When we look at matter on the earthly plane, we can see with our own eyes, and feel with our sense of touch, that this world consists of a variety of solid objects. These solid objects are all around you – things like tables, chairs, computers, and coffee mugs. We could also include your own body in the mix, and all the people you see walking outside.

But wait a minute. Quantum physicists have proven that all of these seemingly solid items are not solid. All of the objects described above, including YOU, consist of subatomic particles or waves in mostly empty space. How much of matter is empty space? More than 99.99%. That’s right. You are more than 99% empty space and you are not solid.

Many of you will say “So what” and want to get on with your day. STOP for a moment to really consider this. What you see as solid objects are not solid at all. Your eyes are deceiving you. And they are deceiving you to such an extent that you can’t come close to perceiving reality with your senses. Can you begin to fathom that your computer, your bed, and the salad you’re about to eat for lunch are made up of energy fields or subatomic particles vibrating in empty space?

Things appear solid to the human eye. Things feel solid to human touch. And it’s all an illusion. Perhaps you thought Star Trek was far out!

Let me confess upfront that I have no expertise in science or physics. And that is putting it mildly. Thus, I can’t explain the details about how atoms or energy fields operate. However, I found a wonderful essay online by Dr. Tom Kerns entitled “Lecture on Quantum Physics.” He simplifies this topic so that a lay person can get a basic understanding of this subject. You can read it at:
http://home.myuw.net/tkerns/MyUWsite/waol-phi-website/lecsite/lec-quanphys.html  

Even if you dislike science or care nothing about the illusion you are living, I think you might enjoy reading this essay by Dr. Kerns.

Why am I even discussing the nature of matter in this newsletter? Because the vast majority of us on the spiritual path claim that we want to know “the truth” about our existence, the nature of God, and our place in this seemingly unexplainable universe.

Yes, I understand that some of you will not appreciate this line of inquiry. Your thinking mind and ego are scared to explore this stuff, fearful that you will be forced to re-think some of your cherished beliefs. I used to feel the same way, until the moment arrived that I wanted the truth more than I wanted to keep living the lies.

We can trust our senses, or start coming to our senses.

The beginning of wisdom on the spiritual path is admitting the limitations of the mind and the senses. Are you willing to begin this investigation? An examination of the nature of matter is a great place to start. Lots of questions will begin to surface, such as:

Why would God create a world where humans are given senses that do not allow them to perceive reality as it is?

Can our soul ever be “inside” the body if the body consists of empty space? How can anything be “inside” empty space?

One thing is clear: this is a very mysterious universe!

I’m not suggesting that science has any final “answers” to offer on God and spirituality. However, science can help to point us in the direction of truth, often by showing us what is NOT true. This, in turn, creates an environment that allows our spirit to reveal more and more of the truth to us — a truth we will never acquire by using only our mind and our senses.

– Jeff Keller
© 2008

If you’re reading this message, there’s a good chance you have some books at home about personal development and spiritual growth. Some of you have lots of these books, and you’re buying new ones all the time.

Do you ever go to your book shelves and browse through books you read 5 or 10 years ago? Do you ever re-read some of these books in their entirety? Re-reading books can bring many surprises.

To begin with, you may find that some passages in your “old” books that didn’t mean much to you years ago now take on more importance. In some instances, you will grasp concepts that went “over your head” the first time you read the book. You might also find that you no longer agree with everything you underlined or highlighted when you initially read the book.

Here’s another fascinating discovery you might make — the phrases you underlined during your initial reading are not the phrases you would underline now. Some key passages escaped your attention years ago, but now you consider them quite valuable.

Why all these surprises from the same book? You make new discoveries because you’re not the same person you were when you read the book 5 or 10 years ago. You see the world differently now. You’ve gained insights from your life experiences and from further reading that you’ve done.

Of course, the same principle applies to any audio programs you own. Listen to them again and you’ll hear things in a new way. You may disagree with some of the things you previously accepted as accurate. It’s likely you will understand the program better than you did when you listened to it years ago. You may not have been ready at that time to absorb certain portions of the message.

Many of us re-read spiritual texts such as The Bible or The Bhagavad Gita. When we read these books over and over, we inevitably gain a deeper understanding of their meaning. Yet we realize there is no point where we can say, “I’ve figured the whole thing out. There is nothing more for me to learn from this book.” We can always dig deeper in that same well, and it’s likely that we’ll continue to find valuable treasures.

There is nothing wrong with reading new books that catch your attention. I do so all the time. But I highly recommend that you go back to your book shelves to pick up an “old” book. You’ll learn a lot about yourself and how you’re progressing on your spiritual journey.

– Jeff Keller
© 2008

As the years pass, special occasions mean less and less to me. When I refer to special occasions, I’m talking about birthdays, anniversaries and some of the non-religious holidays we celebrate each year.

