Two Wolves

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.  He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all."

"One is Evil.  It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego."

The other is Good.  It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which one wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

You Are Your Own Guru

Have faith in your inner guidance system.  No one can teach us what we already know.  We are born with the seed of spiritual wisdom planted within each of us.  Our divinity is woven into the fabric of our souls.  Yet at times we need a pathfinder to shed light on what lies in the darkness of our temporarily un-awakened selves.  But know without a doubt that we are wise, loving and peaceful by design and let that actuality serve as our most firmly rooted truth as we progress in our spiritual learning.

Those, like me, who attempt to share spiritual wisdom are merely heralding philosophy we found that moved our hearts and felt true to our souls, and we want others to join in that rhapsody.  We’ve run our lessons through the filter of our experiences, upheld what rang true for us and abandoned what did not, just as everyone needs to do for themselves.

I am not implying that time spent with a spiritual teacher, religious leader or guru is wasted. True guides awaken us to and remind us of the truth, but do not take on the responsibility of our progress.  A real teacher illuminates the darkened pathway so that we may find our way along it. It is up to each of us to find for ourselves what is authentic and advance along the passageway.

We search outside of ourselves at times for guidance to set us on our course.  Different teachers may show many routes, but it is ultimately up to each of us to choose the right one.  Though we may look outward for direction, it is our inward gaze through meditation and heart and soul searching where we will find true wisdom.  Our hearts and intuition tell us what is true.

We know more than we may have thought and we will discover that fact when we listen to our “gut reactions”.  Spend time with the wise, ask questions and listen, but always check in with yourself to find if what is being shared with you is your truth.

Namaste.

Your Primary Responsibility by Alan Cohen

A friend confided in me that he was struggling to understand his responsibility in a world obsessed with war. I told him the answer is simple: choose peace.

While you cannot control the attitudes or actions of politicians or others, you have total control over the thoughts, feelings, and energy you are exuding. If you are steeped in fear, anger, a sense of victimization, or separateness, you are contributing to the darkness.

If you hold a sense of peace, wholeness, compassion, kindness, and the presence of love, you are contributing to healing. As Kipling nobly penned, “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing their's…”

Mother Teresa was once asked to speak at an anti-war rally, and she refused. “If it were a pro-peace rally, I would attend,” she explained. “But fighting against war, like fighting against anything, is just another form of war.”

Ram Dass recounted that on his altar he has pictures of Christ, Buddha, and many other spiritual masters. He has recently added a photo of George W. Bush. Why? As Ram Dass explains, “Until I can find the same divinity in George W. Bush as I find in other holy beings, I am stuck. When I can see and honor his soul, then I am in a position to protest. Until then, I am ineffective.”

The power of prayer and intention goes a long, long way. At any given moment the world situation is a precise expression of the consciousness of all the people who live here. As you shift your consciousness in the direction of peace, wholeness, and faith, you tip the balance in that direction. You literally become the tipping point for the world you would like to create.

Be less concerned with what you are doing and more concerned with how you are doing it. Actions that spring from fear or hatred, no matter how nobly clothed, create only more of the same. Actions that issue from faith and love, no matter how humble clothed, create only more of the same.

A visionary thrives under all circumstances, for he or she sees beyond the obvious. At this time the world needs good visionaries. If you would save the world, begin with your own consciousness.

The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale