Life is either fully there or not at all.
Nothing is partly alive. It is or it isn’t. Yet sometimes we act as though we are only half alive. We need to recognize the Life that is in us, and honour it as long as it is there.
When a person dies, there is no immediate chemical difference between the body dead and the earlier body alive. Yet something has changed - something has gone. What is that something?
Where does our Life come from, and where does it go? We know that matter and energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. What about Life?
Someone said the greatest Mystery is that we are here to wonder about a mystery.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - CHANGE
LIFE, INFORMATION AND CHANGE
Life is that thing we have that is aware. So what is awareness? It is a knowing which recognizes our Self in relation to the other things around us. It is our knowledge of Self; of distinctness.
So Life is awareness, and self-awareness; awareness is a sort of knowledge. So what is knowledge? It is associated with Information, which is Order rather than Chaos.
Information is a stored or storable pattern that shows the presence of nonrandomness. All matter is simple energy arranged in a pattern, or as Deepak Chopra points out, energy and information.
Modern mathematics has given rise to Chaos theory, which shows that randomness always gives way to a nonrandom pattern, if there is any change at all. Only a complete lack of change could fail to be creative.
Creation represents change, but the action of Mind is also that which maintains the patterns. We know that the quantum world, which underlies our reality, is in constant flux. What, then, keeps our physical world from dissolving into quantum 'soup'? Could it be that the same Creative Mind that causes change also causes continuity?
Life is that thing we have that is aware. So what is awareness? It is a knowing which recognizes our Self in relation to the other things around us. It is our knowledge of Self; of distinctness.
So Life is awareness, and self-awareness; awareness is a sort of knowledge. So what is knowledge? It is associated with Information, which is Order rather than Chaos.
Information is a stored or storable pattern that shows the presence of nonrandomness. All matter is simple energy arranged in a pattern, or as Deepak Chopra points out, energy and information.
Modern mathematics has given rise to Chaos theory, which shows that randomness always gives way to a nonrandom pattern, if there is any change at all. Only a complete lack of change could fail to be creative.
Creation represents change, but the action of Mind is also that which maintains the patterns. We know that the quantum world, which underlies our reality, is in constant flux. What, then, keeps our physical world from dissolving into quantum 'soup'? Could it be that the same Creative Mind that causes change also causes continuity?
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - PEACE
PEACE OF MIND
Everyone seeks peace of mind. There is a park north of Saskatoon, Canada called Wanuskewin, which means "seeking peace of mind." Our North American native brothers clearly place high importance on this word--it is a power word, an action word, to them.
The Swami Satchidananda has said that everyone wants the same peace of mind; even criminals, addicts, and violent people seek this peace of mind; although they may have a wrong idea of how to pursue it- often with very short-term, not long-term thinking.
Peace of mind comes in part from knowing that you are in your right place. Knowing is believing with certainty. That is called faith. So have faith that you are at least on the right track. and let your mind be at peace, right here, right now and always.
Everyone seeks peace of mind. There is a park north of Saskatoon, Canada called Wanuskewin, which means "seeking peace of mind." Our North American native brothers clearly place high importance on this word--it is a power word, an action word, to them.
The Swami Satchidananda has said that everyone wants the same peace of mind; even criminals, addicts, and violent people seek this peace of mind; although they may have a wrong idea of how to pursue it- often with very short-term, not long-term thinking.
Peace of mind comes in part from knowing that you are in your right place. Knowing is believing with certainty. That is called faith. So have faith that you are at least on the right track. and let your mind be at peace, right here, right now and always.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - SPIRITUAL PSYCHOLOGY
PRAYER AS SPIRITUAL PSYCHOLOGY
Spiritual Mind Treatment, developed by Dr. Ernest Holmes, and also known a "Prayer Treatment" or simply "Treatment", is used throughout the New Thought community of organizations. This mode of prayer, constructed scientifically, but also modeled after many examples in the Bible, and also examples from many other worldwide spiritual practices, is constructed according to solid psychological principles. If you are seeking, learn how to construct a treatment, and practise it. As it builds the faith in you that your answers are there, the answers will appear.
Seek help from a New Thought Practitioner or a Minister if you don't feel comfortable in constructing your own treatments- they are trained to help you in that regard.
A friend of mine says knowing when you haven't got the answer is just as important as knowing when you have it- because all sorts of partial, incomplete, and inadequate answers may come up on the way to the real one.
One way of telling the real answer to any dilemma, is that barriers will suddenly fall away, as if by magic, as if no work was required. You may in fact be working, but it won't seem like it, things will appear to be so easy. So, if your life is already like that, you may not have to look very far.
Spiritual Mind Treatment, developed by Dr. Ernest Holmes, and also known a "Prayer Treatment" or simply "Treatment", is used throughout the New Thought community of organizations. This mode of prayer, constructed scientifically, but also modeled after many examples in the Bible, and also examples from many other worldwide spiritual practices, is constructed according to solid psychological principles. If you are seeking, learn how to construct a treatment, and practise it. As it builds the faith in you that your answers are there, the answers will appear.
Seek help from a New Thought Practitioner or a Minister if you don't feel comfortable in constructing your own treatments- they are trained to help you in that regard.
A friend of mine says knowing when you haven't got the answer is just as important as knowing when you have it- because all sorts of partial, incomplete, and inadequate answers may come up on the way to the real one.
One way of telling the real answer to any dilemma, is that barriers will suddenly fall away, as if by magic, as if no work was required. You may in fact be working, but it won't seem like it, things will appear to be so easy. So, if your life is already like that, you may not have to look very far.
Monday, February 25, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - BURDENS AND TRASH
What kind of trash lies buried in your subconscious mind? What covers over the beacon that was intended to light your way? Here are some of the things that may get in your way:
GET "TURN THE WORLD ON ITS HEAD"!
THE 'SHOULDS'
We are filled with 'shoulds' that we picked up along the path. These are usually too numerous to ever do them all, but we carry them anyway, just so we can feel guilty about not doing them. Reverend Kim Fairrell has a good way to put it--she says the eleventh commandment is "Thou shalt not should on thyself", and I agree.
OUR POSSESSIONS
When Jesus said to the rich man, "Sell what you have, and give the money to the poor, and follow me" He wasn't prescribing that treatment for all the rich. The prescription was individual, as spiritual prescriptions tend to be. He knew this man was wedded to his wealth and possessions, and only be letting them go could he free himself. The man went away sad. the Bible says, because he couldn't bring himself to do that. The problem is not HAVING wealth. it is the feeling of fear of lack that causes us to hang on to it even when it is a burden to us.
SOMEDAY ISLE
Dr. Tom Costa says many of us live on "Someday Isle", where things are always going to happen but never do. "Someday I'll go back to school", "Someday I'll start that business", "Someday I'll be happy". 'Someday Isle' means sitting on the fence forever. Do it. do it, do it.
CONFUSION and UNCERTAINTY
Many of us would do something if only we knew what to do. Maybe we don't know how to listen for that still, small voice. Maybe we heard it but weren't sure we heard it. Maybe we heard it, but didn't like what we heard! That's pretty common. Then we choose to think maybe we didn't bear that quite right. I wonder if Albert Schweitzer ducked the first couple of times he heard "Drop your musical career, go to medical school, then get to Africa, quick march!" I could have been persuaded to stretch out my organ practice a bit!
