SPIRIT

Some people believe the Universe is a Chaos (a condition of complete randomness). Others believe it is a Cosmos (a harmonious whole ordered by some form of Intelligence). What do you feel?
 
Of those who feel the Universe is a Cosmos, some call the Intelligence that regulates and governs it "Spirit".  Others prefer not to call it anything until the secular sciences can claim to have discovered and pinpointed It's nature with certainty.
 
Different dictionaries have different definitions of the term "Spirit". I like these 2: "The vital principle or animating force within living beings" and "Incorporeal consciousness". So here we have the vital principle without which we can't live. And yet it is incorporeal, meaning it lacks any material form, body or substance which we can see, hear, taste, touch or smell.
 
It presents a bit of a conundrum. How can I understand the most vital aspect of myself, the very essence of my existence, if I can't sense it? How can I connect with it? Is it simpler to just ignore it, until somebody discovers or provides some data I can believe or understand?
 
I would rather discover the source of my Existence, than to wait for someone else to do it for me.
 
So how do I go about it? I begin by asking, where is it located? Is it inside of me, or outside of me? It's got to be both, if it is the essence of anything and everything that is. It has to be uniformly present and existent throughout without being bound by any creature, race, culture or religion, if it is capable of regulating all of life. So we establish it is everywhere in equal measure.
 
Next question. Is it bound by time? Does it come and go throughout history? By the same logic, if it is to regulate all of life, it has to be in the past, in the present, and in the future. So it is not bound by time either.
 
So if it is bound by neither time nor space, then it is eternal and all encompassing. That means it witnesses every event - every thought, every feeling, every action - in every being - plants, animals, humans, planets, galaxies - all of conceivable existence.
 
If that is the case, it is more intimate to me than every breath I take. In the Silence that is beyond every thought I have, It Is.
 
What then is the best way to communicate with it? Witness that Silence. 

Every day, take a moment to connect with that Silence, through which Spirit interacts with me. This Silence can be found within and without. It underlies everything. In that Silence I witness something far deeper and grander than the din and noise of all my thoughts and the world around me.

And what do I do when I witness that Silence? Be in it and savour it, until the next thought sweeps me away from it. 

As I connect with that Silence daily, I will begin to recognize Spirit within it. It takes practice and patience, and is worth the joy, wholeness and bliss it brings. 

A simple Exercise to connect with Spirit:
  1. Find a nice comfortable uncluttered open space to sit.
  2. Sit down cross legged if on the floor, or with both feet flat on the ground if on a chair
  3. Sit comfortably, relaxed but with head and back straight
  4. Close your eyes and take a nice deep breath
  5. Let go of any worry or concern, tension or expectation, and focus on your breathing.
  6. Imagine yourself sitting comfortably in a neon blue bubble that envelopes your whole Being - body and mind - that keeps out any disturbances in your surroundings
  7. Set the following intent, "Dear Spirit, I am taking this time and space to connect with you."
  8. Be in the Silence that follows. Observe any thoughts and feelings like waves that rise and fall in the Ocean of Silence. Focus on the Ocean, not the waves.
  9. When you feel you are ready to get up, bring your mind's focus back to your arms and legs.
  10. Take a nice deep breath and open your eyes.
Hello Spirit...