Going For the One (Reprise)
Michael Turner
© 2010 by Michael Turner
"Listen to Life"
- Yes
Hi There!
Well, January is upon us, and with it a new year, and decade. This
last quarter seems to have been particularly intense. Ever since
October it feels like life has been kicked into high gear – spiritual
acceleration coupled with merging into the fast lane of the holiday
season. Everything around us appears to be in a flux, and I am
reminded of that classic line by Yeats (and used by Joni Mitchell on
“Night Ride Home”):
“Things fall apart
The center cannot hold.”
This is a very dynamic time in which we are living. The Wind of
Change is blowing fast and furious, upsetting ossified habits and
traditions. The Kal, in its endless mischief, is always seeking to
stir up trouble, fomenting physical, emotional and mental turmoil. It
thrives on conflict and disruption, for this distracts us from
focusing upon Naam.
Unremitting negativity has been aimed at the president by the
opposition since the day he took office. It has been designed to feed
public anger, fear, apprehension and mistrust, and then make the
president the focal point for these negative thoughts and emotions.
A central theme of Surat Shabd Yoga is spiritual freedom, which
entails engaging in karma-less action. It is appropriate to take
political action and discuss differences of opinion and policy. This
is, after all, a world of duality. However, do not allow extreme
swings of emotion and mind to knock you off balance. Even if you
oppose someone’s political policy choices, do not resort to demonizing
that person as an “enemy”. As you place your attention upon, and
allow it to be increasingly absorbed in, the Shabda, all of the
surrounding chaos will come into perspective. You will view all in
balance, from your center as Soul, and make appropriate choices.
In the midst of political, social and psychic turmoil, keep your
attention riveted upon Naam. It you are a winner in the last
election, always be guided by Divine Love, and show compassion for
those who lost. If you are on the losing end of the stick, work with
Naam to develop the gift of discernment. Do not resort to the same
opposition tactics you so recently decried in the other party. All
sides have good points and bad points. It is important to always
follow the middle path of Naam and not be swayed by the emotional and
mental manipulations of any particular viewpoint. It is crucial for
us to maintain balance, charity and forgiveness in all of our
dealings.
The Way of Divine Spirit is a way of inclusion and unity, not division
– a way of healing, not wounding – a way of upliftment, not
degradation – a way of expansion, not contraction. While humankind
will always have issues around which we disagree, it is imperative
that we remember that that which binds us is far more important than
that which divides us. We are all children of the same Holy Creator.
We are brothers and sisters in Soul. While we may disagree at times,
we must remember – even in the midst of our disagreements – to love
one another, as our Creator loves us.
“Ain’t no time to hate.”
- Robert Hunter
In the orgy of mudslinging, emotional and mental manipulation which
has taken hold of the democratic process, and which can confuse the
best of minds, one can always find inner peace, poise and perspective
within the Shabda. Shabda is the singular principle of Truth. It
raises one above body consciousness and duality, wards off all
negative influences and enables us to see all in perspective.
“It’s the Flute of God, the Wind of Change
The Akash Bani’s Song.
It’s a Force of Love in a world deranged,
And we all can sing along.”
- Anami Dhun
Shabda (Naam, Word, Holy Spirit) is the one point of constancy in a
world mired in chaos. It is the sword of eternal Truth that cuts
through the Gordian knot of Maya. It is the beacon of hope in the
midst of despair, the ringing, radiant Voice of our Creator, forever
calling us back home. When we are anchored in Its eternal song of
true love, one is not swayed by the practitioners of psychic
manipulation.
There is a plethora of psychic teachers and teachings pervading the
planet at this time, including extraterrestrials, ascended masters,
channelers, etc. None can guide us to self-realization, God-
realization or spiritual freedom in this lifetime, except the living,
physically-embodied Satguru. The Satguru is the giver of Naam, the
anchor point for Naam and divine wisdom in this universe.
“You’ve got to get in to get out.”
- Genesis
The rope of Naam, held by the Satguru, will pull you through the
morass. The Inner Master is simran personified – a beacon of truth
and constancy, an anchor point for Soul. It guides you out of the
mental plane's roomful of mirrors, the causal plane's chamber of 32
doors. Satguru, and Shabda, will show you which is the real door to
Truth.
“Understand the Voice within
And feel the change already beginning.”
- The Moody Blues
What must be understood is that Shabda alone is real. It is the core
of all existence. All else is illusion. Seek the Eternal Word. Keep
your attention riveted to It. Merge with It. It is the essence of
all that is, the fundamental building block of all creation. It is
the golden thread of Divine Love from which is woven the tapestry of
life. Before the lower, dualistic universes of mind, emotions and
physicality were formed, Shabda was.
“In the beginning was the Word,
And the Word was with God,
And the Word was God.”
- John: 1-1
“It was before all ages began.
It exists now, O Nanak!
And shall exist forevermore.”
- Guru Nanak (“Jap Ji”)
“Strip away the body, blood and bone;
Prepare yourself to face the unknown.
Beyond emotions, memory and mind,
The one thing that you'll always find is Soul.”
- Anami Dhun
By going within, listening to the Eternal Word, and letting It lift
you up into ItSelf, you will blossom into self-realization. You will
come to directly experience your essence, and know your true nature,
which is Soul.
As my brother and sisters have said long before me, our fundamental,
core identity is one of being eternal, self-aware particles of God-in-
Expression. We are microcosms of Its all-pervading macrocosm. As we
unfold into self-knowledge, we become aware of our divine nature. My
Master, Sri Darwin Gross, constantly made this basic point: self-
realization precedes God-realization. By becoming aware of, and
merging into, the LightSong of this God Essence of Divine Spirit, we
attain spiritual freedom and learn to become compassionate, creative
co-workers with the Divine, and conscious instruments for Its
expression.
As awakening souls, it is important to show daily gratitude for God’s
love, for Its gift of life and this human family. This world is a
gift. Everyone we meet is a particle of God consciousness, and an
opportunity to learn and grow. As Bob Marley once sang,
“One love, one heart;
Let’s get together and feel alright.”
Thank you...with Love,
Michael Turner
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SFS/
alt.meditation.shabda