tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75692884883414205882024-02-08T12:33:43.532-08:00Mystic FlavorAud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-53156617915036445842013-03-30T23:29:00.001-07:002013-03-30T23:29:50.522-07:00
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Holy Week, pt 4: EASTER SUNDAY, March
31, 2013... from Jehanne de Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">40:3 NOW ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK,
MIRYAM THE MIGDALAH WENT EARLY, WHILE IT WAS STILL DARK, TO THE TOMB AND SAW
THE STONE TAKEN AWAY FROM THE ENTRANCE. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">40:4 STOOPING AND LOOKING IN, SHE SAW
THAT THE TOMB WAS EMPTY AND THE LINEN CLOTHS SCATTERED WHERE THE BODY HAD BEEN
LAID. YET SHE DID NOT ENTER IN, BUT REMAINED STANDING OUTSIDE AT THE TOMB,
WEEPING.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AND HEARING A NOISE, SHE TURNED
AROUND AND SAW A FIGURE STANDING CLOSE BY. BECAUSE OF HER WEEPING, SHE DID NOT
KNOW THAT IT WAS YESHUA. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">40:5 THEN YESHUA SAID TO HER, “WOMAN,
WHY ARE YOU WEEPING? WHO ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>SHE, SUPPOSING HIM TO BE THE GARDENER, SAID TO HIM, “SIR, IF YOU OR
ANOTHER HAVE CARRIED HIM AWAY, TELL ME WHERE HE IS LAID, AND I WILL GO AND TAKE
HIM AWAY.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>YESHUA SAID TO HER, “MIRYAM.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SHE TURNED AND, OVERCOME WITH JOY, SAID TO
HIM, “RABBOUNI!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">40:6 YESHUA SAID TO HER, “MIRYAM, DO
NOT HOLD TO ME, FOR I AM NOT OF THE FLESH, YET NEITHER AM I ONE WITH THE
SPIRIT; BUT RATHER GO TO MY DISCIPLES AND TELL THEM YOU HAVE SEEN ME, SO THAT
ALL MAY KNOW THAT MY WORDS ARE TRUE, AND THAT ANY WHO SHOULD CHOOSE TO BELIEVE
THEM AND KEEP TO MY COMMANDMENTS WILL FOLLOW ME ON THEIR LAST DAY.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">++++ HAPPY EASTER, EVERYONE ++++<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Aud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-9458901033117689422013-03-30T08:45:00.001-07:002013-03-30T08:45:50.276-07:00
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Holy Week, pt 3: Solemn Saturday,
March 30, 2013... from Jehanne de Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED
COMPANION: [and the story continues]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">42:14 THIS IS WHAT MY MASTER HAS TOLD
AND SHOWN ME.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AND ONLY FROM THE TRUTH I
TELL YOU, THAT ALL THAT I HAVE REVEALED TO YOU IS TRUE. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">42:15 WHEN THE MIGDALAH HAD TOLD OF
ALL THAT YESHUA HAD SAID AND DONE, SHE FELL SILENT, SINCE IT WAS IN THAT
SILENCE THAT YESHUA HAD SPOKEN WITH HER, AND REVEALED THESE TRUTHS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">43:1 MANY OF THE DISCIPLES DID NOT
UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE HAD SAID, AND GRUMBLED AGAINST HER AMONGST THEMSELVES.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">43:2 ANDREAS THEREFORE ANSWERED AND
SAID TO THE BRETHEREN, “SAY WHAT YOU WISH TO SAY ABOUT WHAT SHE HAS SAID. I AT
LEAST DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE RABBI SAID THIS, FOR THESE TEACHINGS ARE
CERTAINLY STRANGE AND COMPLICATED IDEAS.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">43:3 SHIMON KEFA ANSWERED AND SPOKE
CONCERNING THESE SAME THINGS. HE QUESTIONED THEM ABOUT YESHUA AND SAID, “DID HE
REALLY SPEAK PRIVATELY WITH THIS WOMAN AND NOT OPENLY TO US? ARE WE TO TURN
ABOUT AND ALL LISTEN TO HER? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DID HE
PREFER HER TO US?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">43:4 THEN THE MIGDALAH WEPT AND SAID
TO SHIMON KEFA, “MY BROTHER SHIMON KEFA, WHAT DO YOU THINK?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DO YOU THINK THAT I HAVE THOUGHT THIS UP
MYSELF IN MY HEART, OR THAT I AM LYING ABOUT YESHUA? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ONLY FROM THE TRUTH AGAIN I TELL YOU THAT WHAT
I HAVE SAID IS THE TRUTH.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">43:5 AND LEVI ANSWERED AND SAID TO
SHIMON KEFA, “SHIMON KEFA, YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HOT-TEMPERED. NOW I SEE YOU
CONTENDING AGAINST THIS WOMAN LIKE THE ADVERSARIES. BUT IF THE RABBI MADE HER
WORTHY, WHO ARE YOU INDEED TO REJECT HER? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SURELY AS HIS COMPANION, YESHUA KNEW HER
BETTER THAN ALL OTHERS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>THAT IS WHY HE
LOVED HER MORE THAN US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">43:6 RATHER, LET US BE ASHAMED AND DO
AS SHE SAYS. LET US PUT ON PERFECT HUMANITY AND ACQUIRE IT AS SHE HAS DONE, AND
SEPARATE AS HE COMMANDED US AND PREACH THE TESTIMONY OF THE SON OF HUMANITY,
NOT LAYING DOWN ANY OTHER RULE OR OTHER LAW BEYOND THAT WHICH HE GAVE US.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">43:7 AND WHEN THEY HEARD THIS, THEY
WERE DIVIDED, AND ARGUED AMONGST THEMSELVES. AND THEREFORE THEY BEGAN TO LEAVE
SEPARATELY AND GO FORTH TO PROCLAIM AND TEACH AND PREACH WHAT THEY UNDERSTOOD
OF THE WORDS OF THE RABBI. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Aud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-18066567663341351232013-03-29T16:35:00.000-07:002013-03-29T16:35:29.589-07:00
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Holy Week, pt 2: Good Friday, March
29, 2013... from Jehanne de Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…MY MASTER SHOWED ME THE EIGHTH AND
FINAL BOUGH, UPON WHICH BURNED THE FRUIT OF THE GRACE AND BEAUTY OF THE SPIRIT.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">42.13 AND I FELT MY SOUL AND ALL THAT I COULD SEE
DISSOLVE AND VANISH IN A BRILLIANT LIGHT, IN A LIKENESS UNTO THE SUN. AND IN
THE LIGHT, I BEHELD A WOMAN OF EXTRAORDINARY BEAUTY, CLOTHED IN GARMENTS OF
BRILLIANT WHITE, THE FIGURE EXTENED ITS ARMS, AND I FELT MY SOUL DRAWN INTO ITS
EMBRACE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AND IN THAT MOMENT I WAS FREED
FROM THE WORLD, AND I REALIZED THAT THE FETTER OF FORGETFULNESS WAS
TEMPORARY.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>FROM NOW ON I SHALL REST
THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE TIME OF THE AGE IN SILENCE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AND THEN, AS IF FROM A GREAT DISTANCE, I
HEARD THE VOICE OF MY MASTER TELL ME, “MIRYAM, WHOM I HAVE CALLED THE MIGDALAH,
NOW YOU HAVE SEEN THE ALL, AND HAVE KNOWN THE TRUTH OF YOUR SELF; THE TRUTH
THAT IS I AM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NOW YOU HAVE BECOME THE
COMPLETION OF COMPLETIONS.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AND THUS,
THE VISION ENDED.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> -Why is the fruit on the eighth bough burning? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[EX 3:1-6]</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>- Define
Grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[ACIM T7, XI]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-
What is divine Beauty?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[ACIM T17, II,
1-3] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-
What happens in the process of dissolving?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-
Why does everything, including Soul, dissolve in Light? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-
Who is the beautiful woman?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[ACIM MAN/CL6]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-
Explain “freed from the world.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-
Why is the realization of the “fetter of forgetfulness” significant? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-
Explain “time of the age.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[ECC 1-8] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-
What does it mean to “rest…in silence?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-
Why is there a sense of great distance from the “voice of the master?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-
What is the significance of Yeshua calling Miryam the Migdalah?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-
What is the “Truth of your Self?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[JN 8:48-58
& EX 3:13-14]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">- Explain “becoming the completion
of completions.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[ACIM MAN/CL, EP]</span>Aud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-19504992923379306602013-03-28T17:47:00.000-07:002013-03-28T17:47:55.488-07:00
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Holy Week, pt 1: Maundy Thursday,
March 28, 2013... from Jehanne de Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED
COMPANION: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">42.12 AND I SAW MY SOUL, NOW FREE OF
ALL DARKNESS ASCEND AGAIN TO BE FILLED WITH THE LIGHT AND GOODNESS THAT IS THE
SPIRIT. AND I WAS FILLED WITH A FIERCE JOY AS MY SOUL TURNED TO FIRE AND FLEW
UPWARDS IN THE FLAMES FROM WHENCE MY MASTER SHOWED ME THE EIGHTH AND FINAL
BOUGH, UPON WHICH BURNED THE FRUIT OF THE GRACE AND BEAUTY OF THE SPIRIT.</span></div>
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</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">- Who/what is the “I/she” who saw her “Soul?”
