Our society continues to pay a huge price for the myth of romantic love.  It’s a tempting notion that somewhere out there is my soul-mate, a Mr or Mrs Right, who will complete my being, that the feelings of loneliness, hollowness, meaninglessness, boredom, and unworthiness will melt away with this union; in the warm affectionate arms of an adoring partner, who will understand me and know the depth, wonder and secret of my being.  Poets and prose speak of this promise with starry-eyed tongues.  However, a succession of broken hearts and marriages crack this notion for many, but for most the dream continues.

Once upon a time there was a wise man who insisted that to live well, one had to be positive, forgiving and be thankful for all of life.  One day, a traveller came to him and asked, “How can I be positive?  Nothing is going right in my life! I've been badly hurt by people I trusted, and now I want revenge!”

The wise man shook his head and asked, “What would you do to those who have hurt you?”  The traveller replied, “I'd tear them from limb to limb ... I'd ruin their business ... I'd ...,” and with all the pain and sorrow pouring from his heart, he cried, “Can you help me to get revenge?”

“Yes,” said the wise man. “I'll certainly help you, but first you must do two things for me.”  “I will, I will do anything,” said the traveller.  “First,” said the wise man,

The best things in life are free, so they say, and what can be more free and natural than nature?  Nature is so wonderful - serving us selflessly, tirelessly, patiently, abundantly and most of all without prejudice.  Similarly our soul nature is also natural, and, like the mature tree that bows down to offer its fruit, our natural nature is of abundance, giving.  Our real and unadulterated nature instinctively tells us that giving is better than receiving, it tells us to trust until proven wrong; to love until we feel hurt; and to turn to God for inspiration at times of need.

One of nature’s wonders is that we have natural light without ever having to pay any bills!  What would we do without the sunshine in the day and the moonlight at night?  There would be no life without a single ray of light.  Our bodies would perish and along with it all the flora and fauna.  In the same way, our soul too is in need of ‘illumination’ each