Sowing Joy

Good Friends

The Dalai Lama has profound and beautiful messages for us. He speaks of peace and love, reminding us of our true identity in an unassuming and pure manner. His gleeful words never leave me where they found me, and for this I am most grateful. I remember a DVD of his entitled “Compassion in Emptiness”. He talks about the importance of relationships based on honesty and trust. The joyfulness born of these interactions is essential to our liberation from fearful illusions. The trust and honesty he speaks of isn't limited to those who have "earned" it. It isn't limited in any way. As we go through our daily activities, let's remember to treat everyone with the loving respect and courtesy with which we would afford a dearly beloved parent or child. May kindness and joy spread to every person you come into contact with today, and everyday. And if you happen to forget what that feels like, look up a video of the Dalai Lama and let him remind you!

“If selfishness has given place to kindness, we shall regard our neighbor unselfishly, and bless them that curse us; but we shall never meet this great duty simply by asking that it may be done.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 9:11-14

“How can you who are so holy suffer? All your past except its beauty is gone, and nothing is left but a blessing. I have saved all your kindnesses and every loving thought you ever had. I have purified them of the errors that hid their light, and kept them for you in their own perfect radiance. They are beyond destruction and beyond guilt. They came from the Holy Spirit within you, and we know what God creates is eternal.” 

A Course in Miracles T-5.IV.8:1-6

Forgiveness As It Is

In our material world, forgiveness has many faces. Perhaps someone tells us they're sorry and we say, That's all right. Or maybe someone has done something which stays on our mind as a transgression until we finally decide to forgive them, while thinking that we won't or can't forget. This is not what forgiveness is in A Course in Miracles. I often think of the ancient Toltec wisdom as interpreted by Don Miguel Ruiz in his book, The Four Agreements. One of these agreements asks us not to take anything personally. This request speaks to "forgiveness as it is". He goes so far as to state that even if someone shoots you in the head, it's not your problem, it's theirs! What an interesting thought! This forgiveness acknowledges no blame in the first place, holds no grudge as there is no blame, and requires no forgiveness because there was no blame or grudge. As we learn to see life through spiritual sense, forgiveness takes on a different meaning for us. It becomes a peaceful acknowledgement of reality, and facilitates a letting go of the belief in separation. No blame, no guilt, all is forgiveness. Freedom!

“Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 454:18-21

“Anger is never justified. Attack has no foundation. It is here escape from fear begins, and will be made complete. Here is the real world given in exchange for dreams of terror. For it is on this forgiveness rests, and is but natural. You are not asked to offer pardon where attack is due, and would be justified. For that would mean that you forgive a sin by overlooking what is really there. This is not pardon. For it would assume that, by responding in a way which is not justified, your pardon will become the answer to attack that has been made. And thus is pardon inappropriate, by being granted where it is not due.”
A Course in Miracles T-30.VI.1:1-10

Unclench Your Heart

“Unclench your heart” is a phrase I heard today. It caused me to stop and wonder how long my shoulders, neck, and, yes, heart have been clenched. My guess is 10 years! We all have an idea of the type of person we are. Most of us think of ourselves as kind and compassionate. In the days I worked with the public on a daily basis, I formed this impression of myself, based on what I did every day, all day long. Since my retirement a decade ago, my interactions have become limited, and for the most part I’m only around people I choose. In these same ten years, the political atmosphere has caused me to retreat into my own little world. A four-year “special” relationship with an alcoholic brought another level of clenching to my heart. With these admissions, I ask to release my brothers from my perceptions. I ask to move away from the beliefs of matter/ego, and embrace Truth. Namaste…

“Atonement is for all, because it is the way to undo the belief that anything is for you alone. To forgive is to overlook. Look, then, beyond error and do not let your perception rest upon it, for you will believe what your perception holds. Accept as true only what your brother is, if you would know yourself. Perceive what he is not and you cannot know what you are, because you see him falsely. Remember always that your Identity is shared, and that Its sharing is Its reality.”
A Course in Miracles T-9.IV.1:1-6

