victory – AYE AKAMARA

True-discernment

Ela ‘boru, Ela ‘boye, Ela ‘bosise.

In our own lives we discover that it is much more difficult to discern between what ‘feels right’ from what is actually right, than from making the relatively easy distinction between what is clearly right or wrong. All things good are pleasurable but not all things pleasurable or gratifying to our senses are good for us. We can miserably fail in life and put ourselves through much needless and avoidable suffering, stress and anxiety if we fail to make the distinction between what ‘feels’ right or good from what is actually right, beneficial and good. This is where honest self-reflection, discernment, humility, personal discipline and Ifa divine guidance-instruction comes in. What distinguishes a child from a mature adult is that a child is entirely driven by its childish desires, feelings and wants, whereas a mature adult is led by his developed reason, life experiences, understanding, cultivated wholesome values, personal discipline and discernment. Today we live in an impulsive culture that is pleasure driven and not truth driven. This impulsive and pleasure seeking attitude prevails in the secular and the so-called spiritual life of many. Some live in gross selfishness and others in ‘refined’ and socially ‘acceptable’ selfishness but it is selfishness, conceit and foolishness all the same. An alarming great many ‘adults’ today lack moral-emotional and intellectual maturity. They lack foundation, stability, discipline and orderliness. They are like ships without a rudder, cast upon the sea of life and being mercilessly pushed, pulled and controlled by the waves, storms and currents of impulsive desires, base and low (meaningless) selfish and directionless pleasures. A great many adults today are no more than overgrown children: They cannot accept a word of correction, truth and discipline from anyone without feeling offended or provocated in some way, because they don’t like to think with clarity, they just want to live their lives by how their own undeveloped, undisciplined, foundationless, and immature feelings leads them. In otherwords, they want to live by their feelings and emotions. They have put the cart before the horse! They refuse to accept the facts of their personal, actual and present condition. They confuse true happiness with fleeting sensual pleasure. They want to feel good and right but without living a truly good or upright life! They want to remain intellectually, morally and spiritually blind and deaf. Today the rule of life in a great many quarters is: If it feels right or good then just do it! This is the thinking of the animal world and not the one of highly endowed human beings. Even animals have better sense than that! So you see how childish and immature today’s society has become. From this pleasure seeking mindset is where corruption, vices, unclean practices, lawlessness and disrespect are born from. Instead of taking pleasure and delight in that which is truly meaningful, noble and useful, a great many minds and lives are poisoned with a hedonistic attitude of mere pleasure seeking without any true reference to what is true, right and proper. Such people live disconnected, dysfunctional, self-inflated and selfish lives. How can they avoid and escape suffering, dissatisfaction and a sense of meaninglessness living in this way?! Blinded and shackled by their base desires and contaminated understanding they are unawares creating more suffering, disillusionment, depression and dissatisfaction for themselves and others; like the blind leading the blind and together falling into a rocky, dark and deep pit of pain, anguish, meaninglessness and repeated suffering. This is what happens when we are led by our feeling and emotions instead of our Ifa informed understanding, intelligence, conscience and the guidance of worthy, proven and reputable elders. The former life is an animalistic life of needless strife, continual dissatisfaction and struggle whereas the latter life is an illuminated, orderly, satisfying and serene life, rooted in divine (lofty) understanding and personal integrity. If we have taken the time and care to study, consider and reflect upon many stories of Ifa and holy tradition, we will quickly discern that a great many if not most of the failures, mishaps, sufferings and unsavory happenings in the lives of the Orisa, Awo, Kings, Queens and the general populace etc., were due to this fundamental mistake of pursuing fleeting, petty, low and base pleasures, which when you really think about it and the consequences they brought to the mind, body and life of the wayward ones were not pleasurable at all. Momentary base pleasure with long lasting painful repercussions is what they found, created for themselves and experienced. This is how the inner ajogun (enemy defilements) and elenini (inner antagonists) trick us. While intoxicated and spiritually incapacitated by blind and unregulated passions, pleasureable expectations, feelings and emotions, we do not see the terribleness and shamefulness of our present actions and the more terrrible and shameful consequences that they will undoubtedly bring. We are lulled to sleep in the dingy bed of false, unbecoming, base and shameful desires, feelings, actions and emotions. This is why we need to ponder and consider the way we have been living our lives carefully. Many people see the cause of their problems as existing outside of themselves but in most cases they themselves are the cause, root and source of their own life problems. When they fail to accept this reality they go in search of imaginary or supernatural excuses or causes to explain their current state, condition and predicament. Ifa teaches us how to live, think and behave so as to avoid and escape the sorrow, suffering, illness, pain, dissatisfaction and shame. Ifa is mostly about prevention. One pound of prevention is better than one hundred pounds of cure. Responsibility, discipline and genuine desire

