wisewords
An Interview with
Michael Bernard Beckwith
Spiritual Thinker, Author and Teacher
by linda sechrist
D
r. Reverend Michael Bernard them realize that venturing into
Beckwith is the founder and a spiritual practice reveals how we
spiritual director of Agape can awaken and fulfill our highest
International Spiritual Center, in Los potential as spiritual beings having
Angeles. A teacher featured in the film, a human incarnation. I also wanted
The Secret, he teaches universal truth to offer practices that would support
principles found in the New Thought- readers in becoming a beneficial
Ancient Wisdom tradition of spirituality. presence on the planet: processes
that can cultivate inherent goodness,
Q. While writing your latest book, wholeness, joy—the keys to healing
Spiritual Liberation, did you experience ourselves and the planet.
any “Aha” moments?
Q. What do you mean by the
A: Yes. I discovered that there’s noth- concept, “conscious participation in
ing like sitting down before the blank evolution,” and why do you believe
page and realizing that the “you,” humanity can achieve this?
which sees itself as an author, isn’t who
is writing the book, but rather is the A: My personal experiments in the
vehicle that made itself available as a laboratory of my own consciousness
scribe. It’s much like the great compos- proved to me that, by consciously en-
er, Brahms, who said that when he sat tering practices used by great spiritual
to compose, he entered a deep, inte- teachers—Jesus, Krishna, Sri Aurobindo,
rior state and literally “saw” the notes, St. Theresa of Avila and others—to
“heard” the instruments and wrote evolve qualities like compassion, joy,
down what was revealed to him. Writ- peace, creativity and enlightened
ing the book was a truly a humbling awareness, I could make progress in
experience, because I encountered these directions. I know that if I can
the subtle line that separates ego from do it, everyone can. If one person is
surrender to the Divine muse. It wasn’t a candidate for enlightenment, then,
something that I anticipated; however, just as the Buddha taught, we’re all can-
I’m grateful that it occurred. didates. It’s great news that we’re
no different from these illumined be-
Q. How do you envision the book ings; all we have to do is commit to
serving as an influence for good? waking up, just as they did.
A: My intentions were to stir an inner Q. Please share some of the practices
fire in readers to develop passion—and that evolved people apply and how
compassion—in their lives, and to help they make a difference in their lives?

Westchester/Putnam Counties
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48