| Interview with Jeff Maziareck, author of "Spirituality | | | | Higher Self. Tell us about the Higher Self. |
| Simplified" | | | | Jeff: To me the Higher Self is the aspect of ourselves |
| Today we are pleased to have Jeff Maziareck with | | | | that is Divine in nature, the part of us that looks out |
| us. Jeff, after much study and research into the | | | | upon our life as a "witness" of all that is occurring here |
| subject of spirituality has written a book that is not like | | | | in the physical world, and which always knows the |
| any other book on the topic. Jeff, welcome to Reader | | | | most appropriate choice for us in any given moment. |
| Views. | | | | Our primary challenge is to learn to consistently and |
| Irene: "Spirituality Simplified" - seems like a book that | | | | consciously connect with this higher aspect by |
| gives a novice understanding of the basics of | | | | developing the ability to truly quiet our mind and be |
| spirituality. What inspired you to write such a book? | | | | open to its advice and counsel. Clearly, this is not easy |
| Jeff: In the late 1980s when I first discovered the | | | | given all of the distractions of daily life combined with |
| subject of "spirituality", it didn't take very long for me to | | | | the effects of all the emotional and intellectual |
| become thoroughly engrossed in it. In fact, over a | | | | programming we have been exposed to since our |
| period of ten years I ultimately purchased and read | | | | arrival on earth in a physical body. Nonetheless, as my |
| nearly 200 books in this category. In that process it | | | | favorite musical artist Todd Rundgren once said, "If |
| occurred to me one day in early 1999 there really | | | | you want different choices, you've got to hear the |
| wasn't, at least to my knowledge, an existing book that | | | | quiet voices." |
| could be described as the ideal "first book" for a | | | | Irene: In your book you talk about "cause and effect." |
| person who was new to the spiritual path--a book that | | | | Do you believe this is Karmic? |
| could effectively introduce the subject, and at the | | | | Jeff: As I say in the book, the principle of cause & |
| same time serve as a "road map" to other content | | | | effect essentially serves as our personal boomerang, |
| that I felt could assist them in their process of | | | | bringing back to us at some point, and in some form, |
| self-discovery. | | | | whatever we put out into the world. According to this |
| While I thought the idea had some merit, it wasn't until I | | | | principle, every effect one experiences had to have a |
| visited a friend of mine in Florida by the name of Kaye | | | | cause. In my view, the primary lesson to be learned is |
| O'Bara that I was actually inspired to move forward | | | | that in order to progress in life we simply must do our |
| and begin to write the book. Kaye and her daughter, | | | | best to become more conscious of the choices we |
| Edwarda, were the subject of a book by Wayne | | | | are making, for they are causes that in turn create |
| Dyer called "A Promise is a Promise." I had initially met | | | | effects. This includes choices about what we think |
| her in 1998 after reading that book and then stopping | | | | about as well. The challenge we face in this area is |
| by her home in N. Miami for a visit. During February of | | | | that over time so much of our decision-making |
| 1999 on a return trip to see her, we spent an entire | | | | choice-making, and our thoughts themselves for that |
| afternoon together, and that is when the subject of | | | | matter, emerge from subconscious programs that |
| my idea for the book arose. After hearing me speak | | | | operate in the background, so to speak. |
| about it, Kaye immediately voiced her opinion on the | | | | As for "karma", as I say in the book, it is a bit unnerving |
| matter; namely, that I need to write the book because | | | | when one stops to think about all the causes one may |
| it was obvious I had great passion for the subject. I | | | | have initiated in the past (i.e., from this lifetime and |
| decided to take her advice, and began work on the | | | | perhaps even past lifetimes), that could ultimately |
| book promptly upon my return home. At the beginning | | | | emerge as some type of negative effect. Rather than |
| of the project I didn't really expect to ever publish a | | | | getting all caught up in that, in my experience the most |
| book, but proceeded anyway because I felt it would | | | | constructive approach is to 1. Focus on creating new |
| be an excellent way for me to crystallize my | | | | causes in each present moment (i.e., thoughts, feelings, |
| philosophy to that point, and come to better | | | | actions) that will ultimately lead to positive effects, and |
| understand myself. | | | | 2. Make best efforts to "reframe" negative |
| Irene: What is spirituality in your terms? | | | | circumstances into positive ones by looking for the |
| Jeff: In my terms spirituality is coming to the | | | | lesson embedded within the experience (i.e., what is |
| awareness that each and very person has within | | | | the Universe/Spirit trying to teach me here?). From my |
| them a "spark" of the Creator, or God if you prefer. In | | | | perspective, accepting cause & effect as a |
| essence, we are all connected to the very force that | | | | working principle in one's life is very empowering, |
| created us, and each of us therefore has the innate | | | | because it compels you to acknowledge your role as |
