No psychological reaction is a call to action; it is merely a momentary manifestation, and therefore part of the revelation of the level of consciousness from out of which it has come.  Each such negative reaction is meant to "die," having completed the purpose of its temporary existence.  Otherwise our unconscious identification with these dark reactions turns them into the seeds that sow our next sorrow.

As fleeting as that moment may be... and really it's an awakening, that I'm going to explain... I'm going to give you three particular steps to help develop this idea of nourishing the soul, of what it means to not just use the moment as it's given to us, but to use the moment to give ourselves a new life, because it is being given to us in that moment by another order of being. 

Sometimes those moments come -- and I hope that you'll agree with me -- sometimes here comes a moment and I'm shocked right to my socks with what I see. Every once in a while, those moments of awakening come and they're so special we wish that time would stop. We see the beauty of that sunrise, we see the massive cloud formations, we see the child delighted with joy, dancing for no reason whatsoever, a puppy running in circles, some noble creature -- a deer, a horse -- running across the field. That's an awakening, isn't it? It's awakening to something that was latent within us that suddenly realizes it has some corresponding connection to that beauty, that strength, that nobility. We love that. There's no shock in that. We can't swallow it enough. 

But what about those moments when, shockingly, we see -- as life does show us -- that within us there is something that we don't want to see at all? A split second of a revelation, where instantaneously that moment has brought up inside of us and is revealing through a reflection something we didn't realize is true about ourselves. I had no idea that I could be that angry, that I could be that hostile, that conflicted, that I could turn at the drop of a hat. That what I call this "love" I have for someone could turn in a heartbeat into something that's hideous. 

How is that possible? We're describing it. All of this content lays buried within us, and all of it -- in order for us to transcend it -- must be revealed. That's what these moments that we don't want do, is they bring in a split second of a realization - that, I might add, marks either the beginning of a new kind of faith, or the strengthening of a fear. It's a certain realization about ourselves that either marks the beginning of a completely different order of faith, or crystallizes the fear.

We realize in that moment, one way or the other, there is no self separate from the consciousness that is stirred, the sense of self that is brought up in that moment. In those moments, and every moment, is the sudden revelation of our own consciousness as being inseparable from what is being reflected in it. There is no me apart from you. There is no self outside of that situation. We realize the whole source of our suffering lies in this unconscious duality that this present consciousness is the keeper of.

We have these moments -- but don't recognize them as being such -- of a sudden spiritual realization of a singularity that we are, where what the moment brings cannot be separated from what the moment reveals -- and what the moment reveals is the consciousness that came into that moment that was intended to be revealed by the action of that moment. 

That moment shows us there is no self that exists apart from the moment to be in fear of it. Those revelations show us there is no self that lives outside of whatever it is that is being revealed within it. There is no self outside of what is being revealed within it. That is where our true hope lies, because in one respect it's unseen, but then suddenly it is given to us to see -- and it is what we do in these moments with what we're given to see that that determines everything for us. 

When we face the devil in our mind, what we are to do is understand that whatever in us that fears the devil IS the devil feared. Whatever is in us that fears the devil IS the devil feared. Does the light fear the darkness? Does the sun go, "Oh, I'm not going to rise because look at those early shadows, there are so many of them." 

We must understand that the dawning of this light of every moment -- which is the dawning of a certain kind of Light -- is a gift, an opportunity to explore and discover the completion and fulfillment of a consciousness that doesn't yet know its real role, its real place in life.

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Cultivate the Garden of Faith and Nourish the Soul

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Being renewed by Life, and starting life all over are one and the same superior, interior action: it starts with becoming aware of, and then bringing a conscious end to any lingering relationship we may have with old thoughts and feelings that want us to keep seeing our life through their eyes.

Nothing in the universe can make you relive some painful moment from your past as long as you choose to live in a self-renewing awareness that remembers the following truth for you: no old dark thought has the power to define you, let alone drag you down.

Use the following three practices to bring the light of a higher awareness into any negative reaction so that in its revelation a reconciliation can take place that will effect new and real change in your life.

#1: Rather than live with the pain of a thousand regrets, we must work to remember what we always seem to forget any time we're "tempted" to relive some pain from the past: no number of visits into our past has ever changed one thing about it, let alone the suffering we find waiting for us there! The light of this higher self-awareness IS the new choice that changes our life, because within it we see who and what we can no longer agree to be!

#2: Rather than look to anxious thoughts to help put whatever we fear behind us, we must work to remember this one spiritual truth we always seem to forget until too late: Fearful thoughts are powerless to free us from any dreaded time to come. Why? Because no anxious moments exist without the fearful thoughts that create them. To see life in light of this higher self-understanding IS the new choice that changes our life, because within it we see who, and what we can no longer agree to be.

