"Love is not primarily a relationship to a specific person; it is an attitude, an orientation of character that determines the relatedness of a person to the world as a whole, not toward one ‘object’ of love. If a person loves only one other person and is indifferent to the rest of his fellow men, his love is not love but a symbiotic attachment, or an enlarged egotism. Yet, most people believe that love is constituted by the object, not by the faculty. In fact, they even believe that it is proof of the intensity of their love when they do not love anybody except the ‘loved’ person. This is the same fallacy, which we have already mentioned above. Because one does not see that love is an activity, a power of the soul, one believes that all that is necessary to find is the right object, and that everything goes by itself afterward. This attitude can be compared to that of a man who wants to paint but who, instead of learning the art, claims that he has just to wait for the right object, and that he will paint beautifully when he finds it. If I can say to somebody else, ‘I love you,’ I must be able to say, ‘I love in you everybody, I love through you the world, I love in you also myself.’ "

 Erich Fromm, in his book, "The Art of Living."

If you live in love, seeking God in earnest without giving up no matter how difficult your challenges may be, you overcome past bad karma and get glimpses of divinity. Then, as you progress, guided by Spirit, you begin to abide in and merge with the peace, love, light, and bliss of God. This is the highest, the most enduring and joyful kind of happiness there is.

For several years, in addition to silent meditation, I have practiced what I call wakeful meditation, wherein I experience all things in one vaporous flow of love and light, all while my mortal self, weighted down by ego, engages in physical and mental activities in dualistic consciousness.

Wakeful meditation is a form of meditative awareness during daily activities, in which one does not have to be in stillness and silence in order to be in God consciousness.

Brother Lawrence said, “The time of work does not with me differ from the time of prayer. In the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great a tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the Blessed Supper."

We create our world through the lens of our attitudes and feelings. Negative thinking and judgment adds darkness into the world, dims the light of the soul, and adds layer upon layer of veil to the almost-universal delusion that we are separate from God.
Negative thoughts and judgments cause us to feel separate from, instead of one with, each other and God. They create disharmony and limit our ability to feel grateful and loving. Gratitude and love open the heart and connect us with the object of our affection, whether it be God, nature or human beings. Criticism and condemnation tend to shut the heart down, making it difficult to realize that every person is, in essence, divine. For every soul is an eternal being, created by God from out of God’s own spiritual substance, and will in time realize its nature as immortal spirit and its oneness with God.

Sometimes, in our attempt to imitate what we learn from others, we get caught up in repetition, routine, techniques and rituals that leave us ignorant of who we truly are. We try to be someone we aren't. We look outward instead of concentrating inward for discovery of revelations of our own. Shakespeare wrote, "Unto thine own self be true." God is within ... Go there in love and be made whole.

With love, Mary Ann Johnston

In Messages from Jesus,  Jesus speaks about our darkness.

"How can we rid ourselves of this darkness?"

"The darkness can only be diminished or eliminated by your free will. No one else can take away your darkness; you must do that yourself. If someone were to simply take away your darkness, you would die a final death, with no chance to address what is lost.

"Your soul is freed from darkness and the light of your soul increases as you live in love, forgiving self and others, and eliminate desires. When your soul is finally free of darkness, your soul will be pure light.

"As I said many times, I came to free the sins of all through the message of truth and love. My life and death offers this perfection for all time, through forgiveness of all past karmic debt, for those who listen to the truth and live in love. Still it is up to you, using your own free will, to accept this truth and free your soul. As I said before, unless a soul be perfected, one cannot enter the highest heaven, into final absorption with God."

Following is my conversation with Jesus about abortion. You can find it in my book, Messages from Jesus, p. 277+

"What about those who have or perform abortions?"
 Jesus answered:

"There are so many individual situations that warrant or censure abortion. Even the fetus has his or her own karma, or is sent to intervene in the karma of the people involved, in ways unfathomable by the human mind. You cannot kill what cannot die. The soul lives on, life after life. Therefore, it is not for me to say to one, it is right, and to another, it is wrong. It is not for me nor you to judge. And, even when God intervenes, it is with love and guidance, without judgment. Life is precious, before birth and after birth. Life is precious, before war and after war.

