“Where are we going?” I asked.

“On an adventure” he called over his shoulder as he shot off into the blackness. “Follow me.”

So I did. I launched myself in the blackness right behind him. At first I traveled out of body in the astral form of my human body, but soon I let that go and continued on as a mere point of awareness racing through the void beside my friend.

As is normal, I felt myself moving swiftly, but without any lights in the void for visual reference I had no sense of speed. After a while tiny points of light winked amidst the inky blackness. At first they were distant as stars in the night time sky. But as we continued to gather speed they shifted into streaks of light blurring across the void. Faster and faster we moved until the streaks of light curved back upon themselves into a spiral.

We rode the swirling spiral of light like specks of consciousness caught in a whirlpool, going round and round until we were sucked in and down. Although I was without form I sensed a collapse or compression until my speck of awareness was indistinguishable from the light itself. Then just as all distinction and movement ceased, we burst forth into another world.

Formless we rocketed through the atmosphere of a distant planet. Pink light spread across the pre-sunrise sky catching on billowing clouds that drifted above a vast violet sea. In the distance I saw a dark streak low on the horizon and realized it was a shoreline. We flew toward it, dropping in altitude as we did so.

In the brightening light I glimpsed the froth and foam of waves breaking upon a sandy beach. Set back from the shore was a sprawling complex of buildings. Here and there lights punctuated the shadowed sprawl, hinting at the waking activities of those within.

As the first rays of the sun broke the horizon and raced across the sea behind us, we flew low over the beachfront complex. In the new found light, details of the multi-storied buildings began to emerge. They were flat-roofed and constructed of grey speckled stone similar to granite. But this was not the crude hand-hewn stonework of ancient times, nor even the finely mortared stonework of modern life on Earth. These buildings appeared to be made of massive stone blocks several stories high and as many wide. Oval-shaped windows and doors appeared to be carved directly from the three foot (1 meter) thick slabs of rock.

We stopped outside one of the windows on ground level. Inside an unseen light source illuminated a common room with a cooking and eating area. From beyond the table, a figure emerged from what I presumed to be bedroom. He crossed to the hearth and lifted a kettle. Steam rose as he poured something hot to drink. I wanted a closer look and moved toward the window.

“Stay invisible,” said Chien. “We're not here to interact today.”

His voice stopped me where I was.

“Just watch,” he said.

With drink in hand, the man emerge from the front door and turned away from us, walking down a footpath. We followed behind him, drifting along as invisible observers. He walked purposefully yet unhurriedly as if he was sure of his destination and confident he had plenty of time to get there. As he walked, with his free hand he adjusted his clothing. He appeared to be wearing a tunic of white woven cloth, a narrow cord tied about his waist. Sandals adorned his feet.

His walk led us through well-tended gardens with lush, exotic foliage in a surprising palette of colors. Not your basic green leaves and bright flowers of Earth, but a riot of blue and purple fronds with coconut-sized red and orange fruits clustered along their scale-covered stems.

Before long he led us to another building. This one had a grand portico with wide doors propped open to catch the cool morning sea breeze. We followed him inside and found ourselves in a sunken amphitheater. Pockets of people sat here and there. More people were walking in from the far side.

While the other arrivals stopped a few rows down from the back, our man continued to descend toward the center. He nodded to those he passed but remained silent. In fact, everyone was silent as if in contemplative meditation. When he reached the front row he continued on, ascending the stairs that led up onto the central stage.

He stood silently for a time as more and more people entered the amphitheater. When the theater was about a third full he took a final sip of his beverage and set it aside. Then he turned to the audience and clasped his hands together. “I greet the Divine in you. I greet the God you are.” His voice was rich and sonorous, carrying easily to the far reaches of the room without any amplification.

“I greet the Divine in you. I greet the God you are,” came the chorused reply.

He smiled as the greeting was acknowledged. “I had a dream last night I want to share with you,” he began. “I dreamt of a man on another world. He too is a spiritual teacher, but unlike me he has the ability to visit worlds like ours at will. Whereas we use our dreams to free ourselves from this world, he can do so while he is awake. With the mere power of his awareness he can travel across the vastness of the universe and he teaches others on his world how to do this.”

Murmurs of interest arose from the audience. My interest arose as well when I realized he was talking about me.

