The Highest Authority Lies Within You

What if there was a TV channel, or radio station you could tune into, to receive direct revelation from God, Allah, Yahweh, or the Universal Spirit? Well, newsflash... here's a little secret in case you don't already know, the signal is being transmitted right now and is actually being sent, ALL the time. The problem may be your receiver is just a little dusty, or maybe a little bit out of use. The good news is you can always fine tune your receiver and learn how to tune in and listen to it often. Each of us has a direct link to eternal wisdom and a direct communication channel broadcasting a LIVE signal from our creator. It's like a built in walkie talkie. In the extraordinary book Conversations With God by Neale Donald Walsch, he says in reference to the voice within, "It is the radar that sets the course, steers the ship, guides the journey if you but let it."

This voice is what I am referring to by saying, The Highest Authority Lies Within You. Rumi said, "You have within you a deciding force that knows what to receive, what to turn from!" You have to learn to trust, and validate this voice, this force on your journey towards becoming a more integrated, authentic, spiritual being. This voice is the highest authority you should trust in your entire life. It will give you all the answers you need on your life's path. The beautiful thing about it is, it is already inside you now. The Highest Authority Lies Within You. It is your conscience, inner voice, inner spirit, your inner wisdom, or the voice of your higher self.

So, who is entitled to this inner wisdom? All of us can receive direct inspiration from our source or God. EVERYONE is entitled to this two way form of communication. It seems to me that much organized religion discourages people from thinking and living this way. They call it blasphemy. I have seen for myself and come to believe that a lot of religion oftentimes discourages you from seeking personal revelation, and from trusting yourself, or relying on yourself for wisdom, guidance and direction. I think a big part of this is because if you start to rely upon your direct wisdom from God within, then eventually you establish a strong connection, you get strong signals, and you don't need to rely solely upon the church anymore. Also, at this point, you don't have to rely on the church and church leaders authority. I believe this is the churches fear. Maybe it's because there is a lot of money and false sense of authoritative power there? Either way, this issue has been one of the biggest battles in the past two thousand years. Church leaders from many different traditions have done everything they could in their power to cast out and denounce any wisdom, teachings or texts that led members into a personal relationship to spirit.

I fully believe true leaders always lead you to uncover and discover your own guiding force, your highest truth, your highest, innermost wisdom though. Ralph Waldo Emerson said in his provocative book, Self Reliance, "The faith that stands on authority is not faith." I have to absolutely agree with that quote. I was raised in a religion that I was thrown out of for questioning authority.

But I think it is healthy and necessary to question authority. Abraham Lincoln said, "Question everything, even God." Questioning is how we find out for ourselves what is true for us. If you just accept everything on blind faith, then you miss out on forming a COMMUNION WITH THE FATHER. You miss out on a relationship with the highest authority, the guiding force which can shape and inspire your life. Wayne Dyer said once, "You are a divine creation of God. You can never be separate from that which created you." It's the same with a mother and child. There is a bond which time and space cannot ever separate! And with that bond, there is an ever present, always active energy/soul connection.

Copyright Justin Topik 2009

Life's Wisdom

Life's Wisdom is all around us. We don’t have to look far to find it. Life is constantly bringing us lessons to learn from and teachers to inspire us to greater understanding and purpose. There is a Hindu proverb, "The wise person looks within his heart and finds eternal peace." So with that being said, wisdom is much more than just knowing how to do a lot of different trades. It is more than knowing how to be successful in life, or mastering science, math, language, the arts, etc. Wisdom is understanding that you are a three part being: mind, body and spirit, and honoring the spiritual aspect as an active part of your life. It seems this is the part that is most often left out in modern culture. And sadly, the spiritual aspect is completely left out of our traditional educational system.

We get so caught up in our lives, that we oftentimes neglect one of the most important reasons I believe, for our being on this earth-learning life’s wisdom. Making time for growing in wisdom is one of the most important things we can do. I was just teaching my kids this concept, during our spiritual lesson this morning on "wisdom". I know if I didn't take time everyday to go to my source, I would be living without a lot of passion and inspiration.