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">- Define darkness? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">- What is “darkness” of the Soul? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(MT
6:22)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">- What has “LIGHT/GOODNESS = SPIRIT”
to do with me/you? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">- Explain fierce joy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">- What is the significance of her
feeling this joy? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">- Explain “my Soul turned to fire.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(ACIM WB 93)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">- Why is the fruit on
the highest bough ablaze? </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></div>
Aud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-28329690423348014772013-03-18T17:33:00.001-07:002013-03-18T17:33:46.595-07:00
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">wk 6, 3/20... from Jehanne de
Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">42.11 THEN IN THE LIGHT ABOVE, I SAW
THE SIXTH BOUGH, THE ONE THAT BORE THE FRUIT OF POWER AND HEALING.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>MY MASTER TOLD ME THAT WHEN YOU TRULY HAVE
EATEN OF THE FRUIT OF THE CLARITY AND TRUTH OF YOURSELF, THEN COULD YOU PARTAKE
OF THE FRUIT OF POWER AND HEALING, THE POWER TO HEAL YOUR OWN SOUL, AND THEREBY
MAKE IT READY TO ASCEND TO THE SEVENTH BOUGH, WHERE IT WILL BE FILLED BY THE
FRUITS OF LIGHT AND GOODNESS. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-
Define spiritual power. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-
Explain the difference between spiritual power and spiritual strength from vs
42.9. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-
What is the difference between physical healing and spiritual healing? </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-
What is the purpose of sickness?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-
Explain “truly eaten.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-
What is the “clarity and truth of yourself?” </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-
Why does the soul need healing? </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-
How is the soul healed? [ACIM T31, V]</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-
What is the Light? [MT 5.14<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>&<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>JN 8.12<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>&<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>JN 9.5]</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-
What is the Good?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[PS 16.2<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>&<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>MK 10.18]</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-
What does the hybridized fruit of Light and Goodness represent?</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Aud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-73493062544724690092013-03-14T14:12:00.001-07:002013-03-14T14:12:14.485-07:00
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">wk 5, 3/13... from Jehanne de
Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">42.10 ONLY THEN MY MASTER TOLD ME,
WHEN YOU HAVE REJECTED THE DECEIVER, CAN YOU PASS THROUGH THE HARDEST GATE OF
ALL TO ATTAIN THE FIFTH BOUGH AND THE FRUIT OF CLARIY AND TRUTH. ONLY THEN WILL
YOU KNOW THE CLARITY AND TRUTH OF YOUR SOUL AND, KNOWING YOURSELF FOR THE FIRST
TIME, UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE A CHILD OF THE LIVING SPIRIT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AND AS MY SOUL MOVED UPWARD, I REALIZED THAT
I COULD NO LONGER HEAR THE VOICE OF THE WORLD, AS ALL HAD BECOME AS SILENCE.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-
What will be the “reject the deceiver” experience? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-
What lie is especially difficult to reject? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[JN17.16]</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-
Define spiritual clarity. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-
Define Truth.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-
Define Soul. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[JN 3.6}</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-
What is the significance of realizing you are a “Child of the Living Spirit?”
[ACIM WB 182]</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-
“Knowing yourself for the first time” and “born again” both express what? </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-
Is there a difference between understanding and believing?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-
What is the sentiment expressed by the “Voice of the World?” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">-
Why is there only silence? </span></div>
Aud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-68902727182165628662013-03-07T22:40:00.001-08:002013-03-07T22:40:55.515-08:00
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">wk 4, 2/28... from Jehanne de
Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">42:9 AND THEN THERE CAME THE FOURTH BOUGH, BLOSSOMING WITH
THE FRUIT OF STRENGTH AND COURAGE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AND I
HEARD HIM TELL ME THAT TO EAT OF THIS FRUIT, YOU MUST HAVE FREED YOURSELF FROM
THE WEAKNESS OF THE FLESH AND CONFRONTED AND CONQUERED THE ILLUSION OF YOUR
FEARS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AND THE MASTER OF THE WORLD STOOD
BEFORE ME AND CLAIMED ME AS HIS OWN, BUT I DENIED HIM AND HE HAD NO PART OF ME.
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Define
strength.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How
do human and spiritual strength differ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>[IS 30.15]</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Define
courage. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What
does spiritual courage resemble? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What
is the relationship between courage & belief? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Explain
“weakness of the flesh?”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
is freedom from “weakness of the flesh” <span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">possible</span>? </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What
is the purpose of an illusion?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How
is the illusion of fear conquered?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[MK 2.5]
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What
is the job of the “master of the world?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>[ACIM T12, VI, 1.1]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Aud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-77445613503268496842013-03-06T14:57:00.001-08:002013-03-06T14:57:53.144-08:003/6/2013 Personal Update re: Lenten Study<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I awoke in the wee hours this morning with a migraine... <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>got out of bed with terrible head pain,
diarrhea, nausea, the whole ball of wax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perched on the throne, it came to me about
pain having a purpose, and to ask my body or whatever level would communicate with
me about the pain, "What are you trying to tell me?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I asked, "What are you trying to tell
me?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A memory came instantly of the time I was in a beauty
pageant (19 years old) and had gone to the store which had been assigned to
sponsor me, just to say "Thank you." [Pageant sponsors picked up the
cost of photo sessions and newspaper bios.] When I arrived the store manager
knew nothing about the sponsorship, but assumed it was a higher-up decision,
and was over the moon excited: "Let's start with finding you some clothes
for modeling."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About 10 minutes
into this glorious reception, I realized I had gone to the wrong store!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> W</span>ith GREAT embarrassment, I admitted
my mistake and made a hasty exit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[My
actual sponsor was a hardware store whose reaction to my thank you was a
dismissive "Yah, sure."]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway, the point of the pop-up memory was... in
recalling that event, I still felt that shame! But the message was an even bigger
realization... <u>I never REALLY forgive myself for making a mistake.</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So immediately, right there seated on the
throne, I began doing The Work internally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>During the process, another toxic belief came up so I moved on and
worked with that one, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And out of
that process came another... it went on and on and on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no idea how many beliefs I confronted
on the toilet this morning... many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
it ended with this one... "I'm afraid to die because I’m unworthy to be
accepted by God."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> WOW! </span>After completing
The Work on all of these, the headache was diminished to a tolerable level, and
I took a short nap propped up on the couch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I awoke still headachy, took an IBP with my small breakfast, then went
back to bed and slept.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two hours later I
awoke without a headache.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Yaa!</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I'm thinking the events of this morning are significant,
not the least of which is confronting the worthiness issue, as in the third
bough of this Lenten study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only am
I grateful for the opportunity for inner clearing, but I’m grateful that I accepted
the challenge to machete through the mental jungle to a clear space. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually it feels like I’m retracing the path
back to God, a prodigal son sort of journey. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I look forward to noticing new levels of tolerance
and compassion, not only for myself but for others as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks, everyone, for sharing my journey, because it's ‘our’
journey, and it is one. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I LOVE YOU! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Aud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-10714794061984929252013-02-28T12:02:00.002-08:002013-02-28T12:02:37.097-08:00
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">wk 3, 2/28... from Jehanne de
Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">42:8 THEN MY
MASTER SHOWED ME THE THIRD GREAT BOUGH, WHICH BEARS THE FRUIT OF HONOR AND
HUMILITY.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ONLY WHEN FREE OF ALL DUPLICITY
AND ARROGANCE MAY YOU PARTAKE OF ITS NOURISHMENT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AND ARROGANCE CALLED TO ME, SAYING, “YOU ARE
NOT WORTHY, GO BACK.” BUT MY SOUL WAS DEAF TO HIM, AND SO MOVED ONWARD AND
UPWARD INTO INCREASING LIGHT. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Define honor.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Define humility.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Define both from a spiritual context as they relate to your
Beingness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(A Course In Miracles: T10, sec 3, par 10 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>& </u></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> T4, sec
1, par 12 & 13, may be helpful)</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This hybridized fruit is symbolic of
what relationship? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Duplicity is the native tongue of whom?