“This world of his is very interesting,” he continued. “While the beings there seem to have abilities different than ours, they have limitations as well. As I observed him interacting with others I realized that in their waking lives the people on his planet are fully immersed in their individual perspectives. Whereas we always have a dual perspective of our current lifetime and our greater selves, the people there have little or no sense of who they truly there. They think they are only the individual being living in the current lifetime.”

More murmurs arose.

“This limited perspective causes all sorts of problems,” he said. “Having no sense of who or what they really are means the people there primarily focus on securing short-term advantage over each other and over the natural elements of their world. Locked into one perspective, they naturally think first of themselves and they often have a difficult time seeing from another point of view. While the more mature among them learn to do so, as a species their short-sightedness causes great strain on their sense of well-being, on their society and their world.

“With each person locked in his or her own viewpoint you can't imagine the clashes of ideas they face. Arguments, violence, indifference and disease are rampant on their world. At first I was aghast that people could live that way. But the more I watched the more I came to realize that perhaps there was wisdom to their way of being after all. Here our omnipresent sense of connection means that we enjoy a great sense of harmony within ourselves, with each other, and with our world. But perhaps our comfort comes at a price.

“On their world they are unceasingly exposed to new and often conflicting ideas and they must deal with them on the spot and over time,” he continued. “Right or wrong, successful or unsuccessful doesn't matter from our expanded perspective, but to them it matters greatly. They are fully invested in the moment and in the outcome. This wholehearted and single-minded commitment is a rigorous way of being and it isn't for faint souls. But if the people I observed are any example, it may be worth it. Their way of life engenders rapid growth and makes them very strong beings.

“To grow they must learn to shift and expand their awareness. Mostly they do this in the physical realm, learning sympathy, empathy, compromise, and cooperation. But when they are ready, they begin to explore the nonphysical world as well. They look to people like the spiritual teacher to help them send their awareness into other times, places, and states of being. In doing so they begin to experience for themselves what we take for granted: That they are intimately interconnected with all things.

“It's a different way of life to be sure, but it's one we can learn from. We may prefer harmony to conflict, but sometimes it can be very helpful when someone provides you with a new perspective on things. It helps you to grow,” he said.

I agreed. Not only with his assessment of Earth, but also that we grow immensely when we gain the benefit of another perspective. Not just the perspectives of our neighbors, but the greater perspective of who we truly are beyond this individual lifetime. If you're interested in learning how, let me know.

Matthew Joyce is a spiritual explorer, author, and teacher based in Boulder, CO. His message is that divine spirituality is for everyone, every day, all the time. You already have within you everything you need to access higher states of consciousness, contact guidance, and create the life experiences you desire.

To read more of his stories and take the next step on your spiritual journey, get your free Higher Self Guides newsletter at http://www.HigherSelfGuides.com

The post The Benefit of Another Perspective appeared first on Spiritual Growth Events.

When a rich merchant wandered up the wooded path near his lair, the bandit leapt from behind a boulder brandishing his sword. “Your money or your life,” he yelled in his meanest, most intimidating voice.

The merchant fell to the ground shaking in fear. “Don't kill me. Please don't kill me!” he quaked.

The bandit closed in menacingly.

“Here. Take my money. Take it all,” pleaded the merchant, fumbling with his coin purse.

“Your parcels too,” demanded the bandit.

“Yes. Of course. Take them too,” said the merchant. “Just let me live.”

“Then be gone,” ordered the bandit, kicking the man in rear end and sending him scurrying back down the path.

It was all too easy to rob a man like the merchant.

But not everyone was so easy.

One time when the bandit was lying in wait, a lone cloaked traveler came wandering down out of the mountains. As usual the bandit sprang his ambush, shouting “Get on the ground! You're money or your life!”

But his victim didn't drop face down in the dirt as most of them did. Instead, he threw back his cloak to reveal a soldier's armor. “I'll kill you before I give you my money,” said the soldier as he drew his sword.

“We'll see,” countered the bandit as he leapt forward.

Their swords clanged as they thrust and parried, their clashing blows sending echoes bouncing off the canyon walls.

The soldier was brave, but he was no match for the well-armed, highly skilled bandit. And soon the soldier was lying face down dead in the dirt.

The bandit took the soldier's money, his sword, and armor. Then he hid the body since he didn't want the army out looking for him.

So it went for the bandit as he robbed or killed his victims one after another. He continued this money-or-your-life pattern, year after year, day after day.

Until one day a pandit (a Hindu religious scholar) came walking up the path.

