Category: Mark Hamilton

Spirituality Grows With Change … Accelerate Your Growth

What is it you and your society consider “right” and “wrong” today? Perhaps what you considered “wrong” in the not-too-distant past, you might consider it okay or “right” today. How do we know what is “right”? Do we sit in judgment of another who fails to accept our own ideas about what is “right” and “wrong”? Genuine spiritual growth requires that we evolve and change our definitions of “right” and “wrong” to include others with whom we sometimes disagree.

Changing your ideas of what is “right” and “wrong” is the path of growth. You have to be open to changing your ideas, or you will limit your own spiritual growth. Change is the process of life and growth. We have to change as our world does. Our values must change too … just think of what morality was 50 years ago with respects to child rearing and modest attire.

The problem we face individually in meeting the change requirements of life is that we insist on believing that the values we have are the “right ones”. You should of course hold onto the beliefs that serve you well, as your ideas about “right” and “wrong” are the definitions for Who You Are. But do not stay “stuck” in your present beliefs if they are not serving you. A non wed pregnant teen may not meet your ideal “right” and “wrong” scenario, always be open to changing your mental constructs about “right” and “wrong”.

NEVER require another person to define themselves according to your terms of “right” and “wrong” … NEVER allow another to define that for you either. Believing that you can or should manage the growth and expansion of others, even our own children or a spouse, is a path filled with pain for you and them. You can influence others but not actually restrict them even if you wanted to; each life goes on progressing at its own pace.

Remaining the same … or seeking to, moves against the laws of life. This is foolish, because in this struggle, life will always win out. Nothing stays the same, everything is changing. Learn to influence where you can but remain open to change your truth!

Be open to change the notions of your truth, be willing to expand your internal structures of thought. Allow the deepest truths of who you are to be altered. A new broader description and idea of Who You Are is where the growth is. When you challenge your beliefs you accelerate your own growth and experience in life. Your new ideas mean your story begins anew. A better more fulfilling you and that process and your story will never end as long as you keep living via the process of expansion by change.

Please don’t close yourself off from the possibility of new truth because you have been comfortable with an old one. Your life expands at the end of “your” comfort zone. Your being open to new “truths” is where the excitement lives, that’s where you and your relationship with life becomes more fully realized; more fulfilling, more challenging, more expansive, more joyful, more happy, more complex, more enlightened, better balanced, etc.

So if it’s music preferences … religious preferences … body piercings and tattoos … sexual orientation … sexual encounters … pregnancies and offspring … divorce and cheating … parenting and teaching … political views and associations … remember there is room in this world for every person regardless of how we define “right” and “wrong”. By our showing love in all of these malformed or right formed conclusions we expand who we are and become more like our Heavenly Father who IS LOVE …

Avoid standing in judgment of another person’s “right” and “wrong” that contradicts your own. Another person’s mistakes are their own living and growth experiences. Another person’s choices and decisions are just as important to their life experience. Allow others to grow too.

No matter how “good” you think things have been, they can be better. No matter how wonderful you think your truth is, it will be even more wonderful if you stay open to change. Expand change and grow it’s the process of living a satisfied spiritually rich life.

A Declaration of INTER-Dependence

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I Can’t Take it Anymore!


Isn’t it time that we as individuals acknowledge that our future and that of the human race requires the cooperation of ALL of its members? America offered a Declaration of Independence to bring about a new world of change … and it indeed led to the betterment of many individuals who risked all. Many sacrificed, leaving family, friends and love ones behind as they sought a better life in the New World. Today many are feeling the current world shake-up and seek even greater change.

So here is a manifesto of change … a Declaration of INTER-Dependence.
As Individuals we need to accept that our role in this world must move beyond mere self-sufficiency. As Individuals, with self-interest in mind, we must recognize our INTER-Dependence; that together our power increases dramatically. Are we willing to pledge our Individual capacity giving of our time, energy, thoughts and love to help fix our current system?

Our self-interest must take into account reciprocity, not only personal gain. We’re quick to focus energies on the Elite, Wealthy and Powerful system structures, and see the need for change, but now as Individuals we must focus energies on Ourselves. We are all part of the ROOT CAUSE of world problems … as Individuals we need to see the same selfish “for me” tendencies within our own desires. To fight for the redistribution of wealth or to tear down others will not yield any positive results, but will only perpetuate the current broken self-centered system.