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>How are duplicity and arrogance most
commonly united?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What is true arrogance? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(ACIM
T9, sec 8, par 10.7) </i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Explain the strategy of “You are not
worthy. Go back.” <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What is the “increasing light” that was
witnessed? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><em>(ACIM WB61, par 1-5)</em> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></span>Aud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-45627967836452588502013-02-21T10:40:00.000-08:002013-02-21T10:40:10.150-08:00Lenten Study, wk 2
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">It will be tempting to answer all the questions as if
they were a quiz to be completed. Another option is to let them stir
things up inside, for Lent is about expansion and transformation.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">
<span style="color: black;">wk 2, 2/21... from Jehanne de Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE
BELOVED COMPANION:</span><span style="color: #0070c0;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">
42.7 SO I SAW MY SOUL ASCEND AGAIN AND HE SHOWED ME THE SECOND GREAT BOUGH, WEIGHED
DOWN WITH THE FRUIT OF WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING. AND I SAW THAT BEFORE
YOU CAN TASTE OF ITS BOUNTY, YOU MUST BE FREE OF ALL IGNORANCE AND
INTOLERANCE. ONLY THEN CAN YOU EAT OF THE FRUIT AND SO PASS UPWARD UNHINDERED
THROUGH THE SECOND OF THE SEVEN GATES. AND I HEARD THE VOICE OF IGNORANCE
CALL TO ME, BUT I KNEW HIM NOT, AND SO MY SOUL DID THUS UNCHALLENGED. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">
How did Mary see her soul ascend and also be in communication with Jesus? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> The fruit of the inner tree could be considered hybridized. Of what benefit is that? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> Define
wisdom in its generic & spiritual contexts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> Define
understanding in its generic & spiritual contexts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> Who has true wisdom? [Matt 18:3] <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">What
is true ignorance?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">
Define intolerance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p> How might intolerance and judgment and values be interwtwined? </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">
What are some of my/your acceptable intolerances? (Make
a list.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> What
would it take to reconsider each of those intolerances? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> What
inner feelings are indicative of intolerance? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Why
is intolerance to intolerance serious business? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> What
does it mean to NOT know ignorance? </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">What
is that experience? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> "... AND SO MY SOUL DID THUS UNCHALLENGED" means what?</span></div>
Aud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-70717343001515573982013-02-14T12:20:00.002-08:002013-02-14T12:20:56.956-08:00wk 1, 2/14... from Jehanne de Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION:<br />
<br />
42:2 MY MASTER SPOKE THUS TO ME. HE SAID, "MIRYAM, BLESSED ARE YOU WHO CAME INTO BEING BEFORE COMING INTO BEING, AND WHOSE EYES ARE SET UPON THE KINGDOM, WHO FROM THE BEGINNING HAS UNDERSTOOD AND FOLLOWED MY TEACHINGS. ONLY FROM THE TRUTH I TELL YOU, THERE IS A GREAT TREE WITHIN YOU THAT DOES NOT CHANGE, SUMMER OR WINTER, AND ITS LEAVES DO NOT FALL. WHOSOEVER LISTENS TO MY WORDS AND ASCENDS TO ITS CROWN WILL NOT TASTE DEATH, BUT KNOW THE TRUTH OF ETERNAL LIFE." <br />
<br />
Why did Jesus begin the teaching by saying, "You came into being before coming into being?"<br />
What is the 'great tree within?' <br />
<br />
42:3 THEN HE SHOWED ME A VISION IN WHICH I SAW A GREAT TREE THAT SEEMED TO REACH UNTO THE HEAVENS; AND AS I SAW THESE THINGS HE SAID, "THE ROOTS OF THIS TREE ARE IN THE EARTH WHICH IS YOUR BODY. THE TRUNK EXTENDS UPWARD THROUGH THE FIVE REGIONS OF HUMANITY TO THE CROWN, WHICH IS THE KINGDOM OF THE SPIRIT. <br />
<br />
If the earth represents the body, what are the roots of the tree? <br />
Why is it important to know that there are five regions of humanity? <br />
<br />
42:4 THERE ARE EIGHT GREAT BOUGHS UPON THIS TREE AND EACH BOUGH BEARS ITS OWN FRUIT, WHICH YOU MUST EAT IN ALL ITS FULLNESS. AS THE FRUIT OF THE TREE IN THE GARDEN CAUSED ADAM AND CHAV'VAH TO FALL INTO DARKNESS, SO THIS FRUIT WILL GRANT TO YOU THE LIGHT OF THE SPIRIT THAT IS ETERNAL LIFE. BETWEEN EACH BOUGH IS A GATE AND A GUARDIAN WHO CHALLENGES THE UNWORTHY WHO TRY TO PASS. <br />
<br />
What is the significance of 'eat the fruit in all its fullness?' <br />
What is the purpose of a 'guardian?' <br />
<br />
42:5 THE LEAVES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TREE ARE THICK AND PLENTIFUL, SO NO LIGHT PENETRATES TO ILLUMINATE THE WAY. BUT FEAR NOT, FOR I AM THE WAY AND THE LIGHT, AND I TELL YOU THAT AS ONE ASCENDS THE TREE, THE LEAVES THAT BLOCK ONE FROM THE LIGHT ARE FEWER, SO IT IS POSSIBLE TO SEE ALL MORE CLEARLY. THOSE WHO SEEK TO ASCEND MUST FREE THEMSELVES OF THE WORLD. IF YOU DO NOT FREE YOURSELF FROM THE WORLD, YOU WILL DIE IN THE DARKNESS THAT IS THE ROOT OF THE TREE. BUT IF YOU FREE YOURSELF, YOU WILL RISE AND REACH THE LIGHT THAT IS THE ETERNAL LIFE OF THE SPIRIT." <br />
<br />
What do the leaves on the great inner tree represent? <br />
Explain the meaning of 'free yourself from the world.'<br />
<br />
42:6 AND AS HE SAID THESE THINGS, I FELT MY SOUL ASCEND AND SAW THE FIRST GREAT BOUGH THAT BEARS THE FRUIT OF LOVE AND COMPASSION, THE FOUNDATION OF ALL THINGS. AND I KNEW THAT BEFORE YOU CAN EAT OF THIS FRUIT AND GAIN ITS NOURISHMENT, YOU MUST BE FREE OF ALL JUDGMENT AND WRATH. WHEN YOU HAVE FREED YOURSELF OF THESE BURDENS, YOU MAY EAT OF THE FRUIT AND SO GAIN THE LOVE AND COMPASSION THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO PASS THE FIRST OF SEVEN GUARDIANS. AND I HEARD THE VOICE OF THE LORD OF WRATH CALLING TO ME, BUT I DENIED HIM AND HE HAD NO PART IN ME.<br />
<br />
What is the signifcance of knowing what the 'foundation of all things' is? <br />
Define judgment? <br />
When did judgement become a problem for me/you? <br />
Anger is a symptom of what? [Matt 5:22] <br />
<br />
It will be tempting to answer all the questions as if they were a quiz to be completed. Another option is to let them stir things up inside, for Lent is about expansion and transformation.<br />
<br />
Aud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-28330300580694501652013-02-12T12:29:00.000-08:002013-02-12T12:29:07.426-08:00A friend gave me a copy of Jehanne de Quillan's book, THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION: THE COMPLETE GOSPEL OF MARY MAGDALENE, and I am resonating with this version of the story of Yeshua -- his travels, his actions, and his teachings. In fact, I have chosen to use a segment of the book as the focus for a Lenten study with my friend, Mary. <br />
<br />
Beginning with chapter 41:5, Simon Peter is speaking to Mary Magdalene after she reveals to the disciples that she has seen and spoken to the resurrected Yeshua. <br />
<br />
41:5 SHIMON KEFA SAID TO THE MIGDALAH, "SISTER, WE KNOW THAT HE LOVED YOU MORE THAN ANY OTHER AMONG WOMEN; TELL US THE WORDS OF THE RABBI, WHICH YOU REMEMBER, WHICH YOU KNOW AND UNDERSTAND, BUT WE DO NOT, NOR HAVE WE HEARD THEM."<br />
<br />
42:1 THE MIGDALAH ANSWERED AND SAID, "WHAT IS HIDDEN FROM YOU, I WILL PROCLAIM TO YOU." AND SHE BEGAN TO SPEAK TO THEM THE WORDS THAT YESHUA HAD GIVEN HER. <br />
<br />
This "secret teaching" that Yeshua gave his Beloved will be our introspective Lenten study. Feb. 13, tomorrow, is Ash Wednesday, and will begin our study. Join me here each week on Wednesday, or Thursday when I have time to post it, and share Mary's remembrance of Yeshua's private teaching. Let the ideas ferment in your mind and heart, be the sustenance for a deep, personal inner journey. <br />
<br />
Peace - aud <br />
<br />
<br />
Aud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-44884316286694061852010-07-21T11:09:00.000-07:002010-07-21T16:32:39.362-07:00Vast UnconsciousLast week was my 66th birthday. I do NOT believe that sixty-something or even seventy- something is old. There isn't a fixed number in my mind that flashes like a neon sign, saying "Old Fart." Indeed, there are eighty year olds, my mother being one, who can still run circles around me, and do so everyday. But admittedly, there is more to being an oldster than just a certain level of physical endurance.<br /><br />When I think of oldsters, the image that comes to mind is that of a raisin. What was formerly a plump, soft fruit has lost much of it's juice, becoming shrivelled and set. Oldsterhood begins to dawn as the zest for life sets. The mind becomes rigid, replaying the same thought patterns like a stuck recording. Negativity and fear gradually cause the comfort zone to contract and set up. But none of that is number dependant. It's all an inside job. <br /><br />The weeks preceding my birthday this year were unusually funky. I was unmotivated, sad, withdrawn, bitchy, agitated, and clueless as to why. I kept questioning the funk... what are you about? There was no clarity. Yet, I also continued to acknowledge the obvious... I had no conscious reason to be in the funk. In fact, my summer has been near idyllic. Despite that, everyday I was like the character in that story... "I walk down the street. There's a hole in the<br />street. I fall in. " <br /><br />My birthday was Friday and I went to play Mah Jongg as usual. I lost all my quarters and came home stuck in the funk. [I walk down the street. There is a hole in the street. I fall in.] "Well, Happy Birthday!" I told myself as I plopped into my chair facing the ocean. <br /><br />Maybe it was the brilliant blue water behind the vibrant green of trees and grass, or maybe the beauty had nothing to do with it. But suddenly there was the answer to the why of the funk:<span style="color:#cc33cc;"> </span><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">"66 is a BIG deal!"