HEADLINE:  Over 500 Workers Killed in Bangladesh Factory!    What do you do when you see such a headline?  You gasp!  You ask why?  You search for answers!

I Can’t Believe That!!!!!!!!

You have a strong desire to investigate the steps that led to such a disaster!  Questions pop into your thoughts: Could it have been prevented?  Was the value of human life appreciated, ignored or sacrificed?  Whose factory was it and what was being made?  Were the participants cognizant of the implementation of safety rules and regulations, or were they trying to get a product made with the least amount of cost, irrespective of appropriate safety measures?  Is the business model based on what the “bottom line” looks like?  Does anything go as long as the bottom line is black?

These are all valid questions and concerns.   How are they answered in America?

That is the purpose of this article.  It will shed light on three modes of thought:

1. Safety Regulation and Rights of Workers in America
2. Recent Incidents that Indicate a Breakdown in Safety Implementation
3. Basic Moral Principles that Promote Safety and Integrity in Business
4. The Importance of People Over Profits

Safety Regulation and Basic Rights of American Workers 

Workers throughout the world have used their intelligence, skill and labor to enable businesses to grow and countries to develop.  Are they not entitled to safe working conditions?  Is there an organization charged with the responsibility of overseeing businesses that shy away from keeping their operations safe for workers?  Yes!  In this country, OSHA acts as a watchdog for workers and companies.

Working Together for Safety

What is OSHA?                                                                                                                                                                

OSHA is the acronym for Occupational Safety and Health Act which was enacted by Congress in 1970 as a means of helping employees and employers reduce injuries, illnesses and deaths through enforcement of federal regulations, assistance–reaching out with training  and spear-heading cooperation that provides partnerships and alliances between the two groups. 

Is it effective?  Statistics reveal that since its inception, deaths have decreased by 60 percent and injuries and illnesses by 40 percent.  Is there room for improve?  Certainly!  In the past decade, there has been an increase in accidents, deaths, illnesses and injuries.  Why?   Critics maintain that lobbyists and political contributions have weakened the organization’s will and strength to make needed corrections and implementations.  Many employees maintain that businesses are more interested in increasing profits than increasing safety measures in the workplace.  Thus, accidents occur that could have been easily prevented.  What is true and what is false?

Rights of Workers

As a worker in these United States, you have rights under the law that should, protect, govern and guide:

• Ask OSHA to inspect your workplace;
• Use your rights under the law without retaliation and discrimination;
• Receive information and training about hazards, methods to prevent harm, and the OSHA standards that apply to your workplace. The training must be in a language you can understand;
• Get copies of test results done to find hazards in the workplace;
• Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses.
• Get copies of their medical records (US Department of Labor).

In many instances, it is not lack of knowledge that causes workers to “look the other way” when they view dangerous working conditions, it is fear of being fired.  With high unemployment, companies have devised numerous tactics to get rid of a complaining workers or union leaders questioning implementation of federal regulations.  One worker lays the blame at the foot of the Bush/Cheney Administration:

They .  .  .  weakened the workers’ health and safety standards or just plain didn’t enforce the laws already on the books. As a result, the American worker pays the price in lost days due to accidents from unsafe conditions or from lingering, expensive illnesses suffered from unhealthy working conditions” (http://archive.truthout.org/112108l).

Another writer says:

Here are a few glaring headlines of worker deaths in America that  businesses are happy to see disappear from the mouths of news commentators and front pages of newspapers:

Survivors Mark 56 Worker Death in Houston in 2012

Death More Likely in Work Place Accident Than Terrorist Attack

4,609 Americans died in workplace accidents in 2011, compared to 17 American fatalities caused by terrorism in the same year. 

In 2009, more than 4,000 people never made it home from work.

A seafood factory worker has been cooked to death inside an industrial tuna oven in the US.

That other explosion: The preventable deaths in Texas 

These are only a few of the numerous workers who lost their lives on oil rigs, coal mines and factories.  While this article  seeks to shed light on the problem of worker safety, the writer believes it reaches far beyond  rules, regulations and implementation to a moral problem–man’s complete disregard for the welfare of his neighbor.  He has somewhat abolished from his consciousness the commandment that says “Love thy neighbor as thyself” to “Love my profits as myself.”  Such an attitude sets the stage for safety shortcuts, worker risks and overt ignoring of glaring danger signals.  How can one see clearly when his vision is clouded by dollar signs?

It is the opinion of the writer that no employer sets out to injure a worker, but still questions whether many business organizations value profits over people.  With this in mind, emphasis was placed on acquiring information on practical ways worker safety can be achieved.  In so doing, a quote from an article will be the focal point.

“Most of the common accidents at work can be prevented provided both employees and employers consider it as their duty to prevent accidents at their work place. Employers are required to perform risk assessment for probable accidents that could happen and adapt necessary methods to prevent accidents in the health and safety procedures practiced by them. Employees must strictly follow the health and safety measures adapted by their employers and help to avoid accidents at work.” (http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-Ways-to-Prevent-Accidents-at-Work&id=2223238).   Recognizing that accidents and death prevention must be a joint effort by both employer and employee, along with quick, precise  enforcement of regulations by agencies overseeing the process, this article found several ways that can assist in this effort.

Let’s All Share in Success!