for spiritual-intellectual and moral growth is the heart and aim of Ifa. You might not want to hear this but sometimes the bitter tasting medicine is the most effective cure! Ifa is not here to make you financially rich! If you want to be financially rich then you have to study and prepare yourself with an honorable career which will compensate you for your many years of dedication, work and effort. That is how you make money. Ifa and Orisa are not dispensing money to anyone. That is not what what they are here for. Ifa is not for you to accumulate personal power and influence over others. Ifa and Orisa share their ase with you so that in a spirit of compassion, generosity and kindness you can serve and benefit others and so that you can improve and correct yourself. Why should you feel prideful or great for the work that Ifa or the Orisa are doing to help and benefit someone. It is not your personal ability, power or wisdom which is benefitting others but the ability, power and wisdom of Ifa and Orisa. So why take credit for what you yourself out of your own abilities and resources are not accomplishing?! Ifa is not about last minute miracle solutions to our life’s challenges and problems. Ifa is about giving us the spiritual-moral and intellectual tools to live orderly, meaningful, productive and responsible lives. The virtue, blessings and ase of Ifa goes in our lives and gains great momentum only to the degree we live in harmony with and practice from moment-to-moment and day-to-day the principles and precepts of Ifa. The only master that Ifa will make you into is a master of yourself alone! Ifa is about the truth. The beautiful truths of life and about the sour truths about ourselves that we ignore and push into the back of our minds and don’t want to deal with. Ifa is about the heart and about cultivating and storing up the treasures of the heart. Ifa is about caring for people and thinking about someone others than ourselves! Ifa is about unpretentiously serving others out of kindness, love, generosity and empathy. Ifa is not here to make you a superhuman but to make you a true human being. Ifa will fill your life with peace, serenity, contentment and inner happiness if you live the truth that is Ifa. This takes real work, perseverance, patience and commitment. It is easy to buy materials for ebo. It is easy to make ebo but it takes work, determination and dedication to live the truth of Ifa. Ebo is secondary to Iwa. Without Iwa no ebo will be effective or complete. This is the understanding and true discernment we must have, embrace and accept if we want to live a true life of value, genuine happiness and clean pleasure. Ifa is for the maturing humble person who acknowledges that he or she needs guidance, help and support. Ifa is not magic! Ifa is not a genie in a bottle to satisfy your whims. Ifa outlook does not pull you away from reality or cause you to seek escape from reality. Ifa gives you a true, unvarnished but balanced and actual understanding of life as it is. Ifa immerses us into the reality of our lives in this present world and asks and enlists our support to take up the task of performing real work for the benefit, correction and upliftment of the world, of which we are an integral part and live in. Ifa is not about unrealistic fantasies, but about reality. Ifa is about actuality. I hope that these sober considerations serve to correct and adjust the minds, thinking and lives of many. It is time to get real and to make the best use of our lives and time. It is up to you. You can remain childish and immature if you want or you can take to the path of truth, courage, personal discipline and maturity. Don’t preach, don’t discourse, don’t talk and talk and talk. Live! Practice! Demonstrate with your life what you know! Stop wasting your time procrastinating and forever planning and simply get to the actual implementation of all your talking, planning and thinking. Take responsibility for your own life and own it.Stop blaming others, society and your upbringing for your present failures and bad choices. Stop making yourself a victim and stop looking for excuses to do nothing but live a lazy and fruitless life. Put an end to the pity party and do something about your life and with your life. Stop sitting around and just waiting for some miracle to happen that is going to make all things good in your life and fix everything in your life. It’s never going to happen. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Without your personal continual commitment, participation and involvement nothing meaningful and satisfying will be accomplished by you.Ifa and Orisa are not going to take up your responsibilities for you. What do you think? Ifa and Orisa will be working while you lazily sit and live a passive, uninvolved, complacent and indulgent lifestyle?! Dear friends do not be alarmed by the tone of this message. Know that it is offered in good faith and true concern. Some things cannot be sugar coated. Please think and reflect upon the above message. Promote your true happiness and wellbeing. Appreciate the preciousness and fragility of life. With every breath we take time is running out. Use your time wisely and live meaningfully.