The bandit thought twice about robbing the pandit since he was a holy man. But the fact was that the area was now well known for his banditry and it was no longer frequently traveled. The bandit never knew how long it might be before another victim came his way. So that meant he considered everyone equally as a target.

As the holy pandit approached, the bandit sprang from his hiding place and knocked the pandit to the ground, holding him there with the sword pointed at his throat.

“Give me all your money,” demanded the bandit.

“I have no money,” said the pandit.

“I've heard that before,” said the bandit, searching his victim.

When it turned out to be true that the old man had no money, the bandit said, “Since you have no money, I will hold you for ransom and your friends will pay.”

“I will not let them pay,” said the pandit.

“Then I will kill you,” yelled the bandit, pressing the sword tip to the pandit's throat.

But rather than tremble with fear, the pandit laughed.

“You think death is funny?”

“No,” said the pandit. “It's funny that you think you can get what you want with a sword.”

“I can,” said the bandit. “I control your life in this moment.”

“Yes you do,” said the pandit. “But you don't control my experience.”

The bandit paused in thought. “What do you mean?” he asked.

“You do indeed control my life. If you press your sword into me, then I will die. But you do not control my choice to be happy. Only I control that. In this moment I choose to be happy. Whether you bring me life or death is your choice. My choice is how I feel in this moment.”

The bandit stood speechless as his unarmed victim's words pierced his heart. In all his years it had never occurred to him that external circumstances need not determine the choices in life.

For several moments the two men stood in silence. Then as the dust around them began to settle, the bandit dropped his sword. And with an open hand he helped the pandit up from the ground.

“No one has ever spoken to me that way before,” said the bandit. It had never occurred to him before that there was another way to find happiness or personal power than by controlling people or events.

“I want to become your student,” he said.

In that moment the bandit chose a new path. One in which he began to control his life experiences from the inside instead of the outside.

Matthew Joyce is a spiritual explorer, author, and teacher based in Boulder, CO. His message is that divine spirituality is for everyone, every day, all the time. You already have within you everything you need to access higher states of consciousness, contact guidance, and create the life experiences you desire.

To read more of his stories and take the next step on your spiritual journey, get your free Higher Self Guides newsletter at http://www.HigherSelfGuides.com

The post The Bandit and the Pandit appeared first on Spiritual Growth Events.

The fish was happy enough. But sometimes it struggled to find food and always it swam in fear of bigger fish – or worse the white-winged creatures that plunged down upon members of its school when they least expected it. For this reason the school of fishes swam close together, mirroring each other's movements and not daring to venture off on their own.

But even the safety of numbers was not always enough.

Such was the case one afternoon when the school swam about in the shallows where food was plentiful.

Without warning, silver streaks of bubbles and birds darted into the center of the school of fishes. The fishes scattered away. But the little fish was not so lucky.

A pelican's beak gripped it firmly around its middle. Escape was impossible.

“Please!” cried the little fish. “Have pity and release me!”

“Indeed,” said the pelican, clamping even tighter onto the fish.

With a powerful thrust of its wings the pelican stroked upward toward the surface. As the silvery mirrored surface raced ever closer, fears of death swam before the fish's eyes.

Soon the little fish saw its own frightened reflection, as well as the reflection of the white-winged angel of death bearing it to its doom.

Then, in an explosion of liquid light, the barrier shattered and the little fish was surrounded in radiant light more brilliant than it could have ever imagined. It gasped for breath in a breathless world and marveled as it looked down upon the receding watery realm that it knew as home.

“Climb inside my gullet where you will be safe,” said the pelican as it released its hold on the fish.

Too shocked to struggle, the fish complied and discovered it could breathe comfortably while observing this miraculous new world. As the fish looked about, it saw white-winged creatures soaring on invisible currents between the roiling blue of its home below and an infinite blue stillness above.

The fish saw white ships hauling in nets filled with fishes. It saw puffy white shapes billowing and floating on the horizon, and in the distance it saw a beach of sand that glistened like diamonds in the radiant sunlight.

Filled with awe at this new world, the fish had no words – and indeed few concepts — with which to describe it. So the fish remained silent as the pelican wheeled about in the sky and dropped toward the sparkling beach.

The bird came in fast and low. Its wing tips hovering just inches above the water. And then as the sand rushed beneath its wings the pelican pulled upward, stalled, and dropped onto the shore where two- and four-legged creatures lazed and frolicked about.