1. Employers should maintain a written safety program and train employees on company specific hazards, such as machinery operation, aerial lifts, falls, scaffolding usage, explosive materials, building deficiencies and similar conditions. 
2. Implement all OSHA requirements and have monthly or yearly inspections by the agency, or other impartial agencies as needed.
3. View safety rules and regulations as positive efforts to make both employer and employee productivity successful and safe.
4. Be proactive in the implementation of health and wellness programs for all personnel.
5. Recognize that “freedom of the press” is essential for continued safety improvement.
6. Seek constant improvement of working conditions through the use of new technologies and discoveries.
7. Because mining claims the lives of employees comparably more that many other businesses, implement prevention through mandatory safety training of all new miners by using simulation as a means of prevention.  All mining operators must be licensed to perform blasting and explosive exercises.
8. Refuse to do business with countries who do not use safety procedures comparable to those used in the United States.
9. Make accident prevention a part of the company’s daily routine.

What  Businesses Are Saying About Safety and Profits

It was very difficult to find information or data that spelled out how corporate heads feel about their profits in comparison to employee safety.  Thus, it was necessary to get it from other resources.  The headline below is chart and data driven.  Its purpose is to paint a picture which is not skewed by politics, greed and anger.  Clicking on the link below can be an eye-opener!

Okay, Folks, Let’s Put Aside Politics And Look At The Facts… [CHARTS]

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/politics-economics-facts-charts-2012-6?op=1#ixzz2TxLzKhyL

In case you decided not to click the above link, here is the gist of what it says:

• The paycheck workers take home today is less than it was 10 years ago.
• Companies make more profits than they have ever made before.
• American jobs are at a 30-year low.
• Globalization has put a drain on American jobs.
• U.S. debt is 3 times the GDP.
• Consumers, corporations, local, state and federal governments (ALL) contributed to the debt. How much do you borrow and spend?  How often do you use a credit card?  How much are you saving?  It’s not just government, it also YOU!
• Consumers need to borrow and spend less.
• Companies need to share more of their revenue with their employees. YES, COMPANIES, YOUR PROFITS WILL DROP!

Now that you have a bigger picture  .   .   .   of what the country’s economic progress and non-progress  looks like on paper, you can better answer the question “Should a Business Choose Profits Over People?”  However, before you draw your mark in the sand, there is one more piece of information this article seeks to address: Basic Moral Principles that Promote Safety and Integrity in Business.

The Importance of People Over Profits

As an author who writes primarily in the genre of spirituality, it was with apprehension and hesitancy that this topic was chosen for discussion.  However, after deep contemplation, it became clear that truth cannot be limited.  It must uncover error in all aspects of the human experience–business, politics, home, school, church and everyday life activities and experiences.  Spirituality is neither Republican or Democrat, rich or poor, black or white, corporate or worker.  It is honesty, integrity, unselfishness, respect, fairness, impartiality, righteousness and order.   Corporations are made-up of people.  They are not just stark or catchy names on buildings designed only for business purposes, or corporate heads with impressive titles and hollow souls.  They are decision-makers, initiators of moral values and observers of rules–rules constructed from feelings, emotions, love and caring.  Assuming anything less, excuses  and dismisses the responsibility that is theirs in protecting neighbors and executing fairness, integrity and impartiality.  Every man is a brother or neighbor in the eyes of God.  Love and caring are qualities that employees and employers receive from the One Creator.  Do we throw them out when we become workers or corporate bosses?  Emphatically no!  Accepting the idea that “anything goes in business,” gets you anything!

Spirituality is different from religion.  It is not doctrine to be observed on Sunday and discarded on Monday, as many people practice, but a divine connection with God that directs, guides and governs all thoughts and actions every minute of the day.  How do I answer the subject of this article?  With a great big NO!  No business should choose profits over people?   What is the basis for such an answer?  Two Commandments: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and “Love thy neighbor as thyself.”  Yes,  .   .  .   there is a place for these in the corporate world.  If both employer and worker embraced these commandments and demonstrated them in human activity, profits would never be placed above people.

No one is above accountability!  Isn’t that what “do to others as you want done to you” means?  How many CEO’s would like to work on an oil rig that is unsafe or a building that is a fire-trap?  Why would one want it for anyone else?  I have a couple of income properties, and my motto is, “Do not rent a place to anyone that you would not live in yourself.”  That keeps me humble, and making needed repairs instead of investing the money generated, elsewhere.

The second commandment mentioned above is “Love thy neighbor as  thyself.”   What does that really mean?  I find the answer in this statement: “Love is reflected in love” (Mary Baker Eddy).  Love is a synonym for God, and reflect means a replica or likeness of something or someone.  Thus, if man is to reflect God, Love, he must express the same love for his fellow man as God has for him–unconditional.  Uniting with this love dissolves greed, selfishness and injustice.  One does not have to wear it on his sleeve in order to feel it in his heart, and once felt, similar actions follow.

The decision to write this article came from higher levels of thought–thoughts that tell us “it is the spirit that profiteth, the flesh profiteth nothing.”  Making moral choices can be very difficult in the world that we live in, but it is no more difficult for corporations than it is for people, for corporations are people.  The key is the desire to please a power greater than oneself–divine Power.  Doing so, enables us to seek safety in Soul, wealth in Spirit and intelligence in Mind.  Every human problem can be resolved with a divine solution.  Too often, the resolution starts from human experience and never reaches beyond that, thus the solution remains at its lowest level.  Higher levels of thought, produce higher levels of action.  Every object is a divine idea before it becomes a part of the human experience.  If one connects with divinity, he expresses divinity.  If he connects with the physical senses, he expresses only what these senses see, feel and hear.  Thus his actions are very limited.

