By Chris Bourne
Where does divine guidance lead us?
Spiritual teachings frequently speak of harnessing the power of divine guidance offering a wide variety of tools and practices for tuning in and accessing a greater source to bring benefit and upliftment in our lives. Why is it that these techniques so often fail us?
The key lies in understanding the purpose of the guidance in the first place and where it is leading...
The guidance is NOT to satisfy a material need or manifestation such as a better job, achievement of a goal , a more financially abundant lifestyle or to meet our ultimate partner. Why not?
As many of us now know, the material universe is but an illusion, merely a mirror to reflect the truth - that we are the inviolable, absolute completeness beyond the illusion without needs or desires because we are already complete and whole.
We created the universe and all the experiences we are currently having to continually provide the opportunity to taste this one absolute truth - what the Buddha referred to as ‘nirvana’. But nirvana is not necessarily to be found meditating on a mountain top. This sense of absolute liberation can be tasted in EVERY moment through EVERY experience of life.
We can have it whilst driving the car, doing the housework, buying the shopping or at the office. We certainly don’t have to ‘switch off and tune in’ as some motivational gurus would have us believe. It always was and always is, a simple sense of perception continually present somewhere in the background of our activities. We can become that because we ARE that. This is the one true purpose of divine guidance - to lead us to that blissful taste of nirvana in every moment.
How are we lead to this mythical, magical shambala?
Nirvana is not a place, it is not a destination or a relationship. It is not a mountain in Tibet or a high village in Peru. The true underlying purpose of synchronicities (chance coincidences) is not to guide us to these places - therein lies the critical misunderstanding.
No. Synchronicites guide us on a journey to reveal our attachments, the places where we identify with the external drama. In other words our perceived desires, wants and needs. Have you ever noticed in your life how our 'mistakes' seem to keep repeating themselves? This is true synchronicity; continual guidance to the same types of people, circumstances and conditioned behaviours - the same blockages - until eventually we wake up and hear the quiet voice of the universe carefully concealed within all events.
This true ‘Da Vinci’ code shows us where we are identifying with the drama and how to release ourselves from it by finding that inner facet of beingness - a divine expression - which can unlock the door to our virtual prison cell.
So ALL guidance leads to these attachments...AND provides the key to release ourselves from them.
Does this mean our lives will not be abundant? NO! Far from it. If we can release ourselves from those places where we continually get stuck, then we will find we are guided on a destined pathway far more magical than any wonderland we can dream of. Have you ever spoken to someone who nearly died but survived? Frequently they live with a new sense of liberation, not fearing death and therefore not fearing life either. They seem to be able to immerse themselves in the all of it, the good and the bad, the up and the down, the thick and the thin and yet still retain that quiet inner sense of joy. We can ALL live this way. It is our divine birthright.
So how do we get there?
‘Openhand Way’ is a powerful gift from higher consciousness. It is a simple to follow process which we can apply to our daily lives in every moment to release attachments, identify and express the true divine gifts of beingness they conceal. It can be stated very simply as living with an open mind, open heart, receiving hand and giving hand. When properly understood and applied to everyday life circumstances, it can lead us to our own continual experience of nirvana.
But you don’t have to go to some obscure retreat in India to discover it, nor the deserts of Arizona. No, this pearl of wisdom can be uncovered right here in the British Isles!
Nirvana is not some distant dream. It is right here right now, available to all of us, all of the time. Are YOU ready to unlock the door?