Wisdom is understanding your place in the great spectrum of things, your part to play. It is knowing that you are just a small part in the circle of life, but an integral part nonetheless. It is not having all the answers, as no one does, but it is knowing where to go for the answers. Wisdom is knowing you are connected to a life source and that you are only as healthy and strong, as beautiful, as powerful, as creative and intelligent, as is your connection to this source. Wisdom is knowing that all things emanate from a source, and without a source, life wouldn't and couldn't exist. There is a quote from the Bhavagad Gita, one of the sacred Vedas, "I am the divine seed of all that lives. In this world, nothing animate or inanimate exists without me." Wisdom is understanding that you are a piece of the divine. Wisdom is staying close to and connected to your source, going to it everyday for clarity, guidance, support and nourishment. Wisdom is knowing and trusting that this source is guiding and directing your life. Wisdom is saying, "God I know what I want. You know what I need."

Wisdom is honoring the divine mother (mother earth), and taking from the earth what is needed and nothing more. It is understanding your connection to all of life, and honoring the sacredness of "all" life. It is honoring the sacred, spiritual teachings of all cultures, knowing there is much to be learned from all traditions. Wisdom is giving thanks to the creator for each new day, and knowing there is a sacred rhythm to all of life and trying to stay in tune with it. Wisdom is treating your body with respect and reverence, as well as the earth, knowing it is an extension of your body. It is knowing that all things in this world are temporary and impermanent. Wisdom is knowing there is enough of everything in this world for all of us. In fact, there is more than enough to go around, and therefore, no one needs to hoard anything. Wisdom is knowing that what we can see, touch, taste and smell, is only a small portion of reality, that there is a whole other dimension to life beyond the senses-a spiritual dimension.

One final and important point I’d like to make here, is that wisdom is not just walking around with your head in a book, or meditating night and day under a bodhi tree. It is practical, useful and oftentimes simple. I know from experience, that the deeper and deeper I have gotten into yoga and meditation, the more childlike, I have become. There is wisdom in simplicity, generosity, giving to your neighbors and in laughing, rejoicing and being present in the moment.

Copyright Justin Topik 2009

Staying Close to the Source

I recently wrote a song titled, I'm Flyin' Free Now. The first verse and chorus goes like this:

This is where I go, when I'm feeling low,
and I'm feeling low again.
This is where I hide when the goblins come alive
and I feel like I haven't got a friend.
This is where I run, when my life comes undone
and all the colors fade to gray.
Its a place I go inside, a place I run and hide
from everyone even me.
When I need a pick me up, I drink from your tin cup,
until this thing in my flies free,
I'm flyin' free now...

For me, this song symbolizes staying close to the source of inspiration, the source of rejuvenation, the source of vitality and fulfillment, the source of all life and creation. I go to this magic place everyday. It is my sacred place, my sacred space. I would be lost without it!!! I believe we all have an inborn need and desire to connect with and stay in tune with this source. I don't know about you, but I desire the feeling of inner contentment, inner peace and inner bliss, as much as, and sometimes even more than I desire food. Rumi a great persian poet once said, "Loving God is the only pleasure. Other delights turn bitter. What hurts the soul? To live without tasting the water of its own essence." What an amazing quote that is!

We can run, but we can't hide from our essence. The ironic thing is many people run away from what could provide them with the utmost happiness, peace and bliss. We turn away from inner peace in search of that which will never satisfy. And for what reason, laziness, fear of the unknown, fear of our own magnificence?

In the Tao te Ching, we read:

"Empty your mind of all thoughts.
Let your heart be at peace.
Watch the ten thousand things rise and fall,
but contemplate their return.
Each separate being in the universe
returns to the common source.
Returning to the source is serenity.
Not knowing the source leads to disaster."

Ultimately, the choice for serenity, peace, or chaos, disaster and disorder is up to each of us. If you want peace, all you have to do is look within, seek within, make a time and a place for peace, for communion with spirit. Peace is not far, it is right where you are... We are all like plugs and at anytime, we can plug into the outlet for more energy or to re-charge. So, why resist what can make you feel most alive? Our true power comes in staying close to this source, the source of youth, vitality, energy and passion.

I was listening to a CD by Wayne Dyer this morning and in paraphrasing, he commented that at this point in his life he now realizes that he doesn't write the books, his lectures, etc. but that it is only spirit working through him. He just allows spirit to work through him. That is true wisdom. That is knowing who you are in the large spectrum of things. What marvelous works the spirit can accomplish when we allow it to move in our lives. Staying close to the source is not a chore, but a gift from above. You can walk alone, and try to push away the urge to connect with source, or embrace it and let it transform your life. The choice is up to you...