True man is made in the “image and likeness” of God, and that man is always resourceful, profitable and abundant.  This precludes the belief that he must cheat, lie or impose restrictions on others that he would not like imposed on himself.  Working with the highest level of thinking, employee, CEO and business can achieve success.  As Americans, we must expect it, practice it and accept nothing less.

What contribution can you make toward holding corporate heads accountable, demanding fair treatment, equality and impartiality?  That is an individual choice.  Appeal to the Christ that is within you, and your Father will not leave you without an answer.  I tried it, and   .   .   .   this is my answer! 

Other Resources

Here’s How to Write Your First Book

Writing Your First Book

http://stores.ebay.com/momandpoponlinestuff

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone who consistently tossed around the word spirituality and you knew without a doubt they were discussing the word religion?  If you haven’t, your day will come or maybe you have, and did not realize there is a difference between the two.  Before you and I agree to disagree, let’s talk about the meaning of the two words.

Spirituality

What is Spirituality?

Wikipedia says ” The term spirituality lacks a definitive definition, although social scientists have defined spirituality as the search for the sacred, where the sacred is broadly defined as that which is set apart from the ordinary and worthy of veneration”  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirituality.  I am not sure I can concur with the notion that spirituality lacks a definitive definition, but let’s move on to another point of view.  American Heritage Dictionary simply says “A state, quality, manner, or fact of being spiritual.”  In order to understand that definition, one would have to define the word “spiritual” which will be discussed later in this article.

 An interesting website that I visited had an article that posed the question What is spirituality? and answered it this way:

Spirituality has been defined in numerous ways. These include: a belief in a  power operating in the universe that is greater than oneself, a sense of  inter-connectedness with all living creatures, and an awareness of the purpose  and meaning of life and the development of personal, absolute values. ( http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/spirituality-000360.htm.  While all of these definitions contribute to the meaning of spirituality, my focus will begin with the root word spirit.

The first step in doing so, is to capitalize the “s” and make the word “Spirit,” which is another name for God.  How do I arrive at this conclusion?   From the words of John: “God is Spirit:  and they that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth”(John 4:24).  The writer uses spirit in the sentence twice–once with a capital “S” and once with a small “s.”  Why so?  John is making a clear distinction between God who is the One Spirit, and man’s ability to express the spiritual qualities of God.  He is in effect saying that man will never be God, Spirit, but he can do godly things, and those things will be made of the substance of Spirit.

 What is the substance of Spirit?  Answer:  The divine qualities of Spirit–qualities like faith, hope, courage, strength,  abundance, inspiration, unfoldment–to name a few.  Establishing these qualities in thought and exercising them in action, places one in the pathway of godliness.  John continues his discussion by emphasizing that the kind of worship expected of us must express truth–the word of God.  By adding that word, he is establishing that the spiritual expression of truth will not be the world’s perception of truth, but a higher meaning–one of divine intelligence, perfection and love.  Truth then, becomes a truth defined not by what the human senses affirm as truth, but what the wisdom of God defines as truth.  To know or understand truth, revelation, enlightenment and regeneration must precede thought. To gain a better

Holy is the Lord.

 understanding of spirit, it becomes necessary to look at its origin.

Spirit comes from the Latin word spiritus, which means “breath,” meaning the breath of God, or that which constitutes God’s Being.  The obvious question is, What is God’s Being?  ”Hear O Israel:  The Lord our God is one Lord” (Deuteronomy 6:4).  Even though there is only one God, there are infinite facets to this Oneness.  Relating this statement to the human experience, a person maybe a woman, mother, daughter, minister and teacher and yet be only one person, not five.  Each title simply shows an extension of her being. Similarly, the synonyms of God are Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love.  Each reveals the nature of God in a different way, yet all constitute His Oneness.  Each one has infinite qualities that the man of God’s creation expresses.  Understanding God as Spirit, the only substance, negates man’s true nature as being anything material.  God is not material, but Spirit, so man, the likeness of Him cannot express materiality.   Spirituality then becomes that which expresses the true nature of God–the divine qualities of God.  Thus, if man is expressing spirituality, he is loving, kind, peaceful, righteous, forgiving, humble and full of grace.

What is Religion? 

Religion is an organized collection of belief systems, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values

Religion

( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/).  Webster defines religion as “belief in a divine or supernatural power or powers to be obeyed and worshiped as the creator (s) and ruler (s) of the universe.”

Finally,  Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, 1971  states religion is “the personal commitment to and serving God or a god with worshipful devotion, conduct in accord with divine commands esp. as found in accepted sacred writings or declared by authoritative teachers, a way of life recognized as incumbent on true believers and typically the relating of oneself to an organized body of believers.”

 I see religion as a set of rules, commands or doctrines created, defined and practiced by an individual or group, based on that person or group’s interpretation of morality, the Scriptures or other sacred writings.  Thus, one can conceivably be religious, but not spiritual.  Many people consider themselves religious, but have minimal demonstration of spirituality.

Throughout the history of mankind, religion has played an important role in life.  Most people worship or devote themselves to “something,”  even the atheist.  This begs the question “Why are there so many denominations of religion if we all serve the same God or Supreme Being?”  Two words:  spiritual understanding.    The key to understanding the Bible is divine inspiration.  Why?  Because it must be interpreted both literally and spiritually, whereas, some people seek understanding by only using literal interpretation.  Consequently, their ability to serve God lacks substance.  It is difficult to practice something if you do not understand it.

