Reflections

September 2007

Unlocking the Treasure Within

Unlocking the Treasure Within

By Rev. LeRoy E. Zemke
Pastor, Temple of the Living God


“The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation … for behold, the Kingdom of God is within you.”
St.Luke 17:20, 21 A.V.

“What man is contributes much more to his happiness than what he has…What a man is in himself, what accompanies him when he is alone, what no one can give him or take away, is obviously more essential to him than everything he has in the way of possessions, or even what he may be in the eyes of the world.”
Arthur Schopenhauer

Each day of our lives has an incredible value, one that is far beyond measurement in any human terms or even the noblest consideration in what might be put into language in the broadest spiritual terms.

We are, each one, profoundly unique expressions of Infinite Intelligence, of a Divine Creator imbued with what some people now reference as an intelligent design. And while I totally respect what science has gradually discovered across the more recent centuries concerning our evolutionary development, I feel it takes nothing away from science to acknowledge a Higher Power or a Divine Being that has had a “hand” in the creation story of man, let alone the cosmos. However, my purpose is not to discuss creationism versus intelligent design.

The single biggest challenge that faces us as sons and daughters, children of the Living God is that we are not consistently consciously aware of the innate spark or sacred flame. Occasionally we see evidence of it in some man or woman who achieves an august excellence, a spiritual mastery, development or greatness in a specific lifetime accomplishment. I reference a Mahatma Ghandi, and a Mother Theresa of Calcutta, India. Buddha, Jesus, Confucius, Lao-Tse of ancient China, and certain other beings who are called awakened masters and spiritual teachers, also are part of those who are awakened.

I also want to include the outstanding men and women of science, the arts, poets, artists, painters, business and financial entrepreneurs, educators, Olympic athletes and many, many others who have become conscious of their unique relationship to the sacred in their lives, and live with that awareness daily.

If we compare ourselves to a fully awakened being such as Jesus the Christ or a Mother Theresa of India, we shall almost always fall short. In an awakened teacher, each has opened to become receptive to an incredible connection to what is called their higher (inner) nature. Once this sense of connection is real to them, the ordinary world, as we know it ceases to hold its illusory power or focus. The ego world loses its control over them. They become inner directed as contrasted with outer directed. And their lives then reflect this innate power in a tangible way. We can no longer measure them in the usual, ordinary, human manner.

Let me illustrate. The day-to-day human world of flesh and blood, “sticks and stones” is a part of a material, corporeal form. In one sense, it is solid, has a form, substance, consistency, and can be seen, touched and we often say experienced.

In terms of the kingdoms of earth we have mineral, plant, animal and human. Scientists (physicists) consistently report that although all material form appears solid to the naked eye and to the human touch, at levels subatomic and energetic the physical forms we see are not solid, but really are vibrating condensate masses of very, very, very subtle energy.

Across the centuries spiritual teachers and illumined souls have spoken to us and told us essentially the same thing…nothing in form is totally solid, strictly speaking. The illumined (awakened) man/woman knows this and can demonstrate their capacity to connect and interact with the spiritual and natural forces that interpenetrate form…not from the place inside themselves that is coming from control, or the need to control, but from the place inside that sees and knows that he/she knows the reality behind the form.

In other words, the external form of something as an (invisible to human eyesight) energy form. That internal form, is the real nature of our being, not the realm of the changing day-to-day form we see, touch, smell, taste and feel.

When we begin to awaken, we actually begin to see more clearly who we are, neither who we think we are nor whom we want other people to think we are. We see the real essence of life, not just the external, physical form or often called the appearance, or again, the form world.

What does all this discussion have to do with the treasure(s) within? I offer three points.

(1) Greatness. I believe each of us can attain a measure of greatness (awakening) in our lifetime. What is necessary to achieve this varies with the individual. Greatness implies a development of innate potentials to their exceptionally outstanding degree. It suggests that we start with a skill or talent and refine and refine and refine it. Tools and trainings abound to help us. Looking at another person and inwardly measuring, evaluating oneself as lesser to that man/woman may not serve us. If, however, we “see” our potential as a possibility because of another’s skill or talent which has been developed, that perception may be the spur that aids us to move in the direction of greatness. Remember, always working at the core of our nature is the impulse to be more than we have been. If we pay attention to that subtle impulse, we will gradually open to greatness in our own life.

(2) Vision is defined as the ability to see something clearly, most often from some mental or spiritual (interior) state of mind. It also implies the capacity to break the vision into its component parts, assemble them and take the steps necessary to make it (whatever) happen. A clock maker can see the finished product, but know how all of the parts function together, and as importantly, how to put them together so the watch or clock works as a unit. The same with a computer person who sees the ultimate desired product (program) and has the inner capability to unite, to put together the necessary pattern, configuration and the chips with their various encoded electronic signals that will bring forward the specific program. It begins with a vision of what is possible. When we have no innate vision for ourselves, or for the goals or purpose for the life we have, we wither and die. Again, the vision does not need to be grand or cosmic. If we are a parent, one example might be to be absolutely the very best parent we can be. The child we influence as a parent will grow, mature and offer him/herself to life with all the love, the integrity, truthfulness, the leadership, etc., etc., we have been able to instill. What a powerful purpose!

3. Value the life you live! Inner treasure is not about winning the famous lottery, becoming “queen/king” or a star for a day, or appearing on television because of a special achievement, talent or fame.

And I dare say, inner treasure uniquely is in the deep innermost quality of the life you have been given as a man, as a woman to be wholly you. Each of us has a purpose, whether or not we can see it, feel it, sense it. For some the purpose may be noble, inspired, important to the world, or it may be to serve our tribe, our community, or our family.

In the deeper sense, inner treasure is not about being better than another person; it’s not about accomplishing more than someone else. It is about doing what we can do with what we’ve been given. Our innate ability is essentially our “call” to awaken to our greatness. If you sing, then perform and sing your song. If you write, then write and write well. If you sell cars, coaches or airplanes, value your work and do it very well indeed. If you are a physician, lawyer, teacher, mathematician, librarian or sanitation “engineer,” do it with the deepest calling of excellence you can offer to your task. What God wants of our life is to be revealed, a step at a time, and is not what our ego says has value or importance.

What we must remember is that as a child of God each has his/her place in the universal scheme of things. Often we can look out and see what others are doing or becoming. But when we tend to hide our own gifts (treasures) it’s because we do not see them in clear light. It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness!

“ God is the ocean of Spirit; human beings are like waves that rise and fall on the ocean’s surface. To one who is involved in the drama of relative life-who is attached to material existence and fearful of death-the endlessly varied human experiences appear to be the only reality. To one who is perfectly established in nonattachment, everything is perceived as God.”
- Paramahansa Yogananda

“It wouldn’t help some people to remember their past lives. Even in this lifetime, see how habit-bound many people have become. (Almost) everything they do is predictable. As they grow older, the more settled they become in their ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. They need an opportunity to forget what they have done and start fresh. For them, with a new beginning there is hope of improvement.”
- Paramahansa Yogananda

“ Whoever, either now or after I am gone, shall be a lamp unto themselves and a refuge unto themselves, shall not seek an external refuge, but holding fast to the truth as their lamp … it is they who shall attain the topmost height. But they must be intent on learning.”
- Words attributed to Gautama Buddha

“ To get at the core of god … one must first get into the core of the self … Go to the depths of the soul, the secret place of the Most High, to the roots, to the heights; for all that God can do is focused there.”
- Meister Eckhart

Copyright©2002 Temple of the Living God of St. Petersburg, Inc.