#3: Rather than struggle to escape, or try to overpower our negative states - let alone identify with some old excuse for them - we must work to remember that all dark states are the spawn of an unseen dark master. Its power over us is that we believe its promise that things will change IF we do as it bids us to do. To see the truth of its lie is a new order of awareness that not only releases us from its dark influence, but places us in the hands of a living Light that can't act against itself.

3 New Choices to Help You Make Real Changes in Your Life

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Because we are conditioned from birth to see, and experience ourselves as separate from -- “other than” -- what we imagine is needed to make ourselves whole, our search for this missing sense of holiness that we believe is somewhere “outside” of us... ensures we never realize it.

The real journey back “home” begins with a necessary shock: the painful end of this deceptive perception, along with the false sense of self imprisoned within its imagined realm.

So that, when all is said and done, our first step toward a conscious, “real-time” relationship with the Divine requires we not only agree to enter into this ensuing, unwanted sense of emptiness, but that we remain there until comes what has always awaited us within it: a realization that we have never been apart from the Holiness we seek, and that all along, the only thing missing from our search was the faith to prove the same.

1. To grow into a new and higher order of peace we must remember at the first sign of resisting some unwanted moment that we must work to detect and dismiss any tendency we have to identify with that negative reaction. HOW? Instead of being the passive instrument of those dark thoughts or feelings that have come to justify that pain, we work -- in deed -- to be the active, impersonal observer of it... that we might embody a new Will that can’t act against itself.
2. To grow into a new and higher order of faith we must work to remember this truth, and then ground ourselves in it as best we can: the limit of our present view in these moments is not the limit of our possibilities; and then deliberately, consciously test the reality of any resistance we may feel to that moment. HOW? Work -- in deed -- to at least attempt to take one step past what we are sure was the end of what we can do. The way out is through. Find out!
3. To grow into a new and higher order of compassion we must work to remember that we are not the only ones who suffer. HOW? Work -- in deed -- to practice being consciously patient with whatever may be the unpleasant manifestations of others. So that before we blame anyone or anything for our negativity, to bring that painful reaction into the awareness of ourself... that we might suffer ourselves before we blame others.
4. To grow into a new and higher order of wisdom we must remember to be fully present to the lesson in every moment, especially the ones we don't want... that have come to give us an insight intended to reveal, and then help release us from our dependency on failed, or otherwise incomplete beliefs. HOW? Work -- in deed -- to remember, no matter what, our first task is to work in the garden of the revelation, rain or shine.

In a recent interview with Guy Finley, founder and director of the Life of Learning Foundation, hosted by MysticMag, the roots of this transformative organization are unveiled. Guy's path to spiritual awakening, marked by encounters with enlightened mentors and a pivotal moment with Vernon Howard, led him to establish the Life of Learning Foundation in 1992.

Today, the foundation stands as a beacon for sincere seekers worldwide, offering a unique approach to spiritual exploration characterized by interactivity and active participation. As we delve into Guy's insights, we'll discover the foundation's evolution, its commitment to truth-telling, and a poignant narrative illustrating the profound impact of the Life of Learning Foundation on an individual's spiritual journey.

Can you share the inspiration behind establishing the Life of Learning Foundation and its mission in the realm of spiritual discovery?

In a way, I think it was inevitable. From the time I was a child, I was called to a spiritual life and had a number of transformative experiences. As a young man, I left a successful music career to travel around the world seeking higher wisdom. I was fortunate to find an enlightened man, Vernon Howard, right here in the United States. I studied with him for 15 years. At one point Vernon told me I would one day have my own school.

He gave me the responsibility of running the Southern California branch of his school. And he encouraged me to speak, and ultimately write my own book, which became my first best seller, The Secret of Letting Go.

In 1992 Vernon died and I moved to Oregon to continue my work. I started giving talks in the area, and the Work grew. Ultimately, I founded the nonprofit Life of Learning Foundation, a Center for Spiritual Discovery.

Our mission is to help sincere spiritual seekers realize a conscious relationship with the Divine. Life of Learning is a welcome harbor for anyone wishing to let go of harmful negative states such as stress, fear, and resentment in favor of a life filled with more love, compassion, and excellence.

How has the foundation evolved since its inception, and what key milestones or achievements are you particularly proud of?

When I first started to hold classes in southern Oregon, I didn't know what would happen, but I felt compelled to speak. At first, I spoke to a small group of students in a room provided by a local business. I continued to write books and distribute talks, at first on tape, and more and more people discovered our growing inner-life school.

Eventually, we built our beautiful headquarters in Merlin, Oregon where people are encouraged to visit and take part in our live events. With advances in technology, we developed first a tape-of-the-month club, then a CD-of-the-month club.

