Today we ask that you understand the impossibility of death.

If you understood this, you would have no further need of learning.  You would be instantly free.

In this reality, there is an illusion of death.  It appears that things can be killed.  Sometimes death appears to be terribly violent, and unjust.

This is a misperception.

Nothing dies.  Not a blade of grass.  Not a sparrow.  Not a cat.  Not a human.  Nothing dies.

Every one of you is an immortal being.  You have had many physical incarnations.  You have not always been human.  You have not always been on this particular planet.

It is okay if you think this is nonsense.  But if you believed it, deep in the core of your being, you would liberated from all fear.

In addition: that which is pure-hearted and innocent cannot be slaughtered or destroyed.  The very attempt to annihilate pure-hearted energy always makes that energy stronger.

This is the true meaning of all resurrection stories, from Christ to Harry Potter.

The very attempt to destroy good energy always backfires.

You can see this in the numerous attempts to suppress human rights around the world.  Though suppressive groups may temporarily succeed, in the long term attempting to suppress the innocent always backfires terribly.

There is no death.  Nothing is annihilated.  No innocent child has ever died.  What you perceive as reality is only a tiny flickering sliver of the vast, deep reality that underlies and surrounds your little world.  Even a glimpse of this deeper reality can be sufficient to liberate people from fear.

There is no death.  Death is always a prelude to resurrection.  That is true for everyone.  There are no exceptions.

Nor is there any divine punishment, or judgment.  No soul can be annihilated after death.  There is an awareness, after death, of the impact one’s life has had.  Sometimes there is a grief around the awareness that one has caused suffering or harm.  That is the only “hell” that exists.  Reality itself is wholly loving, and wholly forgiving.

It is okay if you do not believe this.  Most people do not.  They believe that souls are annihilated, or go to Hell, or receive punishment in subsequent incarnations.  This is all false.  Men have always worshipped gods made in the image of their own limited egos, instead of true divinity.  Occasionally people glimpse the true reality, which is wholly loving, and rooted in the absolute impossibility of death.

If you really understood that all you create with love can never be destroyed or annihilated, then you would understand all that needs to be understood, and require no further instruction.

Today we ask that you get comfortable with asking others for help.

Many people have terrible discomfort around this.  They equate asking for help with “begging,” and see begging as a lowly, shameful activity.  They are far too proud to “beg” anyone for anything.

This is very misguided.

In Eastern spirituality, there is a tradition in which monks go into the world, carrying nothing but a begging bowl.  They are literally beggars.  They rely on the offerings of strangers in order to eat, and survive.  There is nothing shameful about this.  In fact, it is considered sacred and holy.  By becoming beggars, the monks put their absolute faith in the universe to sustain them.  Their lives become an expression of pure gratitude.

Many people are very blocked in their ability to receive.  They believe that a good person is self-sufficient, and should never need anything.  Certainly no self-respecting person would ask for help from strangers!  To rely on charity — that is shameful!

This is very misguided.  And it is this kind of thinking that turns people into stingy misers, like “Scrooge.”  They hoard their money, so that they will never need anything from anyone.  And they will not give their wealth away — certainly not to anyone they deem “irresponsible.”

Let this be said: the average penniless beggar is far more spiritually advanced than the stingy miser.  It is a terrible thing, to be a “Scrooge.”  Dickens was quite correct about this.

From a higher perspective, it is known that all stingy misers will have to “do time” as penniless beggars — if not in this lifetime, than the next.  This is the way of things.  Some call it karma.  Really, it is just a process.

Know this: there is nothing shameful about asking for help.  There is nothing shameful about reaching out to the community of man for aid.  Aid may come in many forms: knowledge, time, energy.  Money is not the only way.

And it is good to give.  Obviously not to the point of depletion (see the previous post on “martyrs.”)  However, if you have some energy to spare, a generous spirit will always invite flow from the universe.  Flow begets flow.

Those of you with too much pride to ask for help, when it is needed — this is very sad, and unnecessary.  Do not be stiff-necked, and prideful.  This only blocks energy.

Be like the holy monk, with a begging bowl.  Do not be so precious with yourself that you cannot kneel in the dirt with a begging bowl, from time to time.  If you can truly let go to the experience of humbly asking for help, then you will experience a great loosening and relaxation.  Into that space, good energy will flow.

Today we ask that you question the merits of martyrdom.

Many people are taught that being a martyr is a virtuous and honorable way to live.

But this is not true.

It is not healthy to always put the needs of others ahead of your own.

To do so is to deny your own soul purpose.  It is not healthy.

Moreover, people who habitually put the needs of others ahead of their own often become very resentful, and bitter.

Most of you may know such a person.  Someone who is always martyring himself, doing things to help and care for everyone else, exhausting himself.  And then one day this person explodes with pent-up resentment and bitterness.  Or else he is always a little passive aggressive, quietly judging others for not being as virtuous.  Always complaining that others are so selfish.  Always feeling taken for granted.

