The following guest sermon was submitted by ULC Minister Dr. D.D. Dolezal. All ULC Ministers are invited to contribute their own sermons for consideration/publication. To submit a sermon, please email it to sermons@ulc.org.
Fools seek out happiness, the wise seek heaven. Happiness is a fleeting emotion that comes and goes as quickly as the clouds in the sky above; Heaven is the contentment and lasting peace that results from returning mentally to reflect upon the origins of a desire and the beauty of its completion.
All of your deepest desires begin within you. They come from a place within you that is deeper than thinking. As each desire moves outward; the desire moves from thought, to decision, then to action. Your actions over time then begin to affect and change the perceived physical world that exists all around you until your desire becomes manifest. The perceived physical world is continually being rearranged by you in accordance with your desires. The object of your deepest desire will become what you desired at that specific moment in time and not what you may desire at a different moment in time. This can easily create suffering rather than peace.
For example, when a girl was young, she desired to be a nurse. Over time she became a great nurse but her career did not bring her contentment or lasting peace. She became unhappy because she could see from this new perspective that being a nurse was nothing like what she thought it would be as a child. Now a young woman, she believed that she could find contentment and lasting peace by achieving more than just being a nurse. So, she desired be a nurse practitioner and over time she became a great nurse practitioner. Yet this career did not bring her contentment or lasting peace either. She was unhappy because she realized from this new perspective, that being a nurse practitioner was nothing like what she thought it would be as a young woman. Now an older woman, she believed that she could find contentment and lasting peace by achieving more than what she dreamed of as a young woman. So, she desired to be in the position of a Medical Doctor, and so on. Like the woman in this story, this is the suffering that most human beings experience when they look at their blessings from the wrong perspective.
They suffer because they fail to realize that the perceived physical world has provided them an interactional space that allowed them to manifest all of their desires. They suffer even though the perceived physical world allowed all of their desires to become manifest and will continue to allow all of their desires to become manifest as long as there is no conflict within them that would prevent their desires from coming into being. They are unable to appreciate that they have received everything they have ever truly wanted.
This is because it takes time to manifest desires, years in fact, and by the time their desires become manifest, instead of being contented, they are looking forward to new desires and have long forgotten the reasons for their earlier desires. Their suffering is the result of them receiving the object of their desires long after the reason for their desires has faded from their memories.
They are unable to stay in one mental place long enough to marvel at the perceived physical world around them that continually allows their desires to become manifest in due time. They should stand in amazement and be overcome with joy at this never-ending miracle. They should be able to see that they are living in heaven and yet, they believe they are living in hell.
They wrongly believe they are living in hell because they have forgotten why they had their desire in the first place. They are looking at what they desired from a new position that they put themselves in, and cannot recall the original context of their prior desire. The nurse could not recall from the context of the young girl, how truly wonderful it would be to become a nurse. She could not remember her desire from the context that she desired it as a young girl. If she could think back in time and take herself to the mindset she had as a young girl when she was dreaming about becoming a nurse, she would see that she was in heaven every day that she was able to be a nurse.
Most can recall having a dream of becoming something or getting something that they really wanted more than anything else in the world. But not many can remember the joy and contentment they felt in the moment that they actually received it. Getting the new job, big promotion, the big bonus, the new degree, certification or award was heavenly.
But once the moment was over and done, the realities surrounding their desire soon became apparent and they began to think about how ignorant they were of the realities that would surround their desire. After that big promotion, the challenges of the job became way more stressful, the hours became longer and the load became much heavier. Instead of enjoying the gift of the new job, most soon become unhappy and begin to convince themselves that they would be much happier if they only had something else. They forgot how much they dreamed about the big promotion, the extra money, the extra respect and the security of a better retirement. They are living in heaven because all of their desires have become manifest and yet they are frustrated and unhappy because they cannot see it while looking at it from the wrong perspective and in the wrong context. Heaven is all around them and yet they remain blind to its existence.
If you wish to experience heaven on earth, you only need to return mentally to the moment that any desire arose within in you, and recall the original context of the desire. Connect that moment with the moment that your desire became manifest in the perceived physical world and you will quickly realize that heaven has been all around you and even within you this entire time.
Amen
23 comments
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Russel A. Kester
Nice sermon. Seems based in New Thought which is an awesome theology.
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Dan Anderson
My personal perspective on heaven and hell is as follows:
Hell is when one lives in guilt, fear, hatred, anger, regret, sadness, etc. One is unsure about tomorrow and feeling badly about the past. These feelings are destructive, not only to the physical body, but also of one's psyche. When one becomes attached to things, people, or even ideas, one gets bogged down with 'negative' feelings and chemistry.
