A Sensational Soul Journey

When the Master climbs down, he does not lose anything because he knows that at the next moment he will be able to climb up again. Suppose a child at the foot of the tree says: "Please give me a fruit; please give me a most delicious mango." Immediately the Master will bring one down and then he will climb up again. And if nobody else asks for a mango, he will sit on the branch and wait. Here on earth, if one human being has something to offer and the other person does not take it, then the first person gets furious. He says "You fool! It is for your own good that I am giving it." He will scold the other person and be very displeased if his offering is not accepted. In the case of a spiritual Master, it is different. He will come with his wealth, but if humanity does not accept it, he will not curse humanity.

Even if humanity insults him and speaks ill of him, he will not lodge a complaint against humanity to God. With his boundless patience he will say, "All right, today you are sleeping. Perhaps tomorrow you will get up and see what I have to offer. I will wait for you." If you are fast asleep and someone pinches you and shouts, "Get up! Get up!" he is not doing you a favour. You will be annoyed. But the spiritual Master will not bother you; he will not ask you to get up. He will stay beside your bed and wait until you get up, and the moment you get up he will ask you to look at the sun.

If he is a real spiritual Master, he will not lose anything if earth rejects what he has, because he is well established in his inner life, in his inner consciousness. Again, if humanity accepts what he offers, he does not lose anything, either. The more he gives, the more he gets from the Source. Just as in the ordinary life the more knowledge we offer to others, the more we get, in the spiritual life also it is the same. A spiritual Master will never run short of Peace, Light and Bliss, because he is connected with the infinite Source of all.

Ordinary aspirants or the so-called Masters have limited capacity. If they give away something, they cannot replace it. But when one is in touch with unlimited capacity in the inner world, his source is like an ocean. One cannot empty the infinite inner ocean. The real Master wants to give everything to his devoted students, but their power of receptivity is limited. So he tries to widen their vessels and make them as big as possible so that the students can receive the Peace, Light and Bliss that he brings for them. But he cannot force an aspirant to receive more than he has the capacity to hold. If he does, then the vessel will give way. So a Master can only pour and pour and pour his infinite Light into his students, but once the limit of their receptivity is reached, it will all be wasted on them.

In many cases, other people in our lives are the text we rub up against, and they often help us discover ourselves.  I don't think it's an accident that so often, when something bothers us or when we feel deeply hurt, we tend to turn to other people, whether they're friends, lovers, rabbis or therapists. 

One could say that we do so in part because we know we need to turn over our problem, to find a new perspective ... and this process is always easier and more powerful when another person is there to console us and, in some cases, comfort our hard-held truths.  By talking to someone else, we are automatically broadening our context.

1) That we are all born of God…but we are not always aware of this until we remember.

2) That we are all one…this is a derivative of item number one. We are not separate; although we are individual…we are all one.

3) God is love…unconditional in this love for us.

4) Heaven or the place where this God-Source resides is our true home. Earth is our learning place and God can be found here too. We are only separated in that we are in body form…where God is formless.

5) I have an ego, but I am not the ego. I am Spirit…I am one with God and God is one with me.

6) The ego is only my disguise on earth. It is my identification with that which seems separate from God.

7) That God has set up a network of helpers to help us along our soul’s progression and evolution. These workers can be human beings, and spiritual or formless beings of all kinds…angels, Spirit guides, etc.

8) God can and will speak to us through all things…humans, nature, dreams, guides, angels, books, and literally though any medium it desires.

9) That “hard” times, problems, challenges, etc. are here to make us strong and not meant for our ill…but our good-will.

10) That we are not to avoid problems, fears, hurts, or any emotion…all emotions are to be welcome as they will always lead us back to God even though they might feel constrictive in nature.

11) I am learning that my feelings are important…all of them are meant to be felt completely.

12) That we live many lifetimes in order to experience all that we can. The more experience we receive the more advanced we become as far as the evolutionary circle is concerned.

13) That we are to embrace all of life and every event, circumstance, as if it were divinely planned for us.

