A lighthouse stays in one place and spreads its light in all directions. To bring light into darkness, to bring peace where there is a lack of peace and to bring a sparkle of happiness into a dry atmosphere is known as being a world benefactor. To become such a lighthouse and world benefactor, spread your light across the whole world.
Imagine throwing a pebble into the Pacific Ocean, knowing that the ripples from that pebble will reach the shores of Japan. In the same way, imagine sending out one powerful thought into the world, knowing that the vibrations emanating from that thought can touch any person or place. Thoughts can travel. They move at great speed and with considerable impact.
The task of serving the world belongs to us all. The highest service we can undertake is to direct our thoughts and vibrations benevolently for the greater good. To serve others through vibrations requires a purity of consciousness. Thoughts need to be clean, altruistic in nature, and without any trace of animosity.
Through deep concentration it is possible to spread vibrations of peace, healing, and empowerment to those who are suffering, or in ill health, and for them to receive benefit. Scientific experiments, for instance, have shown that people who are sick are helped in their recovery through intercessional prayer, even when they don't know it is being done on their behalf. Highly concentrated meditation also produces an abundance of spiritual energy. When that energy is directed specifically or sent out to the world in general it can soothe troubled hearts, bring peace to situations of crisis, and moreover affect a positive change in the atmosphere.
For a mystic to direct the full sum of his or her vibrational being toward the benefit of the world requires special dedication. Over many years a conscious effort will already have been made to accumulate within the self the necessary stock of pure energy. And while a mystic is blessed with a light of his or her own, only someone at the advanced stage has the power and transparency to reflect purely the Light from God.
Whereas mystics of the past were hoping to receive visions, modern mystics aim to share visions of light. What is a vision but an experience granted through a dimension of light? Enlightenment is the state of being in the light, of the light, able to generate light for the world. The most effective helpers in this task are those enlightened beings who have reached perfection of spirit. This does not mean that the rest of us cannot participate in spreading the light. However, light reflects more quickly and cleanly off souls who are whole and complete due to the purity of their being.
A soul who has attained perfection of spirit is like a crystal-clear diamond. If you were to hold that diamond up to the light it would sparkle before your eyes. Myriad rays of colour would emanate from it. Diamonds are perfect reflectors of energy and light. A soul who is like a diamond is a perfect agent to reflect and mirror God's light. Divine energy intensifies and spreads further when it is reflected off something clear and pure. This is why God utilises enlightened souls through whom to beam His light into the physical world.
To reflect God in all that is,
both here and now,
my heart must be a mirror that reflects it.
– Angelius Silesius
Learning to spread the light is an important aspect of spiritual development. Those of us who have not yet reached perfection of spirit will radiate less light than those who are complete. Yet our thoughts and vibrations can still bring benefit. We just need to know how to channel them properly. Paradoxically, energy accumulates to the extent that it is used. The more a person spreads light, the more that light increases significantly within. This is why none of us can wait until the end of our journey to begin this work. We have to start now.
Some guidelines
Where to begin? Here are some important guidelines to consider:
1. Pay attention to whatever thoughts and attitudes you have.
Your vibrations definitely spread into the atmosphere and affect other people. Over time, and with practice, it is possible to cultivate a benevolent attitude toward all that you do. Have the awareness that you are a being of light and that light not only affects your thinking, it affects your way of talking, walking, your whole behaviour. Once your consciousness changes, everything changes.
2. Think about doing less and achieving more.
By using your power of the mind effectively, you will conserve energy, and your actions will have a positive impact and result. For example, I take a moment in silence before going to meetings or giving lectures. I create the thought, ‘This task is good. It will bring benefit to everyone.' Then I hand over whatever task I am performing to God, knowing that God is responsible for the outcome. Service through the mind is greatly hampered by thoughts such as, ‘This task is mine. I'm the only one who can do it. It's because of me that this task is successful.'
3. The mind can never be used for personal gain.
As people progress spiritually they can be tempted to use their spiritual powers for their own advancement, professionally or spiritually. This is a misuse of energy. In addition, along with spiritual advancement comes the ability to understand more clearly the hearts and minds of others. I am not referring to psychic abilities, but to natural soul-perceptions. Yet spiritual insights such as these cannot be used to manipulate people emotionally or have them become dependent on us. If we come to know another person's situation or feelings it is so that, through our link to God, we may send the healing power of light. Our aim is for each person to find their strength and support through God, not through us.
