A VIEW FROM A DIFFERENT HEAVEN

© 2018 - Reprinted with permission from Shining Lotus Metaphysical Bookstore newsletter October 2018

by Mario C. Veo

Long, long ago, in a time when the ancient Gods and Goddesses ruled this planet, a group of Beings [don’t you dare called them ‘angels’] were gathered together for their daily party. Yes, in this Heaven it was party, party, party all the time… the wine was divine, the music celestial, and the people just loved being here… Well, what’s not to like…?!  It was Heaven at its best !

And in this particular day the main attraction was watching those weird little creatures they had created to populate the planet…and see what foolish things they’d get up to now… Bizarre little creepy things they were, always running around doing crazy things – loving one day, fighting another, it was a wild roller-coaster ride, even though their lives were so short…but man, were they funny! Look at them now, rallying together under some silly pretense to go out and bash each other, vilifying even the most basic courtesies, as they postured and pointed their dirty fingers at those whom they’d decreed ‘were not as good as them!’

Yes, they still thought that they were better than others, without realizing that, from the point of view of Heaven, one dirty savage is no different from another…and still they fought for supremacy, still believed that ‘Might makes right’… and for what ? to gather some measly material possessions, a title or two, some gold or such like… and then they die! What a waste of life…

Well, it was quite amusing to these non-angels… and so they thought of making things even more interesting – they took bets on what it would take to bring about ‘evolution’ to these weird little creatures… Soon two different camps were formed – the first would send down a great leader – a Being of superior intellect, one with many gifts and powers, who – supposedly – would be able to unite these warring tribes, and bring them peace… while the other group would simply create more drama, more attrition, more chaos… and we’ll see who will win … [the wager was a cask of golden nectar, much valued in these lofty realms…] And so it began – this wonderful leader was born on this little dirt ball, and even though he was a great speaker – very passionate fellow, and with good diction too – still, he just didn’t catch on… Ok, so a few people followed him as he went around telling people about stuff like love and kindness and unity… but you see, no one really cared…

Yes, some did build temples in his image, and others even wrote down his most famous words… but greed being what it is, soon many elected themselves as being ‘his Acolytes’, his duly appointed ‘chosen ones’ , who will now speak with his voice, and tell all others what to do, how to do it, and how much to pay… [after all, you didn’t think the temple ran itself, now did you…!]… Oh, yes, and they all still fought one another, killing each other in the name of His Holiness…

So, that sucked… and now it’s the others’ turn…

Well, they had it easy – they sent earthquake after earthquake, tornadoes and volcanoes ripping the land apart, torrential rains devastating the land… thousand, nay, millions of creatures died… famine was everywhere… and what do you think happened …? Crazy people created temples and worshiped these new ‘Angry Gods’, and even offered virgin sacrifices to appease them [yuk ! what a weird thing to do… but hey, what’d you expect, they’s primitives, right !] …and when that didn’t work…then they just blamed each other, and went to  war…and killed, and killed, and killed…

And so it was declared a draw – neither side won, because, after all, what can you expect from such retarded little creatures… and so these mighty non-angels in their wisdom smited these lowly creatures …[smote, smit,  oh heck, killed off the buggers… ] for they were no fun after all… Bummer, after all that works… But hey, don’t worry, the party still goes on…the wine still flows abundantly, everyone still rejoices that they were born superior… and if you wait a while, someone else will create another race of weird little Beings… and the fun will start all over again… But hey, don’t hold your breath, you know what’ll happen – they just go and kill each other again…! What did you expect them to do – be ‘enlightened’…that’s a laugh, they’s primitives, man! Here, have another drink…

Mario C. Veo was born in Italy and grew up in Africa, and has been on multiple spiritual pilgrimages to India and other sacred places.  From an early age his love for Spirituality and Metaphysics led him to study with great Teachers and Masters from around the world. He is a dedicated Spiritual Practitioner and Counselor, a Healer and Shaman Initiate, a senior T’ai Chi / Chi Gong instructor, a Feng Shui Master… Mario is in private practice in Denver, and teaches and guides Spiritual Seekers on the path of Self-Empowerment and Transformation.
You can reach him: /by phone — 303.525.7223
/by email — PathtoSpirit@gmail.com
/by website — www.YourPathtoSpirit.com

Mario is available for personal guidance and consultations on Tuesdays and monthly on the last Sunday at the Shining Lotus™ Bookstore in Denver.

