Our Center for Spiritual Living Kaua`I has an amazing relationship with one of the Swamis at the Hindu Monastery of Kaua`i. We consider him one of our very special mentors. Every year, we visit him with our Sacred Journey and tour the Monastery while having wonderful spiritual and philosophical conversations. One thing about him, is he has a great sense of humor.

Yesterday, the artist working on our new Center space and one of our board members met with the Swami to view the artwork in the Media Center at the Monastery. We had a great introduction and then he told us how much he respected the teachings of Ernest Holmes. “CSL ripped us off,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. After he made that comment about “being ripped off,” I thought about how I sometimes feel about Dr. Joe Dispenza and other scientists like him. I think, “They’re teaching the Science of Mind, although they are not calling it that.” Is that a ripoff?

Ernest Holmes never called himself a revelator. He claimed that he brought a synthesis of the common thread of Love found within all philosophies and religions and gave us a way we could use it to have better lives here on earth.

After the Swami’s comment, I really got it. It’s what Ernest Holmes said when he relayed the message that expansion is the way of the Universe. We are constantly growing and expressing in new ways. We are open at the top. There is always more spiritual unfoldment within humanity.

There is one thing that stays the same, however, and that is the Truth. No one can own Truth and no one can rip off Truth. Truth is free and not relegated to any religion or philosophy. Truth is universal and moves through all philosophies that are attuned with Love.

When we hear Truth, we know it. Something stirs within us and whispers “I am here.” That is what happened to me when I came to the Science of Mind. It rang true. It was logical. I could use it. It gave me a sense of peace and opened me up to self-love.

I believe we are all traveling the road to wholeness, and we all have different ways of experiencing it. We are all unique. We all approach this life experience in different ways and we are all at different stages of consciousness. Nothing is greater than the other. It is just different. As long as we are living in love for ourselves and others, then we can know we are on the right path.

Whether we embrace Hinduism, Buddhism, New Thought, Christianity, Judaism or the other multitude of belief systems and philosophies, no one has ownership of Truth. We must find our own path, and that path can change as we grow and change. I believe Peace will reign on earth when we understand and embody the differences and allow each of us to be unique. We will find the Truth in every teaching, and we will find the one which works the best for us.  It’s easy to recognize Truth, as I said, because it is always Love.

The next time I think about competition or feel that someone has ripped me off, I’ll remember that there is no competition, everyone has a voice and I should just be the best me, giving my unique self to the world.

Love and Aloha,

Rev. Rita Andreillo-Feren, Author, Teacher, Artist and Co-Spiritual Director of CSL Kaua`i and the Institute of Magnificence. Find my books on Amazon