Jesus, as a person, was asking us just to walk with him a while and see the world as he does, through his filter. I do believe Jesus was a real person, every bit as real as the Buddha or Krishna ( speaker in the Bhagavad-gita). His teachings are full of inspiration and something that humans should all strive for and what could be wrong with that. I do not know if he is the son of God but if he is, that's great too.
I believe you can still study and love the teachings of someone who got sucked into a religious dogma with out being religious. It does not have to be one or the other although some make you think you have to choose but notice, they usually do it with fear or guilt as a motivator. For me, this thought provided me with freedom to study and learn teachings from many sources, keeping the good and useful bits but not getting caught up in the religious scaffolding.
I do personally believe Jesus and maybe others in conjunction wrote the Course in Miracles, a book that I frequent. It was written to set the record straight about his time here and what we perceived wrong. When I read the ACIM, I really try hard to imagine anyone else writing it. I think that it's still possible that someone else did write it but list would be really short. Its concepts are far beyond things that most people have available to them. I'm not all that into Christian symbolism as a mantra to live by but I find the ideas put forth in ACIM difficult to ignore.
In ACIM, Jesus tells us why we should not worship him. ACIM p. 7 Revelation, Time and Miracles :
"Awe should be reserved for revelation, to which it is perfectly and correctly applicable. It is not appropriate for miracles because a state of awe is worshipful, implying that one of a lesser order stands before his Creator. You are a perfect creation, and should experience awe only in the Presence of the Creator of perfection. The miracle is therefore a sign of love among equals. Equals should not be in awe of one another because awe implies inequality. It is therefore an inappropriate reaction to me. An elder brother is entitled to respect for his greater experience, and obedience for his greater wisdom. He is also entitled to love because he is a brother, and to devotion if he is devoted. It is only my devotion that entitles me to yours. There is nothing about me that you cannot attain. I have nothing that does not come from God. The difference between us now is that I have nothing else. This leaves me in a state which is only potential in you."
Does this sound like a guy (or person) who is beating you over the head with eternity or damnation or a guy that came here so that we would worship him? It sounds like to me that he is trying to lift us up out of the slums of where we sometimes exist with each other to a higher place, where we can see more clearly our relationship with and to all things. He is letting you know that if you worship him you set yourself apart but if you strive to be like him in action then he has nothing that you can not achieve or that does not belong to you.
It is a beautiful message of encouragement that everyone can live in a better world based on their actions. You get back what you put in and at some level it is a closed system. Being worthy is not something that should be granted through a ceremony or a Hail Mary but something that is only earned, through a devotion to doing right by others.
I have also studied a lot about Edgar Cayce, deemed "The Sleeping Prophet". One of his statements that always sticks with me as good advice to live by is, "Know Thy Ideal". It is akin to the notion that if you think good things, good things will come. Cayce encouraged everyone to explore their life and know their ideal and when your ideal is set, your life becomes automatically pulled towards what you have set as that ideal. I am constantly reminded that if you don't know your ideal then you will just aimlessly wander, which can be educational too for a while I suppose. However I do think it takes some mental searching and effort to discover your ideal and then set your life on that course so that you can act. Mostly people probably don't know that they don't know what their ideal is.
I am thankful that the teaching of Jesus are available as are many others to help us form our ideals. I see him simply as an "older brother" that has gone before to help bring light to the world and all the other if's and's or but's were added later by people seeking to control people in some respect or other. I promise I will post other things on this blog than my thoughts about Jesus but I thought this needed to be said.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
What is in that "Tenth of an Inch", you will decide.
There is a Zen saying that says, "Heaven and Hell are but a tenth of an inch apart". I believe the Earth fills that space between the tenth of an inch and our individual perception of our situation on Earth tells us which way to lean. Obviously great beauty is available to us on Earth and unthinkable hellish manifestations are here as well. There is no point in studying or fearing Heaven or Hell when both are available in the here and now, here on Earth.
Perception is a huge personal responsibility. Perception can also influence others to see the world as you do, for better or worse. If you saw the world and thought it was good and held up that mirror for others to look into, would they not have a better chance of seeing it that way then if you held up a poster advertising space for rent in hell? Your perception of the world ultimately determines the way you will act towards it and what you will receive back.
I believe that religions and spiritual teachings from all over the world have many shards of light in their teachings and should not be discounted. However I think that some things that are taught by people in these organizations are wrong (ie. infused with fear and material things as their focus) and that is the main reason I choose not to participate in organized religions and other spiritual practices. Anytime fear is allowed to enter a thought system, it is headed in the wrong direction. It is very difficult for humans to avoid fear as it is a very powerful motivator and can be deeply present at subconscious levels.