Finding words at last the fish said, “This is truly another world.”

“Now that you know it exists, it is time for you to return home,” said the pelican. And with a mighty flap of its wings it leapt from the beach and returned to the invisible currents of the air.

As they climbed to the heights once more, the fish said, “I had no idea any of this existed. I was so afraid.”

“Now you are truly free,” said the pelican.

“How can I ever thank you?” asked the fish.

“No thanks is required,” answered the pelican. “But having experienced this greater reality, it becomes your task to share it with others of your kind that they too may know this freedom.”

“And how do I do that?” asked the fish.

“That is not for me say. Each must figure that out on our own. That's what keeps the message alive,” said the pelican as it began a graceful descent toward the ceaseless waves below.

As the fish neared the froth and foam of its former existence it gazed about in profound silence, striving to capture and retain its impressions of this greater reality. Then with a simple splash the fish plunged back into a sea of shocking density and limited perspective.

It gaped and gasped as the sea flowed through its gills once more. For a few moments it lingered there beside that mirrored surface, looking at its own reflection and knowing that so much more awaits beyond that translucent transition zone.

Then with a flick of its tail the fish swam for the depths to find its school and begin its new task.

Upon the fish's return, its friends marveled. “You're alive!” they cried. “We thought you were dead.”

“So did I for while,” said the little fish. “But I survived and I've come back with a message of a greater reality that awaits you if only you have courage to seek it.”

The other fishes listened with polite interest as the little fish told of the white-winged creatures that soar in the invisible realm between the ceaseless blue below and silent blue above. They nodded as the fish told of the boats, clouds, people, and dogs that it had seen. But most of the fishes found the story difficult to believe. “The sea is all there is,” they said. “And we are masters of it. We can go anywhere we please.”

“Indeed you can,” said the little fish. “And much farther than you ever dreamed. All it takes is a flick of your tail to break that mirrored surface and you can experience the greater reality beyond.”

“This is enough for us,” said the school of fishes as they swam away.

As the little fish watched them leave it felt that it had failed in its task. But then it heard a small voice at its side. “I want to learn,” said a young fish.

“Me too,” said another.

And so began the teaching of the fish, the pelican, and the greater reality.

About the Author: Matthew Joyce is a spiritual explorer, author, and teacher based in Boulder, CO. His message is that divine spirituality is for everyone, every day, all the time. You already have within you everything you need to access higher states of consciousness, contact guidance, and create the life experiences you desire.

To read more of his stories and take the next step on your spiritual journey, get your free Higher Self Guides newsletter at http://www.HigherSelfGuides.com

What Is the Spiritual Moral / Meaning of “The Fish, The Pelican, and The Nature of Reality” Story?

In the vast expanse of existence, we are akin to the little fish swimming in the sea of life. Our journey, much like the fish's, unfolds in a seemingly endless ocean of experiences, marked by joy, struggle, and a constant dance with the unknown. It's a realm where we navigate the currents of our fears, mirroring the movements of those around us, hesitant to venture into the uncharted waters of our true potential.

The encounter with the pelican represents a transformative moment in our spiritual journey. Life, like the sea, can be teeming with unexpected challenges – the larger fish, the white-winged creatures, symbolic of our fears and external threats. Yet, it is often in those moments of struggle, where escape seems impossible, that we find the catalyst for spiritual awakening. The pelican, in its grasp, forces the little fish to confront the fear of death, leading to a profound revelation beyond the familiar watery realm.

The shattered barrier and the radiant light that engulfs the little fish upon breaking the surface symbolize the transformative power of spiritual awakening. In those moments of crisis, when we confront our deepest fears, a radiant light of higher consciousness breaks through. It is an explosion of awareness, a shift from the confined reality of our fears to the boundless, luminous realm of spiritual truth.

The journey from the watery world to the sky-high perspective of the pelican introduces the little fish to a greater reality. The sky becomes a metaphor for the limitless potential that exists beyond our confined perceptions. As the fish gazes upon the world below, it sees white-winged creatures soaring on invisible currents, ships hauling in nets, and a beach of glistening sand – a world that transcends the familiar sea. This shift in perspective reflects our own capacity to rise above our limited understanding and gain a broader, more enlightened view of life.