</span></strong><br /><br />What? I don't believe that, not even a little bit! That's just not true! <br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">"Think about it," was the inner directive. "65 is like a pinnacle from which you can look behind at your past... goals, successes and failures, accomplishments and disappointments. On the same pinnacle, you look ahead, at the journey before you, a new kind of adventure not fueled by burning desires and challenging ascents, but by peace, love, and trust. 65 is, indeed, an exhilarating vista. And what comes next? Coasting down the other side of the pinnacle into 66 and beyond." </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">"The joys and beauty of the 65+ side of the pinnacle, however, are generally never tasted by the masses. They never get in step with the rhythm of this side, but long for their entrenched familiarity of the former rhythm. To the masses, 66 is a VERY big deal. And the feelings that you have been experiencing are their disenchantment. " </span></strong><br /><br />"But, I don't believe that 65, or 66, or even 76, IS a big deal!" I protested. <br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">"Ahhh, but you see, you share the same unconscious with all the masses who do." </span></strong><br /><br />I was stunned into silence as I continued to look out at the blue ocean. The symbolism spread out before me was perfect for the moment. The white caps and the waves were the conscious mind, with its thoughts popping up above the top layer of subconscious mind. But all that depth... all that deep expanse below the surface.... that was all unconscious mind, the unconscious mind of humanity's ENTIRE thought system. <br /><br />Suddenly this game that we are in, took on a whole new perspective. Who am I to think that of myself I can do anything? The preceding weeks had clearly shown me the capacity of an unconscious belief system to affect me, even though my personal belief system was in direct opposition. Of what importance then, are my own thoughts and beliefs? Certainly not much, in the bigger scheme of things. <br /><br />So what am I to glean from this revelation? <br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">"This has been given to bless... let there be peace. </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">Stop worrying about how many times you fall in the hole. </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">Stop worrying about how to avoid it, how to get out of it, how to seal it up, etc. </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">Take heart, it is not yours to do. </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">Take heart, there is a part of You beyond the sea of unconscious that IS in charge, and One.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">Take heart, I have transformed the darkness of the unconscious into my Mirror of Holiness. </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">Take heart, you will see your Reflection on cue. </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">Take heart, and listen to My voice within your heart. </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">Take heart, I will shepherd you to speak and to act in ways of love. </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">Take heart, you have nothing to fear, for you are not a body... you are Love. </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">Trust me. You are Living Love, and perfect for this moment."</span></strong> <br /><br />I truly am blessed. The funk is gone. But clearly, this ah-ha is about so much more than aging. It's about getting real, and discovering that the truth is Grace laden. <br /><br />Peace - audAud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-7467153029594639492010-04-06T13:12:00.000-07:002010-04-06T15:11:13.130-07:00Is It Right or Wrong?The minister at the funeral today was not afraid to talk about the elephant in the room, and I appreciated that... let's air out the dark chambers of the mind and sweep out the fears. I wonder if there was anyone there who did not know that Frank committed suicide. Of those who did know, many were likely shocked, puzzled, questioning, critical, saddened, judgmental, and possibly even fearful... fearful for Frank upon meeting his Maker. What would be the consequences for Frank... a detour into purgatory or eternity in hell?<br /><br /><br /><br />The pastor spoke of the adjectives that family and friends used in referring to Frank: caring, loyal, friendly, cheerful, helpful, accomplished, responsible, faithful, precise, hard working, certain, perfect, and the list went on.<br /><br /><br /><br />As the minister pointed out, "Everything we knew about Frank was inconsistent with suicide."<br /><br /><br /><br />"But," said the minister, "do we really know what goes on inside another? What we did see in Frank's last months were his increasing difficulty in accomplishing simple and routine tasks."<br /><br /><br /><br />He concluded his sermon adamantly stating that "God, in His infinite mercy, will still receive Frank unto Himself." Heads before me, nodded in agreement.<br /><br /><br /><br />Yet the taste in my mouth was still bitter as I left the church, and still is. Why? Because I continue to judge THEM, the preacher and the head nodders, for their judgment of Frank. Judging the judgers, it's an old pass time. I could have followed my impulses, but surely would have been considered a lunatic had I stood up on the pew where I sat and challenged the good pastor:<br /><br /><br /><br />"How can you infer that there was anything less than PERFECTION in Frank Wurbs! Can you not entertain the possibility that his choice for suicide was not one of fright or frustration, but instead the ultimate gift of love to his adoring wife?<br /><br />Frank was not a stupid man. He was well aware of the journey and the end result of a deteriorating brain. One by one, his memories would be walled off from consciousness, until everyday would be like a birthday with all things new. Yet THAT was not really Frank's concern. Frank's concern was for his beloved wife and those who love him, who day by day would watch him slip beyond their bonds of familiarity and love, who one day would be clinging to a physical shell and calling it by his name. He knew he was not that.<br /><br /><br />Frank was a pragmatist... he looked squarely at the facts and made his decisions. AND Frank was and is Love, just as his Creator is Love. From that great Love in a moment of clarity, Frank understood what the choice must be for those he loved... to end their spiral downward into oblivion with him by ending his brain's deterioration. <br /><br />Frank had no fear for himself, in a body or out of a body. Frank trusted God, trusted God to live through him as Love incarnate. Can you see God in Frank, and in Frank's choice? If you cannot, then I will hold that vision for you until you can, and that day shall surely come. Amen."<br /><br />Thank you, Frank, for living your Truth as best you knew how. And thank you for reminding me that I am like my brother, judging what I do not understand, until I do. Happy trails!<br /><br />Ahhh, the bitterness is gone. I am so grateful. audAud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-76010049179946642922010-01-17T13:29:00.000-08:002010-01-18T10:55:41.328-08:00De Ja Vous"DE JA VOUS!" was my first thought as I held my breath and quickly shucked off my sweatshirt. Tossing the sweatshirt into the hamper, my nose caught waves of the odor still clinging to it, the odor of rotting flesh, the smell of death. "De ja vous! What did I miss the first time, why is it here again?"<br /><br />Thirty plus years ago when we lived in Oregon, my kitty-loving daughter befriended one of the neighbor's white cats. And soon "Snowball" was hanging out on our covered deck 24/7. I called the neighbors to inform them of the where-abouts of their missing cat, and they were doubly relieved. Their lost cat was now accounted for, and somebody wanted it! They were moving and one cat was enough. Snowball became ours!<br /><br />A couple of years later, Snowball's white ears got sunburned and one would not heal. The vet said her ear was cancerous, common in white cats, and he suggested removing both ears. A kitty's face without ears looks much like a monkey's face. Visitors often displayed shocked expressions of horror, repulsion, or concern upon seeing her, but Snowball didn't seem to care that she had no ears, and we didn't care either. She was, after all, the same sweet kitty.<br /><br />A few years later, Snowball became sick. Lab tests revealed she had feline leukemia, despite the fact she'd been vaccinated for it. "The vaccine is not 100%," the vet said, and "she'll likely die within a few weeks." I took Snowball home, did some energy work on her, and teased her appetite with canned tuna. She recovered.<br /><br />A year later growths appeared on top of Snowball's head. They didn't seem to bother her. The vet said they were cancerous growths... she is white after all. My decision was to do nothing. Now she looked like an alien monkey with black antennae. Time passed and Snowball's antennae grew bigger, but never seemed to cause her any distress.<br /><br />Then one day I noticed the growths were oozy, and when I picked her up, the smell of rotten flesh wafted from her head. "Oh, Snowball," I said, "this is not good. The smell is so bad, it's going to make it difficult to hold you and love you without reacting to it. And that is not fair to you." I went in and called the vet, scheduling an appointment for euthanasia. It was the right decision.<br /><br />15 years ago, now in Texas, as I'm driving to town one day, a tiny black and white ball of fur ran in front of my car. I stopped, stuck my head out the window and said, "What are you doing in the middle of the road?" As if to say, "Waiting for you!" the fur ball ran to my car door. I opened it, reached down and swooped up a beautiful kitten, put her in my lap, turned the car around and took her home. The top of her head & ears were black as if wearing a hat, and the black continued down her back to the tip of her tail. But most of her body and her face were white, her eyes black rimmed as if she were Egyptian. I named her Nefferteetee.