Heaven is defined as living in love, kindness, compassion, understanding and joy to name a few. When one feels these things, the physical body thrives and the psyche grows dramatically. Not staying attached to things or experiences helps grow the person just that much more. Remember, EVERYTHING is temporary.
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Rev. Carol M Anaski-Figurski
Interesting perspective.
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Nicholas J Page
I believe heaven is all around us
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Theresa C. Marquess
Dr. Dolezal's sermon was an excellent perspective on what he perceived heaven to be. It caused me to reflect on an inner desire that I had from childhood. From his perspective, I have achieved the inner peace and contentment from that childhood dream. Heaven is attainable.
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Lionheart
But in reality, do we really know that? Is it just wishful thinking?🤷🏼
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Theresa C. Marquess
Corleone, if we have even a shred of faith, we know it. Life is what we make of it. As for me, I don't even want to waste a day!
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Lionheart
I’m totally with you there. My days are getting very few, so I don’t want to waste a day either. Thank you for your comment, Lady Theresa. 🤗
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Rev. BH
Assuming "most people" and "they" are continuously miserable throughout their unfulfilled lives is depressing, and no doubt untrue. Happiness comes from many places and directions, not just occupations and career steps. Friends and family, for instance. Donating time to good causes Gardening, feeding birds - many things, large and small, bring happiness, not just a memory of one fleeting happy moment.
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Daniel Gray
Gobble-de-gook. Every religion out there states their form of "heaven" is not of this earth.
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Merlin
Excellent perspective!
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Colleen McAllister
This "sermon" is lovely but has no connection with my deffinition of Heaven. To me it is a good explanation of dissatisfaction. Nothing is ever enough. Always wanting more. Always thinking the next job or new house will be enough. None of that has anything to do with Heaven.
Heaven from my perspective is where my soul will go when I die. It is the place - wherever that is - where I will be reunited with my loved ones. And best of all I will be in the physical presence of Christ.
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Dr. D.D. Dolezal DC, FABDA
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Lionheart
But in reality it’s only wishful thinking being as we have no idea what an afterlife really comprises of, assuming there is one. Nice thought though.
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Thank you for your consideration and your comment. The sermon I wrote titled "Heaven is all around us" was intended to clarify the 3rd saying of Jesus Christ as written in the Gospel of Thomas. Jesus said, "If your leaders tell you, 'Look, the kingdom is in heaven,' then the birds of heaven will precede you. If they tell you, 'It's in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the kingdom is within you and outside of you...'" Hope this helps. Dr. D.D.
Interesting thoughts, but in reality though, how does one know what Jesus ever really said, assuming he was real, which he possibly was? All we have are writings compiled into a book from historians decades later that never met him. Thanks for your submittal to the Universal Life Church.
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Thank you for your comment. I have submitted these sermons to the ULC organization with the understanding that they might offer helpful ideas to those that intend to use them in their sermons at their church, synagogue, mandir or temple. I was under the belief that this website was a location that would be a resource of a variety of philosophical, theological concepts and perspectives that may not be available anywhere else. I am not sure if you are an employee of the U.L.C. but I've noticed that you have left many comments on nearly all of the sermons that I and others have posted on this website that attempt to contradict or disprove the many different sermons. In this case at 10:11 pm you stated, " Interesting thought, but in reality though, how does anyone know what Jesus ever really said, assuming he was real, which he possibly was?" The website states when leaving a comment, please; be respectful and constructive. I am not sure your comment fits into that category, and I am not sure why you spend so much time on a religious website attempting to flame what others have offered without producing a sermon of your own. However, I am glad that you have taken the time to read the sermon and are involved as much as you are able to be.
Thank you for your reply. As an ex-minister I do understand where you are coming from. I too am interested in philosophical concepts to help better understand our belief structure. I merely respond to members comments who tend to insist that their god, or their religion, is what they like to think is the real one. During my life I have found that what religion does best is to stop people thinking, using logic, reason, and critical thought.
It’s definitely not my intention to cause disrespect, but if my comments cause someone to intelligently reflect on what others insist is true I can only see that could be a good thing to help people constructively think, and even possibly question, about what they read to help them become unfettered in their lives.
I have seen way too much harm caused by religion. Religious Trauma Syndrome (RTS) is a reality for some people. I merely like to possibly help those who would like to question, or are starting to question, their own belief structure by helping them to know that it really is okay to question what they have been taught to be true, when in fact there are strong reason/logic to believe otherwise.
As far as I’m aware, criticizing thoughts and ideas is totally acceptable here at the Monastery Blog.