When my birthday rolls around each year, it doesn’t feel much different than any other day. Sure, it’s nice to receive greeting cards or a gift now and then. I appreciate these acts of kindness. But I no longer want and expect anything — and I wouldn’t feel someone loved me less if they didn’t recognize my birthday.

What I value is how people treat me when it’s not a special occasion. I also evaluate my own behavior on that standard. How do I treat people on “non-special” occasions? Put another way, how do I treat them every moment of every day?

I admit that I have a bias against some of the tangible displays of recognition we offer on special occasions. For instance, when I see someone with a HUGE amount of flowers that she received on her birthday or on Valentine’s Day, these questions come to my mind:

How many years will she continue to receive these kinds of gifts from her friend or spouse?

Does she receive these gifts when it is not her birthday or a holiday?

Go right ahead and call me a cynical New Yorker. I’m just not impressed by grand showings of recognition reserved for “special” days. In my experience, such displays are more for the ego’s satisfaction, as if the bigger gift demonstrates more love. My guess is that these relationships –where lavish gifts are given on special occasions — are not likely to be enduring relationships.

I suppose this is also related to the concept of being “romantic.” If you asked my wife if I am romantic, she would probably smile and then say something like, “He is romantic in his own way, but not in the traditional sense.” (of candlelight dinners, flowers, etc.).

If I were to take any test of being romantic that you find in popular magazines, I would fail miserably. That’s not my thing.

Romantic is not just about doing things on special occasions. It’s the little things we do every day. It can be a smile, our way of listening to another or picking up a particular food that someone else likes when we go shopping. It’s a phone call or e-mail to say “hi” for no reason.

In case you’re wondering, I do send greeting cards to certain people, and my wife and I enjoy going out to dinner to celebrate our anniversary. I’m not against any of that. But my spirit sets a higher standard. The spiritual standard encompasses every moment. It is not confined to a few special days each year. I won’t tell you that I’ve been able to meet that standard, but I’m making a little progress.

Many of us send birthday or anniversary cards each year to relatives. Typically, we realize about a day or two before our relative’s birthday, “It’s his (or her) birthday coming up and I forgot to get a card. I’ll have to run to the store, get a card, and mail it immediately.” In the act of getting the card, we feel rushed and can’t find one that expresses the appropriate sentiment. But at this point, we’ll settle for any card. This has become another item to complete so we can cross it off our “to do” list.

We don’t feel any particular closeness to our relative when we send a card in this manner. It’s a routine exercise in which we feel we HAVE to do something to acknowledge the occasion. We’d establish a deeper connection if we called that relative when it wasn’t his birthday, to simply say “I haven’t talked to you for a while and I just want to hear your voice and find out what you have been up to. I love you.”

We shouldn’t have to look at the calendar to tell us when to care about our family, relatives and friends. We all use the same excuse – that we don’t have enough time to acknowledge people on a regular basis. Perhaps we need to re-evaluate how we spend our time.

When we give from the heart on non-special occasions, that’s when those we care about feel special. It also gives us unlimited opportunities, every day, to experience the exquisite joy of giving.

– Jeff Keller
© 2008

Today’s message was submitted by Kim Peterson, one of the subscribers to this newsletter. Kim is an extremely talented writer and a student of world religion and spirituality.

Character, Not Faith, is What Matters

My husband is an atheist.

A fair number of people have spent time nudging him in the direction of spirituality. He’s been offered the Bible and the Book of Mormon, and been invited to more than a few religious events.

I personally have a long-held fascination with all matters spiritual, and though I can see the beauty in many of the world’s religions, I call myself a Buddhist. Like others in his life, I have shared with him endless information about the lives and events that shaped religious history (never with the intent of persuading him toward any particular doctrine, mind you). Still, after 15 years together, he has never joined me in meditation or prayer, and he greeted me with a blank stare as I recounted for him my visit to the Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit last year.

Overall, he has been kind and accommodating when it comes to my spiritual explorations. He’s done the reading, asked the relevant questions, and discussed it all at length with me and with several others.

He wasn’t overjoyed when I came home one day and announced that I had enrolled in the Religious Studies Program at Arizona State, but he didn’t argue the matter with me either. Nevertheless, his point of view has never been swayed. The idea of a Higher Power simply is not rational to him.

So, what kind of a man is he, this non-believer? Good. Fair. Kind. Forgiving. Loyal to everyone he has ever loved. He is even-tempered, rational, and unemotional. (I am all emotion and gut instinct with rollercoaster responses, so I find these traits at once admirable and infuriating.)

He is a good father, husband, and friend. He is occasionally stubborn and sometimes even selfish. In short, he is human. He possesses all of the values, morals, and characteristics called for by the world’s religions, with a little human failing sprinkled in.

He simply doesn’t believe in or require a faith-based doctrine to mandate his actions or his treatment of others. He doesn’t need the threat of eternal damnation or the promise of eternal life to direct his responses.

