Klaas-Jan BAKKER - AMORC

Seldom do seekers of solace receive the inner relief they are looking
for, and sadly, turn to cynicism of all religious beliefs instead.
harder to be inwardly alert to our thoughts and
true motives and to control them before they
control us.
True Spirituality
Many seek peace and inner tranquillity in a place
of worship, and to be frank, entering a church,
mosque or temple with deep inner conviction
still works for many of us. But more and more
Spirituality is the practice of love
towards all things in the universe.
are becoming dissatisfied with the outer rigid
forms of formal religions, and see them as poor
substitutes for true spiritual food.
People asking for “spiritual
bread,” receive “spiritual stones” in
return…, hardly digestible “spiritual
food.” They seek the counsel of
priests, imams, rabbis and gurus
who often have a form of godliness
outwardly only, and purely because
of the prestige of the high offices
they bear. Seldom however do such
seekers of solace receive the inner
relief they are looking for, and sadly,
turn to cynicism of all religious
beliefs instead. At their cores, all
religions have precisely the deep
spirituality that everyone innately
is seeking, though those centres are
however hidden from view from
all but the most determined and
sincere seekers.
The American literary critic and
biographer, Van Wyck Brooks (1886-
1963).
No wonder then that places of formal
worship are so empty nowadays! Of course
bodies of people exist who show the fruits of true
spirituality, namely, love, joy, peace, etc. But true
spirituality is neither understood nor practiced
by the vast majority of religious adherents, for
they just do not understand what it means to
“be spiritual.” Spirituality is the practice of love
towards all things in the universe, indeed love
for the universe itself, and the holding of an inner
attitude of confidence that love really does unite
things that otherwise could never co-exist.
To banish from the mind those things which
are opposed to peace is to make an enormous
stride towards true health and happiness. And
to be frank, most people need some help with
this. What better way then to help them than to
live your life in an attitude of peace and goodwill
towards all things. The amazing thing is that with
the correct inner motive, with the right blend
of humility and positive action, help is always
forthcoming if asked for with sincerity. Happy
is the person who has learned to let peace rule
his heart instead of allowing his thoughts to be
dominated by the chaos of greed, revenge and
selfishness.
The American literary critic and
biographer Van Wyck Brooks wrote: “How
delightful is the company of generous people, who
overlook trifles and keep their minds instinctively
fixed on whatever is good and positive in the world
about them. People of small calibre are always carping.
They are bent on showing their own superiority,
their knowledge or prowess or good
breeding. But magnanimous people
have no vanity, they have no jealousy,
they have no reserves, and they feed
on the true and solid wherever they
find it. And, what is more, they find
it everywhere.”
Little minds are wounded
by hosts of little things that do
not matter, while larger minds
take it all in with welcoming
arms, observing everything with
impartiality and a sense of justice
for all. And they are not injured or
hurt by anything that life throws
at them. On the contrary, they are
grateful for the lessons they derive
from all situations they end up in,
whether pleasant or unpleasant.
The Rosicrucian Beacon -- December 2007