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Introduction
This is the final section of this particular series (split into twp parts, A and B, for reasons of length). Thus far, we have discussed the true nature of that which we call God. We began here as a matter of orientation so that we might more clearly understand our relationship to All That Is. This orientation may not be relevant or necessary for everyone. However, partly because many of the religions of the world teach that God is an authoritative, imperial being separate from us, many of us have falsely come to believe that we are powerless. Many think that this God has all sorts of rules and requirements to be met if we are to be considered good and worthy. And because the rules, as described by some religious sects, are so numerous and so easy to break, we falsely believe that we will never be deemed worthy of being granted our desires or attaining a state of happiness. Our false belief in our unworthiness leads us to feel hopeless.
Thus we set out to remind ourselves that we are part of All That Is, beings of love in unity with all and not separate from anything. Our discussion has helped us to remember and understand who we are (Part 2) and why we are here in this physical form--that we are eternal beings, far more than the limited personalities that we falsely perceive ourselves to be in this physical body. Then in Part 3, we discussed how it is that we have come to have these misconceptions of ourselves, including the dynamics of our ego / personality selves.
In Part 4, we talked about mass consciousness, what I referred to as the muck. Here again, there was a specific reason. It was to help us realize that when we are focused there, we are focused in our lower or limited selves. We have become aware that we cannot truly create our desires from there, that we create from our higher selves because that is where we know the truth that we are limitless. Within our ego selves, the only truth is about our limits and blocks. Thus, we begin to see a clear need to transform and become reconnected with our True Selves. Now, in this closing article, we will discuss some ideas that will assist us in our transformation. It is in two parts, 5a and 5b. This part, 5a deals with some necessary final assembly of the pieces we've covered thus far. In order to establish the context of our actions for change, we must complete the framework upon which they're based.
Part 5a
Assembling the pieces
As I
stated at the beginning of the series, one's particular belief
in the nature of and experience of God is quite significant to
his experience of life. Those who view God as a supreme ruler
separated from themselves see themselves as more limited than
those who view themselves as part of All That Is (individualized
expressions of god).
You may at times notice that what has been presented in these articles leans towards or favors the perspective of the expanded consciousness over that of limited consciousness. At times, it may seem there is a sort of us / them context. To some, this may provoke a sort of cognitive dissidence. After all, much of this content is aimed at teaching us that we are all one-that we should move away from "us / them" paradigms. Let me see if I can clarify this seeming contradiction.
During my journey, I picked up, browsed through, listened to and read many books, articles, tapes, radio programs and later, websites. Though I was exploring and opening up to areas of discovery that had previously been unfamiliar to me, there was a fairly well defined sense of what resonated and what didn't. Much material was about subjects far too esoteric for my needs. They seemed so advanced that I couldn't see how they were relevant to me or how I could apply them. They were just at a much higher or evolved level of consciousness than I could relate to in my very physical and emotional real world struggles. Being that I would pretty much bypass most of that material, I was choosing to miss what it had to offer.
When I began to write and teach, I was pretty clear that my particular niche or domain was the transitional zone. In other words, what I expressed would teach and speak from the point of view of many beginning seekers. I certainly had not been able to make the abrupt leap from everyday struggles to the highly esoteric subjects just like that. All souls are at different points on their evolutionary journey; and we acknowledge that for many, it isn't a leap at all. Yet there are others who, as I did, may need a little easier transition. Therefore, what I offer recognizes that we are in a world where contrasting viewpoints exist, whether it be in the realm of politics, morality, religion, work ethic, race, sex, physical ability, etc.
By deciding to pursue such information as this, we have made a decision that we desire to move on from unconscious engagement in all of the conflict of the world. That does not mean being removed from the world itself; the contrast of varying views has a very real purpose in the expansion of consciousness. This expression recognizes that readers have a point of view, while at the same time, it urges them to loosen it up and come to accept the ideas inherent in the concept of "a personal reality". It understands that the reader is observing conflicts and contentions over opposing points of view in many facets of his / her life, whether it be in the workplace, the community, the family, or even within their church. Therefore, by acknowledging and writing from this context, the casual reader is not as likely to think that seeking the light is only for the "spiritually elite" and thereby beyond her. Thus it is that we draw the contrast between the limited perspective and the expanded. In doing so, we demonstrate where our focus is / has been and look at what we are moving toward.