Early childhood found me trying to serve God.  However, I found the Bible almost impossible to understand, so I sent away for biblical lessons that explained verses of the Bible.  Many were based on literal interpretations and did little to ignite the spirit within me.  Thus, I relied on my minister to rant, rave, stamp his foot and stir me emotionally, but without understanding.  This continued well into adulthood, with my moving from Baptist to Methodist to Catholic to a smattering of Bahaism.   This is where Christian Science found me.

 Reading a book entitled Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by a woman called Mary Baker Eddy, I began to slowly comprehend what it means to read the Bible and listen for God to give understanding through the presence of the Christ.  Not only did I increase my understanding of the Bible, but I began to use that understanding to “heal all (my) diseases” as promised by it.  In so doing, the discernment of the difference between religion and spirituality emerged in consciousness.  My awareness of spirituality parallels these words:

“Christianity as Jesus taught it was not a creed, nor a system of ceremonies, nor a special gift from a ritualistic Jehovah;  but it was the demonstration of divine Love casting out error and healing the sick, not merely in the name of Christ, or Truth, but in demonstration of Truth, as must be the case in the cycles of divine light” (Science and Health, p. 135).  

Embracing these words, I began to understand that it is not how scholarly words are written on a page, nor the popularity of a religion, the literal interpretation of words, nor the money and human power a denomination possesses, but the spirit of the words that burn within us–words that cause us to forgive when severely hurt, give our neighbors the benefit of doubt, even when the evidence points against them, love unconditionally, and put in practice the words that inspire, enlighten and touch our souls.  This is spirituality in action!

How do we acquire it?  When do we use it? and Is it effective?

As we approach another Easter season, the impact of its message began to dawn on me.    This dawning led to several questions:  What is the resurrection that Christians celebrate each year?  Are they sharing  in it today or was it a one time deal?  Have we carried the cross during the rest of the year?  Why did Jesus have to go through this ordeal? What purpose has it served?  These questions give motivation to thought and impulse to action.  Each one leads to a higher elevation of thought which culminates in spiritual understanding.  This understanding however, cannot come unless one grasps the meaning of the term resurrection.

The Resurrection 

The word resurrection means the act of raising someone from the dead.  Its first known use was in the 14th century, and has its origin in the Middle English word resurreccion and the Late Latin word resurrection.  Webster defines it as ” the rising of Jesus from the dead after his death and burial.”  Wikipedia states: “The resurrection of Jesus is the Christian belief that Jesus Christ miraculously returned to life on the Sunday following the Friday on which he was executed by crucifixion. It is the central tenet of Christian faith and theology and part of the Nicene Creed: “On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resurrection_of_Jesus).    This article will focus on a meaning supported by the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy: “Resurrection.  Spiritualization of thought;  a new and higher idea of immortality, or spiritual existence; material belief yielding to spiritual understanding” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 593).

As I review readings about the resurrection, its meaning reaches a new level of thought–thought reaching far beyond a physical body being able to walk and talk after being dead for three days, but  thought that symbolizes the true meaning of life–Life as God.  The message that Jesus wanted the world to grasp is that life is not defined by breath in a body, but by a person’s ability to understand and demonstrate the laws of God.  It was a message not only to the chief priests of his time, but for mankind today–a message that emphasizes life as resting  in his teachings–teachings that show sin, sickness and death as beliefs of the human mind, and not a reflection of the divine Mind.  In many instances before he healed people, he urged them to “believe.”  He wanted them to believe that if the senses spoke blindness, believe perfect vision; if the senses revealed death, take hold of life; and if the physical ears heard deafness, grasp spiritual discernment.

Resurrection, then, becomes lifting thinking, not lifting a body.  The people who lived during the time of Jesus believed the same mortal suggestions that we believe today–that all reality is defined by bodily conditions and sensual expressions.  Neither is really true.  All truth comes from God, who is Truth.  The spiritual fan that Jesus used to sweep away the evils of the world, was and is a separator of fact from fable, good from evil and life from death.  He revealed that the pathway out of worldly lusts and beliefs is inconceivable through the senses, but dwells within the spiritual realm of thought.

What Some Church Leaders Say About the Resurrection

                                                                                                                                                     Joyce Meyer

                       Pope Benedict

” While Jesus’ death shows the depths of his love for humanity, it is his Resurrection that proves he is the Son of God,” Pope Benedict XVI said (http://www.americancatholic.org/News/Easter2008/resurrection.asp).

Joel Osteen gives thanks for Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and the abundant life that is available to anyone  

who believes in him ( http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1195221/joel_osteen_does_joel_believe_in_the_resurrection/).

What is the resurrection that Christians share today?

Many Christians share the belief that because Jesus died on the cross, they are saved from sin and will experience eternal life in the hereafter.  Some say, “He paid for our sins, so that we don’t have to.”  Such a view, unless coupled with a deeper understanding of God as Life and man as the expression of Life, can easily be misunderstood, and lead mankind into thinking that he has little or nothing to do but believe Jesus died for his sins, join the church, and he has a seat at the right hand of God.  The kingdom of harmony is within in each one of us, but it must also be demonstrated by each one of us.  Jesus has and never will do it for us.  We must travel the same pathway of redemption that he did.  That is what “working out your own salvation”  is all about.  Every knee must bow in humility to truth and love, and every tongue must confess and live the righteousness of divine law, either here or hereafter.  There is no other way.

