Sharon Janis

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-14-2022

Spirituality goes deep into the heart of every matter and extends far beyond the physical world of matter. Understanding what spiritual principles are (and aren't), can help to improve your life, empower your mind, and nourish your soul. Whether you’re looking for happiness, inner peace, or supreme enlightenment, no knowledge can propel you to achieve your personal goals and provide as effective a plan for living as does spiritual knowledge.

Article / Updated 12-03-2021

One of the great gifts of spiritual knowledge is that it realigns your sense of self to something you may not have even ever imagined was within you. Spirituality says that even if you think you're limited and small, it simply isn't so. You're greater and more powerful than you have ever imagined. A great and divine light exists inside of you. This same light is also in everyone you know and in everyone you will ever know in the future. You may think you're limited to just your physical body and state of affairs — including your gender, race, family, job, and status in life — but spirituality comes in and says "there is more than this." Notice that spirit sounds similar to words like inspire and expire. This is especially appropriate because when you're filled with spiritual energy, you feel great inspiration, and when the spiritual life force leaves your body, your time on this earth expires. These are two of the main themes of the spiritual journey: Allowing yourself to be filled with inspiration, which also translates into love, joy, wisdom, peacefulness, and service. Remembering that an inevitable expiration awaits to take you away from the very circumstances you may think are so very important right now. The study of spirituality goes deeply into the heart of every matter and extends far beyond the physical world of matter. Spirituality connects you with the profoundly powerful and divine force that's present in this universe. Whether you're looking for worldly success, inner peace, or supreme enlightenment, no knowledge can propel you to achieve your goals and provide as effective a plan for living as does spiritual knowledge. Going beyond the physical world Perhaps the best way to think about a spiritual approach to the world is to contrast it with a more common materialistic approach. The materialistic approach: The materialistic approach relies primarily on empirical evidence provided by the five senses — what can literally be seen, heard, tasted, touched, or smelled. This approach depends on the outer appearances of things to decide how and what to think and feel about them. A materialistic person fixes whatever may be wrong or out of place in their world by moving things around and effecting outer changes. The spiritual approach: In contrast, the spiritual way is to see beyond mere outer appearances and the five senses to an intuitive perception of the causes behind outer conditions. Someone with a spiritual approach may change and uplift their world by first transforming and improving their own vision. One of the main teachings of spirituality is to look within and find what you seek within yourself. The external world is ephemeral, temporary, and ever changing; in fact, your body will die one day, sweeping all those worldly accoutrements away like a mere pile of dust. Your inner realm, on the other hand, is timeless, eternal, and deeply profound. Knowing how spirituality differs from religion Although religion and spirituality are sometimes used interchangeably, they really indicate two different aspects of the human experience. You might say that spirituality is the mystical face of religion. Spirituality is the wellspring of divinity that pulsates, dances, and flows as the source and essence of every soul. Spirituality relates more to your personal search, to finding greater meaning and purpose in your existence. Some elements of spirituality include the following: Looking beyond outer appearances to the deeper significance and soul of everything Love and respect for God, or the universe, or your concept of a higher power Love and respect for yourself Love and respect for everybody Religion is most often used to describe an organized group or culture that has generally been sparked by the fire of a spiritual or divine soul. Religions usually act with a mission and intention of presenting specific teachings and doctrines while nurturing and propagating a particular way of life. Religion and spirituality can blend beautifully Different religions can look quite unlike one another. Some participants bow to colorful statues of deities, others listen to inspired sermons while dressed in their Sunday finery, and yet others set out their prayer rugs five times a day to bow their heads to the ground. Regardless of these different outer manifestations of worship, the kernel of religion is spirituality, and the essence of spirituality is God or the Supreme Being. Spirituality is: Beyond all religions yet containing all religions Beyond all science yet containing all science Beyond all philosophy yet containing all philosophy As one becomes more spiritual, animalistic aggressions of fighting and trying to control the beliefs of other people can be cast off like an old set of clothes that no longer fits. In fact, many seekers begin to feel that every image of divinity is just one more face of their own, eternally ever-present God. Loving and respecting all religions and images of God doesn't mean that you have to agree with all of their doctrines. In fact, you don't even have to believe and agree with every element and doctrine of your own religion! This goes for any teachings you may encounter along your path. Everybody thinks that what they are doing is right. That's what's so interesting about the world. Everybody is doing something different, and each one believes deep in their soul that what they believe is right — some with more contemplation and conviction than others.

