Sullins Stuart's Blog

Have You Observed the Universe Assisting You?

I truly believe, as Emerson said, “When you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.”

Scroll down and leave a comment or share an experience of yours in which you felt the universe conspiring to assist you. I’d love to hear about it.

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How to Begin the Spiritual Journey of Awakening

The spiritual journey of awakening is a journey of Self-realization. It is recognizing and leaving behind that which is false in favor of that which is true, and living your life in Truth.

For those who desire to begin the spiritual journey of awakening, all that is required is to ask one, simple question and not rest until you have found the answer. Fortunately, the answer can be found in a short amount of time, even in a few minutes for some of you.

The question is, “Who am I?”

That question alone, when given your utmost attention, will provide you all the insight you need for it is a very powerful question.

The great spiritual teacher Sri Ramana Maharshi, when asked by a pupil if a Guru was needed to awaken, said the practice of self-inquiry alone is all that is needed. He stated, “The Guru cannot give you anything new, which you don’t already have. Removal of the notion that we have not realized the Self is all that is required. We are always the Self only we don’t realize it.” In other words, our true Self, our soul, is always present but overshadowed by the ego. The problem lies in believing that the ego is who we really are. Seeking the source of the ego through self-inquiry is all that is needed to reach Self-realization and Truth.

In exploring this simple, yet profound question, “Who am I?” you will begin to realize that your ego is nothing more than a conglomeration of thoughts encompassing your feelings, attitudes, judgments, desires, opinions, and more, which when looked at from a distance, aid in comprising the individual that is you in physical form.

If the ego is nothing more than a collection of thoughts, the next question to ask is, “Is the ego real?”

The ego is nothing more than a thought and thoughts are no more real than a dream we have when sleeping. Therefore, you cannot be the ego for how can you be something that is not real? So, absent the ego, who and what are you?

You are the consciousness, the awareness, the Being, that observes the ego. You are the Being that has always existed but has been obscured by the thought-filled ego.

When you have this Self-realization, which is an important realization, you will fully understand what you truly are. When the false is removed, there lies what is and always has been, your true, eternal Self, an all-encompassing, infinite consciousness that is the source of all that exists.

You are the supreme consciousness. This is the real you—the eternal awareness behind all that exists. With this understanding, you now must be true to your Self and live this Truth every moment of every day. This is the spiritual journey.

On a dark, cloudy day, does the sun not still shine brightly in the sky? Yes, it’s just hidden behind the clouds. Do people question the sun’s existence when they cannot see it? No, of course not. The same is true with your soul. Your soul is and has always been present, but the thoughts produced by your ego act as clouds that obscure your soul and prevent it from being observed by you and others.

The spiritual journey requires that we remove the clouds that hide our true Being. And to do this, all we need to do is inquire into the nature of who we really are. And the easiest way to do so is to ask, “Who am I?” And, the more you seek the answer to that question, the more the clouds will part to reveal your true Self because inquiring into the nature of the ego causes it to disappear, for it is not real.

Thus, the spiritual journey is not a journey of attaining anything, for you lack nothing. It is a journey of uncovering that which already exists, your true Self, your soul. It is the process of removing the false, revealing the true, and living in Truth every day.

Sri Ramana Maharshi stated, “All that is necessary is to lose the ego. Be as you are. See who you are and remain as the Self, free from birth, going, coming, and returning.”

Namaste,

Sullins

If you enjoyed this, please like or share it. And if you have a comment or question, please post it below. I personally read and respond to all of them.

Understanding “I AM” Consciousness

The “I AM” state of being is a mystical, spiritual state of consciousness mentioned by the greatest spiritual teachers. Yet, many practitioners of spirituality and meditation don’t fully understand this level of conscious awareness.

The “I AM” state always exists, all you must do is make the effort to access it. When you do, you will experience the pure bliss, harmony, and love that is your true state of being. Click below to learn more about experiencing this glorious state of consciousness.

Let me know what you think…leave a comment or question below. If you enjoyed this video, please share it. Thanks!






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Imagination: A Tool the Ego Uses to Keep Us from Living in the Now

Do you ever catch yourself having a conversation in your imagination? Maybe it occurs when you are driving, taking a shower, standing in line, cooking or working in the yard. Well, you aren’t alone.

These imaginary conversations are one way in which your ego attempts to keep you from being mindful of the present moment.

Click below to learn more.

Please leave me a comment below and let me know what you think!

 

 

Three Steps to Overcoming Self-pity

Do you, or someone you know, suffer from self-pity? What is the nature of self-pity? Where does it originate? This video addresses self-pity and offers three steps that will assist you in overcoming it.