The pelican's guidance – “Climb inside my gullet where you will be safe” – signifies the sanctuary of divine guidance during times of upheaval. Surrendering to the unknown, represented by the pelican's gullet, provides the little fish with safety and an opportunity to breathe in a new reality. It underscores the importance of trust and surrender in our spiritual journey, allowing the divine currents to carry us to realms beyond our imagination.

The return of the little fish to its old sea mirrors our own return to the familiar, albeit transformed by spiritual revelation. It encounters disbelief and skepticism from its school, much like we might face resistance when sharing our spiritual experiences with those bound by conventional thinking. The little fish's task becomes clear – to inspire others to break the mirrored surface and embrace the greater reality that awaits beyond the confined sea of limited perspectives.

The young fish expressing a desire to learn marks the beginning of a spiritual teaching. In this, we discover that the true essence of our spiritual journey lies not just in personal awakening but in becoming bearers of light for others. The little fish, now a messenger of a greater reality, embarks on the sacred duty of imparting wisdom, planting seeds of curiosity and courage in those willing to explore beyond the mirrored surface.

The story invites us to reflect on our own journey, urging us to break through the mirrored surface of our fears and limited perspectives. It encourages us to embrace the transformative power of spiritual awakening, allowing the radiant light of higher consciousness to guide us to a greater reality. As we navigate the vast sea of life, may we, like the little fish, become messengers of divine truth, inspiring others to embark on their own journey of exploration and enlightenment.

Personal Reflection Questions

Spiritual stories are an opportunity to reflect on your own life. Here are 10 questions you can use to go deeper with the teachings in this story:

1. What does the little fish's journey from the familiar sea to the newfound world symbolize in your own life?
2. Reflect on the mirrored surface and the translucent transition zone. How does it relate to the barriers and limitations you might encounter in your personal journey?
3. In moments of crisis, the little fish experiences an explosion of liquid light and a shattered barrier. Have you ever had a transformative experience that shattered your preconceived notions and flooded your life with newfound awareness?
4. Consider the pelican's invitation to “climb inside my gullet where you will be safe.” How does surrender and trust resonate with your own spiritual journey during challenging times?
5. The pelican's message to the fish is to share the greater reality with others. How do you interpret this call to share spiritual insights with those around you?
6. Reflect on the fish's silence upon witnessing the new world. Have there been moments in your life when the profundity of an experience left you speechless and in awe?
7. As the little fish returns to its old sea, it encounters skepticism from its school. How do you handle skepticism or disbelief when sharing your spiritual experiences or insights with others?
8. The fish speaks of the greater reality beyond the mirrored surface. How can you relate this concept to breaking through your own self-imposed limitations and exploring new dimensions of existence?
9. Consider the fish's task to inspire others to break the mirrored surface. How can you inspire and encourage those around you to explore the vast possibilities beyond their perceived boundaries?
10. Reflect on the young fish expressing a desire to learn. How can you cultivate a similar openness to learning and exploring the greater realities of life?

The post The Fish, The Pelican, and The Nature of Reality – A Spiritual Story appeared first on Spiritual Growth Events.

He held out his sign to one and all, while at his feet lay a black bowler hat into which they might place a coin or a bill. If people were generous he was sometimes able to beg enough for a hearty meal within a few hours. But if people were stingy he might sit all day and receive almost nothing.

And so it went for the panhandler until one day a shiny white limousine pulled up to the intersection and stopped at the red light. Here's my big chance, thought the panhandler. So he stood up and walked toward the limousine holding his sign in one hand and his empty hat in the other.

In the mirrored glass of the limousine windows he saw reflected his gaunt unshaven face. It was smudged and dirty with the grit of the street. Slowly the window rolled down and his reflection was replaced by the broad smiling face of a grey-haired man.

“Help me please,” begged the panhandler.

“And how may I do that?” asked the man in the limousine.

“Anything helps,” said the panhandler.

“Anything is rather vague. What is it you want?”

The panhandler thought of the quarters and dollar bills he usually received and hoped for something more. “How about ten dollars?” he said.

“Come now,” smiled the man. “When you came into this world you had aspirations and dreams. You must want more than that. What is it that you truly want?”

The question set the panhandler back, but he thought quickly because he knew the traffic light was going to change and the opportunity would be lost. “I want what you have,” he answered.

The answer made the man in the limousine smile. As the traffic light turned from red to green the man said, “I'll be back tomorrow to grant your request.” Then with a wave of his hand the car pulled away and disappeared amidst the cars, taxis, and buses on the roadway.

