Get Out of the Norm

The eightfold path of Enlightment:

Right Understanding leads to Wisdom

Right Aspiration leads to Divine Inclination

Right Speech leads to Truth and Understanding

Right Behavior leads to Goodwill

Right Livelihood leads to Sharing

Right Effort leads to Highest Outcome

Right Mindfulness leads to Purposeful Living

Right Absorbtion leads to Unity

In these simple words Buddha teaches us to shine our light, and find peace.

It seems to me we are at a cross roads in America. Some how, we think that right speech has no purpose. I have heard many people say “oh they are just words, words can’t hurt.” To the contrary, words are powerful and create our destiny. Both personally and globally. The Word created the world and God informed us in Genesis we were the co-creators. If God created the world through word/thought, then that is how we must create.

I am a huge supporter for freedom of speech in America. I don’t want the government banning any word or deciding what can be said on the air waves. We all have the light within us that knows right speech and right action. All change starts within. We can disagree and have a productive dialouge without character assassination. If you say you want peace yet you assassinate another’s character, I say you know not what peace is. When you judge another for an action you despise, it must be because you carry this same trait in yourself. We only see in others what we see in ourselves. Remember Christ said in Matt 7:1-2: “Judge not, that you not be judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged. And, with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And, why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own?”

We project our own personal disgust on others so we can feel superior. This is the ego’s fortress. We must tear down our fortress of darkness and let the light in. Once we have done that, we can project peace thus creating it.

The Guide to Salvation, pg: 78

There are two diametrically opposed ways of seeing your brother. They must both be in your mind, because you are the perceiver. They must also be in his, because you are perceiving him. See him through the Holy Spirit in his mind, and you will recognize him in yours. What you acknowldge in your brother you are acknowledging in yourself, and what you share you strengthen.

The Bible: Matt:7-5

First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.

John: 8-7: He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.

When we judge another, we are projecting our own guilt and fear. Wanting to remove the plank from another, is a wake up to go inward. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can let go of the seperation in ourself and share the light with our neighbor. The ego has convinced us that tearing one down is strength and accomplishes safety. Nothing could be further from the truth. What we give, we get. Universal Principle is the Law of Attraction. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you uncover the darkness. Once you have, you see there is nothing but love.

The Course in Miracles is all about getting out of the norm. The Course’s premise is we are born into an ego thought system and we must make null what we have been taught. If this study finds you, it is something you will be working on for the rest of your life. As Mary Anne Williamson has said, at 11 years of study she is a good intermediate student.

I personally think Kenneth Wapkin, check out his web site www.facim.org, is an excellent reference when studying The Course. The best teacher is the Holy Spirit and the more one does the work book, read the text and spend time in prayer the Holy Spirit’s voice becomes more audible. The Course is not for everyone. It demands diligence and a willingness to let go of all perceptions and judgements pertaining to this world. It is the one text that really discusses in great detail the ego and it’s thought system. The premise is this thought system is vicious and we all are in it. The Course offers a way to get out of it. This seems so simplistic yet major change is required. The ego does not go quietly into the night! This world is created by us, is an illusion and isn’t real. Novices of this study tend to talk the talk of The Course without really going into the deep. One must work with his/her own demons and find out what one’s heart really believes before change can truly manifest. Metaphysics does say we create our experience; however, we often don’t know what is it we are really believing. Thought, words and belief create our experience. We must dig to find out what is it we really think? With the help of the Holy Spirit we can replace the fearful thoughts with the thoughts of love. All sin is seperation from God and our duty is to find our way home.

I do disagree with a consistent agreement with most teachers and students of The Course that the Jesus of The Course is not the same Jesus of the Bible. I believe that if you read scripture through the metaphysical eye Jesus of the Bible is saying the same exact things that the Jesus of The Course says. Part of these writings will to bring the two together. Blessings, Lenny

This is where we can all share our greatest picks. This can be books, tapes, CD’s, movies and of course spiritual teachings. I will start the list off with a few:

From Sounds True Catalog: www.soundstrue.com

The Wisdom of your cells, by Bruce Lipton. This is especially excellent for those that are more interested in the science approach vs the spiritual approach. I give it my highest rating: 5 thumbs up!

Yoga for emotional flow, by Stephen Cope. I am not a student of yoga except for Chakra yoga. This was such an excellent explanation of what it really means to live through this thought system. I never understood its value until I heard this CD.

Shiva Rea: music: Jala, and Shakti Rhythms

My three most valued books are: The Course in Miracles, The Holy Bible and Science of the Mind by Ernest Holmes.

Blessings!