Bob Newhart did the famous routine where Noah is going about his business, and God calls him up. God says, "I want you to build an ark" and Noah says "so what's an Ark?". God says. "I'm going to make it rain forty days and nights", and Noah says, "OK- so who is this, really?".
It must be a bit like that for some people. Others, though, know right away that they have found their joy, their reason for living. Watching these people can be a real delight.
How can you tune in? How do you reach the 'high place' where the still small voice can be beard? Many people confirm that prayer, contemplation, meditation, or combinations thereof can lead the way, but not if they are untargetted. Guided meditations are the stuff of retreats like the Vision Quest weekend described earlier.
GET "TURN THE WORLD ON ITS HEAD"!THE 'SHOULDS'
We are filled with 'shoulds' that we picked up along the path. These are usually too numerous to ever do them all, but we carry them anyway, just so we can feel guilty about not doing them. Reverend Kim Fairrell has a good way to put it--she says the eleventh commandment is "Thou shalt not should on thyself", and I agree.
OUR POSSESSIONS
When Jesus said to the rich man, "Sell what you have, and give the money to the poor, and follow me" He wasn't prescribing that treatment for all the rich. The prescription was individual, as spiritual prescriptions tend to be. He knew this man was wedded to his wealth and possessions, and only be letting them go could he free himself. The man went away sad. the Bible says, because he couldn't bring himself to do that. The problem is not HAVING wealth. it is the feeling of fear of lack that causes us to hang on to it even when it is a burden to us.
SOMEDAY ISLE
Dr. Tom Costa says many of us live on "Someday Isle", where things are always going to happen but never do. "Someday I'll go back to school", "Someday I'll start that business", "Someday I'll be happy". 'Someday Isle' means sitting on the fence forever. Do it. do it, do it.
CONFUSION and UNCERTAINTY
Many of us would do something if only we knew what to do. Maybe we don't know how to listen for that still, small voice. Maybe we heard it but weren't sure we heard it. Maybe we heard it, but didn't like what we heard! That's pretty common. Then we choose to think maybe we didn't bear that quite right. I wonder if Albert Schweitzer ducked the first couple of times he heard "Drop your musical career, go to medical school, then get to Africa, quick march!" I could have been persuaded to stretch out my organ practice a bit!
Bob Newhart did the famous routine where Noah is going about his business, and God calls him up. God says, "I want you to build an ark" and Noah says "so what's an Ark?". God says. "I'm going to make it rain forty days and nights", and Noah says, "OK- so who is this, really?".
It must be a bit like that for some people. Others, though, know right away that they have found their joy, their reason for living. Watching these people can be a real delight.
How can you tune in? How do you reach the 'high place' where the still small voice can be beard? Many people confirm that prayer, contemplation, meditation, or combinations thereof can lead the way, but not if they are untargetted. Guided meditations are the stuff of retreats like the Vision Quest weekend described earlier.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - TRANSFORMATION
CHANGE AND TRANSFORMATION
The story of Dr. Albert Schweitzer is well known. This is a remarkable example of a man who caught a glimpse of his purpose, and changed the course of his life, and thousands of others. He was the most famous concert organist in Germany, making his living in the great cathedrals and concert halls of Europe. His music was legendary. The public was astounded, however, when he abandoned his career to go to medical school at middle age.
Graduating from medical school, Dr. Schweitzer announced that he would become a medical missionary to Africa. A concert tour was held to raise funds, and he set out with supplies, into the darkest unmapped centre of the African continent. At an isolated village called Lambarene'. he set up a clinic, then expanded it to a full hospital with later help. His international reputation drew funds and support, and volunteers, over a period of some thirty-five years. He died at a very old age, and is, I believe, buried in Africa.
Note that his initial concert career was not a wrong choice. His fame enabled him to attract the money and support to carry out this very ambitious venture. But what might have seemed like a lifetime career turned out to be nothing but a stepping stone to something far greater. Perhaps it did not seem as great in the clouded eyes of men, but it was surely far greater in the eyes of God. God surely must have spoken to and through Albert Schweitzer in those fateful days in the 1940's, when he determined to make that dramatic career change.
That doesn't mean that such a turnabout is in store for you. Yours may be not a change of career, but just a change of heart, not so visible perhaps, but perhaps even more important. What you hear froml your still, small voice may seem silly. it may frighten you, it may even seem dull. Dr. Bill Talliaferro notes; "The most frightening thing you may find when you search your heart is that the intended love of your life is the one you're already married to!".
The story of Dr. Albert Schweitzer is well known. This is a remarkable example of a man who caught a glimpse of his purpose, and changed the course of his life, and thousands of others. He was the most famous concert organist in Germany, making his living in the great cathedrals and concert halls of Europe. His music was legendary. The public was astounded, however, when he abandoned his career to go to medical school at middle age.
Graduating from medical school, Dr. Schweitzer announced that he would become a medical missionary to Africa. A concert tour was held to raise funds, and he set out with supplies, into the darkest unmapped centre of the African continent. At an isolated village called Lambarene'. he set up a clinic, then expanded it to a full hospital with later help. His international reputation drew funds and support, and volunteers, over a period of some thirty-five years. He died at a very old age, and is, I believe, buried in Africa.
Note that his initial concert career was not a wrong choice. His fame enabled him to attract the money and support to carry out this very ambitious venture. But what might have seemed like a lifetime career turned out to be nothing but a stepping stone to something far greater. Perhaps it did not seem as great in the clouded eyes of men, but it was surely far greater in the eyes of God. God surely must have spoken to and through Albert Schweitzer in those fateful days in the 1940's, when he determined to make that dramatic career change.
That doesn't mean that such a turnabout is in store for you. Yours may be not a change of career, but just a change of heart, not so visible perhaps, but perhaps even more important. What you hear froml your still, small voice may seem silly. it may frighten you, it may even seem dull. Dr. Bill Talliaferro notes; "The most frightening thing you may find when you search your heart is that the intended love of your life is the one you're already married to!".
Friday, February 22, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - PURPOSE
YOUR LIFE PURPOSE
We may never achieve that state of full identification with this consciousness which is the ultimate achievement, as Jesus demonstrated long ago. But with effort, we may make periods of contact, like messages hurled over a wall. These messages can be life-changing.
The purpose for our life is known, at this level of consciousness. The problem for us is that our minds are not normally attuned to so high a plane. Whenever the Bible speaks about 'going to a high place', 'dwelling in high places', ' the place of the most high', it refers to a state of consciousness where the central core of our spirit is felt. This is where our mind touches that universal whole. This is where our purpose is known.
Your purpose is not "God's Will" from some distant, external Being. Your purpose is your choice, as a spiritual being in a human life span. You can find it by uncovering it.
Look for 'God's Will' right within yourself. Your own Spirit is God in action within you. When you open to the realization of your oneness with that Spirit, your will becomes God's will for you.
We may never achieve that state of full identification with this consciousness which is the ultimate achievement, as Jesus demonstrated long ago. But with effort, we may make periods of contact, like messages hurled over a wall. These messages can be life-changing.
The purpose for our life is known, at this level of consciousness. The problem for us is that our minds are not normally attuned to so high a plane. Whenever the Bible speaks about 'going to a high place', 'dwelling in high places', ' the place of the most high', it refers to a state of consciousness where the central core of our spirit is felt. This is where our mind touches that universal whole. This is where our purpose is known.