His goodness lies within, an innate part of his being. Some might argue that this is proof in and of itself that a Greater Power guides him. But he wouldn’t buy that argument. And in the end, it wouldn’t make him a better man than he is already.

Kim Peterson lives in the Kansas City area with her husband and their two sons. She teaches yoga and meditation and occasionally writes articles for the ‘Faith’ section of the Kansas City Star.

(c) 2008

People of the same religion tend to stick together. They often worship together on a regular basis. They may send their children to schools where most, if not all, follow the same religion.

Many youngsters and adults form a majority of their close friendships with people of their own religion. To be sure, there are some exceptions where people freely mix with those who practice different religions. But let’s concentrate for now on those situations where we tend to associate with those of the same religion.

By the way, I’ve noticed that even those outside of organized religion tend to stick together. Atheists spend time with other atheists. People who consider themselves spiritual, but unaffiliated with any religion, tend to associate with others who share the same beliefs.

Whether we call it “fellowship” or associating with like-minded individuals, there are many positives that come from sticking together. We have a support network that can help us to maintain a strong spiritual connection, even in difficult times. We’re around people who understand us and share our views about God. This can be quite comforting and meaningful.

Sticking together is also viewed as an important strategy for raising children. Parents are often afraid that their children will not follow the family’s religion if the children are given wide leeway to associate with youngsters of different religions. In addition, parents may be worried that their children will marry someone from another religion.

Yet there’s another side to sticking together and spending the majority of our time with those who share our religion or our spiritual orientation. We spend little or no time with those who don’t share our beliefs. A significant portion of the world (and perhaps a significant portion of our community) does not share our belief. How are we to understand others — and live harmoniously with them — if we close them out of our lives? Doesn’t sticking together and forming “our own club” lead to isolation and to misunderstanding?

Perhaps you take the view that you should only associate with those who share your religion. This may sound reasonable but if you were drowning in the ocean and someone at the shore screamed out, “Do you need help?” I don’t think your next comment would be “What religion are you?”

You’d want the person to help you immediately, regardless of that person’s religion. In other words, religion would not matter to you in that situation. Furthermore, if that person saved your life, or the life of your child, you might have a different view of that person’s religion. You would probably want to learn more about that person and his or her family. You’d feel a close bond with that individual. Would you deny that somehow God had a role in bringing this person with a different religion into your life?

What’s the answer? How much fellowship is a good thing, and is there a point where it causes us to be isolated from others who don’t share our view? How much should we learn about other religions? How much contact, if any, should we have with people of different faiths?

How do we honor and embrace people of all faiths and spiritual orientations while not “weakening” our own faith?

– Jeff Keller
© 2008

My father was not one to look for an argument, but he did enjoy exchanging ideas with others. He welcomed those who disagreed with his views, and he was willing to listen and learn from others. Yet it always annoyed him when someone would turn the discussion into a “battle.”

Following these unpleasant episodes, he would say to me, “I was always taught that you could disagree without being disagreeable.” He couldn’t understand why people would have to raise their voice or ridicule the position taken by another. While my dad may have been overly sensitive at times (as most of us are), I did find much truth in his words.

Why can’t we disagree without being disagreeable?

The dictionary definitions of disagreeable include: “having a quarrelsome, bad-tempered manner;” “unpleasant or offensive.”

We’ve all run across people who are disagreeable when they disagree. If we’re honest, we’ll admit that we often fall into this kind of behavior – or we did so in the past. When you see someone who is unpleasant or offensive while disagreeing, you’re seeing the ego at work.

The disagreeable person is seeking to establish that he or she is right and you are wrong; that he or she is smart and you are less intelligent, or even stupid. The ego thrives on making comparisons and establishing superiority.

When we are in touch with our spiritual nature, we put our ego aside. We can express our view without looking to make the other person wrong. This is not a battle that we have to win. There is no opponent to defeat. There is simply an exchange of ideas in an environment of mutual respect.

“Disagreeableness” seems to be on the rise these days. It may be the result of the speed of most societies, which leads to increased stress and less tolerance. In addition, the media encourages aggressive conflict. Political discussions are very popular on radio, TV and the internet. On these shows (or blogs), you find the person holding one view tries to ridicule anyone who holds an opposing view. There is a need to tear apart the “opponent” and his or her views.

Perhaps this is a good time to ask ourselves:

Am I being disagreeable when I voice my views?

Is it important for me to be right and to prove the other person is wrong?

Consider this from all angles, which would include your discussions with your spouse, your children, your parents, your friends, your co-workers and others who cross your path. You might be respectful in some settings and yet very disagreeable in others. Some people push your buttons and you lash out. Could you learn to disagree without being disagreeable?