I doubt it, thought the panhandler to himself. He was used to vague promises by strangers that went unfulfilled. So he shuffled back to the curb and resumed his regular position, hoping that someone might be more generous than the smiling man in the limousine.

For the rest of that day and much of the following morning the panhandler begged help from the strangers who passed him by. Many looked at him with scorn or averted their gaze and hurried on. Some took pity on him and spared their change. A few with no money to share gave him a smile instead. With so many passersby the panhandler's thoughts of the man in the limousine soon faded away.

So he was very surprised when the gleaming white limousine returned. This time instead of rolling down the window the grey-haired man opened the door. “Hello,” he said as he stepped from the car.

“I didn't think you'd come back,” admitted the panhandler.

“I recognized your plight and I want to help,” said the man who wore a pure white business suit. “I was once as you are now, begging for handouts and scarcely hoping for something more. Now I am a successful spiritual teacher and I want to give you a most special gift.”

“That would be great,” said the panhandler.

“This gift is so special that it will help you with all you desire,” said the man as he leaned into the backseat of the limousine to retrieve it.

“This is my lucky day,” thought the panhandler as his mind raced with images of bags of money, mansions, yachts, and private planes.

But the panhandler's smile sagged in disbelief as the spiritual teacher emerged from backseat of the limousine. In his hands he held a wooden box. It was the size of a milk crate and it had a sturdy lid. The box was old and worn and covered in specks of paint that looked as though they'd flake off at the slightest touch.

The old man held the box with great reverence. “This was mine when I felt as you do. It was the key to unlocking all of my happiness, freedom, and success. I want you to have it that you may enjoy the very same.”

“Er, thanks,” mumbled the panhandler as the man gently placed the worn and battered box in his hands.

“Use it well,” said the spiritual teacher as he climbed back into the limousine.

With another smile and a wave of his hand the old man disappeared behind the mirrored glass. The panhandler returned the smile and the wave as the white limousine pulled away and merged into the steady flow of vehicles on the road.

The panhandler looked at the box in his hands. It was heavier than he expected and quite well made. Some gift, he thought. Maybe it will bring me good luck like it did for the old man. Even if it doesn't at least I can sit on it instead of sitting on curb.

So the panhandler sat on the box and went back to begging. That day proved to be a very good day. He collected more money than he had in long time. He ate well that night and raised his glass in a toast to the spiritual teacher in the limousine.

But the next day proved dismal and the panhandler went hungry. Maybe this thing doesn't work, he thought.

Fortunately the next day proved better and he regained hope. So the panhandler lugged the box to street corner the next day and the next. Day in and day out he carried the box to and from the curb as the pattern repeated itself. Some days he enjoyed prosperity and other times he went without.

And so it went for the panhandler, who sat year after year begging upon that special box until all the paint had flaked off and the lid was worn smooth from his sitting on it.

Finally the panhandler died. When he passed into the realms beyond this life he again met the spiritual teacher.

“I remember you,” said the teacher. “You're the one I gave the box.”

“Yeah,” said the panhandler. “And I'm here to tell you that it didn't work. I was a beggar before I met you and I was beggar afterwards. My life never changed.”

“How did you use the box?” asked the teacher.

“I sat on it,” answered the panhandler.

“Sat on it?” said the teacher. “Dear One, what you needed to do was to look inside.”

Matthew Joyce is a spiritual explorer, author, and teacher based in Boulder, CO. His message is that divine spirituality is for everyone, every day, all the time. You already have within you everything you need to access higher states of consciousness, contact guidance, and create the life experiences you desire.

To read more of his stories and take the next step on your spiritual journey, get your free Higher Self Guides newsletter at http://www.HigherSelfGuides.com

The post The Panhandler’s Box – A Short Spiritual Story appeared first on Spiritual Growth Events.

It didn't know who it was.

At first the ocean identified itself with its vast and unchanging nature and all was well. But the ocean grew curious to know itself and realized that it could only do so if it knew of something besides its all encompassing self.

So within this all encompassing state the ocean became aware of its own constant motion and the play of waves upon its surface. And then it began to compare one wave to another. As the waves rose and fell the ocean noticed that one wave was not particularly unique compared to the other waves, but it was fun to focus its awareness on the small changes happening to just one particular wave.

