Spiritual Keys to a Happier Life

Growing up isn’t always easy. It wasn’t for me. Every year the world grew and my place in it became less clear. By middle school age questions surfaced about things I was taught, especially lessons from church. What was God? Was there purpose to life? I began to resent my parents for sheltering me. There was no real reason for rebellion. They gave me music lessons and encouraged sports. I worked in several bands and had the opportunity to travel extensively without their escort. Still I was restless, and after high school couldn’t wait to leave.

Once on my own, I made myriad mistakes and had to learn the consequence of poor choices. My father and I had a number of long distance arguments. I didn’t like the core curriculums at school, and kept moving, mostly on instinct, uncertain what I was looking for. It was in my third college that something happened. I had just turned 21. In the dorm, nearly empty over spring vacation, I lay on my bunk with eyes closed. There was humming from a plane nearby. The sound became louder and I felt a vibration. Globes of light appeared. Hurdling inwardly through a tunnel of faint blue, I popped out over an enormous ocean surrounding me on all sides. A faraway flute played. There were classmates chatting in the hallway, so I knew I was conscious. Peace overtook me…the ocean, the blue light, the flute. I fell asleep. After that everything changed.

It took several years to find ECKANKAR, the path of Spiritual Freedom. It describes the light, the sound, and out of body type episodes.

A cornerstone of the teaching is the word HU, pronounced HYOO. It can be sung aloud or silently 15 to 20 minutes daily as a spiritual exercise. This was a discipline I could embrace. As I practiced, my focus became the unfolding of awareness. I relaxed, began tracking

my dream life, courting gratitude, and developing reliance on my insights, intuitions… inner guidance. When I tried to explain some of these adventures to my father, he struggled to redefine them in a language his engineer’s logic could accept. Rather than argue, correct,

or defend, I let it be. A precept of the ECK teachings is to give the same freedom to others that you assume for yourself. It was an important step for me.

Later in his life my Dad expressed regret for the clash and conflict between us. “In my pride,” he said, “I couldn’t see how hard it was for you.“ I apologized in return for refusing his opinions and his counsel. “I knew it was sound advice, but I had to see for myself,” I told him. “I found my own way and I know who I am now.” “I know you do,” he replied. Dad knew I was happy.

These golden moments are warmth to me. At the end each day I look for one thing to be grateful for. This way I can fall asleep counting the many blessings.

Robert Claycomb is a long-time member of Eckankar, the Path of Spiritual Freedom. You are welcome to join us at our upcoming Eckankar Regional Seminar: Spiritual Keys to a Happier Life, January 31, February 1-2 2020 at the Sheraton Monarch Place in Springfield. See ad in this magazine.