Namaste

As an ordained interfaith minister I believe that there is one truth and that truth is that we are never separate from Spirit – or separate from each other. The truth that I believe is that our nature is DIVINE and that we are more than this body – more than this time and space –that we are one with All that Is! – I believe that I am a spiritual being having a human experience.

Coming home refers to a knowing of who I really am – that which is connected to the One Source.  In knowing this truth – I also recognize that we are all connected to one another.  When we say Namaste we are saying that the Divine in me recognizes and honors the Divine in you.  The Cherokee Morning Song, Wen day Aho, affirms “I am of the Great Spirit.” If I really believe that I am of the Great Spirit and so are you– then in serving and loving you I am serving and loving the Divine in myself. It is a transformative concept.  The alchemy of love and service is really what this life –this lifetime is all about.  It’s actually why we’ve come to this earth.  It’s our mission – to love – to serve and remember who we really are.  I recognize that there is this APPARENT reality – here on earth – this “life” - our Practical Reality -our day to day existence –and then ……..there is ABSOLUTE REALITY. That which is DIVINE. 

This Absolute Reality is known by so many names. Hindus call it Brahman, In Judaism it is known as the Shechinah (Divine Presence). It is called the Tao in Taoism and Muslims recognize that there is only one Absolute Reality. Jesus spoke of this Absolute reality when he said "My kingdom is not of this world,” and when asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with a visible display – It can’t be seen by the human eye –the Kingdom of Heaven is within you!"

But how do I live or should I live in this PRACTICAL REALITY?  I know that my nature is DIVINE but my body and my mind are still human and I get caught up in all that is visible. So how can I get more connected to ABSOLUTE REALITY? How do I get more in touch with the Kingdom of Heaven within me? How do I access it?  

Recently I was  watching a show on the sci-fi channel about the static on a radio which is actually reverberations from the “big bang”. Isn’t that amazing?  That made me think about the process of accessing a particular radio station in order to hear music and how we have to “tune in” to a particular frequency otherwise we will get static.  On a spiritual level I believe that we are being called to tune in and access Absolute Reality.

In order to get the right spiritual frequency and connection to the Absolute Reality I have to turn the dial. I know that Divine Grace helps me get there – but I have to make the decision to access it. You know when you're flowing in that connection with the Divine – there’s no static!  And interestingly – it’s all Divine!  Even the “static!" When we are acting according to our true nature – which is spiritual - we access Divine Grace and we move and breathe and have our being in Absolute Reality.

When we are thinking, speaking and acting according to our Divine nature, when we are pure of heart – we are on the right frequency!  

At the Sermon on the Mount – in the Beatitudes – Jesus said “Blessed are the Pure of heart for they shall see God.”  Divine Grace can penetrate when we are thinking speaking and acting with a pure heart – manifested in our thoughts, words and deeds. Hindus describe a Satwic nature as acting with a pure heart to be good and do good – at all times! 

In purifying our thoughts, words and deeds we become clear channels for Divine Grace and then we are propelled to a Higher Frequency. 

So how do I live this Satwic way of being? I think it starts with the word.  The words that we are thinking, the words that we are hearing, and the words that we are speaking.  We don’t even realize how much we are exposed to negative impressions and negative vibrations on a daily basis – from the words we hear in our head – to the words that we hear from others.  Over and over again words – which have energy – are filled with vibrations that fill our minds and send us powerful messages about how we think about ourselves and others. If these words hold positive vibrations we will manifest that which is good. And the opposite of this is so dangerous because if the words hold vibrations that are negative – that will be what manifests as well.  And there you have the STATIC.  Limited to no connection – limited to no access to Absolute Reality.  It starts with our words. “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God” (Johns gospel). In Don Miguel Ruiz’s four agreements we are reminded of the importance of being impeccable with our word.  That our word is the power we have to create – the gift that comes from God and is God. 

In the Buddhist eight fold path the precept of “right speech” is a path to enlightenment. It consists of refusing to lie, refusing to talk meanly, refusing to gossip, refusing to command everyone’s attention – yes - interrupting people.  Right speech should be wise, kind and minimal.  Buddhists believe that you should talk only when necessary. The Shinto believe that the origin of all trouble lies within a single word spoken in haste. 

And the Sufi Gates remind us that our words should first pass the criteria of; is it true? is it kind? and is it necessary?  Mindful speech as blessings rather than curses – words that are heartful rather than hurtful - allow us access to a higher frequency of ABSOLUTE REALITY and that Satwic nature provides a clear channel to Divine Grace.  So let our words be our prayers and our deep listening serve as our meditation.  In this moment by moment awareness of the sacred – regardless of what we are doing, we can be vessels and instruments in the hands of the Divine. 

We can remain in a state of surrender to God – in the spirit of gratitude – recognizing that Spirit is flowing through us in our thoughts, in our words and in our actions.  Then Divine Grace is able to operate at our highest frequency – because we are accessing ABSOLUTE REALITY! 

 Author: Rev. Dr. Grace Telesco

Rev. Dr. Grace A. Telesco, Ph.D., B.C.E.T.S., is an ordained Interfaith Minister and on the faculty of the International Seminary for Interfaith Studies (ISIS). Rev. Grace is an Associate Minister at Interfaith Community International in New York and The Oneness Temple in Hallandale, Florida and serves as a regular Guest Minister at The Shepherd's Bridge in Davie, Florida and the Metaphysical Chapel in Wilton Manors.

Rev. Dr. Grace Telesco is also a Professor of Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice in South Florida and a graduate of The New Seminary for Interfaith Studies in New York. She has also been initiated in the Sanyassi Order in the lineage of her Guru, H.H. Sri Swami Jyotirmayanda in Miami, Florida.

To contact Rev. Grace for information on ceremonies/rituals (weddings - including same-sex weddings, unions, funerals, memorials, pet crossings/transitioning rituals, pet memorials), speaking engagements, or spiritual counseling and direction sessions please call 917-579-3750 -or- DrTelesco@gmail.com