<br /><br />Neffer's been a real trooper, moving from the freedom of a country cat to the city, living in the kitty-kennel. She endured two other rescue kitties who lived with us at different times. And in the last years she's become a willing traveler, crossing the country back and forth to Oregon twice in the car and adapting to new digs there. But when I returned from Oregon in October, Neffer didn't travel as well as usual; she was stressed. Lately I've noticed she has a bit of a balance issue sometimes, and she seems thinner, but she is 15 after all, and past her prime.<br /><br />A few days ago her left eye began to water and look strange. She had eye discharge last year, too... allergies. Yesterday, I had Gene help me clip her nails and cut out some hair mats. He found two growths behind her left ear, same side of the head as the bad eye. I know what they are.<br /><br />This morning as I carried her to the kennel, she rested her head against my torso like she always does, as if to hug me while I'm carrying her. When I put her down, I noticed a leison has opened above her eye and it 's oozing. I know what it is.<br /><br />Within seconds of going back inside the house, I become aware of the odor rising from the front of my sweatshirt where Neffer had rested her head.<br /><br />De ja vous! What did I miss with Snowball, that Nefferteetee now brings to me? Was my first decision wrong? Should I have waited? Let Nature take Its course? Had I been self-centered and not really loving at all? Tears of guilt about the past and of sadness for the present engulfed me, still do as I write.<br /><br />What did my decision about Snowball say? Did it say, "You're only lovable if you meet my criteria"?<br /><br />And if I turn that around, what is the projected message about me? "I'm only lovable if I meet your criteria." Well, I can't say I've never thought that one. I've even based choices on that people pleasing belief.<br /><br />Yet, what is the truth of the matter? I'm lovable, you're lovable, Snowball's lovable, Neffer's lovable; we're all worthy of being loved because of what we are, reflections of God's Love. It is our Nature to love and be loved.<br /><br />That is the fact, yet I still feel guilty. Was my decision to euthanize Snowball loving or selfish? At the time I felt it was a loving choice. But was it? Why do I feel guilty? And what do I do with the guilt? There's only one thing to do... I gave it to Jesus, "Here, Jesus, is all my guilt about my decision for Snowball, let me experience this memory differently."<br /><br />Almost instantly, this thought comes to me, "What if you misunderstood? What if the smell was an agreed upon signal between the two of you, that it was time for you to make the ultimate loving decision, to release Snowball?" I was struck silent, a peaceful silence. The guilt was gone.<br /><br />So I am at this juncture again, this time with Neffer. But it comes laden with gifts of enlightenment about the nature of Love... Love is.<br /><br />Bless you, Neffer, and thank you.<br /><br />peace<br /><br />p.s. Neffer and I have a 4:00 p.m. appointment at the vet's today. Let there be Peace.Aud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-68412170156069572402009-12-09T07:32:00.000-08:002009-12-09T08:47:39.992-08:00Who's In Charge?Yesterday I had a burr under my saddle. Across the street a jack-hammer ran all day, breaking up a patio. My home is generally silent through the day, no radio, no tv, just the monkey chatter in my mind that attempts to entertain, agitate or incite. The monkeys were pissed about the incessant banging of the jack-hammer upon their playing field in my mind. Wearied of the banging and the monkeys' reflexive chatter, I finally turned on the tv to distract myself and became mesmerized by a wedding ceremony. It was a lovely diversion. <br /><br />The jack-hammer was still diligently working away when I took Bo out for his p.m. walk. The monkeys fiercely chattered about the noise level and the dust in the air, and the body coughed in agreement. Both the noise level of the jack-hammer and the monkeys diminished the farther down the street Bo and I went. Bo did his thing and we turned for home. <br /><br />The hammering vibrated all around me and the monkeys screeched in protest as we drew near. But as we walked past the work site, the jack-hammer suddenly ceased. I turned my head to see a dust covered man supporting the huge jack-hammer with one hand while he bent backwards and rubbed his spine with the other. As he straightened again, he turned his head and our eyes met. Automatically, my arm raised and waved. His arm reciprocated.<br /><br />Instantly, I was flooded with Love from somewhere. Love for the dust-caked man, and great compassion for his selfless willingness to ride a jack-hammer all day to provide for his family. Tears welled in my eyes at his beauty. <br /><br />Today, the jack-hammer runs again. It has no jarring effect on me. The monkeys are silent. All I am aware of is how much I love the man who rides it. I am so grateful. <br /><br />And I notice that my gratitude expands, encompassing the man and so much more. It includes all of you whom I've invited to share my journey. Without this blog would I have realized what transpired here? Possibly not. <br /><br />The Course calls it a Holy Instant, when the world is seen through the loving eyes of Jesus rather than the ego's monkey eyes. I was not aware of making the choice for Jesus yesterday, but am ever so grateful that at some level I obviously did. The sweet result is nearly indescribable. I can almost imagine the deliciousness of living an endless string of Holy Instants... a string of invaluable pearls that transform into a life lived in the Real World, where all that exists is the awareness of Love. How sweet is that!<br /><br />peaceAud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-71638474601182985062009-11-18T10:10:00.000-08:002009-11-18T14:36:29.593-08:00Looking At DeathHugging my friend, the only words that could come from my mouth naturally were, "I'm so sorry." The pain was visible on her face as she said, "I'm not handling this very well." My reply: "Who would?" We embraced, standing among the others who had also come to express their condolences at the funeral home. My friend's son died unexpectedly last weekend.<br /><br />Contemplating my friend's loss, I have been sad all day. The "whys" are incessant. Why my friend's son? Why the young and vibrant when there are other's begging to die? Why am I so sad when I don't even know the young man? Why? Why? Why? Why, a fool's question that leads to a number of theories, none of which really bring any peace. So what if I ask a different question, "What is it for?"<br /><br />What is death for, anybody's death?<br /><br />Death is the trump card of deception, used to prove to me that I am a body. It is very difficult to claim my spiritual identity when the heart feels as if it has been ripped from the chest. But does that emotional pain prove that I am a body? No, it simply proves that I am emotionally attached to the body, attached because there seems to be a part of me that believes I am the body, and therefore, believes that my loved ones are also bodies.<br /><br />And is that true, when the body is gone, the Being is gone? No, not true. My loved one is certainly not gone from my heart and mind, in fact, will always live in my heart and mind. Admittedly, I can not think of my loved one without recalling the physical image. But on the other hand, I can look at that same physical image, lying in a casket, and KNOW that the Being I love is NOT there. S/He is not there!<br /><br />The physical image is nothing without the Being to animate it. There is nothing within me that confirms a body is necessary for me to exist, or that a physical body is necessary for you to exist. We do not exist because of our bodies. We exist because of our Source. And our Source is not a body.<br /><br />I love the beginning of THE PROPHET by Kahlil Gibran. And as I hold these words in my mind through the following weeks, may my friend be comforted by them, for we share the same mind:<br /><br />"Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itSelf. They come through you, but not from you. And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.... You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.... Let your bending in the Archer's hand be for gladness.... For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable."<br /><br />As for me,<br />I choose to love because it is my nature to love.<br />I choose to love my human experience, but not be confused by it.<br />I choose to remember that I am not a body, nor are you.<br />I choose to love you in or out of a body.<br />I choose to remember that our love is eternal.<br />I choose to remember that Love is Who we are, regardless of behavior.<br />I choose to remember all this for you, in your moments of forgetfulness.<br />Will you choose the same for me?<br /><br /><br />peace alwaysAud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-17452015028200144402009-10-11T10:47:00.000-07:002009-10-11T11:09:52.648-07:00Believe in God?I met a man last week who volunteered the information that he is an atheist. Being from Bible-belt country, I admired his openness. He said he didn't believe in God, the big Guy with flowing white beard sitting in a rocking chair or throne somewhere up in the far away sky. Neither do I, does that make me an atheist?<br /><br />If I were asked, "Do you believe in God?" What would be my response? "Yes" seems to be a totally inadequate answer. It's like answering "Yes" to, "Do you believe in gravity?" It seems to me that there is something beyond belief... Knowing. Knowing comes from experience, although it is quite possible to be mistaken about the meaning of an experience.