Ela ‘boru. Ela ‘ boye. Ela ‘bosise.

The Wisdom

Remember that unjust or injustice from either man or from unknown sources are way to free your mind and your life from the evil of the past and learn that pure lesson and true greatness evolved from inconvenient activities and challenges we call evil . Never resent or sad or groan when you are treated unjustly or when nature beat you with sorrow and misfortune.
Do not abandoned yourself to resentment, misery and bitterness when passing through the fire or jungle of life. Maintain discipline to gain abundantly. Always appreciate every evil attempt to learn what is most important in life and every good attempt with gratitude further the blessings of life in creation.
Only fools believe in passing through life without experience both good and bad, likewise a student passing through school without examination and tests. The wise behaves confidently and learn from the evil of life through prayer and unresounding faith in the infinite. Moving forward in humility to attain eternal glory according to Yoruba saying “adu ni ngbehin eworo “. That sweetness end the bitter leaves. Whatever you are passing through in your life right now, never bow your head in sorrow but rather lift your head in prayer and stick to the stout faith of victory. There is always and there must always be a light at the end of the turnel.
The evil situation or challenges bring out the reality of man. Gold must pass through fire before it glitters. The faithful and the ardent believers see every challenge as a stepping stone to higher stage and perfect victory.
Remember never to bother yourself with the thoughts of others or actions of your neighbour or conspirators toward you. Your power is within and your energy and glory cannot be taken away from you. Virtue is your protection and never believe in retaliation. Learn something from ika meji. That says, “eni ri oku osika nile to fi ese ta, ika ti di meji “, translated, that beating the corpse of the evil man means double evil, that is, evil in two or twice evil manifestation. Always show pity and divine love to all things in creation. What is the essence of your religion and faith when you cannot overlook the shortcomings of your neighbour or forgive yourself of evil of the past. As a spiritual man, the time of birth and the time of death is just less than a second or infinitesimal of a second, use every second to think good, do good, act good and speak good. That second may be your last breath on Earth.
Never waste any time in indulgence or frivolous activities or fight your friends or neighbour in accepting your religion or preaching dogma in the face of multi racial or multi cultural world. Your character and attitude will speak whether you of godly being or evil reincarnation. The act of doing good alone is the way to eternal bliss and harmony. Otura meji speaks of a man of peace is a man that know the path of wisdom and truth. He is a man that dwell in the bossom of God .
His words are miracle and his action are divine and his sleep and awake are guided by the luminous and eternal light from ether. Every creature, religion, plant and animal show the beauty of creator as a amazing creative force in the cosmos. Different kind of flowers give different opinion about diverse energies that resides in the cosmos. Hence appreciate all things and give thanks when you see things because the hand of God is diverse creating all things to satisfying is greatness. Do not confine yourself into a shell, because of little wisdom and religion inclination of your youth. Learn to fly higher to see that all creatures are equal on the ground of the physical existence. In the spiritual level, there is no question of religion or faith but character and attitude. Which Yoruba call IWA and the OLU IWA OR OLUWA is the word used for God in Yoruba. PERFECT YOUR CHARACTER AND ENSURE A GOOD ATTITUDE TOWARD ALL. IT SHALL BE WELL WITH YOU.
May God bless you today and forever.
Alafia

Why Do We Need Sacrifice – PART 2

Ebo or what we call sacrifices are fundamental tools to induce heavenly or spiritual action and benefits to our lives. The second reason we offer Ebo is to send messages to the unknown and we call Ebo a great messenger of word and action. Sacrifice carries a lot of messages from the doer to the spiritual point of manifestation and bring back a message of victory, success, happiness and harmony back to us.

Sacrifice go beyond physical realm to meet with the spiritual host of heaven and bring back the messages of light. Love and wisdom to the doer. We read from ifa verses where most divinities sent. Message to heaven to induce total freedom from sickness, death and negative vibrations of all forms. Orunmila use sacrificial step to wrestle the life of his son from the hand of Iku, one of the agent of ajogun orun (that is death , the agents of the punitive knight of heavenly doom).