Our future can no longer be defined by rich, or poor … our natures will not allow it. As Individuals we will be rewarded for our investment in INTER-connectedness with others. Rewarded with respect, recognition, and the joy of being accepted into the next level of human consciousness; our interconnected harmonious existence.

As Individuals, with self-interest in mind, our every desire, act, and thought needs to include the benefit of ALL. There cannot be a “THEM”, no matter how evil or bad we perceive THEM to be. THEM is ME … When I change ME the THEM also will change with me. “Be the change you want to see in the world.” ~Gandhi

Let’s seek to lead the way in building a new UNIFIED society, founded on the principle of MUTUAL RESPONSIBILITY that will:

1. Work to educate the young and the willing – to help raise their consciousness.
2. Create a Just and sustainable economy by Individual hard work for the betterment of ALL.
3. Work with new media – to help influence the public mindset from “Me & Mine” and “Us against Them” … to “We’re all in this together”.

Our collective consciousness is moving onto a new, higher degree. A state of Mutual Responsibility where we Individually can accept the role of living and caring for OTHERS … The reality of our true happiness lies in the fulfillment of our Individual roles while acknowledging and supporting our inter-connectedness with all others.

The greatest effect will be realized when we Individually begin accepting and acknowledging those whom we feel most strongly against, knowing they too are a part of Us. So with this manifesto let’s offer this Declaration of Inter-dependence and invite ALL Individuals to this calling of unification!

Wall Street Occupier Confronts Tea Party Radical

The United States is in the midst of a “real-crisis” … our lives and future are getting bleaker and bleaker by the moment. The collapsing economy is igniting domestic political unrest stirred by the two political parties. … what is happening with America? How can we avoid taking sides and rise above the conflict? Do we see the need for civility?

Are we “one-nation” or have we developed a hatred for one side against the other? We find those who “think like us” and start inciting social movements that flame our differences. We are in fact one nation and we all affect one another. Those of us “Occupying Wall Street” have the exact same feelings as the “Tea Party” people. Both sides feeling frustration and dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs.

Here are some questions perhaps we should be asking …?


Is it unreasonable to expect that we American’s help one another? Yet, in a world where millions are starving and homeless, with no flush toilets, heating or even clean drinking water; is it right to see any American rightfully claiming injustice? Would not most of the world view America as the ruling 0ne percent? Is demanding a share of other peoples money and possessions a genuine solution? If that seems reasonable, then why not focus on the real poor and suffering in the rest of the world? Could we not unite most Americans around such a worthy cause?

MORE QUESTIONS

Could there be a few people who really hate Capitalism and their impression of America as a “George Bush world”? Could they be fanning the flames of frustration into a revolution against the “American – Capitalistic” system? Is that a good thing?

Could there be a few selfish greedy people who really hate what’s happening now and blame it on the current state of affairs labeling it “Obama’s world”? Could they be fanning the flames of frustration into a nationalistic uprising in defense of “American – Capitalism”? Is that a good thing?

A Painful History We Must Not Forget. Our world history is rich with examples of how peoples frustrations can be harnessed and focused in the wrong direction.

Rather then extending energy by feeding peoples anger would a rational approach of a dialog asking the right questions be in order? I hope the mainstream media … the alternative media and every other concerned American could start a dialog of uniting America, stop taking sides.

My hope and wish would be that both the Tea Party people and the Wall Street Occupiers, and their supporters on both sides, would put their energy into fixing our problems not flaming our divide. Would answering the questions posed here be a good first step in the right direction? Perhaps I’m missing something? Please share you thoughts and observations on this sensitive but important subject.

Spirituality Your Secret Place

Your thoughts …. you can never really shut them off they run 24 – 7. Thoughts run on autopilot just like our blood circulates and our digestion system functions. Our thoughts are not reality … they’re just descriptions of our reality and our thoughts are running endlessly day and night. While we often see our thoughts as who we are … they‘re not. We are the entity behind our thoughts.

In the last post we explored how words and thoughts are not real things, they are just descriptions. From this perspective we can now better explore Spirituality. Spirituality is an internal thing and it’s deep inside of you and it’s beyond your thinking or even your praying, which are just more words. If you can go deep inside and watch yourself think and watch how your thoughts effect how you feel. Watch how your thoughts try and describe others as you interact with them. Watch how you are quick to judge others who disagree with you.