As an example, Salvation, Atonement, Judgement Day are sometimes ideas that are taught as things that will occur at some future date, allowing fear and dread of damnation to slip in. I believe the only thing we have available to us ever in this life is the present moment. If we live for any ideas such as what our future will be like (imagining those who will get into Heaven-judging them or imagining if we will get in Heaven- judging ourselves) we are ignoring a valuable opportunity to make what we will of our present situation. It is clear that we can either live in a hellish state here or one of bliss and joy right now depending on how we see and how we act. If we are to be judged by how we saw and treated others at some future date, then our bases would be covered by living that way now, so why wait? Living for something in the future, some ultimate cosmic judgement date, only produces fear. Fear induced kindness (subconscious or not) to others or simply for the sake of saving your soul seems extremely damaging to the self and who would want to accept such fear motivated kindness from someone anyway?
Perception, are we just dreaming it anyway?
ACIM has many poetic moments that refer to us as being in a dream state (which the Native Americans and Aboriginal people also thought). Sometimes we dream that we are being crucified by others through their sins, their judgement on us, or their hate for us, etc.. This is why sin is not really possible on a higher level, because the dreamer is always safe at home (Heaven or in a spirit state or what you will) and the dreamer is never truly injured (in an eternal state) by what others seem to "do" to him. However while you are dreaming it seems all too real until you wake up. In this dream it is your responsibility to wake up and make the right choice, to take it all back once you realize where the error lies. It is all very metaphorical and allegorical. I find the opening statement, "The world is full of miracles", a very encouraging line because who couldn't use more miracles?
ACIM: p. 595 The Undoing Of Fear
"This world is full of miracles. They stand in shining silence next to every dream of pain and suffering, of sin and guilt. They are the dream's alternative, the choice to be the dreamer, rather than deny the active role in making up the dream. They are the glad effects of taking back the consequences of sickness to its cause. The body is released because the mind acknowledges "this is not done to me, but I am doing this." And thus the mind is free to make another choice instead. Beginning here, salvation will proceed to change the course of every step in the descent to separation, until all the steps have been retraced, the ladder gone, and all the dreaming of the world undone.
Perception is a huge personal responsibility. Perception can also influence others to see the world as you do, for better or worse. If you saw the world and thought it was good and held up that mirror for others to look into, would they not have a better chance of seeing it that way then if you held up a poster advertising space for rent in hell? Your perception of the world ultimately determines the way you will act towards it and what you will receive back.
I believe that religions and spiritual teachings from all over the world have many shards of light in their teachings and should not be discounted. However I think that some things that are taught by people in these organizations are wrong (ie. infused with fear and material things as their focus) and that is the main reason I choose not to participate in organized religions and other spiritual practices. Anytime fear is allowed to enter a thought system, it is headed in the wrong direction. It is very difficult for humans to avoid fear as it is a very powerful motivator and can be deeply present at subconscious levels.
As an example, Salvation, Atonement, Judgement Day are sometimes ideas that are taught as things that will occur at some future date, allowing fear and dread of damnation to slip in. I believe the only thing we have available to us ever in this life is the present moment. If we live for any ideas such as what our future will be like (imagining those who will get into Heaven-judging them or imagining if we will get in Heaven- judging ourselves) we are ignoring a valuable opportunity to make what we will of our present situation. It is clear that we can either live in a hellish state here or one of bliss and joy right now depending on how we see and how we act. If we are to be judged by how we saw and treated others at some future date, then our bases would be covered by living that way now, so why wait? Living for something in the future, some ultimate cosmic judgement date, only produces fear. Fear induced kindness (subconscious or not) to others or simply for the sake of saving your soul seems extremely damaging to the self and who would want to accept such fear motivated kindness from someone anyway?
Perception, are we just dreaming it anyway?
ACIM has many poetic moments that refer to us as being in a dream state (which the Native Americans and Aboriginal people also thought). Sometimes we dream that we are being crucified by others through their sins, their judgement on us, or their hate for us, etc.. This is why sin is not really possible on a higher level, because the dreamer is always safe at home (Heaven or in a spirit state or what you will) and the dreamer is never truly injured (in an eternal state) by what others seem to "do" to him. However while you are dreaming it seems all too real until you wake up. In this dream it is your responsibility to wake up and make the right choice, to take it all back once you realize where the error lies. It is all very metaphorical and allegorical. I find the opening statement, "The world is full of miracles", a very encouraging line because who couldn't use more miracles?
ACIM: p. 595 The Undoing Of Fear
"This world is full of miracles. They stand in shining silence next to every dream of pain and suffering, of sin and guilt. They are the dream's alternative, the choice to be the dreamer, rather than deny the active role in making up the dream. They are the glad effects of taking back the consequences of sickness to its cause. The body is released because the mind acknowledges "this is not done to me, but I am doing this." And thus the mind is free to make another choice instead. Beginning here, salvation will proceed to change the course of every step in the descent to separation, until all the steps have been retraced, the ladder gone, and all the dreaming of the world undone.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Why sin is a perception
It takes a body to sin. If you only perceive people as bodies then you will only see them as capable of sin. This will cause you to live in fear of the sin that you see everywhere in everyone. If you believe that people are more than just their bodies then you will be able to look past any perceived sin to find out what the real source of their behavior is and what would be an appropriate response, if any. Yes, I do believe in pure concentrated evil and I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about smaller things we judge others for on a daily basis. In this journal entry I am trying to be mindful of this concept and find ways to apply it in my life.
