| As the popular saying goes, “The road to hell is | | | | constant need for affection, the neediness. This |
| paved with good intentions.” | | | | attempt to constantly make them feel good will |
| Are you familiar with it? It’s even one of the main | | | | actually begin to backfire because the intentions of the |
| lines in a current hit song by Madonna and Justin | | | | action feel icky. It’s manipulative. It’s a ploy to |
| Timberlake. | | | | grab love and will often times actually drive the other |
| What does that statement actually mean? | | | | person away! |
| Does it have any validity? | | | | “What happened,” you may ask, “I was so |
| Is it just something people say when they try do | | | | nice to them, always doing what they wished |
| something nice, but it ends up backfiring on them? | | | | whenever they asked, constantly giving them gifts and |
| Let’s take a deeper look at this statement and see | | | | being so loving. How dare they toss all my gifts away! |
| if there are some spiritual truths we can uncover in this | | | | How could they reject me after all I’ve done for |
| long-standing statement. | | | | them!?” |
| First of all, let’s define “hell” and “good” | | | | You see, when one identifies purely with the ego and |
| so that we know what we’re talking about. | | | | its inherent insecurities, there is a built-in sense of lack |
| “Hell” is basically suffering. It can exist in this very | | | | that must be filled and the only source of energy is |
| moment while you’re still alive. You can experience | | | | from other people and the external world. So you |
| “hell on earth” or “a living hell.” It is not | | | | begin draining others of their energy, very much like an |
| limited to something you experience after death. | | | | energy vampire. |
| “Good” is basically the opposite of what we call | | | | This is the energy of duality, of there being a |
| bad or evil. Thus it’s based in duality and sponsored | | | | separation, of disconnection from the ultimate Source |
| by the ego. | | | | some people call God, and thus trying to constantly |
| A good deed is something that makes us feel good. | | | | “get” security, love, and affection from others. |
| Who is it that “juices” the good feelings out of | | | | Any action that is sponsored by the heart and your |
| external situations in order to obtain good feelings? | | | | higher self will ultimately lead to peace, joy, and |
| Why, the ego of course! | | | | harmony. |
| Who is it that continually needs to do more of what | | | | When Love is given freely, truly without needing |
| they believe to be good in order to “cause” | | | | anything in return, we see it’s given without strings |
| more good feelings, much like an addiction? If you | | | | attached. It is given unconditionally, no matter what |
| guessed the ego, you’re right on! | | | | happens as a result. Expectations are not tied to the |
| See, people clearly see that acting “bad” leads | | | | giving of Love. |
| to “bad” feelings so they attempt to remedy this | | | | Love is given for the pure joy of giving, of feeling the |
| by acting in the opposite manner and acting good. This | | | | energy of Love flow through one’s body. |
| works, but only up to a certain level. | | | | When one listens to their heart for answers, their |
| This level eventually must be transcended. These are | | | | intuition for guidance, their higher self for direction, the |
| the “good intentions” that lead to hell. | | | | direction can only lead to higher and higher states of |
| You see, what you believe to be good or bad is | | | | Love. |
| literally all made up! It has no bearing on ultimate truth. | | | | Your higher self Loves you for it IS you. It will not lead |
| It’s purely made up. | | | | you to hell. There is no reason to take yourself there. |
| In this day and age, what’s considered | | | | Your higher self can see the whole path ahead and |
| “good” for a woman is to be thin and tanned. | | | | will gently guide you around the obstacles and dangers |
| Not too long ago, what was considered “good” | | | | that lie just around the next bend. All that’s required |
| was to have some meat on your bones and pasty | | | | of you is to let go and trust. |
| white skin. Why? This signaled that you were wealthy | | | | You see, your heart’s intentions are nondualistic. |
| and well fed, as well as that you didn’t have to | | | | What this means is that it’s not based in a realm of |
| labor in the fields under the hot sun like most peasants. | | | | opposites such as good and bad, right and wrong. Real |
| See, it’s all relative. It’s all made up. | | | | Love is beyond this entirely. |
| As you start raising your level of consciousness, you | | | | The heart just Loves and allows the Love to flow |
| must be willing to question and look beyond ANY AND | | | | through any external expression that is most |
| ALL beliefs, opinions, and expectations. Whatever | | | | appropriate for the situation. |
| you’re not willing to look beyond will wind up | | | | Both shouting and whispering can be expressions of |
| becoming a mental box that traps your mind. | | | | Love, depending on the circumstances. You see, it is all |
| When the mind is your guiding light towards success, | | | | available to Love. It makes no boundaries, limitations, or |
| you will inevitably crash, for the mind can never know | | | | restrictions, calling this “right” and that |
| what is truly in alignment with your highest good or not. | | | | “wrong.” |
| It can only see external apperances, but appearances | | | | Now certainly, some actions may generally be more |
| are deceiving. It can never see beyond appearances | | | | appropriate than others. Of course this is the case. |
| to the underlying essence, the truth of what is. | | | | As for which action is most appropriate, all it takes is |
| Any action that is sponsored by the ego will ultimately | | | | simply allowing the mind to quiet down a bit so that the |
| lead to suffering. | | | | quieter, gentler, more subtle voice of the heart may |
| This is what the statement means, “The road to hell | | | | speak clearly. |
| is paved with good intentions.” | | | | This is the Road to Heaven. |
| Let’s look at an example. Let’s say you have a | | | | The road to hell is paved by the ego. |
| boyfriend or girlfriend in life and you want them to feel | | | | The road to heaven is paved by the heart. |
| loved. What do you do? You constantly try to make | | | | Which road you’re walking down is a choice you |
| them feel loved by doing all these nice things for them | | | | make in every moment of every day. It’s not a |
| and trying to almost “buy” their love because | | | | one-time choice. In every moment, you have the option |
| you feel you lack it for yourself. Thus you’re, in a | | | | of coming from the reactive mind or the responsive |
| sense, using them for their affection. | | | | heart. |
| What generally tends to happen is that the person | | | | What do you choose? |
| might start to feel overcrowded, burdened by your | | | | |