Closer Than Breath

Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Jesus (Mark 11:24)

If you’ve been around New Thought spirituality for a while, you’ve undoubtedly heard this classic declaration. We are spiritual beings living in a spiritual universe governed by spiritual laws. What this assertion challenges us to recognize, that despite surface appearance, our deepest nature is nonphysical, there are unseen forces at play and that successful living demands metaphysical understanding and cooperation.

Just as quantum physicists had to ultimately suspend expectations for what their observations would reveal, that is, the way linear rational thinking approaches scientific study, we too, as spiritual citizens must suspend sense based thinking and acting if we are to negotiate the realm of this deeper reality.

When we are stuck in default human perception based on materialism, we believe in an outside/in philosophy for our wellbeing. This is characterized by a simple premise: getting what we want in life will translate into the inner peace and happiness that we are after. In other words, there is something missing, broken or not working quite right in my life and affairs, the righting of which will make me a happy human. For a while anyway. Because doesn’t it seem like as soon as one disturbing problem is solved there is another one vying for help? Under this logic system, life is a never-ending “whack-a-mole” game.

Under the spiritual, or consciousness-only paradigm, there is a complete reversal of materialist philosophy. Happiness, wellbeing, peace of mind are not seen as effects from favorable outcomes rather recognized as the very truth of us, lying beneath ordinary awareness, as the essence of who we already are. This understanding necessarily changes the path of how we approach life. It asks us to suspend expectations rooted in outer conditions and conduct ourselves as if what we truly want is here now. Thy Kingdom has come is a radical reversal of the endless seeking paradigm of ordinary human perception.

As we begin with the premise that what we are seeking in form is already spiritually resident within us in the unformed qualities of peace, love, order, and wholeness we allow the perfection and wholeness of the One Life to manifest in our life. This is the essence of Jesus' teaching, Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you.

So is the knowing of this inner treasure our only spiritual practice? For some monastics and devoted mystics, it is the alpha and omega of their path. For the rest of us, there are practices; authentic actions that we can take that can induce the experience of our awakened nature.

One way is assuming the feelings of what we desire as if it were already fully realized. To do so is no stretch of Truth because in spiritual fact all that we seek is already established in us. We may need to use our imagination however which is already well-practiced in conjuring mental images of all that could go wrong in our lives. Why not use this power of imagination to envision and feel into all that is right with us? This is quite easy by simply recalling an actual memory when you were happy or peaceful. Focus on the feeling and bring it into your body as visceral now moment experience. Release the story and stay with the feeling. Immerse in this feeling, bathing yourself in peace or wellbeing for as long as you can stand it. While holding this feeling affirm to yourself.

This is heaven, right here, right now.

This is reality, my true ever-present divine nature.

God made me this way and what God has made nothing and nobody can tear asunder.

And so it is.

Larry