What is Spiritual Unity? Spiritual Unity is the Reality. It is not just a fact, it is the Reality, and the consequences of ignoring it are dire! This Reality is referred to in many languages and in All religions and Spiritual Paths. (In Islam it is called Tawhid, and is the central theme of the Religion.) This Reality is the basic foundation of all the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Yogic, Buddhist, Zen, Hindu and Taoist teachings. it is the Reality from which these teachings come and the Reality to which they lead. It is by means of the Realization of Spiritual Unity (the Endless Reality, Self-realization, God-realization) that the True Love we are seeking can be known and felt, and the Safety, Security and Confidence that we need to be successful in life can be understood. So what is the process by which the Realization of Spiritual Unity and the True Self can occur? This process is called "Spiritual Practice".

The first thing we need to know is that the Universe is created to work in our favor, not against us. The only thing working against us is our preconceived notions, and we can lose these notions and experience the reality of the Universe working in our favor if we want to, if we choose to. But then there are two questions: How do we get the Universe to work in or favor? Well, we don't! It already is. So How can we prove it and consciously perceive it? Well, it takes a little risk. Are you willing? You simply need to relinquish your preferences, or your attachment to your desires, and take a fresh look at what's already going in your favor. We need to experientially confirm and affirm that things are OK as they are, and that we really do not need to make any improvements. Affirming that things are OK as they are has a couple of benefits. 1) It increases gratitude, and that's always a good thing because we know that gratitude is the key to increase. And how's that, you say? If you are grateful for what you have you'll use it properly and the proper use of existing resources is the key to gaining increase. And, if you are grateful for what you have and are using it properly, you'll 2), stop complaining about what you don't have and the cessation of negative attitude will go a long way toward propelling you into the future you want.

"OK", you say, "but it looks a little hard to do on my own".

I understand, and the Buddha formulated a principle for exactly that problem, and it applies to all religions, educations and spiritual paths. It's called "Buddha, Dharma, Sangha." and it means, loosely "Teacher, Teaching and Student Body, or Community".

The Teacher is required because as you know, we can most quickly learn from one who has mastered the subject under consideration, (in this case, Life, or Spiritual Unity) and if it's a valid subject, it most assuredly has its masters and students.
The Activity of Teaching as well as the Doctrine of the truth of the reality and method of attainment of the subject under consideration must also be present, and finally,
The Proof is in the Pudding - Are the Students happy, successful in their endeavors and inviting.

What the masters have realized is that any subject or problem, contemplated long enough, reveals its secret. We draw near to us that which we seek. So the more we focus on understanding the Reality of Spiritual Unity, the more we will learn about it and from it. And a Master is one who stays focused on a subject until he or she has truly mastered it. This focusing on understanding the Reality of Spiritual Unity is called "Spiritual Practice".

Now there are three levels to learning, or 'realization'.


The word "realize" (or "know") has three distinct meanings:
1.    We realize when we know for a fact - intellectually;
2.    We realize when we see it in action - actually; and
3.    We realize when we feel or know it in our entire being - intuitively.

The first Knowing (factual) is of the mind, and often we think that that is the end of knowledge, what we know to be true in our minds. But there is more. For example, we all know in our minds that science corroborates the reality that All is One. OK, but - the question remains, how does this knowledge actually help us? How can we put it to conscious use for our personal and collective betterment?

We all have a thirst for endless unconditional Love. This is the longing that God put into the hearts of men and women to cause them to seek the way home. A true knowing of Spiritual Unity, the Reality of "All is One", is what is necessary to open our hearts to receive it.

Imagine sitting down with your grandfather as a little child and asking him why he and your grandmother were still together and he talked to you for hours on a subject called Love. Now you know that your mom and dad love you but what granddad is talking about seems so different from what you experience as a child with loving parents. Now you 'know' that love exists, but that's the extent of your knowledge.

The second "knowing" is what happens when as a young adult you're strolling through the park and you see a beautiful couple totally wrapped up in each other. You see it all around you and it seriously intensifies your desire to experience it. It makes you want it all the more.