14) That the ego is not our enemy as it will identify issues that we need work on. It is a real friend even though it seems to be a foe at times.

15) That evil is only a polarity of good. Opposites are here on this plane to show us if anything…what it is we don’t like.

16) Most of our problems are not a result of an enemy or a Satan that is against us. We have the ego that fulfills this role without provocation from something else outside of ourselves.

17) Love is the real pathway to God.

18) We are eternal beings like God…for we are made in its image.

19) That this lifetime right now is you’re most important one.

20) That you can carry forward as it were some past life challenges into this present life.

21) To get in touch with the higher part of you, you must come to embrace unconditional love for yourself and others.

22) That forgiving yourself and others as they seemingly harms or hurt you undoes the ego in you.

23) That to forgive is actually the releasing of yourself even more than the releasing of others who have transgressed against you. Forgiveness is an act of God.

24) When we blame others, or anything, we are not taking personal responsibility for ourselves.

25) If you don’t like what you are experiencing in life, you can change it by a mere thought of something else you want.

26) Our thoughts are fecund with the creativity of God itself.

27) Truth does not need to be defended. Truth stands the test of time and eternity.

28) Our truths change with our experience.

29) Truth can only be realized and actuated by experience and not by mere knowledge.

30) Truth as it were is perceived through our senses and experience but is individual for every person. We all see a little differently which is good.

31) No one person has complete truth or ultimate truth…only parts and pieces of it.

32) Learn to laugh at yourself and others in a kind way. Your ego will want to take everything too personal.

33) You will make plenty of mistakes while walking on this earthly plane. It is a great teacher what we call experience.

34) Listening to our hearts will always lead us to truth and to God.

35) Every human being has a right to be here.

36) God does not make clones as we all have free will as one of its greatest gifts.

37) God loves diversity as all of mankind, vegetable, plant, insect and animal life show us this as well as the universe.

38) God is bigger than you can ever believe. Don’t put it in a box with your puny beliefs.

39) God can be found in all things, circumstances and events in ones life.

40) In the end…which is never a total ending…we always find God.

Angels were created by God and never and never had a physical form. I think some misunderstanding occurs because the departed can become spirit guides, which are what many of us think angels are. 

A Spirit Guide is someone who lived on Earth, died, and has been chosen to come back from the other dies... to help and counsel those on Earth.  The difference between an angel and a spirit guide is that angels are beings that have never lived on Earth.  They have only had an existence in another dimension.

Keep in mind that we're talking about Spirit Guides who once existed on Earth.  There are other types of spirit guides such as: 

*  Spiritual beings of advanced intelligence with the capacity for space travel, who come from other planets to aid us individually and give us assistance for the betterment of our spiritual progress.

*  Entities from another dimension who were never human, who can phase in and out of our lives, offering advice with only a thought - no transportation needed.

*  Ascended Masters such as Jesus, Buddha, and other others to name a few.

*  In some instances, angels can act as guides in the form of protection.



Some might want to come back to work on Earth - and that, too, can bring blissful happiness.  The pay is zero, but the satisfaction is tremendous.... and besides, you won't have any bills to pay on the other side, anyway.

Yes, you can be a spirit guide when you die.  However, you can't just walk into the Supreme Being's office and say, "I'm ready!  Send me out there!"  You'll need to "qualify" to land the job.

Spirit guides come in all different forms, even though they're dead.  But there are a few things they all have in common:

1.  They've passed over to the other side successfully.
2.  They're willing to help guide and teach those on Earth who have asked for help.
3.  They only deal within their own expertise or experiences they learned on Earth.
4.  They strongly assist the living in looking at their options but they don't necessarily tell the living what to do.
5.  They recognize their limitations and don't give false hope to the living person they're counseling.

Spirit guides operate at a higher vibrational level than we do here on Earth.  They've already crossed over, went through a life review and now have the option to stay on the other side, help counsel those on Earth, or incarnate and come back as volunteers for a special purpose.

In other words... they don't have more earthly lessons to learn; they don't even have to be here anymore!  They've "chosen" to help guide others through this life.

