Michael Bernard Beckwith
Spiritual Thinker, Author & Teacher Coming to Ft. Myers
by Linda Sechrist
in becoming a beneficial presence on
gratitude because people are reflecting
the planet: processes that can cultivate
more deeply on what happens in a so-
inherent goodness, wholeness, joy—the
ciety that is based on consumerism. Be-
keys to healing ourselves and the
ing increasingly grateful for the simple
planet.
things in life is a wealthy way to live.
Evolved people give without an
Q. Explain the roles of involution
agenda, simply for the joy of being gen-
and evolution in spiritual liberation.
erous beings, because they see them-
selves in others. They have an aware-
D
r. Reverend Michael Bernard
Simply put, involution occurs when the
ness of their oneness with all beings.
Beckwith is the founder and
prototype inherent within someone or
Forgiveness of self and others is
spiritual director of Agape
something is activated—like when the
another hallmark of an evolved person.
International Spiritual Center, in Los
oak tree inherent within the seed begins
Rather than seeing life as a problem
Angeles. A teacher featured in the film,
to sprout. Evolution is the byproduct of
to be solved, evolved people see life,
The Secret, he teaches universal truth
involution.
including all of its challenges, as a cel-
principles found in the New Thought-
Within all of us is the prototype of
ebration of our precious human birth.
Ancient Wisdom tradition of spirituality.
wholeness; of enlightenment. When we
consciously involve ourselves in taking
Q. What basic understanding do we
Q. While writing your latest book,
responsibility for our awakening, our
need in order to grow into spiritual
Spiritual Liberation, did you experi-
outer life reflects its equivalent through
adulthood?
ence any “Aha” moments?
evolved or awakened behavior.
Immaturity’s mantra is, “He who dies
Yes. I discovered that there’s nothing
Q. What do you mean by the con-
with the most toys, wins.” When we
like sitting down before the blank page
cept, “conscious participation in
shift that to: “I want to know more of
and realizing that the “you,” which sees
evolution,” and why do you believe
who and what I really am; I want to
itself as an author, isn’t who is writ-
humanity can achieve this?
express my true nature of love, joy,
ing the book, but rather, is the vehicle
creativity, abundance, compassion,
that made itself available as a scribe.
My personal experiments in the labora-
self-giving and generosity; and this
It’s much like the great composer,
tory of my own consciousness proved
same good, which I desire for myself, I
Brahms, who said that when he sat to
to me that by consciously entering
also desire for all others,” we embrace
compose, he entered a deep interior
practices used by great spiritual teach-
the personal law of life. We align with
state and literally “saw” the notes,
ers—Jesus, Krishna, Sri Aurobindo, St.
the laws governing the universe and
heard the instruments and wrote down
Theresa of Avila and others—to evolve
begin to grow up and show up.
what was revealed to him. Writing the
qualities like compassion, joy, peace,
When we quit demanding that
book was a truly humbling experience,
creativity and enlightened awareness,
others make us happy, stop believ-
because I encountered the subtle line
I could make progress in these direc-
ing that the outside world and outer
that separates ego from surrender to the
tions. I know that if I can do it, every-
accomplishments determine our self-
Divine muse. It wasn’t something that I
one can. If one person is a candidate
worth, and drop the notion that the
anticipated; however, I’m grateful that
for enlightenment, then, just as the
world owes us something, then, we are
it occurred.
Buddha taught, we’re all candidates.
It’s great news that we’re no different
on the road to spiritual maturity. We
Q. How do you envision the book
than these illumined beings; all we
grow out of our childhood fantasies that
serving as an influence for good?
have to do is commit to waking up, just
there is a “Great Something,” outside of
as they did.
us, manipulating the environment and
My intentions were to stir an inner fire running the affairs of the Universe by a
in readers to develop passion—and
Q. Please share some of the prac-
reward-punishment system. We realize
compassion—in their lives, and to
tices that evolved people apply and
that we, ourselves, are responsible for
help them realize that venturing into a
how they make a difference in their
our own life. Being a spiritual grownup
spiritual practice reveals how we can
lives?
is a liberating way to live.
awaken and fulfill our highest poten-
Michael Beckwith will speak at the Harbor-
tial as spiritual beings having a human
Evolved people give thanks for what
side Event Center, in Fort Myers, on Feb.
incarnation. I also wanted to offer
most people take for granted. In today’s
13 and at Cape Coral’s Center for Spiritual
practices that would support readers
economy, we’re seeing an escalation in
Living on Feb. 14. See ad, inside back cover.
February 2009 1
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