Your purpose is not "God's Will" from some distant, external Being. Your purpose is your choice, as a spiritual being in a human life span. You can find it by uncovering it.
Look for 'God's Will' right within yourself. Your own Spirit is God in action within you. When you open to the realization of your oneness with that Spirit, your will becomes God's will for you.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - YOU
YOU, YOUR BODY AND YOUR MIND
The 'you' at the centre of yourself, that still small Voice, knows that there is no lack of wisdom, power, health or wealth. The spiritual force at the centre of you, beneath your conscious mind, beneath the trash you have piled into your subconscious, knows only abundance, joy, love, and total adequacy.
This 'you' is neither your body, nor is it your mind, for it creates, supports and sustains these. Anything that you think of as 'yours' is not you - it is a thing you possess.
Whenever you think my body', you are revealing that your body is not you -the 'you' is that thing which possesses a body.
Whenever you think 'my mind', you reveal that deep down, you know your mind is not you-in fact it is the layer upon layer of built-up knowledge, including models of the world and how it works, patterns of the possible and the impossible. It is what computer data experts call a 'data structure', or set of data structures. It is the ego, that thinks it is you!
At the heart of all this, body and mind, is the spirit, which is the stuff of God the Universal, manifested as the individual human. It is your own personal, private piece of the greater Universe. And it has all the qualities we associate with that energy; full knowledge, full power, full joy.
It is this that Moses heard defined as 'I AM'. Being Universal, it simply is. It is this that 'owns' our mind, our body. This is the real us.
This is the Christ consciousness waiting to be found again in humanity.
The 'you' at the centre of yourself, that still small Voice, knows that there is no lack of wisdom, power, health or wealth. The spiritual force at the centre of you, beneath your conscious mind, beneath the trash you have piled into your subconscious, knows only abundance, joy, love, and total adequacy.
This 'you' is neither your body, nor is it your mind, for it creates, supports and sustains these. Anything that you think of as 'yours' is not you - it is a thing you possess.
Whenever you think my body', you are revealing that your body is not you -the 'you' is that thing which possesses a body.
Whenever you think 'my mind', you reveal that deep down, you know your mind is not you-in fact it is the layer upon layer of built-up knowledge, including models of the world and how it works, patterns of the possible and the impossible. It is what computer data experts call a 'data structure', or set of data structures. It is the ego, that thinks it is you!
At the heart of all this, body and mind, is the spirit, which is the stuff of God the Universal, manifested as the individual human. It is your own personal, private piece of the greater Universe. And it has all the qualities we associate with that energy; full knowledge, full power, full joy.
It is this that Moses heard defined as 'I AM'. Being Universal, it simply is. It is this that 'owns' our mind, our body. This is the real us.
This is the Christ consciousness waiting to be found again in humanity.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - EGO
EGO AND INADEQUACY
To let yourself be driven altogether by others is an abandonment of your purpose on Earth. To drive yourself, on the other hand, is to let your human wants, and your imagined needs, take the place of that inner wisdom. To guide yourself in a calculated, conscious fashion is to let your ego play God in your own life, This appears to work for a great many people; these are the people who achieve great successes and then wonder why they are unhappy--why they still feel the need to search.
To be driven by your wants is to be driven out of a sense of inadequacy and lack. Wants grow out of a feeling of incompleteness, the sort of feeling that superficial conscious mental activity tends to generate.
We are very good at burying the still small voice, and feeling our lack of prosperity, we are driven to chase those bucks; or feeling a lack of love, we cling to one person after another, wondering why the bloom quickly fades. Feeling our inadequacy, we strive to excel at everything we do, and it never seems good enough. Feeling our lack of Joy, we chase after it from party to party, laughter to laughter, faking joy outwardly to make up for emptiness inside.
Can anyone here relate to that? I've been there. In some ways, I'm still there some of the time.
To let yourself be driven altogether by others is an abandonment of your purpose on Earth. To drive yourself, on the other hand, is to let your human wants, and your imagined needs, take the place of that inner wisdom. To guide yourself in a calculated, conscious fashion is to let your ego play God in your own life, This appears to work for a great many people; these are the people who achieve great successes and then wonder why they are unhappy--why they still feel the need to search.
To be driven by your wants is to be driven out of a sense of inadequacy and lack. Wants grow out of a feeling of incompleteness, the sort of feeling that superficial conscious mental activity tends to generate.
We are very good at burying the still small voice, and feeling our lack of prosperity, we are driven to chase those bucks; or feeling a lack of love, we cling to one person after another, wondering why the bloom quickly fades. Feeling our inadequacy, we strive to excel at everything we do, and it never seems good enough. Feeling our lack of Joy, we chase after it from party to party, laughter to laughter, faking joy outwardly to make up for emptiness inside.
Can anyone here relate to that? I've been there. In some ways, I'm still there some of the time.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - VISION QUEST
VISION QUEST
This does not always mean we have to oppose the expectations of others. We can still do the things that represent social graces, duties and chores. But we do not have to LIVE for these things. Work to live, but do not live to work. Eat to live, but do not live to eat. Keep always before you, as your driving force, something that is derived from the God-force that wells up within you.
Our church once sponsored a seminar called 'VISION QUEST',which was held at the retreat of the Abbey at Muenster, in the heart of Saskatchewan farm belt.. Participant were led through some guided meditations, some structured prayers, to help them reach their inner source, the purpose being to get answers concerning their purpose in this world.
I am sure that everyone got their own answers, each uniquely, and each to the extent that they could reach and touch that still small voice within. This is the voice that the Course in Miracles calls the voice FOR God. It is the voice of that part of you as an individual, that touches and is merged with God as a Universal Principle. Where the individual touches the universal, problems are unknown, and only answers are found.
This does not always mean we have to oppose the expectations of others. We can still do the things that represent social graces, duties and chores. But we do not have to LIVE for these things. Work to live, but do not live to work. Eat to live, but do not live to eat. Keep always before you, as your driving force, something that is derived from the God-force that wells up within you.
Our church once sponsored a seminar called 'VISION QUEST',which was held at the retreat of the Abbey at Muenster, in the heart of Saskatchewan farm belt.. Participant were led through some guided meditations, some structured prayers, to help them reach their inner source, the purpose being to get answers concerning their purpose in this world.
I am sure that everyone got their own answers, each uniquely, and each to the extent that they could reach and touch that still small voice within. This is the voice that the Course in Miracles calls the voice FOR God. It is the voice of that part of you as an individual, that touches and is merged with God as a Universal Principle. Where the individual touches the universal, problems are unknown, and only answers are found.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - YOUR FINEST LIFE!
LIVING YOUR FINEST LIFE
There can be no finer work of art than a life well lived.
That is the one creation that we all uniquely must do; and to live a life which is the creation of others, and not our own selves, is the greatest abandonment of our purpose that can be imagined.
Our purpose in this Earth is to add our very own unique notes to the song of Being; but to do so in such a way as to enhance harmony rather than detract from it.
"No finer work of art than a life well lived."
Those words come from a great writer and poet - Darrell Gudmundson. I know him well, but not as well as I would like to; some aspects of him elude me completely. Getting to know that poet, and introducing him to the world at large, might be one tiny part of my life's work. There are many other parts.