Step by Step / Updated 03-08-2017

The following exercise can help you to rise above the illusions of your own life-movie by giving you a way to practice controlling your levels of absorption in the illusions of a theatrical movie. Some religious and spiritual traditions guide you to withdraw from the world and to hide yourself in a cave or go to a mountaintop where you can escape the illusions of life. This approach can help to keep your mind and heart focused on greater matters, however it is not always the most practical approach, nor is it the only way to become free from the bindings of illusion. You may renounce your home, family, friends, job, clothes, and anything and everything else that you own, however this kind of outer renunciation does not guarantee spiritual liberation or freedom from illusion. What needs to be renounced is the ego, the self-interest, the petty desires, and sense of ownership. What needs to be renounced are the false ideas about who you are — thinking that all you are is an individual body with a mind that is separate from the universe, from God, and from everyone and everything else. This limited identification is the main illusion that keeps you from entering into higher spiritual awareness.

Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016

Here are ten lines that may sound spiritual on the surface, but could have other not-so-spiritual meanings. Laughing at the foibles of yourselves and others is part of the cosmic joke, and spiritual efforts don’t get exempted!

Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016

Spiritual images are invocations of the divine presence and reminders of the symbolic ideals for which they stand. Although some religions frown upon worshipping idols or forms, others find this practice to be a powerful way to communicate with God on a tangible, personal level. The following figures show several spiritual images and objects that devotees from different traditions may choose to include on their altars or in other areas of their home or work environment.

Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016

Life brings a variety of pleasant and challenging experiences: One day everything goes smoothly, but another day is filled with obstacles. One time you are showered with good fortune, but another time you’re dragged down by misfortune. You may feel constricted by your past, fearful for the future, or hopeful about a new possibility. All these different kinds of experiences bring opportunities to see your life with spiritual eyes.

Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016

From a spiritual perspective, small efforts can be as significant as larger ones. Whether you’re cleaning up a piece of garbage from the park, selecting a spiritual book to read, or picking up your child from school, your level of spiritual awareness and intention determines the spiritual significance of your actions. Increasing your spiritual focus brings greater significance to all that you do.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Look at the trials of your life with a spiritual approach: Until your heart has been broken to the things of this materialistic world, you can't open your heart into the higher world. Now, you shouldn't feel compelled to go out and try to get your heart broken or seek after trials and disasters so you can grow from them. Don't worry; the world is very good at creating just the right challenges for you! Yet, isn't it amazing how even the most intensely difficult things in your life somehow fall just within the threshold of bearable? You may sometimes think your troubles are unbearable, but most likely, you come to a time when things get better. Everyone goes through these ups and downs of life, although the outward details and intensities change from person to person. For one person, small inconveniences can cause more distress than major disasters do for another. Some people get more upset about a bad hair-tinting job than do people who are dealing with devastating tragedies. Pain and suffering are relative. How life's challenges affect you depends on your understanding, state of mind, and previous experience; it also depends on the arms of divine beneficence that come to carry you above the hottest sands. Seeing troubles with a positive eye You most likely enjoy a pleasant life as much as anyone else. Moreover, even knowing the value of life's challenges, you still don't go around looking for trouble. You might say that you choose your challenges, or that God chooses them carefully for you so that your mind and limited self-concepts are shaken just enough — but not too much — and with rests in between. The following efforts can help you find a comfortable mix of trials and transcendence: Make efforts to create the kind of life that's pleasant and fulfilling for you. Be open and receptive to whatever comes — good or bad, pleasurable or difficult. When challenges come up, use them as opportunities to springboard off your limited worldview of temporary earthly existence. Leap into a greater vision of what is going on beneath, behind, beyond, and above this strange pilgrimage called life. Looking with a positive eye at your trials and tribulations isn't meant to deny you happiness. On the contrary! You can think of trials as tools that pry you loose from a smaller worldview, and push you — even running and screaming — into more precious realms that you may not have known existed. Look at these ways that suffering can help uplift you: Suffering teaches you compassion. Suffering inspires you to contemplate and reconsider your thoughts and actions. Suffering brings renunciation, and renunciation is an important quality for spiritual growth. Times of suffering and difficulty can actually lead you into a greater experience of the world. Dark nights of the soul can bring greater meaning and depth of spirit to your life and give you more appreciation and gratitude for all you have. Many people have awakened to religion, spirituality, and the presence of the Supreme Being for the first time after going through traumatic events. For this reason, suffering can be one of the most potent forces for spiritual transformation and awakening. This doesn't mean that you should court difficulties or become a martyr — looking for more suffering so you can grow from it. Nor is it a call for you to just suffer and suffer without making efforts to heal the problems in your life. In fact, with spiritual awareness, you can change uncomfortable outer circumstances — not only on a materialistic level but also by combining the power of your mind with spiritual practices, good actions, and higher intentions. The key to transforming trials into transcendence is to realize that everything that comes to you is: Your destiny An opportunity to tap into a greater awareness Rising above suffering Life always brings challenges to deal with. Struggle and strife have come as standard accessories with the package deal of this cruise. When those inevitable difficult moments come, you have a choice: Instead of being swept away into an emotional flurry or numb depression, you can see such times with some objectivity. Then, even if part of you goes into some agitation or sadness here or there, you can still be aware of the part of you that's witnessing all the play of your life — the still point of the turning world that exists inside of you. From that place, you can remind yourself that after every storm, there is a chance to awaken into a new golden sky and find colorful new rainbows to delight your heart, nourish your soul, and rouse your spirit. This approach to life doesn't mean that you never suffer. Rather, even in the midst of suffering, you can simultaneously break through into an awareness that's free from suffering — existing beyond the level of your body and the physical world. This is the realm of spirituality. Looking for the positive Looking for something positive, even in the worst events, automatically helps to heal any situation at hand. Remember that you're not just a passive observer of life but an active participant. Your belief system actually molds and affects reality. Therefore, planting the seeds of a positive outlook creates a more positive experience down the line, regardless of how bad things may look in the midst of your suffering and challenges. Your thoughts are so powerful that adding a positive viewpoint into the mix can rock the vote of this universe as it manifests through and around you! Tragedy brings out the best in people Have you noticed how people get together and help one another so much more easily when they're in the midst of a disaster? Floods, tornados, hurricanes, and earthquakes all bring, along with their images of devastation, equally powerful portrayals of human beings helping one another, even heroically saving neighbors whom they may have never even bothered to say hello to before. In times of crisis, a sense of temporal existence and an awareness of the shared flame of humanity become more tangible to those involved. Tragedies and disasters have a way of sloughing off many layers of illusion-based thinking and materialistic absorption. Vulnerability also comes during times of crisis — bringing its friends humility, gratitude, and compassion.