October 2013 Update, Center for Spiritual Living, Santa ......For students who intend to enter...

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October2013Update,CenterforSpiritualLiving,SantaRosaPhotosfromRGBStock.comandEdwardViljoen

BeyondLimits:

PracticalSpiritualityforDynamicLiving

SESSIONONECourseIntroduction

IntroductiontoBasicPrincipleOne->Oneness

ErnestHolmesandtheNewThoughtMovement

WhatisScienceofMindandSpirit?

TheThingItself

AffirmationsandMeditation

Therealvoyageofdiscoveryconsistsnotinseekingnewlandscapes,butinhavingneweyes.

-MarcelProust

THISWEEK

Welcometoatransformationaladventure!Youareenteringintoanexplorationofanexpandedandempoweredlife.ThediscoveryofyourindividualplaceintheuniversalschemeofthingsandyourpersonalrelationshiptotheCreativePowercanopendoorstofulfillmentinyourdailyexperienceanddirectyourcourseoflifeinpositiveandenrichingways.Welcome!

ErnestHolmesdidnotclaimtohavehadapersonalrevelationofnewTruth.ButhehadauniquegeniusfordistillingandsynthesizingtheintuitiveperceptionsofTruthcommontogreatspiritualandphilosophicalwritingsthroughouthistory,andapplyingthemtocurrentdailyliving.Thisinsight,hisscientificapproach,andhisunderstandingofthephysicalandspirituallawsoftheUniverse,providedthefoundationforanenduringteachingthatleadstoasuccessfulandrewardinglifegroundedindeepspiritualawareness.

Inthesessionsthatfollow,youwillthoroughlystudythreeBasicPrinciples.Youwillbeguidedtoapplytheminyourlife.Theseconceptsandteachings,alongwithexperientialexercises,toolsforeverydaymiracles,spiritualreadings,classdialogue,andexperimentsin“thelabofyourlife,”willcombinetocreatealaunchpadforyourjourneyintoalife“beyondlimits”…intothegreater“Yettobe”foryou.

Thisweek’sresourcematerialofferssomesupportforyourstudyofBasicPrincipleOne.Thisprincipleinvitesustoconsiderourowncosmology.Contemporarywritersspeakofpeople’scosmologyastheirunderstandingoftheirplaceinlifeandtheirindividualrelationshiptothepoweroftheuniverse,orDivinity.Thereisfrequentmentionofhowalackofaclearcosmologyaffectsourpresent-dayculture.Inthisregard,MatthewFoxobserves,“Whenacivilizationiswithoutacosmologyitisnotonlycosmicallyviolentbutcosmicallylonelyanddepressed.Isitpossiblethattherealcauseofthedrug,alcohol,andentertainmentaddictionshauntingoursocietyisnotsomuchthe“druglords”ofothersocietiesbutthecosmiclonelinesshauntingourown?Perhapsalcoholisaliquidcosmologyanddrugsarefast-fixcosmologyforpeoplelackingatrueone.”

AsyouprogressinyourstudyoftheScienceofMindandSpirit,youwillhavetheopportunitytoexploreyourpersonalcosmologyasawaytobetterunderstandyourplaceinlifeandyourindividualrelationshiptoallthatis.

BOOKSANDMATERIALS

LivingTheScienceofMind ErnestHolmes

SUGGESTEDSUPPLEMENTALREADING

ThisThingCalledYou ErnestHolmes

Meditation EknathEaswaran

TheSelf-AwareUniverse AmitGoswami

TheGameofLifeandHowtoPlayIt FlorenceScovillShinn

BEYONDLIMITSCLASSAGREEMENTS

• HonorthecallthatbroughtyoutoBeyondLimitsbybeingcompletelypresentfortheclass,andwellpreparedsothatyoucanfullyparticipate.

• Beontimeforclassandbreaksandplantoattendallclasses.• Tocreateasupportiveenvironment,studentswillnotbeadmitted

duringmeditation.• Bemindfulaboutyourparticipationbyrefrainingfromcross-talk,or

givingadvice.• Honordiversitybyallowingotherstohavetheiropinions,thoughtsand

ideaswithouttryingto“fix”them.• Turninassignmentsontime.• Turnoffcellphonesandothersound-makingdevices.• Honortheconfidentialityofthegroup.

ATTENDANCEPOLICY

Becausesomuchofthisclassisexperientialinnature,weencourageyoutoattendalloftheclasses.CompletionofBeyondLimitsisaprerequisiteforallotheraccreditedclasses.

ForstudentswhowanttoreceivecreditforcompletionofBeyondLimits:youmustcompleteallthehomestudy,thefinalproject,andhaveattendedatleast9ofthe10classes.Ifyoumissaclass,pleasecontactyoursmallgroupleadertocatchupontheassignments.

ForstudentswhointendtoenterAdvancedConsciousnessStudies/ProfessionalPrayerPractitionerStudiesyoumustmeetthecompletionrequirementsandreceivecreditfor5additionalclasses.Ifyouhaveanyquestions,pleasecontactyoursmallgroupfacilitator.

ANotefromYourTeacher…..Thisclassisaspecialexperience.Itisaninvestmentintimethatcanpayoffinincrediblewaysinyourlife.Youwillbeamazedatthegrowthinthecoming10-weekperiodofyourlife,andthegrowththatcanensuecontinuouslythereafter.Thisclassisasupportiveexperience.Youmaynothavebeeninanyclassforawhile,andmayfeelsometrepidationaboutbeinghere.Youwillbenurturedandrespected.Justhangintherewitheveryone—youwillbegladyoudid.

THEWAYITWORKS…WHOISERNESTHOLMES?

ThephilosophyofErnestHolmes,whichwastomakehimanimportantfigureintheemergingspiritualconsciousnessoftheTwentiethCentury,wasoneoffulfillment,joy,andunitywithalllife.

ErnestHolmesfoundedthemovementourCenterforSpiritualLivingbelongsto,wroteTheScienceofMindandnumerousotherbooksonmetaphysics,andoriginatedtheinternationalperiodicalScienceofMindMagazine,whichhasbeenincontinuousmonthlypublicationsince1927.Holmes’steaching,recognizedtodayasoneoftheleadingviewpointsinmodernmetaphysics,isaspiritualphilosophythathasbroughttopeoplethroughouttheworldaworkingcosmology—asenseoftheirrelationshiptoDivinityandtheirplaceintheuniverse—andapositive,supportiveapproachtodailyliving.

ErnestHolmeswasbornonJanuary21,1887onasmallMainefarm,theyoungestoftheninesonsofWilliamandAnnaHolmes.Withdevoted,intelligentparents,theboyswerehappy,unawareoftheirpoverty.Aseriesoffinancialdisastersforcedthefamilytoliveanomadiclifeforseveralyears.TheysettledeventuallyinBethel,Maine,whereErnestreceivedhisonlyformaleducationandencounteredhisfirstactualchurch.There“hellfire”preachingwassometimesheard,andhesaidlater,“Fortunately,Iwasbroughtupbyamotherwhorefusedtohavefeartaughttoherfamily.”Everyoneinthefamily,includingErnest,wasanavidreader.Heaskedsomanyquestionsthathebecameknownas“theeternalquestionmark.”

At17,ErnestwasastudentinaBethelpreparatoryschool,buthespentmostofhistimeout-of-doors,askinghimself,“WhatisGod?WhoamI?WhyamIhere?”Hementallytangledwithallthelocalpreachersanddoubtedtheanswershegotinchurch.Attheageof18heleftschoolandformaleducationforeverandsetoutonhislifelongcourseofindependentthinking.HewenttoBoston,workedinagrocerystore,andpursuedhisstudiesrelentlessly.Ayearlater,hediscoveredEmerson.“ReadingEmersonislikedrinkingwatertome,”hesaidlater.Hismetaphysicalstudiesintensified,hisquestforTruthleadinghimto—andthrough—literature,art,science,philosophy,andreligion.

In1914,attheageof27,ErnestmovedtoVenice,California,tobenearhisbrotherFenwicke,whowasaCongregationalministerthere.WorkingfortheCityofVeniceandpursuinghisstudies,hediscoveredthewritingsofThomas

Troward,whichfedtheflameignitedbyEmersonearlier.Almostcasually,hebeganspeakingonTroward’swritingstosmallbutever-growinggroups.Withoutceremony,hislifetimeministryhadbegun.Later,ashisaudiencesgrew,hewasordainedasaministeroftheDivineScienceChurch.

Ernestpublishedhisfirstbook,CreativeMind,in1919,continuedhisstudies,andlecturedtogrowingcrowdsinCaliforniaandEasterncities.Meanwhile,hewaswritingTheScienceofMind,whichwastobecomethe“textbook”oftheReligiousSciencephilosophy.Publishedin1926,itwasrevisedin1938,andhasbeentranslatedintoFrench,German,Spanish,RussianandJapanese.Atthetimethebookwaspublished,hismanyenthusiasticstudentsurgedhimtosetupanincorporatedorganization.Herefusedatfirst,buteventuallyagreed,andtheInstituteofReligiousScienceandSchoolofPhilosophywasincorporatedin1927.

Theyear1927wasnotableforotherreasons.ErnestfoundedtheScienceofMindMagazine,incontinuousmonthlypublicationsincethatdate;andhemarriedhisbelovedHazelFoster,whowouldsharehislifeuntilhertransitionin1957.ErnestandHazelwereactiveintheburgeoningcultureofSouthernCalifornia—whichincludedHollywoodstars,NormanVincentPeale,AlbertEinstein,andthemanyuniversityprofessorswhotaughtattheInstitute.Ernestcouldconversewithanyone,butwhathereallywantedtotalkaboutwasTruth.Hiscommitmentwastoknow,experience,andlivetheTruth.Itwashislife.

Thebusyyearswentby.TheInstituteacquiredabeautifulpropertyatSixthandNewHampshire.In1953,theInstitutebecametheChurchofReligiousScience.In1967,itacquiredthetitleUnitedChurchofReligiousScience,nowcalled,CentersforSpiritualLiving,withmembercentersthroughouttheworld.

In1957,ErnestlosthisbelovedHazel,andlifechangedforhim.In1959,withhisbrotherFenwicke,hecompletedanepicpoem,TheVoiceCelestial,perhapshisgreatestcreativeexpression.InJanuary1960,hepresidedatthededicationofthebeautifulFounder’sChurch,adjacenttotheHeadquartersbuilding.Threemonthslater,onApril7,hemadehistransition.Afewweeksearlier,hespokeofhisvisionfortheScienceofMind.“Thehumanheart,”hesaid,“longsasahungrymanlongsforbread,forspiritualfood.Itlongsforthatwhichwillmakeitwhole,andIthinkthat’swhatourteachingcando—revealtheSelftotheself.”

AdaptedfromanoriginalbookletPathofDiscovery,preparedbyScottAwbrey.LosAngeles1987.

THEWAYITWORKS…THENEWTHOUGHTMOVEMENT:ASYNOPSIS

ThetermNewThoughtreferstothemetaphysicalmovementwhichbeganinAmericainthenineteenthcenturyandcontinuestodayasavitalpartofourculture.TheCenterforSpiritualLiving,SantaRosa,whereyouaretakingthisclass,isamemberoftheCentersforSpiritualLiving,andpartoftheNewThoughtmovement.OtherorganizationsdedicatedtopromotingNewThoughtincludetheInternationalNewThoughtAlliance(INTA)andtheAssociationforGlobalNewThought(AGNT).

Inthe1800s,Americawasinafermentofgrowthandchange.Theeffectsoftheindustrialrevolution,thesurgeofsettlersheadedwest,thetraumaoftheCivilWar—theseandmanyotherfactorscreatedasocietyintransition,readytoexperimentwithnewwaysofthinking.Inthisenvironment,theforcesnowknownasNewThoughtbegantocoalesceandgrowinauthenticity.

ItisoftensaidthatNewThoughtinAmericabeganwiththelifeandteachingsofPhineasQuimby(1802-1866).“Oneoftheoriginalthinkersoftheages,”Quimbycametobelievethatmindismatterinsolutionandmatterismindinform;Einsteinwastosaylaterthatenergyandmassareequalandinterchangeable.Quimbybelievedinperfectionatthecenterofeverythingthataperfectperson“standsbehind”alltrouble,sickness,andconfusion,andthatspiritualrealizationofthisperfectioniswhatheals.ThousandsofpeopleflockedtohimfromeverywheretobenefitfromthisteachingandhispracticewasrecordedinpaperslaterpublishedasTheQuimbyManuscripts.

RalphWaldoEmerson(1803-1882)issometimescalledthefatherofNewThought.Theoretically,hearticulatedmanyofitsprecepts,buthedidnotreducehistheorytoadefiniteconceptthatcouldbepracticed.AstheNewThoughtmovementgainedmomentum,strongnewchurcheswereformed.In1889,inKansasCity,CharlesandMyrtleFillmorefoundedUnity.In1898,inColorado,DivineSciencewasfoundedbyNonaBrooks,FannieJames,andAltheaSmall.ReligiousScience,mostrecentofthemajorNewThoughtchurches,wasfoundedinLosAngelesin1927byErnestHolmes.Thereareslightdifferencesamongthesechurchesintheologyandspiritualoutlook,butintheirrelianceonanduseofPrincipletheyareidentical.Regardingthesechurches,Holmeswrites,they“...cameintobeing,notassomethingbetterthananyoneofthem,butratherasasynthesisofallofthem,startingwiththepropositionthatSpiritualTruthcannotbelongtoanyoneindividual,butbeingUniversalinItsessencemustbelongtoanyonewhousesIt.”

ThisbriefoutlinetouchesonlythehighspotsofearlyNewThoughthistory.MoredetailedinformationmaybefoundinSpiritsinRebellion,byCharlesS.Braden,availableinmostlibrariesandbookstores.

Spiritualityisnaturalgoodness.Godisnotaperson;

GodisaPresencepersonifiedinus.Spiritualityisnotathing;

ItistheatmosphereofGod’sPresence,goodness,truth,andbeauty.Religionisalife,aliving.

-ErnestHolmes

THEWAYITWORKS…WHATISTHESCIENCEOFMINDANDSPIRIT?WhatistheScienceofMindandSpirit?ParaphrasingErnestHolmes’sanswertothisquestion,wecansay:ScienceofMindrepresentsthecorrelationofreligion,science,andphilosophy.Weareareligion,inthesensethatweexploreandteachprinciplesthatdefinethespiritualnatureoftheUniverseandourrelatednesstoDivinity.Weareascience,onlyinthatstudentsareaskedtoexperimentwiththeseprinciplesandacceptonlythosewhichtheycanprove,demonstrate,andexperienceintheirdailylives.Weareaphilosophy,inthatideasandidealsarebroughttogetherintoasystemofconceptsaboutDivinity,theCosmos,humanity,andhumanpossibility.

Fundamentally,theScienceofMindisateachingbasedonPrinciple.Whatisaprinciple?Abasictruthorlawwhichhasbeenprovedinfallible—itworkswithoutknownexceptions—anditisimpersonal—itworksforeveryonealike.

Physicalprinciplesorlawsarefamiliartoallofus.Weallacceptwithoutquestiontheworkingsofgravity,electricity,mathematics,chemistry,thewaysofsoilwithaseed,andmanyothercompanionsofoureverydaylives.ScienceofMindexploresSpiritualPrincipleswhichworkthesameway—infalliblyandimpersonally.

TheprimaryspiritualprincipleonwhichtheScienceofMindisbasedis,simplystated:ThereisintheuniverseonePresence,(oroneBeing,oroneInfiniteSourceofallthereis).AcommonlyusedshorthandtermforthisInfiniteSourceisGod,orSpirit.AcommonlyusedshorthandtermforourprimaryspiritualprincipleisSpiritisallthereis.Withthisasourstartingpoint,welookateachhumanbeingasapartofSpirit,anindividualizedexpressionofSpirit.That’swhywetendtosayweareallonewithSpiritandonewitheachother.WecallitadivinewholenessortheunityofalllifeattheSource.InthisunityweconsiderthatifSpirit,thesourceofall,istobeeverywhere,ithastobewithinyou,rightwhereyouare.

Everythingelseflowsfromthisfirstprinciple.WewilllearnthatthroughbeingconsciousofthisfirstPrinciplewecanapplyourawarenesstoanyandeveryfacetofourlives,intheformofspiritualpractices,sothatdailywediscoverandrevealmorepeace,joy,andfulfillment.

THEWAYITWORKS…THETHINGITSELF

IfGodisanythingitisageniusMasterMind.Theuniverseisamagnificentcreation.ThegreatestchallengeforyouasstudentsofthisteachingistoreformyourconceptofGod.Godisnotanexternaldeity.ItisanindwellingSpirit.Itisnotanangryoldman.ItisperfectLove.Whatpurposewoulditservetocreatesuchavastandpower-richuniverse,placeusasthedominantspeciesontheplanet,andnotallowustoexperiencetherichnessandfullnessoflife?

“TosupposethatGodcouldmakemanasanindividual,withoutleavinghimtodiscoverhimself,wouldbetosupposetheimpossible.Individualitymustbespontaneous.”

Forindividualitytooccur,youmusthavechoice.FirstgiftofLove/Godisfreedom.Youhavebeenleftfreetochoose.However,youmustsuffertheconsequencesorreaptherewardsofyourchoice.TheLawguaranteestheeveryindividualistreatedwithjustice.

“Thisthenistheteaching:LoveandLaw.”

“ThestudyoftheScienceofMindisastudyofFirstCause,Spirit,Mind….thePowerbackofcreation—theThingItself.”

Firstandforemostwearestudents.WearealwayslearningmoreaboutGod.TherewillalwaysbesomethingnewtoknowaboutaninfinitePresence.That’swhyDr.Holmesinsistedthatweremain“openatthetop.”

“Universalprinciplesareneverrespectorsofpersons;theUniversehasnofavorites.”

SpiritualLawdictatesthatitmustworkthesamewayeverytime,undereverycircumstance,foreveryperson.ThereistheLawofCauseandEffect,thekarmiclawwhichstates:“Thatwhichyousendoutfromyou,willreturntoyou.”

Surroundingyourbodyisamentalatmosphere.Itreflectsyourtendencyofthought.Itdrawsandattractstoyoucircumstances,people,andeventsthatexactlymatchit.Itrepelsfromyouanythingoranyonethatisoppositetoyourmentalatmosphere.Thisiswhyloving,generouspeopleattractotherloving,generouspeopleandwhyangrypeopleattractotherangrypeople.

Thisistheyin/yangoflife,thebalanceofUnconditionalLoveandImpersonalLaw.TheuniversewascausedandinitiatedbyLoveandis

sustainedbyLaw.LoveisthemotivationforcreationandLawis

thefulfillment.

Youarecausetoyourownexperience.Youcanchangethementalatmospherethatsurroundsyou(yourconsciousness)andtherebysetanewcauseintomotion.ThisiswhyDr.Holmessaid,“Tolearnhowtothinkistolearnhowtolive.”

Sayingnicethingsandthinkingprettythoughtsforfiveminutesadayisn’tgoingtodomuchtoalteryourmentalatmosphereorchangeyourexperienceinlife.Noone“upthere”islisteningtoyourprayersorimpressedwithyourposing.

Changingyourtendencyofthoughtisalotofwork.Itrequirespersistenceanddiscipline.That’swhysofewpeopledoit.It’saloteasiertoallowanyrandomthoughttoenteryourmindandbeentertained.Veryfewpeopletakethetimetoconsciouslyexaminetheirthinking.

Yourconsciousmindisthatpartofyouthinkingyourthoughts,knowingwhoyouare,awarethatyouhavelife.Yoursubconsciousmindisthereceptacleforallthatyou’veeverthought,felt,seen,heard,touched,tasted,smelledorexperienced.Alsowithinitisraceconsciousness,therecordedthoughtsandexperiencesofeveryonewhohaseverlivedontheplanet.

Consciousmind(objective)hascontroloverandcanchangesubconsciousmind(subjective).Throughconsciousandpersistentinputofaffirmativethinkingyoursubconsciousmindbeginstochange.Yourbeliefsbecomealteredandyourexperiencechanges.

“WhenwelearntotrusttheUniverse,weshallbehappy,prosperousandwell.Thefinitealonehaswroughtandsuffered,theInfiniteliesstretchedinsmilingrepose.”

Einsteinsaidthemostimportantquestionwehavetoansweris:Istheuniversefriendly?

“…allthoughtiscreative,accordingtothenature,impulse,emotionorconvictionbehindthethought.”

BeyondLimits!BasicPrincipleOne:Oneness

...TheUniversal…THETHINGITSELFTheNatureofGodandtheSpiritualUniverse

...TheHuman…THEWAYITWORKSTheRelationshipofGodandHumankind

ThereisonecosmicrealityPrincipleandPresenceintheuniverse—Spirit.AllcreationoriginatesinthisOneSource.Spiritisallthereis.

FromthisoneinfiniteSourceflowsthespiritual,mental,andphysicalUniverse—alllife,alllove,alllaw,allenergy,allharmony,allbeing,allphysicalformoreffect,allcreation.AllphysicalandspiritualprinciplesandlawsarecontainedwithintheOne.

ManydifferenttermsareusedinvariousculturesandtheologiestoexpressthisconceptofSpiritandpointtothePrincipleofoneness.

Termsfrequentlyusedare:TheThingItself,Spirit,Life,Love,FirstCause,Love-Intelligence,theAbsolute,UniversalMind,theChangeless,theUniverse,InfiniteKnowingness,theSupremeBeing,theDivinePresence,andmanymore.EmersoncallsittheOversoul.NativeAmericansworshiptheGreatSpirit.LaoTzucallsitTao.TraditionalChristianssayGod.Einsteinreferredtohis“unifiedfield”theory.

EachhumanbeingisacreationofSpirit,madeoftheGod-substance,aunique,individualizedincarnationofSpirit.ThisincarnatedSpiritismyessenceandtheessenceofeveryhumanbeing.

FromthisoneinfiniteSourceflowseachindividual.WeareincarnationsoftheOneSpirit.Ourlivesflowfromthesamesource,causingalllifetobeinseparablyOne.Thereiswholeness,atotalinterconnectednessattheSource.Despitemyfeelingofseparateness,thisonenessisirrevocableandeternal.ItiswhoIam.AllhumansareonewithSpirit,onewitheachother,andonewithalllife,animateandinanimate.

Thiscanneverbelost,damaged,diminished,ordestroyedthroughoutmyeternaljourney.Nowandforever,IamanexpressionofSpirit,rightwhereIam.Spiritinme,asme,isme.