| potential to be deeply compassionate and | | | | an active creator of life circumstances rather than as |
| unconditionally loving. Spirituality also requires each of | | | | a helpless roulette ball on the wheel of life. |
| us to accept that our connection to the Creator/God | | | | Irene: You quote Tamura "We may fool ourselves into |
| also means, by default, that at some level we are | | | | believing that we are fundamentally different from the |
| connected to all other people as well. In addition, the | | | | person we are judging, but, in truth, we can never |
| path of spirituality requires an individual be willing to | | | | recognize in another what we don't have in ourselves." |
| leave no stone unturned in the process of coming to | | | | That's a pretty scary thought. Explain this to our |
| truly know themselves. That means being ready to | | | | reading audience. |
| question literally everything they have been taught | | | | Jeff: According to the theory, each of us consciously |
| about spirituality, and for that matter, religion as well. | | | | and subconsciously "project" ourselves energetically |
| Irene: Some people would disagree with you that we | | | | out into the world, and other people then "mirror" these |
| are all connected. They believe that their path to God | | | | projections back to us. I don't feel it's frightening at all; |
| is the only way and feel that they have been chosen | | | | it's just another piece of the puzzle of self-discovery. |
| to convince others of the same. How do you justify | | | | For example, if we judge someone for being intolerant, |
| your belief? | | | | then at some level we ourselves are intolerant, and the |
| Jeff: To answer the question first, I don't really feel that | | | | message is that we need to acknowledge that |
| I must justify my belief to anyone. I have come to | | | | "shadow" aspect so that can completely accept |
| believe what I believe based on my own research and | | | | ourselves exactly as we are, even with our hidden |
| study, and my objective in writing the book was not to | | | | repressed aspects. |
| persuade anyone to believe exactly the same way. | | | | Since learning about this "mirroring" process years ago, |
| The purpose of writing the book was to share | | | | I make it a regular practice to carefully consider what |
| information, ideas, and experiences that hopefully | | | | my judgments are saying about me, and the result has |
| would be of some value to spiritual seekers. If people | | | | been very educational. As a case in point, last year I |
| profit from it great, they are responsible for that; if they | | | | announced to one of my clients that I would be taking |
| are annoyed by it that is their responsibility as well. As | | | | an extended vacation, and the response was not very |
| for people who would disagree that we are all | | | | supportive. I was of course displeased and began |
| connected, I would recommend they spend some time | | | | having negative feelings about it, wondering how this |
| reading about what quantum physicists have known | | | | individual could feel that way given that I hadn't taken |
| for quite sometime, which is the raw material of | | | | any time off in two years. In the midst of my "stewing" |
| creation is, in reality, a field of energy that permeates | | | | about the matter, this thought came to me, "all this |
| every square inch of the Universe, and as such, | | | | person is showing you, is that part of you that doesn't |
| connects everything, including people. Finally, for those | | | | feel you deserve the time off." I knew immediately this |
| who feel that their way to God is the only way, it's not | | | | insight was completely accurate, and I promptly |
| my business to convince them otherwise, and I | | | | stopped running the negative thoughts about the client, |
| wouldn't ever make an effort to do so. | | | | and instead affirmed to myself that I did indeed |
| Irene: Many people interchange the terms spirituality | | | | deserve the break. |
| and religion. What is the difference? | | | | Irene: You talk about detaching in your book. Why is it |
| Jeff: In my view spirituality and religion are not | | | | so important to "detach from the outcome"? |
| equivalent terms. As I say in the final chapter of the | | | | Jeff: Detachment is key to manifesting desires, |
| book, spiritual growth is a lot like walking a high wire | | | | because it all comes down to the point of focus. |
| without a safety net, because unlike traditional religious | | | | Whenever we are attached to a particular result, |
| practice there is no rigid dogma that exists to provide | | | | meaning that we really, really want to have some item, |
| one with all of the 'answers'. Instead, on this path an | | | | or to have something occur, the focus is on what we |
| individual takes on the responsibility for finding his or her | | | | don't have rather than on what we intend to have. In |
| own answers to serious questions such as: Who or | | | | essence, we are subconsciously focused on the |
| what is God? What is the purpose of my life? What is | | | | wanting, and not the having. We simply need to get to |
| the meaning of life in general? With religion, one simply | | | | a point where we get in the feeling space of actually |
| has to accept the dogma is the truth because | | | | having what we desire, and let the universe take care |
| someone says that it is; questioning of the dogma is | | | | of the details. This goes against the traditional "make it |
