Category Archives: Lessons

by Michael Maciel The tendency on the spiritual path is to personify divine principles, and to a certain extent that’s okay. But the discipline is to never forget who the person is and which principle is being represented. In the … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel What is the purpose of baptism? Is it merely a ceremony, a dedication of one’s soul to a particular religion or body of believers? Or does something actually happen? Are people somehow different after they’ve been baptized, … Continue reading →

The problem with the word within is that it refers to a direction in space. Whenever we discuss spiritual realities, we leave the domain of time and space and enter into the eternal. This presents us with a problem: if … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel The tendency is to think that we are in our head. Most people locate themselves just behind the forehead, between the eyes. But that’s not the center of our being. When we look for it, we find … Continue reading →

Religious and philosophical teachings are divided into two main categories—the esoteric and the exoteric. Historically, the esoteric teachings have been kept secret, given only to those who were deemed ready by Teachers who held the “keys to the kingdom of … Continue reading →

Scientific prayer is based on the premise that all people are connected through mind, not only with each other but with all of nature, and, most importantly, with God. This connection spans the entire spectrum of reality from the largest … Continue reading →

It is tempting to think of consciousness in terms of its contents and not as a thing in and of itself, like thinking of a mirror that has no reflection. So, I want to be clear at the outset that … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel Jesus uses the word “sword” in two instances: once when he says that he came not to bring peace but a sword, and again when he says that he who lives by the sword shall die by … Continue reading →

First, let’s be clear about what consciousness is. It’s one thing to be aware of our surroundings, our immediate environment, the objects and people closest to us physically, the smells and sounds that waft over us, the temperature of the … Continue reading →