According to ifa verse under ode iwori

Ese ifa labe ose iwori

Ose papa bi oko

Iwori jowolo bii radun

A difa fun orunmila

Yoo raan akirinbiti Ebo lo si Ajule orun nitori omo re

Ebo mo gbogbe o jiyin

Akirinbiti

Mo mo gbagbe o jiyin

Akirinbiti

Boo ba dorun too ba ti jiyin aje

Ka raje rere Ni

Akirinbiti

Mo mo gbagbe o jiyin

Translation

Ose papa bi oko

Iwori jowolo bii radun

Cast divination for orunmila

He would send a breakthrough sacrifice to heaven for the sake of his child

My sacrifice do not forget to deliver my message

Akirinbiti

Do not forget to deliver my message

Akirinbiti

When you reach Heaven deliver my message of wealth

Let us have good wealth to pocket

Akirinbiti

Do not forget to deliver my message of victory

Akirinbiti

It should be noted and realised that a particular Ebo is an arrangement and presentation of many articles as specified by the particular verse or verses of ifa as chanted by babalawo or ifa priest to the client or devotee in question. It is the natural force of this article that ifa priest would combine based on the instruction of ifa verse for the spiritual message to be delivered to Heaven. The content of the sacrifice must be the favourite foods or articles of the deities or divinities whose blessing or favour are or is being sought. At time taboo may be suggested by ifa oracle to trigger quick action of such deities if divinities. The taboo wake deities up to their full responsibility, but it must done under discipline and experience ifa priest so as not to backfire .

Hence Ebos are messengers .

Alafia

The Divine Truth Of Moral-Spiritual Progression

Long life and good health to you by the blessings of Iworiwofun. Ase.

The authentic devotee of Ifa is easily identified by his or her moral-spiritual transformation. Ifa comes into our lives to bestow divine grace, peace, resolve, meaning, intelligence, inner strength, purity and love. These divine blessings and powerful endowments are given to us to enable and embolden us in our effort to pursue and gain Ifayelele (divine awakening, harmony and moral-spiritual-emotional-intellectual maturity). The [true] follower of Ifa can be discerned by the efforts he or she makes to uproot unwholesome tendencies and habits and replace them with divine Kand wholesome habits. The enlightened Ifa devotee is never content with his or her present moral-spiritual level but is always laboring, pressing forward and exerting himself or herself to acquire new moral-spiritual terrain (continual inner growth, virtue, understanding and purer love). An Ifa devotee delights to strive and attain ever increasing and higher levels of divine grace, sanctity, purity, character, wisdom and power. To remain stagnant or stationary in ones moral-spiritual unfoldment is to retrogress and lose spiritual ground. A river that somehow or other becomes stationary or stagnant soon becomes the breeding ground of weakness, illness, stench and death but a dynamic ever flowing river maintains tenacity, health, sweetness and vitality. Continual advancement and unceasing joyous effort is the clarion call of Ifa to its initiates. Until we reach the state or condition of non-retrogression (firm, solid, stable, unwavering, abiding and consistent moral-spiritual maturity) there will always be the risk, chance or possibility of losing what level of moral-spiritual advancement we have made due to negligence, complacency, lack of perseverence and strong determination. Only when we run the race legitimately and cross the finish line can we be considered true (spiritual) athletes, winners, champions, warriors and masters (masters of our own self, not other people). The mature and illuminated devotee understands that to continually grow morally and spiritually is the root, foundation and aim of all Ifa studies and practices. This spiritual process of growth and development cannot be had by proxy. Inner growth and development is obtained by personal determined effort, continual engagement, honest self-analysis and consistent exercise. No one can give you their well and hard earned intellectual-spiritual divine capacities, intelligence, character, gracefulness and inner spiritual powers. These things cannot be bought or sold or simply given. They must be earned and acquired through personal consistent study, continual reflection and patient practice. One must qualify to obtain them. Each one must do his or her own work. Moral-Spiritual progress is the continual fruit of diligence, hard work, self determination and personal conviction. Divine grace empower us and Divine Wisdom informs us but we must do the work. There are no short cuts and no possibility of skipping steps or side stepping divinely arranged lessons.