When you can get into that space inside your mind and heart, where you watch yourself thinking. You go behind or above your thoughts, that is the real spiritual space and that’s where clarity resides. From that spiritual space inside of you … you now can exercise full control of the moment. And only the moment you’re in is your reality. You now have a deeper control from a spiritual point of view of the moment (Now). Some call this space inside Christ consciousness, some call it being centered, some call it God’s perspective or the spiritual space, etc. The words used to describe this place are irrelevant. This is your own secret place, and discovering that space within you is where real truth resides.

That spiritual space, your secret place, can only be felt and experienced internally (spirituality) it can never be fully explained in words, thoughts or stories of any kind. It can only be experienced by getting beyond your thoughts and connecting to that internal energy flow that is one with you. Only Love and Peace reside at that deep level behind or above your thoughts. From that spiritual level you will always act perfectly with genuine love.

The minute you start focusing on your thinking again you start adding interpretations to the moment, at that point you step out of the spiritual space of clarity. Now your background, upbringing, life experiences, instincts, prejudices, beliefs, fears, etc. take control of you and you‘re no longer in the moment. You’re now in the future by planning a response, or in the past drudging up an interpretation as to what the moment means. When our thinking is running our lives we are in a place of darkness. Thinking has it’s place but clarity is when you’re watching yourself think.

The hectic world around us can pull us out of our spiritually centered state. Your being mindful of this depth of awareness within yourself puts you in a descriptive category of an enlightened spiritual person. So close your eyes often and watch your thinking and thoughts from that secret place inside of you. There lies the real truth of love and peace and you’ll feel it for everyone else too. Yes, included in that Love will be every man, woman and child on this planet regardless of their beliefs or religious heritage, friend and foe alike. Working this out within ourselves is how we change the world. Let’s all try and find this place inside ourselves where the clarity of love resides and do our part in awakening. When we do we have real power to affect change in our world.

Comprehending Spiritual

Understanding the connection between physical laws and spiritual laws is only what we perceive. As our perceptions grow we have greater enlightenment. We all hope that there is “one truth”- “one path” – “one faith” some foundational understanding that we will grasp and when we do we will be done growing and know all that we need to know.

My current position on this … that will never happen in our life time, because our universe is expanding and so are we. So even if we read every word ever penned as a spiritual writing we’re only getting the perception of the one writing it. We need to continue to discover more and more of OUR OWN perceptions. Using our external physical senses and our internal spiritual sensations we expand our own revelation.

On whatever WE focus OUR attention on, trusting OUR OWN perceptions on the specific subject matter is how WE grow. We should examine the perceptions of others to expand our own, but in the end you should only trust your own conclusions. If we’ve adopted another person’s written view and stopped comparing it with a contrasted view we stop our own growth.

We can always grow more by exploring more … “Keep on seeking” … “Keep on asking” … those who seek find, those who ask get the answers. Those who believe they have all the answers are at a stand-still … they are not growing at all.

Each one of us perceives the Spiritual/Creator/Upper Light/Nature/God differently. Initially we are exposed to our world by our parents, family and community. How do we continue to grow? I suggest that it’s according to one’s individual desires and internal qualities; these drive a person to explore and sense himself / herself in relation to the world around them.

The source or energy, Creator/God no one has seen (Exodus 33:20). Meaning I never feel it directly; I perceive myself in relation to Him the “Upper Light.” I reveal this “Upper Light” or discover Him only within myself, as I do all of nature. You sense the physical as if it were happening on the outside; when in fact all we ever experience is inside of us. Our entire world exists inside of us.

To illustrate … a person blind cannot experience a beautiful sunset; or if deaf they cannot experience a beautiful symphony. They can explore the attainments of others by reading about such beauty but it’s not their attainment. They are left experiencing the reflected Light of the experience of the one writing about it.

Our spiritual attainment is also inside of us, if we read spiritual writings we experience the reflected Light from those who wrote it, but as we focus inside ourselves we experience our own attainment. As we grow our own spiritual awareness we are given increased perceptions … a “sixth sense” so to speak. This spiritual advancement adds a whole new meaning to the miracles described in Isaiah 35:5.

So what Light can you share? You can only speak about it based on your own experience. It is inside of you and in your desires, the more you desire the Light the more you can experience it. So look within and share what you find there, that’s how together we can reveal and experience truth.

