Category Archives: Lessons

by Michael Maciel In mythic stories, such as the ones we find in the Bible, different characters symbolize different aspects of ourselves. When we read about Jesus, for example, every character in the story represents aspects of our personality, both … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel The circle with a dot in the center is one of the oldest symbols for God. It dates back thousands of years and maybe longer. No one really knows. And since our best understanding of what this … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel I think that much of our religious imagery comes from the very deepest parts of our biology. What is the one thing that we share with all forms of life? Isn’t it survival? That’s as rudimentary as … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel The Unmanifest (the formless “no-thing”) is enormous untapped energy. The prohibition against giving it a name is equivalent to today’s saying, “Be careful what you pray for, you just might get it!” Naming the Unmanifest gives it … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel As an archery term, “sin” means not hitting your target. This implies that you’re aiming at something. But it also implies that you might be aiming at the wrong thing, that your goals in life are misdirected, … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel Well, you know………..there’s another way to look at this. It’s not that love isn’t the most important thing. All the great ones throughout history have said that it is. But I think it’s important to remember that … Continue reading →

  by Michael Maciel Most of us are trying to make something of our lives. We have values, and we want to realize those values in our living—to make them real, to manifest them in the world. Having values is … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel Too many people base their religious beliefs on ideas, and too few base them on deep, inner experiences. Language conceals more than it reveals, and beliefs almost always come in words. Even if your belief is predicated … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel The Self does not exist on the Earth plane. Because of this, YOU do not exist on the Earth plane either. Because the Self (along with the soul) is who you are. If you do not exist … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel Buddhism teaches that all suffering is caused by ignorance. And that’s kind of hard to argue with. The word sin means to miss the mark. It’s an old archery term. Since we all have goals in our … Continue reading →