In Reply to: The Buddha lived 357 human lives before enlightment. posted by Letting go of self is a process, not a prescription. sm klowe on June 28, 2008 at 19:31:31:
about filling your own cup first so as to have enough to be able to help and assist others. However, in the movie The Secret, they were focusing on Mercedes, Diamond necklaces, etc. I certainly have not taken a vow of poverty myself. I just find it rather unspiritual to use universal law for personal materialistic pursuits. I'm not saying trying to manifest a good job, a decent car, enough food, etc is materialistic. However, I believe that manifesting more love, peace, joy, compassion in our lives is more in line w/ what the spiritual teachers/masters taught.
I also don't feel the concept of giving for the purpose of receiving is the right underlying concept of giving. When I give, I'm not trying to get anything in return. I do get a good feeling inside, and that, I guess, is self-serving, but other than that, I don't expect a return on my gift. Having said that, in my opinion, observation of how things work, it seems the more I am open to giving, assisting, helping, the more of that I attract into my own life. I don't understand why that works, but it always has been that way in my life.
I didn't mean to offend anyone in the way I worded my post. I have faith in my life. So, I use the word faith. I do see how the word wisdom fits better in the context of my question. For me, I believe in God. I base that belief on my own connection with Spirit and my faith that my experience and connection are indeed what I perceive them to be. I can't explain it but I can't explain how electricity works either-- it's beyond my brain level : ). I don't expect everyone to come to the same conclusion about God that I have. However, for me- to quote Rod Stewart (yeah, well, I know he's not exactly a spiritual teacher) I have faith of the heart. : )