Ifa shows us the path to follow and walk upon. Ifa gives us the just measure of instruction and provides us with provisions (diverse kinds of ase) for the long journey but we ourselves must perseveringly, patiently and determinedly walk the path from its beginning to its ends by the strength and power of continual self-initiative. Ifa will walk with you but will not carry you on his shoulders and do your necessary work for you. Ifa has one part and you have the other. You work together. Your personal effort, consecration, sustained enthusiasm, self-renewing initiative, thoughtfulness and participation is essential. This is why there is no need and no point to be made in comparing oneself to others. You do not know and cannot know the inner life, spiritual history and trajectory of anyone. You can only truly know and discern your own. We are all on our own unique and individual path.You alone are responsible for your moral-spiritual progress. You alone are responsible for your lack of moral-spiritual progress. You alone carry the responsibility to promote your own spiritual well being, health and happiness. Other qualifed, empowered and mature people can help but the responsibility rests upon you. It is your choice whether you will progress or not. It is your practiced determination which will advance you forward. It is your choice and action that determines what kind of person you are and will become. Yours alone. Imitating others on their personal spiritual path will not help you. You have to find, discover and discern your own spiritual path and follow it irrespective of whether others approve of it or not and irrespective of whether you will be accompanied by others or not. No person can limit you except yourself. The greater your personal aspiration, inspiration, ideal and insight, the more you can and will attain if you so choose to actively pursue YOUR DIVINE IDEAL. One of the greatest secrets or greatest spiritual discoveries that all sincere aspirants eventually make is: That all times, situations and/or circumstances are ideal, just right and perfect to make genuine progress and to acquire purity (singularity of purpose), understanding, virtue, divine power and deep wisdom. It is not our environment or circumstances that determines who we are and what we can and will become. It is our attitude, disposition, personal chosen outlook, determination and quality of personal self-confidence that determines our inner and outer achievements and success.

Olodumare created us with the power of will and the ability to think and choose the path we will follow. Our will, choices and actions determine whether we are living our lives with a progressive mentality or a retarding (retrograde) mentality. Olodumare has given us the power of self-dominance if we choose to exert it or we can relegate ourselves to the self imposed status of victims of circumstance. Do not victimize yourself and subject yourself to self-pity which is nothing more than a subtle manifestation of selfishness and laxity. Be strong. Be resilient. Know and honor your true divine pedigree and identity! We are not strong or weak by artifice. We are strong or weak by our own will and choice. By our own will we decide if we are going to be determined, persevering and enthusiastic or not. Through self dominance we have grace,wisdom and power to master the negative and destructive emotions that arise within us. These negative, destructive potentialities and defilements that arise within us are represented by Oyeku. We are able to receive the light, love, power and life of Olodumare within us as represented by Ogbe. This principle of moral agency, choice and self-determination is seen in Holy Odu Ifa Ogunda Meji:

‘The Core Of The Tree Does Not Call For Water (was the name of the awo) who consulted Ifa for, When All Men Will Give Account In Heaven (before Olodumare).

‘If it is good you do then continue to do good. If you engage in evil deeds immediately desist from them because the hand will speak (reveal your actions) and the leg will give account (will reveal your activities).

‘You will account (before Olodumare) for ALL YOUR DEEDS which you practiced on earth.’

Holy Odu Ifa Otua Aira:

‘It is what Ifa expects of us that we should say. Let us speak (and practice) the truth.

‘It is he that speaks (and practices) the truth that Olodumare will uphold. Let us speak (and do) the truth.

‘It is he that speaks (and practices) the truth that Irunmole will uphold.

‘It is he that speaks (practices) the truth that the Earth will uphold.

Holy Odu Ogunda-Bede

‘Falsehood will cause the death of a liar.

‘Treachery will cause the death of the deceitful one.

‘Whatever we choose to do, even if it is beneath the earths surface (hidden from people) the (limitless) eyes of Olodumare will see them all.

‘These were Ifa’s declaration to he who stole at midnight and said the kings of the earth would not see him.

‘Even if earthly kings (human authorities and agencies) do not see you the eyes of Olodumare are surely watching you.

Holy Odu Oyeku Ofun:

‘Honest people are rare. Good people are rarer still. Ifa sees the intentions of the heart. Those who practice what is good, Olodumare knows who they are.

We have been endowed by Olodumare to a remarkable degree with the ability to choose our course in this world and the quality and kind of person we will be. The essential and fundamental nature of human beings is Ogbe (light, clarity, increase, progress, fluidity and life). But in His wisdom Olodumare has provisionally introduced the training element of Oyeku (darkness, unclarity, decrease, decline, resistance and death) as a sort of spiritual weight or sparring (training) partner so that we can exercise, develop and strengthen our moral-spiritual muscles and our intellectual-intuitive faculties. Through the interaction and interplay of Ogbe and Oyeku moral agency, choice, satisfying selection, achievement and intelligent effort is made possible. Through the interaction and interplay of the Ogbe and Oyeku principles the arena is set for the will to be able to exercise, develop and realize itself.

