15 Concepts in Spirituality

1. Illusion, Energy, and Reality

People in power often live in the illusion that they are separated from the divine inheritance of being spiritually awake. Our goal is to regenerate our souls through this awakening process and realize that the spirit—the Self within us—is the divine connection that propels us toward our natural and highest livelihood.

This separation limits our abilities, as we are confined by our ego-mind. Evaluating our history with honesty, we see vast potential. We must grow beyond unproductive living and attitudes.

How can we head toward wholeness, peace, and prosperity? Through transformation and optimization of our minds, we meet our true inner Self—connected to the Spirit of the Universe. We are all part of the Force or Spiritual Energy of the Universe. Without spirit, our minds and bodies would not be animated, filled with ideas, or alive.

When we awaken spiritually, we realize that all is right with our world, and we apply the highest and most constructive truth to our worldview.

Quotes

• “There are as many pillows of illusion as flakes in a snowstorm. We wake from one dream into another dream.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

• “A wise man, recognizing that the world is but an illusion, does not act as if it is real, so he escapes the suffering.” — The Buddha

• “Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” — Luke 17:21

• “The real self (atman) is distinct from the temporary body. One must go beyond the illusion of ego and self to find their true essence and soul.” — Magus Incognito

• The Bhagavad-Gita states: “Our atman—the supreme consciousness that invades the whole cosmic system—is the only truth of life.”

• “Sometimes, simply by sitting, the soul collects wisdom.” — Zen Proverb

• “Fantasies are the veil behind which truth is hidden.” — (A Course in Miracles, p. 316)

• “Don’t be satisfied with stories of how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.” — Rumi

2. Perception – Gratitude, Enthusiasm, and Optimism

Our aliveness and well-being are based on our spiritual condition, which depends on the optimal mechanics of our mind—our ability to perceive. We are currently limited by surface reality and must evolve to see beyond the obvious. Liberation takes effort: “A better view generates a better journey.”

Transcend separation and ego to become in tune with your authentic self and see past illusion.

Quotes

• “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true… think on these things.” — Philippians 4:8

• “The first gulp from the glass of natural sciences will turn you into an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you.” — Werner Heisenberg

• “The mind can be the source of bondage or liberation.” — Maitri Upanishad

• “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…” — Matthew 11:28–30

Clarity and Perception Quotes

3. Unity and the Way Home

To connect to the power of the universe, we must be finely tuned to our individual spirit, which connects us to the Universal Spirit. Through catharsis, purification, and forgiveness, we obtain wholeness and clarity.

Quotes

• “When practicing contemplation, they should wish that all beings see truth as it is and be forever free of oppression and contention.” — Garland Sutra, 11

• “Lord of Creation! No one other than Thee pervades all these that have come into being.” — Rig Veda 10.121.10

• “If the poorest of mankind come here once for worship, I will surely grant their hearts’ desire.” — Shinto, Oracle of Itsukushima

• “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” — Matthew 6:33

• “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi

4. The Present

Cultivating positive energy, we tune in and obtain connectedness, which affords us divine flow, ideas, and clarity. Our inner voice is clear when our mind is clear. This transparency allows for better decisions and inspired action.

Quotes

• “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” — Luke 9:62

• “If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.” — Lao Tzu

• “Not what we have, but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.” — Epicurus

• “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” — Buddha

• “Our wealth is rewarded in direct proportion to the number of people with whom we are willing to share.” — Paul Zane Pilzer

• “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” — Mother Teresa

5. Spiritual Freedom and Beyond the Ego

Taming the Mind — Spirit Before Ego

A Holy Spirit connection provides awareness when we are able to put our spiritual path before our ego-mind. This awareness is the sixth sense of seeing and thought management.

Quotes

• “The ego cannot survive without judgment.” — A Course in Miracles, p. 54

• “The foundation of the Buddha’s teachings lies in compassion, and the reason for practicing the teachings is to wipe out the persistence of ego, the number-one enemy of compassion.” — Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

• “In the secret cave of the heart, two are seated by life’s fountain… The ego gropes in darkness, while the Self lives in light.” — Upanishads

• “Don’t compare yourself with anyone in this world. If you do so, you are insulting yourself.” — Bill Gates

• “The Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.” — John 5:19

• “Part of being a winner is knowing when enough is enough. Sometimes you have to walk away and move on to something more productive.” — Donald Trump

6. Potential

To maximize awakeness, we must compartmentalize our day. Each day brings new lessons and challenges. With contemplative action, we can enter the fourth dimension of living. Through psychological clearing, we eliminate non-productive thoughts, banish blame, and dissolve blocks to happiness. Liberation begins as we release instinctual judgments and focus on growth.