THE WISE MAN AND FOLLY

© 2018 - Reprinted with permission from Shining Lotus Metaphysical Bookstore newsletter August 2018

by Mario C. Veo

Long, long ago, in a peaceful land, there lived this wise man way up in the mountains… not too far from this little village. He was a gentle wise man, and so all the little boys of the village liked to spend time with him, listening to his stories of strange lands, and stranger customs. Oh, how they laughed at these foreigners, how they puzzled over the strangers’ incessant lust and greed, how different it all was from their little pristine village… and, at the end of the day the boys would run the whole way back home, shouting gleefully while playing ‘defenders  of the land’… All of them, that is, except for Jon… No, he walks slowly, head turned to the ground, deeply immersed in thought…

The next day Jon is the first to reach the wise man, for he has many questions: “Why do they do this ?” he asks, “Why would anyone engage in such turmoil… Why waste so much of life simply trying to hurt each other…?” There is a look of gentle pity in the wise man’s eyes as he replies “Men who don’t know love…who don’t value  peace and togetherness…who only know how to hurt and abuse others… they are just lonely people, and very, very afraid of what the future will bring… and so they try to make themselves feel important, by hurting and demeaning others.”

Hearing this Jon paled, his eyes shining with unshed tears “But that’s so wrong – if they’d just be nice to  people they would have lots of friends…and they, they wouldn’t need to be so lonely… Why do they do this …?” The old man drew Jon to his chest, holding him in a safe embrace while his tears ran free “Men choose… not out of their hearts, but from their darkest fears” …and held him safe while Jon cried for the loss these strangers would never heal…

Years passed and Jon grew up to be a very serious young man… and the day came when he announced he would go to the strange lands, and seek out those fearful, angry men… and show them love, teach them how to be happy… teach them friendship. He left, without pomp and ceremony, to start his long, long journey… with only the old wise man standing witness for his nobility … [even as he muttered to himself about the folly of youth]

The closer Jon got to the strange lands, the less he recognized – no longer were the trails following the natural contours of the land – no , now they were paved in hard unyielding rock… no longer was the forest free to flow with the rivers – no, now it was cut back so crude fields could be planted in row after row of ugly crops… and what was that stench… what were these people burning as fuel…? Far too soon he came to the city [well, it was really only a small town, but Jon had never seen so many houses together]… and so he stood in the town square [as he had been taught by his elders] and started orating…

In a clear and thrilling voice he told any who passed by about love and friendship, and peace… but all he got back were jeers, people mocking him, laughing at his ‘peasant attitude’… and when he tried – oh, how hard he tried – to make them understand where they went wrong… well then, the crowd got ugly, they started shoving and pushing him, throwing rotten vegetables at him… ugly it was, until the guards came… not to rescue him, but to throw him in jail “For disrupting the peace, inciting a riot , and being a moron”.

The next morning he was before a judge, who took one look at him, at his dirty clothes and unwashed body, and promptly ruled him guilty, sentencing him to three years in a chain-gang, building more ugly roads… and when Jon tried to speak in his defense he was promptly beaten by the guards “For your arrogance, in talking back to the judge”… Three long years later Jon is released, penniless, bruised and battered, to walk back home to his lost village… the road is long and hard, often almost impossible, and only the deep knowledge that love and peace will wait for him in the end sustains him in his journey.

Yes, love and peace… for those who know the true value of life… but, not everyone chooses that… finding their coarse pleasure in greed and hatred… Best leave them to it, then…

Mario C. Veo is a teacher of Spiritual Science and a Healing Arts Practitioner. He teaches classes and individuals on Personal Transformation and the Expansion of Consciousness. Mario is available for personal guidance and consultations on Tuesdays and monthly on the last Sunday at the Shining Lotus™ Bookstore.

MIRACLES AND MANIFESTATION THROUGH ENCOURAGEMENT

© 2018 - Reprinted with permission from Shining Lotus Metaphysical Bookstore newsletter June 2018

by Bob Romero

Most of us have had someone who inspired us to pursue our goals and dreams, whether it was a relative, a teacher, a coach, or a boss. For me, it was my Algebra teacher, who took me aside after the first semester, and asked me to meet him after school. He saw the enthusiasm and skill that I had for mathematics. He said that he didn’t want me to be held back by the rest of the class, and that we could meet 30 minutes each day after school. That way, I could make sure that I finished the textbook by the end of the year. His inspiration gave me the confidence to pursue a career in mathematics and overcome any obstacles or discouragement by other teachers or other individuals. My brother who taught school for 35 years, once showed me shoeboxes full of letters from former students, thanking him for making a difference in their lives.

There are also those who try to use a negative approach to get us to do what they want us to do.  My pastor said in one of his homilies, that maybe we spend too much time on correction versus encouragement. I think that sometimes priests and ministers focus too much on avoiding eternal damnation, versus finding the joy of heaven. I had a director and a supervisor who had different management styles. The director, who always complimented us whenever we did good work, was considered a mentor. She still had high levels of expectations, but we were happy to go above and beyond them for her. The supervisor on the other hand, was mean, and severely reprimanded anyone who didn’t produce the work exactly as she wanted. We referred to her as the tormentor. Most employees would not do anything above the minimum level of what she wanted.

The people, who encourage us, don’t do so for their own self-interest, or their own ego. They do so, because they feel that it is the right thing to do. They motivate us to have the desire necessary for us to rise to a mush higher level of achievement than we ever thought possible. If we take a step back, and look at what we were before the encouragement, compared to afterwards, it would seem like a miracle. Yet they are not the ones who performed the miracle, we did. They got us to go deep within ourselves to produce fantastic results.

