In response to a recent blog, "Wealth School is Fun!" one reader commented: "Wealth School could give me lessons on altruism and spiritual awakening".
On Monday this week, I went to view the winner of the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, "Tree of Life" which I very much enjoyed. It was long, colorful and did not have a strong plot, nor dialogue. What I caught my attention at the beginning was that it was about the force of nature and the presence of grace.
I believe that the dynamic force of nature and the presence of grace may be in a fundamental conflict. Do we give in to our more animal natures? Or do we ascend into higher planes of thinking? The choice is not either or, as I see it. We can learn to embrace both.
Speaking about this movie with some friends over lunch yesterday, one asked me, "What is grace?" I did not have an easy answer then. Now I would say that it is an absence of suffering and a presence of joy. Life just has a way of working well and is grace-full. Even life's challenges can be met with a frame of mind that is graceful. Do you know people like that?
A life working well is to me a "Way of Wealth." And since money is very much a part of our lives, managing ourselves well in relationship to our finances paves the way for a more gracious life.
Back to spiritual awakening and altruism from the comment mentioned above. Awakening often takes place in response to discomfort of some kind. Do the materially rich have it all easy and happily? Not in my experience. For many, money may bring misery -- such as envy and resentment from others -- and even an abiding sense of lack which continues to drive the ambition for more. None of us is exempt from the possibility of understanding our spiritual natures.
So what is it that enriches and fulfills us, that leads us to become spiritually whole?
Mother Teresa when asked how she accomplished so much, declared that she was in love. In love with Jesus. That and perhaps the passion for her dedication to help the poor and destitute. She had a noble calling. She was also a masterful fundraiser, fueled perhaps by the same passion and devotion for others in need.
Spiritual awakening is I believe a call from the heart to know and understand more of that essence within us that sustains our lives. Altruism is another call of the heart to give of ourselves in such a way that our core spirit is fulfilled -- the giving to a cause that speaks to us. to which we give without any expectation of a return.
We are not all Mother Teresas but we all have hearts that call to us when we listen. The call may be a gentle nudge that sets you off looking in a certain direction. It may be a feeling of dissatisfaction that seems to say: There has to be more to life than I am currently getting.
My own venture into spiritual awakening opened when I realized there was so much more to life than meets the eye. I continue to be curious, and discover more as time goes on. How could I e ever be complete with exploring the infinite?
What does it take to awaken to your spirit? Is there a degree course in spiritual awakening? How does life teach you to recognize and appreciate the spirit in and around you?
In my experience, lessons in spiritual awakening include seeing events within a larger unfolding picture, of which I am a small part. They include lessons in love, acceptance, gratitude and forgiveness such that I am free to experience the fullness of the present moment. They may start with the openness to hear, and to follow the guidance of your heart as it directs you.
We are each of us a gift for wealth. We have the wealth of our personal assets, of talents, skills, qualities and at our core, the extraordinary gift of our spirit awaiting to be realized and fulfilled. The expressions of our innate wealth lead to our greater experiences of wealth and fulfilment.
What are the lessons in spiritual awakening that have enriched you?
He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.
-- Patrick Naylor
For tips and hints on creating a wealthy life, go to The Wealth Book -- Winning With Spirit
Wishing you health, wealth and happiness -- in all of the many ways it can come to you!
Follow Anne Naylor on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Anne4Joy
Duane Elgin: Thriving in a Post-Consumerist Society
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AmritDev Singh
To be quiet
To be more loving
To be a friend to myself - the rest will follow!
Your Voice is another, for which I am most grateful, Anne !
Cara
I love your comment - thank you! Your description of awakening speaks to me of truly listening to your world and the sweet magic within it. Priceless.
Blessings to you,
Anne
Love = Success Wealth.
The grace of being in love with life and serving that beauty of our fellow humans is true wealth. Thank you so much inspiring all of us to awaken to the Spirit that is alive in each moment. Mother Teresa is such a profound example of the beauty of truly awakened soul.
Bless You,
Eli
What a joy to see you here - thank you for your warm presence of joy and enthusiasm.
Oh yes to: " The grace of being in love with life and serving that beauty of our fellow humans is true wealth. " This embraces so much.
