wk 5, 3/13... from Jehanne de Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION:

 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.  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.

- What will be the “reject the deceiver” experience?  

- What lie is especially difficult to reject?   [JN17.16]

- Define spiritual clarity.

- Define Truth.

- Define Soul.  [JN 3.6}

- What is the significance of realizing you are a “Child of the Living Spirit?” [ACIM WB 182]

- “Knowing yourself for the first time” and “born again” both express what?

- Is there a difference between understanding and believing?

- What is the sentiment expressed by the “Voice of the World?”

- Why is there only silence?

wk 4, 2/28... from Jehanne de Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION:

42:9  AND THEN THERE CAME THE FOURTH BOUGH, BLOSSOMING WITH THE FRUIT OF STRENGTH AND COURAGE.  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.  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.

-          Define strength.

-          How do human and spiritual strength differ?  [IS 30.15]

-          Define courage.

-          What does spiritual courage resemble?

-          What is the relationship between courage & belief?

-          Explain “weakness of the flesh?”

-          How is freedom from “weakness of the flesh” possible?      

-          What is the purpose of an illusion?

-          How is the illusion of fear conquered?  [MK 2.5]  

-          What is the job of the “master of the world?”  [ACIM T12, VI, 1.1]

3/6/2013 Personal Update re: Lenten Study

I awoke in the wee hours this morning with a migraine...  got out of bed with terrible head pain, diarrhea, nausea, the whole ball of wax.   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?"  So I asked, "What are you trying to tell me?"

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."  About 10 minutes into this glorious reception, I realized I had gone to the wrong store!  With GREAT embarrassment, I admitted my mistake and made a hasty exit.  [My actual sponsor was a hardware store whose reaction to my thank you was a dismissive "Yah, sure."]  

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... I never REALLY forgive myself for making a mistake.  So immediately, right there seated on the throne, I began doing The Work internally.  During the process, another toxic belief came up so I moved on and worked with that one, too.  And out of that process came another... it went on and on and on.  I have no idea how many beliefs I confronted on the toilet this morning... many.  And it ended with this one... "I'm afraid to die because I’m unworthy to be accepted by God."  WOW!  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.  I awoke still headachy, took an IBP with my small breakfast, then went back to bed and slept.  Two hours later I awoke without a headache.  Yaa!

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.  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.  Actually it feels like I’m retracing the path back to God, a prodigal son sort of journey.  Now I look forward to noticing new levels of tolerance and compassion, not only for myself but for others as well.    

 

Thanks, everyone, for sharing my journey, because it's ‘our’ journey, and it is one.   I LOVE YOU!

wk 3, 2/28... from Jehanne de Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION:

42:8 THEN MY MASTER SHOWED ME THE THIRD GREAT BOUGH, WHICH BEARS THE FRUIT OF HONOR AND HUMILITY.  ONLY WHEN FREE OF ALL DUPLICITY AND ARROGANCE MAY YOU PARTAKE OF ITS NOURISHMENT.  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.

            Define honor.

            Define humility.

Define both from a spiritual context as they relate to your Beingness.                                        (A Course In Miracles: T10, sec 3, par 10      &                                                                                  T4, sec 1, par 12 & 13, may be helpful)

            This hybridized fruit is symbolic of what relationship?

            Duplicity is the native tongue of whom?

            How are duplicity and arrogance most commonly united? 

            What is true arrogance?  (ACIM T9, sec 8, par 10.7)

            Explain the strategy of “You are not worthy. Go back.”         

           What is the “increasing light” that was witnessed?  (ACIM WB61, par 1-5)                                    

Lenten Study, wk 2

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.

wk 2, 2/21... from Jehanne de Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION:

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.

     How did Mary see her soul ascend and also be in communication with Jesus? 

     The fruit of the inner tree could be considered hybridized. Of what benefit is that? 

     Define wisdom in its generic & spiritual contexts. 

     Define understanding in its generic & spiritual contexts.

     Who has true wisdom?   [Matt 18:3] 

     What is true ignorance?

     Define intolerance.

 

     How might intolerance and judgment and values be interwtwined?

     What are some of my/your acceptable intolerances?  (Make a list.)  

     What would it take to reconsider each of those intolerances?   

     What inner feelings are indicative of  intolerance?    

     Why is intolerance to intolerance serious business?

     What does it mean to NOT know ignorance?  What is that experience? 

     "... AND SO MY SOUL DID THUS UNCHALLENGED" means what?

wk 1, 2/14... from Jehanne de Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION:

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."  

      Why did Jesus begin the teaching by saying, "You came into being before coming into being?"
      What is the 'great tree within?'  

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.

     If the earth represents the body, what are the roots of the tree?
     Why is it important to know that there are five regions of humanity?         

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. 

     What is the significance of  'eat the fruit in all its fullness?'
     What is the purpose of a 'guardian?'  

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."

     What do the leaves on the great inner tree represent?
     Explain the meaning of 'free yourself from the world.'

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.

     What is the signifcance of knowing what the 'foundation of all things' is?
     Define judgment?
     When did judgement become a problem for me/you? 
     Anger is a symptom of what?   [Matt 5:22] 

     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.
   

A 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. 

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. 

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."

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.   

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.   

Peace - aud