SEE MY LULU STOREFRONT!
http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=1223463
Most of the life we live is the creation of others, not ourselves. We allow our life to be formed by our parents. by our employers, by our families, our friends. Some of us leave it at that, so that almost none of our art is drawn out of our own soul.
We are driven by a sense of need, to conform ourselves to the world we inhabit.
We crave love, security, approval, and to get it we do all the things we think people expect of us. That is how we fit in, and submerge our brilliance in a sea of mediocrity and sameness.
Jesus, when he was in the earth, referred to such people as "dead". In a sense, that is true, because people who have no driving force of their own, simply passively responsive to their world, are not truly alive. Being alive means making a difference, adding something to the world that is truly your own contribution.
There can be no finer work of art than a life well lived.
That is the one creation that we all uniquely must do; and to live a life which is the creation of others, and not our own selves, is the greatest abandonment of our purpose that can be imagined.
Our purpose in this Earth is to add our very own unique notes to the song of Being; but to do so in such a way as to enhance harmony rather than detract from it.
"No finer work of art than a life well lived."
Those words come from a great writer and poet - Darrell Gudmundson. I know him well, but not as well as I would like to; some aspects of him elude me completely. Getting to know that poet, and introducing him to the world at large, might be one tiny part of my life's work. There are many other parts.
SEE MY LULU STOREFRONT!
http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=1223463
Most of the life we live is the creation of others, not ourselves. We allow our life to be formed by our parents. by our employers, by our families, our friends. Some of us leave it at that, so that almost none of our art is drawn out of our own soul.
We are driven by a sense of need, to conform ourselves to the world we inhabit.
We crave love, security, approval, and to get it we do all the things we think people expect of us. That is how we fit in, and submerge our brilliance in a sea of mediocrity and sameness.
Jesus, when he was in the earth, referred to such people as "dead". In a sense, that is true, because people who have no driving force of their own, simply passively responsive to their world, are not truly alive. Being alive means making a difference, adding something to the world that is truly your own contribution.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - PRAYER
There is a neat little story about the country church that held a special meeting to pray for rain. And the pastor phoned around to make sure everyone came out. And sure enough, everyone came out. But before they began, the pastor called to a little girl, to come up to the front with him. And he said, “ I thank you for coming. But you didn’t come because you had faith it could rain. You came because I asked you, and I appreciate it. But this little girl is the only one of you who brought an umbrella!”
That’s the Feeling side of treatment – the emotion, the faith that the Lord, the Law, hears you always. That’s where the faith gets added to the intellectual side of life, and you will really feel the presence of God, with you.
Gregg Braden, in his excellent book "The Secrets of the Lost Mode of Prayer", writes about 'praying rain' rather than 'praying FOR rain'. The FEELING is the prayer, and words are only the tools to achieve the feeling.
Dr. Michael Beckwith, in his book The 40 Day Mind Fast Soul Feast, writes “By actively practicing the Presence of God, the compass of your mind develops the habit of continuously turning in the direction of the Spirit for intuitive guidance, comfort, security, wisdom, joy, peace, truth and love.”
That’s the Feeling side of treatment – the emotion, the faith that the Lord, the Law, hears you always. That’s where the faith gets added to the intellectual side of life, and you will really feel the presence of God, with you.
Gregg Braden, in his excellent book "The Secrets of the Lost Mode of Prayer", writes about 'praying rain' rather than 'praying FOR rain'. The FEELING is the prayer, and words are only the tools to achieve the feeling.
Dr. Michael Beckwith, in his book The 40 Day Mind Fast Soul Feast, writes “By actively practicing the Presence of God, the compass of your mind develops the habit of continuously turning in the direction of the Spirit for intuitive guidance, comfort, security, wisdom, joy, peace, truth and love.”
Friday, February 15, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - INTELLECT AND EMOTION
It has been said that the longest distance in the world is the 14 inches from the head to the heart.
Ernest Holmes taught that prayer treatment has two vital components… the intellectual process, where the words of the prayer constitute an argument that convinces you, that builds up your faith by a chain of logic and reason. That reason relies on your knowledge and understanding of the nature of yourself, and of God. This is where classes will build your mental database, giving you the building blocks of faith.
The second, vital component is sincere emotion, which flows from the faith, and which underscores your change of mind. It is the expression of your acceptance of Good, of gratitude, of joy, of understanding that God is infinitely giving. It is the sign that you have the faith to move whatever mountain is in front of you today.
When Jesus brought Lazarus out from the tomb, he uttered the simplest of all treatments. He said two key sentences; not exactly in the sequence that we teach, but who is going to argue with success?
He said, “Lord, I know that you hear me always.” He then said, “Lazarus, come out!” A pretty short treatment!
Ernest Holmes taught that prayer treatment has two vital components… the intellectual process, where the words of the prayer constitute an argument that convinces you, that builds up your faith by a chain of logic and reason. That reason relies on your knowledge and understanding of the nature of yourself, and of God. This is where classes will build your mental database, giving you the building blocks of faith.
The second, vital component is sincere emotion, which flows from the faith, and which underscores your change of mind. It is the expression of your acceptance of Good, of gratitude, of joy, of understanding that God is infinitely giving. It is the sign that you have the faith to move whatever mountain is in front of you today.
When Jesus brought Lazarus out from the tomb, he uttered the simplest of all treatments. He said two key sentences; not exactly in the sequence that we teach, but who is going to argue with success?
He said, “Lord, I know that you hear me always.” He then said, “Lazarus, come out!” A pretty short treatment!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - CHANGING YOUR THINKING
We live in a funny world – an odd society. If you put up a sign that said “Experience Heaven - $300” You’d get a rush of curious people. They’d be looking for the drug you were selling, or the getaway condo in the mountains, or the pyramid scheme. They would pay $300, but if you say “Heaven on Earth – no charge – just change your thinking!” they’ll turn away muttering, and sooner or later someone will say, “I know it was too good to be true.” And if you asked for some commitment in return, you wouldn’t see the people for dust.
Our world – our society – is going to change. Just watch. Grassroots movements are building now in what is being called "The Shift".
So let’s say I want to be committed to Heaven on Earth. What do I need to do? Well, you have to change your thinking. Only your thinking stands in the way, right now. It is one of those things, like happiness, that if you think you have it, why then…. you have it!
The tool that New Thought offers you for changing your thinking is a method of prayer called Spiritual Mind Treatment. Developed (or rather discovered) by Ernest Holmes, Treatment is a type of prayer that contains certain steps for us to follow in moving our mind, from a consciousness of the world… to a consciousness of the Spirit of God.
We see treatment modeled for us in many places in the Bible. The form of treatment is obeyed in the Psalms of David; it is mirrored perfectly in the Lord’s prayer. In the words of Jesus, it is reflected many times. And yet it is never set down as a prescription; examples are many, but instructions are lacking. It is there, but with no explanation.
Ernest Holmes provided us with those instructions, in his textbook The Science of Mind. Courses in the Science of Mind take people through the theory, and the ‘formula’ for prayer. But you could get the basic information just by reading, as many people do.
Why isn't reading a book enough?