The resurrection that we share today, is the same one that Jesus’ disciples discovered when they realized his physical life was restored after the crucifixion–a realization that life was never in the physical body, but because men would not believe that to be so, Jesus had to deal with them at a level they could understand–physicality.   Thus, he showed the same tortured body they had seen on the cross.  The only difference was, the body walked through closed doors, talked with them about life and truth as it had before death, and mentally lifted them above sensuality.  It was through these human experiences that they began to understand life as not in matter, but consists of the spiritual thoughts, words and actions one demonstrates.  That must also be our resurrection if we are to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Why did Jesus have to go through such an ordeal?

Such an ordeal was necessary for mankind to grasp the understanding that the man God created is not made of flesh, blood and bones, but spiritual ideas–ideas that soar above sensuality, physicality and materiality.   Mortality cannot define immortality, nor can the human reach the divine.  These can only be achieved by letting go of one and holding on to the other.

What does it mean to carry the same cross that was carried by Jesus?

The cross symbolizes the suffering every mortal must experience before he reaches immortality.  It comes from mortal man’s clinging to the lusts and desires for that which is evil.  Evil is described in the Bible as devil or Satan–that which entices one to hate his neighbor, lie in the face of truth and steal from the mouth of babes.  Key symbols that make evil seem worthwhile, are money, power and selfishness.   Revenge is another evil that causes mankind to labor.  It tells us that “getting back at someone” who has hurt us, is deserving, acceptable and a symbol of strength.  Ridding oneself of such suggestions is a mighty struggle!

Carrying the cross means “doing unto others as you would have them do unto you,”  forgiving when it seems impossible and loving unconditionally.   Most of us will never carry a wooden cross up the hill of Calvary, but we will be tempted to carry hate, fear, bitterness, resentment and pain in our hearts.   Jesus was crucified because he taught mankind how to overcome sin, sickness and death.  His method of teaching was in direct opposition to the laws of Pilate and the sermons of the chief priests.  He taught and lived far above the meager expressions of divine law advocated by the priests and they hated him for it.

Many of us are crucified when we teach and live goodness, mercy, justice, equality, lawfulness and brotherly love.  Are you able to carry the cross or will you put it down and walk away?

Mary Baker Eddy reminds us just how difficult carrying the same cross of Jesus really is when she says:

“If you launch your bark upon the ever-agitated but healthful waters of truth, you will encounter storms.  Your good will be evil spoken of.  This is the cross.  Take it up and bear it, for through it you win and wear the crown.  Pilgrim on earth, thy home is heaven; stranger, thou art the guest of God” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p, 254).  

This article is about discovering, recognizing and demonstrating a new resurrection–a resurrection not of the physical body but of thinking–thinking far above false beliefs and blind understanding.  It sets affections above hate, lust, greed, selfishness and any other belief or act that keeps thought mired in the dust of sin, sickness and death.  The kingdom of heaven that caused the heart of Jesus to beat with faith, hope and peace lives in each one of us.  Jesus’ message was just that!   He taught us with his words and actions how to clothe ourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  What kind of garment are you wearing?   Put on the “robe of righteousness” and share in his resurrection.

Other Information

What is Peace?

        I saw a sign today that read: “Learning to Ignore Things is One of the Great Paths to Inner Peace.”   The moment the impact of those words sank in, my spiritual consciousness said, “What? That cannot be true!  To ignore means to “overlook” or “pretend something does not exist.”  How does pretending something does not exist when you know it does, bring inner peace?  How is the person who wrote the sign defining “inner peace?”

The word peace has many faces.  One kind of peace is found at the expense of another’s peace; another defines it as that which is the opposite of war; and still another finds peace by sitting still or relaxing in bed.  Finally, some people simply “go along with the program” even they do not believe in it, to find peace.  None of these give peace.  As you read this article, focus on a meaningful definition of peace for yourself.

Webster defines peace as ” an undisturbed state of mind.”  Wikipedia says inner peace is “a state of being mentally and spiritually at peace, with enough knowledge and understanding to keep one strong in the face of discord or stress.”  Both definitions give us pause, but the second one seems to get closer to a sense of peace beyond the physical realm of thought–a peace developed not by “things,” but by inspiration and regeneration.

The   Dalai Lama says “We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make inner peace with ourselves”   What does he mean by that statement?  He is saying one’s outer world is a reflection of his inner self.  You say, “No it isn’t!  I didn’t tell America to go to war with Iraq” or “I have nothing to do with the crime and murder in the world.  I don’t hurt anyone!”  All of that may be true, but your peace is not defined by what someone else does, but by what you do.  Peace is a state of thought.  If you allow your peace of mind to be disturbed by what someone else is doing, you have not mastered peace within yourself.  The foundation of peace is the capacity to change thought so that your inner self is restful, calm and you can say unequivocally, “Everything is alright!”  We will tackle how this is accomplished as the article progresses.

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:  not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).  What is this peace Jesus is speaking of?  How does one attain it?

The world’s peace is based on the world’s opinions, rules, laws, likes and dislikes, which are changeable, depending on the perception and place one resides.  Culture, ethnicity and religion are also deciding factors.  Jesus was offering to mankind an unchangeable peace–one that remains intact while everything else is swirling around us.  We get a glimpse of this by his second sentence, “Let not your heart be troubled.”  The heart is one’s core, the foundation of his being–everything emanates from this core.  This is not a human heart, but a spiritual discernment of heart–a divine state of thought.  Filling consciousness with love, joy, contentment, kindness and grace, there is no room for anything else.  So fear, bitterness, anger, greed and all the et ceteras of evil, have no foothold.  A troubled state of thought is derived from fear–fear of something or someone.  Following the declaration of Jesus, one can be assured lasting peace.  The question then becomes, how do you get this peace?

