Exercise Four

February 2nd 2006

Bringing in the Divine - The Unseen Guest

When we make a commitment to our self to be peaceful, to extend love and loving-ness, we sincerely wish to keep that commitment. Yet, before we know it, a thought, or an event, rises up in life and we are triggered into feeling justified about our anger or about being less than generous.

A coach provides us with guidance and focus as we develop and hone our skills. The ideal coach is one who is a Master.

Avatars are Masters. They are perfect examples of being and extending unconditional love.

When we slip, when we become angry or despondent or move out of love, we tend to justify and defend our upset. We are, in fact, much too tolerant of these justifications. Having Jesus beside us beaming acceptance and love when we are about to throw a tantrum, brings out the part of us that seems more willing to choose again.

Would an Avatar point a finger at us or use shame to motivate us? No. They would send us compassion and unconditional Love. They would invite us to choose again. They would remind us to laugh! Having our 'unseen Guest' with us means we are less willing to give in to lower level feelings and more willing to practice being loving and kind.

This exercise is about bringing the Divine, the Avatar, the Master, into our world - bringing Them into our mundane, moment-to-moment life. This exercise invites us to consider Them as a coach, as a pristine example of love, as a powerful, gentle reminder of our spiritual goal and as a Friend who reminds us to laugh.

EXERCISE

• When you wake in the morning, bring an Avatar into your world. Whether you choose Krishna, Buddha, Allah, or Jesus - whether you choose another favorite, does not matter. Bring Them to mind and heart as part of your environment. This is a most helpful practice.
• "The unseen Guest" in your life goes with you wherever you go. Some people even set a place at the table for Them.
• This practice can be a loving way to remind your self to 'shape up'. Every time you begin to express anything other than love or any time you feel resistance to responding to a call for love, look to your unseen Guest for assistance and as a model.
• To benefit from this exercise, imagine the Avatar is present in the room. Feel Them. Feel Their support. Know that unconditional acceptance and love is radiating from Them, and not only to you but also to others in your environment.
• Consider how you would respond when feeling hurt or angry, if you could turn to the Avatar and receive unconditional love and support. Consider how you would begin to respond to events in your world when you realize that love is always available.
• Having the Avatar always near ensures a constant awareness of unconditional love. If you believe this world to be an extension of inner thoughts, then awareness of the Presence is an affirmation of the constant Truth radiating from the mind.
• The following questions are a helpful adjunct to the exercise. Please be kind when asking them of your self:
• Do you find that you slip easily into states other than lovingness or kindness when no one is around? Consider Buddha sitting with you.
• Would you choose fear if you experienced Perfect Love radiating out into your life?
• Would you feel alone?
• Would you see the world as hateful or fearful?
• If Buddha, Krishna or Jesus walked with you, walked beside you, how safe would you feel?
• What would you need of the world?
• Ask yourself why it is you would respond differently to your world when an Avatar is sitting with you.
• When you retire, you can sleep in Their arms, or lay at Their feet (a Buddhist practice) or offer your dreamtime to the Divine.
• Play with this idea during the week. Make a mental note and/or jot down any changes you notice in yourself with Jesus, Buddha, Allah, or Krishna by your side.