As it did so, the ocean became aware that the height of the wave was changing. What had been an even and steady rise and fall in the vastness of the deep sea began to change as it approached the shore. As the wave bottom bumped against the sea floor it was pushed upwards. This resistance changed its shape and made it distinct from the other waves around it.

As the wave's height grew, its pace quickened as if it was racing toward some unknown excitement ahead. An irresistible motion drove it forward, and the wave's face took on unique characteristics as the water stretched higher and higher until finally it could not extend itself anymore.

Then the rushing water of the wave's face curled back upon itself in a frothy crown that blew in the wind and crashed back down upon itself, disintegrating in a roil of bubbles and foam that raced across the sand.

Yet far from ending its existence, the ocean discovered that it now identified itself with a single bubble that raced ahead of the others and settled upon the beach while the rest of the wave retreated back into the sea. There it sat for a time, a nearly perfect sphere shining in the sunlight, it's iridescent new face reflecting the world around it.

This new and fragile existence came to an abrupt end when the bubble popped and the ocean found its awareness rising upward as a single molecule of water. As it rose ever upward, the ocean perceived the world from a higher perspective.

But this too was fleeting because it soon merged with other water molecules once again. This time in the form of a cloud that drifted far from the beach across the plains and into the mountains. As it swirled and danced in the air currents the water molecule knew a new kind of freedom it had never known before.

But that existence too came to an end as the water molecule grew heavier. When it could no longer defy gravity it slipped from its airy existence and plummeted toward earth as a rain drop. Down it fell until it splashed into a swift moving stream that raced over copper-colored stones and sand bars reminiscent of the beach.

Again the water droplet knew the fluid company of its own kind, swirling in a new dance as it flowed through rapids and gradually came to rest in the waters of a lake. There the water droplet lingered long amidst the calm still water where it reflected back its former existence as sky and cloud.

Yet this too was only a temporary sojourn. For eventually the water droplet felt the irresistible pull of change as the current quickened once again, tugging the droplet along with it as the waters of the lake poured into a waterfall that sent the droplet plunging and dashed it onto the stones below.

The droplet struck the stones with so much force that it shattered into still another form. This time, from those shattered pieces it emerged as an atom of oxygen that was inhaled by a human standing beside the waterfall. And in that new form it gave itself to the life blood of the human.

As a human, the ocean experienced yet another form of consciousness that was alert to the world in ways previously unimagined. It knew thought and emotion, action and reaction, space and time.

The ocean soon identified itself fully with its new form and reveled in this new way of being as it had in so many of its previous incarnations.

Yet this too was a fleeting existence. For once again it changed forms when the sun warmed the human's skin and the molecule rose to the skin's surface as a bead of perspiration. From there it silently slipped into the air once again.

Already familiar with this airy state of being the water droplet rejoiced in returning to a state it recognized, and it celebrated its return to formlessness among the clouds. But it was even more pleased when it finally left the cloud and merged back into the sea once more.

So after a long cycle of having experienced itself as a separate wave, bubble, and water molecule; as a formless cloud, a rain drop, stream, lake, and waterfall; as a tiny air molecule; and eventually as a human being, the ocean's awareness returned to its source and came to recognize itself in its vast and undifferentiated unity once again.

And thus the ocean ultimately came to realize that its search for identity was not a crisis after all, but instead a marvelous process of exploration and self-discovery.

Matthew Joyce is a spiritual explorer, author, and teacher based in Boulder, CO. His message is that divine spirituality is for everyone, every day, all the time. You already have within you everything you need to access higher states of consciousness, contact guidance, and create the life experiences you desire.

To read more of his stories and take the next step on your spiritual journey, get your free Higher Self Guides newsletter at http://www.HigherSelfGuides.com

The post The Ocean’s Identity Crisis appeared first on Spiritual Growth Events.

So dedicated was he to this goal that he devoted his every waking moment to the study of medicine, genetics, astronautics and all manner of science. Eventually as he drew close to his ultimate goal he was granted a research position on a space station orbiting Earth where zero gravity made new experiments possible.

The scientist had been orbiting the Earth for some time when his experiments hit a snag. He tried everything he could to make them work, but they could go no further until the space station was resupplied from Earth.

When he learned that resupply would not happen for weeks, the scientist conducted thought experiments instead. But delay after delay held up the resupply. The space station had plenty of food and water so he was in no danger, but his experiments had reached a frustrating dead end.

