
"I BELIEVE God is everything... Everything that is or ever was or ever will be. And when you can feel that, and be happy to feel that, you've found It... My first step from the old white man was trees. Then air. Then birds. Then other people. But one day when I was sitting quiet and feeling like a motherless child, which I was, it come to me: that feeling of being part of everything, not separate at all. I knew that if I cut a tree, my arm would bleed. And I laughed and I cried and I run all round the house. I knew just what it was. In fact, when it happen, you can't miss it." From: The Color Purple Alice Walker, quoted in The Virago Book of Spirituality Ed. Sarah Anderson


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Calvin Merritt - In his own words

I have listened to many teachers and I have checked in to my own experience and my innermost being to validate, or not; what I have heard over the years. From my experience I have come to appreciate and understand that we are all the same oneness, and that our "separateness" is indeed an illusion. I know that this illusion is vast and pervasive and seems very real and as well this illusion provides us with a distortion of the Truth of Who we are,

I know it is possible for each individual to wake up out of this dream or illusion to realize one's true nature, one's true being. The requirement is establishing a new or maybe somewhat dormant commitment to reconnecting with one’s own heart and making realizing one's true nature a higher priority in life. That commitment will lead in many ways to honest SELF-INQUIRY (specifically, SELF-INQUIRY into the truth of one's self, one's true nature, and what activities of MIND one habituates which keeps one from realizing what they already always are).

I have discovered for myself that when we are truly in our hearts, truly feeling the connectedness, the love, we then feel joy and peace we are being more our true nature. This Truth does not assert, defend, or try to convince others. Our true nature IS Heart, is love.

And when it comes to "beliefs" it is important not to simply take the words of another and recite them as one's own, or quote them from a scripture, but to always find out for oneself through personal experience. And if you wish, to share from your (personal experience) what one has found freely, openly, and without expectation from others - for them to accept or reject as they wish. The diversity of perspectives, when shared casually with others can be a wonderful thing, expanding life's possibilities and our own awareness.

My devotion is to my Truth as it can only be experienced by me. For me my highest priority and commitment in life is to abiding as and living life from my true, natural state. I may not fully express what I have discovered about myself but what goes along with the discoveries is an ever expanding awareness. I love to regularly visit with and listen to and speak with other truth seekers. I have found some great teachers who are quite good at pointing to the Truth of Who You Are. I gladly point to the pointers and you can check out my Resources page.

Therefore, to sum up my philosophy I would state simply:

We are all the same one "consciousness" that can take itself to be anything - and thus we seem to be what we take ourselves to be.

All that we experience in life is based on our interpretation. Our interpretation determines the nature of our existence.

ALL that which is not of Love is the result of faulty interpretation - of taking ourselves to be somebody separate from others. Taking ourselves to be an identity different from our true nature.

Therefore, having the broadest, truest angle of vision, the most accurate interpretation is wise.

Truly realizing and abiding as one's true nature (consciousness), the natural state, is the only way to accomplish this.

Thus, I have found that the ONLY solution to the world's and an individual's struggle is true self-realization (becoming aware of your own light). All other approaches and "solutions" are temporary. All those beings throughout history who have truly self-realized have said the same things; that the answer to life's woes is through discovering your own Truth - which inevitably leads to self-realization - the awake state. One very good thing is that the awake state is always present behind the illusion. It is not "attained", it is what is always there and comes forth when the illusion is busted. I now invite you to wake up from the dream. Your Truth is waiting for you.

Finally, nothing outside of yourself will ever bring you to a place of deep peace. When you truly know who you are, the greater being emerges from behind the veil. Once you have integrated this Being- Mind, Body and Soul you are free to explore time and space in any manner you so choose. The world is your Oyster when you have discovered the “Pearl” inside.

In Love always,