“Atonement is the exemplification of man’s unity with God, whereby man reflects divine Truth, Life, and Love.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 18:1-3

Kindness Matters

Why are we so afraid of each other? Could it be all the crime television shows, or maybe we have been physically attacked in the past? We all have our reasons for turning away from our fellow humans. We probably say it’s wise to be cautious. I know that’s what everyone feels on a much-viewed county social media page. Someone who delivers for “door dash” related a tale of woe in which she delivered food to a man and he “grabbed her” and said “I’m glad it’s you”. As I looked through the responses telling her to carry a gun, or never go there again, or call the police, I saw where she said she HAD called the police because he had fallen off his porch and she wanted to make sure he was okay. In trying to imagine this scenario, I saw something quite different from the defensive responders interpretations. I visualized an old man who was unable to leave his home and had ordered food, as he had done many times in the past. When he saw it was someone who had delivered to him before, he reached out and said he was glad to see her again. Or maybe he was reaching toward her because he was about to fall over — which he did! I don’t know the details, but I do know our perceptions can be askew. Perhaps we’ve bypassed our intuitions which tell us about others’ true intentions. When you get a bad vibe from someone, listen. If you’re afraid of everything, question yourself as to why that is. Kindness matters. It may be the only way to heal humanity…

“Dream softly of your sinless brother, who unites with you in holy innocence. And from this dream the Lord of Heaven will Himself awaken His beloved Son. Dream of your brother’s kindnesses instead of dwelling in your dreams on his mistakes. Select his thoughtfulness to dream about instead of counting up the hurts he gave. Forgive him his illusions, and give thanks to him for all the helpfulness he gave. And do not brush aside his many gifts because he is not perfect in your dreams. He represents his Father, Whom you see as offering both life and death to you.

A Course in Miracles 

“Love will finally mark the hour of harmony, and spiritualization will follow, for Love is Spirit. Before error is wholly destroyed, there will be interruptions of the general material routine. Earth will become dreary and desolate, but summer and winter, seedtime and harvest (though in changed forms), will continue unto the end, — until the final spiritualization of all things. ‘The darkest hour precedes the dawn.’” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 95:4-11

The Brain’s Illusions

Art piece by John Rankine

“Finding Solace in This @#$%&! Up World”

“The brain creates false memories based on assumptions.” Whoa! This is a conclusion reached in a psychological study which I read about today. I know people can be involved in the same event and have entirely different memories of what happened. As a court reporter for three decades, I saw how wildly varied were memories of car accidents and other things. So it’s not surprising to me that we see things through different lens and interpret causes from all angles. But this study which shocked me was about showing a person a photograph of themselves, in which they were photoshopped into a particular situation. After being asked a few questions, then the person’s brain created a scenario in which they were convinced they were some place they were not! A quick internet search on how to convince people of things was horridly enlightening. Although it’s never been my goal to change people’s minds, apparently there are many who study these tactics and use them quite effectively. In order to counter these nefarious folks, let’s continue to hone our critical thinking skills, teach ourselves to listen deeply, and do our best to stay away from strong opinions. They do, after all, close our minds to others ways of thinking. Namaste, my dear friends …

“Fantasy is a distorted form of vision. Fantasies of any kind are distortions, because they always involve twisting perception into unreality. Actions that stem from distortions are literally the reactions of those who know not what they do. Fantasy is an attempt to control reality according to false needs. Twist reality in any way and you are perceiving destructively. Fantasies are a means of making false associations and attempting to obtain pleasure from them. But although you can perceive false associations, you can never make them real except to yourself. You believe in what you make.”
A Course in Miracles T-1.VII.3:1-8