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Spiritual living begins with looking at day-to-day events differently. Instead of judging things by how important they are on the scales of worldly accomplishment, you focus on the depth of meaning behind the outer appearances of everything in your life. To grasp the deeper, more meaning-filled levels beneath, behind, and within your surface life, you have to shift the focus of your consciousness, bringing the more materialistic, limited view out of focus and a higher awareness into focus. Letting life be meaningful Every moment of life is meaningful. Every person you encounter has an important movement in your dance. Every object you can see right now, wherever you are, is profoundly full of deeper significance and meaning. In this amazingly prolific universal creation, everything around you is inherently and naturally in perfect harmony with who you are and what you think and feel. Moving deeper past the surface layers Spirituality is a way to move beyond the most surface understanding of life and to begin to peek into some of the underlying layers. There are gazillions of underlying layers, so this is not a goal-oriented search to get them all under your belt. Rather, it's contentment with where you are and what you know, along with an inner effort and openness to growing into new and more wondrous views, vistas, and visions. If you can pull your senses and thoughts away from outer distractions, you may move beyond the most obvious layers of appearance to see some of the amazing symbolism and multidimensional images behind the surface of life. The following contemplation exercise can help you appreciate how perfect it must be that you are exactly who and where you are right now. 1. Contemplate how this world is filled with such a variety of potential life experiences, from the life of a reigning aristocrat to that of a starving child. 2. Look at telescopic photographs of the untold millions of other stars and galaxies out there, and consider how many kinds of life experience must be available on them. 3. Imagine that there must also be innumerable other dimensions of life besides these few bandwidths of energy that are commonly called the physical universe. 4. With this immense vision in mind, contemplate how and why your soul chose to express in human form, on this particular planet, and in your very specific and unique combination of circumstances. By understanding and appreciating more of the intricate melodies and harmonies of this universal symphony, you may find that life becomes more profound, more symbolic, and more naturally spiritual. Each day brings fresh insights and inner transformation. Being more conscious Being more conscious of the underlying layers of life brings several benefits: Being more conscious makes life more interesting. You'll never have to be bored again. Even while waiting in line at the Department of Motor Vehicles, you can look around and contemplate the symbolic messages and lessons behind all these strange folks who have appeared in line with you. For example, if someone near you is having an argument, you can ask what inside yourself may have drawn you and that argument together. Do you have some undigested anger? Do their words mirror a situation you have been in before? Being more conscious helps keep you focused in the moment. You understand that you are exactly where you are supposed to be and that the fullness of life's bounty is available to you, no matter who, where, and how you are. With this, the stress-filled drive to make it to the future or recreate the past begins to soften into contentment with yourself as you are right now. Being more conscious opens the door to receiving divine guidance. All around you are magnificent, potential sources of guidance. You could think of them as angels or spiritual guides. They can talk to you through anything and anyone, revealing what you need to know and how to live a fulfilled and vibrant journey. However, if you don't have the ears to hear — the capacity to perceive their subtle guidance — these beings can talk and advise all they can, but to no avail. Looking toward enlightenment Enlightenment is the crown jewel of spirituality. Different traditions have alluded to this elusive state with various terms, including nirvana, bodhisattva, fanaa, mukti, and liberation. With enlightenment, you move beyond mere relaxation techniques or positive thinking. Enlightenment is a complete shift of perception, in which you flow with absolute inner freedom in an awareness that reaches deeply into the unseen realms. With the blessing of enlightenment, You have no more fear, no more greed, and no more aggression. You know that everything — all of it, all of us — is one. Your love becomes unconditional and untainted by mundane expectations. Every action you perform stems from the flow of universal energy through you. You're aware of death and aware of eternal life. You know that the entire universe is bursting with fresh life in every moment. You're willing and able to let go of who you thought you were and become that which you have always been. This is a big sacrifice to make — giving up all you think you are. However, if you don't do it now, Father Time will come and do it for you one day! This is why Sufi saints give the command to "Die before you die!" Die to the small self before the small self dies. Loosen your identification with the leaf and remember that you are the great tree. Then, when that particular leaf turns brown and falls to the ground, dissolving particle by particle into the elements of the earth, you still will be here in all your grand and divine fullness. Two steps come together on your quest for enlightenment: You have to want it. You can't want it too much. This state of enlightenment is also called self-realization or God-realization. It's called "realization" because the great, enlightened beings have "realized" one fact — a fact that has implications on every element of life as you know it. This fact is that everything is one, that knowledge and the knowing of that knowledge are inseparable. In other words, what you see is what you get, and what you get is what you are. Realization is not just about reading some words and being able to discuss or debate them; but rather to realize the essence behind insights such as "in the beginning was the word, and the word was God," "everything is one," "the kingdom of heaven lies within," or "thou art That." After you realize the essence of spiritual teachings and make them an integral part of your reality, they filter through and transform your entire world. Your sense of limited individuality fades like a mirage that had been blocking the bright sunlight of supreme truth. As this supreme light blasts through you, unimpeded by mortal illusions of limitation and separation, you become enlightened. You emanate not only your own personal human light but also a higher, more universal light. How will you know if you're enlightened? You already are, but your mind doesn't know it. That's what discovering spiritual practices and principles are for — to move you beyond the limited view of yourself so you can remember and realize your true nature!

