The challenge that is before all of us if we are to create a better world is bringing our spirituality into expression in daily life. We are spiritual beings in a human experience. Our true identity is not physical but spiritual. Our human body is a vehicle in which our immortal spirit journeys in this physical world seeking to liberate itself from the bondage of ignorance. Ignorance of our true identity is the root cause of unhappiness and lack of fulfillment in the human experience. It is the darkness that breeds fear, insecurity, loneliness and low self-worth. If we are to experience true freedom and happiness we need to explore the depths of our spirituality and bring it into expression in daily life.

We are multi-dimensional beings

Most of us live trapped in the illusion that we are mainly physical beings. As a result, we are unable to cope with the aging body and live in fear of death. Even though we may have an idea that our spirit lives eternally we still live in fear of physical death. This shows how little we know of our true identity. We are beings of greatness living in the illusion of weakness and limitation. We are like the proverbial lion that grew up among sheep and thought it was a sheep until another lion challenged it to look at itself in a pond of water.

Do we have an existence beyond the body? Let us explore this. Beyond our physical existence is a dimension of subtle energy that influences our physical being. We are mental, emotional and intellectual beings. These powerful instruments exist and operate at a subtle level influencing every aspect of our lives. Their source is in our spiritual being which is our true identity or essence. The challenge before us then is to know ourselves and to bring this knowledge into expression. Knowledge is power. This is the knowledge that will allow us to live without fear and experience the fulfillment we are seeking in our everyday lives.

If your existence is so much more than the physical are you not interested in discovering all that you are? The wise ones say that to discover our true reality just requires the sincere and strong desire to do so. If our desire is strong enough, they say, the door of knowledge will open itself graciously to us. Let us seek true knowledge and not be content to live in ignorance of who we really are. Ignorance breeds fear and misery.

Living in the Light

We are essentially spiritual beings. At the very core of our being is a source of infinite goodness, peace, love and wisdom. We are beings of light. If we are really established in our true identity, fear, loneliness, insecurity and low self worth will all disappear naturally and effortlessly in the same way that the darkness of the night gives way to the light of dawn.

Our spiritual being is the most powerful part of us. When awakened it transforms every aspect of our lives. It brings true happiness, one that is beyond sense gratification. Worldly pleasures excite our senses but are short-lived and leave us unfulfilled. In probing the depths of our soul we get an experience of a happiness that revitalizes us and fulfills us deep inside. We feel love and joy arising within us as an endless stream regardless of what is happening around us. This allows us to influence and transform events around us positively. Our spiritual being when experienced lights up our inner and outer worlds.

When centered in our spirit we feel ageless and a sense of inner wellness even when the body is challenged with illness. The spirit of youthfulness continues to shine its light bringing gracefulness as we age. There is a feeling and look of wellness at every age. Knowing that the body is influenced by our thoughts and feelings, centered in our spirit, we feel tremendous power to heal ourselves by our positive and loving intentions of well- being.

Even the fear of dying disappears in spiritual awareness as we know that the body is only the vehicle of our soul’s journey in this world. In our spiritual being we have the knowing and deep feeling that our existence is beyond the body and at the time of death we lift out of the physical into another dimension of existence.

Mental and Emotional Mastery

The challenge in our daily lives is to be able to manage our mind and emotional being. This requires training. When our thoughts and emotions are out of control we can be hijacked easily by undesirable ones that prompt us to act in ways that we later regret. Mental and emotional self-discipline is so very important in our lives and yet so little attention is given to this training in our development. Amazing, isn’t it? How are we going to be a truly civilized society without such basic human development?

Our physical, mental and emotional being becomes conditioned by our habits and so needs to be trained. We need to learn how to be silent as we listen and observe, be non-judgmental as we interact with others and to embrace thoughts and feelings that uplift us and those around us. We need to be able to balance head and heart and not be emotionally dead or hijacked in our dealings with others. This ability comes naturally with spiritual awakening and development.

As I grew up thinking that human development was intellectual, something seemed to be missing. My heart longed for the feeling of true love and happiness in every moment and my restless mind was ever seeking a space of perfect rest and renewal. My ego searched for a self-identity that would lift it from fear, insecurity and loneliness. All my educational pursuits had no space for this. I was left unfulfilled as a young man in my early twenties. I was missing perhaps the most important part of my education.

I felt that this was such an important part of my life that I could not let it go unfulfilled. I searched for the training that could fill this vital and necessary gap in my education. Thus I began my spiritual search. This took me on a journey to India and led me to the path of Yoga which brought about a phenomenal change in my life. I became awakened to my spiritual being and power and learned how to make my mind my friend. I developed a new sense of self-identity becoming more aware that I was a spiritual being in the human experience. I learned how to observe my thoughts and emotions, to embrace the ones I wanted and to detach myself from undesirable ones. I learned how to listen without being judgmental and to treat others with respect and love honouring the spirit within them. This was such an important part of my life’s development that it empowered me to serve my world in a better way. I wish that our education system would have this vital part of our development in its curriculum especially in the early stages of life.

I used to think in my childhood days that praying and meditation was just for certain times of the day. Now I know that this can be in every moment regardless of what activities we are involved in. Just being aware of the presence of the spirit transforms every situation. Every moment in our lives can be one of meaning, purpose and joy. We need only to be centered in our spiritual being – the center of Light within.

Choosing Mentors

Those who live in the light are the ones who can really guide us on Life’s journey. As we seek and select mentors let us choose the ones who are examples of what they teach. The blind cannot lead the blind. Be cautious of those who speak much and whose actions are not consistent with their speech. The ones who are true to their words carry an inspiring and energizing presence. Associate with those who can uplift you and be careful of picking up unconsciously the bad habits of those whom we cannot avoid. We need to be more aware of the impact of peoples’ presence in our lives and to choose our mentors carefully.

We need better leaders in our world today. We cannot move forward as a society unless our leaders embrace and express noble human values. If we are in leadership positions let us learn to serve with love and respect knowing that service to humankind is divine service.

Together we can create a better world

If we begin to live in the light of our spiritual being and express this in all of our activities we will touch our world in a very special way. Our presence will impact upon others even if we do not intend it consciously. A fragrant flower transforms the entire atmosphere around just by its lovely presence. Can we do the same - transform our space just by who we are? The more we touch the lives of others and they, in turn, touch many others, there will be a time when the consciousness of the world will shift due to the collective power. Like ripples in a pond, individually and collectively we influence the whole.

. May we be instruments in co-creating a more loving, peaceful and progressive world.

The Blue Star is non-profit organization that is dedicated to self-transformation,
holistic living and community service.