Now lets take this notion to a higher level, a higher level of consciousness, if you will. There are lots and lots and lots of books at the Shining Lotus on self-improvement, and state that the answers we seek, are within us. And there are teachers at the Shining Lotus, who teach us on how to go inside of ourselves, and manifest miraculous healing and riches, which are way beyond our wildest dreams. The only limits are the limits that we place on ourselves. They teach us different metaphysical techniques that not only get us to produce health and abundance, but also help us on our spiritual path. These methods are only for the highest good, truth, wisdom, and light. The teachers have all of this wonderful knowledge and are more than willing to share it with us. Their encouragement will help us lift ourselves much closer to Spirit, and make this world a much better place. If enough of us take advantage of these wonderful opportunities, then the lyrics in the song “Crystal Blue Persuasion“ by Tommy James and the Shondells will come true.

Look over yonder, what do you see? The sun is a’rising most definitely
A new day is coming, ooh, ooh, people are changing
Ain’t it beautiful, ooh, ooh, Crystal blue persuasion
Better get ready to see the light, Love, love is the answer, ooh, ooh
And that’s all right.

Tommy James & The Shondells

So don’t you give up now, ooh, ooh, so easy to find
Just look to your soul and open your mind
Crystal blue persuasion, mmm, mmm it’s a new vibration
Crystal blue persuasion, Crystal blue persuasion

Maybe tomorrow when he looks down
On every green field, ooh, ooh and every town
All of his children and every nation
They’ll be peace and good brotherhood

Crystal blue persuasion, yeah… Crystal blue persuasion, aha…
Crystal blue persuasion, aha… Crystal blue persuasion, aha…

See you in class.

Bob Romero has been a diligent student of esoteric spiritual subjects and metaphysics for many years, with a life-long quest for answers. He has submitted new and original articles that focus on life lessons and experiences he wishes to share with our readers and the world.

LOVE... JUST LOVE

© 2018 - Reprinted with permission from Shining Lotus Metaphysical Bookstore newsletter February 2018

by Mario C. Veo

I find it ironic that most religions around the world are firmly based on Love… kindness… nurturance… forgiveness – especially those that embrace the teachings of Jesus, the Master – yet seem to find no contradiction in abusing others, taking advantage of their own status and power to exploit and even mistreat those whom they feel to be ‘inferior’ to them… “After all…” [I’ve heard some say] “ I am not responsible for your debts / mess you’ve created / missed education / race-gender inequality…” Well, actually you really are… let me put it in the same language you’ve used in the past: “If you’re not part of the solution, you are part of the problem…” And for those of you who truly believe that you can stay ‘neutral’, I refer you to the famous words of Pontius Pilate “I wash my hands of all this… Do with Him what you will”… and so they crucified Christ – not for being a horrible, violent person … but for preaching Love, and kindness, and the Brotherhood of Man.

No, I’m not advocating some kind of political, or even ideological line [god knows there are enough fools sprouting off some self-serving propaganda – much to the merriment of late night talk-shows… but I digress]. All I’m inviting you to do is reflect… truly go within and ask yourself the hard questions… “What do you believe in… and why… what are the principles you live by… and their consequences… and – my most favorite – What kind of Karma are you creating for yourself…”

Don’t just mouth off some superficial platitude about being ‘a good person’, or worse, being a good church goer [even Al Capone was dedicated to his church ]…just take a good look at your Life and your everyday thoughts and actions… and – if you believe in Heaven-Hell – ask yourself what qualifies you for salvation… and just for a moment, consider – what if all the righteous propaganda you’ve been programmed to accept… turns out to be just that: the simple manipulation of Ego, designed to make you feel ever so superior…

Now what…?!?

All the Spiritual teachings, throughout the ages, have always – clearly – stated that Love is the Energy of  Creation… it is that which links us all together… it is that which links us to Spirit-Creator. Only through Love can we find happiness… forgiveness… compassion… Only through Love can we truly call ourselves to be ‘of-the-Light’… to be ‘Enlightened’… and find Oneness with ALL of Creation…

… yes, with our current [poor] world consciousness most of us have suffered some kind of heart-wound, some betrayal, abuse, unfairness, injustice… and now we have a choice:-  “Do we simply bow down to these negative energies, and allow them to limit and restrict our Life – and the pleasures which rightfully belong to us all… or… can we do something about addressing and redressing this… and if so, what…?!?”

I’m dedicating the month of February [the febrile month!] to the passionate pursuit of Love, to the charming and joyful engagement of the greatest of all Energies… and – for those that need – to the healing necessary to reclaim all the Love our little hearts can hold… if you so choose…

Mario C. Veo is a teacher of Spiritual Science and a Healing Arts Practitioner. He teaches classes and individuals on Personal Transformation and the Expansion of Consciousness. Mario is available for personal guidance and consultations on Tuesdays and the last Sunday at the Shining Lotus™ Bookstore.