And here
is the important fact to explain the seeming "us/them"
contradiction. The difference is that most us/them discussions
are contests or debates with the purpose of asserting and proving
that "they" are wrong and "we" are right.
Here, we have no such concerns. Our intent in our journey is
to increasingly understand that what others think is not our
business or concern. Other's thinking only effects them and it
is only our thinking that creates our experiences. Who's right
and who's wrong is a totally meaningless and irrelevant concern.
A Clear Contrast
The primary focus associated with the limited experience of God is upon others and upon morality, while the focus associated with the expanded experience is upon love and creation. For the latter, morality is not a matter of concern in the sense that it is a virtue to be chased after or sought. The reason for this is quite simple. The Golden Rule is manifestly a natural outgrowth of the focus upon love. I refer to this as "auto-morality". It's a natural consequence of love and unity with God. Why is this important? Because, to put it simply, the thing that most effectively keeps us from achieving that which we desire is our critical focus upon others (as distinguished from a compassionate focus, which is compatible with the intent of love).
If I were to say that everyone who is successful and living in abundance and ease is someone who has turned his/her life over to God, some might object, stating that he or she knows many such people and many of them are not particularly religious in any sense. This response would reveal the common misconception of the word "God" that has prevailed throughout time. It is that misconception that we have been addressing in this series. The phrase "turning one's life and / or problems over to God", has nothing to do with religion, though this does not mean that the religious can't do it. Rather, it is only done by finally giving up all notions of separation and the impulse to attain fulfillment through effort alone. It means coming to the realization that "The Father" is with us always, that we are never alone and that we are beloved heirs to the kingdom. It means that the universe (The Father) will begin to work its miraculous powers to dispatch to you all that you seek, the moment you allow it to. Allowing it means having faith, not second-guessing the ways of Divine Mind.
We are bound to the laws of the world to the extent that we think we are. And it is our mass conscious acceptance and agreement upon lack, limitation and illness that keeps us bound. Our whole trip here is to learn that we have the power to transcend limiting ideas. When we move from bondage to freedom, that is transcending; when we live in abundant prosperity, health, joy and happiness, that too is transcending them. The evidence of transcendence to a large extent are these desired physical manifestations that have come into our lives--not through will of the personality but through working in harmony with spiritual law. Miracles of course manifest in physical ways as in the Biblical accounts of Christ feeding the throngs by multiplying the fish, turning water into wine or healing the sick.
Those oriented toward the limited or outer experience of God will not find the same meaning in turning oneself over to God as the one described above. The chart below provides a side-by-side comparison of the two views. The left side describes the expanded view; the right side the limited view. Most who are drawn to teachings such as these (sometimes referred to as "seekers of light") would probably identify with the left side. The reason this is relevant to our discussion of improving our experience and creating our lives according to our purpose and desires, is that the act of seeking assumes an attitude of openness to, even a personal identification with the concepts of the left side. In other words, creating one's own reality requires an understanding of the Truth of unity and oneness with All That Is.
| Two Perspectives Of God | |
| ALL THAT IS | BIBLICAL GOD |
| The Nature Of God | |
|
Includes
all that is Perceived as within Concerned with love and creation Allowing Tolerant Non Judgmental Non-punishing God of love Knows no evil Reveals death as joyful transition to non-physical |
Is separate
and apart from all Perceived as Outside and beyond Concerned with morality Demanding Intolerant Judgmental Wrathful, Punishing Obsessed with presence of evil / sin Warns of eternal damnation in hell |
| Implications Of How We Are To Be In The World | |
|
Recognize
our eternal nature Inner focus Knows thought is causative Focus upon creating in this life Does not believe man is condemned Sees man created in perfection Allowing Non Judgmental Controls only own thoughts Auto-morality; no right or wrong Inclusive Create the events in our lives Take responsibility for life conditions Everything is relative; personal reality Follow inner guidance, feelings, intuition Compassion Tolerant of others Truth derives from Ultimate Principle |
Accept limitation
as man's plight Outer focus Fearful of outer / other Cleanse sinful nature for afterlife Believes man must be saved Sees man as evil / fallen / born in sin Critical Of Others Judgmental Need to control other's thoughts Guided by external moral absolutes Exclusive Subject to outer events and conditions Blame circumstances and others Objective reality; everyone the same Follow rules of conventional wisdom Does not prize compassion Critical of others Only one truth from a particular dogma |
Moving
Toward Awareness
It probably will not surprise you when I suggest that all experience of pain, suffering, lack, limitation, failure, guilt and fear comes from beliefs and thinking associated with the right side of the comparison chart. All of the stuff of fulfilled life experience (including resurrection and glory after one has come back from separation) comes from the left side. Most who are reading this might think right off when looking at both sides of the chart that the left side is far more appealing in every way. In fact, we might say that it's obvious. I mean if one had a choice of perspective, could anyone imagine opting for a reality prescribed by the choices and ideas of the right over those on the left? Would one not prefer to live in a world where people conducted their lives consistent with the reality of the left side over the right side? Though the answers might seem quite obvious to most of us seeking truth, those whose perspective comes from the right side may not agree with that at all.
