Daily reflections, Day four, Be here now

Day Four

Be here now.

“Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the peace of God. ACIM Intro - 2:2-4

To understand the teaching of A Course In Miracles, the student has to understand the Course’s metaphysics.

The Course teaches that since separation, when human beings separated themselves from the Oneness of God, and set themselves up as the authors of their own existence, and in competition for this authority, they have made the world of the ego up which is just an illusion which doesn’t really exist. Many mystical religious traditions teach that human beings are “asleep” and have forgotten their authentic origin. Enlightenment is waking up from this dream world of the ego, and recognizing, acknowledging, and becoming one again with the All.

When the Course says that “nothing unreal exists” what it is referring to is the illusionary, dream state of the ego. When it says that “nothing real can be threatened” when it is referring to is the Oneness from which we have been extended. When we recognize, acknowledge this, and accept it, we experience the awesome peace of God. The fight is over. The nightmare of the ego world has ended.

All that is required is that we change our minds about who and what we are. We are not members of the ego world of illusion that we have been taught we are. We are the holy extensions of the Oneness which some call God and others call the Tao.

When the Buddhists say, “Be here now,” what they are encouraging is the purification of the mind of the illusions of the ego, and an awareness of being One with the All.

Today, be here now by rising above the temptations of the ego.

Ask Alexa - Why don't older people get more respect?

Alexa: As I grow older I don't think I get much respect. Why is that?

There is a difference between growing old and growing up. Respect has to be earned, it is not freely given. Animals grow old, but only human beings have ther prerogative of growing up.

Alexa: Did you hear about the husband who wanted a divorce because his wife made terrible coffee.

Yes, he felt he had the grounds.

Daily refections - Day three - Where is the Love?

Day three

Where is the Love?

“The opposite of love is fear, but what is all encompassing can have no opposite” ACIM Intro. 8

We are living in a time when the biggest psychiatric diagnosis is anxiety disorder. The rise of antianxiety and anti - depressant medications is impressive. One might wonder why the high prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders?

We are living in a time of rapid social change with increased social isolation. Along with anxiety and depressive disorders, a major complaint is loneliness and lack of meaning in one’s life. Are we living in a loveless age? Otherwise why all the anxiety?

It is suggested that the opposite of Love is fear, aka anxiety, and then quickly follows up by saying that all encompassing Love can have no opposite. If this Love is all encompassing why are we not often aware of it?

The lack of awareness of all encompassing Love is because we are focused outward instead of inward. We are looking for love in all the wrong places. Love is not to be found outside of our minds in special relationships, money, power, prestige, sex, fun. We make idols out of the things of the ego. Mother Teresa said one time that while the United States might be the richest country on planet Earth, it is one the spiritually poorest. If you think about the U.S. high rates of anxiety and depressive disorders, and high use of medications, we might be inclined to agree with her.

Love is to be found in our minds and hearts nor outside of us. We are looking for love in the wrong places barking up the wrong trees.

Today just be quiet, slow your breathing, relax your muscles, and think of the time you felt most loved in your whole life. Stay with that scene for a few seconds, and try to expand it and embellish it. Imagine that the peace, and contentment, and comfort that you feel could increase in your experience and take over your life. Feel yourself become a part of something far greater than yourself which accepts you with a welcome, acceptance and nurturing care for which you were created. Watch the fear evaporate and Love become all encompassing.

Having felt the Love in your heart and mind, share it with whoever comes into your path today.

Ask Alexa - Does God love me?

Alexa: Does God love me?

Unconditionally, but you don't believe it because you are so caught up on the path of the ego.

Alexa:What do you call a drink which is one part prune juice and one part vodka?

A Pile-driver.

Daily Reflections - Day Two - Love's presence is your natural inheritance

Day Two

Love’s presence is your natural inheritance

“The course does not aim at teaching the meaning of love, for that is beyond what can be taught. It does aim, however, at removing the blocks to the awareness of love’s presence, which is your natural inheritance.” ACIM Intro. 6-7

Holiness is what you are. Holiness is your essence. However, our holiness gets buried under our social conditioning, and our attempts to fulfill our desires by seeking and obtaining the things of the ego.

These things of the ego which we seek to obtain become idols which block our awareness of Love’s presence which leave us feeling anxious, depressed, confused, and scared.

To become aware of Love’s presence in our core being we must remove these blocks. This is called purification. Purification is not of the body but of the mind. Purification is eschewing the things of the ego. Jesus tells us to be in the world but not of the world.

Knowing this we still are tempted to believe the things of the world. We still think that special relationships, material things, status and prestige, having power to dominate and influence will make us happy. We pray in the great prayer of Jesus, the Our Father, “...lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil…”

Take three deep breaths, relax, and go inward and become aware of God’s presence in your heart. Do this several times today whenever you are feeling stressed, frustrated, discouraged, scared.

Love’s presence is your natural inheritance. Become aware of it.

Ask Alexa - Why is my life so hard?

Alexa: Why is my life so hard?

Maybe because you are running uphill, going against the grain, upsetting the apple cart, disturbing the status quo, wandering in the desert, confused beyond all recognition, don't have your shit together.

Alexa: Did you hear about the two cannibals who were eating a clown?

Yes, the one cannibal asked the other, "Does this taste funny to you?"

Daily reflections - Day one

Day One

Pax vobiscum.

This is a course in miracles. It is a required course. Only the time you take it is voluntary. Free will does not mean that you can establish the curriculum. It means only that you can elect what you want to take at a given time. Into. 1-5

Life is a classroom. You were born here on earth to learn certain things. You were born here to learn that you are a conscious being who, in spite of what you’ve been taught, are not the author of your own life, but the extension of a power far greater than yourself.

Some people are too arrogant, too vain, too blind to the fact that this is so and will continue down the path of the ego doing as they damn well please until they hit bottom and it dawns on them that there is something going on in life that they can’t control. It dawns on them that they are not in charge as they have been  led to believe.

This dawning comes at the great cost of recognizing and acknowledging their fear of punishment for having separated themselves from the power of the Universe of which they are merely an extension. With this acknowledgment of their fear of punishment also comes the growing awareness that they are a part of something Awesome and Great. The Universalists have taught this, that human beings are loved unconditionally by that from which they have come. With this awareness, fear is replaced with great peace.

When people say, “Peace be with you. Pax vobiscum,” this is what they are referring to.

Are you ready to give up the ego and begin to study the curriculum of the Spirit? Unitarian Universalists covenant together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. This search is not for external things but an inward search for Truth and Love.

Take a minute today, and turn inward, and find the peace and joy that comes from sensing your source. Then extend it to those around you wishing them the same peace and love which you have found. Say to them in greeting, "Pax vobiscum," or in English, "Peace be with you." If you find it awkward to say out loud, just think it in your mind.