What you can’t get by reading is the group practice in doing treatment; the mutual support, the interactive learning that moves it from a neat, emotionless exercise to a process that you will undertake with deep conviction. Participating in classes moves it from your head to your heart, if you let it. It is one thing to follow a series of steps by rote; it is quite another to express your faith through feeling, and it is the feeling that represents a real change of mind and heart.
Our world – our society – is going to change. Just watch. Grassroots movements are building now in what is being called "The Shift".
So let’s say I want to be committed to Heaven on Earth. What do I need to do? Well, you have to change your thinking. Only your thinking stands in the way, right now. It is one of those things, like happiness, that if you think you have it, why then…. you have it!
The tool that New Thought offers you for changing your thinking is a method of prayer called Spiritual Mind Treatment. Developed (or rather discovered) by Ernest Holmes, Treatment is a type of prayer that contains certain steps for us to follow in moving our mind, from a consciousness of the world… to a consciousness of the Spirit of God.
We see treatment modeled for us in many places in the Bible. The form of treatment is obeyed in the Psalms of David; it is mirrored perfectly in the Lord’s prayer. In the words of Jesus, it is reflected many times. And yet it is never set down as a prescription; examples are many, but instructions are lacking. It is there, but with no explanation.
Ernest Holmes provided us with those instructions, in his textbook The Science of Mind. Courses in the Science of Mind take people through the theory, and the ‘formula’ for prayer. But you could get the basic information just by reading, as many people do.
Why isn't reading a book enough?
What you can’t get by reading is the group practice in doing treatment; the mutual support, the interactive learning that moves it from a neat, emotionless exercise to a process that you will undertake with deep conviction. Participating in classes moves it from your head to your heart, if you let it. It is one thing to follow a series of steps by rote; it is quite another to express your faith through feeling, and it is the feeling that represents a real change of mind and heart.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - THE KINGDOM IS WITHIN
No matter what you decide is your main mission in life, you will only fulfill it properly if you learn to practice the presence of God within you. I know most people would use the phrase “God at your side.” There is good too, but I think we need to bit the bullet and accept that we cannot run and we cannot hide from the truth….. God is too big to be kept out. God is IN. Like the sign on Lucy’s booth, in the Charlie Brown comic, the Doctor is IN.
Yes, the Doctor is definitely IN. But you need more than ten cents. You need to commit your life to a new realization. I know it sounds serious – but it’s not as bad as it sounds. The world is full of folks who never commit to anything if they can help it – then they wonder why their life is unfulfilled; why they think they’re poor, or sick, or unhappy.
Jesus taught that the Kingdom is within you. Not in the sky, out in the world – in YOU. This should appear to you as an opportunity. It’s funny how few really reach for it. Is it because we don't understand it, or because we don't believe it?
Eckhart Tolle's book "A New Earth" is about the conversion of consciousness- to reach a New Heaven within and A New Earth on the outside. Check it out, and read about it on Oprah.com.
Yes, the Doctor is definitely IN. But you need more than ten cents. You need to commit your life to a new realization. I know it sounds serious – but it’s not as bad as it sounds. The world is full of folks who never commit to anything if they can help it – then they wonder why their life is unfulfilled; why they think they’re poor, or sick, or unhappy.
Jesus taught that the Kingdom is within you. Not in the sky, out in the world – in YOU. This should appear to you as an opportunity. It’s funny how few really reach for it. Is it because we don't understand it, or because we don't believe it?
Eckhart Tolle's book "A New Earth" is about the conversion of consciousness- to reach a New Heaven within and A New Earth on the outside. Check it out, and read about it on Oprah.com.
Monday, February 11, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - HOW WILL YOU PLAY?
So how are you going to play today?
To quote Mary Manin Morrissey;
Scripture says, "Behold, I place before you a day. Create with it what you will." The wonderful truth is that we co-create our lives by deciding how we will experience the circumstances of our lives. Today, choose to experience the joy of a life fully lived.
Live that life in the full consciousness of who and what you are…… don’t fall into the idea that you are small, or imperfect, or inadequate, or poor. How could you be?
Your most glorious life is lived by holding your mind steadily, continually, in the thought of God as your Innermost Reality, the Thing Itself, as Ernest Holmes called It, that which forms your very spark of life. Without it, you would be less than nothing…. But existence without it would simply not be possible. You have your life completely in God… and the life in you is God. In the words attributed to Jesus, “The Father and I are One.”
But, you say, the world keeps grabbing at my attention. I can’t spend my life being blissed out in the consciousness of God all the time! How would I get my work done! I’d be weird! I’d be some kind of ascetic monk, or a Gandhi, or……
Yeah……. So what?
You would be whatever God intended you to be. That’s already built into your makeup. God already had a Gandhi… one was enough. God is in the world, as you, because God needs a YOU! Whatever that is. All you need to do is…. notice how easy it is to say that…..All you need to do is…. Be yourself. But not a shrinking, cowering, shriveling, sniveling, groveling, simpering you. Who needs that? Your mission, should you accept it, is simply to be all that you can be – as you.
The world has seen some really great curmudgeons…. they are kind of neat in the way they can grump their way through life. Some people love them, and look forward to their good-natured crabbiness. You could be a great curmudgeon.
The world needs a good loudmouth. Sure we’ve got Bill O'Reilly, hist disciple Stephen Colbert, and Rush Limberger or whatever kind to cheese he thinks he is, but we could use one more – a different one. You could make a career as a loudmouth. I’ll time-share with you!
What we don’t need is a whole world full of identical, bland, goody two-shoes who are so busy being pious that they can’t stop to help, or won’t complain when they see something wrong going on. Oh we can take a few, but then the positions are filled.
We need skills. The world needs healers, educators, counselors, and leaders. The world needs not your wisdom, but God’s wisdom allowed to flow through you, into a world that can’t get too much of it. Hamid Karzai needs wisdom, in Afghanistan. All our leaders need a lot of wisdom.
To quote Mary Manin Morrissey;
Scripture says, "Behold, I place before you a day. Create with it what you will." The wonderful truth is that we co-create our lives by deciding how we will experience the circumstances of our lives. Today, choose to experience the joy of a life fully lived.
Live that life in the full consciousness of who and what you are…… don’t fall into the idea that you are small, or imperfect, or inadequate, or poor. How could you be?
Your most glorious life is lived by holding your mind steadily, continually, in the thought of God as your Innermost Reality, the Thing Itself, as Ernest Holmes called It, that which forms your very spark of life. Without it, you would be less than nothing…. But existence without it would simply not be possible. You have your life completely in God… and the life in you is God. In the words attributed to Jesus, “The Father and I are One.”
But, you say, the world keeps grabbing at my attention. I can’t spend my life being blissed out in the consciousness of God all the time! How would I get my work done! I’d be weird! I’d be some kind of ascetic monk, or a Gandhi, or……
Yeah……. So what?
You would be whatever God intended you to be. That’s already built into your makeup. God already had a Gandhi… one was enough. God is in the world, as you, because God needs a YOU! Whatever that is. All you need to do is…. notice how easy it is to say that…..All you need to do is…. Be yourself. But not a shrinking, cowering, shriveling, sniveling, groveling, simpering you. Who needs that? Your mission, should you accept it, is simply to be all that you can be – as you.
The world has seen some really great curmudgeons…. they are kind of neat in the way they can grump their way through life. Some people love them, and look forward to their good-natured crabbiness. You could be a great curmudgeon.
