Chavah Aima

As I reflect upon the recent news of another false guru being brought into the light, I realize again the desperation felt deeply within so many people. They were seeking material wealth and hoping to find their own power by following a self-proclaimed “spiritual leader”. Indeed, many of his followers are saying that they have found just those things, in spite of the tragic consequences this same search has had upon others.

Those who are feeling so good about their “guru”, and defending him by claiming that it was simply time for those others to die, show the depth of the damage caused by the techniques used by false gurus worldwide. This is not the only false guru, only the latest to come to light. It is predictable that his entrenched followers will defend him, perhaps even to their own deaths. A deep separation occurs between body-mind and soul once one has received repeated indoctrination into such a group.

A charismatic figure, promising unlimited wealth, appeals to the material nature of the human. However, to keep the illusion intact, s/he must somehow weave a spiritual message into the mix or risk losing those followers who see the superficiality of questing only for financial wealth. Though in the beginning, such a “leader” might have been motivated by some inner light, the great accumulation of money, power and fame will ultimately cloud that light while inflaming the ego nature.

In the western world such figures are common. They play upon the inequities that naturally exist within materialistic society. In western culture, financial wealth is given the highest respect and the wealthy wield the greatest power over others. Those who have little money are dismissed by such leaders as “losers”, or those who have not owned their power or taken control of their lives. In society, those who need money the most are given the least financial help; while those who have the most money are given the greatest opportunities to gain even more. Such is the nature of the materialistic world. (more…)

The world in which we live is filled with light and shadow, the side effects of manifestation. One may either be an unconscious participant in the shadow play, or a seeker of the light of higher consciousness. Every human being contains varying degrees of both qualities within themselves.

Your physical form, the body that you as consciousness inhabit, also contains a mixture of shadow and light. The same is true for your mental and emotional bodies, from wherein powerful thought-forms are created and played out in one’s life. These thought forms are the concepts and beliefs that guide one’s actions and define oneself. In this way, one’s life unfolds in accordance with these underlying ideas about what is true. (more…)

As Director of the mystical order, Heart of the Rose, I am often asked questions about the order and its teachings. Below are some of these questions and my answers to help you learn more about Heart of the Rose, and other esoteric orders as well. If you are interested, you can become a member of Heart of the Rose at the Enlightened Life website.

Q: I am considering becoming an initiate 
into some secret order for the purpose of gaining more knowledge.

A: There are a variety of ways to gain more spiritual knowledge in addition to joining an 
order. Esoteric orders can help one learn to work in groups for spiritual purposes. Much self-knowledge can come from this, if the group is pure. Unfortunately, finding a pure group with leadership that has truly attained a higher state of spiritual awareness is somewhat rare. Most often one finds a great deal of ego in such groups. This is one reason why a period of private study is advised before beginning to work with others in a group setting.

Self-knowledge is gained quite 
easily from diligent study. Making a sincere effort to integrate the spiritual
 principles one is learning into everyday life is very important as well. After all, knowledge for 
its own sake is not a worthy goal. Only when we can apply the knowledge 
toward living a life filled with greater awareness of our inherent unity 
with others and the earth can we be said to be making true spiritual
 progress. (more…)