Attaining Spiritual Awareness

All biblical text, and other holy writings for that matter, are an attempt to describe and enlighten the reader by definition and descriptions; clothing the light with human attainment called speech or words. This is so that the reader can experience the sensation/spiritual components of the Oneness attained by the individual writing it. Jesus, a man at divine consciousness, exposed his fellow man to the spiritual by means of a human attainment called speech and metaphor (WORD).

There is nothing written or spoken that was not the attainment of a fellow human being. If God has spoken to you personally, bless you, you’re now left trying to explain that in words of your choosing. CHOOSE CAREFULLY as you are accountable for their effect on others who read them.

Spiritual awareness and trying to name the spiritual. Some common terms God, LORD, Jehovah, Jesus, Elokim, Elohim, Yahweh, HaVaYaH, Allah, Buddha, the Creator, Mother Nature, Energy, Source, Oneness, and some thousands more penned throughout history by fellow humans. These definitions are all attempts humans have made to describe their connection or unification with the Spiritual, the Now, the Oneness or whatever other description man uses to describe Him – Her – It …

What’s important is that we don’t judge and interpret one attainment or description over another but rather we can only seek to understand it and grow personally from that. Using words and descriptions to share explore and grow together from the input of all.

Our being open is what enables us to grow. Dogmatic hard core beliefs usually show a persons limited spiritual attainment, they are an attempt to hold on to something that can never be contained. It’s like trying to hold onto water, you cannot hold it, it can only be felt. Words and beliefs are buckets or vessels we use to contain some water. Eventually if we’re open enough we can sense there is an ocean of water and we see the folly of limiting ourselves to a container of any size.

Communication, verbal and non verbal, are all we have to share with one another. That’s why it’s important not to judge words or spiritual writings of others but to explore them. Your personal level of attainment or revelation shared with another person is important. If that person is at a similar enlightened level they will get it. Those who have yet to reach your level of enlightenment may find it nonsensical or even foolish.

What made Jesus such an inspiring teacher was his ability, through story’s and illustrations, to reach people at their level, thus his being called The Word.

The Science of Spiritual Growth

People who are uprooted and moved to a completely different environment usually experience a negative internal sensation. This is felt internally as a spiritual sensation. We have all had such an experience, even if just moving to a new school or a new job. Once we stay in this new environment for any length of time we assimilate, we adapt, we change, we progress, etc. This growth can be defined as enlightenment.

Enlightenment is just shedding light on the new environment, becoming more comfortable over time. Time allows a person to expand beyond their initial sensation and to see themselves expanding, fitting in and adapting to the new environment.

We can control and grow our own spiritual perspective by recognizing and embracing this enlightenment process. One can make advancement without completely changing ones environment. How so? We can seek to explore situations that cause us to feel a bit uneasy, especially when dealing with people of different cultures, political or religious backgrounds.

We should understand that almost every person on this planet is seeking to find connection, to find peace, acceptance, etc. A person’s life experience and associations have molded them into the person they are; as your life experiences have brought you to where you are.

A spiritual approach when meeting a new person of a different faith, political or ethnic background would be one of openness, to try and understand and feel this fellow human. To go beyond our own “closed-minded” animalistic tendencies and try and be open to understand that person uniquely.

This person’s perception is unique and different from your own and so may naturally feel a bit uncomfortable at first. But by listening, learning, feeling sensing these new interactions with this person, both the stranger and you can grow spiritually through the open interaction.

Instinctively our human tendencies tend to reject different ideas, concepts, conclusions; this human tendency stifles our growth. A spiritual minded person need not fear being exposed to the new; rather one should embrace and welcome it as a way to grow. By making that spiritual personal connection, with someone “not like you”, you will begin to open that person too, enlarging their perspective. In no time at all you both will begin to effect each other.

Both experience learning and shedding light on each other toward growth in connection, understanding, acceptance; and this is Love. Some might call it God’s Love …. call it the science of spiritual growth. Regardless of your personal heritage or theirs your growth and theirs is based on the interaction and ones willingness to understand, regardless of the title or description one uses to explain the interaction.

Spirituallity and The Future of Mankind

We are all born with 5 senses, vision, hearing, feeling, tasting and smell. These five senses define our world and through their use we attain enlightenment. What determines the language one speaks? Some might argue it’s where you are born geographically; such a conclusion has a lot of supporting evidence. But we know better, a child will learn whatever language it is exposed to; even multiple languages and all with perfect diction and dialect. This assimilation to ones environment is spiritual enlightenment.