All of us want this peace, but are we willing to make the sacrifices to achieve it?  When family relationships go sour, are we willing to do what it takes to make them fresh and whole again?  If your spouse cheats on you, do work hard to forgive and get that inner peace?  What about the job where you did the work, worked the long hours, made the tough decisions, and the boss gave it to someone else whose efforts were less?  Do you keep a troubled heart or do you purify your heart?

I struggled many years in my educational job to get promoted–received the highest degree in the country, had a work ethnic beyond reproach, performed at a very high level on the job, but someone else always got the job.  I was troubled by this for many years, but finally did the work to reach that level of peace Jesus speaks of.

What did I do?  How have I found inner peace?

What are the footsteps that lead to an inner peace?

1. Increase your understanding of God.  How can you serve a God you have no understanding of?  Would you try to work a job you have no understanding of?  Would you discuss a book you have no knowledge of?  Is not God more important than these?  I see God as incorporeal, supreme, divine and infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth and Love.  What does all of that mean?  It means He has no physical body (bodiless).  He is all intelligence and that intelligence is not based on material knowledge, but divine wisdom and understanding.  So in order to get it, you must seek it in the right places–the Bible and other spiritual materials.   God is Spirit, not flesh and blood, so why would he make things out of flesh and blood?  He is Soul, not physical sense, therefore, in order to communicate with Him, one must leave physicality and approach spirituality.  He is divine Law–Law that is always equal, just, orderly and impartial to everyone.  He does not pick and choose!  God is Life.  Life is eternal, therefore, there is no death.  God is Truth.  All He knows is true.  Therefore, He neither maintains nor tolerates evil.   God is Love and that love is unconditional and impels all of us to progress beyond a sense of mortality into the realm of immortality–here and now.
2. The man God created, being made in His image and likeness expresses all that God is.  This precludes him from being conceived in sin at any time and in any place.  I know you read in the Bible that man is conceived in sin, but do you understand why it was placed there?  It merely shows a false sense of man–the man of mortal thinking.  The real man has already been shown in the first chapter of Genesis–the one made in His image and likeness.  Accepting this as reality starts you in the direction of believing that you can achieve righteousness while living here on earth.  As long as you believe that you are a sinner, you will act like one, and excuse yourself by saying, “God gave me free will so I chose sin.  Anyway, I was born in sin!”  Such an attitude sets one up for failure.
3. Discover attributes that lead to inner peace.  Do you know that the prophets and Jesus guide us into recognizing that certain attributes help us to understand who God is?  Sprinkled throughout their teachings and examples, we find words like calmness, restfulness, lawfulness, unconditional love, forgiveness, wisdom, faith, hope, joy and purity.  These are guideposts to peace.  Suppose something occurs in your life that causes turbulence and stress, you can wallow in it or do something about it.  What do you do?
4. Replace impure thoughts with pure ones.  My replacement would go something like this:  “God is Principle and Principle is orderly, perfect and powerful!  I reflect Principle, therefore, I cannot be stressed out, disorderly and imperfect.  I have the power of God on my side.  There is nothing that it cannot heal, erase or correct.  To believe otherwise, is to separate myself from God, and I know God fills all space and is ever-present, so I am never separated from Him.  The thoughts that are trying to convince me that I am alone, unattached from God, helpless, are simply beliefs of mortal thinking, not thoughts from God. I have the capacity to not listen to them”  Some may say this is wishful  or positive thinking.  I assure you it is not!  Try it for one week and then write a response to this blogpost.  It does work, but you must be honest, diligent and persistent–just as you would on anything you wish to succeed.
5. Listen to higher levels of thought–mental suggestions.  Have you ever heard a mental suggestion that told you not to do something and you did it anyway and the results were disastrous?  Some call it “conscience.”  I call it “angel messages.”  When you hear a mental impulse, ask yourself if it is something you believe God is saying.  Simply say, “Is this God talking to me?  Would God do what the voice is suggesting?”  If you cannot honestly answer Yes, don’t do it.  If you can, do it!  You see, God sends the Christ to each one of us in a way that we can understand.  The problem is, we have ears, but we hear not.  Listen and obey!
6. Practice correcting mortal thoughts with immortal ones throughout the day.   The first time you do this, it may be very difficult.  You may feel silly or believe you are wasting your time.  I assure you that you are not.  Why do I say this!  I believe the true nature of man is not the physical structure, but the spiritual consciousness.  We are all made of spiritual thoughts and ideas, and when we seek them, we find them and they guide our actions.

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“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”     (Matt. 5: 48).

This statement by Jesus as he delivered the Sermon on the Mount, is deemed by many as an impossibility.    Why?  Man cannot be perfect because he was conceived in sin, and God is not and cannot be the father of a sinner.  Further, Jesus is God–the Almighty who transformed Himself into a mortal and came down on earth to save sinners–those who were once created perfect by him, but strayed from that perfection through human will.  Even though this is a commonly held view, it is not one that I hold or respect.  Thus,  this article will explore how an opposite view can lead to higher levels of thought that enable one to gain inspiration and discover the wonder of what it means to understand the Sermon on the Mount.