"Do you condemn those who send your youth to die in war? Within your dualistic world, you perceive circumstances that warrant war, even as you perceive circumstances that warrant abortion. Therefore, I simply ask that whatever you do, do it with love.

"God loves everyone, not just the saintly. It saddens God and I that some of you who are or have been involved in abortion have feelings of guilt that affects your lives. You bury parts of the memory within layers of veil, and wonder why you experience stresses. Memories continue to surface, reminding you of the experience and of your feelings of guilt. I say to you, wrap your self with the love of God, forgive your self and others, come to terms with your feelings, and go on.

"If you aren't able to allow yourself to feel the love of God, I offer myself for you. I love you. I am here to bear your burdens, your sadness, and your feelings of guilt. Unburden your self onto me; then live and heal in each present moment, with love and with no concern over the past."

There was a slight hesitation of time within a beautiful, sweet moment of bliss. It brought me to tears thinking of Jesus relieving everyone of their burdens, if only they would go to Him. It lifted my love for Him to ever-new heights.

—Mary Ann

Jesus said, “If you are unable to have quiet time during your day, practice wakeful meditation in your busy life. In this wakeful meditation, go about your duties and encounters with love. Imagine each moment as the only moment, because it is. Live, knowing you are in the presence of God. Meld lovingly into all situations—into all people, children, nature, and even material things."

Love brings a different way of being. — Mary Ann
Messages from Jesus, Third Edition, p.47

One more mystic ramble . . .   No matter how well I can interpret and understand the global or individual reasons for suffering I still cannot remain a cool observer with a heart of ice, lost in my metaphysical heights and deaf to the cries of anguish reverberating from so many corners of our earth.  Much, too much, of the suffering is completely unnecessary.  We did not enter this physical experience to suffer but rather to expand in the joy and  creativity of all its endless possibilities.  But we individually and collectivey have make this part of reality what it is now.  The wars and all the world-wide suffering are but the outward expression of our inward fears and insecurities.  All the injustice, killing, and torture are manifestations of our own probing into the myriad possibilities of existence.  Not one soul participating in this maelstrom of global whirlwinds of ‘sufferance’ is here against his or her will.  We - our greater, inner, selves - have decided to experience this facet of reality as it is.  To learn and to GROW!  

We must do what we can to help our fellow man and to  increase the light on earth. Whatever you do, do it with love. —Mary Ann

First there is hugging, and then there is hugging. The hugging I want to address today, is a greeting hug found in people of like mind, gathered for spiritual reasons;  not with amorous intentions.

At Song of the Morning Retreat, hugging is something most of us do in greeting another person. This past weekend, a young man was at the retreat for the first time. When he hugged me, he took every ounce of breath I had in me and out it came in one big WHOOSH! I was breathless and gasped for air. Nothing hurt, but I was overwhelmed.

Later, he came with a group of people to our home in the retreat community, and this time I shook his hand. Then in front of God and everyone, making it fun, I taught him how to hug elderly; gently and meaningfully. For truly, loving energy can be exchanged with even the slightest hug.

I have experienced hugs from people who want the hug but are afraid of contact and separate themselves bodily. So it is a reaching hug, or a side way hug. I can certainly understand how they might feel. It is best to approach these people in the manner that they lead. For you can readily tell, with their body language, what they can tolerate or not tolerate. Just the fact that they want a hug is good.

For some it is near a full body contact hug with only the best of intentions. One friend of mine exchanges hugs with me that seem to go on forever. We energize each other as if we have been together for eons and then were lost to each other and were finally reunited. Each week, we look forward to our reciprocal hug. When we miss a week, we both realize the loss.

Someone once warned me that I should not hug everyone and give away my energy. I felt sorry for this person. I never give away all of my energy, for it comes from God and is abundant and overflowing. I can tell when a persons auric energy is low or negative, and each time, I attempt to lighten their burden, by giving love, yet protecting myself by receiving their negativity and giving it to God.

I realize there might come a day when hugging will be questioned. It already is; what with pandemics etc. It will be a sad day when we have to stop and think first of the consequences of hugging and exchange of germs etc, instead of letting go and letting God be in charge. I believe that the loving light energy that is exchanged in hugging is germ free. It can be done with a mask on, hands off, visualized, from the heart, and from a distance.