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Creating a personal/spiritual growth plan

We make plans for advancing in our careers, buying a house, taking a vacation, starting a business, how and when to retire, and much more. But, how many of you have ever taken the time to create a plan for your personal and spiritual growth?

With the beginning of a new year just behind us, it’s the perfect time to create a personal/spiritual growth plan for 2016.

I’ve created a plan to maximize my personal and spiritual growth in 2016 and I hope you’ll join me in creating one too.

I hope this video serves you in your spiritual and personal growth.

Please hit the “Like” button below and leave me a comment letting me know what you think.

Are you a victim of circumstance?

Do you have a tendency to blame bad moods, misfortune, unhappiness, lack of motivation, poor relationships, money problems, etc. on others or on situations seemingly beyond your control? If so, you are not alone. Often, we do not accept responsibility for such things because it is easier to find fault in others than it is to accept that the fault may lie within ourselves. Such is the nature of the ego. It is a vain creature eager to accept accolades and praise when life is great, but reluctant to face criticism or take responsibility when life isn’t so great. However, if you desire to grow spiritually, then it is imperative you rise above the ego’s sly avoidance of acknowledging the Truth.

To do so requires that you become mindful of the Present and observe the ego. In other words, you must make the conscious effort to become the observer—to become acutely aware of your thoughts, attitudes, behaviors, choices, and reactions. Furthermore, it is imperative that you be sincere and honest with your observations. This can be difficult because there may be moments in which you might not like what you observe about your thoughts, choices, and behaviors. As such, it is vital to remember that we cannot change that which we cannot see. Observation is an important component to personal transformation.

In observing yourself, you may also realize you are not in total control of your life. In other words, you may see that your day-to-day existence is less about making truly independent choices, and more about reacting to stimuli. If you are not living in the Now, you are passively reacting to stimuli in your immediate environment. In other words, you are going through the motions of living, not fully participating or fully engaged in the present moment. In this state of passivity, we allow others to influence and dictate our moods, feelings, thoughts, and choices.

In the Now, you will observe the Truth…that nothing is capable of making you frustrated, annoyed, disappointed, unhappy, or angry, unless you allow it. Nothing can stand in the way of you achieving the life you desire, unless you allow it. When you choose to react negatively to someone, or choose to place the blame on seemingly bad circumstances, you give it control over you. This is how some individuals play the role of the “victim.” Their problems and misfortunes are rarely their fault. It is always due to mistreatment by others or the “dark cloud” that follows them everywhere. Yet, the Now reveals the Truth—there is always a choice. It was the Greek, Stoic philosopher Epictetus, who wisely stated, “People are not disturbed by things, but by the views they take of them.”

To be in control of your life requires that you live in the Present. It is in the Present that you realize that you do not have to automatically react to people and situations. In the Now, you observe your life and events impartially, without judgment. You see people and events as neither good nor bad, neither right nor wrong. You then are able to rise above the automatic response of the ego and make the best choice—a choice based in love, compassion, and acceptance of what truly is.

If there is an area of your life in which you are not at peace, whether it is your job, your health, your finances, or your relationships, don’t immediately blame others or the circumstances you find yourself to be in. Stop and observe the situation objectively, with presence. Be honest with yourself and take responsibility for the choices you have made until now. Next, with presence and intention, allow your soul to be the active force in your life. Rise above the ego and make conscious choices based in love and compassion. With your soul as your guide, your spiritual growth will enhance your personal life, and you will soon find you are on the path to living the life you desire and deserve.

I hope this serves you in your personal and spiritual growth.

 

 

P.S. Please leave me a comment or question and let me know what you think. And feel free to share this with anyone whom you think it will benefit.

 

You are Spirit, You are Love

If you can silence the steady stream of thoughts your mind continually produces, the true nature of reality will be revealed to you. When you experience a moment of presence, the ego’s veil of ignorance that normally shields your mind’s vision, falls to the ground. The real you emerges, your soul, and it is through the soul’s eyes that you observe the universe and all that it contains, as God intended you to see and experience it.

In the Now, you will realize that everything, literally every thing, is connected by the same thread of energy that permeates all of the Universe. Hence, you are connected to every thing that exists; every thing has your essence, the energy that is your soul, within it.

In the Now, you will realize you are love, and you are meant to live every day as an expression of the love that is you, for it is glorious and worthy of expressing to all.

In the Now, you will realize that the only moment that is real is the present moment, and you will understand that you must make efforts to always be in the Now.

In the Now, you realize that, being energy, you exist outside of the confines of the body and that you will exist after the body expires. Hence, there is no need to fear death, for only the body will die and you are not the body.

