SECRETS OF LIFE (R) 8/28/24

  • "You know, the world, who is not here today, likes short term gains and long
    term losses. Short term gains and long term losses.

    That little fact is to be considered by you until you see it in greater
    revelation than you see it now. You're to connect that fact with your
    behavior - short term gain. That means I can instantly make a decision no
    matter how bad it might disrupt something. It means I can race around
    picking up the stray prizes. Easily, in one day, I can get all kind of
    gratifications, all kind of quick thrills.

    Then no one thinks of long term losses, which of course it is because
    only what is obtained consciously by spiritual power, only that has long
    term value. People simply don't understand their lives.

    You take time out today for just one small enormous thing. Think about how
    you have spent the few hours previous to your contemplation period. Just
    think how you have spent your mind, your words, your strength, your
    decisions. Just think what you did and then you will have to see there is
    no permanent value in these usual old ways at all.

    You have to understand, you have to say to yourself, "I could have been
    doing something else." You could have been doing something else. When you
    saw that opportunity to be someone in the eyes of someone else, if you
    could have seen when you wanted that opportunity to say or do something,
    thought it would make you important to them, you refused that treacherous
    prize of doing or saying something that made you feel as if you were
    uplifting yourself, but you weren't. What you were doing is getting instant
    gratification without regard to long term losses.

    You are now going to think of the consequences of small things, not big
    things like moving to another place. Not big things. I'm talking about small
    thoughts, reactions in your mind. And I want you to know that they are,
    those thoughts, those impulses, they are really enemies disguised as
    friends."

        from a talk given 6/28/1992
      V. H.'s Higher World - MP3 CD Volume 35, talk 857, track 3