The Keys That Open - S.A. Abraham

BOOK INTRODUCTION

The Keys That Open: Meditations on The Creator & the Way to Inner Peace and Empowerment

The Keys That Open is based on my own search for a better life, for self-knowledge, discipline, progress and empowerment. I hope the meditations of my heart and mind, along with all the research and information I have gathered about many subject matters, will have some interest and significance for you.

I share the keys that have opened many doors in my life, as well as the sources, inspirations, the people and the books which have shaped my observations and my understanding.

You will find the many different lessons I have learned in my personal and continuing journey towards awareness, improvement and transformation; and I invite you to explore the journey of self-cultivation and the ways to inner peace and fulfillment that might enrich your own life.

As ancient military general, strategist and philosopher Sun Tzu (4^th Century B.C.) states in The Art of War;

“He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight...And, [one] who understands how to use both large and small forces will be victorious.”

“If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will be defeated in every battle. If you know yourself but are ignorant about the enemy, your chances of victory or defeat are equal. If you know the enemy and you know yourself, you will not be in danger, and you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.”

I feel these wise statements can readily be applied to the work of self-cultivation as they have much to do with developing discipline and self-knowledge; developing an awareness of the people and the world around us; as well as the importance of context and timing in our lives.

And the "enemy" it speaks of might be applied to an actual enemy or opponent, negative influences and environments, our own self-sabotaging ways, something as debilitating as poverty or oppression, or something as "mundane" as procrastination.

Perhaps, like me, you will be motivated to meditate on, work towards (or continue to) and achieve a more rewarding life that includes: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.

In practical terms, this would mean personal fulfillment; calmness and contentment; re-enforced principles and ethics; decisiveness and conviction of beliefs; openness to the lives and circumstances of others; arming oneself against evils and obstacles; finding great faith—and learning from and helping others.

I believe it is essential that we each make time for quiet contemplation, meditation and personal reflection in our lives. Everything I have been taught and read tells me that conscious effort is key to achieving increasing inner peace, self-empowerment and fulfillment in our lives.

And this conscious effort would be applied towards seeking self-knowledge; cultivating our principles and morals; learning discipline, mindfulness and loving-kindness; as well as understanding and practicing our belief/faith systems. To do otherwise is likely to result in confusion and uncertainty about one’s own self and about life.

And so, I see this book as a way of sharing what has worked for me; and as a kind of solution to what I often see and hear around me— confusion and uncertainty about life; ignoring one’s own instincts and intuition; overlooking the simple, the common sense and the obvious for the over-complicated and the unnecessarily complex; routinely disregarding what is healthy and peaceful; as well as the routine human practice of justifying our own actions while finding fault with others for the same behaviours.

I also see this book, for those who are interested and particularly for believers, as a kind of solution to what I have often observed— confusion and uncertainty about the contents of the Holy Scriptures; misquoted and made-up biblical verses; misinterpretations and dismissals of Scriptures by those who have not read or opened the Good Book; as well as the misrepresentation and the misunderstanding of our Creator Father.

At the same time, this book is intended for any person who would really like to know about the contents of the Holy Scriptures and the teachings of Jesus Christ; Scriptures and End-time prophesies; and how to get strength, instruction and inspiration from the Living Word of their Father and Creator.

“Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? Do not I fill Heaven and Earth?’ says The LORD” (The Book of Jeremiah).

Also;

“Thus says the LORD, Heaven is My throne and the Earth is My footstool, where is the house that ye build unto Me, and where is the place of My rest? For all those things has mine hand made” (The Book of Isaiah).

I also try to show the modern relevance of these timeless writings to our everyday lives and to the current events taking place in the world around us.

Reaching out to "believers" of many kinds is part of my purpose and goal. Reaching out to believers and those who are unsure but open to believing, is part of my contribution; and my hope for a better future with mutual understanding between people.

By working in unity with our loved ones, our communities and our larger social environments; we can provide safety nets, protection and support for the vulnerable among us, while maintaining fair and equitable dealings with groups, cultures or belief systems which mean us no harm.

I believe we have the free will, the freedom and the power, to make a real difference in our own lives and in the lives of others.

To be inspired, more connected, spiritually fulfilled, at peace; and to be in solidarity with our global human family, while at the same time being wary of and helping to fight the evils of the world,...this is my goal and purpose.

And I believe and hope that we all can aspire, in our own human betterment, towards this great shared destination of the sacred and the self, and a safer place to be.

Taking action is the only way to get results; examining and challenging our own realities, thoughts, emotions, habits and beliefs is the only way we achieve personal growth; and regular practice is the only real way to improve our situation—physically, emotionally, socially, intellectually and spiritually—all of the things that constitute self-improvement and a fulfilled life.

“Just as a gardener cultivates [a plot of land], keeping it free from weeds…, so must [people] tend the garden of their mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, and impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and the fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts.” (James Allen in As A Man Thinketh)

“[One] that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules [and controls his inner self] is better than he that takes a city” (The Book of Proverbs).

[I'd also like to assure you—if there happen to be any shortcomings or errors in this book, they are my fault and not that of the many materials, sources and books I refer the reader to! Please make use of the many source materials and books that I quote from and refer to, for your own further research, understanding and edification.]

It is a noble, achievable and worthwhile cause for all of us to strive to be our best selves, while at the same time working to nurture, protect and help progress our global human family’s journey toward mutual respect and success, lasting peace and harmony.

I welcome hearing from you with your own stories, journeys and thoughts about your own faith and your human fulfillment.

Please visit me at my website/blog: www. thekeysthatopen.com

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Bibliography:

All Scripture quoted from The Companion Bible, The Authorized version of 1611 (King James Version). Originally published in 1922. Notes and Appendixes by E. W. Bullinger.
Scripture quoted from the King James Bible (red letter edition)
The Art of War by Sun Tzu:Translated and with an Introduction by Samuel B. Griffith (1963) Oxford University Press.
The Art of War by Sun Tzu: Edited and with a foreword by James Clavell. Copyright (1983) A Delta Book, Delacorte Press, N.Y.
As a Man Thinketh by James Allen, Copyright (1902) From “The James Allen Free Library” website.