Quotes on Potential

• “The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that unlock the door to personal excellence.” — Confucius

• “Those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.” — Mark 8:35

• “With the relinquishing of all thought and egotism, the enlightened one is liberated through not clinging.” — Majjhima Nikaya 72:15

• “Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do… Try to be better than yourself.” — William Faulkner

• “The starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind.” — Napoleon Hill

7. Purpose — Focus, Concentration, Meaning

Transcend fear, scarcity, anger, and lack. Abundance and faith are inner processes. By removing blocks to the sunlight of the Spirit, we approach unity with our higher self, which is connected to the force of the universe.

Quotes

• “He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” — Friedrich Nietzsche

• “Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it.” — Gautama Buddha

• “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. If you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.” — Dalai Lama

• “The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” — Pablo Picasso

• “Any idea, plan, or purpose may be placed in the mind through repetition of thought.” — Napoleon Hill

• “There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose.” — Napoleon Hill

• “We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it.” — Rick Warren

• “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill

8. Harmony — Peace of Mind and Forgiveness

Cleanse the mind and senses by working through the past and developing harmonious thinking. As peace grows, we draw nearer to our natural purpose and unfold what we are meant to be.

Quotes

• “When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you.” — Mark 11:25

• “Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” — Gautama Buddha

• “Nothing external to you has any power over you.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

• “Pleasure is always derived from something outside you, whereas joy arises from within.” — Eckhart Tolle

• “The wise man does not lay up his own treasures. The more he gives to others, the more he has.” — Lao Tzu

• “He abused me, he struck me… in those who do not harbor such thoughts, hatred will cease.” — Dhammapada 1:3–4

• “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:32

• “When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person by an emotional link stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link.” — Catherine Ponder

• “If he sincerely forgives… he acts according to the standard of the pious.” — Deot 6:9

• “A big part of financial freedom is having your heart and mind free from worry about the what-ifs of life.” — Suze Orman

9. Creativity

Relationships must be harmonious, inspired by giving, and free of harm. Beginning anew, we can act from a spiritual and authentic place, transcending old instincts and responding to others in love.

Quotes

• “Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” — Goethe

• “It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else’s life with perfection.” — Bhagavad Gita

• “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” — Colossians 3:23

• “Burning desire to be or do something gives us staying power.” — Marsha Sinetar

• “The painter has the universe in his mind and hands.” — Leonardo da Vinci

• “As my sufferings mounted… I decided to transform the suffering into a creative force.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

10. Visualization

Through imagination, we learn to picture our goals and dreams. Prayer, visualization, and feeling are spiritually linked. Affirmations that engage emotion transform consciousness—a process of cognitive cellular transformation (CCT). Seeing results in the mind’s eye and feeling them inwardly energizes spiritual manifestation.

Quotes

• “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” — Hebrews 11:1–3

• “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” — John 3:3

• “If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams… he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” — Henry David Thoreau

11. Contemplation — Prayer and Meditation

Seek inspiration and quiet time. Find flow and connection to the Spirit of the Universe. Take affirmative action toward your dreams, speak truth, and contemplate love, health, and wealth. Contemplation builds receptivity—openness to divine ideas and awareness of signs guiding right action.

Quotes

• “When meditation is mastered, the mind is unwavering, like the flame of a lamp in a windless place.” — Krishna

• “Meditation… is the art of seeing into the nature of one’s being.” — D. T. Suzuki

• “Right understanding, with true longing, absolute trust, and sweet grace-giving mindfulness.” — Julian of Norwich

• “The function of prayer is not to influence God, but to change the nature of the one who prays.” — Søren Kierkegaard

• “If the only prayer you said was ‘thank you,’ that would be enough.” — Meister Eckhart

• “The memory of God comes to the quiet mind.” — A Course in Miracles, p. 457

12. Ongoing Inventory

Limit your blocks to freedom and examine character flaws. Each day, evaluate what works and what doesn’t. Practice awareness and alignment with the Spirit of the Universe. Stay lucid, release peace, radiate love.