Often, they are fearful of the potential for chaos attendant with total creative freedom, fearful of the unknown ideas that may result, fearful that more evil than good will be created. And then they will ask, "Isn't everything on the left side just a bunch of relativistic nonsense that promotes immoral and irresponsible behavior? Isn't it all just a bunch of wishful thinking anyway, just too easy or too good to be true"? Well these are the responses one would expect from those whose perception of reality is more consistent with the right side because those beliefs are rooted in the mass conscious thoughts of limitation. Indeed, it is steeped in beliefs that life is about pain, suffering, scarcity, evil and limitation. For those dedicated to this perception of reality, the possibility for relief is the hope that God will hear their prayers and out of imperial mercy will heed the sufferer's plight--though some might say that the probability that somehow God might take notice might be considered a long shot. Still, this outer God does offer "hope", despite the odds.
Meanwhile,
both approaches are concerned with control--but in significantly
different ways. Those on the right side might be hopeful, but
at the same time, attempt to control outer conditions and other
people. From the left side, however, control is limited to regulation
of one's own thoughts and focus of attention.
Where Do You Stand?
Happily the
left side is consistent with Ultimate Truth. I might add though
that it doesn't offer the "hope" that God, through
His mercy, will come to the rescue. In fact, hope isn't even
a relevant concept from the perspective of the left side. Nope.
From this perspective, we are totally responsible for our thoughts
and beliefs and therefore responsible for what we experience.
This is not a reason for dejection however, but rather a fact
to celebrate--for it means that you are in control, with the
total freedom to create and with the full cooperation of the
universe. Yes, the full cooperation of Infinite Intelligence.
It's just that the cooperation of the universe comes from the
energy of love and attraction rather than from imperial mercy.
You see, praying for answers while believing in limitation is
a contradiction. On the other hand, asking for answers with the
belief and expectation that the universe will provide, opens
the channels of flow. It allows.
Don't Avoid Other Thinkers--Just Allow Them
Since, as we now understand, we create our own experience according to our thoughts and beliefs, what other reality could those on the right side have other than the ones consistent with their deeply held beliefs? Their experience simply matches their perception of reality. This is why, as seekers, we are guided toward the perspective of the left side. Now as we have stated, none of this comparison suggests or means that those who come from the right side are wrong. Are we to say that their experience (the effect of their beliefs) is not true for them? Are you beginning to understand that what you believe to be true is what's true for you; and in this way, our physical world truly is one of relativity rather than absolutes?
Still, in thinking about these differences, some might be inclined to consider some of the following: " Well shouldn't I then try to convince everyone to think consistent with those beliefs on the left?" And we say "No". "Well maybe those whose orientation is mostly that of the right are causing harm to me or others, whether intended or inadvertent; so shouldn't we take action to prevent them from pushing their views upon us?" And we say "No". "Well then shouldn't I at least try to avoid people with those thoughts? Shouldn't I be afraid that they are going to bring me down vibrationally?" And here I say, you do want to control your own mind; so if someone is jabbering lot's of negative thoughts at you, preventing you from concentrating on better thoughts, you may want to physically remove yourself from that distraction. You may also want to ask what it is in you (what vibrational energy are you sending) that is attracting this situation to you. This is not the same as quashing them. When you understand the absolutely consistent power of the law of attraction, you soon come to realize that every attempt to exclude ideas, only draws them to you. And further, by vibrating differently from those thoughts, you won't have to "avoid" because your vibration will not be attracting them to you, nor you to them.
Copyright
© March, 2001-2006, William Gunderson,
All Rights Reserved
No part of this article may be reproduced for distribution
without the express permission and consent of the author. To
obtain permission, contact the author via email.
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