<br /><br />What is the ONLY thing I can know with absolute certainty? I exist. But the "I" referred to is not the image that I see in the mirror, or that you see with your eyes. In a mirror or with the naked eye, both are images, temporary images. Everything in this world, including the world itself, the universe even, is a temporary image... the multifaceted image of the "I."<br /><br />Yes, "I" exist. Every conceivable, changing image that "I" can imagine proves to me that "I" exist. And for a moment, "I" was so dazzled by my own prolific imagination that I forgot that the images were just that, images, images of Me.<br /><br />"I" am the image maker, but only when I am goofing off, projecting images with Zeus-like precision, hurling images as if lightening bolts hither and yon... yaaawwn!!! For such antics would surely be boring if it were not for the fact that the images carry a residue of consciousness. Admittedly the images can be entertaining, mesmerizing even. But how long will "I" choose to witness the kaleidoscopic display, before its pointlessness and repetitiveness become apparent and tedious? How long before "I" choose to lay aside the toys of projection and return to real Creativity by extending my eternal, limitless Self? Watch and see!<br /><br />Yes, stay alert... watch and see! Watch and see how Love ends Its favorite game: Projections. The game that began with awe will end the same way, in loving awe. Watch and see!<br /><br />Is there a God? Watch and see the Love of God reveal it Self in images of the love, the peace, and the certainty of Knowledge, the Knowledge that transcends belief. Stay alert... watch and see. "I" will. "I" am.Aud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-23028230131900664982009-06-30T00:43:00.000-07:002009-06-30T03:09:03.457-07:00An Old IssueThe Course says, "You're never upset for the reason you think." I became upset today, and through it realized that my upset had three levels of "reality": 1-the level of the experience or physical level, 2-the level of what was going on within me or the mental-emotional level, and 3-the level of metaphysics or the spiritual level. Traveling through these three levels is a journey I make with every challenge I encounter. <br /><br />The event: I went to see Sioux today. She was waiting at the gate and whinnied when I approached. My assumption was that she was waiting for someone to feed her, although feeding time was long past. To get her out of her pasture, I had to lead her through another mare's lot, and that went well. While she was eating the grain I had brought, I groomed her, and then started to take her back to her pasture. Going through the mare's lot again, I realized by Sioux's excited behavior when the mare approached that Sioux was in heat. [Ah-ha! That was why she had been waiting at the gate.] When I chased the mare away, Sioux became agitated with my holding her back and gave a side kick, connecting with my upper right thigh. I did not realize I was even in her kicking range so was totally taken by surprise. Reflexively, I whacked her on the neck with the lead rope which did little more than get her attention. We continued on to her gate, and getting her back into her pasture went smoothly. <br /><br />Later, as I was driving home and the stinging of my thigh had subsided, the surprise began to give way to anger. Did she intend to kick me or was it just a reflex? No, she was aiming for me. With that realization came a hot flash... the kind of hot flash I'd seen in my dad when he lost control with the livestock... the kind of hot flash which would fuel some cruel and scary behavior. <br /><br />In that moment, I understood him at a cellular level like I'd never before. I understood his need to feel in control of the animals, to be safe... the need to have boundaries respected, by fear if necessary. That was what I had wanted too, to regain control, by whatever means necessary. <br /><br />But what does that need for control represent? When I am still, and allow the inner Light to clear my mind, I see that control issues are all the same... safety issues. The bottom line is survival. It's my bottom line just as it was my dad's bottom line. But is that the truth? Can survival be at risk? <br /><br />The physical body's survival isn't at risk, it's doomed. Every one of them is going to die, sooner or later. The good news is that neither my dad, nor I, nor you, nor the ones we love are physical bodies. What we truly are cannot be threatened by anything. What we are is invulnerable. As expressions of Spirit/Love, we must also be Spirit/Love. <br /><br />A kick on the leg or a kick in the butt, it's a wake up call for me. Stop thinking of myself and others as being bodies. We're Spirit. We're One Spirit having this holographic experience. And I am remembering that... every time I don't react, every time I forgive or understand rather than judge, and every time I look for the bigger meaning. All of these are expressions of love. And that is how I remember we are Love, by living It. Peace.Aud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-76629563584555179562009-06-10T22:51:00.000-07:002009-06-11T01:05:49.761-07:00Dream MessageThe dream I had just before awakening was unusual for me, it was a message from Me to me. And the message was, "Look more closely at what pisses you off. Diagnosing why you are pissed from a 'higher' level is very valuable."<br /><br />I awoke with much to do because we were en route to Oregon. It was the last day out and I was eager to get there. There was pet care to do, breakfast to eat, packing up the stuff in the motel room, carrying everything to the truck and loading it back up, getting the animals situated in their crates for the day's travel, refilling water bottles, and tidying the car before getting under the wheel to take my first driving shift.<br /><br />All went smoothly and we were off. Being just across the river from Oregon, we were in familiar territory. I pulled left out of the motel parking lot, heading west on US 20. We had traveled the same route last year. But unlike last year, there were no road signs except for the one across from the motel. We drove around in circles, and the GPS navigating system was no help, only insisting we go back to the interstate where the motel was located. Finally, we came upon a gas station and Gene went in and asked for driving directions. We were directed to go back to the interstate, to take the interstate north two exits, and that would be US 20 West. Never mind about the highway sign at the motel. Never mind that last year we successfully followed that sign and others west through the town and across the state. <br /><br />I did as Gene was directed driving east to return to the interstate, finding US 20 two exits north and then going west again. Something about that run around really annoyed me, triggering various emotions... sadness, irritability, defensiveness, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">suspiciousness</span></span>, and I shut down, sleeping when not driving. It was hours later that I finally recognized that I was more than annoyed, I was "mad as hell!"<br /><br />Anger is a no-no for me, I refuse to be around it. Anger terrifies me, whether it's anger in me or anger in another. The fear throws up a state of denial, and it takes me awhile to even admit it's presence. So what was I to do with this realization? What did the dream say? Figuring out the lesson of anger on a higher level would be invaluable.<br /><br />So what does anger symbolize? Who was I angry at? In the 3-D world, I was angry at me for being lost, and wasting time in getting "home." How does that apply on a higher level? Am I not pissed at making the stupid choice to entertain myself with the illusion of separation? Am I not also pissed at my foolishness, my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">stupidness</span></span>, my willfulness, and my arrogance in that choice? Yes, I see I often think those judgmental thoughts about my Self.<br /><br />And what did I learn today? I learned that even though I followed the same path as before, I became lost. And I learned that sometimes it is necessary to go back to square one, to actually allow myself to be guided in the opposite direction from the destination. The first step is in acknowledging, "I do not know the way." The next step is in trusting the Guidance and following it.<br /><br />And I also learned some compassion for Self. Just maybe that choice to play in the illusion was just as innocent as today's choice to follow a former pattern. Maybe it wasn't a headstrong, willful act, but simply an error in judgment.<br /><br />And maybe I dwell on the "why" of an issue, when "why" isn't really important anymore. Maybe what's important now is following the Guidance to get back on track, to wake up and remember Who I am and where I am, REALLY... Love from LOVE at home in the heart of God, and dreaming an impossible dream of separation. But <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">every time</span> I break an old pattern, and love instead of judging, it proves I'm waking up. And that realization is worth driving in circles any day!<br /><br /><br />peaceAud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-71319833365608858632009-05-31T14:25:00.000-07:002009-05-31T19:01:55.494-07:00Bull in the Stress ArenaDo you ever watch yourself? It's informative. Lately, I've been watching myself perform in the Stress Arena. The Stress Arena is a little bit like a bull fighting arena... a LOT of bull to dodge! Currently I'm fighting two bulls in my Stress Arena: "Beating-a-deadline" and "Doing-it-perfectly." Later in the week I'll likely be fighting "Too-much-to-do." The Stress Arena is all about who I think I am. <br /><br />Last week I watched someone I love fight the "I'm-responsible" bull in her Stress Arena. I have fought that bull frequently myself, so found the supportive words that slipped from my mouth most interesting . Isn't it amazing how wise we can sound when someone else is fighting the bull?<br /><br />The "I'm-responsible" bull seems much more threatening in the Stress Arena than some other bulls; because in the Stress Arena, we think we're in charge and in control. That is especially significant when fighting the "I'm-responsible" bull, and its frequent companion, "Savior" bull, which hides in and attacks from the shadows.