God bless you abundantly in every way,
Anne
I define grace as "the right to objectively indulge in good and evil to find their purposes" which will cause any doing it to live without rejecting any form of life or attribute of man because they will understand why they are the way they are. Via reincarnation, we will have lived every attribute, gender, ethnic and characteristic of every life type on earth controlled by reaping and sowing or karma.
To me, that's what Grace is - a healing of peace that has been viciously violated. We don't restore the heart of peace by anger, or resentment, or cynicism - we restore the heart of peace by grace.
I have found that it is sometimes when the peace has been so violently shattered that the deepest prayers are uttered, and ushered in is a greater peace than was here before.
I love what you have written. Thank you for taking the time.
With appreciation,
Anne
not that appearances were not and are not real; as they are temporal expressions of the Real.
"The expressions of our innate wealth lead to our greater experiences of wealth and fulfilment".
change the word wealth to awakenings and/or compassion and I am with you on this one. but I know what you mean by wealth. the more one is awake, ie greater awareness, the less need for material wealth in spite of what most will teach you about life.
the greater the awareness the less of a need for any material wealth; save the clothes on their back.
few will agree with this statement. too difficult to accept. society tells us over and over that material wealth is not a hindrance or an indicator of one's spiritual awareness. the human ego is that deceptive. ie society's ego is that deceptive.
I agree that as we grow spiritually more aware and enjoy that greater awareness, the less we have an inappropriate dependency on the trappings of material wealth while, from my point of view, we can still be free to enjoy it.
I think it takes for us to wake up as individuals and able to discern for ourselves truth from falsehood in what we are told or read or hear. That freedom is precious.
With appreciation to you,
Anne
Joy to you,
Anne
We have missed defined many terms which leads us astray such as living=the process of learning the purpose of existence and religion=the way of life causing man to comprehend existence's purpose. With religion having "a belief in god [an abstract] as something to be worshiped" for a definition there is no way for man to find spirituality, but that is how destiny is designed.
The sun is always shining even when there are clouds -
No appointments No disappointments -
Follow your heart.
The mind is a terrible master but a perfect servant -
:-))
I love your comment - all of it...
The sun is always shining even when there are clouds -
No appointmenÂts No disappointÂments -
Follow your heart.
The mind is a terrible master but a perfect servant -
Thank you so much. Spiritually rich indeed, and in deed.
Huge love and joy to you,
Anne
I would think it should go without saying that if there is such a thing as correct spiritual information it applies to everyone.
Correct spiritual information has to be universally acceptable as far as I can see.
Blessings of Light to you,
Anne
Lovely work, as always.
You write: "I believe that the dynamic force of nature and the presence of grace may be in a fundamental conflict. Do we give in to our more animal natures? Or do we ascend into higher planes of thinking? The choice is not either or, as I see it. We can learn to embrace both."
G.I. Gurdjieff, in one of his more enigmatic statements, once said: "Animals eat plants. People eat animals. Angels eat people. Archangels eat angels. God eats archangels."
All of nature, I think he is saying, and all of spirit, is fuel for the fire of grace that is the Creator.....
At least, that's what I think this week....
All the Very Best,
William
Great comment.
"the lack of fear was the best gift i've ever received! "
I hope that life may continue to bless you in many ways.
With love to you,
Anne
My mother was diagnosed with cancer last month and is determined to fight it off. I have just bought a book for her that I want to recommend to you: it is Canadian psychoanalÂyst Guy Corneau's "Rebirth". In June 2007 Mr Corneau learnt that he had phase 4 terminal cancer. In June 2009 he had overcome the illness using traditionaÂl medicine in conjunctioÂn with new medical practices such as meditation and focus on nature.
I hope that the rights to this book were sold to the USA (I am a Norman).
I am sure that you can defeat illness and will look forward to reading your wonderful posts in the years to come.
With hugs and flowers...
You have such a wonderful spirit - and how fun to see you here again. I hope you are now healing well and enjoying much more of that joyful abundance!
With love and many blessings to you,
Anne
that the whole story didn't show up. I'd written that there's not one single thing I'd change or do differently having brushed up against death. That realization is, in itself, a tremendous joy
It takes a lot of discipline to do what you say and I am sure it pays off. That discipline probably has you feeling more in charge of your life and less a victim to financial storms.
Many thanks for contributing to the discussion.
Blessings to you,
Anne