The world needs a good loudmouth. Sure we’ve got Bill O'Reilly, hist disciple Stephen Colbert, and Rush Limberger or whatever kind to cheese he thinks he is, but we could use one more – a different one. You could make a career as a loudmouth. I’ll time-share with you!
What we don’t need is a whole world full of identical, bland, goody two-shoes who are so busy being pious that they can’t stop to help, or won’t complain when they see something wrong going on. Oh we can take a few, but then the positions are filled.
We need skills. The world needs healers, educators, counselors, and leaders. The world needs not your wisdom, but God’s wisdom allowed to flow through you, into a world that can’t get too much of it. Hamid Karzai needs wisdom, in Afghanistan. All our leaders need a lot of wisdom.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - IMMORTALITY!
YOU ARE IMMORTAL
You have lived forever, and you will never die. Time means nothing to you.
Jesus said, “The Father and I are One.” Then, speaking as the Father within, he said, “Before Abraham was born, I AM.” Interesting translation. Do you suppose the translator thought about that, and was tempted to tinker with it? Both past and future tense used in reference to the same thing. Wouldn’t that make a translator too tense?
“Before Abraham was born, I AM.” This tells us that time is not relevant to the operation of God. God does not live forever; God lives only NOW, and NOW is eternal. Can you grasp that? Now is eternal. And that goes for your own NOW moment, too. You live NOW, and NOW is eternal.
Just stretch your own God-given imagination now and say with me, Before Abraham was, I AM.
This is a declaration of timeless immortality. This is a statement of eternality, of indestructibility, which brings to you the faith that you need to step out fearlessly into life.
Many people think of a soul that never dies, of an existence into infinity. But infinity cannot be single-ended. It extends both ways, to past and future. Life just IS. There is no such thing as half an infinity! Don't worry about how you will spend eternity - you are in eternity, NOW!
How can anything harm you, when you will always exist in this eternal now? The Spirit that is you ensures that. Oh, bodies come and bodies go; and souls may become feeble; but spirit is eternally the same, eternally new, and eternally one with Its creation throughout all space and time.
You have lived forever, and you will never die. Time means nothing to you.
Jesus said, “The Father and I are One.” Then, speaking as the Father within, he said, “Before Abraham was born, I AM.” Interesting translation. Do you suppose the translator thought about that, and was tempted to tinker with it? Both past and future tense used in reference to the same thing. Wouldn’t that make a translator too tense?
“Before Abraham was born, I AM.” This tells us that time is not relevant to the operation of God. God does not live forever; God lives only NOW, and NOW is eternal. Can you grasp that? Now is eternal. And that goes for your own NOW moment, too. You live NOW, and NOW is eternal.
Just stretch your own God-given imagination now and say with me, Before Abraham was, I AM.
This is a declaration of timeless immortality. This is a statement of eternality, of indestructibility, which brings to you the faith that you need to step out fearlessly into life.
Many people think of a soul that never dies, of an existence into infinity. But infinity cannot be single-ended. It extends both ways, to past and future. Life just IS. There is no such thing as half an infinity! Don't worry about how you will spend eternity - you are in eternity, NOW!
How can anything harm you, when you will always exist in this eternal now? The Spirit that is you ensures that. Oh, bodies come and bodies go; and souls may become feeble; but spirit is eternally the same, eternally new, and eternally one with Its creation throughout all space and time.
Friday, February 8, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - STEPPING OUT!
STEPPING OUT INTO LIFE
What is the life that you have? You are a bundle of organic chemicals and minerals – you are a walking bag of water. All that you are would be nothing without the life that animates you.
And ordinary life is not enough. It’s not enough to be a mass of protoplasmic jelly that can manage to reproduce itself. What would you be without your awareness – your self-awareness, your point of view, and your opinions? What would you be without your precious memories, your learnings throughout your life?
And finally, what would you be without your hopes, your dreams, your drive, and your desires. What would you be without the Love that lives in you, and animates you?
This is your spirit. It is Spirit that drives you forward, that itches to be greater. It is not your soul. Your soul is the unconscious feeling in you – the feeling of simply being, along with the feelings of hunger, thirst, all the unconscious drives that we have.
A dog has a soul – but a dog never desires to be something it is not. A dog never desires to experience being more than a dog – or even other than a dog. No dog desires to try being a cat for awhile, just to see what it’s like. Yet if you could invent a machine that would let people be a dog, or a cat, or an eagle, for half an hour, you would have people lined up around the block, with twenty bucks gripped in every fist. People would go for that!
We have a spark that has existed since the dawn of time, and which now lives in us, yearning to experience Itself to the fullest extent possible through us and as us. We are the temples in which that Spirit dwells
You have that within you now, that has created the universe.
What is the life that you have? You are a bundle of organic chemicals and minerals – you are a walking bag of water. All that you are would be nothing without the life that animates you.
And ordinary life is not enough. It’s not enough to be a mass of protoplasmic jelly that can manage to reproduce itself. What would you be without your awareness – your self-awareness, your point of view, and your opinions? What would you be without your precious memories, your learnings throughout your life?
And finally, what would you be without your hopes, your dreams, your drive, and your desires. What would you be without the Love that lives in you, and animates you?
This is your spirit. It is Spirit that drives you forward, that itches to be greater. It is not your soul. Your soul is the unconscious feeling in you – the feeling of simply being, along with the feelings of hunger, thirst, all the unconscious drives that we have.
A dog has a soul – but a dog never desires to be something it is not. A dog never desires to experience being more than a dog – or even other than a dog. No dog desires to try being a cat for awhile, just to see what it’s like. Yet if you could invent a machine that would let people be a dog, or a cat, or an eagle, for half an hour, you would have people lined up around the block, with twenty bucks gripped in every fist. People would go for that!
We have a spark that has existed since the dawn of time, and which now lives in us, yearning to experience Itself to the fullest extent possible through us and as us. We are the temples in which that Spirit dwells
You have that within you now, that has created the universe.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - GENESIS SYMBOLISM
Here is one symbolic interpretation of the beginning of Genesis:
Click on the graphic to see a larger version...
Click on the graphic to see a larger version...
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - INTEGRITY
INTEGRITY
The companion to individuality is integrity. Integrity is the ability to know yourself, and to remain true to yourself, even in the face of pressures to conform or to bend to everyday forces that would draw you away from your true nature, into conformity or mediocrity.
Have you given away your independence of thought to the media, to consumerism, to political parties, to authoritarianism in all its forms, in churches, or in society? There are a lot of ways in which you can give your individuality, your independence, away.
The teachings of New Thought are aimed at teaching people HOW to think, but not WHAT to think. They offer the freedom to search and seek your own answers to life. Please use these teachings as guides, and not their teachers as gurus. The essential character of New Thought is to respect your individuality.
So what have you done with the individuality you were given? Have you used it to build happiness, to cultivate joy? Have you used it to play amongst the beauty of the world? To create art? To uplift and harmonize with your fellow BE-ings?
Even if you have squandered this precious gift up to now, it’s not too late. It’s never too late, to grab hold of the reins of your life, and steer for greatness. Every instant holds the potential for a new start - NOW!
You can be a great individual right where you are. You can be a great neighbour. You can be a great parent, a great aunt or cousin. You can be a great writer, artist, or a great cook.
