Hi Carole,

It is hard to put something we read into practice, isn't it? No matter how much it makes sense, it can be so difficult to turn all those words into something more tangible. The everyday life is so overwhelming that it really takes huge strength to resist its pull and try to do something internally. It's good to see those changes you mention, though.The author of the courses offered here once said that if we can become a bit more spiritual, we can also be a lot more spiritual.

The video "Finding the truth today" contains some teachings on that struggle with the mundane:

http://belzebuub.com/aweekendmeeting2008

All the strength,
Matija

Hi Carole,

Have you taken the Self Discovery course yet? It just began this week so you not too late to sign up for it if you haven't.

The course can really help because not only does it give exercises to do each week to help us to wake up, but you can also join in live discussions with teachers and other students which can be really helpful too.

Best of luck with it :)

Strength to everyone!

Amy

Don't worry, you'll get what you need in life to bring out what needs to change. In the beginning (and always) it's very important to get the basics right, the awareness, self-observation, really find out what they mean. Mantras help to activate the spiritual senses, and give awareness a boost. Also being part of a group brings strength to your work. The further you go along this path, then the more and more the Divine guides your life to be what you need in order to learn, that might mean you get fired for no reason, or your car breaks down, or anything, life itself then is school, and so then the foundations you're now building get tested. If you are aware when something happens, or when someone reacts against you, or when someone insults you, then you spot the Ego, but if you didn't have the awareness right then you just react away inside the mechanism of normal life, reacting without understanding anything.

Best wishes :)
Jim

Hi Carole,

It seems that the mind driven by subconscious is like a mechanism operating on its own and it takes a lot to stop it working...but then there may be this amazing feeling of peace and joy really worth of fighting for.

This is not easy for all of us, this work requires super-efforts and otherwise it just doesn't work...mechanism keeps turning...chain of thoughts...daydreaming...fascination with ideas, memories, plans, images, name it...

The best with the practices, may the brief moments of clarity increase their duration as the pause between compulsive thoughts will become longer.

Hello Carole,

I find the same thing, trying to bring the knowledge out of the books & into the reality of daily life is not easy and it's something that everyone faces, I guess were all in the same boat!

The only time spiritual work happens for us is when we are aware, it opens the door for us to progress spiritually and we can learn about our internal makeup, so well done for seeing the difference between the aware state and the asleep state.

It's hard to do the spiritual work alone, interaction between people is really important and helps to give a strength to what we do spiritually, so if you haven't joined a course yet be involved as much as you can on the forums and in the chat, You'll meet like minded people and can share ideas and tips with each other until a course starts.

I've done practices by myself and in groups and there is a big difference in the strength when I've practiced with a group of people, you seem to be able to concentrate on the practice better, there is a strength or a force which really helps with that practice.

All the best
Steve