The third level of 'knowing' love is when it actually happens to you. You've met someone who likes you in a way that's different from your other friends and it makes you feel really good, so much that you do not want to be around any one else, only this person for the rest of your life. Aha! So this is it! Now you Really "Know".

All this goes to show the importance of really Knowing Spiritual Unity. Because it is only in the Real Knowing that the thirst for limitlessness and endless unconditional Love can be quenched. And in order to experience the fulfillment of this bottomless thirst one must enter into a way of life that both supports and promises it. Such is the way of the truly spiritual life. (See The Eleven Principles of Progressive Development)



1.    Before we can benefit individually we have to think collectively.

We all receive from the collective. It is in the collective consciousness that in order to receive services we must pay our bills. Receiving payment for our services allows us to practice "what goes around comes around" by paying for the services that we receive. That is a basic example of receiving from the collective consciousness. So if there's no collective thinking there are no benefits to the individual except as a result of his own personal efforts, which leads to loneliness.

2.    In order to increase our benefit from the collective we must contribute to it.

This is evident (or should be) in the payment of workman's comp, social security, taxes, bills and compliments. If you want her to love you you've got to tell her how beautiful she is to you and that you love her, right? It is obvious that the more we contribute to our community, the more support the community has for us. Try as we may to exercise rugged individuality, we are dependent upon the cooperation of others in order to survive. This is called the principle of interdependence and as soon as it is brought to consciousness in a community the community becomes a conscious one.

In order to come to any viable conclusion to a useful question we must indeed think about it, and in some cases thinking proves to be fruitless, because we just don't know. And thinking, to us, means researching our brains. But we have two other centers of intelligence within us that we frequently overlook. Ever noticed how sometimes we just simply give up on trying to solve a problem and no sooner do we do this than the answer comes to us, and sometime in the form of an idea toward another approach. Now the people who have thought this out have thought this out. And some of their conclusions are:

• Oftentimes our minds cannot reach a conclusion that our hearts already know intuitively.
• Oftentimes we cannot read our hearts but our guts are trying to tell us something.
• If we spend some time regularly cultivating these two other sources of intelligence we will come up with some surprising results/answers/conclusions.
• So the idea of cultivating all three centers of intelligence may produce significant insights, even wisdom.

How we do this (cultivate all three centers of intelligence) is another process which we learn with practice, but we cannot practice what we have not yet even conceived. So this idea is one worthy of deep and introspective consideration. If applied, this concept of the three centers of intelligence will help us to answer the question, "How does the "knowing" that "All Is One" actually help us?"  And ultimate we will reach the third degree of the process of "Realizing" Spiritual Unity.

Any subject or problem, contemplated long enough, reveals its secret.

From that realized standpoint, understanding the 11 principles of Progressive Development will become easy. Then there is only to follow them to their conclusion and behave accordingly.

And what are the consequences of not undertaking this endeavor? Simply stated: "More of the same", and it keeps getting worse. And aren't we tired of the futile effort to perpetuate an illusory position of "separateness"?

Some of the conclusions I've reached concerning the investigation of this question are:

• Knowing that All Is One assures that we are provided for, that we may continue work of social significance instead of pursuing the amelioration of our fears of survival.

Ever noticed how the 'rich' seem to have the confidence and resources to do good works if they were to so choose? It's not because they have richness but because that richness assures them of sufficiency setting them free of those concerns to do the good works they may intend. If we were assured of the same sufficiency, would that not set us free also to do works of social significance, were we to so choose? Does not the realization of Spiritual Unity prove such assurance? We can do a workshop on this point alone, for those who have difficulty comprehending it.

• Knowing that All Is One provides us with the resource of infinite love, should we choose to open ourselves to it. And again, another workshop on Opening Ourselves to the Reality of Infinite Love. With that resource alone individuals can and have been known to accomplish works of tremendous significance.

• Knowing that All Is One provides us with the understanding of the human situation that allows for pragmatic compassion, which in itself is a great motivator towards good works.

• Knowing that All Is One provides us with the contentment that we all are longing for. 
  

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w/love
ali

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