For those of you who just can't bring yourself to receive or give hugs, I find nothing wrong with that except that you are missing out in life. I once had a beauty salon and some women came in weekly for a hair-do. Several of them said, "No one touches me from the time I leave here until my appointment next week." They would always say this with sadness. What you give you receive. You get out of a relationship what you put into it. I have no idea how many of these women gave to others what they so desired.  Even a pat on the back or a smile, is an exchange of love and a part of hugging. 

In my Messages from Jesus book p.83,  in conversation with Jesus, He said,

"I am being serious. You shine. Everyone shines their light, some brighter than others. How do you think it is that you can send others light if you didn't have it inside of yourself?"

"I never thought of that. People often ask me how to shine light on others. It is difficult to explain."

"One simple way to explain it would be to tell people to smile on self and others."

"Wow, what a pleasant thought." I hesitated, smiling to myself, before going on. "Sitting here, smiling, I can't help but think loving, happy thoughts."

    "Yes, and you are shining brighter because of it. . . .

                              ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Shine on . . .   Mary Ann

 

Be still, my soul, and let me meditate upon our God,

For no appointed time, but far beyond,

As God has come to turn my darkness into light

And deliver me into radiance to end my night.

 

Be still, my soul, and know what God would have me see,

For I seek answers to why and what made me to be.

But there is no sound and nothing to be heard;

I strain to hear, within the endless light, a word.

 

All visions of imagined sin, evil, and warring might,

And conflicts … ceased … when from the vacant light …

From somewhere … everywhere … above,

I heard God softly whisper … “Love.”

 

The sound reverberated far in colorful light,

While iridescent waves joined in playful flight,

And my soul was merged in endless love,

Which filled my eyeless sight.

 

Amidst the loving echoes of God’s grace,

Worries of eternal boredom were erased,

And fantasies that seemed so real just yesterday

Were no longer in my way.

 

With love … My soul …

There is nothing more to know.

And for the world at rest within my heart,

I sing within, “My God how wonderful Thou Art.”

©Mary Ann Johnston

 

I gave myself up,
loosening the bonds of my human form,
to become dancing particles …
a transformation outside myself,
as in a euphoric dream,
delighting in love,
and in that love I was loved.

How is it that one can experience Oneness with all creation? Sometimes it just happens without calling it forth. It simply is. You just need to be open to receiving it and, when it comes, to recognize it and flow with it.  Here is one experience which I wrote about in Sustained by Faith. It occurred at Song of the Morning Retreat where I live with my husband George.

   The next day as I went into the Retreat dining room, I felt myself shift into a state of meditative euphoria in which I was aware of being one with everything before me. My memory clear . . . I remember it vividly, as if I were back there again.
   Almost startled, I looked up as I entered the dining room. Everything and everyone in it was lit up, as if a light had been turned on, outlining them in brilliance beyond what was physically possible. Everything slowed down. As I sat with others for dinner, everything was clean and bright and stood out.
People were chatting and eating, seemingly in a manner that was not different from the norm, and yet I saw it differently. As I watched the slowed performance, no one seemed aware of this phenomenon, nor was I moved to share it.
   George, unaware of what I was experiencing, sat at my right, and we ate this beautiful meal within the glow, in slow motion . . . . I saw that as everyone was eating, each mouthful was truly an action of devotion. And yet, they were totally unaware of it.
   Through the open kitchen door, I watched Carrie, one of the cooks, place desert on individual dishes with loving care. I was mesmerized by her undeviated focus on her task. She was simply meticulously placing pieces of pie on individual plates, with slow devotion to her task. I could feel her reverence. She glowed within the scene, unaware of everything around her, unaware of me, watching. Her movements were in slow motion, as each crumb was removed or put in its place, each piece of pie perfectly centered on the plate. God poured forth grace through her into plate after plate of pie, as she orchestrated perfection, and energy resonated outward, everywhere, encompassing all. This was truly soul food in its highest form.
   Within the moments between moments, I realized, from her beautiful, loving essence, that she was preparing to serve God. And I realized that truly every action we take is in the oneness and presence of God. Observing the action encompassed in the brightness as time slowed down, I was amazed at the unity of the whole as life goes on.
   I watched as each person was silently attended to. I watched this beautiful, egoless woman devotionally serve this desert to each guest, as if it were being placed before God. I watched as they ate it, seemingly unaware of its blessed state. I remember being served this love-filled pie. I don’t remember what kind of pie it was. I don’t remember eating it.  
   This phenomenon of brilliance-seeing has occurred in many instances throughout my life. And sometimes, if I look closely, I find it in unexpected places and it makes me ever more wholly aware of the oneness of all of God’s creation and that love exists in all, awaiting notice.