You are Spirit, so live as Spirit lives, love as Spirit loves.

Peace and blessings always,

 

 

P.S.  If you like this, please hit the “like” button below and share it. And let me know what you think…leave me a comment or question!

What are you doing?

Recently, a family member asked me, “So, how did we get here?”

That question can be answered any number of ways…philosophically, scientifically, religiously, and more. And, you could probably ask five random people that same question and receive five different answers.

However, I don’t believe that is the most important question. I believe the more relevant question is, “Realizing that you are here, what are you going to do?”

Yesterday, I was driving in my car and listening to a motivational cd featuring John Maxwell, a well-known speaker, pastor, and author whose teachings focus on leadership. John was talking about living a purpose-driven life. He stated that, more than anything, people want to feel like they matter, that they made a difference in the lives of others. John said that if you live with intention, meaning that you act with purpose and meaning today, instead of tomorrow or next week, you will find you are making a difference in the lives of others now, and should you continue to live with intention, in time you will realize you are living a life of purpose and meaning.

Is he right? I believe so. I believe we all want to be loved, to be respected, to be listened to, to be healthy, to be happy, and to feel our life has meaning and purpose.

Yet, it’s not enough to desire all the things I just mentioned, for desiring doesn’t make it so. We cannot expect to obtain or attract that which we lack within ourselves. Yet, this is exactly what the ego does. The ego often desires much while wanting to make little to no effort. Therefore it is imperative you begin to act in accordance with that which you desire.

You must make efforts.

To be loved, you must be loving. To gain respect, you must be respectful. To be heard, you must listen to others. To be healthy, you must make healthy choices. To be happy, make others happy. To master a skill, you must practice diligently. To be successful, you must work hard.

In other words…what you do—your efforts—determines what you attract and attain, and ultimately, who you become.

I don’t know how we got here. But, I do know that my time here is limited, that not a single day should be taken for granted.

And to paraphrase John Maxwell, don’t wait until tomorrow or the next day to live fully. Begin now. Live today with intention and purpose.

Peace and blessings,

 

 

P.S. I’d love to know what you think. Please hit the like button to share this and leave me a comment or question below. I personally respond to all of them.

Are You Being Present with Others?

Have you observed this?

Recently, I was standing in line at the grocery store. Directly in front of me is a woman in her mid-30’s talking on her phone. It’s obvious that the conversation she is having is not of a serious nature.

When it’s her turn to check out, she remains on the phone the entire time, never pausing to acknowledge the cashier. The cashier and I briefly catch each other’s eyes. My expression is one of, “Is this woman going to stay on the phone and ignore you?” Her look says, “Yes. This is a common occurrence.” The woman on the phone swipes her credit card, doesn’t wait for her receipt, and continues to talk while walking towards the exit.

“That was rude,” I say.

“You’d be surprised how often that happens,” she states.

I realize that I have a wonderful opportunity to be present with the cashier and let her know how much I appreciate her assisting me with my groceries.

While she scans and bags my items, I mindfully and silently send her wishes of peace, joy, and love. As she hands me my receipt, I smile and tell her to have a wonderful rest of the day. She says, “Thank you very much,” and smiles back.

We have numerous encounters each day. Occasionally these encounters are with someone we don’t know, such as a cashier or salesperson in a store, but mostly they are with those we do know, like spouses, children, extended family, friends, and co-workers. I’m going to give you one tip that will absolutely improve any encounter and relationship you have and it’s a simple one…

Each time you have an encounter or conversation with someone, take a second to become mindful and attempt to remain in a state of presence while you are with them.

When you are present with another person, you are actively listening to them. In doing so, you are letting them know that in that exact moment, they are the most important person to you. We have an inherent desire to be acknowledged, to be listened to, to feel we matter.

Think of times when you have been with someone who is texting, reading email, surfing the web, etc. while you are with them. What message are they sending? The message is I’m here with you, but you are not as important as what I’m doing on my phone at this exact moment.

Just two days ago, I was having dinner out with my daughter. I discretely took the following picture of a family beside us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both kids on ipads and dad on his iphone. No one was speaking to each other. If this is the new “Family Night Out” then we are in big trouble.

If you are seeking ways to be more present, then remind yourself each time you meet or speak with someone, that you stop and become mindful. Truly be with them. In doing so, you will be offering them compassion, love, and acceptance, and they will feel it directly from the highest part of you…your Being.

I hope this helps you in your spiritual and personal growth.

Peace and blessings always,

 

 

P.S. What do you think? Leave me a comment or question below. I read each and every one of them.