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Two important goals of becoming more spiritual are growth and evolution. Yet with or without any specific spiritual efforts, human beings continue to evolve and grow. This drive is programmed into the very nature of all life — an innate pull toward growth, evolution, and transformation. Well, then, if everything is happening by itself, why not just coast along for the ride? Why get all involved with learning how to do different spiritual practices? Here's are the reasons: By intentionally doing spiritual practices, you actively support your personal growth and, therefore, working in harmony with the universe. Growth is inherently challenging no matter how you do it, but if you work with the universe, your progress will be smoother and more fruitful. The universe won't have to throw unending disasters and challenges into your life to force you to grow. Life becomes more peaceful and more exciting at the same time. Saying "I want to become spiritual" is like saying, "I want to become healthy." Your focus and determination can definitely help to achieve this goal, but it is also important to practice habits that are conducive to becoming healthy or spiritual. For example, if you want to become healthy, you have to know which kinds of foods are best to eat, how much water to drink, and how much exercise will help to keep your body in great shape. Similarly, if you're looking for spiritual unfolding, you have to know what qualities, disciplines, and practices will guide you to make choices, thoughts, and actions that reveal your spiritual nature. Effort is the fuel that keeps you moving forward on your journey of personal and spiritual evolution. Of course, you have to also be aware of which direction your effort is directed. Therefore, the goal of spiritual practices is two-fold: Knowing what you what Empowering what you want Both of these aspects are essential and must come together — the wisdom and guidance to go in the right direction and the power to move in that direction. Doing practices for body, mind, and spirit You can use spiritual practices to purify, strengthen, and elevate your body, mind, and spirit. All three are connected. For example, your practices to purify and strengthen your body also support the increased flows of energy that come from your mental and spirit-based practices. Practices for your body: These practices include yoga postures, breathing exercises, and energy balancing — all for the purpose of making your "temple of God" (that is, your body) a worthy vessel to contain and carry the great energy of Holy Spirit. Practices for your mind: These practices include meditation, contemplation, repetition of mantras, study of spiritual teachings, and affirmations — all of which polish the mirror of your mind so it can reflect divine light more clearly and brightly. Practices for your spirit: These practices include reverential rituals, prayer, chanting and singing of hymns, and other devotional efforts that invigorate your love, willpower, surrender, and faith. Strengthening your willpower Spiritual disciplines test and strengthen your willpower. For example, you may decide to meditate for a half-hour every morning — but then some mornings you want to sleep in or are thinking about quitting meditation early to go have a nice breakfast. These willpower struggles give you a chance to increase your power of self-control. Self-control is like a muscle that you strengthen through meeting challenges with your willpower. Gaining more self-control in one area also gives you the strength to free yourself from other harmful habits you may wish to drop in the future. Suppose you're considering ending your meditation early to have some breakfast. You're sitting quietly, repeating your mantra, watching your breath, watching your thoughts, and quieting your mind, and suddenly, there appears an image of eggs . . . with toast and a piping hot cup of tea. Yum. You try to push the image aside, but your mind is drawn into thoughts of tantalizing aromas, flavors, and textures. At this point, you may think, "Well, I'm not exactly focused on meditation right now anyway. May as well end it early and get on with my day." That part of the game is where your mind makes excuses to convince you to fulfill your immediate desires. The important thing to notice is that point where your will meets the pull of the desired object. Your will is saying, "Hey, I made a commitment to myself to meditate for a half-hour every morning and I'm going to do it." But the eggs are saying, "Come here . . . you are getting sleepy . . . ." This moment is uncomfortable but magical — one in which you can use your willpower and intention to create a new pattern and strengthen your resolve. In the midst of your inner struggle, there comes a time when you may be just about to give in. In that moment, you can take control, using the force of your will to say "no" to the desire. You can stay focused in your commitment to meditate for the full half-hour. This is just like exercising your muscles or your mind. Every time you conquer the pull of your senses, you become more in charge. Even if you sometimes give in and lose the battle, whatever efforts you have put into confronting that desire or habit still bring you greater strength the next time. However, giving in to desires and habits without even making efforts to overcome them can weaken your willpower. You can apply this same technique to other willpower situations, such as quitting smoking or maintaining an exercise program. The key is to make a decision and honor it, keeping your word to yourself. This means remaining steady even over the many hills and mountains of temptation that may arise to test your strength. Practicing being happy You can develop the habit of being happy just by practicing acting happy. This is not about deception or fooling yourself or others but, instead, tapping into an amazing quality and spiritual law of life. Your inner being and outer expressions reflect one another: If you feel happy inside, it shows up in everything you do. In the same way, expressing happiness outwardly also affects your state of mind, creating greater happiness inside yourself. During good times, allow yourself to smile; during difficult times, still do your best to smile. It doesn't even have to be a big, outer smile. Just think "smile." Think "contentment." Feel what it would feel like to have a spontaneous, sincere smile playing on your lips. Don't disregard your grief or anger or walk around with a fake, plastic smile. Instead, try to become established in happiness by practicing being happy.