   —©Mary Ann Johnston

 

SECOND (Sacral/Navel) CHAKRA (Svadhisthana) 6 petals
Lessons: Balance in your emotional life, and being able to love and relate to yourself and others in positive ways.

Following are many attributes of the second chakra.

LOCATION:     1-2 inches below the navel, lower back, and sexual organs
PURPOSE:    Desire, continuation of the species, ethical center of the body, cravings, pleasure, creativity, harmony, attitudes regarding money, work relationships, changing habits, home of the inner child, faith/fear issues dealing with survival
ANATOMY:    Kidneys, mammary glands, ovaries, testicles, prostate, spleen    
CHAKRA PERCEPTION:   Heat in lower abdomen/hara area.
COLOR:    Orange
ELEMENT:    Water
ENERGY STATE:    Liquid
FOCUS:    Willing to feel, to be emotional
FORCE;    Prana
GEM:    Pearl, moonstone, orange coral, bloodstone, carnelian, amber
MEDITATION:    Meditate on peaceful sense of well-being
MENTAL/EMOTION:    Tears, pleasure, pain, able to be emotional    
NATURE:    Physiologic
PLANET:    Mars, moon
PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING:   Sexuality
RELATIONSHIP:    Discovering relationships that satisfy physical needs
SACRAMENT:    Communion
SENSE:    Taste, emotional joy, fear, anger
SOUND:    Flutes playing
SYMBOL;    Pyramid with the cap off
TONE/KEY:     Tone  Ohh,      key of D

HEALTHY FUNCTIONS:
When the second chakra is balanced, you experience clear thinking, emotions are intact and the mind is active. This chakra is influenced by how emotions were expressed or repressed during childhood.
PHYSICAL:        Comfortable with own sexuality
MENTAL:    Able to: express desire for positive personal power in  the form of material success, authority,  control, ownership. Able to survive financially and physically on one’s own, take risks, have resilience to recover losses, trust, cope with anxiety, love self, make choices, have confidence in self and others, have friendly concern for others, have a sense of belonging, have a good sense of humor, radiate warmth, cheerfulness, and compassion.
SPIRITUAL:    Able to be comfortable in the world, intuitive and clairsentient. Able to accept change.    

DYSFUNCTIONS:
Activated by issues related to inability to have good feelings about your self and others. You may not like who you are.
PHYSICAL:    Reproductive system, genitals, large intestine, adrenals, lower back, pelvis, hip area, appendix, lower abdomen, kidneys, bladder, constipation, muscle cramps, lack of energy, allergies, circulatory system, sciatica, ob/gyn problems, prostate, spleen, loss of weight, inhibitions
MENTAL:    WRONGLY DIRECTED ENERGY: emotionally explosive, overly ambitious, manipulative, caught up in illusions, see people as sex objects, controlling, delusions of grandeur, panic attacks, feeling victimized.
LACK OF ENERGY: shy, timid, immobilized by fear and lack of trust, overly sensitive, self-negating, burdened by guilt, difficulty coping with anxiety, fear of abandonment, lack of confidence.
SPIRITUAL:     See ethics, personal beliefs as the only way.
WHAT TO DO:    express creativity, dance, laugh, have fun.

©2009, Mary Ann Johnston

FOURTH (Heart) CHAKRA (Anahata) 12  petals

Following are many attributes of the Fourth Chakra:

The fourth chakra is the center between the lower three chakas (sexuality and self empowerment) and the upper three chakras (creative expression, intuitive knowing, spirituality and unconditional love). All chakras from the fourth and up are collectively the “seat of the soul”.

