Category: spirituality

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

Each traveler is a unique being and as such has an individual learning sequence.  All travelers are on the path to completion.  This is the Divine Command and the mission for which each soul was created and sent out into the universe.  Each soul is to travel and return more complete so they can reign in Kingship.  The universe governed is oneself and when one has become master of self- other responsibilities are added.

Before encountering a teacher, each traveler must undergo preparation. Often this   involves searching within them self and the world.  Looking for an answer to the burning question within: the traveler is not satisfied with what has been encountered.  Still there remains a yearning, an inner emptiness which is pushing the traveler toward the Source. This burning must be relatively free of self-interest and what will be gained from the search.  The Teaching will not enter a house that is filled with self. (more…)

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

When the end is in sight, many things go through your mind. Experiences, friends, successes, and failures fill the consciousness. Yet, the heart smiles at all of this; for you see, it knows the Goal and has been through this journey before.

The Great Wheel of Life keeps turning so we can experience ourselves and the Infinite in many different ways.  Like a video game, with level upon level, until we save the Princess- who is our selves. What people forget is that this journey or game can be accomplished in a second, 1000 years, or over and over again. Or we can play a totally different game and have an alternate experience, altogether. (more…)

by Shelley Anne Lewis

One way of living in sync with the natural ebb and flow of life is to consciously work towards improving the nature of our minds. The stories we repeat to ourselves create the framework we live in and gel our experiences together in a way that gives us a sense of who we are in the world. Making efforts through mind training to focus on altruistic behaviors can have resoundingly positive results. In the 12th century the Buddhist master Geshe Langri Thangpa recited eight teachings that became known as the eight verse mind training, these verses have been a beloved guide for students and practitioners ever since seeking to lead a more compassionate and heart centered existence, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama who recites the teachings daily and claims they form an integral part of his practice. (more…)

by Bob Makransky

Whenever I hear some spiritual guru proclaim that all you gotta do is “just think happy thoughts!”, it makes me want to pop him one upside the head and see how long he can keep on thinking his “happy thoughts.”

Take as an example Miguel Ruiz’s bestselling Four Agreements, which exhorts readers to “Be impeccable with your word; don’t take anything personally; don’t make assumptions; always do your best.” The degree of profundity or usefulness of this advice is beside the point; it does a disservice to the reader. No effort was made to explain why it’s impossible to be impeccable with your word (in a society based upon lying to other people and yourself); not to take things personally (when all your social training is pointed at inflating your self-importance); not to make assumptions (in a society which discourages thinking for yourself, or thinking at all); or why it’s impossible to do your best (in a society which teaches you to cringe helplessly and wallow in self-pity). (more…)