Several questions will be explored:

1.  What does it mean to be blessed?

2.  What elements of the Sermon show us how to live with one another?

3.  Does the Lord’s Prayer cover the needs of mankind?  

The Sermon on the Mount is a comprehensive approach to how one should live his life while here on earth.  It requires humility, courage, patience and the ability to quench human appetites and replace them with divine aspirations.  Some readers have divided it into five parts:  the Beatitudes, new laws, The Lord’s Prayer, money and warnings.  This writer will seek to answer the questions above, which largely focus on three areas, The Beatitudes, The Lord’s Prayer and guidelines for living with one another.

The Beatitudes and What It Means To Be Blessed

“Blessed” is the key word in most of the Beatitudes, so what does it mean to be blessed?  Most definitions include “to revere; to honor; to cast favor on; to consecrate; to set apart for a holy purpose.”   All indicate a positive impression of, or favorable response to something or someone.  For our purposes, let’s concentrate on  “revere” and “asking a divine favor for.”  While we will not include all of the Beatitudes, but focus on the more commonly used ones to gain an understanding of the message Jesus was espousing then, as well as now.

 The Scriptures say that when he saw the multitudes, he went up into the mountains.  Was he trying to get away from them, or was he trying to reach a level of height where his voice would carry so that all could hear?  I choose the latter.  The first words he spoke were:

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  For many years, I struggled with the meaning of this statement.  The key to the struggle was the word “spirit.”  I saw spirit as something good, and poor as something lacking or negative.  So, how could one be blessed if he were lacking in spirit?  I simply didn’t get it!  It was not until I realized that spirit was written with a small “s” that my thought began to change.  When a capital “S” is used, one can conceivably be assured the word refers to God.  However, the small “s” can be one or the other, depending on the way it is used in the text.  In this instance Jesus is saying, “Only those people who turn away from the ways of the world–those who lack evil spirits, will be honored or have favor cast upon them,  and that favor is the acquiring of an inner peace or a sense of harmony.  So, if the acquisition of material things is one’s motive for doing things, he possesses a “poor spirit” and will never acquire peace.  Why?  Because as soon as he acquires one material thing, his heart will desire another, and he will never be satisfied.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.  Most individuals do not perceive mourning as a blessing, but find it rewarding to know that when and if they do mourn, comfort is assured.  Mourning expresses sorrow or grief, and occurs most deeply when one experiences the loss of a loved one.  Why does Jesus consider mourning a blessing?  As I pondered this question, it became clearer that since no one likes to feel deep pain and suffering, he will seek relief from it.  In many cases, this leads to spiritual enlightenment and moves one to higher levels of thought.  In so doing, he achieves spiritual growth and a greater understanding of God.  This indeed is a blessing!  Spiritual growth brings comfort because it gives a better understanding of Life–life that is eternal and not temporal.

Blessed are the meek:  for they shall inherit the earth.   This meekness is not spineless or submissive, but denotes patience, humility, slowness of anger and great inner strength.   It takes courage to be humble–not humbling oneself before man, but before God.  A noted attribute of humility is lack of human will–surrendering to the will of God.  Can one ever not be blessed when he follows the path that God has laid out for him?  Jesus says the reward for meekness in to “inherit the earth.”   This inheritance is a gift from God–a gift that enables one to have dominion over the earth.  Jesus possessed such dominion and so can we, but are we willing to pay the price of meekness?

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:  for they shall be filled.  If you want to be righteous, you have to hunger and thirst after it.  How do you do that?  By having a burning desire so strong that you place nothing else before it.  It takes hold of your consciousness and does not let go until it is complete, whole.  There may be many sacrifices before this completeness is achieved, but whatever the price, you are willing to pay it, for you recognize that the reward is a consciousness filled with the Holy Ghost–the Christ.  It is a feeling like nothing else!  Jesus knew this feeling,  That is why he paid the price by carrying the cross.  Mary Baker Eddy paid the price through ridicule, criticism and human suffering.  Each of us will walk in their shoes, to the extent we hunger and thirst after righteousness.  Are you ready to do so?

Blessed are the pure in heart:  for they shall see God.   This is the most misunderstood of all the Beatitudes.   First of all, what is a pure heart?  How do you get one?  A pure heart is an inner consciousness that is free of the perils of sin, sickness and death.  In that moment or hour, sin, sickness and death have no reality for the person because he is connected with God–at one with God as Jesus put it.  At a human level, he may know they exist, but their power to cause pain, suffering , decay and destruction have no existence for him.

When my daughter passed away from a medical diagnosis of breast cancer, I grieved for two years.  But during that period, I actively sought a clearer understanding of life–Life as God.  When I achieved that, (when my heart was purified) the grief disappeared.  I knew her physical body had passed away, but her divine nature lived, for it is eternal.  I saw the godliness of her, so what was there to be sorry about?

Jesus is telling the disciples and the multitudes that favor will be cast upon them only when they purify their inner selves, and through this process of purification, they will gain a higher understanding of God–see God.  God is only seen when evil is erased from thought.

Each beatitude should be looked at in this way, studied and pondered until you gain a greater understanding of its meaning.  In so doing, you will discover that they are the blueprint for receiving a blessing.  Each beatitude is two-fold.  First, it gives the seeker a job to do, and secondly it says, if you do it, this is your reward.  Another way of saying the same thing is, “If you want to wear the crown, you must first carry the cross.”

