posted December 18, 2012 01:23 PM            

Man's greatest privilege is to become a suitable instrument of God.

Nothing is more beautiful than the vision of God. But nothing is more noble than to let God see visions out of one's eyes, so that He may look upon the world and serve the world and give the world all the succor it needs. This is self-sacrifice, which is sacrifice only of limitation and selfishness and brings one infinite capacity.

posted December 18, 2012 01:25 PM            

The trees of the forest silently await God's blessing.

May we all be trees.

The Hebrews have an article of faith which reads: "I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah, and though he may tarry, yet I will await his coming." Now the law of the Universe is that patience itself enables one to receive the blessing of God, for by that one escapes all the emotions that hamper one at every turn.

If man is wiser than the vegetable he must lead a wiser life, and he cannot do that until he learns all the wisdom from the lower creation. Every virtue of every rock, plant or animal can be cultivated and perfected in man. In the inner life, one often has to develop the qualities one finds in nature, and it is the development of these qualities that brings perfection. Self-surrender is not annihilation - nothing is destroyed, but the shadow-thought of self is turned into light and all the qualities accumulated by the soul are brought to perfection.

posted December 19, 2012 11:04 AM            

The plain truth is too simple for the seeker after complexity, who is looking for things he cannot understand.

How true

The emotional stir of things and the intoxication of the outer life are the great detriments. One who has become accustomed to them grows to love complexities. Now heart is not complex although heart may be considered as "involved". That is to say, one cannot by simple analysis find heart. Heart is simple but not analyzable. One cannot express the greater in terms of the smaller and still understand the greater.

Man is an aggregate of cells, let us say. Yet we can study physical cells forever and never discover man. This shows there is something missing in analysis. This something, every little child knows - as well as a loving mother and a kind father, often quite involuntarily - for it is the very nature of life which causes them to feel this something. This is Ishk, the great life-force of the Universe which is tendered to every man through Divine Guidance.

posted December 19, 2012 01:22 PM            

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~ I have a DO NOT DISTURB sign on my imagination ... because I want to frustrate the twins ... Convention and Dogma

~ The moment I cease to seek the truth, or settle for the truth in the moment ... that is the moment I cease to be a seeker, and become a fundamentalist instead.

~ The truest acts of charity are never disclosed ... they remain a secret between Man, the doer and God.
Because Man knows that each charitable act is an opportunity for him to revel in God just as God avails of His chance to revel in Man through every act of charity.
For them both to continue to rejoice in each other, Man knows he cannot allow worldly accolades to distract him. So he continues to act in kindness ... secretly.

posted December 20, 2012 12:04 PM            

An unsuccessful person often keeps success away by the impression of his or her former failures.

Failure is due to strong direction of breath. Concentration improves breath, especially spiritual concentration. Every thought affects the breath very appreciably. So by one's impressions one can move one's breath and so alter condition of mind and body. Thinking about failures is sure to increase failure and thinking of success will surely bring success in some direction. Therefore one is the cause of his or her own miseries.