Enter this sanctuary time by settling down, becoming quiet, and breathing deeply a few breaths. Remind yourself you are in the Presence of Love. This place you are entering, within, is the inner Temple. Here, you are One with Spirit and all persons, and Nature. You may use a mantra, or prayer phrase, follow the breathing in-and-out, or witness the arising and falling of all around you as the manifestation of universal-Grace. Enjoy these moments of Quiet and come out when you are ready.

... "I finally found that You are enough" ...

... "My heart is all you want from me ... now I've realized ... Be still ... there is peace in knowing I am free ..."

*Anthony Evans. Be Still.

There is no question that meditation, at least when it is practiced with a view to interior silence, can be a peculiarly effective means of quieting the mind. However in itself it can only bear fruit at the level at which it is practiced, namely, the psychological. If … the level … of the ātman [Self, True Self, Christ Self] is not one peculiar to itself, but rather underlies all the levels of being, then it can be found at whatever level one may start from. But when one attempts to tie it down to one particular level – even to that of the non-mental and the suprasensory – then one has simply mistaken a substitute, or one of its images, for the ātman itself.

*Abhishiktānanda (Dom Henri le Saux). The Further Shore.

A lady had a precious necklace round her neck. Once, in her excitement, she forgot it and thought that the necklace was lost. She became anxious. She looked for it in her home, but she could not find it. She asked friends and neighbors if they knew anything about the necklace. They did not. At last, a kind friend told her to feel the necklace round her neck. She found that it had been around her neck , and she was happy. When others asked her later if she found the necklace, she said, “Yes, I've found it.” She still felt she had found a lost Jewell.

*David Godman. Be As You Are: Teaching from Ramana Maharishi.

The reason relaxing into the True Self feels so unnatural, is we have seen and lived unnaturally. We believe to experience who we are is not normal – is un-natural. Rather, in deep meditation, or one moment of relaxed, present awareness, True Self shines forth. Spiritual practices do not get us anywhere we are not already, they only clear obscurations for the Light to shine within and from us.

If I am who I am - or, I AM-, I am that at any level of awareness. I do not have to have any spiritual experience as additive to experience blissful, calm Being-Awareness-Love. "Spiritual" is another label. Do you think this is a spiritual experience, when you lift face to the warm Sun? If you said “spiritual,” would it change the Sun, or your experience of the Sun? No.

The pure Awareness of the Love you and I live in, such we find to be the most naturally, blissful enjoyment possible in life. This is our True Self. In This alone we are who we are, naturally and wonderfully.

The True Self arises, or shines forth, by surrender. Contrast this with seeing our spiritual path as getting something, as acquisition, rather than seeing something, or receiving something.

Enter into quiet meditation. Let arise identities that label you to others and yourself. With each one, interiorily reply, “I am not that.” Place the stress on “I am.” After a while, you will be in pure awareness. Rest there in the I AM, the True Self, where you and LIFE are mingling One in Love, in the Word, with holy Spirit. Amen.

OneLife Ministries is an independent ministry, but not presently with nonprofit legal status. Love gifts to support the spiritual Work of Brian Kenneth Wilcox are appreciated.

Thanks!

Brian Kenneth Wilcox

©Brian Kenneth Wilcox Ministries, and Love Light Fellowship. 01/25/11

*OneLife Ministries is a ministry of Brian Kenneth Wilcox, SW Florida. You can order his book An Ache for Union from major booksellers. To book events with Brian, go to Facebook and his page Brian Kenneth Wilcox, or write him at briankwilcox@yahoo.com .