So, who are you? You are what you pursue, practice and associate with inwardly and outwardly. You are your cultivated and nurtured affinities. Our fundamental nature or essence by creation is Ogbe. This means that the root, core and foundation of our being is of the essence of actual fundamental and potential goodness. While our inner essence is goodness itself this goodness means nothing if it is not challenged, cultivated, tested or proved and intentionally appreciated and desired. You have to want to be and actually be, by your own decisions, thoughts, choices and actions, demonstrably good. It is a fact that from apple seeds new apple trees are born and from the trees new apple fruits are obtained. But if this seed is not cared for, protected, watered and nourished it will not even become a young creeper much less a fruit bearing tree. Not only the seed but the soil upon which it grows must be prepared. Weeds, stones, fungus and harmful insects must be continuously removed. Even the the tree grows and matures it has to be pruned so as to ensure future productivity. The apples you eat do not reach you by chance or accident. Someone intentionally took care of the soil, of the seed, of the tree, nurtured and cultivated it. In like manner you have to intentionally and responsibly nurture and cultivate your innate fundamental Ogbe nature. It needs to be said the Oyeku is not our enemy but a veiled friend. Oyeku can seem like a harsh and hard taskmaster but this is not the case. The heart of Oyeku is pure compassion. Oyeku holds out noble prospects for you but these must be worked for and earned. Oyeku comes along aside us and within us to challenge us and offer us countless opportunities and occasions for moral-spiritual growth. When we at

times feel the sting of Oyeku is only because we are looking away and drifting away from Ogbe. Oyeku is the strict and unwavering disciplinarian who trains us up and leads us to true freedom. The freedom of being mature, enlightened, disciplined and responsible people. Without enlisting the support of Oyeku, Ogbe cannot fulfil its task in regard to our moral-spiritual and emotional-intellectual training, development and education.

The manifestations of Oyeku like adversity, challenges, stressful situations and difficulties are for our ultimate good. It is not the fact of adversity, challenges, stressful situations and difficulties which injures us but it is our attitude, outlook and response to these that determines whether we gain benefit and advancement or experience loss and decline in our moral-spiritual development. These training partners reveal to us who we presently are and where we are in our spiritual unfoldment. They don’t make us who we are. We choose who and how we are by our attitudes and responses towards life challenges as well as by our developing perception of our own selves.

Moral-spiritual unfoldment is not glamorous or flashy. In fact one will experience many dry seasons and seemingly unfruitful seasons in ones spiritual career of divine ascent. To achieve deep inner transformation, divine gracefulness and god-like character is a work in progress which requires steady commitment, patience and perseverance especially during the dry and seamingly uneventful seasons. Steer away from superficiality and superficial (morally-spiritually uncultivated) people. Steer away from attitudes of laxity, complacency and laziness. Don’t try to jump steps or side step necessary lessons. Don’t fall into the contemporary practice of being a jack of all trades but a master of none. Honor your life and calling. Resist the urge to be impulsive and the habit of being a people pleaser. Stop jumping here and there and develop strong, firm and deep spiritual roots. You lament and wish there were more real and genuine spiritual devotee’s. Well become one. Be one. Achieve this for your own advancement and for the benefit of those who are seeking for the truth and its genuine representatives. Do not complain, bicker or lament but instead take steps to elevate your life condition above that which is mediocre, superficial (fake), insubstantial and unsatisfactory. No one can give you that status and inner condition. You have to develop it, work it in and cultivate it in the laboratory of your own life over many days, weeks and years. You will experience and have many highs and lows, ups and downs, and many moments of ecstasy and tears in relation to your moral-spiritual progress and development. This is a normal occurence but you have to be persevering and look to the finality of your struggles and challenges. You have to recall what it is that you are working towards. A divine quality of life has to be cultivated, divinely appropriated and earned otherwise it would hold no true meaning or value. You have to earn it, work for it, to have a right to it. Don’t look at others but instead look at yourself and what you are or are not doing with your life, privileges and opportunities. Don’t spend your time and energy assessing and criticizing others instead fairly assess yourself and honestly criticize yourself constructively. Ifa put before you two choices. You can choose the way of the genuine, honest and diligent aspirant (awo) or you can choose the path of the hypocrite (double minded), zig-zagging (unstable) and willfully uninformed (ogberi). The choice is yours alone to make. Do not blame others or find fault with others for your choices and decisions. Allow no one to take advantage of you but also ensure you do not take advantage of anyone. Do not ask or expect from others what you do not ask or expect from yourself. Do not make demands on others to practice and do what you yourself neglect to practice and do. You can only give what you have. You can only suggest and ask others to do and practice the principles of truth and noble character only if you have been firmly established in it for some considerable and observable time. Your words will lack moral-spiritual power, authority, healing gracefulness and uplifting potency if you are not a well cultivated embodiment of those moral-spiritual principles. Minimize the need for excessive verbosity and convince and win others over by the power of your actions, behavior, attitude and conduct. How can you teach others if you have not taught yourself? How can you offer others a hope and standard that you do not have for yourself? This is the teaching and standard of Ifa.