Quotes

• “He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.” — Lao Tzu

• “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” — James 5:16

• “No one is free who has not obtained the empire of himself.” — Pythagoras

• “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive.” — 1 John 1:9

• “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” — Proverbs 28:13

• “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” — Mahatma Gandhi

• “Be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” — Romans 12:2

13. Character

Your mind and body are your temple. Feed them only with what nourishes abundance and wisdom. Constructive, grateful thinking shapes noble character.

Quotes

• “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” — Abraham Lincoln

• “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet… only through experience of trial and suffering.” — Helen Keller

• “Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live as well as think.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

• “Our characters are the result of our conduct.” — Aristotle

• “Our character is the totality of our thinking, actions, and inactions.” — Magus Incognito

• “Talent is nurtured in solitude; character is formed in the stormy billows of the world.” — Goethe

14. Love

When in spiritual flow, we realize that God is Love. Love is patient, kind, generous, humble, grateful, compassionate, and wise. Miracles occur naturally as expressions of love; they are performed by those who have more for those who have less. Love dissolves resentment and brings clarity.

Quotes on Love

• “Your task is not to seek for love, but to find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” — Rumi

• “You may receive love from many, but until you learn to give it, you will not see the spark of joy that surrounds you.” — Magus Incognito

• “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13

• “Since the only Presence and Power of the Universe loves me and sustains me… I place my faith in God’s love for me, and I am free.” — John Randolph Price, The Love Book

• “To love is to find pleasure in the happiness of others.” — Gottfried Leibniz

• “Perfect love casts out fear. If fear exists, then there is not perfect love.” — A Course in Miracles

15. Knowing

Be open to divine power, healing, and perfection. When you attain true knowingness, you are filled with the Holy Spirit of the Universe and live in a higher order of being.

Quotes

• “All who call on God in true faith will certainly be heard.” — Martin Luther

• “As for God, I don’t need to believe — I know.” — Carl Jung

• “Develop an attitude of gratitude… every step forward is a step toward something greater.” — Brian Tracy

• “The unwise man is awake all night, worrying over and again. When morning rises, he is restless still.” — The Hávamál

• “Your beliefs become your thoughts… your values become your destiny.” — Mahatma Gandhi

• “All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

• “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” — Matthew 8:8

12 Steps of a Course in Spirituality

(© Copyright)

1.

We came to believe that an ego-based reality and experience was an illusion—neither healthy, efficient, nor an effective strategy for living.

2.

We developed a burning desire to cultivate a harmonious relationship with a force greater than ourselves, which we may call GOD or “The Spirit of the Universe.”

3.

Realizing our separateness from others and from the universe, we decided to take an inventory of our lives and to eliminate the barriers to love, peace, and happiness.

4.

We began a thorough analysis of our character and track record. We discussed our failures with another person and became willing to let go of the behavior and thinking that had limited our peace and happiness. We sincerely and honestly asked for forgiveness—for ourselves and for others who may have harmed us.

5.

We earnestly began to observe our behavior, our thinking, and our actions in an effort to live more peacefully with ourselves and others.

6.

We learned that empowerment begins within. We discovered how to take responsibility for our minds, our actions, and our inactions. Rather than blame, attack, or be resentful, we sought to improve our spiritual condition, bless the world, and take action for a consciousness of joy and harmony.

7.

We began to alter our thought patterns by focusing our attention on gratitude, compassion, wholeness, empathy, love, and kindness. We finally shifted to the path of awareness and renewal.

8.

Praying and meditating for forgiveness, harmony, wholeness, and peace, we became spiritually awake to the power of the Holy Spirit within. With this connection, we are endowed with a sixth sense and the ability to heal others who seek greater peace and harmony.

9.

With this awareness comes intuition and inspiration. We engage in spiritual practice and study throughout our lives and seek inspiration to do the will of the Holy Spirit. We act on inspiration if it is in accord with honesty, unselfishness, love, and clarity of mind.

10.

When possible, we review our actions and thinking each day and try to keep a clear conscience by atoning with ourselves and others to cultivate harmonious living.

11.

To maintain power, we teach the principles and help heal others with love. We remain teachable and seek a degree of humility that gives us freedom from the bondage of the ego mind.

12.

By working these steps, we find true forgiveness and wholeness. We begin to see a world of possibility and love where we live in a mindset of gratitude and a positive worldview.