Most religions believe in the concept that what we send out into the world in the form of thoughts and actions will be returned to us. Thus if we love and respect others, we will be loved and respected. If we hate others or do violence to them, we will be on the receiving end of hatred and violence.

The Bible says, “As you sow, so shall you reap.” It has also been stated as, “What goes around comes around.” Many Eastern religions and philosophies believe in karma, a moral law of cause and effect.

I think most people who have any interest in religion or spirituality believe that our thoughts and actions have consequences. Thus, they believe in the principle of sowing and reaping. I often like to think of it as throwing the boomerang in life. You send your actions and thoughts into the world, and they come back to you at some later date. You are treated as you have treated others.

I’ll be the first to admit that this principle is not as simple as it first appears. We’ve all read stories about parents who seem to be kind, ethical people – and yet several of their children die in tragic accidents or from unexpected diseases. What could the parents possibly have done to deserve such a fate? Some explain this by referring to consequences from “past lives.” I do not pass judgment on the issue of past lives, but I’ve never found it helpful to consider the issue from that angle.

What seems easier to accept, and what I have seen in my own life, is how the principle operates when we view the recurring patterns in our lives – the events or experiences that happen over and over again. Those recurring patterns do not appear to happen “by accident” – and whether or not we can prove it – at least we have the sense that the principle of sowing and reaping is operating.

It’s relatively easy to accept the concept when we look at the positive things flowing into our lives. When we receive love and appreciation, we can see that we are being treated this way because we extended love and appreciation to others. We believe that our business success is the result of seeds we have planted, of diligent efforts we have made.

I’ve noticed that we tend to disregard the principle of sowing and reaping when we are on the receiving end of negative treatment. Thus, nations go to war with each other and neither will admit their “responsibility” for the violence. If sowing and reaping is operating, then nations on the receiving end of violence somehow have perpetrated acts of violence. As they say, “live by the sword, die by the sword.”

Yet you don’t often hear this kind of responsibility. You hear things like, “They started it. We are just responding to their violence.”

The same is true of individuals. We may complain about the lack of love in our lives or the fact that we are encountering much judgment and criticism. If this is happening, isn’t it because of something we have sowed? If we find love or friendship lacking in our lives, wouldn’t that mean that we are somehow withholding love and friendship from others?

I suppose the ego wants to take credit for the positive things and to deny responsibility for the negative things that show up in our lives.

Take a moment and consider the experiences that are showing up in your life right now. Can you see how you might be contributing to the positive AND to what you label as negative? Something tells me that if the principle of sowing and reaping is valid, it must be working at both ends, contributing both to what we like and what we don’t like.

– Jeff Keller
© 2008

Note: This message is not intended to be a thorough examination of the principle of sowing and reaping or karma. It examines only a very limited aspect of these concepts.

I was listening to a CD distributed by the National Speakers Association that contained a short interview with Charlie “Tremendous” Jones. Charlie has been a speaker and author in the area of personal and professional development for more than 50 years. He has touched millions of people with his inspirational messages and his abundant kindness.

Charlie is also the founder of Executive Books. You can learn more about Charlie at www.executivebooks.com/cjones  .

The interviewer asked Charlie what he had learned over the years. Instead of detailing what he had learned, Charlie spoke about the importance of unlearning. He said that after many years of learning, we come to a place of unlearning.

Charlie pointed out that during our learning phase, we learn to be bigger, to get more, and to be more popular. At some point, he said, that gets “old” – and then we start unlearning, so we can become simple and real. The mark of greatness, he said, is a childlike spirit.

Charlie’s words spoke directly to my heart. About a year ago, I came to a point where I knew that I needed to start unlearning. Learning had produced many wonderful things in my life, and for them I am grateful. Yet my spirit was not at rest, and an inner voice prodded me to start the process of unlearning.

That’s why I question so many things now. I know that much of what I previously learned is not true. I know that some of the priorities I established were not feeding my spirit. They fed my ego and helped me to gain the approval of others. But I wasn’t able to convince myself that all was well.

Where are you right now? Are you in the learning phase or the unlearning phase? In my experience, unlearning can open some interesting new doors and reveal precious new insights.

Charlie summed it up this way: “Learning makes you big and smart. Unlearning makes you simple and real.”

