6 Essential Keys to Spiritual Development - Rudolph Steiner

The past week has been an experience, some wild emotions with lots of love, laughter and tears as well. I found this article about Spirituality that sums up the way I life my life...I am consistently considering my thoughts and actions, emotions and living my life with love and compassion :-) Enjoy xoxox

6 Essential Keys to Spiritual Development

May my soul bloom in love for all existence. —Rudolph Steiner

The great teacher and spiritual leader Rudolph Steiner spent his lifetime searching for keys to living more consciously. He boiled down the wisdom of generations into six clear, powerful, simple guidelines.

Here, then are the six essential keys to a more aware and spiritually developed life.

1. Control of thoughts. We must master our thoughts, particularly our train of thought. Just consider the way thoughts whirl about in our souls, how they flit like will o’-the-wisps; one impression arises here, another there, and each changes our thinking. It is not true that we govern our thoughts; our thoughts govern us completely. We must reach the point where, at a given time in the day, we can become so absorbed in a thought that no other thought can enter and disturb our soul. In this way, we hold the reins of thought life for awhile.

2. Control of our actions. Here it is necessary, occasionally at least, to act in ways that are not precipitated by anything external. Whatever is initiated by our place in life, our profession, or our situation does not lead more deeply into higher life. Higher life depends upon such intimate matters as one’s resolve to do something that springs completely from one’s own initiative—even if it is something absolutely insignificant. No other actions contribute anything to the higher life.

3. Equanimity. People fluctuate back and forth between joy and sorrow. Thus we allow ourselves to be rocked on the waves of life. We must reach equanimity and steadiness. One must become steadfast and even-tempered.

4. Understand every being. Nothing expresses more beautifully what it means to understand every being than the legend passed down to us by a Persian story. Jesus was crossing a field with his disciples, when they encountered the horrible-looking decaying corpse of a dog. Jesus stopped and looked at it with admiration, saying, “What beautiful teeth this animal has!” Within the ugly, Jesus found an element of beauty. Try always to approach what is wonderful in every phenomenon of outer reality. You will see that everything contains an aspect that can be affirmed.

5. Complete openness. Most people judge new things according to the old things they already know. But we must not confront a new communication immediately with our own opinion. We must instead always remain alert for the possibility of learning something new. We must develop the ability to listen, because it enables us to encounter matters with the greatest possible openness.

6. Inner harmony. We receive this after we have developed the first five keys. Those who have the other qualities are also inwardly harmonious.


www.soulshinegroup.com.au

 Lisa xo

Awakened to Spirituality...what does it mean!

Sowhat exactly does it mean to be 'Awakened to Spirituality' and how can you help somebody else become Awake.

The short answer is this...in my experience awakened spirituality to me is simply a label that describes when someone is moving in the direction of understanding themselves and their purpose in life.  I think we can all get so caught up on Spirituality as something 'different' or not for everybody.  We are all 'SPIRIT' in a physical body yes? Weren't we all born, won't we all live? Won't we all die at some point?
Then this poses the question - aren't we already Spiritual?

Awakened is simply about having an open mind to learning all you can about yourself. You may hear things, read something, attend a workshop, attend a talk or even see a movie and most parts may feel right for you, your intuition, gut instinct is confirming that not only are you on the right path but your discovering more and more about yourself, be discerning and take what fits for you. When you feel like the information isn't quite correct, consider the reasons why?  Is it that you don't understand what what's being presented or is it that your gut is telling you that just doesn't seem right to me.  Either way, take it for what it is, something that doesn't fit for you right now, simply accept it as others point of view. As you learn and grow, you may find one of those instances raise up again and you understand it in a different light.  Sometimes it may just be that you when you hear it from another perspective it all makes sense, so don't dismiss it by making hasty judgements.

This brings me to the discussion of decision making? The more you learn and have a greater understanding of who you are the more you may begin to question your life. You may find the people and situations around you seem to change and in some cases the people around you begin sharing their opinions on your life.  Remember, the person who you need to consider the most in any decision is yourself.  How do YOU feel about your life, job and partner.  Are you happy? If not then consider making some changes, if you are then you need not do anything.  Spirituality isnt something knew, it's inside every one of us. Making a decision based on other people opinions leads you to live somebody else's life rather than your own.  Come back to connecting to who you are, what you might like to do, dont ever make rash decisions, listen to your gut instincts and if something doesnt feel right dont do it. After learning more about yourself you may be surprised by what you find out about yourself.

In the end...you need to make your decisions for yourself by knowing yourself.

Yours in light and love,

Lisa xo