| typically frowned upon, and particularly so in sects that | | | | happen" approach that is so prevalent in business, but |
| are firmly attached to particular teachings. Spiritual | | | | that approach takes so much energy, and once one |
| growth is a never-ending process that requires the | | | | realizes that there is indeed an unseen "force" that is |
| individual to continually refine their philosophy based on | | | | there to assist us in our creative efforts, it's |
| their personal process of discovery. As such, it | | | | unnecessary to resort to that approach. This doesn't |
| requires a commitment to do the work, to dig and dig | | | | mean that one doesn't "do" anything, not at all; one |
| for answers that resonate positively within. It's really | | | | follows their inspiration and still puts energy out into the |
| not about "getting somewhere," it's about "being" fully | | | | world to manifest desires. However, the difference is |
| with the process of self-discovery. | | | | that the actions are supported by an attitude of trust |
| Irene: Spiritual people often call themselves | | | | that "this, or something better will manifest." This is one |
| "enlightened." What is your view in this area? | | | | other critical advantage of detachment, namely that |
| Jeff: There is an old saying I heard a while back, the | | | | being detached from a specific outcome opens the |
| origin of which I cannot recall, that essentially states the | | | | door for something even better to arrive or occur. |
| following: 'he who speaks does not know, he who | | | | Irene: Your explanation gives meaning to "showing up." |
| doesn't speak, knows.' For someone to outwardly | | | | Would you tell us some experiences you've had when |
| claim they are enlightened suggests to me they are | | | | you were detached from the outcome but showed up. |
| trying to somehow distinguish themselves as being | | | | Jeff: In 1994 I started a business that was originally |
| ahead of the pack, so to speak. Rhetorically speaking, | | | | intended to one offering marketing consulting services |
| what is the standard by which to judge whether | | | | for high-tech firms. I began marketing the firm through |
| someone is truly enlightened? In my experience it is all | | | | various means, and made little progress for three |
| an individual process and looking to put one's self on | | | | months. At this point, I decided to step away from |
| some kind of grading scale of progress is a desire | | | | taking physical "action", and instead begin using |
| rooted in ego, not in Spirit. | | | | affirmations and prayer as techniques to generate |
| Irene: What spiritual teachers have you used as a | | | | connections that would lead to work. In doing this, I |
| basis of your information? | | | | made best efforts to put the energy out there and |
| Jeff: Within the book there are nearly 80 quotations | | | | then detach from the outcome as best as I could. I |
| from about 40 different books. That translates into a | | | | kept myself busy with reading and household projects. |
| wealth of content from a number of different authors. | | | | Then, one day the phone rang and it was some |
| The intent was to use the "best of the best" content | | | | woman from a high technology public relations firm |
| that I had uncovered over the various books I read. In | | | | who had heard about my high-tech background from |
| that process, I've come to feel that there are a handful | | | | a friend of a friend. She asked if I would drive up to |
| of teachers that have had the most impact on my | | | | meet her for lunch to discuss the concept of my |
| continually evolving spiritual philosophy, they are: Fr. | | | | writing draft press releases for the firm. The lunch |
| Anthony DeMello, because I greatly enjoy his very | | | | meeting went well and I began work the next week. |
| practical, no-nonsense approach to the topic; Stuart | | | | By the time 5 years had passed, I had written nearly |
| Wilde, because he never tries to appear like he has it | | | | 1,200 releases for that firm. |
| all solved, and honestly his irreverent approach makes | | | | Approximately six months after I began writing for that |
| me laugh; and Wayne Dyer, because the very first | | | | firm, I received a letter in the mail from an ex-girlfriend |
| book I read was his title "You'll See It When You | | | | who had just moved back to the area from the West |
| Believe It", and it truly was a life-changing work for me. | | | | Coast, within which she indicated that she felt I could |
| Irene: Wayne Dyer certainly brought a message in that | | | | very well be a great writing resource for her firm. I |
| book. Would you tell our reading audience a little more | | | | then phoned her and arranged to have lunch with her |
| about what the title really means? The adage is | | | | in April of 1995; six months later I began working as a |
| reversed. | | | | freelance writer for her company. Today, more than 10 |
| Jeff: The essence of what Mr. Dyer is saying is this: | | | | years later, I continue to work for that firm on a |
| our thoughts are real "things" or energy impulses if you | | | | freelance basis as a senior technical writer. Clearly, I |
| will, that go out into the world and serve as attractors | | | | did nothing to make either of these situations happen; I |
| to experience(s). Or to say it another way, we | | | | simply put some energy out there and in time |
| become what we think about all day long. If we focus | | | | something good manifested all on its own. |