I’m with Charlie. I’ll take simple and real. Simple and real might not seem exciting to some. It might seem to be a passive way to live your life. You might even feel it would hinder your success. In fact, it’s just the opposite.

We yearn to be simple and real – to get rid of the heavy burden of the masks we all wear and the games we play to obtain the acceptance of others. If anything, the “simple and real” approach will bring us more success, although in the unlearning phase our definition of success is likely to be different than it was in the learning phase.

When you embrace unlearning, you’re going to learn some new things – and those things are likely to make your spirit sing.

– Jeff Keller
© 2008

I want to share with you a fascinating video about one woman’s unique experience in which she got a new perspective about her senses and her connection to something beyond herself. This presentation was given in early 2008 by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a brain scientist. Although she discusses the brain, this is not just a technical science lecture, as you will soon find out.

The presentation is about 18 minutes, so arrange to view it when you have the time to do so.

By directing you to this presentation, I am not attempting to persuade you to take any position regarding the experiences described by Dr. Taylor. She is presenting her experience and her interpretation. What you make of it is up to you.

You can access the presentation by clicking the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyyjU8fzEYU  

In Part 1 of this message, I discussed some of the limitations of our human senses. I admit that I may have been a bit harsh in dwelling on the areas where our perceptions are deceiving us. To be fair, I want to acknowledge and celebrate the positive aspects of our senses and the way they serve us on this earth.

Our senses allow us to experience so much pleasure during our human existence. What a miracle to see the Grand Canyon, the smile of a child, the oceans, and the trees and flowers. The delight in tasting our favorite foods, or to feel the touch of another person – these are miracles we often take for granted.

Our senses not only provide us with enjoyment; they warn us of impending danger and perform many useful functions.

However, what the senses and the mind can’t do is decipher the truth about God and our relationship to God.

Often, we try to figure out God with our minds. We think about what God wants us to do in our lives. We think about why the world is as it is, with all the suffering and the poverty. So many things don’t make sense to our rational minds. Yet we keep searching for answers. We may listen to sermons or read books. We may read newsletters or articles about spiritual growth. These resources can be helpful, but they never seem to answer all our questions. The mind is eventually befuddled and reaches a dead end.

We have to face this fact sooner or later: the mind is not capable of knowing God. Here’s why. The human mind is limited. For example, the human mind can’t understand the concept of something that has no beginning and no end. Do you have any reference point for that? Is there anything that has ever shown up in your life that has had no beginning and no end?

All religions seem to agree that God is infinite. God has always been. Nothing else created God. In addition, God will always be. There is no time when God will end or cease to be.

I know the human mind has accomplished some miraculous things. We can launch a rocket to the moon and do all sorts of other impressive feats. But that doesn’t mean the human mind can get a handle on God. Simply put, God is playing by different rules than the mind can grasp.

If the mind and the senses either deceive us or are incapable of understanding God, what can we do to establish a deeper connection with the God? Here are some things I’ve found helpful, and they may or may not resonate with you.

First and foremost, quiet the mind. As long as the mind is chattering, we are caught in the trap of focusing on the past or the future. The mind is never in the present. It is always a split second off. Thus, when you see the sun, it takes a moment for your mind to say, “There is the sun.” The mind’s “translation” is never in the present. I am learning that God is found in the Aliveness of the Present Moment. The stresses of modern society continually pull us out of the present moment, and we have to make significant changes if we want to counteract these pressures.

God’s silence speaks volumes and gives us a glimpse into our true nature; in addition, as the mind and ego are diminished, we open the channels of communication where God can speak and impart messages and insights to us. This “mechanism” works differently in each person, yet it is the quiet mind that invites God to communicate.

I’ve also found it imperative to embrace uncertainty. Many people are looking for certainty on the spiritual path. They are looking for a set of beliefs they can hold onto that will provide peace, joy and security. I was not able to find a deep spiritual connection by following any religion or belief system. My inner voice told me to surrender to God and to trust whatever came up. That approach is working for me. I have not found certainty, but I have found a deeper relationship with God. I recognize that your path might be quite different.

No doubt, this is a mysterious universe – and the mind will never figure it out. The senses will always be deceived as quantum physics has clearly demonstrated. Yet I have faith in a loving God that has everything in hand. I like the way Ralph Waldo Emerson put it: “All that I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.”

– Jeff Keller
© 2008