Lesson: The path toward spiritual consciousness is through love.
LOCATION:     Center of chest
PURPOSE:    Love, compassion, unconditional forgiving, acceptance
ANATOMY:    Heart, circulatory system, arms, lungs, respiratory system, thymus, lymph, immune system    
CHAKRA PERCEPTION:  Loving
COLOR:    Rose and emerald green
ELEMENT:    Air
ENERGY STATE:    Gas
FEELING:    Loving
FOCUS:    Love and radiancy
FORCE:    Higher astral
GEM:    Emerald, ruby, diamond, white sapphire, malachite, aventurine, green and pink tourmaline, malachite, green jade, rose quartz
MEDITATION:    Meditate on rose light and loving thoughts  
MENTAL/EMOTION:    Love, wisdom, emotional power
NATURE:    Personal    
PLANET:    Venus, Mercury
PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING:  Love, resulting in balance
RELATIONSHIP:    Unconditional love and forgiveness    
SACRAMENT:    Marriage
SENSE:    Love, touch
SOUND:    Bell
SYMBOL;    Cross
TONE/KEY:     A,    Key F#
YOGA POSTURE:    Pronam

HEALTHY FUNCTIONS:
When this chakra is strong, you are rising above the human limitations addressed in the lower chakras. You love and forgive unconditionally, and you care about the world and social issues. You know life from a heartfelt perspective.
PHYSICAL:    Able to experience a sense of well-being. Able to transform a sexual relationship into an unselfish and loving relationship.
MENTAL;    Able to be lovable and loved, to love and forgive  self and others unconditionally. Compassionate, empathetic, humanitarian, want to help others, have strong sense of stability, can wait for the right partner.
SPIRITUAL:    Able to be aware of your soul and experience bliss. Can demonstrate unconditional love to all in oneness.

DYSFUNCTIONS:
PHYSICAL:   Heart, posture, stress disorders, fatigue, difficulty breathing, insomnia, cancer, immune system, thymus, blood, vagus nerve, circulatory system, arms, chest, hands, ribs, breast, diaphragm
MENTAL:    WRONGLY DIRECTED ENERGY: Moody, demanding, complex personality, overly critical, possessive, martyr; love has conditions, inability to love and forgive.
LACK OF ENERGY: Paranoid, feel sorry for self, indecisive, dependent on others, guilt. Lack of commitment and letting go to follow one’s heart, feel unworthy of love, terrified of rejection, do not seek relationships, yet fearful of loneliness, need constant reassurance.
SPIRITUAL:    Constriction of flow of love, worry about karmic debt and fate  
WHAT TO DO:        Serve others with kindness,  listen to devotional music, play with pets, feed birds, hug others, heal others, forgive yourself, love yourself, let others love and serve you.

©2009, Mary Ann Johnston

I am off today for an over nighter, hoping to help a family avoid becoming homeless. What tragedy awaits so many people. The best we can do is reach out where we can. This is a stretch for us, taking us down to bare-bones. We need to open our doors and pantries, help each other and do it with no strings attached. Do it with love.  Jesus said to "Love one another."  He also said to me, "Whatever you do, do it with love."—Mary Ann

 

I often tell people what Jesus told me, "Whatever you do, do it with love."  It must give them the impression that there is a bit of pollyanna in me, that I think I never do anything wrong, and my head is in the clouds unwilling to acknowledge the darkness around me. 

I am realizing that I must explain further, that since we live in the midst of darkness we can't ignore it and thus it will go away. Truly I am very aware of the depth of darkness these days. All I have to do is watch the news on television.  I am also aware that when I give love to others, it is always reciprocal and returns back to me. If you feel unloved, love someone. Doesn't take much: a smile, a pat on the back, a phone call.   —Mary Ann

True happiness is far better than the oscillating state of consciousness that many people think of as happiness. What many call happiness is a restless state in which one is constantly focused on fulfilling material desires and avoiding painful circumstances. However, strong attachments to objects of sense pleasure invariably give rise to frustration, pain, or fear. When material desires are being satisfied, one is somewhat happy; the rest of the time, one is often frustrated or despondent. Unless our happiness is primarily of a spiritual nature, dark emotions periodically gain the upper hand and drive out peace, contentment, and joy.

The only way to become established in a truly happy state of mind is to go beyond the plane of the senses, with its alternating waves of pleasure, temporary satisfaction, disappointment, fear, boredom, and gloom. Through spiritual growth we can do this.