Ela ‘boru.

Ela ‘boye.

Ela ‘bosise.

Laziness Is Incompatible With A Spiritual Life Power. Laziness And Isese Cannot Live Together.

Author of the text: Mark Casillas, one of our members from North America

Ela ‘boru.

Ela ‘boye.

Ela ‘bosise.

Lazy people waste away their time of endeavor and hence they do not succeed anywhere. They get disappointment everywhere. They blame everything and everyone for their failures except themselves. Lazy people refuse to take responsibility for their own lives and decisions, and because of this, they resign themsleves to live off the scraps of the fruits of other people’s efforts and labors. Olodumare has created man for doing honorable labor, for satisfying endeavor and beneficial deeds by which he can grow in the path of virtue, duty, honor, fulfillment and wisdom. Both applied effort (labor) and self-sacrifice are required for whatever work that is done by man. Personal involvement, dedication and total immersion (engrossment) in what is good, useful and needful are forms of sacrifice (ebo). Any work is succesful due to them only. Self-mastery, acquisition of divine power and noble character cannot be had without labor, self-sacrifice, continual learning, effort and endeavor. Like the sun we should be bright and persevering in our divine trajectory without swaying from the path of good, beneficial and constructive deeds. We should never give up or despair, no matter what types of challenges, adversities and obstacles present themselves.

But today laziness has taken a severe hold of many among mankind. The thinking of many today is distorted. Some people erroneously and foolishly reason that if Olodumare wants them to have or achieve something they will have it, without any labor, self-sacrifice, dedication, hard work and commitment on their part! Can you believe that many subscribe to this kind of mind sickening, soul self-defeating and spirit dishonoring mentality?! This type of soul (life) killing fatalism is regrettable. It is a philosophy born from the heart of lazy people who want to do nothing, but yet want to have, enjoy and possess!! Instead of dedication to study, applied practice and reflection, they sheepishly (lazily and stupidly) convince themselves that all that there is to do is for them to sit home quietly and ask favors from the Orisa!! They forget that they themselves have given birth to their present situation or predicament, that they are the creators of their own destiny. To save themselves from any genuine labor, they have invented many excuses, and then they want to justify their useless and parasitic manner of living and get satisfaction by blaming their failures on destiny (fate)! Hence they get disappointments only. In truth, when a person with resoluteness strives diligently then adverse situations become favorable. Oledumare also helps the man who applies himself to helping himself, and then failure is changed (transformed) to success. Lazy people are quite willing to receive and benefit from the hard work, sacrifices and preparation of others but they themselves don’t want to move a finger. Let such people continue to suffer until their self created suffering, dissatisfaction and afflictions wake them up from the sleep of indifference in which they are in. There is a saying that says, ‘More lazy than the upper jaw!’ Lazy people want things around them to miraculously conform to their ceaseless wants and desires, but they themselves do not to include and involve themselves in the activities leading to progress, satisfaction, prosperity and self-respect. They do not want to be active participants in their own happiness, success and prosperity. It goes without saying that laziness is a great enemy of endeavor.

Laziness is incompatible with the spiritual life, laziness is incompatible with living a truly realized human life. It is a big obstacle in mankind’s progress and causes maximum harm to life’s values. A lazy person robs and shames himself, his family and community. Even Orisa feel embarrassed and ashamed to look upon a lazy person. A lazy person can expect to receive nothing from the Orisa. A lazy person goes on avoiding useful, necessary and constructive work, and this habit makes him gradually incapable, useless and helpless, which leads to self created disappointment, anger, wrong doing and frustration. Because of this self created disappointment, anger and frustration, the person’s ability of discernment (intelligence) is diminished (destroyed) and the person loses his daring and courage to struggle against difficulties. Whatever abilities this person had earlier, also diminishes and is finally destroyed. The person wishes to do something, but do to laziness is not able to do anything. The person does not develop the enthusiasm to translate his thoughts into action. Such lazy people do not know how to take advantage of favorable and ideal circumstances to win in life and thrive, on the contrary they reluctantly take action only when life’s circumstances and external pressures obligate them. A lazy person is a directionless person, lacking a sense of meaning, purpose and dignity. Being pushed and pulled by the waves and tides of life without an aim or purpose to fulfill, how can one be happy, fulfilled and satisfied? One has to have a measure of determination, fervor (intense desire), practical knowledge and control of ones life, with a clear and specific sense of what it is that ones is going to pursue and achieve and how one is going to achieve it. Success is achieved by those who cast away their laziness and become ready, full of energy and make good use of their time and do not waste their time in useless talking. Action rules the day!

