Welcome to Issue 12 of Pure Inspiration.

Listed below are this issue's articles and features.
To view a brief summary, click on the name of the article.

Meet Sheila Wolk, visionary artist, and view many of her amazing paintings. This issue's in-depth article about Sheila really lets you see her talent and hear her fascinating story -- how she got through a miserable childhood, became a significant force in the world of sports art, then morphed into the transcendent fantasy artist which she is today. Sheila has been through many tough times, but her determination to be true to her "inner artist" has seen her through every storm. Read about how she lost her sight and hearing for two years, became desperately poor, yet resurrected both physically and artistically through God's grace and her unwavering faith. Not your cookie-cutter "spiritual artist," Sheila has lived her life her way, and the world is better off for it.

Sometimes great gifts come in small packages, and this article exemplifies that -- it's short, yet contains a big message. Michele reminisces about a time when she was only five years old -- "Even at the age of five, I had immense faith in God and His power." She drew upon that faith and asked God for a big favor, one that would let her family eat that evening. The results are very touching, but we're not going to give them away just now; otherwise you might not want to read the story!

This is a true story about Rosemarie Rosetti, an athletic young woman who suddenly became paralyzed when a large tree fell on her while riding her bike with her husband. In great pain, both physically and emotionally, she saw no reason to continue living. Fortunately, while attending a motivational seminar, she was recommended a book by renowned psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, which gave her a new, much-improved perspective. She realized that the meaning of her life was love, and that she would make her loved ones much happier if she could find the strength and courage to face her disabilities and go on living without feeling sorry for herself. With this new lease on life, she was able to see meaning -- even value -- in her suffering, and she has gone on to become an inspiring motivational speaker as well as an advocate for the physically challenged. A must-read!

Here's a "vintage" feature from one of the metaphysical greats, Ernest Holmes, founder of  "Science of the Mind." In his own clear, wonderful manner, Dr. Holmes explains how maintaining our consciousness is analogous to gardening -- our thoughts are the seeds, and the vegetables or flowers which they produce are the direct result of the kinds of seeds we, the thinker, choose to entertain. He states "You are free to choose! But you have to take the consequences of that choosing." When we learn to govern our thoughts and emotions, we can come to know that we may expect the good that we are holding in our consciousness, for that is God's universal law. We are free to choose, gloriously free, yet our freedom implies the responsibility to remain ever on-guard concerning what seeds we allow in the sanctuary of our "inner garden."

D.T. Suzuki's great contribution to the world was his translation of Zen literature from Japanese into English, thus bringing the knowledge and inspiration of Zen Buddhism to the West. As author Rasoul Sorkhabi states it, Suzuki was instrumental in building "a vital cultural bridge between the East and West." Yet Suzuki was not just writing about Zen; he had his own personal awakening through his own Zen practice. After five years' steady contemplation upon a koan given to him by his teacher, he had an awakening: "I ceased to be conscious of Mu ('non-existence'). I was one with Mu, identified with Mu, so there was no longer the separateness implied by being conscious of Mu. This is the real state of samadhi (concentration)....I have no idea how long I was in that state of samadhi, but I was awakened from it by the sound of the bell. I said 'I see. This is it.' "

This short essay is a marvelous collection of tips for overcoming marital turbulence. The author likens marriage to the joining together of two separate streams, resulting in the creation of turbulence, or "white water." The key is to understand that this kind of turbulence is inevitable when two independent lives are joined as one; with this understanding, a couple can and will weather the difficulties and become even stronger, both as a couple and as individuals; they will persevere, not entertaining the thought of giving up, thus reaching a place of greater peace and love. The author writes "Few things are more inspiring than an elderly couple who stand with...clasped hands, eyes faded but glowing with a love for each other that has grown with each passing year. They have successfully journeyed through white water by trusting God and clinging together. They have become a single tranquil stream, and their final assessment is that 'it has been worth it all.' "

  Dr. Caliandro writes brilliantly about the fact that our greatest wisdom is often born of struggle and pain. He relates the story told by the English botanist Alfred Russell Wallace, who lived about 150 years ago. Wallace was in his laboratory, observing a butterfly struggling to free itself from its cocoon. Noticing the butterfly's drawn-out struggle to become free, he wondered what would happen if he helped the little creature in this process; he then used his scalpel to do just that and, in Wallace's own words, here is what happened next: "The butterfly emerged from the cocoon, spread its wings, drooped perceptibly -- and died." It became clear that the butterfly needed the struggle in order to develop the strength and vitality to live and thrive! With this in mind, we can see the futility of resisting our pain and difficulties; rather, we can ask ourselves what there is to learn from those experiences, what blessings exist as "silver linings" in the clouds of difficulties.

