Here, There and Now
by Guy Spiro

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The group of souls that identifies itself as human was originally attracted to the physical plane for its density. On the higher planes are to be found worlds of wonderment and delight, but at finer frequencies and much less tangibility. The lure of the denser realms is in their seeming solidity where experiences are visceral and intense. What occurs at these levels seem to be more real and the duality of pleasure and pain, what we judge to be good and bad, becomes so overwhelming as to block out the higher realms. The physical plane is so convincing that we come to view it as real, but make no mistake, the physical is just as much a dream as the higher planes.

It is the sad plight of humanity that we have forgotten who and what we really are. It is in large part because of this that religious teachings have tried to focus upward and away from the physical. The religions of the past age went so far as to see the world and life on earth as a negative thing. Worldliness, materiality in the sense of money and possessions, sensuality, sexuality, our very bodies have been seen as impediments on the path to getting to heaven, which really means remembering what we have forgotten. This impulse was well-meaning, but has actually led to more of a disconnect between what we perceive as here and there.

Vast numbers of humans have turned away from religion. The modern world with its scientific understanding lays bare the mythologies of the religions. Rational people have increasing difficulty accepting religious concepts such as heaven and hell, and a capricious God who plays favorites and unfairly grants favors to some and while smiting others becomes a tougher and tougher sell. It is a positive thing that we are outgrowing many of these concepts, but we need not throw out the baby with the bathwater. All of the religions and the spiritual teachings behind them have been attempts to reawaken us.

We are not physical creatures with a possibility of reaching higher realms. We are spiritual beings having a physical experience. We are connected to the highest. We are part of the One. We have function in all realms. We really just need to remember this and assume our rightful place on the continuum of consciousness. So enjoy life in your physical body. That is why you chose to have one in the first place. But also look within, and up toward the light that truly animates us and all of existence. As we make progress on this path we come to see that we are simultaneously here and there. To the extent that we can remember this and live in it, we come to see that here and there are the same and that there is really only now.