Show me an Orisa who is lazy and I will show you an Orisa who does not exist any longer and who has lost all influence and power. Nobody remembers, honors or petitions lazy Orisa. There cannot be a lazy Orisa. Orisa are dynamic, active, purposeful, ever expanding, growing and alive!!! One becomes an Orisa through gradual, continual and progressive training, discipline and effort. Those who wish their own benefit, and desire to enjoy good repute, respect, honor and justified acknowledgement must pull out the evil of laziness by its roots and throw it away, and go on working diligently with confidence and minimal talking. Only with that type of commitment and demeanor is the desired reward, aim and objective possible. Only by sustained effort can prosperity, wisdom, virtue and godly power be achieved. No ebo, no offering, no rite, no ritual, no sacred chant, no elder, no sage, no seer, no priest, no man of wisdom and power and no orisa can help a person who is determined to lead a lazy, useless, meaningless and parasitic life.

The magic, ase, grace, power and wonder of life is received and realized through persistent effort, renewed dedication and courageous determination. Power, authority, influence and energy is reserved for the diligent, industrious, serviceable, honorable and courageous. Divine ase is for those who delight in and glory in intelligent effort, work and service. Why give power, energy, influence and authority to a lazy, lethargic, useless and parasitic person. To the one who diligently and honorable exercises the powers, abilities, virtues and intelligence he has, Olodumare increases his capacity and willingness to recieve more ability, virtue, intelligence, and power and fills him accordingly. This is the law of life, the law of nature, of the Orisa, of OLODUMARE. Olodumare is the Supreme God of Dynamic strength, virtue and power. Olodumare Himself has no needs, neither is He obligated by anything or anyone yet even He is always engaged in useful, loving, wise and continual activity and service to His creation. We ask so much from Olodumare, from the Orisa but what do we give and offer them in return for the many, great and wonderful things we ask and expect of them? Will they be content, satisfied and happy with an offering of fruits, vegetables or a sacrificial offering?! We want to carry our laziness over in our service to Olodumare and the Orisa and attempt to gain their favor through bribery and insincerity. Noble, loving, sincere, honest and truthful actions alone will satisfy the heart of Olodumare and the Orisa. Only divine, clean, noble and truthful effort, action and industry will satisfy our hearts. Nothing less and nothing more.

Ela moyin aboru.

Ela moyin aboye.

Ela moyin abosise.

Examine Yourself

Try to examine your life through these four qualities of success and victory. Remember, every successful step needs your personal participation and effort.
Desire – the beginning of great personal achievement. You must really desire and want your goal by combining all energy needed to achieve the goal. Physical energy, spiritual, mental, divine and emotional energy are needed to be successful and victorious.
Decision – Always set or make a clear decision. Unclear decisions are enemies of progress. Make your decision unequivocal that you are going to practice these behavior and develop these habits no matter how long it takes.
Discipline – This is the greatest and the most important single quality of man who want to achieve greater successes and goals beyond the realm of mediocrity. With highly developed sense of personal discipline the world bow before you and the universe becomes your co worker in the vine yard and arena of greatness and blissful life and every things and all things are brought under the feet of a principle and discipline man and you become a good disciple of the creator of all things in the universe. Without discipline little or nothing can be achieved. Hence ensure high sense of discipline and mental control always. Nothing comes to your life without consciously or unconsciously manifesting in the mental state or planting the seed in the mental and spiritual arena. The disciplined man plants the seed of success first in his or her own mind and the universe respond to his or her desire and plantation. Learn to plant well and support it with effort and be discipline to see the fruit grows as both rain and sun equates the problem and success in the jungle of life to attain goals and generation blessings. Hence be disciplined to move forward in the face of challenges.
Determination – it is one of the greatest qualities that enables you to overcome all setbacks, disappointments, temporary failure and every setback life throws on your path. Never expect easy way to success and victory. Determination, dedication and persistence are the measure of belief and faith in God and yourself.
Live by faith, work like angel, think godly and act wisely.

It is well.