Adventures in Living the Spiritual Life is the topic Bill Elberty, lifelong educator and spiritual seeker, will present at the Eckankar Satsang Society of New Jersey’s annual seminar on Saturday, May 31, from 1 to 8:30pm, at the Woodbridge Hilton, 20 Wood Avenue South, in Iselin.

Elberty is an ECK Clergy member, Vermont’s regional ECK spiritual leader, and student of Eckankar, the Religion of the Light and Sound of God. His dual role as student and teacher has humbled him and created a love of learning and spiritual discovery.  Recently, Kristina Mondo interviewed Elberty about how learning and listening to his heart have helped him find his spiritual truth.

KM: How would you advise individuals to embrace life as an adventure, and what does that mean to you?

BE: No matter what your religion or spiritual belief, practice it in daily life. The true spiritual parables are written each day by those who practice their spiritual life through service of the love and truth in the simplest and most complex challenges. 

One of my favorite ways to embrace life’s spiritual adventure is to listen to people’s stories and hold those stories in the grace of God until the storyteller realizes the gift he has shared.  People of all backgrounds and faiths have taught me more than they will ever know. 

KM: What suggestions can you give to spiritual seekers or those who are newcomers to Eckankar?

BE: Working with the spiritual exercises regularly is a key.  There are many exercises shared in the ECK teachings for individuals to explore as they learn about the next step of their spiritual journey.  These exercises are an individual way to discover one’s personal relationship with God.  The advantage of regularly setting 15–20 minutes aside to explore that spiritual relationship is a key for everyone.

A simple exercise that has led to profound spiritual peace in my life is singing HU, an ancient name for God.  When sung aloud or inwardly, it harmonizes us with Spirit, with God.  Any individual, no matter their faith or belief, can sing HU for their spiritual benefit.    

KM: What is the most valuable lesson you can impart from the ECK teachings?

BE: Every individual holds the key to his relationship with God, the Holy Spirit, the Creator . . . the source of life.  My most valuable lesson has been to be grateful for each moment in God and to express that gratitude by practicing and applying my spiritual lessons in each moment of daily life.  We hold the door open or closed to God’s love.  Serving that truth in each moment opens that moment to a potential undefined by limits or biases. 

KM: You have many different roles in Eckankar. Do you ever find it difficult to have harmony between all your duties and maintaining work-life balance?

BE: I approach all my roles with the same initial impulse . . . “How can I best serve God in this moment?”  There is just that, so I have no stress and welcome the understanding that I have plenty of room for improvement.

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The Adventures in Living the Spiritual Life seminar is free for those new to the teachings of Eckankar. For more information, visit Eckankar-nj.org, email [email protected], or call 800-870-9139.