IAMTHERE byJamesDilletFreeman

YoucannotseeMe,yetIamthelightyouseeby.YoucannothearMe,yetIspeakthroughyourvoice.YoucannotfeelMe,yetIamthepoweratworkinyourhands.Iamatwork,thoughyoudonotunderstandMyways.Iamatwork,thoughyoudonotrecognizeMyworks.Iamnotstrangevisions.Iamnotmysteries.Onlyinabsolutestillness,beyondself,canyouknowMeasIam,andthenbutasafeelingandafaith.YetIamthere.YetIhear.YetIanswer.WhenyouneedMe,Iamthere.EvenifyoudenyMe,Iamthere.Evenwhenyoufeelmostalone,Iamthere.Eveninyourfears,Iamthere.Eveninyourpain,Iamthere.Iamtherewhenyouprayandwhenyoudonotpray.Iaminyou,andyouareinMe.OnlyinyourmindcanyoufeelseparatefromMe,foronlyinyourmindarethemistsof“yours”and“mine.”YetonlyinyourmindcanyouknowMeandexperienceMe.Emptyyourheartofemptyfears.Whenyougetoutoftheway,Iamthere.Youcanofyourselfdonothing,butIcandoall.AndIaminall.Thoughyoumaynotseethegood,goodisthere,forIamthere.IamtherebecauseIhavetobe,becauseIam.OnlyinMedoestheworldhavemeaning;onlyoutofMedoestheworldtakeform;onlybecauseofMedoestheworldgoforward.Iamthelawonwhichthemovementofthestarsandthegrowthoflivingcellsarefounded.Iamthelovethatisthelaw’sfulfilling.Iamassurance.Iampeace.Iamoneness.Iamthelawthatyoucanliveby.Iamthelovethatyoucanclingto.Iamyourassurance.Iamyourpeace.Iamonewithyou.Iam.ThoughyoufailtofindMe,Idonotfailyou.ThoughyourfaithinMeisunsure,Myfaithinyouneverwavers,becauseIknowyou,becauseIloveyou.Beloved,Iamthere.

Editor’snote.Acopyof“IAmThere”isnowonthemoon...carriedthereontheApolloXVvoyagebyAstronautJamesB.Irwin,andleftthereforfuturespacevoyagers.

THEWAYITWORKS…ESTABLISHYOURAWARENESSINONENESS

Affirmations...ABasicTool

Thewordaffirmationmeans:somethingvalidated,madefirm.AffirmationsarestatementswemakeaboutourbeingandourlivesthatreestablishusintheawarenessofthePrincipleofOneness.TheyareaneffectiveandeasytousetooltohelpusbringtheideaofonenesswithSpiritbackintoourawarenesswhenwearefeelingdisconnectedfromlife.Anaffirmationisstatedinshort,powerful,presenttenseterms.Withaffirmationswecanreprogramourattentionasifwearefillingaglassofdark,cloudywater,dropbydrop,withclearwater.

WritingAffirmations

• Makethempersonal:IamonewithSpiritrightnow!• Makethemshort:onesentence,ifpossible,foreasymemorizing,

laseringintoyourmind.• Writetheminthepresenttense,inthehere-and-now:rightnow,today,

inthismoment.Donotusethepastorfuturetense.• Makethevocabularypersonaltoyou.Insertyourownname,for

exampleanduseyourownmannerofspeaking.Usewordsthattouchyouatthefeelinglevel.Noticethedifferenceinhowyoufeelaboutthesewords:wealthy...rich...prosperous...well-off.Onewillworkbetterforyouthanforsomeoneelse.

• Bespecificbutdonot“outline.”Statewhatbutnothow:Iamwholeandhappy(isveryspecific,butdoesn’toutlinehowitcametobe–itwouldnotbeagoodideatoaffirmIwillbewholeandhappywhenJohngivesmeagift.)

WorkingwithAffirmations

1. Placethemeverywhereyouarelikelytolook—aroundyourhouse,car,andoffice.

2. Writeeach10to20times.3. Saythemaloudasmanytimesadayasyoucan;beemphaticand

enthusiastic.4. Recordthemandplaythemtoyourselfwhiledriving,doingdishes,orat

anyotherappropriatetime.5. Ifthewordsortonedon’t“feelright”toyou,restatethemuntiltheydo.

UsingAffirmationstoUncoverHiddenBeliefs

Ifsomethinginsideyousaysnowhenyousayyouraffirmation,askyourself,“WhatdoIreallybelieveaboutthis?”Theanswertothatquestionmayuncoversomethingyouhavebelievedalongtimethatremainshiddenbelowthesurface.Itwillnothelptosayaffirmationsthatcontradictstronghiddenbeliefs.Trymodifyingyouraffirmationsothatsomethinginsideofyousaysyeswhenyousayit.

Thisweekpracticewiththeaffirmationsonthefollowingpagetobecomeawareoftheshiftinyourexperiencewhenyouconsciouslyfeedyourmindaffirmativeideas.Eachdayisassignedthreeshortaffirmativephrases.Youmayselectonetousethewholeday,oryoucansilentlysayeachaffirmationatyourthreemealtimes,repeatingittoyourselfwhileyoueat.

TheWayItWorks…speakwithconfidence

AWEEKOFAFFIRMATIONS

DayOne-Oneness.

MylifeandSpirit’slifeisonelife.WhereverIamSpiritis.EverythingIdo,say,andthinkisinspiredbySpirit.

DayTwo-Peace.

SpiritwithinmeexpressesItselfasperfectpeace.Iamserene,tranquil,andquiet.Iaminharmonywitheverythingandeveryone.

DayThree-Love.

TodayIletSpirit,whichisinalloflife,shineforthtoallImeet.Spiritasloveiswhatlovesothersthroughme.IamthelovethatSpiritis.

DayFour-Eternal.

TheLifewithinmeisInfinite.IrejoiceinknowingthatthelifethatIliveisforeverOne.IamaliveinSpirit,Spiritisaliveinme.

DayFive–Light.

ThebrightlightoftheDivinewithinmedispelsalldarkness.Divinelightinfusesmewithunderstanding,wisdomandclarity.TodayIseeclearlywithSpirit’silluminationguidingme.

DaySix-Power.

MystrengthisSpirit’spowerinexpression.IammadestrongbythemagnificentpowerofSpiritwithin.IdrawmypowerfromtheinexhaustibleSpiritoflife.

DaySeven-Oneness.Mylifeisonewithalllifeeverywhere,allthetime.Iliveinthespiritofoneness,recognizingSpirit’slifeallaroundme.Ihonor,love,andcherishlifebecausealllifeismylife.

THEWAYITWORKS…LISTENASMUCHASYOUSPEAK

Meditation...AnEssentialSpiritualPractice

Ourstudiesbeginsimultaneouslyintwodirections:

Philosophically,weexploreourplaceintheUniversebystudyingtheconceptofSpiritastheonecosmicreality,PrincipleandPresence,theCreativePoweroftheUniverse.

Practically,webegintoapplywhatwelearntoourlivesbyusingspiritualtoolssuchasmeditation,affirmations,andspiritualmindtreatment.ThesearethreeeffectivetoolsforapplyingthefirstPrincipleofOneness,andwewillbestudyingthemthroughouttheBeyondLimitsclass.

Youareencouragedtobeginthinkingofyourselfassomeonewhohasa“spiritualpractice.Inotherwords,therearedailyroutinesyouengageintobringthefirstPrincipleofOnenessintofocusinyourlife.Togetyoustartedyouhaveaweekofaffirmationstoconsiderfromtheprecedingpage.Affirmationsareactiveanddirectedandneedtobebalancedwiththepracticeofmeditation.EknathEaswaran,inhisbookMeditation,says,Meditationwilldoforyouwhatithasdoneforallwhopracticeitregularly:enableyoutosteeryourcar[mind]expertly.Ifyouwanttostayinonelaneandcruise,yourmindwillobeyyou.IfyouwanttochangelanesorturnrightorleftorevenmakeaU-turn,yourmindwillrespond.Whenyourminddoesthatatcommand,youhavemasteredtheartofliving.Youarenolongerdependentonexternalcircumstances;youdecidehowyouwanttorespond,whateverhappens.Ifafriendactsthoughtlessly,forexample,youdon’thavetodwellonit;youcanfixyourattentiononthegoodinthatpersoninstead.Ifyoubegintoslideintodepression,you cansimplychangeyourmind—youhavelearnedhow—andrestoreyourequanimityandcheerfulness.Youcannowthinkwhatyouwanttothink,andeveryrelationship,everythingyoudo,benefitsenormously.

Howwethinkandfeelhasatremendouseffectonourlives.Thechoiceswemakeandtheattitudeswetakeeithermoveusforwardinourcareers,relationships,health,etc.,orimpedeusandlimitourexperience.Learningtobeawareofourthinking,anddiscoveringtheunwaveringPresenceofSpiritasaWisdomandIntelligencewithinus,aretwoofthegoalsofthisclass.

Meditationisatoolthatcanputusintouchwiththespiritualrealityoflife.Itquietsourminds,relaxesourbodies,andfocusesourattention.Fromthiscenteredplacewecanmakechoicesbasedonanunderstandingofour

individualplaceinthecosmicorderandourpersonalexperienceofGodastheCreativePowerinourlives.Eachweekyouwillhaveanassignmentformeditation.Theseexperiencesaredesignedforyoutoexploreavarietyofmeditativepracticesinordertofindwhatworksforyou.Whenyoufindamethodthatsuitsyou,youareencouragedtostickwiththatasyourmainmeditativepracticetodeepeningandstrengtheningyourspiritualinsight.

Intime,themindcanbetrained.Ifyourmindwanders,ifyouareinterrupted,donotfeelthatallislost.Patientlybringyourselfbackintothemeditation.Youmayhavetodothismanytimes,butthis

isallright.Takeapatient,lying-in-the-sunattitude.Thetelephonemayring.

Donotresistit.Youcanresumeyourmeditationlater....lfyougotosleepdonotcondemnyourself.Startagain;keepwithit;haveanothermeditation.

IfyougotosleepcontemplatingthePresence,thesubconsciousmindwillcontinuethemeditation.

-JackAndCorneliaAddingtonTheJoyOfMeditation

THEWAYITWORKS…MAKEITAHABIT

SettingUpaDailyPractice

Wehumanbeingsaremostlikelytocontinueanactivitywhenitbecomeshabitual.Thisweek’sexerciseisdesignedtocreateabeginninghabitofquiet,mindfulpersonaltime.

Lookatyourscheduleforthecomingweekandchooseaspecific10-to-15-minutetimesloteachday,makingsurethatitisthesametimeeveryday.Onceyourmeditationpracticeiswellestablished,youmayvarythetimeandplace;fornow,toestablishthehabit,selectthesametimeandplaceeveryday.Leteveryoneinyourhouseholdknowthatyouaretobeundisturbedandsubjecttotheleastpossibledistraction.Youmayreadthefollowingmaterialintoataperecorderandusethetapeforyourmeditation,orjustfollowthispageasaguideline.Youmayalsowishtosetatimersothatyouarenotconcernedordistractedbythetimeelement.Sitinacomfortablepositioninwhichyoucanrelaxwithoutfallingasleep.Siterect,withyourfeetflatonthefloor.Makesureyourclothingiscomfortablesothatyourattentionwillnotbedrawntoyourbody.

BreathingPractice

Allowyourbodytobecomerelaxed...letgoofanytension...imagineyourmuscleslettinggo...relaxyourneck...letgo...relax...nowpayattentiontoyourthoughts...noticetheintensityofyourthinking...letyourthoughtsdrift...nownoticeyourbreathing…allowyourselftofocusontherhythmofyourbreathing…relax...keepyourattentionfocusedonyourbreathingasyoubegintocounteachbreath...asyouinhalesayone...asyouexhalesaytwo...repeatthisasyoukeepyourbodyrelaxed...One...Two...Ifyourattentionwanders,gentlybringitbacktoyourbreathing.Whenyourtimeofmeditationisfinished,openyoureyesandgentlymoveyourbody.Noticehowyoufeelasyoucompleteyourmeditation.

Asthispracticebecomesestablished,youwillbeabletobringforwardthemeditative,relaxedfeelingintoanyexperienceatanytime.Yourmentalprocesseswillbecomesharperandmorefocused,andtheabilitytoallowtheHigherWisdomandSupremeIntelligenceofSpirittodirectyourwordsandactionswillbecomesecondnatureinyoureverydaylife.

SELF-UNDERSTANDING

SixQuestionstoFocusYourLife(Completethisathomebeforethenextclass)

Yourresponsesinthisself-understandingstudywillformabasisforclassdiscussionandfuturereference.

1.Whatarethefiveaspectsoflifeyouvaluemost?

2.Whatwouldyoudoifyouwonamilliondollarstoday?

3.Assumingyouwouldbeinperfecthealth,whatwouldyoudoifyouknewyouhadonlysixmonthstolive?

4.Whathaveyoualwayswantedtodobutwereafraidtoattempt?

5.Whatkindsofactivitiesmakeyoufeelthebestaboutyourself?

6.Whatgreatthingwouldyougiveyourlifetoifyouwereabsolutelyassuredofsuccess?

PREPARATIONFORNEXTWEEK

HomeStudytoprepareyourselfforSession2

Sessions1and2ofyourstudentworkbook(pages1–33)

LivingTheScienceofMindpage1-6

Complete:

“SixQuestions”onpages21and22ofthisworkbook.

Practice:

Affirmationpracticeasdescribedonpage15

Meditationpracticeasdescribedonpage18

Personalreflectiontocompletebeforenextweek:

BasedonyourreadingfromLivingTheScienceofMind(pages1-6)whatwouldyousayisthecentralteachingoftheScienceofMind?

BeyondLimits:

SESSIONTWOIntroductiontoBasicPrincipleTwo:TheCreativeProcess

InvisiblePrinciple…VisibleResults

AUniverseofLoveandLaw

IntroductiontothethreefoldnatureofAll:Spirit,SoulandBody

THISWEEK

InthefirstthreeweeksofBeyondLimits,weareintroducingthreePrinciples.Theseareessentialconceptsforatransformationalawareness.TogethertheyformthefoundationfortheteachingoftheCenterforSpiritualLiving.

InBasicPrincipleOne,weexploredtheOnenessandAllnessofSpirit(orwhatevernameyouchoosetoassigntothisultimateIntelligenceandPower)andhowitisnotonlythesourceofallcreation,itisthesourceandessenceofeveryperson’sbeing.WearerecognizingthateachhumanbeingisanindividualizedincarnationorexpressionofinfiniteanddivineGod-Life,andthisissurelytheultimatekeytolivingBeyondLimits!

Thisweek,weexploreBasicPrincipleTwo:TheCreativeProcess.WewillexplorehowthisonePowerwhichhasformedtheuniversealsoworkscreativelyinourownlives.Thiswillgiveusinsightaboutthecreativenatureofourthoughtandshedlightontheideathatwhenyouchangeyourthinking…youchangeyourlife!

Wewillalsobegintheexplorationofthethreefoldnature(triunenature)ofSpirit:thatis,threeaspectsormodesofbeingcontainedwithintheOne(Spirit,Soul,Body)andhowthatthreefoldnatureduplicatesitselfinus.

It’snotwhatyoudon’tknowthathurtsyou.It’swhatyoudoknowthatain’tso.

-ArtemusWard

BeyondLimits!BasicPrincipleTwo:TheCreativeProcess

THETHINGITSELF

...TheUniversal…

THEWAYITWORKS

...TheHuman…

SpiritisthegreatcausativePoweroftheuniverse.ThethoughtofGodeternallyinitiatesthecreativeprocesstocreateformfromunformedsubstance.Fromonenesscomesinnumerableformsallfollowingthethought-patternsofSpirit.

TheWordofGodmeansSpirit’sthought:thepowertobringintoform.TheLawofGodmeanshowitallhappens:theprocessthatmusttakeplacetoconformtoSpirit’sthought.TheLawmustobeyinexactaccordancewiththeinitiatingCause—justasthesoilmustproduceatomatoplantfromatomatoseedandacarrotfromacarrotseed.

Remember:Allthreeofthesemodesofbeing(Spirit,Law,andform)arewithintheOne—GodmovingwithinItselftobringforthform—whichisoneofthethreeaspectsofGod.

“WeshallassumethatneitherLaw,northeStufffromwhichformcomes,hasconsciousintelligence,butmust,becauseoftheirnaturebeformedbytheWord.ThissimplifiesthewholematterandenablesustoseethatintheentireUniverse,OnePoweralonereallyacts—thePoweroftheWordofSpirit,God,orUniversalConscious

HumanityisonewithuniversalSpirit.AsSpirit’sthoughtcreatessodoesourthoughtcreate.Were-enactinmicrocosmtheDivineCreativeProcess.InouronenesswithSpiritweproduceinnumerablecircumstancesfollowingourthought-patterns.

MyWordmeansmythought:theinitiating,choosingpowerinmymind.ThesameLawofGodthatmakescreationhappenaccordingtoGod’sWord,appliestomythoughtalso.

Ire-enactinmicrocosmthecontinuumofcreation.Mythoughttendstoreproduceinmyexperienceareflectionoftheconsciousnessbehindit.Changingmyconsciousnessand,therefore,mythinking,bringsaboutachangeinmyexperience.

Therearethreemodesofbeinginme(Mythought,mysubjectivemind,andmyworldofexperience).

THEWAYITWORKS…ICAN’TSEEIT,BUTICANUSEIT

InvisiblePrinciple...VisibleResults

Althoughprinciplesthemselvesareinvisible,weseetheireffectseverywhereinourworldandouruniverse.Let’sconsidermathematics.Theonewhostudiestheprinciplesofmathematicsmayusethoseprinciplesfreely—whetherthatpersonisoldoryoung,maleorfemale,richorpoor,inthecityorinthecountry.Noonehastodelvedeeplyintomathematics,yeteveryoneisfreetodoso.Theonewithacursoryknowledgeofmathematicalprinciplesmayusethemuptoapoint.Theonewithadeepandthoroughknowledgeoftheseprinciplesmayusethemtothefullestextent.Theusemadeoftheprincipledoesnotaltertheprinciple;itisnotdepleted,oraddedto,orchangedinanyway.Noamountofuseoftheprinciplemakestheprincipleitselfvisible.Itisalwaysaninvisibleideathatoperatesconsistently.Theprincipleisthere,whetherusedornot.

Itbecomespracticalinourliveswhenweunderstandanduseit.Saywehaveenteredinourcheckbookmanydepositsanddeductionsforcheckswritten.Thelawsofmathematicswillnotautomaticallyfigureourbalanceforus.Theyarethereforustouseornotuse.Ifwewanttoknowourbalance,wemustaddandsubtractandarriveatit,usingtheprinciplesofmathematicscorrectly.

WestudyaPrinciplethatisinvisible,whichalsomakesItselfknownhereinthevisiblebytheresultsofItsactivity.ThePrincipleisinvisible;theresultsarevisible.WecanknowwehavefoundandareusingcorrectlyaSpiritualPrincipleinjustthesamewaywecanknowwehavefoundandareusingcorrectlythelawsofmathematics—bytheresults.

Lookaroundyoutoday.Whatresultsdoyouseethatarenothuman-made?Lookattheclouds,thesunriseandsunset,thestars,themoonandtheplanets,theplantlife,theanimallife,thehumanlife.TheseareallvisibleresultsfromaninvisibleCause.WhatcanyoutellabouttheCausebystudyingtheresults?DoyouseeanOrder?AHarmony?ABeauty?AWisdom?ALove?AJoy?

Saytoyourselfabouteachthingyousurvey,“ThereisaninvisiblePrinciplebehindthis(star,flower,puppy,etc.).BystudyingthiscreationInowknowmoreabouttheinvisible.”Repeatthisprocessoften.AllowyourselftobeimmersedinknowingtheanswersfromwithinyourverySelf.

InowknowaboutTheThingItselfbybeholdingItscreation.

AdaptedFromthewritingsofRev.MarleneOaks.

THEWAYITWORKS…ITRESPONDSTOEVERYONEALIKE

NoRespecterOfPersons

SometimesitseemsthattherehavebeenpeopleacrosshistorywhohaveunderstoodspiritualPrinciple,andthatthesePrincipleshavenotbeenavailabletopeoplelikeyouandme.Perhapswehavethoughtthattheretrulyarechosenpeople,favoredbyGod.

Butwecanseethatanyonecanuseanyphysicalprincipleaslongastheylearnaboutthatprincipleandthenfollowsitsnature—thatelectricity,mathematics,andgravity,forexample,arenorespectersofpersons.Noticethatthethingsyounormallyusecanbeusedbyeveryone.Noticethatthelightswitchworksforeveryonewhoflipsit.Noticethatthebookdropstothefloorforanyonewhodropsit.Noticethattherangegetshotforanyonewhoturnsiton.Theseprinciplesrespondtoallalike.

SpiritualPrinciplesarethesame.Theyarerespondingtoeveryoneallthetime—andthepeoplewhounderstandthembestcanconsciouslyusethemforgood.Spirithasnofavorites—yetsomepeoplehavemadeSpiritandtheunderstandingofPrincipletheirfavoritethingtostudyandapply.Thisiswhatwearedoingnow,learningaboutPrinciplesowecanconsciouslyuseitformorefavorableresultsinourlives.

Whenapersonisunawareofthenatureoffire,theycancausechaostryingtouseit.Similarly,whenweareunawareofthewayspiritualPrincipleworksinourlives,wecancausestress.Orwecanlearntobemindfulofhowtheyoperateinourlives.Itisuptoeachoneofus.Itisnotuptosomethingoutsideourselves.Itisnotpredetermined.Itisnotdestiny,onewayortheother.Itischoice.

Nooneknowswhyprincipleswork—itissimplyknownthattheydowork.Iftheydidnotworkconsistentlyinsimilarsituations,theywouldnotbeprinciples.Theyunderscoretheorderoflife;theyarethegivenrules.Gravityworksthewayitworks;itisnotknownwhy,itissimplyknownhow.Whenwediscoverhowsomethingworks,wecanuseitthewayitwasintended.

TheUniverseworksforeveryoneequallywell,andthatincludesme.

AdaptedfromthewritingsofRev.MarleneOaks..

THEWAYITWORKS…THEREISNOLOVEWITHOUTLAW

TheLoveAndLawOfTheUniverseAreOne

TheUniverseismadeofafabricofOneness,orAllness,encompassingeverything.Justasthereisnoinsidewithoutanoutside,thereisnoLovewithoutLaw,andnoLawwithoutLove.Theyarenotseparateentities,butrathertwoaspectsoftheOneworkingasOne.Consideranyplant.Theleafisonewiththestem.Theleafhasadifferentfunctionfromthatofthestem,yettheyareone.Theleafandthestemwereoncecontainedwithintheseed,yethaveadifferentfunctionfromthatoftheseed.

Spirit,ortheLoveoftheUniverse,cannotbeseparatefromItsownLaw.Lovepointstheway,initiates,selects,chooses–placesthoughtintoItsownBeing–anaspectofthatBeingwhichwecalltheCreativeMedium,orLaw.BothLoveandLawareperfect,astheDivineIntelligenceisperfect,encompassingeverything.

PerhapswecanseehowtheLawisperfectbylookingatsomeexamplesofphysicallaws.Thelawofmathematics,forinstance,isaperfectphysicallaw.Howweuseitmaybeimperfect,butthelawitself,alwaysremainsperfect.Thelawstatesthat2+2=4.Wemaysaythat2+2=22.Weareinerror,butthelawisunharmedandunchangedbyourerror.Wewillsuffertheconsequencesofourmisuseofthelaw,however,forourcheckbookwillnotbalance.Wechoose,outofourfreedomandspontaneity(spiritorlove),tousethelawofmathematics.Ifweusethislawinthemannerthatisconsistentwithitself,wewillgetresultsthatare“true”andinlinewiththeconsistencythelawprovides.Ifweusethelawinawaythatisoutofharmonywithitsnature,wewillgetresultsthatarenot”true”andwillhaveconfusioninourlives.

Lookaroundyoutodayandnoticeasmanyexamplesofphysicallawsasyoucan.Noticelawsofmathematics,gravity,electricity,physics,chemistry,causeandeffect.Noticethatthereisaspontaneouselementthatselectswhichlawtouse,andknowshowtoapplyit.Noticethatthelawsrespondwithoutregardtowhoisusingthem,andtheyrespondconsistentlyandimpersonally.

AllthatwehavesaidaboveaboutthephysicallawsbywhichweliveourearthlylivesappliesdirectlytothespirituallawsoftheuniversebywhichweliveastheSpiritualBeingsweareinReality.Spirit–orConsciousMind,orLove-Intelligence–thinksintotheCreativeMedium,orLaw,andstartsacreativeprocesswhichmanifestsasformofsomekind.Ashumanbeings,were-enactthisprocess.Aswithphysicallaws,wecanelecttousetheSpiritualLawsinaccordancewiththeirnature–ornot,withunhappyresults.

IunderstandhowLoveandLawworktogetherasOne.FromthewritingsofRev.MarleneOaks.

THEWAYITWORKS…THREEAREREALLYONE

TheThreefoldNatureOfGodAndHumankind–ToBeCompletedINCLASS

TheWayItWorks…ManyWords,OneReality.

VOCABULARY

TheManyWordsforSpirit,Soul,andBody

UnderstandingthethreefoldnatureofRealityisessentialtolearninghowtoconsciouslyuseourcreativeabilitythroughouraffirmationsandtreatments.ThevarietyoftermsusedbyErnestHolmes,andothermetaphysicalwriters,forthesethreeaspectsofGodissometimesintimidating.Also,youmustbewillingforsomeofthetermstocarrydifferentmeaningsfromthosewithwhichyouarefamiliar.

Usethisvocabularychartasonongoingrecordofnewtermsasyouencountertheminyourreading.Continueyourlistonadditionalpagesasnecessary.

SPIRIT SOUL BODY

THEWAYITWORKS…CLEANUPYOURLANGUAGE

HowYouTalk!

TheLawisalwaysworking—silently,unobtrusively,ineverythingwedoorsayorwrite.Itworksinwhatwesaytootherpeople,andinwhatwesaytoourselves—muchofthetimewithoutourconsciousawareness.

OutofthesamemouthproceedethblessingandcursingistheobservationinJames3:10.Wealldothat!Wesay,

Ican’taffordit. or Godismysource!I’mnotabletotravel.

or Iplantogothere!Ihaveto…. or Igetto….

Inotherwords,muchofthetime,weareusingeitherlimitinglanguageorfreeinglanguage.Inthespacebelow,jotdownlanguageofbothkindsthatyouhearyourselfusingthisweek.Trytransformingyourlimitingstatementsintofreeingones.(Useaseparatesheetifnecessary.)

LimitingLanguage FreeingLanguage

Meditationforeverydaythiscomingweek

Usingsomethinglikeasmartphone,abedsideclockorakitchentimer,setadevicetoletyouknowwhen10minuteshavepassed.Beforeyoustartthecountdown,turnoffallothersoundmakersinyourhome;TV,music,cellphone,e-mailnotifications,ifpossible.

Thenbegin.Sit.

Chooseacomfortableplacetositthatsupportsgoodposture.Toocomfortablemayleadtofallingasleep.Trytohavenoexpectation.Tome,thatmeansletwhateverappearsinyourmindcomeandgoasitwill.Adoptanattitudeofwatchfulness.Atfirst,letyoureyeslookaheadofyouandslightlydown,andthengentlyallowtheeyelidstoclose.

Ifthedoorbellunexpectedlyrings,ortheneighborfiresupachainsawintheirbackyard,trynottobecomeagitated,butinstead,usethesedistractionsastoolstostrengthenyourabilitytofocusortonoticewhathappensinsidewhenyoudetectunwanteddistractions.

Afterthe10minutesiscomplete,sitforamomentlongerwitheyesopen.Trynottorushormovetooquicklyintothenextactivityofyourday.

Makeadatewithyourselftoengageinthisexerciseeverydayatanappointedtimeforoneweek.Youmaynoticethattimeseemstoslowdownorspeedupduringyourmeditationtime,andyoumaybecomeawareofchangesinyourbodytemperature,oryoumayevenbecomeawareofsmellsandsoundsaroundyou.Youdon’thavetodoanythingwiththisinformation,justbecomeawareofwhatyounotice.

From The Power of Meditation, by Dr. Edward Viljoen, available from Stepping Stones Books& Gifts and Amazon.com

Session3inyourWorkbook(pages35–43)

LivingTheScienceofMind–239-244

MeditationPractice:

Continueadailyspiritualpracticeofmeditationasdescribedonpage33.

Practice:

Beingawareof“HowYouTalk”isanexerciseinthelabofyourlife.Whenyoubecomeawareofanegativelyframedphrase,experimentwithreframingitinmorecompassionateandfriendlylanguage.Payattentiontothewaypeoplearoundyouspeak,takingnoteofwhereyouhaveadoptednegativelanguageoutofhabit.

Writing:

WriteashortdescriptionofwhatSpiritistoyou.Avoidusingthewords“I”and“me”.Refertotheboldtextonpage26underTHETHINGITSELFforanexampleoflength.Useyourownwordsandtrytobespontaneouswhencomingupwiththedescription.Thiswritingassignmentisforyourownreference.Itwillnotbehandedin.Bepreparedtodiscussitinclass3.

BasedonyourreadingfromLivingTheScienceofMind(pages239-244)howdoyoustartachainreactiontoaffectpeoplearoundyouinanaffirmativeway?

BeyondLimits:

SESSIONTHREEThePowerofThought

IntroductiontoBasicPrincipleThree:AffirmativePrayer/SpiritualMindTreatment

ThePowerofPrayer:SpiritualMindTreatment/AffirmativePrayer

THISWEEK

WiththeintroductionofBasicPrincipleThree,wecontinueourexplorationoftheeternally-happeningCreativeProcess–thecontinuingexpressionofnewcreations,initiatedbySpiritandbroughtintophysical(visible)formbySpiritualLaw.Thisprinciplefocusesontheeffectivenessofprayer,withtherecognitionthatthisspiritualforceisasmysteriousinitsoperationasanyphysicalforceinnature.Weseewhatitdoes,butnothowitdoesit.

JesuswenttotheheartofthematterwhenhetoldustoseekfirsttheKingdom[within],andallthesethingswillbeaddedtous.Onthispoint,Holmes’awareness,too,wasclear.InhisdevelopmentofAffirmativePrayer,whichwecallSpiritualMindTreatment,heofferedatechnique,foractivatingthesubjectiveLawwithinusinamindfulandconscientiousway.Heknewthatforprayertobeeffective,itmustbeusedbysomeonefullyawareofhisorherowndivinity,someonewhounderstandsthefirstPrincipleofOneness.WithoutunderstandingourrelatednessinSpirit,itiseasytothinkofPrayerassomethingofferedtoapoweroutsideofourselves.

WearelearninghowtoworkincooperationwiththeunfoldinggoodofSpirit.WearerealizingourroleasCo-CreatorsandwearelearninghowtouseAffirmativePrayertoplayouressentialpartintheCreativeProcess.

Truthlieswithinourselves:ittakesnorisefromoutwardthings,whateveryoumaybelieve.Thereisaninmostcenterinusall,wheretruthabidesinfullnessandtoKnow

ratherconsistsinopeningoutawaywhencetheimprisonedsplendormayescapethanineffectingentryforlightsupposedtobewithout.

-RobertBrowning,Paracelsus

THEWAYITWORKS…MYTHOUGHTSOFPRAYERTAKEPLACEINGOD

MyMindIsPartOfTheMindOfGod

BeginningwithSpiritiseverywhereweassumethatmeansrightwhereweare,too.God’sMindispresentherejustasItispresentanywhere.Trytothinkofitlikethis—weareinletsandoutletsofthatOneMind.YoumightsaythatthewayweusetheMindofGoddefinesouruniqueness.Outoftheinfinitepotential,weselectour“slice.”WedonotdissolveanddisappearintoGod;weareindividualizedbyourselections.WemayconsciouslyusethisPowertobecomeagreaticeskater,orapainter,orabusinessmagnate,oraminister,oranartist.

Ourconsciouschoicesgointoourownsubconsciousmindforimplementation.OurownsubconsciousmindispartoftheGreatSubjectiveMindofGod(whichwealsocallGod’sLaw).WedonothavetoproducetheLaw,orthePowerthatcreates.Instead,welearntobemindfulofwhatweareplantingasseedsinoursubconscious.ThismindfulnesspracticeinthinkingistherootofAffirmativePrayer.AllthepoweroftheUniverseisavailablefortheideaseedsweplantinthesubjective.Aswegrowtounderstandthis,God’sLaw(ortheLawofMind)becomesourLawbecauseoftheusewemakeofit.Whenweuseourminds,wearealsousingtheMindofGod.Trytothinkofitlikethis-wearewithoutlimitsexceptforthoseweimposeuponourselves.

Thisweek,imaginethatyouaresurroundedbyaconsciousnesswhichrespondstowhateverisplacedinit.Thinkofitasfertilesoil.Imaginethateverythoughtisaseedplantedinthatsoil.Thesoildoesnotarguewiththeseed;itsimplygoesabouttoproduceaharvestoflikekind.Watchthegardenofyourmind.Whatkindofagardenareyouplanting?Whatisthecrop?Isitamixedcrop?Isitthecropyouwanttoharvest?

Noticetheimpersonalnessofthesoil,thatitisreceptivetoanyseedbecausethatisitsnature;butnoticealsothatitmustreproduceanyseedasaplantoflikekind.Noticehowmuchpoweryouhavetochoosewhateverseedyouwanttoplant.Noticethatyouaretheonedoingthethinking—nomatterwhatisgoingonaroundyou,youaretheoneinterpretingandthinkingaboutitall.Getasensethatyouarefreetofollowanylineofthoughtyouwantandtrytoimaginewhatthatimpliesforyourlife.

AdaptedfromthewritingsofRev.MarleneOaks.

THEWAYITWORKS…EVERYWORD,EVERYTHOUGHT,MATTERS

OurWordOfPower

Beginmentallytoclimbintoaspiritualatmosphere,droppingallburdens,anxieties,fearsanddoubtsbehindyou.Youwillsoondiscoverthat,asyourthoughtreachesaplaceofpeace,confusiondisappears.Fromthisinnerplaceofpeaceyouspeakyourword,whichistobecomethelawuntothatwhereuntoitisspoken.

—THOMASTROWARD,“THECREATIVEPROCESS”

Thehighestconsciousnessisnotoneofpossession,butofbeing.ThehighestuseofLifeisnotanactofwill,ofconcentration,norofholdingthoughts.Theseattitudessuggestburdens.Theysuggestthecoercionofareluctantpower.Theysuggestthenecessityofputtingpowerintoyourword.Theseattitudesaredirectlyoppositetothoseyoushouldassume.YouarenotputtingpowerintoyourAffirmativePrayer,youareexpressingit.Justasthegeneratortakespoweroutofthewaterfall.Thepowerisalreadythere.

Themorecompletelyyouunderstandthis,themoreeasetherewillbeinyourAffirmativePrayer.IthasbeensaidthatthepowerwhichflowsfromyourwordisinmathematicalproportiontoyourrecognitionofthePowerflowingintoyourword.Thisiswhywemusthavefaith.Thisiswhyallthingsarepossibleifwedohavefaith.

God’sLaw,ofitself,doesnothingwithoutaword,athought,oranidea.IthasnoimpulsionofItsown.Justastheemptylotnexttoyourhouseproducesnothingofitselfbutiseverreadytoproducewhenitisplanted,sotheLawofyourmindwaitsuntilItbecomesimpregnatedwiththecreativewordorfeelingwhichsetsitinmotion.YourworddifferentiatesthisLaw.

NowthatwehavecometounderstandtheoperationofGod’sLaw;nowthatwerealizeeverywordwespeakhassomepower,webegintospeakmindfullywhenwepray.…wemustfirstlosesightofourselvesasisolated,separatedbeings.Itisnotfromthethoughtofthelittleyouandthelittleme,separatedfromLife,thatthegreatestuseoftheLawcomes,butfromanexpansionofconsciousnessthroughwhichwecontemplateLifeasonevastwholeness.WeareonewiththeSpiritofLife,onewithItsLawandonewithItsmanifestation.

OurAffirmativePrayerscanbespokeninfullnessonlyaswerecognizetheunityofalllife,onlyasthegoodwedesirefortheselfincludesallothers...Itisimportantthatyoushouldbewell,happyandsuccessful,buttheseareeffects,flowingfromthemountaintopofyourvisionwhereyouhavelearnedtospeaktherealcreativeword—thewordofrealpower,thewordofLife,becauseitisawordofunity.

BeyondLimits!BasicPrincipleThree:AffirmativePrayer/SpiritualMindTreatment

THETHINGITSELF

...TheUniversal…

THEWAYITWORKS

...TheHuman…

IntheinfinitenatureofGod,allconceivableGoodiseternallyavailable,readytoflowintobeing.ThroughsomeCosmicProcess,thisflowofGoodisactivatedand/orincreased.

TheLawiseverreadytoproduceaformorconditiontofitanypatternsubmittedtoitbySpirit.ThusnewformscontinuouslyemergeintheDivineCreativeProcess.

ThehumanreenactmentoftheCosmicCreativeProcessisnaturallyhappening,withorwithoutourawareness.Inthisprocess,prayer,orspiritualmindtreatment,isoneeffectivewaytopracticeactivatingand/orincreasingthepossibilitiesavailableinSpiritinaconsciousandmindfulway.

ScientistW.F.G.Swannobserved,“Iamapttoregard[prayer]asallthatweyethaveforsettingintomotionthatrelationshipbetweenmindandmatterasyetbutlittleunderstood.”

ThatwhichtheScienceofMindcallsspiritualmindtreatmentisaffirmativeprayer.ThetechniquesoftreatmentarebasedonthetriunenatureofGodandofhumankind.

AnessentialelementintheeffectivenessofmyAffirmativePrayerismypervadingconsciousnessofthePresenceofSpiritasmylife,andmyfullacceptanceofmyinherentwell-beingandwholenessastheSpiritualBeingthatIam.

THEWAYITWORKS…ELEMENTSOFSPIRITUALMINDTREATMENT

Prayer,initsbroadestsense,isanactofcommunion.Areprayerandtreatmentthesame?Yes—treatmentisprayer,butprayerofaveryspecialkind—affirmativeandmethodical.

Affirmativeprayerisnotsupplicationorpetition,butrecognitionandacceptancethatSpiritisallthereis;thatweareallspiritualbeingshereandnow;andthatalltheinfinitepossibilitiesofcreationareourstoexpressandexperience.

MethodicalprayerisbasedonoursecondPrinciple,theCreativeProcess,andtheThreeFoldNatureofBeing.ByusingamethodicalapproachtoprayerwepracticebeingawareofthethoughtseedsweareplantinginGod’sLaw.Althoughallthoughtsaresignificant,organizedandconsciousthoughtsinprayeryieldmoresatisfyingresults.Beingmethodicalinourprayergivesustheopportunitytoobservewhetherornottheresultsmatchourintention.

Asinanykindofprayer,thefaithandconvictionoftheoneprayingarevitalingredientsintheeffectivenessoftheprayer.“Purefaithisaspiritualconviction,”saysHolmes.“Itistheacquiescenceofthemind,theembodimentofanidea....IfIjumpupanddownandscream,“Iamrich;allthatGodhasismine,”thatisdynamic,butunlessitmeanssomethingtome,unlessIamOnewiththesubstanceofthebelief,nothingwillhappen.Jesus,announcingthesameLawofMind,said,“Itisdoneuntoyouasyoubelieve.”

ThefivestagesofSpiritualMindTreatmentareidentifiedasRecognition,Unification,Realization,Thanksgiving,andRelease;eachhasitsownfunctioninthetreatment.Thefirsttwostages,RecognitionandUnification,areakintomeditation.Consideredbymanytobethemostdeeplysignificantandessentialpartsofthetreatment,theirfunctionistoassistyouinbringingyourconsciousnesstothehighestlevelpossibleatanygiventime.InyourawarenessoftheAllnessofGodandyouronenesswithIt,youareabletoturncompletelyfromthecircumstancesaboutwhichyouaretreating,towardsthespiritualawarenessofinfinitepossibilities.Thisisthenextstage,calledRealization.Thisstageisgreatlyenhancedbycarefullyformulatingthepurposeofyourtreatmentbeforeactuallybeginning.StagesfourandfiveareThanksgivingandRelease.

MYFIRSTSPIRITUALMINDTREATMENT–TobecompletedINCLASS

Purpose:(Ashortstatementofwhatyouwanttoexperience,statedinpresenttense,usingaffirmativelanguage)

Recognition(DescribingSpirit)

ThereisonePower,Spirit.Itisattheheartofallcreation.ItisallLife,Love,Wisdom,Power,Peace,AbundanceandWholeness.One…One…OneperfectDivine-Life.

Unification(DescribingmyUnityinSpirit)

MylifeisonewithDivine-life.InDivine-LifeIlive,moveandhavemybeing.ThisiswhoIreallyam.IembracethelifeofSpiritasmylife.IembracethepowerofCreationasmypower.IamonewithSpirit.

Realization(DescribingthespiritualTruthaboutthesituationinyourpurposestatementabove)

MyAffirmations

Thanksgiving(Describingmyjoy)

IamprofoundlyjoyousandgratefulandIfeeldeepgratitudeforwhathasshiftedinmyconsciousness.Icelebratethatsomethingwonderfulishappening.

Release(Lettinggoandcompleting)

InowreleasethisprayerintotheCreativeLawofMind.IacknowledgeandtrustthespirituallawsthatgoverntheUniverse.Iamcomplete.

ItisDone!ANDSOITIS!

THEWAYITWORKS…PRACTICEMAKESPERFECT

MeditationPractice

ANewDiscipline...ContemplativeMeditation

Thisweekyouwilladdanotherdimensiontoyourspiritualpractice.Youmayeitherextendthetimeyouarecurrentlydevotingtoquietinganddirectingyourmindoryoumaychoosetotrythisnewdiscipline,calledcontemplativemeditation,ataseparatetime.

Whenyourmindhasquieteditsplanning,sorting,andassessingactivitiesarestilled,wordsofinspirationcanactasdoorwaystothedeeperinsightandwisdomwhichispresentatalltimeswithinyou.Noeffortneedbeexerted.Itismosteffectiveifnopredeterminedresultsoractionsareexpected.Meditationisthetimeforlisteningandrestingintheassurancethatwhatyouneedtoknowinordertoliveafulfilledlifeisavailabletoyouinthemostappropriatemomentforyouractions.Trust,bothinyourselfandintheHigherPower,theInfiniteIntelligence,isanecessaryingredientinanykindofmeditation.

Thisweek,beforeyoustartyourmind-quieting,havethismeditationfromErnestHolmes’TheScienceofMindavailablefortheexercise.

HappinessandCompletion

Iamhappyandcomplete,todayandforever.WithinmeisthatwhichisPerfectandComplete.ItisTheSpiritofallLife,TruthandAction.IamhappyinthecertainknowledgeofthisInnerLight.Icannotbesadnorsorry,butmustradiateJoyandLife,ForLifeiswithinmenow.Iamhappyandcomplete.

Whenyourbodyiscompletelyrelaxedandyourmindstilled,readwhatyouhaveselected,slowlyandwithnoeffort.Youmaywishtoreadthesameselectiontwoorthreetimes,allowingthewordstosinkdeeplyintoyourconsciousnesswithnoefforttomemorizeorretainthem.Inthisquietstate,suchwordshavethepowertoevokeasimilarstateofawarenesswithinyou.Whenyoufeelcompletewithyourreading,returntoyourbreath-countingorallowyourthoughtstodriftthroughyourmindwithnoattachmenttothem.Becautiousofanytendencytodriftintoplanning,controlling,orassessingwhilecontemplatingyourchosenwords.

PREPARATIONNEXTWEEK

Session4ofyourstudentworkbook(pages44–55)

Exercise:

Useyourtreatmentonpage41thisweekrepeatingitregularlyandwithfeeling.Thiswillhelpyouexperiencetheflowof“treatment”whenyouuseyourownwordsinthefuture.

Keepalistofquestionsabouttreatment/affirmativeprayer,andremember:ThewaytolearntotreatistostartwhereyouareandTREAT!

Meditation

Practicedailymediationasdescribedonpage42.

Writing:

WriteashortdescriptionofhowyouexperiencebeingconnectedtoSpirit.Refertotheexampleonpage41underUnification(DescribingmyUnityinSpirit)foranexampleoflength.Useyourownwordsandtrytobespontaneouswhencomingupwiththedescription.Thiswritingassignmentisforyourownreference.Itwillnotbehandedin.Bepreparedtoshareitinclass4.

BasedonyourreadingfromLivingTheScienceofMind(pages296-300)whathaveyoulearnedaboutthewaywordsaretobeusedinSpiritualMindTreatment?

BeyondLimits:

SESSIONFOURTheTrinity

IndividualUseoftheCreativeProcess

AffirmativePrayer(SpiritualMindTreatment)

ThePoweroftheWord

THISWEEKInthesenextthreeclassesconsiderabletimewillbedevotedtorefiningourunderstandingofaffirmativeprayer.EachofthefivestepsofSpiritualMindTreatment(affirmativeprayer)willbeexploredindepthsothattheenergyandfeelingofprayerpowercanbeexperiencedfully. We’ll explore the “power of the Word” in light of the biblical passage, “In thebeginningwastheWord,andtheWordwaswithGod…”(John1:1-5).Wewillbebuildingafoundationuponwhichyouraffirmativeprayerpracticewillstand:thepracticeofspeakingyourWord.

LetGoandLetGodAschildrenbringtheirbrokentoyswithtearsforustomend,IbroughtmybrokendreamstoGod,becauseGodismyfriend.Butthen,insteadofleavingGodinpeacetoworkaloneIhungaroundandtriedtohelp,withwaysthatweremyown.Atlast,Isnatchedthembackandcried,“Howcanyoubesoslow?”“Mychild,”Godsaid,“WhatcouldIdo?Youneverdidletgo!”

-AUTHORUNKNOWN

BeyondLimits!

BasicPrincipleFour:TheTrinity

THETHINGITSELF...TheUniversal…

THEWAYITWORKS...TheHuman…

Divinityistriune,orthreefold,innature,havingthreeaspectsormodesofbeingwithintheOne:Spirit,Soul,andBody.SpiritisUniversalMindintheconsciousmode:Self-knowing,spontaneous,originating,reasoning,directing,exercisingwill,volition,andchoice.ThetermSpiritmeansGodintheconsciousmode,anditisfrequentlyusedasasynonymforthewholeofGod.

SoulisUniversalMindinthesubjectivemode.SometimesitiscalledUniversalLawortheCreativeMedium.ItiswithoutvolitionofItsown,ItactsimpersonallyonthedirectivesimplantedbySpirit.Inasense,ItistheEnergyfromwhichallformsemerge.Inanothersense,Itisthereservoirofallmemory,andisoftencalledconsciousnessofthehumanrace.

Bodyisthephysicaluniverseandalltheformsitcontains—allthevisiblemanifestationsofInvisibleCause.Formisalwaysaneffect,neveracause.

EachhumanbeingisaprojectionofDivinityinmicrocosm,endowedwiththetriunenatureandexpressingthatnatureashis/herbeing—spirit,soul,andbody.MyconsciousmindisUniversalMindindividualizedinmeasmyspirit.Itisthesourceofmyintellect,myspontaneity,mycapacitytolove,toreason,tooriginate,tochoose,andtodirectmylife.ItismypointofcontactwiththeDivine.