Some people think that while we're waiting to incarnate back to Earth, we make arrangements with someone who's with us on the other side, to act as our spirit guide.  Following this theory, the spirit guide has to be someone who is already dead by the time we're born.  So your main spirit guide, for example, can't be your Grandfather, who passed away last year.  You couldn't have known him while you were waiting to come back to this life - he was already here!

However, some people believe that our main spirit guide can have a helper or two, in which case, Grandpa might be a guide for us but in a lesser form.

We contact our spiritual helpers because life is much easier with assistance from a higher source who has more knowledge of our future than we have ourselves.  You can call upon as many spirit guides as you like.  There are different spirit guides for different things.  However, you have one main guide who acts as your general attendant.

There is a myth that the older the soul, the more spiritually developed you are.  To many, a number of incarnations implies sort of guaranteed progress.  But we must not forget that many people repeat the same pattern from life to life... while others learn the first time out, that fire burns. 

The number of incarnations is not important.  How you use them is the key.

The motive behind our deeds is the key to soul development.  Some are fortunate to learn this earlier than others, thus, needing fewer physical lives in order to master themselves.  Different souls have different aptitudes.  Everyone will learn in his or her own time.

Each one, reach one.

Reach out and touch someone.

Let it begin with me; let it begin with you.

Over the years, dozens of marketing slogans and even more songs have encouraged us to express kindness, understanding and even love to others.

Our actions don't have to be grand gestures or extraordinary behaviors, to make a difference in someone's day.  They can be small things, such as a smile, a friendly word, or even a cup of coffee.

When we get in the habit and express these light touches of caring, not only do we make the world a better place... but we make our own lives better.  We become more loving people, and fostering such an attitude offers its own wonderful reward.

We all know people who have known from birth almost that they had a calling - to be a dancer or parent or salesperson. A calling that had a life of its own, a force that was so strong they couldn't resist it. Here's the truth: We all have a calling, several in fact. A calling is a vocation in any area of life: work, relationship, or lifestyle. Our callings or vocations are the forces that pull us toward being more authentic - toward lives centered around what we want, and even more important, what we love.

We can be called to DO something, like train as a surgeon, publish a book of short stories or start a non-profit venture. We are equally as likely to be called to BE something as well - more creative, more compassionate or more truthful. Any calling we hear is our natural birthright. No calling is better than another nor is one person more worthy than another to follow their calling.

Here are three very general steps to identifying and following a calling:

• Listen. The universe is constantly asking us to follow our callings. When we don't know what they are, it gives us signs and signals. For example, one client overheard a conversation in a coffee shop that was exactly what she needed to hear at the time, as if the words were spoken directly to her.

• Respond. Once we've identified a calling, we need to respond "yes or no" to it. Sometimes we answer consciously, and sometimes unconsciously by turning a deaf ear to the calling. When we hear the calling, but don't respond, the universe pushes and prods us.

• Take action. All calls must be translated into action at some point or another. There's an art to the timing of action. When it's time to take action, the universe will up the ante until we do.

I'll share an example from my own life. About four years ago, I knew that one of my callings was to be a coach. I knew it like I know my own name. I started exploring the field, registered for a training program and told friends and family. I was taking action, right? Well, the universe wasn't satisfied. I was still working at my social work job, a job that I had described more than once as "killing my spirit." I continued to work there for the salary. (Let me be clear: sometimes continuing to work for your salary is a necessary leg in your journey). The universe upped the ante, and gave me a wake up call. I was presented with a scenario at work that compromised my personal integrity so much that I couldn't write my letter of resignation fast enough. A colleague later commented, "The universe really gave you a swift kick in the pants, didn't it?" She was right.

Here's a sampling of possible signs that you are being prompted to follow a calling:

• Synchronicity. For example, three people recommend the same book to you in the space of the week. The message is clear - go get the book.

• Wake up call. An unexpected turn of events occurs, for instance, you become ill, you lose your job or a relationship ends abruptly.

• Intuition. You know in your gut that there's a new direction in which you need to head.