Finally in desperation the scientist resorted to new and untried tactic. He prayed for help. “Please help me to finish my work so I can invent a way to live forever,” he prayed.

Much to his surprise his prayer was answered and an angel appeared to him on the space station.

“I have heard your prayer,” said the angel, “and I'll grant you what you seek.”

The scientist just stared. He didn't know what to say.

“If you want to live forever, all you need to do is climb into your spacesuit. I'll permanently seal you in and you'll be immortal,” explained the angel.

“All this time I've been working on experiments and you're telling me that all I need to do is wear my spacesuit?” said the scientist.

“That's correct,” replied the angel. “But once I seal you in. You'll be locked into it forever. There will be no going back, no taking it off.”

“I can't ever take it off?”

“Not even when you return to Earth. It's the price of immortality,” said the angel.

“How will I eat or drink or go to the bathroom?”

“You won't need to. You'll be immortal.”

“I had not considered that,” said the scientist. “It's not what I thought.”

“I'll let you think about it,” said the angel. “Give me your answer when I return tomorrow.”

With that the angel disappeared.

Once the shock of talking to the angel wore off, the scientist began to ponder the angel's offer. Here was the answer to his prayers. Here was what he had been seeking all these years. No more sickness, or pain, or fear of death. Here was the answer to humanity's quest for immortality.

Yet it wasn't what he expected. How was he supposed to function trapped inside the space suit? The scientist pondered his choice for hours as the blue and white sphere of the Earth rotated amidst a sea of stars outside his window.

As promised, the angel returned the next day.

“Have you made your choice?” asked the angel.

“It's a more difficult choice than I thought,” said the scientist. “It's what I've sought all my life. In fact, in a way it's better because if I wear the suit I can wander around in outer space too. But the suit is bulky and awkward, and if I put it on I'd be cut off from so much. No more eating or drinking. No more smelling things. No more touching people. I'd be cut off from so much in life. Life would be right in front of me but I'd be limited in how I could interact with it. It would be a remarkable loss of immediacy and intimacy. That's a higher price than I thought it would be.”

“That's right,” replied the angel.

“Somehow I thought it would be different,” said the scientist. “I thought I'd be inventing a pill that people could swallow.”

“Actually, it is a pill,” replied the angel, magically producing one in his hand.

The scientist was shocked. “Then why did you tell me I'd be wearing the space suit?”

“Because I wanted you to recognize the truth of what your physical body actually is. You needed to make an informed choice,” said the angel.

“When you are born you put on a space suit called the physical body,” said the angel. “It lets you operate in three-dimensional space and time. Your body makes possible a wide variety of experiences you could otherwise not have. Yet in your physical form you are also cut off from much your greater spiritual nature.

“Death is a way for you to take off your body suit when you no longer need it. Death allows you to return to your true form and to interact with All-That-Is on a more intimate level,” said the angel. “The immortality that you seek would make that impossible.”

“I'd never thought of it that way,” said the scientist.

“Many people fear death,” said the angel. “Few work as hard as you to keep it at bay. Your quest for immortality has been important to you, but now it is time for you let go and release your fear of death and remember that you are already immortal.

“Life is not the opposite of death” the angel continued. “It's a transition between states in a much larger scheme than you've previously imagined. Enjoy life in every moment. Prolong your rendezvous with death if you wish. But don't fear dropping your three dimensional space suit and returning home when you are done.”

The angel placed the pill in the scientist's hand “It's yours if you'd like to swallow it,” said the angel. “I just wanted you to make an informed choice.”

The scientist stared at the pill. It represented the fulfillment of his quest. But was it the boon to humanity he had supposed? Now he was not so sure.

Is that the body suit you want to wear in immortality?” asked the angel.

The scientist looked up at the angel and back down at the pill. Then he was silent for some time. “I don't know,” he finally said. “Forever is a very long time.”

The angel smiled. “Immortality is a lot longer than that.”

Matthew Joyce is a spiritual explorer, author, and teacher based in Boulder, CO. His message is that divine spirituality is for everyone, every day, all the time. You already have within you everything you need to access higher states of consciousness, contact guidance, and create the life experiences you desire.

To read more of his stories and take the next step on your spiritual journey, get your free Higher Self Guides newsletter at http://www.HigherSelfGuides.com

The post The Immortality Suit – A Short Spiritual Story appeared first on Spiritual Growth Events.