MysubjectivemindperformswithinmealltherolesoftheUniversalMind.MysubjectivemindmergeswiththeUniversalMind.IamimmersedintheUniversalMindinthesubjectivemodeofmybeing.

MyphysicalbodyisthevehiclethroughwhichIfunctioninthephysicaluniverse.Withmyhumansensesandemotions,Iexperiencetheeventsandconditionsofmyworldofaffairs.Alltheseexperiencesareeffectsandthusaresubjecttoconstantchange.

TheWayItWorks…TheOneMindWorksinTwoWaysYoumightsaythatyouareyouwhetheryouareasleeporawake.Youhavethesetwoprimarywaysofbeing,butyouarenottwodifferentpeople.

Mindalsohastwodifferentmodesofexpressing.ThereisoneMind,anditworksintwodifferentandcomplementaryways.Wecallthefirstwayobjectiveorconscious;thesecondwaywecallsubjectiveorsubconscious.Re-enactingthemodesoftheUniversalMind,ourhumanmindsworkinthesametwoways.

Theobjective/consciousmindsetscreationintomotion.Itproducesideas.Thesubjective/subconsciousmindissetintomotionbytheideasandbringsaboutvisibleevidenceoftheideas.Thesubjective/subconsciousmindisthecreativeoperationoftheUniverseandalsowithinus.Howdoesthisworkinourlives?Ourconsciousmindproducesanidea:“I’mclumsy.”Thesubjectivemindreceivesthisideaandactsuponit,producingactionsthatmatchtheidea(westubourtoe,dropourglassofmilk,walkintoawall,etc.)Theconsciousmindthensays,“Boy,amIclumsy,”thusreinforcingthemessageforthesubjectivetoactupon.Ifweinterruptthecyclewithanewidealike“Iamlovableandcapable,”oursubjectivereceivesthismessageandbeginstosetupcorrespondingexperiences.ThesubjectiveiscalledtheLawbecauseitisimpersonalandhasnoopinionaboutwhatideasconsciousmindproduces.Ittakeswhateverideagoesintoitandactsuponitinalawfulway,withoutdiscernment.Thinkofitastheservantoftheconsciousmind.Itdoeswhateveritistoldtodo.Thisweek,trymonitoringyourthoughts.WhatkindofseedsareyouplantingintheLaw?Perhapsyouareunawareofthenatureoftheseseeds,notrealizingthatthesubjectivegoesonworkingwithwhateverissubmittedtoit,whetherornotthisissomethingthatyouwouldconsciouslychoosetoexperience.Jotdownsomenotesonyourthoughtsandwords,perhapsincategoriessuchasprosperity,worthiness,health,success,relationships,etc.

Donotjudgeyourselfforwhateverthoughtsyoufindyourselfplanting.Justnoticethem.Awarenessisthefirststeptofreedom.

TheopportunitytosharewithGodtheshapingoftheconditionsoflifeisatremendouschallengeandthegreatresponsibilitythatcomeswithfreedom.

-ARTHUR H.COMPTON-AMERICAN PHYSICIST-NOBEL LAUREATE, 1927

WhyIsThisHappeningtoMeAgain?Usuallywhensomeoneplantsagardenthereistheexpectationofgrowingacrop.Thereisalsotheexpectationofhavingtonurturethegroundandcarefortheseedlingsastheysprout.Witheachcarrottopthatappears,weexpecttofindanediblecarrotrootattached.Oneachtomatovineweanticipatetomatoesandnotcarrots.Wetrusttheseedswehaveplantedtoproducetheirownlikeness,andwehavefaithintheprocessbywhichtheydothis.Wealsohavetheabilitytopullup,ordestroy,anyplantwhichwenolongerwant,thusendingthecreationoffurtherharvests.

Sometimes,intheearlyspring,aspontaneousseedlingwillsuddenlyappearinalocationwherewehadpreviouslyplantedagarden—theresultofnature’slifecycle,anautomaticreseedingprocessoftheplantitself.Ifwecannotseetheconnectionsbetweenthisresultandourpreviousplanting,orifweseeourpartintheprocessassocompletethatwecouldn’tpossiblystillbereapingtheresultofourplantings,thenwemightfeelvictimizedbytheunwantedplant,thesoil,MotherNature,oranyotherpartofthenaturalprocessinvolved.Wemightfeelthatwehadtokeeptheplanthealthybecause“That’sthewayithasalwaysbeen,”or“IfitishereitmustbeGod’swill.”

The“secondcrop”effectcanhappeninourlivestoo.Ourthoughtsaremuchlikeseeds,producinginourliveseventsthatareintheirownimage.Thoughtsoffearandlackleadustolimitedorlimitingexperiences.Thoughtsofpossibilityandhopeallowustoreapgreaterexperiencesthanwemighthaveordinarilyexpected.Whenwearedoingouraffirmativeprayers,whenwearetryingtoestablishnew-seedthinking,thereisalwaysthepossibilityofsecond-cropthoughts,emotions,orresponsesreoccurringspontaneouslywithoutourconsciousconsent,triggeredbyeventsandpeopleinourlives.Whenweareabletorecognizethemforwhattheyare,weareagainatchoice—tobedeflectedinourgrowth,orto“uproot”themandmoveon.Thesecond-cropexperiencesneednotbeharvestedandneednotbefeared.Whenwerecognizethem,wecanacknowledgethemasweed-thoughtsorresponsesandmindfullysay,“Thisisinteresting,andIreallydon’twanttoharvestthiskindofcropanymore.”

TreatingforMyself

TheTechniqueandtheFire

Iknowthatthereisatechniqueforspiritualmindtreatmentwhichcanbetaught.Ialsoknowthatthereissomethingvitaltoatreatmentwhichcannotbetaught–myidentificationwiththeCenterandSourceofmybeing,whichispureSpirit.ThisImustfindformyselfthroughcontinuousawarenessofthePresencethatsurroundsandindwellsme.ImakeconscioususeofthePrincipleforadefinitepurpose–butImustgroundthatactioninadeepinnerperceptionandconvictionoftheSpiritualTruthaboutmyselfandanyconditionrelatedtothetreatment.

Aperceptionofwholenessistheconsciousnessofhealing...Ifwearetobecomewhole,itmustbethroughtheperceptionofwholeness.ThemoldwhichwecreatewiththeIntellect...isnecessary,buttherealization,thatwhichcatchesfirefromHeaven,mustbelikeHeaven.

—ErnestHolmes

Thefirsttwostagesoftreatment,RecognitionandUnification,formaportalthroughwhichIallowmyperceptionofwholenesstoshine,illuminatingeverywordIthink,speak,orwrite.

STAGEOFTREATMENT WHATIDOINEACHSTAGE

ThePurpose

Beforebeginning,Icarefullyformulatethepurposeofmytreatment.First...IstatetheconditioninmylifethatIwanttochange.Example:

Iurgentlyneedajob.Unemploymentbenefitsarerunningoutandbillsarepilingup.

Then,IstatethechangedconditionthatIexpecttoexperienceasaresultofthistreatment.Example:

Anewjobisnowminewhichmeetsmyfinancialneedswithsubstancetoshareandtospare,andoffersroomforgrowthandcontribution.

Thisstatementisthepurposeofmytreatment.InclarifyingthepurposebeforeIbeginmytreatment,IamcreatingacourseorthemeformytreatmentuponwhichtheRealizationstepwilleventuallybebased.

RECOGNITION

GODISAllthereIs

Inmyownwords,IdescribeDivinity.IusewordsthatexpresstheOneness,theAllness,theWholenessofGod.IexpressmydeepconvictionthatGodisallthereis,thatthereisnothinganywherebutGod,thatthereisnospot,nosituationwhereGodisnot,becauseGodisALL-inclusive...thatGodistheInfiniteLovethatrulestheUniversethroughtheLawofItsBeing.Suggestion:AvoidusingIstatements.Insteaduse“bigpicture”wordsandphrasesthatdescribethePresenceandPowerofDivinityin,under,over,around,andthroughallthatis.Donotusetheword“I”.OnlystatewhatGodIS.

UNIFICATION

IAMOnewithGod

Inmyownwords,IdescribemyrelationshiptothiseverywherepresentDivinityintermsofmyonenesswithIt.IstateideasthatexpressthatIaminseparablyOneattheSourcewiththeInfinitePresenceandPower.IexpressmydeepconvictionthatGodinme,asme,isme...thatIammadeofthesameGod-Stuff,awhole,perfect,andcompletechildofGod.ThisisWHOIAM.ThisistheTruthaboutme.Suggestion:Use“I”statements;Avoidrepeatingstepone.

REALIZATION

IACCEPTandEmbodyMyGood

InmyownwordsIexpressmyacceptanceofthatwhichthepurposeofmytreatmentdescribes.IdeclarethatIwhollyacceptandembodythisrealizationastheSpiritualTruthofmybeingandmyaffairs,thatIclearlyseethespecialgoodthatIdesireasalreadymine,rightnow.Myentirebeingisopenandreadytoreceivethisgoodthatisminenow.Suggestion:Usewordsthatreflectadeepfeelingofacceptance.Forexample“IdeeplyandfullyrealizethatthegoodIdesireisalreadyminebecauseofWHOIAM,God'sperfectchild,aSpiritualBeingrightnow,rightwhereIam.IamonewithalltheabundanceandenergyoftheUniverse.Iwhollyrecognize,accept,andembodythisPerfectRightAction,andIallowIttounfoldinmyexperience.”

THANKSGIVING

IGIVEThanks

Inmyownwords,IexpressmythankfulnessforthisrealizationofGoodinmybeingandaffairs–andforwhatIhavenowrealizedandfortheGoodthatistakingforminmyexperience.Suggestion:Thisstageisanoutpouringofmyattitudeofgratitudeforthisnewawareness.Suggestion:AvoidexpressingthankstoGod.Instead,celebrateyournewawareness.Avoidrestatingstepsonethroughthree.

RELEASE

ILETGOandletGod

Inmyownlanguage,IbringthisSpiritualMindTreatmenttoaclosebyusingwordsthatillustrateIhavereleasedittotheactionoftheLaw.ThisstepisanaffirmationoftrustandconfidencethattheLawofMindisatwork.Itisimportantthatthisreleasebetotal.Imaytreatagaintomorrowforthesamegood;butthepresenttreatmentisaspiritualentityand,assuch,isbeingreleasedintotheLaw.Suggestion:Letthefocalpointofthisstepbeonlettinggo,trustandsurrender.Avoidrestatingstepsonethroughfour.

BeyondLimits!

BasicPrincipleFive:ThePoweroftheWord

...TheUniversal…THETHINGITSELFTheNatureofGod

andtheSpiritualUniverse

...TheHuman…THEWAYITWORKSTheRelationshipofGodandHumankind

SpiritistheCausativePoweroftheUniverse.TheWord,orthought,ofGodeternallyinitiatestheCreativeProcess.Inthisprocess,Lawiscontinuouslysetinmotiontocreate,fromtheUnformedSubstance,innumerableformswhichfollowthethought-patternsofSpirit.TheWordofGodmeansthePowerofGodtobringItselfintoform.TheLaw(theCreativeMedium)issubjectivetotheSpiritandmustcreateallphysicalmanifestationinexactaccordancewiththeinitiatingCause—justasthesoilmustproducea tomatoplantfromatomatoseedandacarrotfromacarrotseed.

Remember:Allthreeofthesemodesofbeing(Spirit,Law,andform)arewithintheOne—GodmovingwithinItselftobringforthform—whichisoneofthethreeaspectsofGod.

ThehumanspiritisonewithUniversalSpirit,andthehumansubjectivemergeswiththeUniversalSubjective.Humanthoughtiscreativeandre-enactstheCreativeProcess.Mywordmeansmyabilitytothinkandchoose.Throughmyconsciousthinkingandmysubjectivebeliefs,Ire-enactinmicrocosmthecontinuumofcreation.Ico-createtheconditionsofmylifethroughmythoughtsandbeliefs.Mythoughttendstoreproduceinmyexperienceareflectionoftheconsciousnessbehindit.Changingmyconsciousnessbychangingmythinking,bringsaboutachangeinmyexperience.

TheWayItWorks…FireFromHeaven

Divineideasstandbackofallhumanthought,seekingadmittancethroughthedoorwayofthemind.TheheartbeatoftheUniverseisatthecenterofeverylivingsoul,andthePresenceofGodwithinuswaitspatientlyforourrecognition.WemustawakentotherealizationthataDivinePartnershiphasalreadybeenformedbetweentheseenandtheinvisible.WeshoulddailyfeelasenseoftheindwellingGod—theGodoftheseenandoftheunseen—withinus.

TheSpiritrespondstousbyadirectimpartationofItselfthroughus,butItcangiveusonly

whatwecantake;ItimpartsofItselfonlyaswepartakeofItsnature.TheInfiniteKnowingnessbecomesourwisdomonlyinsuchdegreeasweembodyItsIntelligence.Itsnatureistoimpart,ourstoreceive.Whenwestandwithourbacktothelight,wecastashadowacrossthepathwayofourownexperience.DailyweshouldopenourconsciousnesstotheDivineinflux,expectinggreaterwisdomandguidanceandcompleteself-expression…Wemustrelightthetorchofourimaginationby“firefromheaven.”Wemustremainfaithfultothisvision,forarealizationofthePresenceofGodistherealpowerinourlife.Spiritualexperienceisdeep,calmandself-assertive.ItistheresultofactuallyrealizingthePresencewhichbindsalltogetherinonecompleteWhole.Godcomessilentandalonetoeachoneofusinthestillnessofourownsouls.LetustaketimedailytosenseGod’s

Presenceinus,tobelieveinIt,andtoacceptItscompletenessinourlives.-ERNESTHOLMESSPIRITUALAWARENESS

SpiritualMindTreatmentRecognition(copyyourwritingassignmentfrompage34tothespacebelow)Unification(copyyourwritingassignmentfrompage43tothespacebelow)

Realization(DescribingthespiritualTruthaboutthesituation)

MyAffirmations

(Makeupsomeaffirmationshere,youcouldusetheaffirmationsyoucreatedonpage41,oryoucouldmakesomenewones.)

Thanksgiving(Describingmyjoy)IamprofoundlygratefulforthishealingTruth,andfortheabundantandperfectexpressionofthegoodIhaveaccepted.IfeeldeepgratitudethatthiscreativeWordnowmovesforthintohighestandbestmanifestation.

Release

InowreleasethisacceptedprayerintotheInfinitePower,theCreativeLawofGod.IjoyouslyletgoandletGoddotheperfectwork.Itisdone!Andsoitis!

MEDITATIONEXERCISEDuringyourmeditationpracticethisweek,continuewithyournewdiscipline,contemplativemeditation.

Thisweek,however,chooseadifferentkindofsubjectforyourcontemplations—somethingnotclearlymetaphysical,aswerethosesuggestedforlastweek’spractice.Forexample,thebitofWilliamBlake’spoetrygivenbelowholdsinitsfourlinesmaterialforhoursofmeditativecontemplationandinterpretation.Tryit,orchoosesomeotherbitofsubtlewritingfromgeneralliterature.

ToseetheworldinagrainofsandAndHeaveninawildflowerHoldinfinityinthepalmofyourhandAndeternityinanhour.

-WILLIAMBLAKEAUGURIESOFINNOCENCE

Session5ofyourStudentNotebook-Pages56–76

LivingTheScienceofMind–Pages132-133

Complete:

Tobehandedin:YourwrittenTreatmentisduenextweek.FocusyourTreatmentpurposeonanypurposeinyourlife.Makesuretoidentifythepurposefirst.Usetheformonpage69asyourfinalcopytohandin.

Answerthequestionsonpages63and64fordiscussioninclass

CompletetheAbundanceQuotientWorksheet(pages71-72)andbringtoournextsession,week5.

Practice:

Meditationexerciseasdescribedonpage54

BasedonyourreadingfromLivingTheScienceofMind(pages132-133)howdounderstandthephrase“Iamtheabundancewithinyou”?

BeyondLimits:

SESSIONFIVETheReciprocalUniverse

Abundance

GivingandReceiving

DiscoveringHiddenBeliefs

THISWEEKThisweek,wewillcontinuetostudytheCreativeProcessbyexploringthereciprocalnatureoftheUniverse:thatthereisaninvisiblecounterpartforeveryvisibleform.Perhapsmorethananyotheroftheprincipleswearestudying,thisoneshowsupinourdailylivinginobservableform.Wewillbegintonoticethatwetendtogetwhatwegive–ifnottoday,thentomorrow,andwetendtoattractwhatweare.WhenweignorethereciprocalnatureoftheUniverse,weexperienceconfusionuntilwereturntoalignmentwithit.Wewillbegintonoticethatitispossibletointroduceanew“cause”atanypointandchangethe“effect.”ThereisnopunishmentbyadispleasedGod;thereishoweverlawfulworkingoftheUniverse.Itisimpersonalbutanunavoidableconsequenceofourfreedomtochoose.Thissessionalsointroduces“Abundance.”ThisisoneofthemostjoyousteachingsofScienceofMindandSpirit–profoundlyjoyousandprofoundlychallenging.Tomany,theideaofabundanceoftenseemstobeassociatedwiththings,money,andworldlyprosperity.Otherpowerfulremindersoflimitlessabundancearefoundinthisweek’smanual.Thissessionwillalsointroducetheconceptof“HiddenBeliefs”–howwecandiscoverand,ifnecessary,transformthem.

Youmayaswellbeginrighthereandnowbyrealizingthatthesecretofhavinganythingisfirstattainingtheconsciousnessofit.Whyisthat?BecauseconsciousnessisGod,andthemomentyouhavetheconsciousnessofathing,consciousnesscreatesit,whateverthe“it”maybe—home,companionship,supply,employment,health,eternality,immortality.Yourconsciousnessofitbuildsit.“Withallthygettinggetunderstanding.”Withallthygetting,getaconsciousnessofgood,andthenthegoodwillfollow.

-JOELS.GOLDSMITH

GOD,THESUBSTANCEOFALLFORM

BeyondLimits!

BasicPrincipleSix:TheReciprocalUniverse

ThisisareciprocalUniverse.Foreveryvisibleform,thereisaninvisiblecounterpart.Everythinginnaturetendstoequalizeitself,tomaintainbalance.Thisisevidentinallweseeinlife;inthatportionwhichwecanseeofthephysicaluniverse;andinwhatweintuitivelyperceiveastrueintheSpiritualUniverse.WithintheUniversalHarmony,thegivingnessmustalwaysbebalancedbyequalacceptance.MisuseofUniversalLawisalwaysbalancedbysomeformofdisorderordysfunction.RestorationoralignmentwithUniversalLawisalwaysbalancedbyrestorationofharmony.

HumanlifeduplicatesthereciprocalnatureoftheUniverseinthelawsofattraction,therelationshipbetweengivingandreceiving,thelawofmentalequivalents,andothersimilarprinciples.“…ThegenerallawthatwhatwearetotheUniverse,theUniversewillbetous;thatwhatwegiveout…thatweshallreceiveback;thatlikeattractslike;thatwhatsoeveramansoweth,thatshallhealsoreap;andthatnomanescapestheLaw.”ErnestHolmes

Thereisanaturalbalancebetweengivingandreceivinginmylife.Misunderstandingorignoringthisbalanceresultsinsomeformofdisorderinmyaffairs.

TheWayItWorks…theGoldenRule

TheideaofareciprocalUniverseisexpressedinvariouswords,accordingtothecultureintowhichitwasspoken.ConsidertheGoldenRule,aswritteninnineoftheworld’slivingreligions:

CHRISTIANITY:“Allthingswhatsoeveryewouldthatmenshoulddotoyou,doyeevensotothem.”

ISLAM:“Nooneofyouisabelieveruntilhelovesforhisbrotherwhathelovesforhimself.”

TAOISM:“Regardyourneighbor’sgainasyourowngainandregardyourneighbor’slossasyourownloss.”

ZOROASTRIANISM:“Thatnatureonlyisgoodwhenitshallnotdountoanotherwhateverisnotgoodforitsownself.”

JUDAISM:“Thoushaltlovethyneighborasthyself.”

BUDDHISM:“Infivewaysshouldaclansmanministertohisfriendsandfamiliars—bygenerosity,courtesyandbenevolence,bytreatingthemashetreatshimself,andbybeingasgoodashisword.”

HINDUISM:“Mengiftedwithintelligenceshouldalwaystreatothersastheythemselveswishtobetreated.”

JAINISM:“Inhappinessandsuffering,injoyandgrief,weshouldregardallcreaturesasweregardourownself.”

SIKHISM:“Asthoudeemestthyselfsodeemothers.Thenshaltthoubecomeapartnerinheaven.”

TheWayItWorks…BeyondtheGoldenRule

Dountoothersastheywouldhaveyoudountothem.Inotherwords,whatyouwantforyourself,mayormaynotmatchanotherperson’sideaofidealtreatment.Findoutifwhatyouwishtodoto/foranotherisdesiredbythem.

BeyondLimits!

BasicPrincipleSeven:Abundance

ThisisaUniverseofinfiniteabundance:spiritual,mental,andphysical.ThisBountyofSpirit,thisAllnessofGood,islimitlessandcanneverbeexhaustedordepleted.AsHolmessays,“Ourplanetalonecontainsun-toldrichesofeverykind.”AndourplanetisonlyoneofaninfinitenumberofplanetsintheyetunchartedUniverse.

Thenumberofphysicalformsthatsurroundusisuncountable:fingerprints,snowflakes,wildflowers,trees,rocks,grainsofsand,birds,fish,animals,insects,andsoon.AlsouncountablearethethoughtseedsplantedintheLaweachinstantandtheenergyunitsexpendedbytheLawintheirmanifestation.Thereisalimitlesspotentialofpossibleideasgivingrisetolimitlesspotentialofforms.

TheinfinitebountyofSpiritisthebirthrightofeveryhuman.lamcreatedasafiniteexpressionofGodandIamheirtoalltheGoodthereisbecauseofwhoIam.Mylifeisonlyonesegmentofthiseternaljourneyalongapathofinfinitepossibilities.ThisboundlesspotentialofGodismyinheritance,nowandforever,butIcanexperienceanyformofitonlytothedegreethatIembraceandembodyit.

Icanexperiencethisinfinitepossibilityinmylifeaslove,money,health,talent,fulfillment,oranyotherformofearthlyrichesthatmymindcanconceive.

TheWayItWorks…abundanceisnaturalintheuniverseThehumancreationisareflectionofthecreator.Apainterhasadistinctivestyle,andhis/herpaintingscanbeidentifiedasuniquelyhis/hers.AVanGoghisclearlyaVanGogh,aRembrandtclearlyaRembrandt.Somethingofthepaintercanbeseeninthepainting.GodistheCreator.We,ourworld,ouruniverse,arecreationsofGod.SomethingofGod’snaturemaybeseeninthecreation.

Whenwelookaroundthecreation,wenoticethatabundanceiseverywhere.Therearebillionsofgalaxies,eachwithbillionsofstars.Therearecountlessgrainsofsandonourplanetalone.Therearebillionsofcellsinourbodies.Wedarenotimaginehowmanyatomsthereareonearthalone,forthenumberissovast.Therearelimitlessideas,thoughts,inventions,andcreationsofhuman-kind.Godhasnolimits.ItwouldbefairtosaythatlimitlessabundanceispartofthenatureoftheDivinity.YouandI,aslivingsoulsmadeintheimageandlikenessofGod,wouldthenhaveaspartofouroriginalnaturethequalityofabundance.SoalltheabundanceoftheUniverseisoursasourbirthright,simplybecauseofwhoweare.Ourpartisonlytowhollyrecognize,embody,andacceptthisheritage.

