Shining the Light
Written on February 18, 2008 by Tom Stine
As I have progressed along my spiritual path, I have felt at times as if I am being led to a better and better understanding of how the spiritual journey works. I started out, only naturally I suppose, wanting primarily to “feel better” both mentally and physically. As time has passed, I have moved a little away from that original goal toward feeling more and more as if I want to be helpful to others. Don’t get me wrong; I have always wanted to help. But the feeling I have now is a bit more selfless, a bit more “other focused” rather than self focused. It is, to say the least, a wonderful feeling.
But more importantly, what I am beginning to see is exactly what I read in A Course in Miracles years ago. Namely that the key to me “feeling better” is to freely and completely give to others because, as the Course would say, I only know what I have as I give it away.
If I want to feel happy, to feel love, to feel joy, these are the things I must give to others. And it must be a free gift with no expectation of return. Giving to get something back doesn’t work. But giving out of love always works.
Lester Levenson, the creator of the Sedona Method, talked about the discovery he made during the process of awakening that he underwent. Lester said that he realized that he was only truly happy when he was loving someone, when he was giving his love to another. And the more he practiced this giving of love, the freer and happier he got, until he experienced what is typically referred to as enlightenment. He woke-up by loving. He gave, and he was healed.
For me, this beginning step of truly giving is synonymous with an experience I have had off and on for a number of years. When I used to meditate, I would at times see a “light” in my mind’s eye, shining brightly just above my field of “vision.” This light wasn’t a worldly light, because I only saw it in my mind when my eyes were closed. As time has gone on, I have begun experiencing this sense of “light” more frequently, until now I can sense it in my mind’s eye at will. It especially is noticeable when I release using the Sedona Method or meditate by sitting in silence. When I release or meditate, I can feel my awareness shift to this light and the sensation I have is one of releasing into the light. The feeling I get is one of very clearly letting go of “myself” into this light, which is completely equivalent, at least to me, of letting go through loving or by the power of love. The light I perceive and the love I feel are one and the same.
Love and light seem to go hand in hand. They are one. The light that shines in our awareness is usually obscured by the vast quantity of subconscious junk that fills our minds. A Course in Miracles spends a lot of time discussing the contents of the subconscious mind, if you care to know more. But as we let go of these blocks to the perception of the light, we can experience greater peace, love and joy than we have ever known. The love that we give to anything by releasing our feelings about it is real, it is true, and it could even be described as holy.
on February 18th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
It’s true that we can only give away what we already have, so you can only love another as much as you love yourself….and if you don’t love yourself, you won’t have “real” love to give away.
I’m working my way through the Course (again – I haven’t completed it yet) so I really enjoyed your post.
on February 18th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
@JoLynn: Thank you for the compliment and comment. While I don’t actively study the Course these days, it will always remain an important influence on me.
on February 19th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
I loved what you said. It’s so important to find the secrets to being happy. Love and light does go hand in hand. It’s what our spirit needs to be happy.
on February 19th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
@LaRene: Thanks for your comment. I keep finding over and over again the same basic conclusion: love. Love everything, even if you don’t “like” it. Love. Just love.