Some people believe they are blessed when they receive material things.  A material item is just that–a material item.  It has no spiritual significance.  A blessing is a divine activity.  Later, one may see the results of this divine activity in a human experience or condition, but spirituality must precede such action.  This is the essence of the Beatitudes–to emphasize spirituality over materiality–using good to overcome evil, and life to erase death.  One cannot climb the mountain of grace and mercy, while holding on to the valley of arrogance and persecution.  In order to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, each person must fill his own shoes with love, compassion and humility.  There is no other way.  Jesus is “the way,” but every person must stay in the pathway–by himself.

Learning to Live with One Another 

The Sermon on the Mount is the foundation of man’s ability to live with his fellow man.   The basis of this ability can be found in the following statements:

1. Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment.
2. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
3. Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
4. Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for and eye, and a tooth for a tooth:  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil:  But whosoever smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
5. Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
6. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
7. When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

These are strong statements of love, human sacrifice, divine committment and devotion to the one God.  Who is ready to live them day-by-day, hour-by-hour?  How do you love the person who persecutes you?  You don’t love the person persecuting you, you love the person instead of the one persecuting you.  Who is that person?  The one that God created–the one made in His image and likeness–the perfect man.  Seeing that man at the moment of persecution, takes courage, love, inner strength and a knowledge of the perfect man.  It is not easy being a Christian, but it is rewarding.  Sometimes those rewards are far beyond the moments that one is being “despitefully used,” but they never cease to come–however, not always in this world.  Two words define this experience–faith and long-suffering.  Again, I ask,  “Are you ready?”

 The Lord’s Prayer

The highest prayer is not one of faith merely;  it is demonstration.

Mary Baker Eddy

 The Lord’s Prayer is the prayer that Jesus gave to his disciples, and is believed by many to be a prayer that meets every human need.  Is this true or false?

The first sentence informs us that not only did Jesus consider God his Father, but ours also.  What more could one want besides having God as a Parent–a Parent who not only knows what we need, but also can supply it?  There is nothing God cannot do!  This statement alone, will meet every human need.

Thy kingdom come.  What did Jesus mean by this statement?  What is a kingdom?  The answer lies in another one of his statements: “The kingdom of heaven is within you.”  He is saying, “Your kingdom, your divine consciousness is right here, right now.  Look no further.”  The problem is mankind does not believe that, so it looks for it somewhere else.  This kingdom is a gift from God and God does not give it, and then take it back.  It is always present.   Being aware of this knowledge and availing oneself of it, is a blessing.  There is no place where God is not present because he is omnipresent–only a thought away.  Try it, it does work.

The third line of the Prayer reminds us that not only is God present when things are going great–”in heaven,”  but when they are not, “in earth.”  God’s desire is always to provide goodness, love and mercy to His children.  He is Love, thus, knows only love.   It is we who separate ourselves from God, through human will and evil thoughts–thus bringing into our experience evil actions and conditions.

Give us this day our daily bread.  I see bread as truth, the answer to all error.  Therefore, if we are cognizant of the true nature of God and the true nature of the man He created, we will mentally hear everything that we need to think, say and do.  God speaks to the human consciousness through the presence of the Christ–the Holy Ghost.  We just have to listen .   .   .   and obey.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  To forgive means to destroy mentally, evil thoughts that lead to evil actions.  A debt is something that we owe.  Thus, we are indebted to God when we separate ourselves from Him, and this debt is paid when we cast evil thoughts out of  consciousness and follow His direction.  Only then, is the debt paid.   We forgive our debtors (those whom we feel owe us something) by recognizing that if God created everything and everyone, no one owes use anything, for we are all children of God.  This frees the so-called debtor from all debts.  Mary Baker Eddy says it this way:  “Love is reflected in love” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 17).  God, Love is expressed  when we express love ourselves.  In the presence of Love, there are no debts or obligations.

The Prayer goes on to say that God never leads us into temptation.  What would God profit by doing so?  Nothing!  God is Love, and because He is Love, he guides us away from evil–sin, sickness and death.  He lets us know that He is also Life, and if He is Life and created all life, there is no death.  Death is what humans experience, not children of God.  His children are eternal, not temporal.  One can comprehend how complete this prayer is.  It covers all evil, which is fear, ignorance, sin, sickness and death.  There is no evil that does not fit into one of these categories.

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.   God is everywhere and with everyone.  He is supreme.  There is no power greater than Himself, and not only can we rejoice in this knowledge here and now, but  .  .  .   forever.  This is a prayer that meets every human need.  Do you agree?

Man is made-up of thoughts, and these thoughts can be human or divine.  We can choose the inspiration and wonder of the Sermon on the Mount, or the beliefs of mankind.  The thoughts we choose determine whether we live in harmony or disharmony, practice love or hate, and demonstrate perfection or imperfection.  The choice is ours.  But Jesus lets us know that we can be “perfect even as (our) Father which is in heaven is perfect.”  This precludes the idea that man is born in sin and must repent from those sins.  We are born children of God, and when we remove the dust of sin, sickness and death from our eyes, we can see ourselves that way.  Life is eternal, and death is an illusion.  Discovering this understanding takes persistence, perseverance and patience, but we can get there.  Let us begin by exploring the wonders of the Sermon on the Mount, living according to the Ten Commandments and using the Lord’s Prayer to meet our every need.

Other References

The Lord’s Prayer:

http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Religion-Spirituality/What-Does-The-Lord-s-Prayer-Mean-Do-You-Really-Know/m-p/331581?amp%3Bmessage.id=494

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