Lookforexamplesofabundanceeverywhereyougotoday.Ponderthingslike:HowmanythoughtshaveIhadtoday?Inmylifetime?Howmanythoughtswerethoughttodaybyeveryoneonearth?Sincethebeginningofearth?Lookforexamplesofabundancethathappennaturally.Fillyourmindwithawarenessoftheabundancethatistherefortheseeing.

Reflectonwhatthishastodowithyourfreedom.

Iamabundance,nowandforever.

TheWayItWorks…NotSomethingforNothingLessonsonprosperityandmentalcontrolofconditionsaresometimesdangerousbecauseofthemisunderstandingofthissubject.ScienceofMindisnota"get-rich-quick"scheme;neitherdoesitpromisesomethingfornothing.Itdoes,however,promisetheonewhowillcomplywithitsteachingsthatheshallbeabletobringgreaterpossibilitiesandhappierconditionsintohisexperience.

Wedonotteachthatyoucangetwhatyouwant.Ifwecouldallgetwhatwewant,itmightbedisastrous,foritiscertainthatmostofuswouldwantthingsthatwouldinterferewiththewell-beingofsomeoneelse.

Whilewecouldnotexpecttodemonstratethatwhichiscontrarytothenatureofourownexistence,wenotonlybelieve,butweknowthatitisentirelypossible,throughmentaltreatment–throughrightthoughtandbelief–togreatlyinfluenceourenvironment,itsreactiontous,thesituationswemeetandtheconditionswecontact.Thereissuchathingasdemonstratingacontrolofconditions.Weshallbeabletoprovethisinsuchdegreeaswearesuccessfulinlookingawayfromtheconditionswhichnowexist,whileacceptingbetterones.Notonlymustweacceptthisintellectually,butouracceptancemustbecomeasubjectiveembodimentofwhichtheintellectfurnishesbutamentalpicture.

Consequently,thisSciencedoesnotpromisesomethingfornothing.Itdoes,however,tellusthatifwecomplywiththeLaw,theLawcomplieswithus.Nomancandemonstratepeaceandclingtounhappiness.Hecandemonstrateresignation,andcallitpeace,butitwillnotbepeace.Nomancanjumpintothewaterandremaindry.Thisiscontrarytolawandtoreason.NOPERSONWHOSEENTIRETIMEISSPENTINTHECONTEMPLATIONOFLIMITATIONCANDEMONSTRATEFREEDOMFROMSUCHLIMITATION!TheLawItselfmustbewillingtogive,becauseinsogivingLifeisSelf-expressed.

Itisagreatmistaketosay:"Takewhatyouwish,foryoucanhaveanythingyoulike."Wedonottakewhatwewish,butwedoattracttoourselvesthatwhichislikeourthought.MANMUSTBECOMEMOREIFHEWISHESTODRAWAGREATERGOODINTOHISLIFE.Weneednotlaborunderthedelusionthatallwehavetodoistosaythateverythingisours.ThisistrueinReality,butinfactitisonlyastrueaswemakeit.WeprovidethemoldfortheCreativeLaw,andunlessthemoldweprovideisincreased,Substancecannotincreaseinourexperience;forMentalSciencedoesnotpromiseanythingthatwilldoawaywiththenecessityofcomplyingwithlaw.

TheLawisalawofliberty,butnotalawoflicense.Itisexactandexacting,andunlesswearewillingtocomplywithItsNatureandworkwithIt,alongthelinesofItsinherentbeing,weshallreceivenogreatbenefit.EVERYMANMUSTPAYTHEPRICEFORTHATWHICHHERECEIVESANDTHATPRICEISPAIDINMENTALANDSPIRITUALCOIN.

Allnatureconspirestoproduceandmanifestthefreedomoftheindividual,thatitmayunlooseitsownenergy.WemaybesureGodisforus–whateverourconceptionofGod

maybe,whateverourconceptionoftherelationshipofJesus,andtheideaofChristtohumanityandGodandourownsalvationmaybe,thisthingmustactinaccordancewithdefiniteLawintheUniverse,andthisLawsaysthatwheneverandwhereverthereisanadequatesubjectiveimage,whichdoesnotcontradictthenatureoftheUniverse,thatimagewillnotonlytendtotakeform,butwilltakeformandwillmanifest.ThisLawwedidnotmakeandwecannotchange.

Butthisteachingshouldnotbeconfusedwiththeideathatwecanshowpeoplehowtogetwhattheywant,regardless.Trueprayermustbe,"Thywillbedone,"buttheimplicationrelativetotheWillofGodinthisprayerisnotasubmissiontotheinevitabilityofevilorlimitation;itisaknowledgethattheWillofGodisalwaysGOOD.

HowdoweknowwhattheWillofGodis?Wedonot,otherthanthis:TheWillofGodcannotbedeath.Why?BecauseifweassumeGodtobethePrincipleofLife,thePrincipleofLifecannotproducedeathwithoutdestroyingItself.TheWillofLifehasonlytoBELife.TheWillofthatwhichisInfinitecanneverbefinite.EverythingthenshouldtendtoexpansionandmultiplicationintheDivinePlan.THATistheWillofGod.Ithastobebeauty,truthandharmony,asTrowardsaid,asthisisthetruerelationshipoftheWholetothepartsandthepartstotheWhole.Therefore,weshouldinterprettheWillofGodtobeeverythingthatexpresseslifewithouthurt.Thisseemstobeafair,logical,saneandintelligentcriterion.Anythingthatwillenableustoexpressgreaterlife,greaterhappiness,andgreaterpower–solongasitdoesnotharmanyone–mustbetheWillofGodforus.Asmuchlifeasonecanconceivewillbecomeapartofhisexperience.

(ErnestHolmes–TheScienceofMind)WhatisErnestHolmescentralmessageaboutProsperityTeachingsinthisarticle?Commentontheline“No[person]candemonstratepeaceandclingtounhappiness”Commentontheline“TheLawisalawofliberty,butnotalawoflicense.”

“Bigger”isnotnecessarily“better.”“Smaller”isnotnecessarily“better.”WhatisquitenecessarilybetteristhatIbegintoappreciateandbethankfulfortheprocessesoflifethatsustainevery-thing,fromthemovementofgalaxiestothecarefuldisposaloffoodandbreathinmyownphysicalbody,thatbuilds,re-pairsandprovidesfoundationforsuchconsciousnessasImayhavetobethank-fulfor.Withsuchanattitude,heart-opentolife,Iwilldiscover,frommomenttomoment,whatbestservesthepurposeofagreaterhonoringoflife.

—TEDBLACKASSOCIATE EDITOR OF INTEGRITY

Lifeisafieldofunlimitedpossibilities.Suchisthegloryoftotalflexibilityinthehumannervoussystem.Thisisatremendouslyimportantpoint.Itsaysthatwecanbypassthelimited,boundedchoicesthatweareusedtomakingandgodirectlytothesolutionofanyproblem.Thebasisforthisassertionisthatnaturehasalreadystructuredthesolutioninourconsciousness.Theproblemsareinthefieldofdiversity,whilethesolutionsareinthefieldofunity.Goingstraighttothefieldofunityautomaticallyhitsuponthesolution,whichthemind-bodysystemthencarriesout.

—DEEPAK CHOPRAQUANTUM HEALING

Thequestionisn’twhetherwearefiniteorinfinite,perfectorimperfect,mortalorimmortal,butwhetherweidentifyourselveswithlimitationandthebodyorwithinfinityandfreedom.

—WALTER STARKEHOMESICK FORHEAVEN

TheCreativePrincipleorCreativeImpulsewilldraweverything,everythingthatyouneedtomakeyourdesireareality,butyouhavetoreleasethedesireandletitgo.Themoreyouareabletoletitgo(notworryaboutit)thefasteryourdesirewillmanifest.

—ROBERT ANTHONYADVANCED FORMULA FOR TOTAL SUCCESS

TheWayItWorks…GivingandReceiving

byErnestHolmesLifeundoubtedlybelongstotheoneswhotakeit.Buthowcanwetakeitunlesswefirstgiveit?Itisimpossible.Sotruegivingnessisthetransmittingoftheselftoeverythingwedo,nomatterwhatitis—theoutpouringofourselfintoeveryundertakingwithanenthusiasticzest,love,kindnessandfriendliness.

Itisafundamentallawofmentalpolarity,causeandeffect,thatthatwhichgoesoutcomesbackthewayitwentout,plustheintensificationofthatwhichithascontactedenroute.Ifwedislikesomeonehewillfeelit,nomatterwhatwesay.Whyisthereantagonismandwhyisthereresistance?Itisbecausewearegivinglipservice.Inreality,wecannotfoolGodnoreachother.Thereissomethinginusthatknowstherealfromthefalse.Itisbecauseintheuniversewecannotsetupacamouflage.Thereisanall-penetratingEye,anall-hearingEar,anall-knowingMind,andwecannotresisttheinevitabilitiesofthelawofourownbeing.WecanmakenobargainswithLife.Weshouldgiveonlywhenthegiftandthegiverareoneandthesamething.

Ifwewanttogetthemostfromlifewecanonlydoitaswehavefirstgiventhemostofourselves.Thentheresponsecomesbacktousmultiplied.GodistheoriginalGiver.LifegivesbyimpartingItselftotheobjectofItsdesire.Buthowcouldtherebeagivingnessunlesstherewereanequalacceptance?Wemustsetupareceivingcenter.Nomatterhowabundantlythehornofplentymaypouroutitsuniversalgifts,wemustholdupourbowlofacceptanceorthegiftcannotbecomplete.

Lifeisreadytogiveusallthatwedesire,butwemustfirstcastfromuseverythingthathindersItscompleteexpressionthroughus;letgoofallstruggleandstrife,andaccepttheDivinebounty.Thenwemustbewillingtosharethatwhichwehavereceived.

WeshouldallowthegiftsofLifetoflowouttoeverythingwetouch,everyonewemeet,everysituationwecontact.Then,whereverwego,everysituationisblessed,everypersonishelped,everydiscordisharmonized,withoutourevenbeingconsciousofit.Justasautomaticallyaswecastashadowwecansotrainthemindthatautomaticallysomethingshallflowfromustoblesseverythinginourworld.Thiswouldbethesupremegift.

ExcerptedfromCreativeLiving,Vol.18ofMiscellaneousWritingsofErnestHolmes,publishedbyScienceofMindCommunicationsin1975

TheWayItWorks…OurHiddenBeliefsandourConsciousThoughtHolmestellsusthatourhiddenbeliefsanddeep-seatedconvictionsinevitablyoutpictureandreflectthemselvesinourexperienceandenvironment,bothinthephysicalconditionofourbodies,andinthelargerworldofouraffairs.

InthestudyoftheScienceofMindwemustbecomeawareofourhiddenbeliefssothatwecanconsciouslychoosetochangethesebeliefsinareasofourlivesthatarenotfunctioningwell.Forexample,ifyoudesiremoreabundanceinyourlife,youneedtolookatyourbeliefsaboutabundance.

Searchingourbeliefstakestimeandstudy,becausemostofthemhaveneverbeenputintolanguage.Frequently,wefindthatsomethinginourearlylifeestablishedabeliefthatwehaveeversincebeenoperatingfrom.Takethatbeliefout—lookatit,writeaboutit.Whatpurposedoesitserve?Ifyounolongerneedit,giveitup.Bepatientbutpersistentwithyourself,andapplaudeverygainyouachieve.

Writingaffirmationssometimeshelpstouncoverhiddenbeliefs.Ifsomethingwithinyouseemsuneasyeverytimeyousayyouraffirmation,askyourself,“WhatdoIreallybelieveaboutthis?Howisthisshowingupinmylife?”Youmightwanttoexplorethesequestionsinwriting.FEELINGS...EMOTIONS...INTUITIONTherearenonegativefeelings.Feelingscomefromouressence—awe,love,gratitude,fulfillment,a“feltsense”ofperfectionorrightness.

Emotionsaretriggeredresponses—reactionstooutsideevents,people,situations.Sincetheyareeffectsofoutsidecauses,theyarecompletelysubjecttoourconsciousminds—hence,aresubjecttochangebychangesinourthinking.However,anger,jealousy,etc.,arenotnecessarilynegativeordestructive—unlessourthoughtholdsontothemandcreatesfromthem.Sometimesangerisfocusedintoasocialcontributionandbecomesaforceforhealingchange.AnexampleofsuchangeristheorganizationM.A.D.D.,MothersAgainstDrunkDriving.

Intuition is the highest faculty of our conscious minds— not, as is commonly thought, aproductofoursubjectivemodeofbeing.IntuitionisourcapacitytoperceiveTruthwhole,asthegreatmysticshaveseenit—withoutthereasoningprocessesofourconsciousminds..

HiddenBeliefsSometimesweareawareofthebeliefsthatholdusback.Theyshowupinourlanguageasoftenrepeatedphrasessuchas“Ican’tstandthisjob.”Sometimes,justbecomingawareofthe belief through identifying language that points to it is sufficient to begin undoing itspower over you. Other beliefs are less obvious, hidden from our view. However, whenfound, the same process of undoing begins andwe start to feel the relief that goes withputtingdownaconceptthathashelduscaptiveforsolong.Thesebeliefsoftenappeartobereasonable, especially if everyone else holds them to be true too, and often they gounquestionedtothepointofbecomingunchallengeable.Partoffindingahiddenbeliefisinthechallengingofit,questioningwhetheritistrueornotandimagininghowyourlifewouldbewithoutsuchabelief. This isanexercise in imagination,becauseyouandImaynotyetknowhowourliveswouldbewithoutaparticularbelief,sowehavetoguessatit.Butthereissomethingfreeingindoingtheguesswork.Manyofthesehiddenbeliefsareattachedtoideasaboutsurvival,orconnectedtofamilyideasaboutself-preservationandinsomecasesconnectedtodifficulteventsinthepast.Herearesomeexamplesofhiddenbeliefs:• Peoplewon’tlikemeifIshowupasmyrealself.• I’mtooold/youngtobedoingthis.• IfIgetthiswrongIwillruinallmyfutureopportunities.• SomethingterriblewillhappenifI…• Idon’tknowhowtobeinarelationship.

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Name__________________________________

_______WRITINGASSIGNMENT-MYTREATMENTTOBEHANDEDINONWEEKFIVE(Pleaseusethispagefromyourworkbooktohandin.Itwillbereturnedtoyou)MyPurpose(statedaffirmatively,seepp49)

STAGE1.Recognition(DescribingSpirit)STAGE2.Unification(DescribingmyUnityinSpirit)STAGE3.Realization(DescribingthespiritualTruthaboutthesituation)STAGE4.Thanksgiving(Describingmyjoy)STAGE5,Release(Lettinggoandcompleting)

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TheWayItWorks…whatismyabundancequotient?

(Tobecompletedathomeandreadyfordiscussioninweek5)

AbundanceQuotientWorksheet

Thinkabouteachstatementbelow.Then,foreachstatement,circlethenumberthatrepresentsyourappraisalofitsaccuracyforyou.Striveforhonesty.

Inmarkingyournumbers,usethefollowingorder:1=never2=seldom3=sometimes4=usually5=always

1.Ifinditeasytoacceptgiftsfromotherpeople.

2.Ifinditeasytogivemyselfgifts.

3.Iseemyselfasagenerousperson.

4.Ibelieveitisspiritualtoprosper.

5.Igiveagenerouspercentageofmymoney,time,andtalenttospiritualwork.

6.Ifeelcomfortableaskingothersforhelp.

7.Ifeelcomfortablebeingaskedforhelpbyothers.

8.Iamacontributing,participatingmemberoflife.

9.IhaveasurplusofmoneysothatIdonotliveontheedge.

10.Iamcomfortablewithriskandambiguity.

11.Iamateaseandcomfortablewithmoney.

12.Itiseasyformetogiveandreceivelove.

13.Mylifeflowseffortlesslyandmyneedsarealwaysmet.

14.Ireceivecomplimentsgraciously.

15.Igiveacknowledgmentofotherseasilyandfrequently.

16.Iamoptimisticingeneralaboutlife,notonlywhenthingsare

goingjustasIthinktheyshould. 12345

17.Iamhappyaboutotherpeople’ssuccess.

18.Iamcomfortablewithmyownsuccess.

19.Ifeelcapableofhandlinglife’ssituations.

20.Ienjoyreceivingpraiseandcompliments.

21.IamacceptedbymostofthepeopleImeet.

22.Iacceptotherpeoplejustastheyare.

23.ItrustLifeforthehighestandbesttobemine.

24.Iallowchangestohappenwithease.

25.Ihaveanabundanceofideasalwaysavailable.

26.Ieasilyseeoptionsandopportunities,eveninthemidstofchallenges.

27.IknowIamcreative.

28.Iunderstandthatgivingandreceivingarethesamething.

29.IhavetotalfaithandnofearabouthavingwhatIneed.

30.ItrustthenaturalAbundanceoftheUniversetoprovidemewiththeappropriatethingsattheappropriatetime.

31.Ienjoypayingmybillsandblessthem.

32.Iamawareofmyunlimitedspiritualresources.

Didyounoticethateachstatementisanaffirmation?

Whenyouhavecircledyourchoices,makeagraphofyourAbundanceQuotientbydrawingalineconnectingallthecircles.Thenumber-5pointsindicatethehighestabundanceconsciousness,andthenumber-1pointsthelowest.(Itisnotlikelythatanyonehonestwithherselforhimselfwillhaveall5’s.)Thelowpointsonyourcurveindicatetheareasinwhichyourabundanceconsciousnessneedswork.

TheWayItWorks…Whatisvisualization? (Forhomestudy)

byErnestHolmesVisualizationmeanstocreateamentalpictureofourselvesaswewouldliketobe,tohandthispictureovertotheuniversalLawforexecutionandtobelieveimplicitlythatItwillact.Butourpresentabilitytovisualizedependsuponourpresentstateofthought;itislimitedtopreviousexperiencesandimpressions.Aperson,bytheartofvisualization,canbringintohisexperienceonlythatwhichhecanmentallyimageandhecanimageonlythatwhichheknows.PlotinussaidthatourworkisalwaysdonebetterwhenwefacetheSpirit,eventhoughourbackisturnedtoourwork;Emersontellsusthatbettermentinconditionsalwaysfollowsthedivineinflux;Jesustellsustoseektheupperkingdomfirstandthatallthingswillbeadded.Allgreatspiritualteachershavementionedthatweneedtolookforhigherformsofthoughtifwewishtoexperiencebetterthings.

Itisnecessary,then,tofindhighervisionsandbroadervistasofthoughtifwearetotranscendourpreviousexperiences.Visualizationisalwaysincompleteunlessthethoughtisfirstimpressedwiththegreaterpossibilityandmadereceptivetothedivineinflux.TheSpiritisalwaysreadytoflowthroughus,butweareeachindividualandmustletitflowbytheactofself-choice.Godisharmony,andharmonyisbeauty.Itisunity,harmony,beauty,aperfectadjustmenttotheWholeandtoallofItsparts.Thatvisionwhichisbaseduponharmonyandunityiscompleteandunconditioned.Anypurposewhichisconstructiveislegitimateandright.TheSpiritintendsustohaveandenjoyallthings.

Thinkofyourselfasyouwouldliketobeandcalmlystatethatyouarenowinthepositionthatyoucaretobein;thatyouarenowdoingthethingsyouwouldliketobedoing;thatyounowpossessthethingsyoucaretopossess.Lookatyourpictureasyouwouldviewalandscape,mentallydwellonthispicture,tryingtofeeltherealityofit,untilyoucansensethatitisareality;thenleavetheentirepicturefortheLawtoworkoutforyou,returningtoyoureverydayaffairswithperfectconfidencethatsomethingisreallytakingplaceontheinvisiblesideofyourlifeandthatyouwillexperienceinoutwardformallyourinneraspirations.

TheWayItWorks…MeditationPractice

Beforebeginningyourmeditation,experimentwiththe“potato-sack”relaxationexercise:

Sittinglooselyinachair,makeyourselflimp.Imagineyouareaburlapbagthatisfilledwithpotatoes.Inyourmind’seye,cutthestringandallowthepotatoestorollout.Imaginethatyouarethebagthatremains.Liftyourrightarm,andletitfall.Liftyourleftarm,andletitfall.Liftyourrightleg,andletitfall.Liftyourleftleg,andletitfall.Letyoureyelidsfall.Imaginethatallyourmusclesarerelaxing.Imaginethatalltensionisfallingoutofyou.Saytoyourself,“Iamcalm,serene,andpoisedinGod.Iamatease.IamatpeacewithGod.Iamatpeacewitheveryone.Iamatpeacewithinmyself.IamatonewiththeflowofAbundancewithintheUniverse.”

Nowproceedwithyourmeditationinanywayyouchoose.

Inyourmeditationperiodthisweek,tryreadingandcontemplatingHolmes’sappealingmeditationonabundance(SOMpage556):

AbundanceIsMyInheritance

Abundanceismine.Icannotbedeprivedofmysupply.Thetreesdonotlackforleaves,nordotheflowersfailtobloom.AmInotasimportantasthey?“Considertheliliesofthefield,theytoilnot,neitherdotheyspin,yetSolomoninallhisglorywasnotarrayedasoneofthese.”

IlookatthelavishnessofNatureandknowthatGodintendedmetobeasabundantlysupplied,witheverythingthatmakesforbeauty,well-being,progressivelivingandhappiness.

SinceIknowtheTruthofmybeing,Iwillnolongerhindermygoodfromcomingtome.IwillexpectandacceptallthatIneedtomakelifehappyandworthwhile;forIamachildoftheSpirit,andeveryattributeofIt.EveryattributeofGoodismyinheritance.

Nothingbutlackoffaithcankeepmygoodfromme,forIamonewiththeUniversalEssenceofLife,orSpirit,andItsSubstancewillmanifestinmyexperienceasIbelieve.NolongerwillIgoformygood,carryingonlyadippertobefilled.Thisday,asIturntotheFatherwithin,Ibring“alltheemptyvessels”knowingtheywillbefilled,andmyabundancewillbecomemanifest.

AbundanceIsMyInheritance

Session6ofyourStudentNotebook,Pages76-93

Complete:

Tobehandedin:YoursecondwrittenTreatmentisduenextweek.Focus your Treatment purpose on any purpose in your life. Make sure toidentifythepurposefirst.Usetheformonpage91asyourfinalcopytohandin.

Practice:

Meditationexerciseonpage74

BasedonyourreadingfromLivingTheScienceofMind(pages124-125)howdodefineinnerguidance?

BeyondLimits:

SESSIONSIXSubtletiesofSpiritualMindTreatment

Abundance

GuidanceandPersonalClarity

THISWEEKThisweekcontinueswithimportantandsubtleaspectsofaneffectiveSpiritualMindTreatment.

Thenthefocusshiftstothesubjectoffear–somethingeverypersondealswiththroughouttheir lifetime.Wewillconsiderhowtodealeffectivelywith fearandhowtotransformitintoactivefaith.

Thereisadestinythatmakesusbrothers;Nomangoeshiswayalone.Allthatwesendintothelivesofotherscomesbackintoourown.

-EDWINMARKHAM

TheWayItWorks…WhatisSpirituality?