• Body signals. Your body is wise, and will communicate with you when you're not getting the message. For example, if you have a persistent pain in your neck, what's a "pain in the neck" in your life? See if the two are related.

Take a look at the spectrum of your life right now. What's calling to you? Which calls are you answering right now? Is it time to translate a calling into action? In the end, we are called to be ourselves more fully - to give expression to what resounds in our souls.

Beyond the angels are the beings we are used to calling the archangels,they tend the larger arenas of human endeavor. These beings are from a different family from the angels. There are many different kinds of archangels in this larger family. The four we are most familiar with are Gabriel, Michael, Raphael, and Uriel.

MICHAEL (Archangel):

Michael is surely the best known of the archangels. Michael is acknowledged by all three Western sacred traditions. He is believed to appeared to Moses as the fire in the burning bush, and to have rescued Daniel and his friends from the lions' den.

To Christians, he's the angel who informed Mary of her approaching death. Islamic lore tells us that his wings are the color of 'green emerald and are covered with saffron hairs, each of them containing a million faces and mouths and as many tongues which, in a million dialects, implore the pardon of Allah.'

In the Dead Sea Scrolls Michael emerges as the 'Prince of Light' fighting a war against the Sons of Darkness in which he leads the angelic battle against the legion of the fallen angel, Belial.

Michael is the protector of the Christian Church, guardian angel of Israel, and commander-in-chief of God's angel armies. He led them during a war in heaven in which Satan and his fallen angels were driven out of the clouds.

Even though he lives in the seventh heaven. Christian art and iconography shows Michael with a sword or with a scale weighing the souls of the dead.

GABRIEL (Archangel):

Gabriel seems to be our most frequent visitor from the higher realms. He astonished Mary, and her cousin Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, with the pronouncements concerning the births of their respective sons.

To the followers of Islam, Gabriel is the Spirit of Truth who dictated the Koran to Mohammed.

In Jewish legend it was Gabriel who parted the waters of the Red Sea so that the Hebrews could escape from the Pharaoh's soldiers.

According to court testimony of the time, it was Gabriel who came to Joan of Arc and inspired her to go to the aid of the dauphin (the eldest son of the king of France).

Gabriel's apparent ongoing interest in this planet is most probably due to his function as heavenly awakener, the angel of vibratory transformation.

Gabriel in Hebrew means 'man of God', and is seen as God's messenger.

Described as a human figure with long hair and multi-colored wings and often seen holding a scepter or lily.

RAPHAEL (Archangel):

Raphael is perhaps the most endearing of all the angels, and the one most frequently depicted in Western art. His image is featured on the canvases of such masters as Botticelli, Titian, and Rembrandt. He appears to be the high archangel charged with healing the Earth. Raphael is the travelers guide, guardian of youth. The ruler of the second heaven shows up in Christian paintings carrying a pilgrim's stick, a wallet and a fish.

The poet Milton has Raphael eating supper with Adam and Eve in Eden. Raphael's career seems to be peppered with medical missions. He healed the pain of circumcision for Abraham as the old man had not had the procedure done when he was young.

Raphael was then sent by God to cure poor Jacob's thigh after he'd bee n roughed up by Samael. And it's also claimed that Raphael gave Noah a much-prized 'medical book' after the flood. There's a legend that when Solomon prayed to God for aid in building the great temple in Jerusalem, Raphael personally delivered the gift of a magic ring with the power to subdue all demons. It was with this 'slave labor' that the Hebrew king completed the construction. Raphael has also been called 'a guide in hell,' which after all is where healing is needed the most.

URIEL (Archangel):

Uriel is ranked variously as a seraph, cherub, regent of the Sun, flame of God, presider over Hades and, in his best-known role, as the Archangel of Salvation.

Like Metatron, Uriel is said to be one of the angels of the Presence, a most high posting since only the highest voltage angels can sustain the presence of God. Uriel is thought to have been.

"the spirit who stood at the gate of the lost Eden with the fiery sword."