One thing is for sure – there is only one you. There is no one else like you, because the complexity of life sees to that.
Isn’t it amazing to think, that amongst the whole human race, our genetic code varies less than decimal zero two percent. And yet that point oh-two percent accounts for all the differences we see in the world!
Add to that the variation in our learning, in our experience, and we end up with uniqueness so profound that words cannot describe it. I salute your uniqueness!
I urge you to treasure your individuality – your freedom to think and to choose.
Remember it is the second gift ever given. Learn to use it well and wisely.
The companion to individuality is integrity. Integrity is the ability to know yourself, and to remain true to yourself, even in the face of pressures to conform or to bend to everyday forces that would draw you away from your true nature, into conformity or mediocrity.
Have you given away your independence of thought to the media, to consumerism, to political parties, to authoritarianism in all its forms, in churches, or in society? There are a lot of ways in which you can give your individuality, your independence, away.
The teachings of New Thought are aimed at teaching people HOW to think, but not WHAT to think. They offer the freedom to search and seek your own answers to life. Please use these teachings as guides, and not their teachers as gurus. The essential character of New Thought is to respect your individuality.
So what have you done with the individuality you were given? Have you used it to build happiness, to cultivate joy? Have you used it to play amongst the beauty of the world? To create art? To uplift and harmonize with your fellow BE-ings?
Even if you have squandered this precious gift up to now, it’s not too late. It’s never too late, to grab hold of the reins of your life, and steer for greatness. Every instant holds the potential for a new start - NOW!
You can be a great individual right where you are. You can be a great neighbour. You can be a great parent, a great aunt or cousin. You can be a great writer, artist, or a great cook.
One thing is for sure – there is only one you. There is no one else like you, because the complexity of life sees to that.
Isn’t it amazing to think, that amongst the whole human race, our genetic code varies less than decimal zero two percent. And yet that point oh-two percent accounts for all the differences we see in the world!
Add to that the variation in our learning, in our experience, and we end up with uniqueness so profound that words cannot describe it. I salute your uniqueness!
I urge you to treasure your individuality – your freedom to think and to choose.
Remember it is the second gift ever given. Learn to use it well and wisely.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - INDIVIDUALITY - AWAKENING
INDIVIDUALITY
We exist to provide different points of view. Imagine a single universal entity, one great intelligence, undifferentiated. What is Its viewpoint? There is no viewpoint, because there is only one outlook, with nothing to look out upon – everything is within the One. There is only one thought, and it must be an unconscious thought, because consciousness requires an object to contemplate.
I’ll repeat that – consciousness requires an object to contemplate, something to dwell upon, to focus on. You cannot be conscious without being conscious OF something. Without that, thought can only be unconscious.
Genesis describes the awakening of Something, which we label God for lack of language, into consciousness, through the creation of multiple divisions of itself, made by the formation of physical barriers, forms, shapes, bodies, and the creation of multiple viewpoints through which God can observe Itself.
It should give you an appreciation for your own individuality.
We exist to provide different points of view. Imagine a single universal entity, one great intelligence, undifferentiated. What is Its viewpoint? There is no viewpoint, because there is only one outlook, with nothing to look out upon – everything is within the One. There is only one thought, and it must be an unconscious thought, because consciousness requires an object to contemplate.
I’ll repeat that – consciousness requires an object to contemplate, something to dwell upon, to focus on. You cannot be conscious without being conscious OF something. Without that, thought can only be unconscious.
Genesis describes the awakening of Something, which we label God for lack of language, into consciousness, through the creation of multiple divisions of itself, made by the formation of physical barriers, forms, shapes, bodies, and the creation of multiple viewpoints through which God can observe Itself.
It should give you an appreciation for your own individuality.
Monday, February 4, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - LIGHT - THE FIRST GIFT
Individuality is your second gift from God, after what?
After the light itself, the energy that makes you and I and everything. Light is used to describe intelligence. Wisdom is pure light; ignorance is darkness – that’s how it is traditionally described.
General MacArthur said, “I am a soldier who did his duty, as God gave him the light to see it”.
Jesus said, “I am the way, and the light”; and “I am the light of the world”.
We talk about shedding light on the subject. We say that someone lights up a room.
We bring our light with us wherever we go, and our light shines on all those around us – that is, our intelligence, our personality, our BE-ing, is like a light in the world. And our individuality keeps each light from the boredom of sameness.
Why individuality? Why is there each separate, individual one of us? Here is one of the mysteries of the ages. And we have the answer in the mirror!
There is a saying that if we all thought the same, there would only need to be one of us. That is your clue to the purpose of our being. To be ourselves, and not a shadow of someone else – not a shadow of our parents, our spouse, or our siblings.
After the light itself, the energy that makes you and I and everything. Light is used to describe intelligence. Wisdom is pure light; ignorance is darkness – that’s how it is traditionally described.
General MacArthur said, “I am a soldier who did his duty, as God gave him the light to see it”.
Jesus said, “I am the way, and the light”; and “I am the light of the world”.
We talk about shedding light on the subject. We say that someone lights up a room.
We bring our light with us wherever we go, and our light shines on all those around us – that is, our intelligence, our personality, our BE-ing, is like a light in the world. And our individuality keeps each light from the boredom of sameness.
Why individuality? Why is there each separate, individual one of us? Here is one of the mysteries of the ages. And we have the answer in the mirror!
There is a saying that if we all thought the same, there would only need to be one of us. That is your clue to the purpose of our being. To be ourselves, and not a shadow of someone else – not a shadow of our parents, our spouse, or our siblings.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - INDIVIDUALITY, FORM AND EVOLUTION
So what does Science tell us about individuality?
In an article from Stanford University, on individuality in quantum theory, Steven French points out that we think of individual things as being different from one another in form. But we could easily imagine two or more things that were the same – like duplicates or clones, they would still be individuals, because they are separate in space. So a separation in space is one way we recognize individuals.
But if I was in the same space now as you were in a moment ago, we would still be individual. So individuality means we are separate not only in space but also time.
Our FORM defines the space we occupy. You form is different from my form – likely not as wide, for one thing! So our form marks us as individuals. Forms are characterized by a beginning and an end, both in space, defining a shape, and in time, defining a duration.
The quantum physics people know that the stuff we’re made of is reducible to identical types of particles. There’s a list of particles only so long, and that’s it. All things are made of these. And these particles are each defined by little wiggly waves of energy called strings that are nothing more that wiggles in the fabric of space. So we are all made of exactly the same stuff – which in metaphysics we call SUBSTANCE.
So all created things are individual by their FORM, which includes their location in space and time, but things are all one by their SUBSTANCE, which is the same for all things, and which comes from the same creation event, the Big Bang.
But what causes our form? Where does our form come from? Well, form has evolved from the big bang. Substance was created in that first moment, but form evolves. And what causes it to evolve? The action of the Spirit within. That invisible essence that is the intelligence of the Universe that is within us, within all things has evolved in form.
Our individuality comes from the individualized Spirit within us, from which grows not only our form in the physical realm, but our personality in the mental realm as well.
So when you read Ernest Holmes, and you read that God is both Love and Law, the Love part is that creative spirit within you, and the Law is the whole ongoing unfoldment of the Big Bang, by which substance is continually being drawn into an infinite variety of forms, changing and shifting with the creative flow, the impulse of Spirit pressing outward to express Itself in countless ways.