Inessence,spiritualityislivingwiththeintentiontorealizeGodineverycircumstanceofyourbeing—yourthoughts,emotions,words,deeds,relations,aspirations—inshort,thetotalityofyourlife,righttoitsveryend(assaintsandsagesdoby“dyingthegooddeath”).Thatattitude,thatstanceinlifeistheonlythingwhichcantrulycreateabetterworld.Therewillneverbeabetterworlduntiltherearebetterpeopleinit.ThewaytobuildbetterpeopleistobeginwithyourselfbyrealizingGod.TorealizeGodmeanstoknowGodoneverylevelofrealityandineverymodeoraspectofGod’sbeing.Thus,spiritualitycanbedefined,levelbylevelofreality,thisway:

Inphysicalterms,spiritualityisrecognizingthemiraculousnatureofmatterandthecreativesourcebehindthemysteryofmatter.

Inbiologicalterms,spiritualityisrealizingthatadivineIntelligenceunderliesalllifechangeandthatsuchchangeisevolvingallcreationtoevergreaterdegreesofwholenessandperfectioninordertoperfectlyexpressitself.

Inpsychologicalterms,spiritualityisdiscoveringwithinyourselftheultimatesourceofmeaningandhappiness,whichislove.

Insociologicalterms,spiritualityisgivingselflessservicetoothers,regardlessofrace,creed,color,gender,casteornationality.

Inecologicalterms,spiritualityisshowingrespectforallthekingdomsinthecommunityoflife—mineral,vegetable,animal,human,spiritandangelic.

Incosmologicalterms,spiritualityisbeingatonewiththeuniverse,intunewiththeinfinite,flowingwiththeTao.

Intheologicalterms,spiritualityisseeingGodinallthings,alleventsandallcircumstances,indwellingasinfiniteLightandunconditionalLove,andseeingallthings,eventsandcircumstancesinGodasthematrixorinfiniteoceaninwhichtheuniverseoccurs.

ReprintedfromScienceofMindMagazine,June1990.Monthlycolumn“ExplorationsinConsciousness,”byJohnWhite,whohaswrittenandlecturedformanyyearsinthefieldsofconsciousnessresearchandhumandevelopment.

PowerfulRemindersForEffectiveSpiritualMindTreatment

TREATMENTISNOT…Manipulatingorcoercingpeopleoreventstobringaboutsomepersonallydesiredchange.

Attemptingto“reach”God.Godisalreadyhere,always,withinandaroundme.Puttingmyownwillpowerintochangingacondition;tryingtoovercomeGod’sreluctance”tocorrecttheapparent“wrong.”

Disallowingotherformsofhealing,suchasmedicine,surgery,psychiatry,diet,etc.

Attemptingtoexertspiritualcontrolofthematerialuniverse,asthoughtheywereseparateentities.

Thinkingthattheonetreatingisdoingthehealing.Denyingthatapersonissick.Denyingillnessandsuffering.

PersuadingGodtohaveachangeofmindorsuspendtheUniversalLawsonmybehalf.

TREATMENTIS…ConsciouslyclearingawaythegrimeoffalsebeliefsfromaconditiontorevealtheTruththatwasalwaysthere.

BeingstillandknowingthatGodishere,lettingthePresencebesoclearlyfeltthatIcanrealizeanddeclaretheSpiritualTruthofanysituation.

AllowingGod’sPowertoflowthroughmeintomanifestationoftheTruth,withouthindrancefrommyfalsebeliefs.

Accepting that every new discovery inmedical fields is as much a revelation ofUniversalWisdomasanewinterpretationoflife.

UnderstandingthatMindinessenceandMindinformareoneandthesame;hence,thereisnodifferenceinessencebetweenmythoughtandwhatitbecomes.

RealizingthatthewordsIspeakintreatmentareonlychannelsfortheflowofSpirit,whichistappedbytheconsciousnessbackofmywords.

RealizingthatsinceahumanbeingisthesubstanceofLife,thereisaperfectspiritualIdeawithineveryindividual,nomatterwhattheyareexperiencing,andthisTruthcanberealizedanddeclared.

AllowingmyselftorealizeanddeclarethespiritualTruthaboutmyselfandtheconditionbeingtreated.

TheWayItWorks…SpiritualAwarenessandConsciousDirectioninAffirmativePrayer

SpiritualMindTreatmentisapowerfultoolinouruseofthoughttococreatethechangeswedesireinourlivesandtoassistothersinachievingtheirdesiredchanges.Holmesdiscussedtreatmentextensivelythroughouthisteachings,alwaysemphasizingthattheconsciousdirectionnecessaryforsuccessfuldemonstrationisrootedinandproceedsfromtheall-pervadingawarenessofWholenessembodiedbytheonetreating.Thisisemphasizedinthefollowingquotations.

Theperceptionofwholenessistheconsciousnessofhealing.Inpractice,then,wehavetocreateabigfeelingofwholeness,andtheonewhohasthegreatestfeelingofwholenessandthegreatestsubjectiveembodimentofthiswholenesswillspeakfromthegreatestdegreeofwholeness.Whenitcomestotheactualuseoftechnique,heknowsthatthereisnosuchthingasanindividualspirit,anindividualmind,oranindividualbody.ThereisonlyOne.

Thepremiseissimpleandletuskeepitthatway.TheLawofMindreactsbecauseitisitsnaturetodoso.Wecan’tchangeit.However,ifwehaveenoughbignessandenoughreceptivity;ifwehaveenoughjoy,enoughlove,enoughlaughter,andenoughsong;ifwehavethatwhichisbeyondtoleranceandcharitytodownrightunderstandingsothatwecansay,withoutlying,“IbeholdinyoutheimageofHimwhodiedonthetree,”thenthedeadwillrise!

—FROM SEMINAR LECTURES“THESCIENCE OFPRAYER”

Allstatementsusedintreatmentmustbefeltwithafeelingbeyondwords;beyondstatementsandphrases.RightspiritualknowingisanintelligentactivityofthoughtwhichrevealspureSpiritastheinvisiblecauseofeverything.Rightknowinggivesrisetorightthinking.Rightthinkingprojectsaninwardstateofpurefeeling.Anatmosphereofrealityisloosedthroughthewordwhichprojectsasmuchrealityasonefeelsatthatmoment.Itproducesaresultequaltoone’sinwardawareness.

Intreatmentwordsarealwaysspecificanddirectbecauseconsciousnessmustbeconsciousofsomething.Thepractitionerfeelssomethingwhichcannotbestatedinwords,and,atthesametime,directshisspiritualawarenessforspecificpurposes.[Italicsadded.]Specificintentionisnecessaryineffectivetreatment.Thewords,thoughtsorideasfocusthisintentionforadefinitepurpose.Buttheentiretreatmentisbasedontheassumptionthatthereisaspiritualpatternatthecenterof

everything.Theperfectwasalwaysthere,itwasimplantedbytheSpirit.Theimperfecthasbeenaddedbythehumanmind.Whatthehumanmindhasputthere,itcantakeaway.WhattheDivinehasimplantedcannotbeuprooted;itcanonlyappeartobecoveredup.SpiritualmindpracticeisanuncoveringoftheDivineNature.

Ifhisworkistobeeffective,thepractitionermustbelievethis.Unless,throughasimple,directactoffaithheinstantlyfeelstheDivinecenter,thenhemustresorttoamethod.Topracticewithassuranceofconsistentresultsonecannotdependentirelyontheinspirationofthemoment.Hemusthaveamethodofprocedure,awaytoarriveatspiritualawarenessthroughaprocessofstatements.

Thisentireactiontakesplaceinthemindoftheonegivingthetreatment.Heisinwardlyawareofhisownunionwithgood,tryingtosensewhatthisunionmeans,feelingitinhisthought,realizingitdeepinhisbeing.Itisfromthisdeeprealizationthathegiveshistreatment,knowingthateachwordmustfindanoutletwhichcorrespondstotheinnermeaningofthatword.[Italicsadded.]

He isnotattempting tocoerce theSpiritorcompel theLaw.TheSpirit isalwayswillingandtheLawisalwaysready.Itautomaticallyflowsaroundeverything.Itneedsmerelytoberecognizedandused.Thisisthegeneralatmosphereofatreatment.

ThepractitionermustdiscoverthegreatRealitywithinhimself.ItishisconsciousnessofthisPresencewhichgivespowertohisword.TheprincipleheisusingistheLawofMindinaction;themethodforusingitisconsciousthought.Itisthepractitioner’sbusinesstocombinehisinwardawarenesswiththeconscioususeofthePrinciplefordefinitepurposes,[Italicsadded]forhimself,forothers,andforanyconditionwhichneedschanging.

—ERNESTHOLMES

HOWTOUSETHESCIENCE OFMIND

NOTABLEQUOTESABOUTFAITHJustasasinglesnapshotcouldnotshowyouthewholeofahouse,likewiseasingledescriptioncouldhardlycapturethewholeessenceofaSpiritualTruthsuchasfaith.Therefore,wecanonlycometounderstandfaithbylookingatitfromasmanydifferentviewsaspossible.Followingisashortcollectionofnotablequotesaboutfaith.Byconsideringhoweachoneoftheseindividuals’sees’faith,youwillbegintodevelopamoreholisticview,anda’feltsense,’ofthetruenatureoffaith.JesusChrist“Accordingtoyourfaithbeituntoyou.”—MATTHEW9:29SaintPaul“Faithisthesubstanceofthingshopedfor,theevidenceofthingsnotseen.”—HEBREWS11:1ErnestHolmes“Faithmeansabeliefinthepresenceofaninvisibleprincipleandlawwhichdirectlyandspecificallyrespondstous.”CharlesFillmore“Faithisamagneticpowerthatdrawstousourheart’sdesirefrominvisiblespiritualsubstance.Itisadeepinnerknowingthatthatwhichissoughtisalreadyours.”Rev.LloydTupper“TohavethefaithofGod,asopposedtofaithinGod,createstheexperienceofdemonstrationasopposedtotheexperienceofmerehopefulexpectation.”BenjaminFranklin“Thewaytoseebyfaithistoshuttheeyeofreason.”EmmaCurtisHopkins“Sometimespeoplehavethoughttheyoughttositdowninthemidstofdishesneedingwashing,andaccountbooksneedingstraightening,andrefusetodothesetasks,becausetodothemisasignofbeliefinlabor.Itisnotyourstodemonstratethecessationofwork.Itisyourstosettleyourfaith.KeepatyourtaskstillyourfaithissoclearthatthefreeSpiritsiftingthroughit,takesthedishesoutofyourwayandcallsanothertostraightenyouraccountswhileyouarebeingusedasaredeemerfromdeathandpain.”BlaisePascal“Faithembracesmanytruthswhichseemtocontradicteachother…Thisthenisfaith:Godfeltbytheheart,notbythereason.”

St.Augustine“Faithistobelievewhatyoudonotsee.Therewardforthisfaithistoseewhatyoubelieve.”Krishna“Amanconsistsofthefaiththatisinhim.Whateverhisfaithis,heis.”Bhagavad-GitaVoltaire“Faithconsistsinbelievingnotwhatseemstobetrue,butwhatseemstobefalsetoourunderstanding.”AnandaCoomareswamy“OnlythePerfectManis’faithless,’inthesensethatinhiscaseknowledgeoftheUnmadehastakentheplaceoffaith,forwhichthereisnomoreneed.”WilliamShakespeare“Therearenotricksinplainandsimplefaith.”AlgernonC.Swinburne“Faithliveswhenhopedies.”Muhammad“FaithisthatbeliefoftheheartinthatknowledgewhichcomesfromtheUnseen.”SriRamakrishna“Godcanberealizedbytruefaithalone.”

TransformingYourFearIntoFaithFollowingareselectedteachingsfromErnestHolmesregardingthetransformationoffearintofaith.Fear:AntithesisofFaithFearistheantithesisoffaith.Itisthenegationofconfidence.Likefaith,fearmaybeconsciousorsubjective,andifitistobeeliminated,itmustberemovedbothconsciouslyandsubjectively.SCIENCE OFMINDGLOSSARY PAGE598TheUniversalDoubtWhileitistruethatwecantracespecificfearstocertainincidentsthattranspiredearlyinlife,andwhileitistruethatifwedothiswecanremovethem,mostfearsfinallyresolvethemselvesintoaveryfewattitudesofmind,mostofwhicharebasedonthebelief“noonewantsme,needsme,orlovesme;probablyIamunworthy,unnecessary,anduseless;Iaminadequatetomeetlife,Ihavenotthestrengthorthepowerorthewilltoovercomeobstructions,andIdonotfitanywhere.”(TheUniversalDoubt—“Iamnotenough.”)Well,thewaytogetridoffearisthroughthecultivationoffaith;afaithfoundedonthethoughtthatGodisallthereis.LIVINGTHESCIENCEOFMINDPAGE378MisplacedFaithButwhatisfear?Nothingmorenorlessthanfaithmisplaced;abeliefintwopowersinsteadofOne;abeliefthattherecanbeaPower,opposedtoGod,whoseinfluenceandabilitymaybringusevil.Inotherwords,tocorrectalltheevilsoftheworld,wouldbebuttohavethepositivefaith,faithrightlyplaced,afaiththatlaysholdoftheintegrityoftheUniverse,thebeneficenceofGodandtheUnityofalllife.Nevertheless,wecannothavefaithinthatwhichwedonotinsomemeasureunderstand.SCIENCE OFMINDPAGE158ConvertingFeartoFaithFearandfaithareidenticalinthattheenergyusedintheoneisthesameenergyasthatusedintheother,sincethereisbutonefinalEnergyintheuniverseandthisfinalEnergyistheenergyofthought.Youshouldbecarefulnottofightfeartoomuch,butrather,throughasortofflexibleimagination,convertfearintofaith.Realizingthatitisamentalattitude,youcandothisveryeasilybylookingatthethingwhichyoufearandexaminingthethoughtoffearwhichyouhaveaboutit,convertthisthoughtintooneoffaith,realizingthattheenergyoffearconvertedintofaithwillproduceaneffectexactlyopposite.Ifyouwilllookatthethingyouareafraidofuntilyoureallyunderstandit,itwillnolongerhaveanyelementoffearforyou.YoucandothisinsuchdegreeasyouareconsciousofbeingDivinelyguidedandprotected,andstateyourrealizationofthisinadefinitemanner.EFFECTIVE PRAYER PAGE50,51FacingYourFearsTobeginwithyoumightfollowafewsimplerules.Firstofall,ifyouarefilledwithfearsdonotharborthemasagreatsecretinyourlife,butfindsomeclosefriendorconfidanttowhomyoumayunburdenyourwholesoul.Thiswillreleasethetensionwhichyourfearshavebuiltupinyourbody.Justtotalkwithacalm,confidentperson,whocanpointoutthereasonwhyyouneednotentertainthesefears,isagreatrelief(seeaPractitioner).Thisis,however,butatemporarything,fornextyoumustlearntofacethefears.Youshouldnotbeafraidtoanalyzethemandyoushouldexplaintoyourselfjustwhyyouknowthereisnothingtobeafraidof.Wheneveryoufindyourselfbroodingoversomefearorentertainingsomeanxiety,beginatoncetodosomethingaboutit.LIVINGTHESCIENCEOFMIND,PAGE362

TheWayItWorks…LoveandFear

Todaythereareavastnumberofspiritualteachers,spiritualbooks,andspirituallifepracticespromotingoneconsistenttheory:“Thereareonlytwoemotions:loveandfear.”Loveisdivine.LoveistheactivityofGod,andtheonlyenergyinwhichGodexists.Fear,ontheotherhand,isatooloftheego,whichisthefoundationofthebeliefthatweareseparatefromGod,separatefromeachother,andgenerallyinferiororinadequate.Thinkaboutit.Whenyouareaskedorexpectedtodosomethingyoudonotbelieveyouareworthyorequippedtodo,isfearnotthefirstemotionyouexperience?Fearofbeingabandoned.Fearofbeingridiculed.Fearofhavingsomeonetaketheirloveawayfromyou.Fearofbeingexposedasinadequateorunworthy.Atthecoreofourinnermostbeing,wedonotwanttofeelthisway,sowedenythatwedo.WelietotheMaster.“I’mnotafraid,I’mbusy.”“I’mnotafraid,Ijustdon’twanttomarryyou!”“I’mnotafraid,I’mbroke!”Wefailtorealizethattheonlywaytopullthechairfrombeneathfearistoloveit.Inordertolovefear,wemustcallthePowerandPresenceofGodintoourlivesorthesituation,allowingitspresencetodismantlethefear.

Thenexttimeyourstomachflipswithfear,don’tdenyitbyactinglikeyouarejustfine.Gentlywhisper,“Iknowyou,fear,andIknowexactlywhatyouwant.Unfortunately,todayIamnotinthemoodtodealwithyou!”Whenyourmouthgetsdry,yourkneesgetweak,oryourearsget hot,don’tcallitmenopauseorsomethingyouateforlunch.Embracethefearthatisnowpoundingitsforkandknifeonyourtablebysaying,“Hi,fear!Whattookyousolongtogethere?”Sorry,butIcannotfeedyoutoday!”

Theminuteyourealizeyouareinthegripoffear,don’tstruggletogetaway.Relax!Tellthetruth,“I’minthegripoffear!”Rememberingthattruthwillsetyoufree.FreedommeanschoosingtoinvokethisTruth:“WhereverIam,that’swhereGodis!”Takeafewdeepbreaths.Affirm“Lettherebelight!”Fearhatesthelightoftruth.Themomentyouaffirmthetruth,fearwillscatterlikethelowerlifeformsthatdigaroundinthegarbage.

EXCERPTED FROMONEDAYMYSOULJUSTOPENEDUP

BY IYANLA VANZANT

HELLO,FEAR

Hello,Fear,Iknowyou’rethere.Youfindmewithyouricystare;And,thoughthetimebedayornight,Icannothidebeyondyoursight.Youcalltome…topause,retreat.Youbeckonmetochoosedefeat.Onyouradvice,Iwouldnottry.I’dmakeexcuses,quit,ordie!Yourpower,Fear,hasbeensogreat,That Ihavesoughta“victim’s” fate.ButnowIknowasecret,Fear,Iamtheonewhobroughtyouhere. Inourishedyou,while,allthetime, IdidnotnoticehowsublimeWasmyexistence,myownBeing;But,Fear,you’vehadit—NowI’mSeeing!ThoughIamsurewe’llmeetagain,Thoughyoumay‘haunt’menowandthen;Imadeyouwhatyouaretoday–Iownyou,Fear!Getoutofmyway!

GEORGEN.HADDAD,M.D.

TheWayItWorks…TransformingFearintoFaithStudentWorkbook(Tobecompletedinclassonly)RecognizeitLookforplacesofnon-movementinyourlife.Lookforplaceswherestressandstressfulthoughtsarepresent.Thesewillfrequentlypointtoplaceswherefearisactive.Takeamomenttodescribethesituation.

Giveanexamplefromyourownlife:FaceitAllowyourselftheopportunitytodescribewhatyourfearthinksistheworstcasescenario.Whatistheworstthingfeartellsyouisgoingtohappen?:GiveitavoiceImaginethefearhadavoiceandcancommunicateitsconcerntoyou.Ifyouaskedit,“Tellmewhatisimportanttoyou.Whydoyouwantmetobeafraid?Whatareyoutryingtoprotectmefrom?”Whatmightitsaytoyou?Imagineaskingfearthequestionsabove.Whatmightitsay?:AcceptitAcknowledgethevalueofitsconcern.Takeamomentofquietcontemplationandinitaddressthefearvoiceasifyouwereassuringaclosefriendthatyouarenotgoingtotrytochangeit,avoiditorcoerceit.:

ChooseInmostcasesitispossibletostepbackfromtheworst-casescenariotoseeamultitudeofotherpossibleoutcomesormeanings.Selectamorereasonablepossibilitythatfeelsauthentictoyou.Describea“morereasonable”spirituallifestrategy.Worstcasescenariosareseldomreasonable:ActSelectonesmallthingyoucandotodaytostepbeyondthelimitsofyourfearinthedirectionofyourmorereasonablethought/idea.

TheWayItWorks…MantraMeditationPracticeMeditationisnotjustapracticeinwhichwewithdrawfromtheworldandisolateourselvesfromdailyactivitiesandnoise.Thatwouldbeusingthebenefitsofmeditationinaverylimitedway.Itispossibleforyoutobeinameditativeattitudeandmodeinthemidstofgreatbusyness.Thiscalm,peaceful,yetattentivestateofbeingcanallowyoutoreachgreateraccordwithinyourcloserelationships,yourbusinessassociations,andyourcasualencounters.Youmayfindnewlevelsofcreativityandlogicalsolutionsmorereadilyavailabletoyouinthisclear,centeredstate.

Weareaccustomedtousingthelogical,planningmodeofthinking.Inordertotapintothedeeper,moreintuitivearenaofourminds,weneedtobreakthehabitofconstantlydirectingourthoughtsandreachaplaceinouruseofwordsinwhichtheInnerWisdomcanpresentitselftous.

Theuseofamantra,arepeatedwordorphrase,isagoodwaytointroducewordsandthoughtsbackintoyourmeditation.Ashortphraserepeatedoverandovercaninducetherelaxed,yetpoised,stateofbeingwhichyouhaveexperiencedinthesilenceofyourbreathcounting.Anywordorphrasemaybeusedwhichresonateswithinyouanddoesnottriggeraplanningorsequentialthoughtprocess.Considerusingthephrasessuggestedbelowforeachdaysthisweek.DayOneGodisPeace.GodwithinmeisperfectPeace.Iamserene,tranquil,andquiet.

DayTwoGodisLove.TodayIletGod’sLovewithinmeshineforthtoallImeet.

DayThreeGodisTruth.GodwithinmeisTruth.IthinkTruth.IloveTruth.

DayFourGod isSpirit.Godwithinme ispureSpirit.Spirit iseverywherepresent.Wherever Iam,Spiritis.DayFiveGodisLife.TheLifewithinmeisGod.ThereisonlyOneLife,andthatLifeisGod.

DaySixGodisLight.GodwithinmeisLight.ThatLightisunderstandingandwisdom.

DaySevenGodisPower.GodwithinmeisOmnipotent.ImovethroughthisdaywithDivineRightAction.

TheWayItWorks…Whattodowhenyoudon’tknowwhattodo!

(Tobecompletedinclass)

GuidanceandPersonalClarity

Everyonehasaninnerguidancesystem.Howdoesyoursshowup?

Becomeacquaintedwithitandlistentoitfrequently.Canyoumakesuggestionforhowyoumightdothat?

Guidanceisamplifiedthemorewelisten.Describeatimewhenyoulistenedtoit:

Whenyouareunclearonyourdirectionsreceived,treatingforclarityispowerful.

Remainopen,whatyourealizemaybeuncomfortable,youmightmeetyourownhiddenbeliefs.Thisisthegoodnews,andanopportunitytoinvestigateifthesebeliefsareaccurate.Theremaybeamorereasonableideainwhichtoplaceyourtrust.

WRITINGASSIGNMENT-MYTREATMENTTOBEHANDEDINONWEEKSIX(Pleaseusethispagefromyourworkbooktohandin.Itwillbereturnedtoyou)MyPurpose(statedaffirmatively)

Thispageisblank.

Session7ofyourStudentWorkbook(PAGES94-107)

Complete:

Tobehandedin:completeyourwrittenTreatmentonafearyouaretransforming.Yourfinalcopytobehandedinshouldbewrittenonpage107.

