St. John of the Cross claimed that all the pleasures of the world are as crumbs from the table of God. Hmm, saints must be experiencing something pretty outstanding! Actually, meeting God, face-to-face in this very lifetime, no differently than the prophets of old did, is not only possible but becoming a popular pursuit for even us; everyday sinners! Delving into the roots of our faith offers a unique kind of experience, an experience that when deepened has no boundaries, as our souls actually merge with God! The problem is; there have been no comprehensive instructions that are decipherable by ordinary people - it's all been kept under wraps. That is until now!
Taking prayer to the next level means getting really close to God. Here's how to do it;
· After your regular prayers, sit quietly in His presence with a quiet mind.
· Keep Him in mind at all times during your day.
· Notice always the worldly things and people that take your mind off of Him.
· Consider how long worldly things and people last.
· Look seriously at your long-term priorities.
· Reflect on how quickly a lifetime passes.
· Determine to go deeply inside and dwell with Him constantly.
· Think about your death every day so that you are ready for it and don't fear it.
· Get ready to psychologically leave the world behind.
As with any regimen, the above steps require discipline. If you are capable of discipline, you will be able to make great strides toward actual union with God. Books that will be helpful are "The Ascent of Mount Carmel," by St. John of the Cross; and "Interior Castle," by St. Teresa of Avila.
Without discipline, our lives fritter away. Discipline instills happiness, even though it doesn't initially feel that way, and an undisciplined mind fosters unhappiness, although it initially doesn't feel that way either. According to Christian belief, we have only this one short lifetime to make our way to the next world. Time is of the essence - ask any senior how quickly a lifetime passes by - as quickly as a flash of lightening.
And the important thing, to everyone else in the world, is that once someone actually makes union with God, his or her actions then reflect that union and the world in turn becomes a better place. Therefore, these individual practices, although they seem self-centered, are not. Once one authentically comes to terms with God, then they have the potential to reach out to others without their egos getting in the way, and then the reaching out will be helpful and not harmful.
Life is such a precious opportunity to really find God. Instead of merely relying on an image of God or an idea of God, we can actually making a real connection with Him. What is more important than this?
E. Raymond Rock of Fort Myers, Florida is cofounder and principal teacher at the Southwest Florida Insight Center, http://www.SouthwestFloridaInsightCenter.com His twenty-nine years of meditation experience has taken him across four continents, including two stopovers in Thailand where he practiced in the remote northeast forests as an ordained Theravada Buddhist monk. His book, A Year to Enlightenment (Career Press/New Page Books) is now available at major bookstores and online retailers. Visit http://www.AYearToEnlightenment.com