Tama Kieves points out that we are often too hard on ourselves; if we resolve to stay with a certain spiritual practice and fall away -- even briefly -- from our discipline, we criticize and condemn ourselves to the extent that we take the fun out of our chosen path. She urges us to "show up," no matter how imperfectly, and to keep loving ourselves despite our faults. By persevering in this manner, we can make real progress because we are not constantly derailing our own efforts with negativity. She writes "Daring to live your calling is a path of invitation, not interrogation." By learning to be kinder to ourselves when we trip or stumble, we go farther than when we focus on our mistakes. The secret is to stop looking back at what we have done wrong, but instead to focus on "what can I do now to get back on track?" 

  In this issue, Durga delves into the practice of pranayama, the ancient science of controlled yogic breathing. Pranayama is distinct from "deep breathing," which has benefits of its own, but which is far less specific and far less beneficial than pranayama, which may be defined as "voluntary control of the breath aimed at balancing the autonomic nervous system and the mind." She goes on to say that  "It assists in the management of stress and the cultivation of mental calmness. It requires awareness. The mind must remain engaged in the breathing process. Each breath is counted, and the duration of the inspiration and the expiration is controlled in order to create a rhythm...There is conscious control over the force of the breathing, so the input and output is managed...As you advance in the practice, special sensations are perceived along the spinal cord and you experience a calm or meditative state...Concentration, clarity, memory and creativity are often enhanced."

The Ascended Master Saint Germain dispenses great wisdom in this feature. He teaches how we may love an individual, even though that person may be acting in a harmful manner: "a person does not direct the attention to, or attempt to love the discordant thing, but he is to love the Glorious Being imprisoned within the individual, because of Its Perfection and because the discord of the outer self has bound it." He emphasizes the truth that for the sincere spiritual person, there is simply nothing to be gained -- and much to lose -- by criticizing, condemning, and judging: "The most vital thing in human activity is the necessity of positively refusing to sit in judgment on the activity of another human being. To condemn, criticize, or feel curiosity about the affairs of another ... is not permissible for the real student or the one who sincerely wishes to reach the highest attainment."   

In this Reader's Story, Brian Joseph recalls that as a young boy, he had a minor disagreement with a close friend which led them to stop speaking to each other for a while. Fortunately, Brian offered his friend an apology at a birthday party they were both attending, and they resumed their friendship. Shortly thereafter, Brian's friend, Georgie, was tragically killed by an automobile and, while Brian was very sad about the loss, he was also very grateful that they had forgiven each other before this tragedy took place. The story ends with this reflection from the author: "Remembering that our stay here can end at any time makes it easier to say "I'm sorry."

This true biographical feature opens with the words  "Saint  Joseph of Copertino is unique among the galaxy of saints, due to the frequency and duration of his rapturous flights -- actual levitations -- which occurred throughout the majority of his life." It's true, Saint Joseph actually experienced such intense absorption in the Divine that he flew through the air like a bird. Ironically, he was an uneducated, inarticulate man to all outer appearances, yet within his heart there burned a powerful love for God which ultimately produced in him a vast array of supernatural abilities and experiences. Although the Catholic church shielded him from the public (lest he disturb the peace with his flights and ecstasies), he came to be widely known and sought after, even by people of the highest social standing. As the saying goes, "truth is stranger than fiction," and this statement is proven by the amazing life of Saint Joseph of Copertino!

Delia reminds us that when we are on the spiritual path, sometimes the way we have been living ceases to serve us; in other words, we need a change. By keeping our thoughts positive, focusing upon the positive outcomes we desire, we tend to produce the good we have been visualizing and expecting: "Each of us is a spiritual being who, through thought, feeling, and prayer can change what needs to be changed in our lives, bringing us into a life we love and for which we are grateful. Dare to change your mind. Dream big, know what you want, and go for it!"

