| The greatest enemy of authentic spiritual life is | | | | natural rhythm, with pauses at both the exhale and |
| rigidity -- settling down in a cozy pattern. Using the | | | | the inhale. Stress first grabs our breath. We can |
| wisdom of Chuang Tzu and the Tao, here is how to | | | | reclaim our awareness by first reclaiming our breath. |
| break free with your power of movement and | | | | Notice it and let it flow like it wants to flow, without |
| flexibility. "Tao is obscured when men understand | | | | unnecessary, tense involvement! Not everything |
| only one of a pair of opposites, or concentrate only | | | | needs our help! Knowing this is Tao. |
| on a partial aspect of being. Then clear expression | | | | 5. Emotional: Quality music as well as vivid stories, |
| also becomes muddled by mere wordplay, affirming | | | | myths and parables can help develop our emotional |
| this one aspect and denying all the rest." (The Way | | | | power. Higher emotions are vertical. They already |
| of Chuang Tzu)Inner development is multi-dimensional. | | | | exist. Insights connect us. |
| Many resources are present within us waiting to be | | | | It is also wise to keep an eye on harmful influences |
| tapped and developed. When utilized, these resources | | | | circulating in the media. There's no doubt the media |
| further our quest for wisdom and vitality. | | | | dwells on negative images to further its own power |
| Examples of these dimensions: | | | | and influence. Never underestimate the power of |
| 1. Speech: It is no accident that the Bible's Book of | | | | pictures to poison your emotions. Refuse to give |
| John begins with, "In the beginning was the word . . ." | | | | these power hungry people the the time and energy |
| Speech can be silent or audible. It is our power to | | | | they demand. Moments with beautiful music, or with |
| claim what is true. We declare our independence | | | | a good book rich in vivid mental pictures, is time that |
| before we live it. | | | | nourishes your soul. |
| Here is an example of an extremely effective use of | | | | 6. Detachment: This spiritual power allows us to view |
| speech. When the mind wants to chatter about | | | | without claiming; see without grabbing, notice without |
| unimportant, resentful or wasteful things, say to | | | | commenting. It takes away anchors so what is not |
| yourself either silently or audibly, "There are higher | | | | essentially ourselves slowly drifts away. |
| things to think about." Yes, right in the middle of the | | | | Detachment teaches us to let go. It leads us upward |
| chatter, stand up and use your power of speech. | | | | to a place where we no longer have to let go |
| Say these words with feeling and focus. There are | | | | because we refused to pick up the problem in the |
| far higher things to think about! It is extremely | | | | first place! Negative people, and our own negative |
| beneficial to remind yourself NOW, right when the | | | | thoughts, toss ropes at us hoping we'll comply. These |
| mind wants to take a detour to a nearby swamp. | | | | negative factors have no power at all over us until |
| 2. Silence: Silence is LISTENING and receptivity. It | | | | we catch the rope. With the Tao, as taught by |
| tunes into flowing currents of wisdom already | | | | Chuang Tzu, we can develop the inner light to |
| present. | | | | recognize a foreign element the moment it |
| Of all the things we resist, silent quiet time is at the | | | | approaches. Our new HIGH wants nothing to do with |
| top of the list. Yet, ten or twenty minutes of sitting | | | | society's painful LOW. |
| quietly everyday recharges our batteries like nothing | | | | 7. Relationships: Here is a dimension that teaches us |
| else can. | | | | many things about ourselves. Relationships, when |
| 3. Intellect: Author Vernon Howard said once, "An | | | | used for spiritual growth and insight, are doorways to |
| orderly mind is a powerful tool." So often wisdom | | | | discovery. It is much more challenging (and far more |
| seekers neglect the development of the mind. This is | | | | rewarding) to remember our spiritual aims in the |
| why reading and absorbing spiritual information is so | | | | midst of personal and business relationships, than it is |
| important - it develops the mind!One way to energize | | | | on a mountain in Tibet. |
| your reading is to take note of ideas that strike your | | | | Relationships also develop our power of empathy -- |
| emotions with exceptional clarity. The act of writing | | | | the ability to sense things outside our own circle of |
| plants the seeds deeper than would have been the | | | | self. Empathy is magical. It opens up our inner world |
| case otherwise. Why pass by an idea that speaks so | | | | to Tao. |
| clearly to you, without taking a moment to capture | | | | The main point for us to grasp is that inner |
| it? | | | | development is multi-dimensional. Rotation and |
| 4. Kinesthetic Awareness: This is the wondrous | | | | flexibility are crucial. Work in a given area runs its |
| dimension of ourselves that connects mind to body | | | | course after awhile and a change is indicated. Do we |
| as we traverse the events of our daily life. | | | | heed the change? Do we learn to move? If so, we |
| One way to develop this power is be more aware of | | | | grow. |
| your breathing. It is always with you. Breath has a | | | | |