Again, thank you for your comment. 🤗
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Thank you for your reply. It appears that as an “ex minister” you may have inadvertently moved from minister to the role of self-described activist on this website, as you have taken it upon yourself to fight for the protection of those that you think might succumb or have already fallen victim to what you call “Religious Trauma Syndrome”. You stated, “I merely like to possibly help those who would like to question, or are starting to question, their own belief structure by helping them to know that it really is okay to question what they have been taught to be true, when in fact there are strong reason/logic to believe otherwise”.
Since you have also stated, “As far as I’m aware, criticizing thoughts and ideas is totally acceptable here at the Monastery Blog”, I would like to humbly respond with a few thoughts that I hope you will accept as constructive. While I agree that religions, over time, seem to have become more extreme in opposing directions and that neither of these extremes will lead to positive spiritual growth and development, I am more concerned that these religious organizations and their followers are preventing the everyday average person with reasonable intellect from becoming a part of any religious organization at all.
On one side, there are religions that call themselves conservative. These religions subscribe to an intensely narrow translation of their specific text. They require their followers to believe in the text as the only eternal, infallible, sacred truth and they must voluntarily give up their right to question. Their leaders are so entrenched in their own point of view and so egotistical with regard of their perceived level of knowledge related to their version of religion, that they dismiss any objections to their point of view at best as mere misunderstanding and at worst as malevolence on the part of those they deem less educated, less important, or less involved with their clique. Followers of these conservative religions have stopped trying to learn with an open mind and instead pick and choose from that which will substantiate their religions strongly held beliefs. When they are given new information, regardless of the source, they will often choose to oppose any offer which differs with the narrow translation of their text and instead choose only that which will strengthen their position. They look at anyone that differs with their point of view as less than or evil.
On the other hand, there are religious sects and religious leaders that call themselves liberal. These religious groups lack the necessary religious feeling in their organization, and over time, allow themselves to degenerate into a politico-social club. Followers of these liberal religions often spend their time involved in political or social activism defending the latest cause and proudly proclaim they are don’t belong to a religion, but they are religious. These followers often avoid physical church attendance, but they maintain social contact by intermittently visiting alternative religious websites, political organizations, rehabilitation groups or reading self-help style books. In the name of what they consider religious freedom, they feed their idle curiosity with an endless succession of what they describe as intellectual arguments against whatever they read or see. With them, ideas that are different from theirs are treated like a disease. They gain a kind of nervous excitement when they treat new or different ideas with their long-held negativism in a similar way that a bully in school would try to trip another child walking peacefully by with a lunch plate full of food. These are the kind that troll religious websites anonymously under ridiculous pseudonyms that they give themselves. Religion with these people is a sort of mental masturbation and that is where it ends. Religious liberals will claim to have the same kind of love as other religious seekers. The only difference is how they direct their love that compels one to do good while the other cuts someone’s throat. Religious seekers love others while religious liberals love themselves.
Because of this, I believe it is becoming more difficult if not impossible, for the ordinary person or religious seeker with a reasonable degree of intelligence and an open mind to become a part of any religious organization. The conservative religious sects display commendable levels of love for those who share their ideals while hating anyone that doesn’t subscribe to them, while the liberal religious sects act as narcissistic politico-social clubs that prefer the role of critic over the role of contributor.
Thank you again for your comment.
I truly appreciate your reply. You may be right that I seem to have drifted into the role as an activist, and the reason is to help those better understand how religion can be harmful to many. I work with those on a daily basis who are currently in recovery from religion. I remember my first two contacts on the Helpline, which were from two young girls contemplating suicide due to their involvement with religious indoctrination. If I can help to save someone’s life I will of course do so.
Purely as a matter of interest, Religious Trauma Syndrome (RTS) is a well recognized psychological condition that affects many.
Wikipedia Quote:
The term "religious trauma syndrome" was coined in 2011 by psychologist Marlene Winell in an article for the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies, though the phenomenon was recognized long before that. The term has circulated among psychotherapists, former fundamentalists, and others recovering from religious indoctrination.
Again, thank you for your reply.
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your lack of insight is truly remarkable.
Im sorry that logic, reason, and critical thought seems to evade you. I can only assume you have never met anyone suffering from RTS, or met anyone contemplating suicide due to their religious indoctrination. I have! If you ever do, you might possibly regret your rhetoric towards myself, and those that don’t think as you do.
I’m trying to be as respectful, and as constructive as I can. I am merely attempting to help you to think in a much broader humanitarian way for those who suffer as a result of religion.
Be well.
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Yes, Dr. Dolezal, heaven is all around us. We just have to take the time to open our eyes to see it. When we do, it can and will be life changing. I have had the experience and am hopeful that it continues to make a better person of me. Today my path is filled with the love and hope that is expressed in the New Testament.