Until we can be aware of -- present to -- the fact that the love of the Divine never leaves us -- even when we're full of darkness -- we can never really understand the appearance and purpose of a negative state, let alone how it's possible to die to it, and to ourselves as well.

Here's why going out of our way to encourage others (to do what's true) is always the best thing to do: we each receive from life whatever we give to it; no sacrifice is made without re-compensation, and often so in greater measure. The sacrifice needed to help others reach above their present possibilities lifts everyone higher.

Imagination, and the daydreams that it creates, act as a kind of consolation; it seems to compensate for the empty, fearful, and conflict filled world in which we live today; but, in truth, this level of imagination is the cause of our common sorrow... And therefore can never be a part of its solution.

The relationship between voluntary suffering, and the good spiritual fortune that any conscious labor will produce... is similar to how the hard work it takes to cultivate a field increases the likelihood of a healthy bumper crop.

Learning to make use of everything that we are given in life is the only sure way to discover that nothing exists that is useless, including our own dark states. We must learn to use all that we are...if our hope is to realize that we have been given all by God.

Do whatever life gives you to do with all of your heart, soul, and mind and -- in exchange -- Life will give you its greatest gift: a peace that passes all understanding born of the power that comes only when your heart, soul, and mind are, and act, as one.

The Wise have always taught: As goes our attention, so comes our experience. The more we attend to living in the present moment, the richer becomes our experience of it... and of our own higher possibilities.

Regardless of how we want to believe otherwise, no-matter how subtle may be our justification for the same, we can't put the cares of this world first... and expect to be cared for by a Higher World at the same time. It's a faultless Law, and none can escape its perfect justice: whatever we put second in our life... places us second in its life as well.

When all is said and done, what matters is not whether or not the world loves us, or approves of us; what matters is what we love, for that is what determines the true and final course of our lives.

The moment that you see that the only thing you really fear in this life is what you've mistaken yourself to be, you'll also see the interior path that leads to a fearless life. Take this path and you will find a greatness that is the source of fearlessness itself.

Persist with your wish to be free; work to see all that you can about yourself, and then quietly watch what happens. Whatever appears before your inner eyes does so as part of what you need to see in order to realize that freedom for which you have asked. Never forget this truth... and your spiritual progress will be steady.

Contrary to popular opinion -- as concerns being around someone who has just set us off: the real task before us is not to try to change him or her, or take control of the unwanted moment. Rather (it is) to use the awareness of our own negative reaction to help us realize we need to change the kind of person we are.