Ask Parvati 22: It's A Spiritual Life - Part 2, We Are Divine

WE ARE DIVINE

(Continued from “It’s a Spiritual Life”)

We each may have a spiritual tradition through which we can realize the divine. For some, the divine is formless, expansive light. For some, it has form as seen in nature, like a tree, a mountain or a river. For some, it is a male godhead. For some, it is the divine mother.

I believe there is no right or wrong in this. We are varied people with varied needs. The divine comes to us in a form we can understand and process. The divine is ultimately pure unconditional love, and as such, it will express itself to us in the best way for us to evolve. However we see the divine, what is essential is that we touch the reality of unity behind the appearance of diversity.

It is as though the light of the divine is a light we see through a window. The window frame may be Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or any other tradition. What is essential is what is seen through the window, the light of the divine common to all.

Let us not get stuck on the window dressing. Let us look through the window and welcome the light that we all are. When we focus on the unity that joins us all, we create a beautiful human rainbow of light, varied colours, all part of the one substratum of pure white light.

As we grow spiritually, we begin to see that we are all expressions of the divine. Our body, our mind, every breath – everything – happens and is because of Grace. The idea that we are separate from the divine is an illusion that our spiritual practice remedies.

We are reflections of the supreme, primordial power of creation. Each one of us is aware of this spiritual truth to a greater or a lesser degree. Our precious and unique life is about becoming more aware of this underlying unity, temporarily masked by our limited vision and ego.

We can practice seeing the divine in all things. The very force of life that sustains us is divine. It is divine grace that we can walk, that we can breathe, and that we exist - at all! By remembering these miracles that we habitually take for granted, we begin to loosen our attachment that we are the doer. When we let go of the illusion that our ego is in control, we see that we are all a part of an exquisite divine play. We see the divine everywhere, always.

AN EXERCISE TO SEE THE DIVINE EVERYWHERE

With an open mind, and a bit of time, walk over to a private mirror. Look into it and see yourself reflected back to you. Rather than seeing all the things that you find wrong with yourself, look at the light behind your skin, no matter what colour it may be. Look at the light. Look at it well. Open to it. Receive it. Allow it to come forward. Allow your body/being to expand and express that light. It is the divine, your true nature, shining back at you! Hello!

Now walk out into the street. Be open to that same light coming through all things. The tree is not just bark and branches and leaves, but part of the body of the divine. See the light within the tree. The same light exists within all things, even cars and buildings.

Look at the people on the street. Even those who are closed, in pain, and look like they are having a bad day, there is light there, behind the story. That light is carrying them in every moment. That light is love. That light is the divine. That light is their true nature, your true nature, our true nature that sustains and shines through matter. The more you focus on that eternal light, the more healing and love you bring to yourself and to all beings.

We are one with the divine. Our true nature is the infinite, timeless reality of pure consciousness. Spiritual practice and discipline helps us see that reality in all of life. This takes practice. This takes a firm commitment to live a spiritually aware life.

(Continues tomorrow with “Living a Spiritual Life”)