Recently, I heard a fantastic Vernon Howard talk about interest. He connected one’s happiness with ‘right interest.’ Heaven can only come down so far to connect with you, so you must rise up to connect with it. In other words, it will meet you halfway. If you don’t make an effort at rising up, there is no way it can connect and give you its rich rewards. You must go up and beyond your present level to reach the gold, but remember this process is a ridding process. You must lose your present ideas, because you will find they are weights holding you down. The right order is to lose what is wrong before you can receive what is right.
The Power of Interest!
Interest is a powerful tool that most don’t realize they have. Learning and happiness are two companions. If you are lazy and continue to use useless ideas, nothing will change in your life. They call this the definition of insanity. So, what is holding you back? Can you see it is your insistence on remaining the same? Once you see you are the only problem you have, the problem ceases to exist.
The message about the necessity of doing our part is presented so simply & clearly. It’s also required that we’re clear about what precisely constitutes our part. There were very painful years when I was unable to discover what constitited my part. Vernon provides us with precisely that. He devoted his life to bringing this highest of treasures to millions of us who want it.
Most people are waiting for their ship to come in at a train station. Mankind is far from home.
As I read this blog I am noticing I can’t seem to take the message in, because I am still upset over my downstairs neighbour making noise last night and I had to call down and tell him to stop. This morning I am sitting here anticipating more noise, there is no noise, but the upset from last night is clinging and causing a great deal of suffering and negative thoughts, worry and anticipation of the possibility of more noise.
The fact is I don’t want to hear the message of the blog because then I have to see I am the source of my “imagined problem”. The truth of the matter is I could me sitting here having a peaceful morning, but instead I am giving the morning over to “negativity”. That is INSANITY.
The more interest I have in seeing the real truth of the moment, the more interest and insight I am given. The Vernon Howard talks are priceless gifts for showing me in countless ways that I am always the source of my problem.
Two thumbs up!
As I read this blog I am noticing I can’t seem to take the message in because I am still upset over my downstairs neighbour making noise last night and I had to call down and tell him to stop. This morning I am sitting here anticipating more noise, there is no noise, but the upset from last night is clinging and causing a great deal of suffering and negative thoughts, worry and anticipation of the possibility of more noise.
The fact is I don’t want to hear the message of the blog because then I have to see I am the source of my “imagined problem”. The truth of the matter is I could me sitting here having a peaceful morning, but instead I am giving the morning over to “negativity”. That is INSANITY.
The more interest I have in seeing the real truth of the moment, the more interest and insight I am given. The Vernon Howard talks are priceless gifts for showing me in countless ways that I am always the source of my problem.
Under the influence of sleep is an unconscious state where I believe I am sane. That old saying, “He was not in his right mind,” is a tremendous hint of what we are doing against ourselves and listening within to a destructive voice that appears logical. When being negative, I noticed how I sincerely believe that I’m listening to some sort of intelligence within, a rational part that can assist me in finding a better way. What I must see is that any frustrated and negative part that says it wants relief is untrue; what it wants is more of itself. So, it plays the role of sincerity, which it is not. Here is where self-abandonment comes into play. Or, to say it another way, waiting on God. Looking up and asking for help outside ourselves. We have to see we are demanding God treat us the way we want, which means we have become a God onto ourselves. There are 8.2 billion (8,186,671,107) people today on the earth, all demanding the way life should treat them; that is way too many Gods. It is no wonder why this is such a wobbly planet. How could it be otherwise? Forget everyone else on the earth, and go to work on your individuality, your soul. Question that negative state. Ask to see more. Everyone has this choice.
Thank you for these words of wisdom and clarity, Steve. Especially “What I must see is that any frustrated and negative part that says it wants relief is untrue; what it wants is more of itself”. I have heard these words before but really did not believe them. Now, by being interested in my actual experience I am witnessing directly the truth of that profound message.
Aren’t we so fortunate that we spent the time struggling with these bright ideas when our minds were discouraging us to turn away because we knew so much? Har Har! If you don’t take the walk, you will remain in the dark and never see what you could not see before.
It is a good thing to catch yourself being negative (unconscious). Yes, you will be utterly shocked when you see it, but you will walk away a more purified human being and know you have found the real path out.
I just came across this Great Vernon Howard quote; “Do not be disturbed at any negativities uncovered by self-observation. Your honest insight destroys them.”
‘Right interest’ is a wish to know more. And it’s true, the ridding process must come first. Words cannot express the change of heart that occurs when being involved in one’s life in the right way. Forever changed. Forever interested.
Once a person starts to see the endless treasures that self-discovery reveals, they are pleasantly shocked at how they were ‘not’ living just a few years ago. What were they doing? Spending endless hours in trivialities. The world will keep you busy doing nothing profitable for your soul. Self-exposure is a gift that Heaven invites you to partake in. You do the work and you get the rewards. All mistakes when viewed with interest can be used, so your future becomes problem free. The goal or aim is inner freedom, which is happiness.