| our thoughts (and feelings) on that which we want to | | | | Irene: What is a simple test to find out if one is |
| manifest in our lives, then over time that manifestation | | | | spiritually inclined? |
| will come to pass; the same applies to focusing our | | | | Jeff: I am not really certain there is a simple test in this |
| thoughts on what we don't want. This is by no means | | | | regard. From my experience, at the root of an |
| a concept that originated with Dyer, as centuries ago | | | | orientation towards spirituality is a deeply-held desire to |
| the Buddha reportedly said the following: "We are | | | | truly come to an understanding of the purpose of life, |
| what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. | | | | and willingness to explore any and all avenues |
| With our thoughts we make the world." With that said, | | | | available to reach that understanding. The path of |
| the meaning of the title of Dyer's book is therefore the | | | | spiritual growth is not one that lends itself to the "quick |
| more accurate way of presenting how things | | | | fix," yet once it is embarked upon this path will yield |
| work--since our thoughts create our world, we will only | | | | rewards that are more than commensurate with the |
| see things arrive up in our life when we think (or | | | | effort. |
| believe) that they will. | | | | Irene: There is much buzz around find the purpose of |
| Irene: There are many spiritual concepts that seem to | | | | life, and many different beliefs of what that means. |
| overlap into the metaphysical realm. What are some | | | | What is your understanding of "purpose of life"? |
| of them and how do you view the overlap? | | | | Jeff: To me, the purpose of life is a fairly esoteric |
| Jeff: There clearly is some overlap between spiritual | | | | subject, and it can be interpreted in various ways. |
| and metaphysical concepts. The primary difference in | | | | There's the purpose of life in general, and then there's |
| my experience is that pure metaphysics doesn't seem | | | | the purpose of an individual's life. As for the former, I've |
| to have as much focus on the Creator/God itself; | | | | personally come to believe that one reason each of us |
| instead it appears to concentrate more on the human | | | | is here is to come to understand who we really are, |
| being's place in the universe, while also describing | | | | namely (as stated earlier) "sparks" of the Divine that |
| so-called universal principles or laws. In addition, it | | | | have the innate potential to be as compassionate and |
| incorporates things like astrology, channeling, and other | | | | unconditionally loving as the very force that created us.. |
| paranormal phenomena, whereas spirituality is typically | | | | As for individual purpose, I feel that each person was |
| less concerned with these subjects. The area of | | | | created to bring some form of service to the world, |
| universal principles or laws is one in which the overlap | | | | and that purpose will ultimately reveal itself to each |
| can be seen. For example, both talk about the | | | | individual who is sincerely dedicated to learning about, |
| existence of the principle (or law) of cause and effect, | | | | and meeting that purpose. The purpose may not |
| as well as others including oneness, detachment, and | | | | always be easily discovered or understood, and |
| abundance. I think the key for spiritual seekers is not to | | | | perhaps at times it may turn out that the purpose |
| get caught up in labels and categorizations, but instead | | | | requires the individual to face significant life challenges. |
| to be willing to consider information from all kinds of | | | | In addition, because each living soul has freewill choice |
| sources as they traverse their path of self-discovery. | | | | a given purpose may not always be realized. When it |
| Irene: You talk about "spiritual principles" in your book. | | | | is not, then one can only hope that the infinite |
| What are some of them? | | | | intelligence of the Creator provided for backup plans. |
| Jeff: Within the book I specifically address six principles | | | | Seriously, though, this is a very complex subject. |
| I felt were most important for the novice spiritual | | | | Irene: Jeff, it has been a real pleasure talking with you. I |
| seeker in particular. The principles described in the | | | | know our reading audience would like to know more |
| book are the following: Cause & Effect, Present | | | | about you and your book. Do you have a website |
| Moment Awareness, Oneness, Abundance, | | | | where people can learn more? |
| Non-attachment (or Detachment), and Forgiveness. At | | | | Jeff: Thank you and it really was wonderful to have |
| the end of each chapter I also include a "related | | | | this opportunity to dialog with you about the subject of |
| reading list" driven down to the chapter level to assist | | | | spirituality. |
| the reader in learning more about these principles, and | | | | To learn more about ""Spirituality Simplified"", which in |
| in turn, others as well depending on the book they | | | | addition to being a solid "spiritual starter book" is |
| reference. | | | | likewise a handy reference guide for those who have |
| Irene: Some of them seem so mystical, especially | | | | been on "the path of self discovery" for some time, |
| when people are encouraged to connect with their | | | | readers are invited to visit our Website. |