The law has remained the same, but the Love, the impulse, the intelligence, the wisdom is still evolving - at least in the physical universe that we experience.
In an article from Stanford University, on individuality in quantum theory, Steven French points out that we think of individual things as being different from one another in form. But we could easily imagine two or more things that were the same – like duplicates or clones, they would still be individuals, because they are separate in space. So a separation in space is one way we recognize individuals.
But if I was in the same space now as you were in a moment ago, we would still be individual. So individuality means we are separate not only in space but also time.
Our FORM defines the space we occupy. You form is different from my form – likely not as wide, for one thing! So our form marks us as individuals. Forms are characterized by a beginning and an end, both in space, defining a shape, and in time, defining a duration.
The quantum physics people know that the stuff we’re made of is reducible to identical types of particles. There’s a list of particles only so long, and that’s it. All things are made of these. And these particles are each defined by little wiggly waves of energy called strings that are nothing more that wiggles in the fabric of space. So we are all made of exactly the same stuff – which in metaphysics we call SUBSTANCE.
So all created things are individual by their FORM, which includes their location in space and time, but things are all one by their SUBSTANCE, which is the same for all things, and which comes from the same creation event, the Big Bang.
But what causes our form? Where does our form come from? Well, form has evolved from the big bang. Substance was created in that first moment, but form evolves. And what causes it to evolve? The action of the Spirit within. That invisible essence that is the intelligence of the Universe that is within us, within all things has evolved in form.
Our individuality comes from the individualized Spirit within us, from which grows not only our form in the physical realm, but our personality in the mental realm as well.
So when you read Ernest Holmes, and you read that God is both Love and Law, the Love part is that creative spirit within you, and the Law is the whole ongoing unfoldment of the Big Bang, by which substance is continually being drawn into an infinite variety of forms, changing and shifting with the creative flow, the impulse of Spirit pressing outward to express Itself in countless ways.
The law has remained the same, but the Love, the impulse, the intelligence, the wisdom is still evolving - at least in the physical universe that we experience.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - IIN THE BEGINNING
GENESIS:
At the beginning of the Bible, in Genesis, it begins by describing the creation process in symbolic language.
It says that the first thing created was a division of the realm of the invisible, and a physical realm; heaven and earth. This is the separation between thought (heaven, the invisible realm) and things (the physical, visible realm of forms and objects).
The first thing brought forth was light, or pure energy ("Let there be Light"). Today we call it the Big Bang.
And then there was a division of the waters, it says, and water is a symbolic term for the substance of spirit, which is the stuff of the invisible realm.
And it says a firmament was created, which is a division or form, to separate those waters, that is, to appear to separate spirit from Itself. This is the formation of separate individuality, creating a apparent division of Spirit. Note; this is not a separation, but an apparent division.
And it says God called the firmament Heaven. It is the space between the waters, the space that the individual spirits inhabit.
And so, we are in it, right now…. We are those flowing waters of Spirit, held apart from one another by that firmament, which we call FORM, our bodies. In fact we can see that all things are separated by their forms, so that we name them, or describe them, as individual objects.
This is creation, as we know it. This is Heaven. Sorry to disappoint you!
Jesus said "The kingdom of Heaven is within you", and "The Kingdom is at hand." So if it is really available right now (at hand), then it must not require creation, it must simply require realization.
What, you say, my world doesn’t look like the Heaven I pictured? That’s because you have either not made a clear picture, or you haven’t built according to your picture.
Have you ever built a house? When you build a house, you start with an idea, like the idea we have of heaven. From that, you obtain or create a set of detailed plans. Then you track down the materials and the help you need. And if the help does it right, you have a nice house, one that matches your original idea.
Did you do that with your life? Most of us didn't. Most of us have an idea, but no plan. Or we have a scattered, rough sloppy plan with no detail. We get sidetracked and settle for poor materials. And most of all, we don’t want qualified help – we can go it alone, can’t we?
Then we wonder why our life doesn’t resemble our idea of heaven.
At the beginning of the Bible, in Genesis, it begins by describing the creation process in symbolic language.
It says that the first thing created was a division of the realm of the invisible, and a physical realm; heaven and earth. This is the separation between thought (heaven, the invisible realm) and things (the physical, visible realm of forms and objects).
The first thing brought forth was light, or pure energy ("Let there be Light"). Today we call it the Big Bang.
And then there was a division of the waters, it says, and water is a symbolic term for the substance of spirit, which is the stuff of the invisible realm.
And it says a firmament was created, which is a division or form, to separate those waters, that is, to appear to separate spirit from Itself. This is the formation of separate individuality, creating a apparent division of Spirit. Note; this is not a separation, but an apparent division.
And it says God called the firmament Heaven. It is the space between the waters, the space that the individual spirits inhabit.
And so, we are in it, right now…. We are those flowing waters of Spirit, held apart from one another by that firmament, which we call FORM, our bodies. In fact we can see that all things are separated by their forms, so that we name them, or describe them, as individual objects.
This is creation, as we know it. This is Heaven. Sorry to disappoint you!
Jesus said "The kingdom of Heaven is within you", and "The Kingdom is at hand." So if it is really available right now (at hand), then it must not require creation, it must simply require realization.
What, you say, my world doesn’t look like the Heaven I pictured? That’s because you have either not made a clear picture, or you haven’t built according to your picture.
Have you ever built a house? When you build a house, you start with an idea, like the idea we have of heaven. From that, you obtain or create a set of detailed plans. Then you track down the materials and the help you need. And if the help does it right, you have a nice house, one that matches your original idea.
Did you do that with your life? Most of us didn't. Most of us have an idea, but no plan. Or we have a scattered, rough sloppy plan with no detail. We get sidetracked and settle for poor materials. And most of all, we don’t want qualified help – we can go it alone, can’t we?
Then we wonder why our life doesn’t resemble our idea of heaven.
Friday, February 1, 2008
LIFE AND THE LAW - INDIVIDUALITY AND GOD
Our individuality is the first and best gift that God has provided to us. It is the second thing that God is said to have created, right after "Let there be light".
First, what do we mean by God?
We mean the whole thing, both the initial energy of space from which all things have come, but the intelligence, the impulse, which caused the outward unfoldment of the complexity we see today. When you want to see God, look anywhere – it doesn’t matter where you look, and it doesn’t matter whether you look into the world of material, or into the world of ideas from which material is shaped.
Whatever there was before there was anything, that is God.
Before the earth and the stars were formed, our individuality was created, through the division of Spirit itself into the appearance of many parts. Without it, there could be no world, no universe, because without it, all things would still be together as one, a single undifferentiated point of energy.
First, what do we mean by God?
We mean the whole thing, both the initial energy of space from which all things have come, but the intelligence, the impulse, which caused the outward unfoldment of the complexity we see today. When you want to see God, look anywhere – it doesn’t matter where you look, and it doesn’t matter whether you look into the world of material, or into the world of ideas from which material is shaped.
Whatever there was before there was anything, that is God.
Before the earth and the stars were formed, our individuality was created, through the division of Spirit itself into the appearance of many parts. Without it, there could be no world, no universe, because without it, all things would still be together as one, a single undifferentiated point of energy.
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