The Book of Enoch tells us that it was Uriel who was sent by God to warn Noah of the impending flood, and elsewhere it is written that he disclosed the mysteries of the heavenly arcana to Ezra, and that he also led Abraham out of Ur in the Chaldean region.

Some have claimed that the divine art of alchemy was brought down to Earth by Uriel, and that it was also this angel who gave the Kabbalah, the Hebrew mystic tradition, to humankind.

Enjoy yourself - it's later than you think. Does that sound like a frivolous statement or the title of a whimsical song? Not to Socrates (BC 469 - 399), for that was one of his teachings. Although life was shorter then, his words are equally valid today. He wasn't suggesting that we should party all day or avoid pain and seek pleasure. Rather, he was teaching us to fill our lives with joy and to share happiness with others.

Imagine for a moment that you are in the Bahamas. It's a glorious day. As you walk down the beach, you feel the hot sand crunch under the soles of your bare feet. You step up to the ocean. It laps your feet, gently swirling around your ankles. The sounds of laughing children and splashing waves surround you. The smell of the salt spray allures you deeper into the white foam. You leap in and taste the ocean that you have now become a part of. You are experiencing joy.

The value of a vacation is that it becomes easier to let go of our past regrets and future concerns and concentrate on the present. When we do so, we are leaping into the ocean of life, which isn't made of saltwater, but of joy. We don't have to travel to find happiness, for it is wherever we are, if we only allow ourselves to experience the present moment. The American Golfer, Ben Hogan, put it this way, "As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round."

Because joy, bliss, exuberance, ecstasy, rapture, and euphoria are intense feelings, we sometimes mistakenly believe that extreme circumstances are necessary to experience them. Not so. We don't have to win the lottery to know ecstasy. It is the endless parade of small pleasures that creates joy. In Benjamin Franklin's words, "Human felicity is produced not so much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen as by little advantages that occur every day."

For us to experience the truth of Ben Franklin's words, we have to be AWARE of all of life's small pleasures. After all, we can't smell the roses when we're asleep. The purpose of life is to experience it. And to experience it is to experience joy. When we have joy, we have all. Remember, each moment of life is a gift. If we fail to experience this moment, we will never relive it, not even in our memory. Do we really want to let a day go by without laughing, singing, whistling, humming, or smiling?

Is it warm or cold where you are? How do you know? We cannot know one without experiencing the other. Unless we experience pain, sorrow, and suffering, we cannot know joy. When we are realize that misery is the flip side of happiness, we can continue to experience joy in our darkest moments. For our suffering forecasts the happiness we will soon experience. Don't we enjoy winter for the contrast it provides and for its promise of spring?

If we appreciate the little that we have, we will enjoy much. It doesn't make sense to chase after more and more. For those who endlessly seek to accumulate things will soon discover they have more possessions than they do joy. Instead of buying more of what we don't need, it would be far better to enjoy what we already have. Joy, then, is also doing without some of what we think we want. Overindulging in possessions and pleasure reduces our happiness and numbs our joy. To be satiated is to be bloated. To do without some of what we want is to be in control, have self-discipline, and appreciate what we have.

Another mistake we make is to try to cling to, or hold on to, what brings us joy. Yet nothing remains the same; life is in flux. Here today, gone tomorrow. My computer may crash, loved ones may die, possessions may be stolen, and my health may fade. Joy comes only to those who don't hold on, or as John Berry wrote, " The bird of paradise alights only upon the hand that does not grasp." To be ever aware of the fleeting nature of life offers two benefits. First, we will seize the moment, relish this instant, and enjoy the present. Second, when calamity strikes, we won't be surprised; we'll be able to shrug our shoulders and say, "That's life."

Isn't it strange how the same set of circumstances is viewed so differently by various individuals? Some complain, "You can't depend on anything in life. Life is full of uncertainty." Yes, it is. But why is that bad? Actually, uncertainty is a major source of joy. Don't the complainers like surprises? Don't they embrace challenges? Don't they enjoy solving puzzles? Sometimes opportunities for joy are staring us in the face; yet we remain blind to them.

