The first consideration in a true spiritual practice is that it does not deviate from common sense in speech or action.  There are organizations that offer psychic phenomena, or express extremes through fanatical speeches and eccentric behavior.  We should guard ourselves against these.  There are some people who are inclined to be much impressed by such unnatural religious practices, which is due to ignorance of the spiritual aspects of the universe.

A dogma which causes its followers to be unfriendly to those of another does not impart the right spiritual concepts.  A true spiritual teaching attempts to instill in its members a conviction that its mission is to serve all people and it urges them to help not only those who belong to their own group- but all others as well.

The ultimate objective is to assist humankind to become as nearly as possible the perfect image and likeness of God.  While perfection on earth is perhaps beyond the reach of the human self, the sincere step-by-step efforts to attain it express the right attitude and show true spiritual aspiration.

The deeper a person's faith becomes, the more natural and unaffected he is.  An individual can reach that level only when she has absorbed the teachings so well that she has actually come to live them.  An individual with true spiritual awareness should speak and act with common sense, should make a favorable impression on everyone, and should be so unaffected that no one can tell what his belief is.  One should leave an uplifting, warm impression like a spring breeze upon those with whom she comes in contact.  The individual should be humble, kind and concerned about the individual happiness of humankind and about the welfare of society as a whole.

If you want to become happy you have to strive to make others happy; the blessings you receive from God by living in this way are the only true happiness.

January 25, 1949