“How are veritable ideas to be distinguished from illusions? By learning the origin of each. Ideas are emanations from the divine Mind. Thoughts, proceeding from the brain or from matter, are offshoots of mortal mind; they are mortal material beliefs. Ideas are spiritual, harmonious, and eternal. Beliefs proceed from the so-called material senses, which at one time are supposed to be substance-matter and at another are called spirits.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 88:9-17

Life-Affirming Books

Photo courtesy of Blake Lasater

“She realized that you could be as honest as possible in life, but people only see the truth if it is close enough to their reality. As Thoreau wrote, ‘It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.’” This is a quote from the novel, The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig. This book explores the possibilities of what might be, had we chosen different paths in our lives. Not just major decisions, but small ones. There are billions of possibilities in these lateral lives which could be occurring right now, along with the reality we think we are experiencing. Fascinating stuff!! I know most of us have wondered what our lives would have been if we’d accepted that job in New York, or taken a plunge into whatever it was that scared us, or any number of decisions which could have taken us in another direction. The revelations of quantum physics have opened our minds to possibilities which we may not be willing to accept. And that’s okay! We humans have spent our entire existence dumbing down the world because we can’t accept what we don’t understand. Our minds do not see what they cannot handle. And that’s okay, too, because we don’t have to understand in order to participate. I love life-affirming books such as this one! Let me know what you’ve read that rocked your world!

“Metaphysics is above physics, and matter does not enter into metaphysical premises or conclusions. The categories of metaphysics rest on one basis, the divine Mind. Metaphysics resolves things into thoughts, and exchanges the objects of sense for the ideas of Soul.” 

Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 269:11

“You are free to establish your kingdom where you see fit, but the right choice is inevitable if you remember this:
Spirit is in a state of grace forever.
Your reality is only spirit.
Therefore you are in a state of grace forever.”
A Course in Miracles T-1.III.5:3-6

The Call of Truth

Photo credit: Aaron Springston

Today I had a life-long learning experience reinforced. I realize, intellectually, that a minor irritation is no different than full-blown rage. I’ll go along for months without being “triggered” by the actions of another, then wham! The woman who I expressed irritation towards is the only person I’ve ever yelled at in the street, and that was almost three decades ago. In examining my reactions to her, I see that I have never been honest with myself. Of course, the things which bother me about her are the things which bother me most about me. After our interaction at my house today, I was tempted to ignore the whole situation. But I became physically ill shortly after she left. While reading the text message she sent me regarding our confrontation, I was tempted to defend myself; to tell her all the reasons I was right. So looked up references to “irritation” and “holy relationship” in the ACIM text and I’ve been reminding myself of the purpose of these interactions. “Every special relationship you have made has, as its fundamental purpose, the aim of occupying your mind so completely that you will not hear the call of truth.” (ACIM, T-17.IV.3:3) I’ve always walked away from every relationship which has tried to make me face myself. I believe it’s time to stop that, and so I’m facing myself and asking Holy Spirit to help me see the way through “the undoing of errors”. It’s also the perfect time to review the lessons currently being examined under the heading of “God is but Love, and therefore so am I.” I look forward to shedding yet another layer of erroneous thinking!

“Perhaps it will be helpful to remember that no one can be angry at a fact. It is always an interpretation that gives rise to negative emotions, regardless of their seeming justification by what appears as facts. Regardless, too, of the intensity of the anger that is aroused. It may be merely slight irritation, perhaps too mild to be even clearly recognized. Or it may also take the form of intense rage, accompanied by thoughts of violence, fantasied or apparently acted out. It does not matter. All of these reactions are the same. They obscure the truth, and this can never be a matter of degree. Either truth is apparent, or it is not. It cannot be partially recognized. Who is unaware of truth must look upon illusions.”
A Course in Miracles M-17.4:1-11

“A patient under the influence of mortal mind is healed only by removing the influence on him of this mind, by emptying his thought of the false stimulus and reaction of will-power and filling it with the divine energies of Truth.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 184:32-5