The subtitle to the newspaper headline reads, "Tired Slovenian feels 'only ABSOLUTE HAPPINESS.'" It refers to the 38-year-old ski instructor, Davo Karnicar of Jezersko, Slovenia, who, on October 7, 2000, became the world's first person to ski down Mt. Everest. Can you imagine the joy he experienced? He not only conquered Mt. Everest, but he conquered fear and overcame brutal obstacles. We are not all skiers. Yet, like Davo, we are all adventurers. Whether we embark on an adventure or not, is our choice.

The great news is there is no need to travel to distant Nepal for our adventure. We can experience it wherever we are. How? Begin by making a list of ten things you are afraid of, but would like to do. Next, begin your adventure by doing the first item on your "Afraid-to-Do" list. After completing it, cross it off the list and add another item to the end of the list. As you do so, you will replace fear with joy, failure with victory, and self-limitation with liberation. You will lead an adventurous life! Isn't that what we were meant to do? British Poet Robert Browning (1812-1889) thought so, for he wrote, "Oh the wild joys of living! The leaping from rock to rock ... the cool silver shock of the plunge in a pool's living waters."

I interrupted the writing of this article to drop into the local coffee shop. After arriving at the front of the line, Cathy said, "Do you want the usual?" She repeated it in a louder voice, "DO YOU WANT THE USUAL?"

I read the story of the skier, Davo Karnicar, while I was waiting in line at the coffee shop and it must have still been on my mind.

Apologizing, I said, "Sorry about that. Yes, I'll take the usual." She immediately quipped, "Why didn't you hear me? Were you still asleep?" "No," I answered, "not asleep, just entranced by your flawless beauty."

Cathy was so pleased by what I said that she stamped my coffee card twice. As I left, I reflected how every encounter we have is an opportunity to experience and share joy. Wouldn't you agree? May your joys be as deep as the ocean, your sorrows as light as its foam.

Conscience is not the voice of God; it is the gift of God

Did you ever hear of someone travelling to a distant land in search of a guru who would reveal the path to happiness, peace of mind, and a meaningful life? If you had the time and means, would you want to take such a trip? Suppose a spiritual master moved into your neighborhood and welcomed seekers into his home for audiences at no charge, would you want to attend? Guess what? A Great Guru not only lives in your community, but has chosen your home as their residence; in fact, this Great Teacher lives in you! The name of the teacher you search for is CONSCIENCE.

Our conscience is more than a Great Teacher; it is a Great Treasure. For if we choose to follow the gentle urgings of this Great Gift from God, we will know happiness, have peace of mind, and experience a life rich with meaning. On the other hand, should we choose to ignore the prodding of this Great Friend, our constant companions will be stress, regret, worry, fear, anxiety, guilt, shame, grief, and despair. Those who wander on the path of life without the guidance of their conscience are a pitiful sight, for as St. Anthony of Padua writes, “Blind are they who see not their own conscience; lame are they who wander from the right way.”

Consciousness is awareness of all things while conscience is specialized awareness; it is the awareness of morality or the difference between right and wrong, as well as the awareness of perfection. The soft whispering of our conscience directs us to avoid wrongdoing and to carry out acts of goodness. It also inspires excellence, for it is an urge to become more godlike. Since God is Perfection, we have a natural inclination, when it is unimpeded, toward endless growth.

Our conscience is not the Voice of God, but the Gift of God. Why? Because God’s ‘Voice,’ or Truth, is eternal and changeless. Yet, our conscience changes throughout history. Here’s an example. In 1748, at the age of 16, George Washington wrote, “Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.” Throughout his life he worked hard to follow the urgings of the Divine Spark flickering in his breast. Yet, when he started farming at age 22, he did so with the assistance of 36 slaves. Over the years, the number of slaves grew, until at his death in 1799, his estate had 316 slaves. So, you see, despite his wish to live a moral life, he suffered no pangs of conscience regarding slavery. But today we know better; we know slavery is grossly immoral.

