Vernon Howard

SuperWisdom Weblog: Inspiration
Why do we wear ourselves out in the battling of life? Because we think we have enemies. Why do we think so? Because we unnecessarily dwell in the part of the mind which divides everything into opposites, such as enemy and friend, inferior and superior, failure and success. But there is another way of thinking which dwells above all opposites.

This new way can be called consciousness, awareness, unconditional perception, union with Truth -- or it need not be called anything at all. In this state, there is no anxious need to have either enemies or friends, for you rest within the friendliness of your own original and free nature.

There is no way reality can be prevented from flowing the way it flows. It is our vain attempts to force it to flow in the service of our imaginary needs which sets us in painful conflict with ourselves and nature. You are not separate from the flowing reality; you are that flowing reality. See this and you will not see anything else which conflicts with it. You will be what you see.

There are virtues and powers and I’m giving you the words that describe them. When you have the word, you can then go beyond the word itself, the sound and the writing of it, and live the word, live from the meaning of it. Here are twenty very valuable words from your spiritual dictionary: attention, quietness, receptive, honesty, authentic, simplicity, release, persistence, spiritual, relaxation, healthy, choice, independence, daring, perception, logic, sincerity, reveal, awaken, pleasantness.

Whenever a spiritual system is offered to you, try to see
everything you can about it. Try to see whether you accept it
as relief from anxiety, or reject it because it contradicts
your usual beliefs. Both reactions are wrong. Also, try to
see the personal motives of those offering it to you; find out
what they want. Ask the repairman in advance what he is going
to charge you.

Do not think of esoteric wisdom as being far off in some
remote temple in Tibet. It is as close as your own mind.

Love is not the losing of oneself in another person. That is merely escapism. Love is the natural radiation of our own healing, in which our own wholeness includes the other person, without thought on our part. The sun shines on everyone. However, an important point must be added here. Authentic love includes an understanding of the other person, based on an understanding of oneself. Love clearly understands the weakness and pretense in others, but does not condemn them in order to feel superior. The person who truly loves is never gullible, which keeps him out of trouble with others.
Vernon Howard