If a new born baby was not exposed to any language would they learn to speak? Obviously the answer is no. The tools for enlightenment are the use of our senses. Our senses are not limited in any way from fully comprehending. The limit of comprehension is what we are exposed to and our willingness to focus on it.

In previous generations, and even today in other parts of the world, learning to read is understood to be very important to ones attainment and growth. For most of the western world this is taken for granted, so is a heated home, running water, flush toilets, etc. These attainments are what many people in our world eagerly desire. What keeps us from sharing such attainments worldwide? One might argue that it’s a spiritual deficiency not a lack of resources.

Unfortunately in our world today, particularly in the west, apathy and disinterest have the opposite effect on spiritual attainment. Since one receives all one needs immediately in life, the desire and drive to better oneself is severely diminished. The incredible gift of reading, or just the right to learn to read was a goal for the enlightenment of mankind. Now we have access to all this enlightenment found in books yet very few of the upcoming generation seem interested at all in the enlightenment our forefathers envisioned.

The lack in the western world, some might argue, is a spiritual deficiency; and this worries the rest of the world’s population. The “New World” and all it stood for is now seen as a selfish, egotistic monster. And the posturing of world governments and major civilizations create more and more distrust and anxiety. The history of the 20th Century should teach us that as human beings we are evil in our egoistic nature. We cannot relive the World Wars with today’s modern weaponry.

We need to unite using our spiritual qualities; advancing mankind and civilization to join as one family on the universal spiritual quality of Love and acceptance. To Love ones neighbor as they do themselves. Perhaps even deeper and broader to Love those whom we hate and distrust. Is such a world possible?

Spiritually Open Minded – Are You Open Minded?

Most people quick to say that they are “open minded” are usually not really that open. Sadly most religious people, we think would be the most open, are usually the least tolerant.

Every person on this planet has a unique life experience. Our spiritual views are an accumulation of every activity, every association, every experience good and bad; everyone is strongly influenced by their sphere of friends, community, family and upbringing. All this information we accumulate helps to mold and develop our perceptions. It’s this environmental influence that can also lead to our becoming “closed minded”.

Most religious people see themselves and their life conclusions as right; this is healthy, why would someone live in a way they viewed as wrong? However the true measure of being “open minded” is when we are exposed to something we disagree with. The open minded person is willing to listen and to explore another persons life conclusions without judgment and argument.

The deeper we explore, that which we disagree with, the more open-minded we become and the bigger we grow. We learn something more, understand deeper, we now have more information to refine our own positions and enlarge our own perceptions.

One is never obligated to accept any information as true or required, we maintain the right and the obligation to accept or reject any information that we are exposed too. However by refusing to to explore that with which we disagree is closing our minds to further enlightenment.

God is Love …. he loves everyone … we need to see beyond our own current human perspective. Our current perspective, which we inherited from our upbringing, may seem foolish or unfounded to those of another religion, country or culture. If such a person would just take the time to inquire and understand you and your perspective they would be all the wiser for it.

Would we be as open with someone we disagree with? Our growth comes through knowledge and understanding mainly focusing on what we don’t know or what we disagree with.

The more we investigate, the more we learn, the deeper we understand the richer and more fulfilled our lives become. We are better equipped to understand and help others. We become more loving and tolerant of other views.

We expand our ability to connect with others and we move beyond our own limited perspectives to see the world as God sees it, with Love for everyone. Read more about Spiritual Love here  

The Spiritual Quest

We all have an understanding of the spiritual. Call it God, The Creator,  Mother Nature, Energy, Source, etc. We all have a unique perspective that we inherit from life experience and our own personal journey. This Blog is to share and explore new ideas, new thoughts, new understandings with open receptive attitudes.  To come to a deeper and greater appreciation for life and happiness.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
We are not looking for followers, we are students seeking spiritual enlightenment in a safe judgment free forum.  This is not a place for followers … this is a place for leaders.  Leaders who realize that our world is lacking growth toward genuine spiritual openness. That genuine love for ones neighbor has to extend beyond our own family, friends and neighbors. That it must extend to those who are not like us. To those with whom we disagree. As we begin to better understand others we individually experience growth, enlightenment and receive internal satisfaction, we call spiritual attainment.

Use the email halabbak@gmail.com we keep all our correspondences private.