Putting down another person and his or her opinions will never bring you contentment. You are creating distance between yourself and the other. You eliminate the possibility of learning from another. The spirit seeks to join or connect with the other person. And we can accomplish that even when we disagree. We simply disagree with respect.

As you learn to tame the ego, you will find that you don’t feel the need to express your disagreement as often as you did the past. When you are passionate about something and want to express yourself, you will. But there will be many instances when you realize there is nothing to be gained by voicing your view. You just let it go, without the need to respond. You don’t need to prove anything to anyone.

Here are a few other things to consider. I make a distinction between being disagreeable and what I would refer to as playful teasing with friends, relatives and co-workers. This is simply showing a sense of humor and allows us to connect with each other. We might disagree with someone and our intent is not to prove them wrong or establish our superiority. We might even be sarcastic in disagreeing but it is meant to be funny. There are no rules that can be set to cover all situations. We need to consider the nature of our relationship with the other person and the boundaries that are acceptable within that relationship.

Also, don’t rush to put the “disagreeable” label on someone else just because they are forceful or somewhat aggressive in disagreeing with you. Each person has a unique personality, and you can’t expect everyone to disagree with you while being “soft” or “gentile.” That may not reflect that individual’s natural personality. Someone can be aggressive or even loud, without trying to tear you down or ridicule your position. Recognize when you are being overly sensitive. Cut others some slack and give them the benefit of the doubt.

In the end, it doesn’t matter what other people do. You don’t have to try to change other people, and in most cases, you can simply refuse to engage in discussions with those who are disagreeable.

Instead, focus only on yourself. Develop the ability to disagree without being disagreeable. Drop the ego games. You are then in a position to learn more about yourself, the other person, and the topic under discussion.

– Jeff Keller
© 2008

World peace is a concept that just about everyone is in favor of. The challenge is: how do we achieve world peace?

Before I address that issue, I think there is another important question to ask: how do we know that world peace is attainable, or that it is part of God’s plan? (if you believe God has a plan)

In other words, perhaps we are not supposed to achieve world peace on this earthly plane. Before you dismiss this as absurd, consider this: the earthly plane is a world of duality, consisting of a number of polar opposites. Thus, we have Up/Down, Dark/Light, Cold/Hot, Good/Evil, Peace/War.

These opposites always seem to be operating on earth. What makes you think that the rules will change and Peace will exist with no opposite to Peace? Part of the richness of human experience is dealing with these opposites. We learn from them; we grow from them. Perhaps it is God’s Will that these opposites remain. How can you know for sure what God has intended?

You might argue that even if God does not intend for us to bring about a state of world peace, God wants us to work toward that goal. That is quite possible.

Let’s assume that world peace is attainable, or at least that we should be working toward it. How do we achieve world peace? As I see it, here are some strategies that WON’T work. We won’t achieve world peace by trying to convince everyone to follow our religion and to give up their current beliefs. We won’t achieve world peace by trying to convince people to adopt the form of government we advocate and to give up the system they prefer.

We won’t achieve world peace through “peace movements” or “peace marches” in which we seek to enlist an army of followers to spread peace. If we gather in one place to pray for peace, or hold hands around the world, what happens when the “event” is over? Peace is over, and we go back to living as we lived before. Even while the “event” is taking place, there are those around the world who are not participating and who don’t believe the participants stand for peace.

These kinds of collective solutions, in which we try to persuade others to join our cause, are doomed to fail. Here’s why: those attempting to “sell” others on world peace are not themselves at peace.

The vast majority of the “peace” advocates are at war with something. They may be angry at their neighbors who make too much noise. They may condemn the gangs in their city, or resent the meddling of their in-laws. There are many areas where they are “at war” with themselves. How can someone filled with hatred or anger ask others to be peaceful? It is the height of hypocrisy. And yet we all do it.

We’re going at this issue backwards, seeking to change things from the outside. There is no need to convince anyone else on earth to be more peaceful. What would work better is an inside-out approach. Thus, the best thing I can do to promote world peace is for me to be more peaceful. No one else has to do anything. My challenge is to BE peace. To BE love. That will affect the world more than anything I can convince others to do.

What’s more is that this strategy, although very challenging, is something we can embrace immediately, and it is guaranteed to have a positive effect on ourselves and on others. I don’t know if it will ever yield world peace, but it helps to move us in that direction.

You’d have to admit that the current strategies for world peace, used for thousands of years, have not worked at all. The world is not at peace, or even close to it. In our hearts, we know it’s not a matter of trying harder, praying more, or begging others to embrace peace. If you want to keep doing those things, I respect your right to do so. Be my guest. My spirit won’t let me go down that path any longer.

We need to be concerned only with ourselves. As Mohandas Gandhi said, “you must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Be peaceful and loving with yourself and with everyone you encounter. That’s the most valuable contribution you can make to world peace.

– Jeff Keller
© 2008