A Course In Miracles (ACIM) says in Ch 22, p476 :
"Let not the form of his mistakes keep you from him whose holiness is yours. Let not the vision of his holiness, the sight of which would show you your forgiveness, be kept from you by what the body's eyes can see. Let your awareness of your brother not be blocked by your perception of his sins and of his body. What is there in him that you would attack except what you associate with his body, which you believe can sin? Beyond his errors is his holiness and your salvation. You gave him not his holiness, but tried to see your sins in him to save yourself. And yet, his holiness is your forgiveness. Can you be saved by making sinful the one whose holiness is your salvation?"
I particularly like the part where it says, "You gave him not his holiness, but tried to see your sins in him to save yourself.". Psychologists might call that projection. It happens without your conscious knowledge and takes dedication and awareness and persistence to be able to catch it in the moment it is happening. Everyone is or has been guilty of it, the pot calling the kettle black. This is a major recurring theme in ACIM, the idea of crucifying your brother in the hopes of saving yourself. It is an image and a concept that fascinates me.
That is how I believe you are saved today, in the here and now, through the kindness and understanding of others. Perhaps if there is anything we could possibly need to be saved from, it is ourselves. I do believe we can take responsibility for saving ourselves based upon how we treat others and not wait on someone else to magically grant us salvation without us having to put forth any effort. Aren't things more valuable when they are earned instead of granted anyway?
A Course In Miracles (ACIM) says in Ch 22, p476 :
"Let not the form of his mistakes keep you from him whose holiness is yours. Let not the vision of his holiness, the sight of which would show you your forgiveness, be kept from you by what the body's eyes can see. Let your awareness of your brother not be blocked by your perception of his sins and of his body. What is there in him that you would attack except what you associate with his body, which you believe can sin? Beyond his errors is his holiness and your salvation. You gave him not his holiness, but tried to see your sins in him to save yourself. And yet, his holiness is your forgiveness. Can you be saved by making sinful the one whose holiness is your salvation?"
I particularly like the part where it says, "You gave him not his holiness, but tried to see your sins in him to save yourself.". Psychologists might call that projection. It happens without your conscious knowledge and takes dedication and awareness and persistence to be able to catch it in the moment it is happening. Everyone is or has been guilty of it, the pot calling the kettle black. This is a major recurring theme in ACIM, the idea of crucifying your brother in the hopes of saving yourself. It is an image and a concept that fascinates me.
That is how I believe you are saved today, in the here and now, through the kindness and understanding of others. Perhaps if there is anything we could possibly need to be saved from, it is ourselves. I do believe we can take responsibility for saving ourselves based upon how we treat others and not wait on someone else to magically grant us salvation without us having to put forth any effort. Aren't things more valuable when they are earned instead of granted anyway?
To begin at the beginning, if there is such a thing
I wanted to start this blog a while ago due to thoughts rolling around in my head but they weren't done cooking yet. I'm still not sure they are done but something wanted to come out, hopefully not in an Alien movie kind of way.
I wanted to use this blog to talk about Spiritual things that I am interested in. I'm finding it is important to do the things we are afraid of in life and that sinking into a comforting routine and becoming sedimentary (yes I said sedimentary, collecting layers of dust or rock) is akin to a living death. Your heart still beats and you function routinely but no one is actually home in your wayward vessel.
I study A Course In Miracles, various works by Jean Klein, Dr. David Hawkins, Byron Katie, Edgar Cayce and many more. I also am interested in many other topics, including Native American Teachings and East Indian spiritual works. What you will find here are quotes and thoughts about things that particularly spoke to me. This is more of a reflection journal for me.
I make no attempt to convince anyone of anything, not one iota.
I wanted to use this blog to talk about Spiritual things that I am interested in. I'm finding it is important to do the things we are afraid of in life and that sinking into a comforting routine and becoming sedimentary (yes I said sedimentary, collecting layers of dust or rock) is akin to a living death. Your heart still beats and you function routinely but no one is actually home in your wayward vessel.
I study A Course In Miracles, various works by Jean Klein, Dr. David Hawkins, Byron Katie, Edgar Cayce and many more. I also am interested in many other topics, including Native American Teachings and East Indian spiritual works. What you will find here are quotes and thoughts about things that particularly spoke to me. This is more of a reflection journal for me.
I make no attempt to convince anyone of anything, not one iota.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