The highest kind of happiness is gained by meditating deeply, and then living and working with love in our hearts, not motivated by selfish pursuits that exclude the welfare of others, but for the good of all. When your life is an expression of the love and divinity within your soul, when you act out of the intuitive guidance of the Spirit within you rather than giving in to blind desires, you find that life takes on a new dimension, and you realize your higher nature, your higher self. You set aside the little self (the ego) in order to find the universal self (the blissful soul). The realization of your self as soul—immortal spirit, at one with God—is the highest, the most enduring and joyful kind of happiness there is.

—George

HAPPINESS

What is happiness? It is an indefinable, peace-filled state of being, in which a person feels content, free of worries, and satisfied. It is an ideal state that everyone, consciously or unconsciously, strives for. The quest for happiness motivates our actions, but few of us are able to be happy all the time.

Why is happiness so hard to attain and hold on to? Why does it slip through our hands so easily? Probably because it is a lofty state of consciousness and is easily obscured or extinguished by the intrusion of worries, cares, frustrations, anger, and other negative emotions. Happiness is, for most of us, a fragile flower, highly esteemed, which only keeps its freshness and beauty for a time, then fades with the arrival of fear, worry, restlessness, or strife.

In order to enjoy happiness most of the time, we must cultivate a state of mind in which it can grow and flourish without being destroyed by passing moods and personal difficulties. This is a great challenge for each of us, but we can learn to enrich the soil of our consciousness so that the flower of happiness will take root and be able to grow and endure. Happiness needs to be nourished by constructive thoughts: gratitude, respect for others, appreciation for the beauty in God’s creation. It must be protected from destructive emotions and attitudes that cause it to wither and die, such as fear, greed, anger, jealousy, condemnation. If we want to be happy, we must cultivate self-control and strength of character so that we can stay positive when things “go wrong”, and resist temptations so we do not fall prey to bad habits and materialistic attachments, which entangle one in a vicious circle of pleasure seeking, struggle and pain. We must live in harmony with universal principles of moral conduct, which really are guidelines for finding happiness, both as individuals and as groups of people.  Otherwise, we will be haunted by guilt and remorse, not to mention all the other misery-making consequences of selfish, self-centered attitudes and actions. There is no way to attain lasting happiness except by cultivating unselfish, constructive habits of thought and action. People who try to accumulate wealth or personal advantage at the cost of the well-being of others are only fooling themselves. They may succeed in their games, but their selfish, materialistic attitudes will prevent them from being able to enjoy the finer pleasures and joys of life. Peace of mind, meaningful relationships, and spiritual joys will pass them by.

The key to all of this is divine, unconditional love. To be happy, we need to live in divine love ... love that has no boundaries and is freely extended to all. Such love heals discord within ourselves, counteracts fear and other happiness-destroying emotions, and bestows peace of mind, contentment, joy, and harmony. It automatically produces moral behavior and brings us closer to God. With love, all things are possible, forgiveness flows easily, and emotional wounds are healed. As love lights up the soul, we both radiate and receive divine blessings, and the happiness we feel grows stronger and more enduring.

Now, along with living a disciplined, moral, constructive life, and dwelling in love, what else is required in order to be happy? Well, in this world, our state of mind is conditioned by the necessities of life—food, shelter, health, and so on; and these needs, in turn, can only be met by adequate income and a supportive environment that provide for our physical and emotional well-being. We have to keep informed of what is going on in the world around us and provide for ourselves and our families, so that our basic needs can be met. Otherwise, we will be unhappy. So happiness depends not only on spiritual strength and emotional well-being, but also on the physical necessities of life, and we have to work and keep abreast of changes in the world around us in order to obtain these basic necessities. If we know ourselves as one with God, as some of the saints have done, our needs will be few, but we will still require food, shelter, and some basic necessities.