This is not a good way to live.

It is not healthy for parents to martyr themselves for their children.  Obviously, children require an enormous amount of love and care.  But what they do not require is that their parents lead lives of misery and self-denial on their behalf.  This will only lead to terrible resentment, especially as the child gets older.  Then the martyring parent may act as if the child owes him some debt that can never be repaid.  No one benefits from this situation.  

Many Christians believe in martyrdom, because it is said that Christ was a martyr.

This is not true.  It is a misunderstanding.

To understand the Christ story, it is necessary to focus on the Resurrection, not the Crucifixion.  Christ was and is a completely liberated being.  He was and is liberated from the suffering and drama of human existence, and shows that such liberation is possible for everyone.  This is because it is impossible for the human soul to be annihilated.  There is no death.  That is the message of Christ.  It is not about glorifying torture and martyrdom.  It is about liberation from the fear of death.  It is a message of ultimate freedom.

Life is not meant to be a miserable experience.  Most people are very confused about life, and have been taught a great many false beliefs.  One false belief is that martyrdom is noble and virtuous.  It is not.

You must follow your heart.  You must follow the deep calling of your soul — even if it means that other people accuse you of being selfish.  Do not go around causing harm, of course.  But if it really is your soul’s calling, it will never ask that you harm others.  

Just because other people accuse you of being selfish doesn’t make it so.  The great artists and innovators of human history were always attacked for being selfish and immoral — Christ being no exception.  So, if you really want to follow Christ, don’t be afraid of other people accusing you of being selfish and immoral!

Do not suppress your own light because you have been taught it is the virtuous thing to do.  This path will lead to misery.  It will backfire.  Don’t be a martyr.  

Today we ask that you learn to work intelligently with your mind and body.

Most mental and physical illness is triggered by states of energetic imbalance and depletion.  

Eastern medicine has a better understanding of these processes then Western medicine, on the whole.

All good medicine is about bringing the human body and mind into a state of balance, and fullness.

The main factors in this are diet, patterns of physical and mental activity, and patterns of physical and mental rest.  

To maintain health, it is essential to build up energy in the body, and not allow the body to remain in states of depletion.

It is therefore good to eat energy-building, nourishing food, like green vegetables and legumes.  It is good to engage in energy-building physical activity, like yoga or martial arts.  It is good to give the body adequate rest, in the form of restful sleep every night, and naps during the day.  It is good to rest and restore the mind, in meditation.  It is good not to deplete the nervous system through constant stimulation from computers, phones, and TV.

Most people these days are terribly depleted.  They are always overstimulated, and do not rest enough.  Drinking caffeine usually worsens the problem.  That is why so many people suffer from insomnia, anxiety, and depression.  That is why so many people suffer from weight problems and stress-related physical illnesses.  These are signs of severe energetic imbalance.  Unfortunately, western medicine usually prescribes medication that masks symptoms, instead of addressing the root of the problem.

Most people would feel healthier and more energetic if they ate well, avoiding sugar and processed foods, and eating an abundance of green vegetables and protein-filled legumes.  Most people would feel better if they watched less TV, and slept more.  Most people would feel better if they took a nap during the day.  Most people would feel better if they learned to meditate.  Most people would feel better if they engaged in an energy-building physical practice like yoga or martial arts, or simply went for a walk outdoors in the fresh air every day.

It is not “rocket science.”

Meditation is really the greatest key to health, because the biggest culprit behind poor health is a restless, overstimulated mind that cannot stop thinking, and therefore engages in compulsive behavior (like overeating, shopping, etc.)  To relax the body, you must learn to relax the mind.  And deep relaxation is the greatest cure for energy imbalance and depletion.  The body knows how to heal itself.  But healing occurs best in states of deep rest, and repose.

If humans were meant to be active and working all the time, sleep would not be necessary.  Historically, the only humans who were driven to work constantly were slaves; and they had very short lifespans.  

Some of you may resent the necessity of sleep, but this is a really very childish way of looking at things.  It is like thinking, “Why can’t I be perfectly healthy on diet of soda and cookies?”  It is very silly.

One of the most intelligent things you can do is learn to work with your body as it is, not as you wish it were.  

Learn what energizes you, and learn what depletes you.  Learn to build up your energy reserves.  That is the key to deep and lasting health.  

Today we ask that you help other people relax.

This is one of the kindest, most useful things you can do.

Help other people relax.

Parents, help your children relax.

Children, help your parents relax.

Teachers, help your students relax.

Doctors, help your patients relax.

Clergymen, help your parishioners relax.

Help your co-workers relax.  Help your clients relax.

Have you noticed that this is not what people usually do?

Most people go around making other people more tense. 

