WE WORK FOR THE CHILDREN!

That is the explanation for the struggles of so many people. They work so hard, make deals, and if they are in a vantage point, they use it or even resort to outright stealing so that they can provide for their children and even grandchildren yet to be born!

Let us free ourselves from this burden. It is unnecessary. We must consider that childbearing does not mean that you must deny the child the benefit of finding his own feet early in life. Through earthly birth, parents simply provide a physical body for the spirit of the child, the body being a tool for the child as he journeys on earth on the path to spiritual maturity which involves knowing the Will of God and making it a deed!

Once the parents have taken care of the child to the point where the child can take care of his own physical body, then anything done beyond that is a gift because the child is really an independent individual who is just a guest of the parents who have implicitly agreed by their voluntary act of love to accept this loved one.

If the parents live only for their children then they have missed the very purpose of their lives: the redemption of past errors, spiritual maturity and salvation. Just as parents have a lot of work to do on themselves, children too must realise that they are on earth to fulfill their own purpose and must seek to be independent of their parents as soon as possible and not revel in a sense of entitlement that is non-existent!

WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A PARENT?

Do you think having children is the next thing to do after concluding your formal education and getting married? Do you think you need to have biological children to feel fulfilled and be happy? Do you also think you need children to carry on your legacy, and inherit your name, fame and fortune? 

If you have based your desire to have children on any or indeed all the above, please think again and consider that the questions posed here must be answered by anyone who is independent minded and inwardly free, who takes life on earth seriously and do not wish to live his life on frivolous grounds or live just solely in accordance to the customs and traditions of his environment. We must ask ourselves these questions before taking on the duty of parenting and keep them  in mind even as we continue the work of parenting.

If we consider in brief how children come to us, perhaps it will lead us to a new way of thinking about this matter. From the moment you and your partner seek a child and engage in an act of reproduction, you have thrown out an invitation to the many souls in the beyond ready and waiting to reincarnate on earth! These souls at times come with heavy baggage from their past lives that may later affect even the lives of the parents!  If we are careful and proceed prayerfully in this important matter, we can have a say in the type of child that will be attracted to us. Of course, Nature’s Law of attraction of all that are similar also play a part in determining the nature of the soul that will be incarnated into families.

Having said these, let us go straight into the valid reason for taking on this blessed role of parenting. The right reason for parenting can be found when we first understand the purpose of life on earth. The purpose of life on earth is simple: we are incarnated on earth in order to awaken spiritually and through experiencing here to grow from spirit seed to fully matured human spirits! Subsequent reincarnations offer us the opportunity to atone for our past misdeeds, cast off old faults and to mature further. All of these are achieved by coming to know, understand and live in accordance with the laws of God! It follows therefore that we should only seek to bring children into this world when we are willing to take on a strange human spirit into our family as a permanent guest, and willing to give the child the opportunity on earth to atone and to mature. That is the valid reason. All other reasons are beside the point and cannot replace the main reason.

May we be able to raise children not just to satisfy ourselves and our empty purposes but to raise them such that they too will come to understand the purpose of existence and live to the honour of the Lord Almighty!

TODAY'S MIRACLE WORKERS

A man goes and kneels before another. The one standing then tells the kneeling one what he ate last night, he goes further to tell stories about the circumstances of the kneeling one which are otherwise confidential. The kneeling one now assumes that the standing one is a man specially called to be a prophet, a man set apart to help mankind from their afflictions. He puts all his trust in him and in some cases practically becomes a slave to him. All decisions that concerns his life must first receive clearance from this “man of god”!

If the standing one has a gift to heal with the magnetism of his body which often can have a salutary effect by the laying of hands or other bodily contacts then he is proclaimed a miracle worker and followers will flock from home and abroad. He too will want to live up to expectations and begins to teach and preach; many a times offering empty words…

But what really is the value of the ability to see the ethereal world which is on the same level with man? What also is the value of the activities of the many so called miracle workers and healers? Many of them are not even endowed with real and beneficial healing powers but are people with low level radiation, who make many words and mysterious gestures, and who imagine they are accomplishing great things.

All of these may be of interest to the individual, but they operate within low limits. Receiving healing for physical ailments on its own do not translate to the true healing of the soul. Being able to see, hear or feel the invisible world have little or no value when it is a matter of the spiritual ascent and maturity of mankind! However, to ascend spiritually, to inwardly grow and mature, and to seek God’s Kingdom is the real purpose of life.

To be born anew is the real miracle! Let us seek this first!

IS LIFE VANITY UPON VANITY?

On September 8, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II passed away at Balmoral Castle in Scotland at the age of 96. After her state funeral on September 19, she was laid to rest in a private ceremony beneath the King George VI Memorial Chapel, attended by her closest family. 

Many reflections on life and death, often aiming to inspire humility, paint a bleak picture of the afterlife. One such narrative highlighted an aspect of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral. Toward the end of the service, the Archbishop’s words left a lasting impression: 

“Now let us remove all symbols of power from the coffin, so that our sister, Elizabeth, can be committed to the grave as a simple Christian.” 

At that moment: 

The staff of office was removed.

The sceptre was taken away.

Finally, the crown and all symbols of royalty were removed.

