Spiritual Growth
Growth a fact of nature nothing springs forth fully formed but passes through a process of growth from inception to completion. The same principle that applies to the growth of the body also applies to the growth of the spirit—
Chapter 11: Growth, Responsibility and Destiny
Latest Spiritual Messages
The Seasons of Life
Life has its seasons: youth, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. Youth is a time to learn, when one is malleable and most open to instruction; adolescence is a time of exploration that requires self-discipline; the twenties are the time to
Cultivating the Good
Goodness requires effort Since evil infests our world and infects our minds and bodies, we mostly find it difficult to do the right thing. Hence, to become a genuinely good person requires sustained effort at self-cultivation. Aristotle writes that cultivating
Decision
The moral life is purposeful; it requires A Decision. People do not become good automatically; those who just drift through life are liable to drown in its evil currents. At every turn, we encounter two paths, the better and the
Good and Evil
How can one distinguish good from evil? Are there universal indicators behind, within, or consequent upon an action by which one can determine whether it was a good or an evil act? What is the difference between a good person
Individual Responsibility
Responsibility is central to what it means to be human. Other creatures have life, consciousness, and even intelligence, but only human beings are responsible for choosing their manner of life and hence their destiny. Individual responsibility implies an attitude of
Predestination
The Doctrine of predestination explains the fact that people have different fortunes, moral endowments, are born into different circumstances, and respond differently to religion. It ascribes these differences to the hand of God, who is omnipotent and controls all, and
Synergy of Grace and Effort
The relationship between Divine Grace and Human Effort is what Thomas Aquinas called synergy: effort calls forth grace, and grace prompts effort. A number of texts stress human initiative as calling forth grace— ”God helps those who help themselves”; others
Preparation and Making a Good Beginning
For any venture to succeed, it must begin well. The Oriental proverb, “Well begun is half done,” describes the theme of the passages in this section. A good beginning means, firstly, internal preparation. We should purify our heart, steel ourselves
Perseverance and Patience
Accomplishing anything truly worthwhile requires perseverance and patience. Patience is not merely waiting for fate to intervene; rather, it means to continue on one’s path until the goal is achieved. Once the resolution is made and the task is