Paramahansa Yogananda says that unfulfilled desires can be dangerous, as they produce mental tendencies within us which continue, even after the death of the body. He argues that the only way to permanently transcend these barnacles of the soul is to sincerely love God first and foremost: "It is true there are some good and necessary desires, and you should strive to fulfill them. But never forget, while pursuing your little desires, to satisfy first your supreme desire -- for God ."

We excerpted an obscure, out-of-print little booklet to bring you this gem of an article. It begins with Moses standing before the Burning Bush, hearing the voice of God. When Moses asks God who he is, God declares "I AM That I AM." Jack Addington points out the great profundity of this utterance of God's, as it places His presence squarely at the center of our own being, the part of us that can say and feel "I AM." He writes "The I AM of God is the divine Self, the God Self, within each one of us....There is no limitation to the divine I AM. The divine Self exists in infinity." So long as Moses and his people relied upon God's power, all went well, but "when the power of God was forgotten, and the people began relying upon the 'human self,' the good works ceased and Moses was denied the Promised Land -- that high state of consciousness for which he longed and to which we all aspire."

The author reveals that the great yoga adepts of the past sought to extend the life of the body, as this allowed the divine presence more time to work its magic in their lives. To this end, they used their phenomenal powers or "siddhis" to produce specially-prepared concoctions which could actually enable them to live longer and more energetically. They also developed special breathing techniques aimed at awakening the kundalini energy within, which also made them healthier and able to live longer. The author recounts the true story of Krishna Singh, who reportedly lived to the age of 185, aided by three kaya kalpa treatments over the course of his life. "Kaya kalpa" refers to those specially-prepared substances cited above.

Doris Helge states that we are far better off risking for what we sincerely want then staying on the sidelines and risking nothing. She cites many examples which demonstrate that only by accepting life's inherent uncertainties may we rise to the heights we were designed for. By refusing to live in fear of the unknown, we thrive in the face of life's uncertainties. Doris writes "As soon as we muster the courage to explore uncharted territory without a compass, we discover our powerful internal GPS. Instead of being frightened by uncertainty, accept your uncomfortable feelings as an invitation to connect more deeply with your spirituality."

Born into poverty and fatherless by age three, W. Clement Stone had the odds stacked against him; however, through the inspiring example of his mother and his own inner resources, he rose to great heights, both inner and outer. At age six, he sold newspapers on the tough streets of south Chicago, where he was threatened by older boys who did not want him interfering with their newspaper sales. When he began hanging around with "the wrong crowd," his mother sent him to a parochial boarding school, where he began developing the good habits and insights that would serve him well for his entire life. Shortly thereafter, he joined his mother in her insurance brokerage business, and became so successful that he discontinued his high school education because he was losing too much money every day he attended! Continuing to study on his own, he became a real student of truth, and applied the principles he was learning to his everyday life. Suffice it to say that he became one of the world's leading philanthropists, who never tired of helping others. This is a must-read for anyone looking to re-energize his or her life!

This feature article examines the current global economic malaise in terms of "what can we learn from this?" Many prominent "think-tankers," including Rinaldo Brutoco, Riane Easler, Patricia Cori, and Peter Ressler weigh-in with their views, and some interesting insights are shared. Brutoco, Easler, and others argue that the old economic model may be seen as a "dominator" paradigm, in which those in power generate wealth at the expense of those working for them. Since this is really not in agreement with the golden rule -- it is not a "win-win" -- we have wound up in the ditch. The solution? A "partnership model," which supports not merely our survival needs, but our needs for a caring community which acknowledges that we are all connected. Brutoco says "no one really wins if children are dying or starving in this world." Ressler points out that "The purpose of business is to create something of value." Brutoco contends that what we need to learn from the current economic conditions is to look at the world not as dominators, but as stewards of the earth and its people: "People were so busy taking care of themselves, they have forgotten to take care of each other."

This essay beautifully makes the point that you cannot "win" in life if you give up; it's simply not possible. So often, individuals give up on a long-term goal when they are very close to achieving it. Of all life's necessary virtues, perseverance is one of the most important. Some of the tips for victory which are fleshed-out in this feature are: focus on your power, not your problem; do not feed dark thoughts; feed yourself positive thoughts; add creativity to persistence; be solution-oriented; and always practice persistence in prayer. Calvin Coolidge once said "The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."