You may wonder if all the requirements I have mentioned so far are enough to guarantee happiness. If our basic needs and those of our family members are being reasonably well provided for, if we practice self-control and are doing our best each day to live in a loving, caring consciousness, concerned with the needs of others and doing what we can to help them, will we be happy? The answer to this question depends on the extent of our development. Abundant, unalloyed happiness is difficult for most of us to obtain and hold on to because negative moods come from time to time and steal our peace of mind. But we can and should work constantly on improving our spiritual well-being, so that negative attitudes will be weeded out of our minds and replaced with positive, constructive habits of thought and action. The more we progress in developing ourselves spiritually, the less we will be bothered by negative emotions and the greater will be the happiness that we attain.
PRAYER TO THE  ONE IN ALL
Thou art the light of infinite oneness.
Enlighten me so I may see
That Thou and I and all are one.
Amen                                                 —George Johnston

                                                                                                                                            —George Johnston

In this day and age, there are many spiritually religious clergy and laypersons, who give freedom to the practice of religion. They serve in churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and prayer rooms. They improve communities, they give of time and money to victims of disaster, they heal and relieve suffering on all levels, they have open doors and open minds, they are an example to others of love in action.

When I give homilies, workshops or counseling, I see people from various paths, religions and levels of spiritual progression. Your spiritual path or journey is truly, uniquely your own; there is no one to imitate. But, even though we are all on different pathways, there is a common goal—God realization. Gandhi said, “There are as many religions as there are people on the face of the earth.”  Gandhi knew we all have different paths, and he also knew that we all have a common goal—God realization—enlightenment. So there should be no distinction here—no judging of another’s path—between individuals or between nations.

Religion has played its part in controlling the way people relate to God and each other, sometimes through fanatic, rigidly-held beliefs. But how much structure do we need in our lives?  Surely there is a lot to be said for religious doctrine but there also needs to be room for choices and change.

In Messages from Jesus (p. 43), Jesus says, “One path is not better than another, as they are all one. All lead to God. Everyone imagines they are on a different path but, ultimately, they all have the same destination: God-realization, heaven. Just as there are many roads to any one city, there are many ways to get to God, none better than another.”

You might ask where you should find your pathway to God. Through a pathway of service, or a pathway of  dedication to a specific religion, or a pathway of meditation? It depends on the individual; perhaps through all three.  In the Bible, James 1:27,  we read that pure religion is to visit the afflicted and to keep oneself unstained from the world. There is hardly any other mention of religion in the Bible.  So you might determine that religion is love in action.

Jesus said to me in  Sustained by Faith  pg. 157, "Let your religion be love."

Our life on earth has endless opportunities for growing spiritually if we are open and loving. The essence of a Godly life lies in the everyday living of life—how you live your life.   —Mary Ann Johnston

I allow myself this respite from our dualistic world, while meditating, by acknowledging a beckoning from within to rise into a higher state of consciousness. It is a world of beautiful thoughts, if any at all. Sometimes I quiet my mind during the day in short periods of daydreaming to separate myself from physical pain. Still, I believe that we are here for this great experience and must be physically present for it.

Are visions healthy? Are daydreams healthy? Are fantasies healthy?  I spoke about this with a friend a licensed professional counselor. She reminded me that the difference here is that those with psychological dysfunction can’t return from their fantasies, whereas I return. My friend helped me see that this ability to separate myself from duality is a gift.  I see more clearly that we remain in dualistic consciousness if what we seek is of the earth.   At higher levels of consciousness, new truths are received. But we cannot get in touch with higher states of consciousness for further enlightenment unless we quiet the mind.  

Quieting my mind has taught me how to live and cope in the physical world, with a better attitude, more patience and more love.  —Mary Ann Johnston

As I get older, I am often confronted with pain. If I dwell on pain and suffering, likes and dislikes, comparisons and judgments, it's easy to become caught up in this mortal self, this duality, and it blocks the awareness of the oneness of everything. To allow Oneness, the nature of God, to shine through, I practice laying aside the ego, and doing what Jesus repeatedly stated in my book, "Whatever you do, do it with love". —Mary Ann

I believe that I am a soul spirit, reincarnated over and over, from my one, parent soul. Different personalities from my different soul spirits, or lives, gives my soul a much greater spectrum of wisdom and love. As we becomeincreasingly multi-sensory and more aware of our soul, it may becomemore apparent to us that behind every aspect of our humanness is theenergy of the soul, an essence of God. I believe that each of my soul spirits, each life, has progressed in love toward fulfilling my soul's longing to go to final absorption into God. —Mary Ann