Practice:

MeditationExerciseonpage89.

PersonalReflection

BasedonyourreadingofLivingTheScienceofMind(pages400-404)commentonthephrase“itisimpossibleforustofeelreliefandreleasefromself-condemnationwhilewebearcondemnationtowardothers.”

BeyondLimits:

SESSIONSEVENSpiritualInclusivity

Forgiveness

THISWEEKInthissession,weconsideroneofthemostimportantandprovocativeconceptswithinthiscourse:SpiritualInclusivity.Thisisalsooneofthemostchallengingofourconceptsyet,potentially,oneofthemosttransforming.WewillexploreGodasatranscendingWholenessthat,inItsinfiniteinclusivity,embracesallseemingopposites;andthehumancorollary,ourendowmentasanexpressionofGodwithabsolutefreewillinthechoicesbywhichwedeterminethecourseofourlives.Thissessionwilloffersupporttoclarifyand/orresolvemanyimportantissuessuchas“goodandevil,”tragediesthatseemtohavenopurposeorjustification,andthepolaritiesoflife.HowappropriatethatthissessionalsointroducesForgiveness.

Itiseasiertosailmanythousandsofmilesthroughcoldandstormandcannibals,inagovernmentship,withfivehundredmenandboystoassistone,thanitistoexploretheprivatesea,theAtlanticandPacificOceanofone’sbeingalone.

-HenryDavidThoreau

BeyondLimits!BasicPrincipleEight:Spiritualinclusivity

ThisisaUniverseofWholeness,Allness,Oneness.Spiritisatranscendent,perfectwholethat,inItsinfiniteinclusivity,harmoniouslyembracesallseemingopposites.Adictionarydefinitionofperfectis:“lackingnothingessentialtothewhole;completeofitsnatureorkind.”Thiswholenessiswhatwemeanwhenwesay,“Godisperfect.”

Theideaofduality,impliestheexistenceofmorethanonepower(Godandthedevil,forinstance).Dualitysupposesopposingfundamentalpowers.Wholenesscan(anddoes)produceamultiplicityofformswithoutdisturbingItsUnity.Butnosecondpower,suchas“evil,”couldexistwithintheOnewithoutdestroyingtheWholeness.

Eachhumanbeingisendowedwithfreewillandcanchoosetoexperiencefreedomorbondage,abundanceorlack,joyormisery,allofwhichliewithintheinfiniteinclusivityofthisUniverse.Ihavefreewill,thefreedomtochoosemyownthoughtsandfollowmyownpaths.WiththisfreedomcomesaccountabilityfortheoutcomesofthechoicesImake.

ThepossibilityofsufferingorbondageareconnectedtomisunderstandingormisusingthespiritualLawsthatgoverntheUniverse.

Whatwecall“evil”isnotanindependententityorforce.I,togetherwithallotherpeople,experience“evil”onlytothedegreethatweareoutofalignmentwithUniversalHarmony.Whenwecomebackintoalignment,theexperienceofevildisappears.

Iamnotpunishedformymistakesofignoranceornegativebehavior.ButImustexperience,throughtheimpersonalactionoftheLaw,theresultsofthechoicesIhavemade.Theoppositesinhumanexperience—freedomandbondage,goodand“evil,”negativeandpositive—canbeseen,notasforcesinconflict,butsimplyastwowaysinwhichtheOnePowercanbeused.

TheWayItWorks…Ibegintograsp“Infinite”Infiniteismightybig.WhenIwasachild,Iwouldsometimeslieonthegrassandlookintotheheavens.Iwouldwatchthecloudsand,atnight,thestars.Onerecurringthoughtwas—thisissobig,andwhatisbeyondtheendofit?Ifspaceended,whatwouldtherebe?Therewouldbemorespace!Onandonandontoinfinity.GodisInfinite.WecanknowasmuchofGodasweareabletoembodyand,sinceGodisInfinite,thereismore.TheDivineispresenthere,sotheDivineispersonaltome.IexperiencethisDivineSpirithereinmeandinmylife.AndDivineSpiritisInfinite;thereismore.Oneoftheexcitingthingsthismeanstomeisthatthereisnoonce-and-for-all,finalarrival,nodaywhenIcansighasighofreliefandsay“I’vearrived.”HoweverfarIhavecomeonmypath,thereismore.Attimesweputboxesaroundourlivesandthinkthereisonlysomuchgood,somuchgrowth,etc.Theseareboxesofourowncreation.God,Life,isInfinite!YouandIareinfinitetoo—ourpotentialgoesonandon.Withinfiniteunfolding,growing,exploring,andexpressingtodo,Lifeisathrillingexperience.PlaywiththeideaofInfinite.Justhowbigcanyoustretchyourmind?IfyoucouldlimittheUniverse,whatwouldtherebebeyondthelimits?Ifyoucouldlimityourself,whatwouldtherebebeyondthelimits?Allowyourselftofeeltheexcitementofthislimitlesspotential.Letyourmindtakedowntheboxesyouhavecreatedforyourself.Imagineyourselfwithoutlimits.Whatwouldyourlifebelike?Whatwouldyoubedoing?Howwouldyoufeel?Askyourself,“WhatisstandingbetweenmeandthisvisionofhowIwantmylifetobe?”Declaretoyourselfthatyouarenowoutofyourownway.Decidetorelaxandenjoytheprocessofunfoldment,knowingthereisnofinalarrival;youcanenjoythejourney.Savoreachstepoftheway.Bealiveandalerttoeachmoment.Thisisthemomentyou’vebeenwaitingfor.Thisisthemomentyourentirelifehasledupto.Andthereismore.GodandIareInfinite.InowexpandintobeingallthatIcanbe.FromthewritingsofRev.MarleneOaks,.

TheWayItWorks…APhilosophyofInclusion

byErnestHolmesSurelytheworldiswaitingforthesuntoriseacrossthescopeofabroaderhorizon.Itrustandbelievethatatlonglasttheworldmaysensealibertywithoutlicense,afreedomwithoutcontradictionoffundamentalunity,anintegrityofthehumanmindcaughtfromthechangelessunityoftheDivine.

Oneofthemainerrorsinmanyoftoday’smodernmetaphysicalmovementsisthattheyhavefruitlesslysoughttodividetheindivisible,andtoexcludecertainacts,thingsandmanifestationsfromtheoneandonlypresencewhichmanifestsinandthroughallthings.

There can be no creation separate from the Creator, and no person separate from God.Everything,asPlotinussuggests,isasrealasitissupposedtobe.Buthisphilosophyaffirmsthatthingsinandofthemselvesareindeterminate,whichmerelymeansthatthecreatorisnotsubjecttothecreation,whilethecreatedissubjecttotheCreator.

ThisphilosophyofinclusionhasbeenprojectedbyallthedeepthinkersoftheAges.ItisoneoftheoutstandingproclamationsofJesus,ofEmersonandWhitman,whobeheldthegloryofGodeverywhere.

Itisthissimpleanddirectapproachtorealitythatcausesustofeelonewithallcreation,witheachotherandevenwithpassinghumanevents.IcannotfindanyplacewhereGodtheCreatorleavesoffandthecreatedbegins.IcannotfindanyplacewherethecreatedisseparatefromtheCreator.

LookingatthingsfromthebeliefthattheyareseparatefromtheDivinePresenceislikelookingthroughdarkglasses,whileviewingallthingsasactsandmanifestationsofthedivinePresenceistoviewthemastheyreallyareandhavethemgivenbacktousasthoughGodhadpersonallybroughtthemtous.[Italicsadded.]WhateverillusionstheremaybeinlifeareinourownmindsandnotinGod’screation.TheUniverseitselfisalive,awareandawakeandsuchawarenessaswehaveisGod’sawarenessinus,recognizingHimselfinandthroughall.Indeed,ourwholespiritualevolutionisbutaprocessofawakeningtothatwhichwasthereandrealbeforeweperceivedit.

ExcerptedfromoneofErnestHolmes’slectures,publishedinScienceofMindMagazineforJanuary1991.

TheWayItWorks…TrippingonWordTraps

InthebeginningGodcreatedtheheavensandtheearth.—GENESIS 1:1

ThereisOneLifebackofeverythingthatlives.

—THESCIENCE OFMIND,PAGE35IntakingSpiritasavaluereference,wefirstacknowledgeSpiritastheSourceofallthings,understandingthatitmustbeharmoniouslyatonewithitselforelseCreationwouldbeinherentlychaoticandtearItselfapart.Werecognizethatthis“atone”naturereflectsintoallofLifeassuchqualitiesasPerfection,Goodness,Love,Peace,andHarmony.Thus,invokingSpiritrevealsthehighestandthebestinanycircumstance.

Butnowtheproblemsstart.IfSpiritisPerfection,Goodness,Love,Peace,andHarmony,wheredoimperfection,badness,hate,strife,anddissonancecomefrom?Aren’ttheypartofSpirittoo?Theymayonlybeillusionorfalsebelief,butthey’rehere!Thus,theperennialsnag:ifSpiritisPerfect,howdoweaccountforimperfection?Evenifimperfectionisultimatelyunreal,howdoweaccountforitsapparentrealityandthesufferingitcauses?WhatisitevendoingintheuniverseofPerfection?Whatkindofvaluereferencehaveweaccepted?

Ourproblemisoneofwords.Sincewordshaveopposites,oursayingSpiritisPerfectioninvitespeskyinquiriesaboutwhereimperfection(hate,strife,etc.)comesfrom.Wemaytrytoexplainourselveswithcleverreasoning,butfailtorealizethatthedilemmaisanonsenseissueandwillalwaysleadusintotraps.TherealproblemisthatSpiritcannotbereducedtowordsatall.Whenwetakethe“PerfectionofSpirit”asourvaluereference,wearereallycitingatranscendentSourcethatharmoniouslyincludesallopposites,excludesnothing,defiesdefinition,and,initsinclusivity,canberegardedasPerfect.

IexpandmyconceptofSpirit,realizingitincludesallthings.

FromScienceofMindMagazine,April1991.DailyGuides,byJohnS.Niendorff,formereditoroftheMagazine.

TheWayItWorks…EmbracingseemingoppositesInherfascinatingbookSympatheticVibrations,sciencewriterK.C.Coleincludesadiscussionof“NaturalComplements”whichmakesiteasiertounderstandSpiritualInclusivity.ForwhatwearecallingGod’sInfiniteInclusivityofseemingopposites,Coleusesthescientifictermcomplementarity,asillustratedhereinthefamiliar“vaseandfaces”image:

Youcannotseeboththeprofilesandthegobletatthesametime;youmustcontinuallyshiftyourpointofview.

Colewrites,Complementaryideasareopposingideasthatadduptomuchmorethanthesumoftheirparts.Theycomplementeachotherlikenightandday,maleandfemale,“ontheonehand”and“ontheotherhand.”Complementsarerequiredforafullspectrumofunderstanding,justasafullarrayofcolorsisrequiredtoproducepurewhite.(Infact,anytwocolorsareconsideredcomplementaryiftheyadduptowhite.)Complementsaretheyinandyangofscience.OrasthephysicistEmilioSegrewrote,“Itisoneofthespecialbeautiesofsciencethatpointsofviewwhichseemdiametricallyopposedturnoutlater,inabroaderperspective,tobebothright.”

SympatheticVibrations,K.C.Cole.NewYork:WilliamMorrowandCompany,Inc.,1985..

InfiniteInclusivity!Love,Life,Truth,Intelligence,arenamesofourGood.WemaytellthatourGoodisTruth.ThiswillcauseourlipstospeakTruth.Pilateasked“WhatisTruth?”TheearliestEgyptianssaid,“TruthisGod.”Thecontinualspeakingforseveralyears,bytheChristianmetaphysicians,that“TruthisGod,”finallybroughtthemtowheretheycouldseeexactlyhowTruthisGod.ItisbecausethetellingoftheexactTruthaboutwhatGoodis,isanenergyforbringingGoodtopass.

Donotgetentangledinyourownwords.Youaregreaterthananywordsyoueveruse.AtpresentyouusewordstoapproachuntoyourownGood.Therewillcomeatimewhenyouwillnotusewords.FROM SCIENTIFIC CHRISTIAN MENTAL PRACTICEBYEMMA CURTIS HOPKINS,A LEADER IN THE EARLY NEWTHOUGHT MOVEMENT,OFTEN CALLED “THE TEACHER OF TEACHERS.”

Whenyouadopttheviewpointthatthereisnothingthatexiststhatisnotpartofyou,thatthereisnoonewhoexistswhoisnotpartofYou,thatanyjudgmentyoumakeisself-judgment,thatanycriticismyoulevelisself-criticism,youwillwiselyextendtoyourselfanunconditionallovethatwillbethelightoftheworld.-HARRYPALMERPeacemakingWhenIembracemywoundsandallowthemtoheal…Ihavenoimpulsetoinjureyou.WhenIunderstandmydesiretobeliftedup…Irefusetotearyoudown.WhenIthinkrightlyaboutmyself,Ineednotmakeyouwrong.Andwhenmycryforloveopensmyownheart’sdoors…Inolongercloseyouout.—DR.ROGERW.TEEL

TheWayItWorks…Freedomismydivineheritage

Intellectually,itmaybecleartousthatthenatureofourlifemustbefreedom,yetweoftenseemtoactasifwearebound.

Ifwewerenotfree,wewouldbepuppetsuponsomedivinestrings,orperhapssomenot-so-divinestrings.Wewouldbelikerobots,havingtoactasweweredirectedtodo.Lifewouldbecoldandsterile,perhapslikethatofthewivesinTheStepfordWives.Therewouldbenosurprises,sinceallwouldbedeterminedbysomeoutsidepower.Accomplishmentwouldnotmeananythingtousbecausewewouldnotbedoingitourselves.Therewouldbenotriumphaswesurmountchallenges,becausewewouldnotbedoingitwithourownuniqueness.Wewouldbeglorifiedrobots.

Weknowotherwisefromeventhemostsurfacescanofhistory,bothoursandourplanet’s.Weknowthattherehavebeentimesofreachingintotheverydepthsofoursoulsandfindinganswerstodeepproblems.Weknowtherehavebeentimeswechoseunwiselyandtimeswechosewisely.Weknowthatitwasreallyourselveskeepingusinthatbadrelationship,unfulfillingjob,orbendintheroad.Weknownowthatwhenwechoosedifferently,wegetdifferentresults.Somethinginusknowsthatwearetheonethinkingthethoughtsandmakingthechoice,eventhoughwemaybetemptedtoblameothers.

Yes,wetrulyarefree.Wearefreetobeallthatwecanbe.Wearefreetoshutdownandbelessthanwecanbe.Thatisthenatureoffreedom:wecangoinanynumberofdirections.ThesameLawcanfreeusorkeepusinbondage,dependingonhowweuseit. Now is the time to own our freedom. Now is the time to ensure that this seed isplantedwithinus.

Trythisexercise,whichistobedoneinastateofobservation,asfreeofjudgmentasyoucanpossiblymakeit.Simplynotice.Lookaroundatothersinyourlife.Noticewhattheyaredoing,whatchoicestheyaremaking.Saytoyourself,“______isfreetomakeotherchoicesandgetotherresults.Icanseethatclearly.”(Pleasekeepyourobservationtoyourself;youareobservingforyourownenlightenmentonly.)

Lookatyourlifeandwhatyouaredoing.Saytoyourself,“Iamfreetomakeotherchoicesandgetotherresults.Icanseethatclearly.”(Rememberyourstateofpureobservation.Simplynotice.)

IamDivinelyfreetothinkandactasIchoose.

FromthewritingsofRev.MarleneOaks,.

BeyondLimits!

BasicPrincipleNine:Forgiveness

TheUniverseexistsintheEternalNow,eachmomentcompleteandperfectwithinitself.InthisUniversalHarmony,justicewithoutjudgmentisalwaysautomatic,aninfallibleUniversalPrinciple.TherecanbenoplaceforDivineanger,unforgiveness,orpunishment.TheworldlysufferingresultingfrommisuseorignoranceoftheLawautomaticallyceaseswhenthemisuseorignoranceceases.Thisiscalled“God’sforgiveness,”butissimplytheworkingoutofimpersonalPrinciple.

Holmessays,“NeithertheconsciousnessofSpiritnorthelawsoftheUniverseholdanythingagainstus;whereverweturntotheminrecognitionandacceptance,theyimmediatelyflowthroughus,impartingtheDivineGivingness.”

HumanforgivenessistheprocessthatfreesustoliveintheEternalNow.Itisessentialthatwewhollyforgiveourselvesandallothersbeforedeepspiritualgrowthcanflourish.

IfIamholdingontooldresentments,ifthereisanyrealorimaginedinjurywhichIhavenotwhollyforgiven,thereisasubstantialblockinthepathofmyspiritualprogress.Tofreemyself,Imustgenuinelyforgivebothmyselfandthosewho,Ibelieve,haveinjuredme.

Unforgiveness,holdingresentment,isamisuseofSpiritualLaw,arejectionoftheOnenessofallLife.Thus,onthehumanlevel,forgivenessappearstobeacosmicrequirementforrestorationofharmonyandgrowthinhumanliving.

TheWayItWorks…Forgiveness

Forgivenessisthekeytosoulmaking.Itisimpossibletoexperienceanempoweredrealityifyouholdontohateandresentmentfromthepast.Manylivesarebeingdestroyedbythepoisonsofhateandresentment!Jesusdeclaredthatwecannotunleashthetruepowerofprayerwhileatthesametimeholdingontooldunforgivenesses.

FORGIVENESSISNOT:• Forgetting• Condoning• Absolution• Self-sacrifice• Aclear-cut,one-timedecision

—Jesusdeclared:forgive70x7symbolizingtheactofcontinuingindefinitely.

FORGIVENESSIS:• By-productofanongoinghealingprocess• Aninternalprocess• Asignofpositiveself-esteem• Lettinggooftheintenseemotionsattachedtoincidentsfromthepast• Recognizingthatwenolongerneedourgrudges,resentments,ourhatredandself-pity• Nolongerneedingtopunishthepeoplewhohurtustoeventhescore• AcceptingthatnothingwedotopunishTHEMwillhealUS• Freeingupandputtingtobetterusetheenergyonceconsumedbyholdinggrudges,

harboringresentmentsandnursingunhealedwounds• Movingon

METAPHYSICALREALIZATIONS:• Hurtandhateareharboredbecausewehavejudgedthatwewerediminishedbysome

deed• Wemusteventuallyrealizethat,consideringtheTruthofourBeing,wecannotbe

diminished...thiswasmerelyourchosenperception• Forgivenesshingesonourwillingnesstoperceiveandacceptthe“largerstory”• Wethencanseparatethe“doerfromthedeed,”andseethegiftsofpersonalgrowth

hiddeninallpain,betrayalandhurt• 1ststep:Wemustwanttoforgiveeventhoughwemaynotknowhow.Itispowerfulto

askforhelpinourprayerwork;therewardisfreedom.Beyondanyearthlydamage,ourspiritualbeingisalwayswhole

• 2ndstep:Rememberthatmostforgivenessalsoinvolvesself-forgiveness• Remember:Forgivenessisnotrationalizingorretreatingfromtruefeelings.Itis

embracingfeelingsandexpandingtonewdimensions=transcendence

byEmmetFox

Aswerepeatthe[Lord’s]Prayerintelligently,consideringandmeaningwhatwesay,wearesuddenly,sotospeak,caughtupoffourfeetandgraspedasthoughinavise,sothatwemustfacethisproblemandthereisnoescape.Wemustpositivelyanddefinitelyextendforgivenesstoeveryonetowhomitispossiblethatwecanoweforgiveness,namely,toanyonewhowethinkcanhaveinjuredusinanyway.Jesusleavesnoroomforanypossibleglossingofthisfundamentalthing.

NoticethatJesusdoesnotsay,“ForgivememytrespassesandIwilltrytoforgiveothers,”or“Iwillseeifitcanbedone,”or“Iwillforgivegenerally,withcertainexceptions.”Heobligesustodeclarethatwehaveactuallyforgiven,andforgivenall,andhemakesourclaimtoourownforgivenesstodependuponthat.

Youmustforgiveeveryonewhohaseverhurtyouifyouwanttobeforgivenyourself;thatisthelongandshortofit.Youhavetogetridofallresentmentandcondemnationofothers,and,notleast,ofself-condemnationandremorse….Youhavetoforgiveyourself,butyoucannotforgiveyourselfsincerelyuntilyouhaveforgivenothersfirst.Havingforgivenothers,youmustbepreparedtoforgiveyourselftoo,fortorefusetoforgiveoneselfisonlyspiritualpride.

Therearefewpeopleintheworldwhohavenotatsometimeorotherbeenhurt,reallyhurt,bysomeoneelse;orbeendisappointed,orinjured,ordeceived,ormisled.Suchthingssinkintothememorywheretheyusuallycauseinflamedandfesteringwounds,andthereisonlyoneremedy—theyhavetobepluckedoutandthrownaway.Andtheoneandonlywaytodothatisbyforgiveness.

Ifyourprayersarenotbeinganswered,searchyourconsciousnessandseeifthereisnotsomeonewhomyouhaveyettoforgive….Doyouthinkthatyoucanaffordthis?Ofcourse,noonecanaffordsuchathing;andsothewayisclear.Youmustcutallsuchties,byaclearandspiritualactofforgiveness.Youmustloosehimandlethimgo.Byforgivenessyousetyourselffree.

Excerptedfromtheessay“TheLord’sPrayer,”inPowerThroughConstructiveThinking,EmmetFox.NewYork:HarperCollinsPublishers,1932.

TheWayItWorks…PracticeMeditatingThyServantHeareth”

Meditationisnotnecessarilywords;itisfeelinganddeepinnerperception.JoelGoldsmithsaid:

MeditationismuchlikeinvitingGodtoenterus,ortospeaktous,ortomakeItselfknowntous.ItisnotanattempttoreachGod,sinceGodisOmnipresence.WhereGodis,Iam;whereIam,Godis,sinceweareone.SothereisnoneedtoreachforGod;thepurposeistobestillandlettheawarenessofGodpermeateus.TheactivityisalwaysfromGodtous.WearenotseekingtoreachGod.WestartwiththerealizationthatwhereIam,Godalreadyis,andthereforeweseekastateofstillnessinwhichwemaybecomeconsciouslyawareofthatPresence.ThePresencealreadyis,thePresencealwaysis;insicknessorinhealth,inlackorinabundance,insinorinpurity,thePresenceofGodalwaysalreadyis.Thereisnoseekingafterit,thereisnostrivingforit,webeginwiththatrealization,Godis,GodiswhereIam,IandtheFatherareone.InthatrealizationyourelaxandinvitetheFathertorevealItself:“Speak,Lord,Thyservantheareth.”Thatisreallythemainfunctionofmeditation.

ItwasMotherJulianofNorwichwhosaid,“Foreveryonewhosays‘Speak,Lord,thyservantheareth,’”therearetenwhosay“Hear,Lord,thyservantspeaketh.”

Letusbelistenersnowandstartourmeditation…withthewords:Speak,Lord,thyservantheareth.LetussitquietlyintheSilencetogetherandlistenfortheVoicewithin.

IntheSilencewewillhearthePresencespeaktous:

BestillandknowthatIamGodwithinyou.Andwewillanswerback:SpeakLord,thyservantheareth.

