in Oneness. But there is also universal
consciousness, which is not the creator. This universal consciousness has no
qualities or form, nor any name. But it embodies all qualities. Like a tree is
embedded in the seed, all qualities are embedded in this universal
consciousness. You cannot relate to it in its entirety. You could draw out
certain qualities from this universal consciousness. What you draw out is your
personal God and it depends on you. You cannot be a pity person and create a
big God. It’s not possible.
“If you have grown, you then
could draw out many qualities from this universal consciousness. What you draw
out becomes your personal God, and you make use of your personal God for your
benefits, it could be worldly benefits or spiritual benefits. Just like you
make use of solar energy you could make use of your personal God for your own
benefit. As you keep doing this, you grow and as you grow your God grows.
And the bond between you and your God keeps increasing.”
I find this understanding to
be profoundly uplifting. Through
these words I have come to realize my part of the co-creative process of
personal healing and growth with the help of beneficial influences from the vastness
of the Cosmos. Oneness even offers
a teaching about designing our own God to help us learn to relate in the best
way that suits our personal preferences.
Seeing myself from this perspective has enabled me to recognize my
worthiness to receive profound guidance and enormous help from such a vast
repository of supernatural power.
I am also of the opinion that, as a whole, humanity can use all the help we can get!