<br /><br />Like my dear friend in the Stress Arena, I sometimes think I'm responsible and can save somebody, or the doctor can save somebody, or the 9-1-1 EMT person can save somebody, or the fireman can save somebody, or the person who does the Heimlich maneuver can save somebody. What I've come to recognize is that none of these saves anybody. Who saves then? There was a time when I thought that it was God who saves somebody, but no longer.<br /><br />When I was eight years old, I delighted in dressing up in my aunt's very fancy evening dresses and pretending I was going out to party. I now see that childhood pretending is symbolic of the bigger game of pretending I continue to play everyday... pretending to be a body and in control, pretending I didn't make up this imaginary fictional play titled <em>3-D Living</em>, pretending I'm not the author but a character in this particular chapter, and pretending that I don't know that the character enters the stage at my cue and exits the same, with many "close calls" in between.<br /><br />God cannot be involved in my fantasy of separateness, duality, life and death, love and hate, answering some prayers and not others, allowing some to suffer, and others to cause it. Love cannot respond so capriciously, and still be Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient Love. <em>3-D Living</em> is my dream of impossible separateness, not God's creation. Thank God for that! All that is required to resolve all the problems of <em>3-D Living</em> is for the author to wake up.<br /><br />As for saving some body? Only the author's choosing to listen to the ever present whisperings of Truth/Memory can do that. And when I watch <em>3-D Living,</em> as well as act in it, I will know the author part of me is listening, because more and more the character I call me will be spontaneously loving and peaceful. And one baby step after another, the author and the character together will gradually fade into the Light of the reality of Who I am and Where I am... Love dwelling in the Heaven of Oneness which is the Heart of God.<br /><br />Peace -Aud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-6773055520584710452009-05-21T20:39:00.000-07:002009-05-21T23:38:08.317-07:00A CynicOh, my god! I'm a cynic! That's quite an admission, coming on the heals of the earlier post on opinions and beliefs. Now how am I going to deal with this realization? Well, let's make a list of aud's hottest issues and look for a common theme: <br />- pharmaceutical companies... it's about profits not healing the sick.<br />- U.S penal system... forget about rehabilitation, just punish the bastards.<br />- credit card companies... legal entrapment<br />- politicians... not the white hats, rather the big hats.<br />- medical doctors... conveyor belt care<br />- organized religion... the blind leading the blind<br /><br />So what's the burr under my saddle? On the surface it appears that the issue is deception, organized groups claiming to be helping others when the hidden agenda is to help themselves. But there's a deeper issue that makes me livid... lack of compassion, a cold heart. <br /><br />OK, so I need to own the stuff. These are my issues after all, they are my mirrors. So what is MY hidden agenda? The thought that instantly pops into my mind is "to over throw God." Whooooa!<br /><br />But is it actually possible to over throw God, to have a separate will outside of God's Will? Where is "outside" when God is Omnipresence? The only place "outside" can be, is in a figment of my imagination, which momentarily projects a <em>reflection</em> of existence, a fantasy not a reality. <br /><br />The projection is a natural consequence of a broken sense of identity (believing I am an independent will). A broken sense of identity projects "broken" images. And in this case, the projection imaged is groups of self serving entities. Their brokenness is not their fault, it's my projection. And my reflections have no free will, they dance to the tune of my beliefs. <br /><br />Again, my belief is that I "can over throw God," and thereby, claim a will of my own. Yet, it's not possible to over throw Omnipresence. It can be imagined but not real. The effects of such fantasy are to totally lose my reality. I forget I am love. My projections can only image what I believe I am. And without love, the images have no heart. Their lack of compassion, their cold heart is a natural consequence. It's not their fault. These group entities can be no better than my forgetfulness. <br /><br />Now, I can forgive these groups their hidden agendas and their lack of compassion. They are not at fault. And my forgiveness coupled with understanding, stirs and awakens the compassion and love within me. Ahhhhh, I have found That which was lost, Love, my True Self. <br /><br />I <em>feel</em> the reality of it... I am Love, and I am BIG. Unbelievable, those once contemptible groups were my way back to my Self? What can I be now, but grateful? Thank you. Peace -Aud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-18103133425337353152009-05-18T08:11:00.000-07:002009-05-18T12:14:31.492-07:00Opinions & BeliefsMy husband says, "That's the way the world is, that's what people do, argue about beliefs and opinions." His comment was in response to my observation about the futility of arguing. After all, one is never going to convince another... "Of course, you're right and I'm wrong." Minds are changed only from within, and generally only after considerable inner struggle. Externally, a person may be coerced or forced into a different behavior suggesting a change of mind, but that does not mean the belief has shifted, only that the survival mode has kicked in.<br /><br />Why do we so adamantly defend our beliefs? Most of us unconsciously equate our identity with our belief system. We form our relationships, our tribes, and our allies based on common beliefs. Our conversations are focused on our opinions and what we believe to be true. And woe to anyone who does not agree. Our beliefs draw the line in the sand, where it's us against all the others who hold different beliefs about an issue of value. <br /><br />But, am I my beliefs and opinions? Well, does God have beliefs and opinions? By definition, Omniscience is to be all knowing, and Knowingness excludes the need for either belief or opinion. Both are tools of duality, not Oneness. I am not my beliefs and opinions, for my Existence preceded them both. However, the consequence of pretending to be less than Created, is to also seem to be less than total Knowingness. And this "less than" state of mind is the state where opinions grow up and become beliefs. But no amount of pretending is ever going to make any opinion or belief better than another or more real. They are simply entertaining fantasies. <br /><br />People are going to argue because their differing beliefs project corresponding perceptions. Perceptions are subjective, not objective. We see what we want to see to support the beliefs we hold valuable. So it is understandable why one person cannot see things as another person does. Perceptions are belief based. <br /><br /> Personally, there are a number of things that I have no opinion about. How is that possible? Firstly, I see differing perceptions about the issue and one perception appears to be just as valid as the other perception. When I hear two people arguing, I understand that both views are reasonable, given the vantage point from which each is looking. Secondly, holding an opinion one way or the other seems irrelevant, because my having an opinion is not going to change anything, except my peace of mind. <br /><br />I used to feel stupid for not having an opinion. Now, I just feel relieved to have one less monkey chattering in my head. Opinions are burdensome, keeping me in my head and out of my heart, making me judgmental and unloving.<br /><br />As for the opinions I do have, and those which have grown up to become my beliefs, I'm beginning to take them less seriously. I do not want to use them to shut me away from the others who are part of my Self. So I am beginning to regard my beliefs as my toys. <br /><br />I play with my toys and you play with your toys. If your toys are kind of like mine, that's cool. If your toys are different than mine, that's interesting, too. Can you threaten me with your toys? You can certainly try. But if I remember that my Existence is invulnerable and precedes all toys, why should I be concerned? <br /><br />The "me" that plays with the belief-toys, the "me" that is both you and me, the "me" that is so engrossed in playing that we have forgotten the real Me, will one day wake up to the realization that these toys are not actually any fun. And we will lay them aside.<br /><br />Will we? Will we all lay aside our divisive thinking one day, and return to the awareness of Oneness. I am absolutely certain of it. And isn't that certainty also a belief? Yes, it is. And it is one of those beliefs that I still enjoy and will keep, until it is replaced by the Omniscience of Truth. Because for now, it is a toy that tweaks my inner happiness, kindles my loving nature, and feeds my peace. <br /><br />Blessings -Aud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-91985340319788221062009-05-10T08:23:00.000-07:002009-05-10T21:03:43.893-07:00Repost: Choice & Andy Mackie (1st post lost)On any given evening you'll probably find Andy Mackie in the village tavern, until he retires to sleep in his home, an older camper parked on the edge of town. He'll likely be dressed in worn bluejeans, cotton shirt, and a cap, and he'll smile at you if he can catch your eye, his toothless grin wrinkling his face from jaw to brow. To some he may appear to be a "jewel in the rough," but to me he's brilliantly cut and polished, an inspiration and a role model.<br /><br /><br />Andy's story was related on the CBS evening news with Katie Couric in a regular feature called Assignment America with Steve Hartman. I invite you to watch the clip and then return here to share some thoughts.