Trusting Your Inner Wisdom

It was Dec. 31, 2007, I woke up in the middle of the night in total horror. I lied there in awe, consumed by a nightmare about our home being completely destroyed as if some major catastrophe had just hit. In the dream, I was walking around outside of this destruction trying to put the pieces back together. The next day I was really bothered by the dream and feeling a lot of apprehension all day long. That same night, Jan. 1, 2008, I woke up for no apparent reason at 1:15 AM in the morning to find our house was completely on fire. I frantically woke up my wife at the time and 4 kids, and by the time we got out, the flames were 20 feet high as the entire house was on fire. How did I know that something was gonna happen? How does anyone know that something is gonna happen before it does? Where do these premonitions come from? The answer I believe is, we all have a built in compass, an inner voice, a direct personal link to universal wisdom. It's just that in today's world, we as a society are quite out of touch with this element. There is so much noise, so much busyness, so many distractions, that we as a society have almost forgotten how to access what I call, "inside information." Native Americans totally understood this ancient wisdom and lived in complete harmony with the spiritual element of life. They understood the inner connectedness and sacredness of all life. They didn't have so many distractions. Their goal was harmony, balance and respect for all of life, not acquiring riches, looking for the next thrill, the next distraction, the next high. Somewhere in our quest for technological advancement and entertainment, we have sacrificed our inner connectedness to spirit and we have got to find a way to get it back.

No one knows better than you what is best for you, what is your path to walk. We have got to learn to access and trust our inner wisdom again. We've got to as a society get back to a more spiritual way of living. Your inner guidance is your friend, your alli, not your enemy. If you make daily time to listen, it will unfold to you your path, your place in this world. It will help you with any challenge you may be facing. There are many traditional religions that I believe actually discourage trusting and following your inner voice. I know, I was raised in one of them. I had to actually leave behind my family religion just to learn to rely more on the spirit as my guide. Your relationship with God, spirit, whatever you call it, is between you and spirit. You don't have to go through any priest, any person, any organization to get to this source. The relationship is instilled, automatic. Sometimes learning to trust you inner wisdom requires you stepping away from others who may be telling you what to think, what to believe. I am not saying religion is a bad thing here. Anything that encourages spiritual growth and development is definitely good. I am just saying that in order to have a more personal relationship with this entity, you need to make a sacred place for you and it alone. Trusting your inner wisdom requires courage to step outside your comfort zone and devotion to learning to quiet yourself in a distracting and oftentimes noisy world. I promise you though, that as you make more time to listen to and walk with your inner wisdom, you will achieve a greater sense of inner peace and harmony and feel a closer bond to spirit.

Learning Wisdom

Life is full of obstacles, challenges, ups and downs, ins and outs. Life is like an ice cream shop, with a variety of flavors. Sometimes it is a rocky road and other times it is a colorful sherbet. And through it all, we are constantly reminded that there is a higher power, a higher order to the flow of the stream of life. And every experience, every moment can teach you much wisdom if you are receptive to the lessons that the universe is trying to unfold to you. I have learned to accept life as it comes, to have plans, yet allow for the unexpected and sometimes even to expect the unexpected. No one has it all figured out. God, the Tao, the Great Spirit, the Unnameable is mysterious and unfathomable, as is life oftentimes. No one is meant to understand it all. I believe some things are meant to be a mystery. Life happens as it happens and sometimes you've just got to roll with it. There are no guarantees in this life. True wisdom is not having it all figured out, but being in the game, being a part of the mystery, embracing the mystery and just accepting that all experiences are part of a whole circle-birth, death, passion, despair, grief, utter joy, are all natural parts of this life experience. Wisdom comes in part by realizing this whole thing, this entire experience of life is bigger than you and me. There is a divine architect, I am certain of it. We are all just a small part in the web of creation. And yet, housed within my soul, your soul is some of the same power that created and operates the universe.

Life is good, no matter how you look at it. Life is a gift and a treasure. And we are all just a part of the dance of creation. So keep on dancing, singing, doing your thing, being who you are authentically, passionately and joyfully and enjoy life to the fullest. Through all your experiences, life is trying to teach you wisdom and also remind you quite often that there is a higher wisdom than your own operating in this universe. Learning wisdom is a process and that process often involves patience, quietness, and making time daily to pray, meditate and ask guidance from the master of wisdom. Sometimes wisdom comes in acceptance of things as they are or as they appear. No one here in this lifetime is a victim. We are all on a journey, a journey that involves constant life lessons and evolution of us as spiritual beings.



Namaste