The Queen was buried with nothing. Even her title was omitted—she was referred to simply as “Elizabeth.” The message was clear: life is fleeting, and we leave this world with nothing. This should remind us to practice humility: 

Humility in power,

Humility in relationships,

Humility in wealth,

Humility in all our actions.

Some also claim that life on earth is “vanity upon vanity”.  But this claim and the aforementioned narrative would only be accurate if we were merely physical beings. In reality, man is more than his physical body—his core is spirit. Life continues beyond death, and every soul will face the consequences of how it lived on earth. While the body decays, the soul endures in another realm. Those who live according to the Almighty’s Will will find themselves in a better place, while those who disobey will face darker realms in the beyond.

This raises two important questions: 

Do the departed truly leave with nothing? 

Is life on earth “vanity upon vanity”? 

No person’s existence is without purpose unless they choose to make it so. The purpose of life is simple: we are here to learn the Laws of God, live in harmony with them, and grow spiritually thus attaining spiritual maturity. This knowledge is not found in rigid religious doctrines; rather, it is woven into the fabric of Creation itself. By learning these laws, we can live joyful, peaceful lives here on earth and prepare for an even better existence in the beyond as we continue our journey of spiritual development. 

Every achievement, acquisition, and experience is a gift, lovingly bestowed through the workings of the Laws of Creation. Nothing in life is in vain unless we make it so through a lack of gratitude for all we have been given. 

Gratitude, therefore, is the key to a life of purpose. It is through gratitude on earth that the human spirit secures greater abundance in other realms, after its departure. In this way, our earthly journey becomes a blessing for our entire existence. How, then, can such a life be mere vanity? 

Life is not vanity! It has a purpose: spiritual development; and attaining spiritual maturity! 

And here’s a thought you may not have considered: If you live your life well, you will leave this world with everything that truly matters. Surprised? It is true. Those who live in line with the spiritual purpose highlighted above will leave this world with the most valuable possession—their maturing human spirit. On the other hand, those who live only for material gain will leave with nothing. Their identity is tied to their wealth, fame, power, or status—things that perish. These individuals will have nothing to carry forward because their spirit, which should have been focussed and set securely on a journey of spiritual maturation remained negligently undeveloped and is not fit for the continuation of life in Creation. Damnation threatens the ones in such a condition! 

Attaining spiritual maturity is everything. Those who are on this path will leave with everything that defines their true humanity. Material possessions and titles mean nothing in the end. Scripture echoes this truth: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world [wealth, fame, success], but forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26, AMP).

Those who live in accordance with life’s true purpose are not humbled by the thought of death and relinquishing material things. They are already detached from worldly possessions. They use the resources given to them humbly and gratefully, recognizing that these are merely tools for their spiritual growth. When their time comes, they are ready for the upward journey, knowing that the realms beyond are far more beautiful than anything earthly imagination can conjure. 

Life is not vanity. We are meant to enjoy the blessings of the world, provided we don’t cling to or become entangled by them. A person can be a king, famous, or powerful, and still live according to God’s Will if they prioritize spiritual growth, act with love, humility, and respect for others. Likewise, a poor person can live in vanity if they harbour bitterness and neglect their spiritual development. 

Living in vanity is not about wealth or status—it is about one’s attitude toward life. Whether rich or poor, famous or unknown, our purpose is spiritual growth. Those who neglect this journey are the ones living in vain. For them, death may be used as a threat to make them humble. However, true humility comes not from the fear of death but from spiritual enlightenment and a sincere openness to the Truth. 

May we live lives of service, humility, and spiritual growth, always striving to fulfill the purpose for which we were created.

 

“WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE” -- MEANING

The popular meaning which today has been given to the words “With God all things are possible”, do not belong to these words at all! The true meaning and the background of these words can be found in Scripture (Mark 10:26, 27). It happened that Jesus was talking of the high demands of the Kingdom of God on any man who wishes to tread the path leading upwards to Heaven. The disciples on learning of the Lord’s strict demands were amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” We are then told that Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible”. 

Therefore, in the context in which they were used in the passage under reference, the words mean that the way of salvation though difficult for man, is possible to tread with the help of the Most High provided of course that the man has first decided firmly to follow the Holy Word of Truth!

A SENSE OF RIGHT AND WRONG

Some are deluded as to their sense of right and wrong. Do you remember the 9/11 attacks in the United States? 9/11 refers to the

Some are deluded as to their sense of right and wrong. Do you remember the 9/11 attacks in the United States? 9/11 refers to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. Perhaps the attackers even prayed moments before they committed their suicide attacks.

Mohamed Atta one of the attackers had a document in his bag which provide a unique insight into the psychological state of the 19 men who took over the doomed aircraft on 11 September 2001.

According to The Washington Post, this document urged the hijackers to pray, fast and recite the Koran so that fear of death would recede. There was also listed prayers to be said on the plane itself. When the hijackers stepped on board, they were to say: "Oh God, open all doors for me. Oh God who answers prayers and answers those who ask you, I am asking you for your help. I am asking you for forgiveness. I am asking you to lighten my way. I am asking you to lift the burden I feel."

The last prayer concluded: "There is no God but God, I being a sinner. We are of God, and to God we return." 

Obviously, these people believed that they were right and justified in carrying out their destructive act! Be that as it may, as man may try very hard to delude himself, the Law of Sowing and Reaping ensures that each person gets what he deserves without preference or prejudice and any injustice is totally ruled out.