4. Make time to serve through the mind.
Keep your mind free from petty matters by reducing the clutter in your lives. If your mind is distracted by problems and worries, you will not have the necessary force to use your spiritual energy for the benefit of others. Pure thoughts work best with the power of silence behind them.
5. To have dislike or enmity for any other person creates a negative shadow.
It blocks the mind and reduces your effectiveness in being able to send out light-filled thoughts. Similarly, if in moments of crisis you are negatively affected by another's pain, or by an atmosphere of conflict, your ability to spread light will be weakened. In these situations, empathy and compassion are necessary. But to offer the maximum help stay focused on the light.
6. The most effective spiritual service is accomplished invisibly.
God can call on you for any task, at any time. Even if you don't feel prepared or worthy, God can make the impossible happen. Just have the awareness that you are a ‘lighthouse,’ taking light and power from God, and that you are spreading those vibrations into the atmosphere, to the elements of nature, and to all souls of the world.
I am excited by the idea of spreading light. In my meditations, I send light and spiritual power to the earth, to air, fire, water, the ether, to the birds and plants, to all living creatures and human beings that live on the earth. All need to be fed and nurtured with the light of God's love and power. This is a joyful, heart-warming practice. Each time I spread light, I come closer to the Divine, knowing that in some small way I am participating in God's plan. When I am engaged in using my mind to spread light, there is a silent reciprocity and respect between myself and my God.
Over the years, I have come to understand that silent, invisible work carries a special power. Talking about it diminishes its effect. So I have tried to balance carefully what I write for the purposes of clarifying spiritual principles, and what is left unsaid.
On a few occasions I have asked my spiritual elders to explain more deeply about the mechanism involved in spreading the light. They don't answer me fully. It's not that they are being secretive or that they think I'm too immature to understand. They simply recognize the value of my own discovery.
I trust their judgment. I trust my own. I trust your discovery.
Reflections on perfection of Spirit
1. Think back to a highlight moment when you felt that God used you to bring benefit to a person, a community, your workplace. What were the circumstances? Who was involved? And what was your state of consciousness?
2. What do you need to do at this state in your development to be available to God as His helper as an agent of change?
3. To what extent are you still affected by other people's comments, criticisms, and opinions of you? Do you still require affirmation or praise for the things that you do and the person that you are? Notice the way this dependency takes away your soul power.
4. What stock of spiritual power have you accumulated that can now be used for a higher purpose?
Exercises for spiritual practice
1. Reflect on the following words taken from a speech on compassion by the Dalai Lama, ‘Compassion compels us to reach out to all living beings, including our so-called enemies, those people who upset or hurt us. Irrespective of what they do to you, if you remember that all beings, like you, are only trying to be happy, you will find it much easier to develop compassion toward them.' Notice when you are unable to have compassion for the people you dislike, for this is not the true meaning of compassion.
2. Practise becoming a light. Look within to the light of the soul. Concentrate on this light. As your inner light increases, it becomes clearer and brighter and expands. It's as if the outer structure of your body falls away and dissolves into light. You are now a form of pure white light, radiating light.
If you know of someone who is in difficulty, illness, or pain, you can send light to that person. If you hear of a crisis somewhere in the world, such as a shortage of food, an earthquake, or plane crash, all those who are suffering can be sent light. Visualize yourself surrounded with light, and in your mind's eye bring those people in front of you. Surround them with a healing, soothing, restoring light. See them protected and strengthened by the power of this light.
Meditation on Being a Light for the World
Create the consciousness that you, the soul, are operating from your highest place of soul power. Visualize that you are in a dimension of light, in the presence of the Divine. There is so much light, and love, and power filling you that it overflows and spreads out from this dimension of light and envelops the world below. All people are touched by this light. As the light spreads, it brings them peace, comfort, and hope. Now the light coming to you from God takes the shape of a brilliant white laser. This laser light is so strong, it pierces through the deepest darkness, touching all souls, cleansing them, healing them, and restoring their faith. God's light is transformative. You are a lighthouse, a pure and reflective mirror of His Grace.
From Soul Power, text copyright 2003 by Nikki de Carteret, published in the UK by O Books.
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