Chapter Three - Philosophical Matters

On many occasions Ling has spoken of us as being a spirit with a body, and emphasized that we need to develop our spirit, as well as our body.Here he speaks more on that, and offers some advice on just how we could go about it.

Spirit (Ling): Greetings.

Tonight we would like to speak on the simplicity of living...  of ‘spirit’.

You understand that you are a spirit with a body!  The body is the house of your spirit. The spirit lives indefinitely!

At this stage of our development I don’t know, and neither do my immediate friends, what the ultimate is, if there is one, but we know that it is thousands if not millions of years ahead of us, so why worry?

Keep things simple! So understanding that you are spirit, learn what you can in this life, develop your spirituality, (and by that I don’t mean your ability to float in a cloud!), but your thinking, your every thought. Of course there are the mundane things of everyday living. You have to look after your body, the same as you look after your house. You have to feed your body and this all takes considerable time, in your world.

But there are times, when if you are not doing the mundane chores, when you can spiritually develop yourself by your compassion towards your fellow beings, whether they be animal, or human beings; and in your spare time, think on spiritual matters, such as, “Why am I here?” “What can I do to improve my being?”

Now no one knows you as well as you know yourself. You may say, “I know my husband, or my daughter, very well”. Really, you probably don’t! Most people have thoughts of their own, and if they are trying to develop, they probably are aware of their faults, their petty selfishness, greed, many things; and if you are aware of these in yourself, your ability or your attempt to overcome them, is advancement for you. You may not achieve it. It is very hard to overcome for example, a jealous nature. I am not saying that any of you people are jealous. It is not my business to know this. But if you were a jealous person, it is understandable that it may take you a lifetime, or perhaps many hundreds of years of your continuing life, to overcome a jealous nature; but it is the attempt, it is the ‘wanting’ that helps in your development.

An attitude of “I’m jealous, so what! That’s my business nobody else’s”, is bringing out a very selfish aspect of your nature, and it becomes a vicious circle.

Look to yourselves, your own faults, before you criticise others. This is very difficult. It is human nature to see faults in others, and not to see the same faults in yourself.

But that is a simple way to start developing your spirituality. You do not have to spend your time on your knees, praying and saying loving thoughts to God, so that he will look down and say, “There is a person that worships me”. God and your spirit helpers are more likely to look down with joy, on a person going about their everyday work, who is trying to overcome their deficiencies. It is a simple saying, but it is very true - “God helps them who help themselves”.

So being spiritual is very simple. Read as much as you can, develop your mentality, and look to your faults.  Try and overcome them, but don’t make them a burden. You know your faults. Make a game out of it. If it is one of a quick temper, say to yourself, “For two hours, I am not going to lose my temper”. Then extend it to a whole day, two days, a week, a month. “I haven’t got in a temper”. What a sense of achievement… if that is your fault!

So go about whatever your faults are in that way. And one thing my friends, don’t be complacent! We all have faults, whether we are on earth, or in spirit, and we are trying as hard ourselves to overcome our difficulties.

Keep it simple. Keep your development simple. It is a long road, it has many bends, but it can be achieved with simplicity.

May the God that assists us all, assist you all in your efforts.

Goodbye.