"For all of you who want to walk a spiritual path, I suggest you stop and take a look at all the things you think and all the assumptions that you make... before you speak. Try some discipline and see if you can, for a whole week, just watch your thoughts." ~ Hinono
I've been doing quite a bit of focused research over the past few years on "the power of the Word" and sacred sound/vibration, and it's a powerful and fascinating issue to learn more about and to integrate more deeply into practice. (And as with many things, the more I've explored, the more I hear the old refrain 'with knowledge comes responsibility'!).
In most wisdom traditions, there are many references to the power of word, thought, sound, vibration. For example, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was G-d", and "If you have the faith of a mustard seed, you can say 'mountain move' and it will move". Jesus also said, "It's not what goes into your mouth that's the problem, but what comes out of it." The Buddha is quoted as saying "With your thoughts you make the world." I'm sure there are many examples (feel free to add to this list!).
There are so many references to "the power of the word" in the bible and other sacred texts, in various wisdom teachings, theoretical physics, etc. about the power of thought, intention, belief, feeling, words, music to create and expand or harm and destroy.
This is not to oversimplify the issue to a matter of 'just think differently', as can often happen. Nor does it negate the presence of other effects and causes in a complex system (our world and collective reality) -- there really are many things outside of our control, no matter what we think or do or say. It does, however, call us to a greater level of awareness, presence, and responsibility for the power of our thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and the words and actions that stem from them.
Among many excellent resources, one that I've found very insightful is from the late Hazrat Inayat Khan, for whom this subject was a topic of practice and writing.
Another are the writings of Ernest Holmes and the Dr. Rev. Michael Beckwith. Holmes is often called a 20th century mystic and spiritual teacher whose writings and teachings were the foundation for the Religious Science path. Beckwith is the founder of Agape International and a new-thought minister, writer, speaker and teacher.
Among their writings, Holmes' Science of Mind, Creative Mind, and 365 Science of Mind daily reader are valuable tools for those on the path. Beckwith's 40 Day Mind Fast Soul Feast helps to inspire and focus.
As I look more deeply into this subject, it also deepens my faith and also enriches my spiritual practice. It's stimulating and challenging from both a spiritual perspective and an intellectual one. It increases one's level of responsibility, too, because we have to look unflinchingly at our own complicity in creating our experiences (or experiencing things based on our resident belief set, mindset, etc.).
But as one wise fellow I know says, "Big rewards, big demands."
Until next time...
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