This is what tense, nervous people do.  They come at you with their nervous tension, and they make you nervous.  If you don’t get nervous, then they may get angry.  They think this means “you don’t care.”

People are really crazy, thinking that it is responsible to go around making other people nervous.  Thinking that means they are accomplishing something.

There is a holy woman from India who goes around the world hugging people.  Now, that is useful.  That is a very helpful thing to do, to go around hugging people, making them feel safe and loved.

That is how to be a good mother, whether you are male or female.  Hug people.  Make them feel safe, and loved.

There may be this part of you that thinks you must be harsh and critical with others, and yourself, in order to motivate good behavior.

This is not true.  It is a lie.

There is enough harsh judgment in your world.  It has never led to anything good.  It causes wars and genocides, and no end of suffering.

This world doesn’t need more harsh judgment.  It has more than enough.

What this world sorely lacks is kindness and compassion.  That is what it needs, more than anything.

So stop going around attacking people.  

If you really wish to be a useful person, be kind to others.  Help them relax.

If you really wish to heal this world, you can start by being kind to people.  Help them relax.

Generally speaking, if you are someone who helps other people to relax, many doors will open to you.  In order to receive the light that is coming, you must learn to relax yourself.  It is not enough to help others, if you cannot also relax yourself.  

Today we ask that you relax.

Relax.

Relax.

Take a deep breath, and relax.

Almost all of you are far too tense.

Almost all of you would greatly benefit, just by relaxing.

Almost all of you would be more creative, if you relaxed.

Almost all of you would enjoy life more, if you relaxed.

Most of the problems and dilemmas you face can be solved by relaxing around the situation.

Far fewer acts of violence would be committed if people relaxed.

A voice in your head may protest: “That’s nonsense.  If people relaxed, nothing would get done!  People would just be lazy and unproductive.”

That is a lie.  It is not true.

Relaxed people are, on the whole, far more creative and productive than their tense, anxious counterparts.

Relaxed people are far more focused, and less distracted, their nervous, stressed-out people.

Relaxed people suffer far less mental and physical illness than nervous people do.

So why can’t you relax?  Why is it so hard to relax?

Why do you teach your young children in school to be so nervous and anxious?  Do you think it is good for them, to learn to be nervous and anxious like adults?  It only impedes their ability to flourish in their lives.

If everyone received a massage once a week, overall health in the society would improve a hundred-fold.

If everyone learned to meditate, to enter a state of relaxed calm at will, overall health in the society would improve a hundred-fold.

That is why it is such an awful lie that relaxing is bad for you, or irresponsible, or dangerous.

Is it possible to be “too relaxed”?  Perhaps.  But this is not a problem for most of you.  Most of you are far too tense and wound-up, and could benefit immensely from relaxing.

If you relaxed, you would digest your food better.

If you relaxed, you would sleep better.

If you relaxed, you would treat the people around you better.

Relaxing will not hurt you.  Truly, it won’t.

Today we ask that you pay attention to your patterns of defensiveness.

Notice when you feel defensive.

People feel defensive when they believe that something threatens them.  From there, it is a quick leap to aggression.

A defensive feeling always comes prior to any aggressive outburst.  Before all acts of aggression, defensiveness comes first.

So notice how often you feel defensive.

Some people feel defensive all the time.  Such people usually come off as highly aggressive, and hostile.  Sometimes they may seem crazy.

That’s because most defensiveness is crazy.

Defensiveness is not crazy if you are facing a real life-or-death threat.  If someone is coming at you with a weapon, then defense is a natural response.

But, for the most part, when you are defensive — is it because you are in a life-or-death situation?

Probably not.

People feel defensive when they read things on the internet, or watch the news.  

They feel defensive when they imagine some other person might be judging them.

They feel defensive imagining bad things might happen in the future.

The key word here is “imagine.”

Nothing bad is actually happening.  The triggers for the defensive feelings are almost entirely in the person’s mind.

However, the aggression that arises from defensive feelings is quite real.

So, for example, people who feel defensive around people with different political or religious beliefs, or sexual preferences, will wind up behaving very aggressively — even if nothing is actually threatening them, in reality.

You may sit in judgment over conservative or religious people who feel threatened by people with different preferences.

But you may be doing the same thing yourself.  

You may feel defensive toward many people who pose absolutely no threat to you.

You may even be in a state of chronic defensiveness, which will make you irritable, aggressive, and threatened even around your loved ones.

So just notice when you feel defensive.

The more you observe this behavior, the more you will see that on the whole, it is not in line with what is happening in reality.

This doesn’t mean that some people and situations don’t pose real physical survival threats.

But this is rare, in most modern people’s lives.  Nonetheless, an office worker facing down his boss may just feel as threatened as a cave man facing down a saber-toothed tiger — which is really not sane.  

So just observe this tendency.  Learn to calm down this part of you that always feels threatened and defensive.  Meditation is a tremendously useful tool in this regard.