We shouldn't believe our own bull shit.

 

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. T-1.VII.3:1-8

A Course in Miracles . Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition. 

We not only believe our own bull shit but these twisted beliefs contribute to harmful behavior.

In Alcoholics Anonymous it is suggested, in step one, that we admit  our lives are unmanageable and all the bull shit in the world will not save us.

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. This search requires an admission that there is something beyond our own bull shit that has immense, spirit saving value for us.

Today, we recognize and acknowledge that there is a huge difference between fantasies and truth. Using fantasies to fulfill our needs ultimately fails. We would do well to admit this and turn our willfulness over to the care and Love of God. We ask ourselves continually throughout the day, “What would Love have me do?”

What would God have me do, become?

All real pleasure comes from doing God’s will. This is because not doing it is a denial of Self. Denial of Self results in illusions, while correction of error brings release from it. Do not deceive yourself into believing that you can relate in peace to God or your brothers with anything external. T-1.VII.1:4-7 A Course In Miracles

Peace comes from becoming one with the Tao, going with the flow, doing God’s will. 

In Alcoholics Anonymous the slogans are “turn it over,” “let go and let God,” or simply “let go.” These slogans come from the third step where it is suggested that we make a decision to turn our willfulness and our lives over to the care of God.

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to respect the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. Peace and joy comes not from anything external but from an apprehension of the wholeness (holiness) of which we are a part.

Today, it is suggested that we mindfully ask ourselves, “What would God have me do, become?”

What does "living tradition" mean in Unitarian Universalism?

Living tradition - Why is Unitarian Universalism called “a living tradition”?

Because it has no fixed creed or orthodoxy but is a living, ever evolving, explanation of the perennial wisdom which is the basis for our spiritual vision and understanding.

This post is one in a series composing a dictionary of Unitarian Universalist literacy. These are terms and phrases which all informed UUs should know.

The choice is ours: world of the ego or world of Spirit?

Perfect love casts out fear. If fear exists, then there is not perfect love. But: only perfect love exists. If there is fear, it produces a state that does not exist. T-1.VI.5:4-8 A Course In Miracles

Many times in these commentaries the juxtaposition of unconditional love and conditional love has been mentioned. Conditional love is always tinged with fear while unconditional love is fearless. If you experience fear, it is an indication of a belief in things that are of the ego and do not actually exist.

The Universalists taught that God is Unconditional Love in contrast with the Calvanists who taught that God’s love is conditional. Unitarian Universalists affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person which is based on the Creator’s unconditional love for the Creator’s creations.

In Alcoholics Anonymous it is suggested, in step eleven, that we improve our conscious contact with God which requires a shift in our focus from the world of conditional love to unconditional love or from the world of the ego to the world of Spirit.

Today, we remind ourselves we have a choice in which world we want to live: the world of the ego and conditional love or the world of Spirit and unconditional love. This is a choice we have to remind ourselves of constantly by asking the question, “What would Love have me do?”

There is nothing at all lacking.

A sense of separation from God is the only lack you really need correct. T-1.VI.2:1 A Course In Miracles.

The Original Sin was the tiny mad idea that we, human beings, could separate ourselves from God. This idea is so absurd and insane that we either laugh or cry or a little of both.

In Alcoholics Anonymous it is suggested, in step eleven, that we improve our conscious contact with God. The emphasis here is on “conscious” because we are already not only in contact with God, it is who we are.

In Unitarian Universalism we join together to affirm and promote a love for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. How could it be anyway else? The interdependent web of existence is the Ground Of Being. It is who we are.

Today, it is suggested that we heal the choice of separation and become one with everything. When we choose to do this, there is nothing at all lacking.

Osho on the simple life.

 

Peace and joy is an inside job.

You who want peace can find it only by complete forgiveness. No learning is acquired by anyone unless he wants to learn it and believes in some way that he needs it. While lack does not exist in the creation of God, it is very apparent in what you have made. It is, in fact, the essential difference between them. Lack implies that you would be better off in a state somehow different from the one you are in. Until the “separation,” which is the meaning of the “fall,” nothing was lacking. There were no needs at all. Needs arise only when you deprive yourself. You act according to the particular order of needs you establish. This, in turn, depends on your perception of what you are. T-1.VI.1: 1-10

A Course in Miracles . Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition. 

This paragraph is so rich it would take a lot of time and effort to unpack the whole thing. Suffice it to write that in the state of non duality there is no lack and therefore no needs. In the state of separation from our Creator there are plenty of needs and what we seek to fill them depends on what we think we are. Are we a body with a spirit or a spirit with a body? Our answer to this question makes all the difference in the world when it comes to our quality of life we experience  during the separation.

In Alcoholics Anonymous it is suggested, in step eleven, that we improve our conscious contact with God. AA encourages us to choose Spirit over the body.

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. What is it that we are searching for? We are looking for that thing which we believe will fill the lack we experience. We are looking to achieve a different state of mind because the one we are in leaves something more desired.

Today, we are asked to practice forgiveness which is the giving up of making other people and circumstances responsible for our unhappiness. It is suggested that peace and joy is an inside job.