Our sense of right and wrong is inculcated. It is taught to us by society, and it becomes part of our belief system. Although society shapes us, we also shape society. Some of the more enlightened among us question things. They rebel and reform society, so future generations are brought up with consciences more attuned to the Will of God. Conscience, then, is not the Voice of God but His Gift. It is a mechanism that evaluates the worthiness of our desires, urges, and actions. It is a moral compass that points to goodness and excellence, AS IT IS UNDERSTOOD AT THAT TIME. It is dangerous to believe our conscience is the Voice of God, for when we do so, we use an unenlightened or perverted conscience to justify, slavery, genocide, war, and other atrocities.

Our conscience is a Great Gift because it leads us to the path of happiness and excellence. It is also called our Inner Voice, Higher Self, Inner Wisdom, Voice of Reason, True Self, Inner Light, or Divine Spark. However, because of the endless chatter in our minds, confusion often reigns. You see, we don’t hear one voice in our head, but two. The second voice also has many names. It is called our Ego, Lower Self, Inner Child, Inner Critic, Wounded Self, False Self, or Inner Demon(s).

The second voice, or False Self, is created by identifying with the false opinions that were foisted upon us during our childhood. Born innocent, trusting, and fearless, we may have been told by our caregivers that we were clumsy, stupid, and bad. Not knowing any better, we accepted these opinions as our own, which became part of us, and for many, they continue to be the source of pain and unhappiness. To return to the path of happiness, we need to reestablish communication with our True Self or Conscience. But its voice is often drowned out by the clamor belched out by our False or Negative Self. Here are some steps you can take to enter into dialogue with your conscience and benefit by its advice.

1) Learn to distinguish between the two voices. Your False Self tries to gain advantages over others and control them. Its motivation to act is based on fear, suspicion, revenge, anger, and hostility. It believes that the world does not provide enough to go around and you have to take your share before someone else beats you to it. It lives in a world of distrust, worry, and anxiety. It is negative in outlook. On the other hand, the promptings of your conscience are based on trust, compassion, unconditional acceptance, understanding, and kindness. It seeks harmonious relationships in which both sides win. In a word, one voice makes you better, the other bitter. One is about what you want and can take from life and the other is about how you can contribute to it. One is about living with a grateful heart, no matter how dire the circumstances; the other is about living with a greedy heart, no matter how large your bank account.

2) Learn to hear your conscience. To bypass the chatter of negative thoughts, raging emotions, and tempestuous temptations, you will need to spend some quiet time with yourself. Your conscience is your best friend. Relax in a comfortable chair, without distraction, and give it the opportunity to speak to you. With patience and practice, your conscience will always be at your side, available for guidance.

3) Learn to think before you act. Instead of acting in the heat of the moment, pause; think things over, and act rationally and morally rather than emotionally. Faced with a choice, choose to do the right thing, to be responsible. Develop sensitivity with constant awareness and practice. A highly refined conscience reacts to wrongdoing as quickly as an eyelid reacts to dust.

4) Act quickly. The first twinges of conscience are a warning, but those that follow will lead to feelings of guilt, unless acted upon. Listen to your conscience and it will be your friend. Ignore it and it will be your judge.

5) Rethink your code of ethics. Is it up-to-date? Do some reading or take a course on philosophy, ethics, or religion.

6) Remember that the voice of conscience is not a suggestion, but an obligation.

7) Also remember that to know what is right and not do it is as bad as doing wrong.

8) Measure your happiness. It is the barometer of your conscience. The extent of your unhappiness indicates the degree to which you have strayed from the path.

9) Judge your progress by your actions, not your good intentions.

10) Keep a spiritual journal. List your achievements. Indicate what areas you plan to improve. Monitor your results.

11) Evaluate your motives. Don’t do good for acclaim or happiness, but because it is the right thing to do.

12) Gain liberation by becoming the master of your life. Do this by becoming the slave of your conscience. The freedom you will gain is not the right to do what you want, but the power to do what you ought.

13) Follow your conscience religiously. The more you do so, the better acquainted you will become with the most wonderful being in the world, your True Self.