For a time, we held an online chat room. Now fast-forward 25 years. With the help of our volunteers, we now livestream all our talks. Twice-weekly Life of Learning talks are heard by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide through direct live-streaming via Go-to-Webinar, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook, as well as through replays that people can stream whenever they want. One of our programs I'm particularly happy with is our OneJourney.net site. This site was developed in conjunction with the publication of my book, The Seeker, The Search, The Sacred.

The purpose of the book, and the site, is to show that across time and around the world all human beings have the same wish to have a relationship with the Divine. At our core, we all want the same thing. If we understood this, our relationships with one another would be based on compassion, not competition.

The Living Book on the OneJourney.net site is an expansion of The Seeker book, using quotes from great sages from across time and cultures to show they all have the same message about human nature and what we are meant to become.

In your perspective, what unique approach does the Life of Learning Foundation take towards spiritual exploration, and how does it differentiate itself in the field?

One of the aspects of Life of Learning that makes it stand apart is its interactive nature. Students are told not to rely on the teacher, but to do their own work, make their own discoveries, and prove everything Guy says for themselves. At every class, students are encouraged to go up to the mic and share what they've seen about themselves.

Long-time students are invited to lead online study groups where they give a 15-minute talk on what they've learned and take questions from the audience. This allows them to put the principles they've learned into practice and develop themselves in ways they wouldn't be able to without this extra level of work.

Life of Learning is not just for listening to truthful ideas but for working with them daily. Giving students a chance to actively work with what they learn strengthens their understanding. It has long been said that we learn by teaching. We provide many opportunities for students to learn in this important way.

As the Founder and Director, what challenges have you encountered in fostering a spiritual community, and how have you navigated those challenges?

If one is to be a true teacher one has to first, not want anything from students, and second, be willing to tell people the truth about themselves. This doesn't mean one should be cruel, but it does mean not to sugarcoat matters and to help people become objective self-observers.

Sometimes people who have a false idea of what spirituality is about are offended by hearing the truth. They want to be told that they're beams of light, that they're special. They don't want to hear that they are confused and self-centered and that the cause of their pain is not something they can blame outside of themselves but is due to a misunderstanding within themselves.

Our lower nature doesn't want to hear that there's anything wrong with it. Many people find value in their old nature and are not ready to let it go. Any true teacher tries to help people see for themselves that there's another, higher nature they could be living from. But that means seeing through the misdirection of the lower nature, and many people close off as soon as they realize they have to point the arrow back at themselves. I don't try to navigate this challenge, and I refuse to dilute my message to please others. If people aren't ready to hear the truth about themselves, there's nothing anyone can do.

But when a person is exposed to the truth, a seed is planted. It is hoped that one day, when, like the prodigal son, they wake up and find themselves eating husks, they'll remember they once heard something true, and they will seek out a true source again.

Could you highlight a transformative story or experience that illustrates the impact of the Life of Learning Foundation on an individual's spiritual journey?

Just the other day a long-time student shared an experience she had with her sister that was quite transformative. She said she's a bit of an outcast in her family, largely because she's in this Work instead of the church she was brought up in.

Her sister especially holds a lot of resentment for her. Several years earlier when their father passed, the sister just sent a text message, and clearly didn't want to talk to her. Then recently this student received the first text from her sister since their father had died, to tell her their mother had a heart attack.

Again, the student felt the sister didn't want to talk to her, but she thought this time she would do something different and call her. To her shock, the sister poured out all her hate and resentment on her. The student understood her sister was upset over their mother, and even though she couldn't help reacting herself, because of her work the student understood not to fuel the fire by returning anger for anger.

So, she worked to stay present to herself, and she saw something she had never seen before. She realized for most of her life she had bought into the view her family had of her, that she was a horrible person who deserved to be punished. But now she saw that nature was not who she truly was, and she didn't have to judge herself or feel sorry for herself, or try to gain the approval of others. To the point of your question, she said, it's in these moments of awareness that a new choice can be made and we can be transformed.

She added, that what feels like an ending is really the ground of a new beginning, and doing this work does change us. This is a small example, but it illustrates the moments of self-revelation that change us if we will continue on the path to self-discovery.

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Guy Finley is an internationally renowned spiritual teacher and bestselling author.  He is the Founder and Director of Life of Learning Foundation, a nonprofit center for spiritual self-study located in Merlin, Oregon. He is the best-selling author of The Secret of Letting Go and 45 other books and audio programs that have sold over 2 million copies, in 30 languages.

Guy offers online classes every Wednesday evening and Sunday morning. These classes are free to all and have been attended by thousands of students throughout the world.