Seeking Spiritual Guidance From The Higher Self

by Asoka Selvarajah, Ph.D. 
© excerpted from The 7 Golden Secrets To Knowing Your Higher Self

On the whole much of what we think about habitually is negative and unproductive. Not only are most thoughts we have the same as the ones we had yesterday, the majority of them are also unhelpful and do harm to our bodies, minds and spirits.

Fully 80% of all illnesses are psychosomatic in nature, i.e. are self-inflicted as a result of the quality of our thoughts. The effect on our minds is equally devastating. We are anxious and fretful, forever concerned about things that are none of our business, projecting the worst on the future and calling it worry. Generally, we use this miracle mind of ours against itself.º

The mind is at war with itself and its surroundings. The ego consciousness seeks to protect its own existence. In doing so, it introduces the illusion of massive separation between us and the rest of the universe. By doing this can it preserve its own existence and value to us. If we come to realize our oneness with all creation, and recognize the presence of our Higher Self, who stands ready to give us full liberation from ignorance and illusion, what further use would we have for the ego?

Through perceiving reality with the powers of everyday consciousness alone, we have short-changed ourselves. We have fallen short of all we are capable of and were designed for. Moreover, ego consciousness cannot help with our spiritual quest. The most we can really do is prepare for the unveiling of truth that will definitely come when the Higher Self reveals itself in our life. The reason the everyday consciousness is powerless to assist is because the spiritual realm is alien to it. It knows nothing of it. The ego was designed purely for life here on Earth, via the uses of our five conventional senses!

SOME OBSTACLES TO INNER GUIDANCE

When it comes time to listen for inner guidance, it is important we have no in-built bias against the answer we may receive. We must realize that we may not know what is in our own best interest. However, the Higher Self always knows.

There is very little purpose in asking for inner guidance if there are certain answers we are unwilling to accept. Otherwise we are merely seeking justification for what our conscious mind has already decided upon, or else seeking a boost to our ego. This has to be more than a mere intellectual gesture. We must strive for true openness with ourselves or be in danger of merely perpetuating the traps of self-delusion.

Often, our questions arise from a lack of control over our own lives, or a desire to control external circumstances and people. Most doubts and frustrations in life arise from this direction. The Buddha taught that our greatest obstacle to spiritual progress arises from a refusal to accept “what is”; the things we cannot change and must learn to accept with grace. The Christian tradition would rephrase that to “accept God’s will”. Our obsession with resenting situations or people over whom we have no control whatsoever is the primary source of our unhappiness!

We should seek to develop acceptance of some of the most frustrating situations in life. They are actually our greatest growth opportunities if dealt with in a calm patient manner. We can also use them for rapid growth… emotionally and spiritually. Such an approach may even cause those situations to evaporate. Once the lesson they have been trying to impart has been fully integrated, there is no need for the experience to continue.

Remember, guidance could come in one of a million different ways. Perhaps whilst reading a book, the solution is there. Or maybe it will come in a dream. Our worst enemy or best friend may be the very source of guidance. And yes, it could even be a quiet voice or intuition in our head. In whatever form it may appear, an open-hearted willingness to hear without prejudgment is essential. Only then will we recognize the answer when it presents itself.

Allow all thoughts without initial prejudgment. Let the Higher Self focus us towards the correct guidance. The answer may not come when expected, and is likely to be in a completely unexpected form. Hence, patience and continual inner communion must be maintained. Learn to wait and to keep asking again and again until satisfied. 

All rights reserved © Asoka Selvarajah, author of “The 7 Golden Secrets To Knowing Your Higher Self” offers a free 14-day Life Break through e-mail course at: www.aksworld.com?imk=?ILTI_Ezine