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4986809n">http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4986809n</a><br /><br /><br />This is a verse in the song titled <em>The Rose</em>: "It's the one afraid of dying who never learns to live." Andy shows me how he faced the fear of death. In my mind I can hear Andy think my thoughts, "Oh, screw it! Living on all these pills with their side effects is not living. I'd rather have just one good day than continue with one miserable day after another."<br /><br /><br />So, instead of refilling his prescriptions, Andy spends the money on harmonicas. Then he gives the harmonicas away, along with lessons. I believe that every time he gives away an harmonica, Andy feels a rush of freedom... freedom from the fear of death, BECAUSE he is experiencing his true eternal Self, Love.<br /><br /><br />What led Andy to make that choice for freedom? From my reference point, Andy didn't make that choice.... the higher mind made that choice, from a level unconscious to the physical level. It's the higher mind that we all share. We are literally, all in this together.<br /><br /><br />Even though there is the appearance of such, I do not believe that choices are actually made by individual human minds. Why? Because if they were, some of us would become lost in an eternity of wrong choices, as if within a maze of hell. Could such a destiny be allowed within Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient LOVE? No, not and still be LOVE.<br /><br /><br />I understand that there appears to be abundant evidence of a lot of choices being made by the humans in this world, choices made from the human conscious level, some helpful and some not. But, just for a few minutes, can you entertain the idea that what you are seeing is actually an image, a repetitive reflection of one choice made at a higher mental level?<br /><br /><br />At the level of the actual choice, the choice was never to suffer. Any suffering seen in the reflection is a byproduct of the choice, not the choice itself. And on that higher mental level, we think that the choice is worth the consequences of the byproduct, because the choice is for "difference."<br /><br /><br />"Difference" gives us a sense of specialness, uniqueness, individuality. This sense of "difference" is consciousness, the experience of my being different from another. And this experience is one of duality. Yet, within Omnipresent LOVE, there is Oneness not duality, and no concept of "difference." LOVE IS LOVE.... LOVE IS!<br /><br /><br />LOVE cannot even BE mocked. In the higher mind, any effect of the momentary focus on the concept of "difference" is automatically instantly nullified by the Memory of LOVE's nature, which is Oneness. Not only is "difference" and its effect, duality, nullified; but Memory also answers the question of "Why?"<br /><br /><br />Why can't "difference" and duality be possible? Because Omnipotent Oneness cannot be split into duality and still be Oneness. And how was that fact revealed to the aspect of questioning mind? The hypothetical state of duality was projected into a dream like state of contrasting differences and opposites... up-down, in-out, day-night, big-little, here-there, now-then, joy-pain, love-fear, etc.-etc. And in every dream scene, Memory's Voice was present, reminding the dreamer that dreams of being different from everything else are not real, because duality is not actually possible. Yet, because dreams seem to be real to the dreamer, Memory's Voice reminds the dreamer that waking will allow the dream to disappear, and simultaneously the dreamer will realize that Oneness was never exited. The journey into duality was/is an illusion.<br /><br /><br />We are still within the Oneness, watching an imaginary dream landscape so intently that we identify with some of the dream characters, even to the point of getting lost in them. At this level of higher mind, we are enthralled with the illusion of "difference," and choose again and again to submerge ourselves into the impossible dream state rather than to be what we truly are, Love from Love in Love. As dreamers we venture into illusory streams of individual consciousness and coincidentally die to the awareness of our Real Self.<br /><br /><br />Fortunately, the inner whisperings of Truth by the Memory of Love can wake us up to our Real Self as we stuporously drift along. Our higher level choice is always this : Choose "difference" and continue the dream of the lost Self. Or, choose to identify with the Voice of Memory and remember the True Self. "Difference" can take the form of judgment, defensiveness, resentment, aloofness, fear, anger, etc. The Voice of Memory can take the form of peace, compassion, love, strength, enclosure, acceptance, and all other reflections of Love, the True Self.<br /><br />Remembering the True Self is the key to waking from the dream state. We will know which choice was made by observing the dream characters, most importantly the character I call my self. If the dream characters portray Love, I've chosen to heed the Memory from above. If the dream characters portray fear, I've chosen once again not to hear.<br /><br /><br />The story of Andy Mackie is in my dream, our dream. And when he says, "I don't think Bill Gates feels any richer inside than I do," he speaks for me, too. For rich, indeed, is the one who remembers through the experience of loving, that the Self is Love. And remembering can only occur within the dream. Only Love can witness to it Self. <br /><br />You and I both witnessed and were touched by Love, as personified by Andy Mackie. I am remembering, and so are you. I am waking, and so are you, and so is Andy Mackie. But Andy Mackie, you, and I are not the characters in this dream, we are the dreamer of the dream, the dreamer who is choosing to listen to the Inner Voice both inside and outside of the dream; the dreamer who is remembering... by experiencing our one Self, Love.<br /><br /><br />LOVE is what we are. Yes, LOVE is what we are.Aud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569288488341420588.post-90973194291020640422009-05-10T07:46:00.000-07:002009-05-10T21:12:01.049-07:00Road SignDon't you love it when you get a glimpse of your own progress, an affirmation that you really ARE waking up? I was recently so gifted.<br /><br />My husband is a "mover and a shaker." In contrast, I "pool and flow." He tactfully pushes and motivates and maneuvers and negotiates his way to his goal. I solicit, sit with, question, listen, resonate with, and respond to inner urgings of what to do and when to do it.<br /><br />Last spring I felt moved to solicit our homeowners association for getting some landscape maintenance done in the common area adjacent to our home. I consulted neighbors, wrote a letter to the Board of Directors, hand delivered it to the President of the Board, expressed a willingness to contribute funds to accomplish the job, and personally took the President to the site to clarify what I was asking for. That done, I released it. I am not under the illusion that I have control. AND I trust that whatever the Board's decision, in the bigger picture, it will be in my/our best interest, whether it looks like it or not.<br /><br />I learned that my letter was presented at the Board meeting in April and one member was appointed to gather data to present at the next board meeting in order for them to make an informed decision. The May meeting, the meeting of decision, will be next Tuesday.<br /><br />On Friday my husband phoned me from work, wanting me to call the Board President to ascertain the findings of the research and the mood of the Board, and to reiterate my/our willingness to negotiate... all as a stimulus to rule in favor of my request at the upcoming meeting. I refused, saying I did not feel comfortable doing so. What followed were several minutes of his explaining why I should, and my explaining why I wouldn't. The conversation concluded with his recommendation that I rethink my decision. I did... for about five seconds, and there was no inner shift.<br /><br />However, as I went about my activities after our phone conversation, I observed some of the other thoughts that drifted through my mind. And I discovered that I felt considerable compassion for my husband. After all, it can't be easy bridging his two lives, the one at the office and the one at home.<br /><br />My husband is greatly respected in his professional world for his insight, understanding, tact, getting things done, and inspiring others to get things done. In my mind he's like a modern day cattle driver, getting the herd to where they need to be for the best grazing. At home it's a different story... the cattle driver is without a horse.<br /><br />He told me once that getting me to do something was like trying to push a rope. I understand how that could be true. And trying to get one step ahead of my thought process has got to be challenging to say the least, especially given that my thought process is rarely verbalized.<br /><br />The more I mulled all of this over, the softer my heart felt towards my husband. And when he came home from work, I spontaneously kissed him in welcome. He was taken by surprise; and commented that after our earlier phone conversation, he expected me to be pissed.<br /><br />It was only THEN that I realized how far I have come. Because not so long ago, I would have been pissed. Resentment, anger, and a silent litany of "should have-s" and "shouldn't have-s" would have surged through my mind as inner attacks that always wounded me more deeply than him. But last Friday, I didn't attack. I forgave. And the beauty of it was that it was spontaneous.<br /><br />A Course In Miracles defines forgiveness as a shift in perception that propels one to love rather than to attack. It is that expression of love that rekindles the memory of Identity... I am Love. There is no comparison about which feels more joyful, attacking or loving. And it is obvious which of the two, attacking or loving, promotes a more peaceful mind. Perhaps the mind is peaceful because it is at home in Love.<br /><br />I have committed my self to this path, the path of Forgiveness. Why? Because I want to wake up... wake up to What I truly am and Where I truly am. And what I am discovering in the process is that this path is actually more loving to me. Love for the other, love for me. What a deal!Aud Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928866094537591488noreply@blogger.com3