IwillbestillandhearthevoiceofGodwithinme.ExcerptedfromTheJoyofMeditation,JackandCorneliaAddington.MarinadelRey,CA:DeVorss&Co.,Publishers,1979..Foryourpracticethisweek,usethefourlinesinboldaboveasareadingbefore,duringandafteryourperiodofsitting.

Name: ____________________________________ WRITINGASSIGNMENT-MYTREATMENTTOBEHANDEDINONWEEKSEVEN(Pleaseusethispagefromyourworkbooktohandin.Itwillbereturnedtoyou)MyPurpose(statedaffirmatively,seepp4-6&7foradditionalguidelines)

Thispageisblank.

Session8ofyourStudentNotebook(PAGES110-122)

Complete:

CompletetheForgivenessExercisepp116-120,includingwritingatreatment,sothatwecandiscusstheresultsinclass8(youdonothavetohandinthetreatment,itisforpersonaluse.)

(Besuretoalsoanswerthequestionsonpages114,116.)

Practice:

Meditationexerciseonpage106

PersonalReflection

BasedonyourreadingofLivingTheScienceofMind(pp429–430)commentonthephrase“Self-awarenesswithoutself-expressioncanalmostasreadilyproduceemotionaldisturbances…”(page429)

BeyondLimits:

SESSIONEIGHTSelfEsteem

ThePowerofForgiveness,continued

Relationships

THISWEEKWebeginthissessionbyconsideringourrelationshiptoourselves–amostfundamentalandimportantrelationship.Doyouactivelyandconsistentlysupportandempoweryourself?Or,doyouhabituallydisregardanddisempoweryourself?Theself-esteemcycleillustratesourabilitytoliftourselvesup,especiallyinthosetimeswhenwetypicallyputourselvesdown.

Thissessionalsocontinuestodevelopclarityaboutandopennesstowardstheenormouslytransformingprocessofforgiveness.Thisisaspiritualpracticethatisuniversalamongthegreatreligionsandspiritualpaths,yetitisoneofthemostdifficultforhumankindtomaster.Thisissuchavitalkeytofreedomandhealing.

Thesessionconcludeswithanexplorationofrelationships.Everylifeisanarrayofrelationships,yetweseldomdevelopandutilizespecificwisdombywhichourrelationshipscangrowmorehealthyandproductive.Thisisanopportunitytoempoweryourrelationshipstoserveeveryoneinyourlifeontheirpathwayofself-realization!

“ThefruitofSilenceisPrayer;ThefruitofPrayerisFaith;ThefruitofFaithisLove;ThefruitofLoveisService;ThefruitofServiceisPeace.”

-MOTHERTHERESA

TheWayItWorks…LivingNow

Takethereforenothoughtforthemorrow;forthemorrowshalltakethoughtforthethingsofitself.Sufficientuntothedayistheevilthereof.

—MATTHEW 6:34Havenofearoftomorrow;enjoytoday.Refusetocarrythecorpseofamistakenyesterday.

—THESCIENCE OFMIND (TEXTBOOK) PAGE432Actually,whenwethinkaboutit,theonlywaylifecaneverbelivedisonemomentatatime!There’sabsolutelynothingthatcanchangeyesterday.It’soveranddonewith.Ifwemademistakes,wecanlearnfromthemsowedon’tcontinuetodothingsthesameway,therebystiflingourgrowth.Inaddition,there’snoreasontofeelanxiousaboutthefuture—toworryabout“whatmightgowrong”or“whatif.”Wecandealwithtomorrowwhenitarrives.

EachmomentoflifeisagiftfromtheUniverse.Howoftenweforgetthisandspendourpreciousmomentsregrettingthepastordreadingthefuture,whentheonlytimewecandoanythingaboutitisrightnow.Wecanchoosetoliveeachmoment.Wecanchoosetoliveintheeternalnow,fullyawarethatourlifeistheLifeofGod.

IknowthateachdayofmylifeisGod-given,fresh,andshining,andnew.Iletgoofyesterdayandembracetomorrowwhenitarrives,appreciatingeverynewmomentasanopportunitytogrowandtoexpressmorefullytheLifeofGod.

Theonlywaytohealthepainthatwillnothealitselfistoforgivethepersonwhohurtyou.Forgivingstopsthererunsofpain.Forgivinghealsyourmemoryasyouchangeyourmemory’svision.Whenyoureleasethewrongdoerfromthewrong,youcutamalignanttumoroutofyourinnerlife.Yousetaprisonerfree,butyoudiscoverthattherealprisonerwasyourself.—LEWISB.SMEDES,FORGIVE ANDFORGET

Yes,daytoday,momentbymoment,forgivenesswillfreeyouofmanynegativethings.Itwillensurethatyouarenotaddinganymorethingstoyourthoughtatmospherethathavetobehandledlaterwhentheyhavegrownbiggerandmoreominous.Thepastisforgiven,blessed,giventhanksfor.Todayisforgiven,blessed,giventhanksforasitishappening.Thereisnojunktocarryovertotomorrow.Todayisenoughtohandle.-MARLENE OAKS,BEYOND FORGIVENESS

Forgiveness

“Forgivenessisnotthemisguidedactofcondoningirresponsible,hurtfulbehavior.Norisitasuperficialturningoftheothercheekthatleavesusfeelingvictimizedandmartyred.Ratheritisthefinishingofoldbusinessthatallowsustoexperiencethepresent,freeofcontaminationfromthepast.”

--FireintheSoul,JoanBorysenko

“Forgivenessistheexerciseofcompassionandisbothaprocessandanattitude.Intheprocessofforgiveness,weconvertthesufferingcreatedbyourownmistakesorasaresultofbeinghurtbyothersintopsychologicalandspiritualgrowth.Throughtheattitudeofforgiveness,weattainhappinessandserenitybylettinggooftheego’sincessantneedtojudgeourselvesandothers.”

--GuiltistheTeacher,LoveistheLesson,JoanBorysenko

“Forgivenessisworkingthroughtheunfinishedbusiness,lettinggoofthepainandmovingonforyoursake.”

--Forgiveness,Dr.SidneySimon&SuzanneSimon

TheWayItWorks…HeavenandHell

Abig,toughsamuraioncewenttoseealittlemonk.“Monk,”hesaid,inavoiceaccustomedtoinstantobedience,“teachmeaboutheavenandhell!”

Themonklookedupatthismightywarriorandrepliedwithutterdisdain,“Teachyouaboutheavenandhell? I couldn’t teach youaboutanything.You’redirty. You smell.Yourbladeisrusty.You’readisgrace,anembarrassmenttothesamuraiclass.Getoutofmysight.Ican’tstandyou.”

Thesamuraiwasfurious.Heshook,gotallredintheface,wasspeechlesswithrage.Hepulledouthisswordandraiseditabovehim,preparingtoslaythemonk.

“That’shell,”saidthemonksoftly.

Thesamuraiwasoverwhelmed.Thecompassionandsurrenderofthislittlemanwhohadofferedhislifetogivethisteachingtoshowhimhell!Heslowlyputdownhissword,filledwithgratitude,andsuddenlypeaceful.

“Andthat’sheaven,”saidthemonksoftly.

—RAMDASSHOWCAN IHELP?

Howwouldyouexplainthemoralofthisstorytoafriend?

Forgivenessisoneofthekeycontributorstohappiness.EmmetFoxwrote“Ifyourprayerscontinuetoremainunanswered,un-forgivenessmaybethecause.”Althoughforgivenessassistsinimprovingeveryaspectofourlives,therearetwoparticularreasonswhyitisimportantwhenwearefocusingonthepracticeofcirculation.

Firstofall,holdingontoresentmentstowardpeopleandeventsinourpastkeepsourattentiononthepast.Withthisfocusonthepast–whetherintheforefrontorthebackdropofourawareness–wearemorelikelytomisstheopportunitiesofthepresentandthepromiseofthefuture.Weareliterallystuckwithwhatwas,ratherthanwhatcouldbe.

Secondly,holdingontoresentmentsdoesexactlythatforourthoughts,ouremotions,andevenourbody:holding.Thestateofun-forgivenessbringswithitatensionthatpermeateseverylevelofourbeing.ThisrestrictivestanceistheexactoppositeoftheopenstateweneedtobeinifwearegoingtobeclearchannelsfortheinflowandoutflowofGood.Negativethoughtsaboutthepastarelikedebrisinthewaterthateventuallycanbuilduptoblockthepipes.

You’llnoticethatthesecommentspointtowhatforgivenessdoesforus–notfortheoneswhowrongedus.Thereisnosuggestionheretocondoneanyone’spreviousbadbehavior.Rather,ouraimistocreatewithinourselvesastateofconsciousnessthatcanauthenticallyannounce,“Iamfreeoftheeffectsofwhatyoudidtome.AsIreleasemyselftogoforwardonmypath,Ialsoreleaseyoutogoforthonyourpath.”

Somevaluableinformationiscontainedin9wordssaidbyJesus.Whenhisdisciplessaid,“Teachustopray,”hemodeledaprayerthathasbecomeknownas“TheLord’sPrayer.”Initarethewords:“Forgiveusourdebts,asweforgiveourdebtors.”Thefirstthingthatisstrikingisthatthelanguageisalsofinancial–debtsanddebtors.ThesecondthingofnoteisthatJesusisturningovertoGodtheactofreleasingusfromanyactsofincompleteness(“debts”),whereasitisourjobtoreleasethepeopleinourlives(“debtors”)fromthewaywehavebeenmentallyhangingontothem.Theconsequencesofactionsareuptothespirituallawsoftheuniverse.Attitudestowardpeoplearewithinourcontrol.

Forgivenessisalife-longspiritualpractice,forwealwaysseemtobepresentedwithopportunitiestodoit.Likeourotherspiritualpractices,itmaynotseemeasyatfirst,butitdoesgeteasierwithpractice.ThefollowingquestionsaredesignedtoassistyouinthisimportantprocessofreleasingthepastandtherebyopeningtomoreGood.

• Whatinyouropinionarethebenefitsofforgivenesswork?

• Whataretheobstaclesyouencounterinforgivenesswork?

• Whatsuggestionswouldyougivetosomeonetryingtoforgivetheunforgivable?

• Whatdoesitmeanifyoufindyouarenotabletoforgivesomething/someone?

Pre-forgivenesswork:Developingasofterholdonlife.

• Wheredoyougetstuckinlife?

• Whatopinions/positionsareyouunwillingtosurrender?

• Whenhasbeingrightcostyouyourhappiness?

“IHadItAlltheTime”byAlanCohen,authorofForgiveForGoodandRelaxIntoWealth

Icouldn’tbelieveIwashearingthehotelclerkutterthefrequenttraveler’smostdreadedgreeting.IturnedtothesponsoroftheprogramIhadcometopresent.Upset,sheengagedtheclerkinapolitebutthinlyveiledargumentoverwhosefaultitwasthatthereservationhadbeenlost.Forseveralminutesthesponsortoldtheclerkwhereandwhenandhowthereservationhadbeenmade,andtheclerkkeptdefendingherselfandthehotel,reiteratingthattheyhadnorecordofmyreservation.Theconversationslippedintoatailspin.Finally,Iinterruptedthedebate.“Doyouhavearoomformenow?”Ienquired.Astartledlookwashedoverbothwomen’sfaces.Theclerkcheckedhercomputer.“Yeswedo.”Wealllaughedaswerealizedthatwehadbecomemorefascinatedwiththeproblemthanwiththesolution.Withinminutes,Iwasstretchedoutinacomfortablebed.Asmyheadnestledintothesoftpillow,IconsideredthevanityoftheblameanddefenseconversationIhadbeheld.Ihavebeeninvolvedinmanyofthem.Theygoroundandround,centeredonwhatwentwrongandwhosefaultitwas.Guiltistraded,blameisshifted,andusuallybothpartiesendupfeelingworsethanwhentheybegan.

Breakthroughsuccessexpertstellusthatproblemspersistbecauseweaskthewrongquestionsinattemptingtosolvethem.Thecriticalshifttheysuggestliesinformulatingaquestionthatwillleadusaheadtotheanswerratherthantotheerror.Insteadof“whatwentwrong?”Amorepracticalquestionis“Whatdoweneedtodonowtoaccomplishwhatwewant?”Suchrefocusingcanmakeallthedifferencebetweenflounderinginthepastandsucceedinginthepresent.ExcerptedfromFivePillarsofSpiritualityDr.EdwardViljoenDr.JoyceDuffala

Makealistofallthepeopleinyourlifewherethereisanopportunitytodoforgiveness

TheWayItWorks…Self-Understanding

APATTERNFORFORGIVENESSAsEmmetFoxtellsusinhisessay“Forgiveness”(excerptedonp111),thereisnopossiblewaywecangetaroundtheabsolutenecessityforforgivenessifweexpecttoprogressinourspiritualdevelopment.Thatmeansfirst,completeforgivenessofeveryoneagainstwhomweharboranyresentmentatall;and,second,completeforgivenessofourselves.

lfyouwillparticipatefullyintheexercisewhichfollows(page119),youmayfindthatyouhavediscoveredatoolfordumpingallthatcumbersome,unhealthybaggagefromyesterdaythatyouhavebeencarryingaround.(Nooneneedseeanythingyouwritehereunlessyouchoosetoshareityourself.)

Chooseonenameandeventfromyourlistonpage117.Intheblankspacebelow,writealettertoyourchosenperson,followingthispattern:1. Recalltheevent,howithurtyou,andwhatfeelingshaveremained.2. Writeyourforgivenessofthishurt,anditserasurefromyourmindnow.3. Acknowledgethisperson’scontributiontoyourlife,throughwhatyou

learnedfromthisexperience.4. Acknowledgethepersonwithcompassionandkindness.

Dear __________

(Keepinmindthisletterisforyouandisnotintendedtobesenttothepersontowhomitisaddressed)

Nowwriteanotherletter,thistimetoyourself.Forgiveyourselfcompletelyforanycontributionyoumayhavemadetotheunhappyeventandforyourunforgivingthoughtsorjudgmentssincethattime.

Dear Me,

PART4Intheprocessofwritingyourletters,someconditionorattitudeinyourlife,orsomepersonalqualityofyours,mayhavesurfacedwhichyouwouldliketochange.Writeatreatmentbelowforthehealingofthiscondition,attitudeorquality.Thisisyourprivatetreatmentandwillnotbehandedin.PURPOSE

RECOGNITION

UNIFICATION

REALIZATION

THANKSGIVING

RELEASE

Session9ofyourStudentNotebook(pages123-136)

Complete:

CompletetheImmortalityWorksheetonpage129-131Begincontemplatingyourpersonalprojectforthiscourse.YouhavebeengivenaposterboardforthisprojectwhichwillbeutilizedduringSession#10.Reviewpage135foranexplanationandforsupportiveideas.

Practice:

Meditationexerciseofyourchoicefromanyoftheprecedingweeks.

PersonalReflection

BasedonyourreadingofLivingTheScienceofMind(pages69-74)howwouldyoudefineReligiousScienceinapproximately30-40words?

BeyondLimits:

SESSIONNINEImmortality

TheManyDimensionsoftheUniverse

THISWEEKThemajorfocusofthissessionisImmortalityasubjectthathasgrippedourimaginationandinspiredourexplorationssincethefirsthumanstoodupandsaid,“Iam!”

Formostofus,lifeafterdeathisanunknowableexperienceinthisexistence.Wecanreachconclusionsaboutdeathandbeyondthroughintuition,personalexperienceswithlovedoneswhohavegoneonbefore,andreportsofthosewhohavehadnear-deathexperiences.Atthispoint,theverificationthatwehaveisinternal,nothardscientificevidence.Comingtoasenseofconvictioninourownunderstanding,whileremainingopenandreceptivetonewawarenessaboutthecontinuityofourindividuallife,canfreeustoliveinthepresentmomentwithoutfear.

Allthatis,atall,Lastsever,pastrecall;

Earthchanges,butthysoulandGodstandsure;Whatenteredintothee;Thatwas,isandshallbe;

Time’swheelrunsbackorstops;Potterandclayendure.-ROBERTBROWNINGRABBIBENEZRA

BeyondLimits!

BasicPrincipleTen:Immortality

ImmortalityisaUniversalPrinciple,nota“belief”orabargainmadewiththeUniverseforgoodbehavior.SpiritisLife.Itiseternalcontinuity.Holmessaysthatimmortalityeitherisaprincipleinnatureandcommontoallmen,orithasnoexistencewhatsoever.

“Manisbornofeternalday.Notbecausehewillsorwishesit,notbecausehelaborsorstrivestowardit,orbecauseheearnsitasareward,butsimplybecauseSpirithasbreathedlifeintohim.AllpeopleareincarnationsofGodandthesoulcannomorebelostthanGodcanbelost.”

“Death”isahumanconcept.EachhumanbeingistheincarnationofSpirit’seternalcontinuity.TheDivineSparkinhumanityisimmortal.Tome,immortalitymeanstheeternalcontinuanceandself-knowingnessofmyindividualizedconsciousness,foreverexpandingasIgrowinenlightenmentandthecapacitytolove.

However,asHolmeswrites,“…Icannotbasemyhopesofimmortalityontherevelationofanyonebutmyself….Ilookuponthebeliefinimmortalityneitherasavaguedream,norasaforlornhope,butasaprovenfact.Here,withinmyself,issomethingthatknows.”

Thereiswithinmyself,anirrefutablerecognitionthatthepresentexperienceisonlyonespiralofaneternaljourneytowardthelight.Somethingwithinmesimplyknowsthatitmustbeso.

TheWayItWorks…IAmNotOnlyMyBody

Weidentifywiththevisiblesomuchthatsometimesweforgetandbegintothinkthatwhoweareisabodywithaspecificname.Butwearenotourbodies.Ourbodiesarelikespacesuitsorworksuitsthatourconsciousnessusesasawayoffunctioninginthisdimension.Whilewearehereonearthinthethirddimension,ourbodiesareessentialforourfunctioning.Whentheyarenolongersuitableforourconsciousness,wedropthemandgoontoliveinthenextlife.Buteachofusisfarmorethanabody.

Consciousnesscanbeknown,butitcannotbelocated.Wecannotdissectabody;findanorgan,andsay,“Thisistheconsciousness.”Youareusingyourconsciousnessnow,followingmewiththeseideas,addingsomeofyourown,andmovingaheadtoapplication.Yourconsciousnessisnotlimitedbywherethebodyispresentlyresiding.Rightthismomentyoucangoinmindtoyourhighschoolgraduation,toafavoritevacationspot,toatendermomentyearsago.

Yourmindcanimaginethingsthatneverwere.Youcanimaginewithmeanelephantthatistwoinchestall,purple,andsingssongs.Yourmindcanenvisionlifeasyouwantittobe.Yourmindcanenvisionlifeasyoudon’twantittobe—alivinghell.

Weknowthatwhenwemeetsomeone,werespondtofarmorethantheirbody.Thereisaspecialsomethingabouteachpersonthatmakesthemunique.Wesensethattheyarenegativeorpositive,safeordangerous,richorpoor,kindorcruel,excitingordull,etc.Andthiscertainlygoesfarbeyondjusttheirbodilycharacteristics.Wetouchtheirconsciousness,andtheytouchours.Whotheyareinconsciousnessismillionsoftimesmoreimportanttousthanwhattheirbodiesare.Ourconsciousnessiswhatdeterminesthequalityofourlives,thequalityofresponsewegetfromotherpeople,andthedepthofourrealizationthatweareOnewithGod.

Thisweekpracticeknowingthatyouaremorethanyourbody.Takeamomenttoloveandappreciateyourbodyandthankitforbeingsuchagrandspacesuittowearhereonearth.Thenspendtimewiththeconsciousnessthatyoureallyare.Whenyoumeetsomeoneelse,remindyourself—“Thispersonhasabody,butismorethanabody.Thispersonisarichandvariedconsciousness.”Dothiswithoutanysenseofjudgment,moreintheattitudeofexplorationtoenrichyourunderstandingoflifebyknowingmoreaboutyourselfandothersinyourlife.

Iamvitallyawareoftheconsciousnessinandthroughmyselfandeveryoneandeverything.

FromthewritingsofRev.MarleneOaks.

TheWayItWorks…DimensionsofLifebeyondLifeToallthinkingpeopletherecomesatimeofdeepquestioning,whentheyaskthemselves:“Whatislife?”and“Whatisdeath?”Beforethesequestionscanbeansweredsatisfactorily,however,themostbasicquestionofallarises:“WhatisGod?”Tothis,nomancanpossiblygiveacompleteanswer.Wehaveprogressedsofarbeyondtheoldanthropomorphicconceptofagodwithhumanattributesandcharacteristics,thatmanypeoplewhoformerlyconsideredthemselvestobeatheistsoragnosticsarenowacceptingthemoremodernandscientificapproachtoGodasInfiniteMind,InfiniteIntelligence,InfiniteEnergyandSubstance,InfiniteWisdomandLove.ThemagnitudeofGodissotremendousastobebeyondthescopeofman’simagination!Godissovast,soenormous.EverythingwhichexistsoreverdidexistoreverwillexistiswithinGod,fromthemostinconceivablytinyparticleto—andbeyond—theoutermostgalaxieswithintheinfinityofspace.IcannotpossiblytellyouwhatGodis,butifyouwillallowme,IcansharewithyouwhatGodmeanstome.Try,ifyouwill,toimaginethemostbeautifulandperfecttinybabyyou’veeverseen—onlyafewdaysbeforebirth,stillinthewomb.Imaginethatyoucancommunicatewiththislittleoneandyouaskthequestion:“Whatisyourworldlike?”Listencarefullyandyouhear:“Myworldisawonderfulworld.HereIamsnug,cozy,andwarm.I’msurroundedwithloveandmyeveryneedisprovidedfor,evenbeforetheneedexists.IhopeIcanstayhereforever.”Nowyouaskanotherquestion:“Whereisyourmother?Whatdoesshelooklike?”Youcanalmostimaginethelittlefacialexpressionchangingtooneofquandary.Listenagainandyouhear:“Mymother?Idon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout!Whatisamother?DoIhaveone?”Yousmiletoyourselfasyourealizethislittleonecannotpossiblyknowanythingabouthermotheruntillongaftershe’sbornandshelearnsoftheparent-childrelationship.Andyet,shewillneverbeanyclosertohermotherthansheisrightnow,sinceshelives,moves,andhasherbeingwithinherownmother.ThisisverymuchlikemyconceptofGod.Welive,moveandhaveourbeinginGod;yetweknowverylittlemoreaboutGodthandoestheunbornbabyknowaboutitsownmother.Then,althoughlivinginaworldofcomparativedarkness,wherethehorizonislimitedtothesmoothmoistwallsandsurfacesofthewomb,theunbornbabyissuddenlyfilledwithbutoneextremelyurgentandmiraculousdesire:toreachoutforbroaderhorizons.Thus,thetimeforbirtharrivesandthechildisborn.Wheredoesthebabygowhenitisborn?Itdoesn’tgoanywhere,sinceitisalreadyhere.Andyetawholenewuniversehascomeintobeing,wherethehorizoniseverexpanding.Whatisbirth?Beyondthebiologicalandphysicalexperienceofbeingejectedfromthewomb,birthisactuallythetransitionofconsciousnessasthebabypassesfromitsseeminglyone-dimensionalworldinthewomb,outintothisworldofthreedimensions.Followingbirth, this littleonegrowsthrough infancy,childhood,adolescence,and finally reachesmaturity,takingitsplaceintheworldofadults.Then,eventually,deathoccurs;itmaybetheresult

of accident, illness, or old age, but death does come. It is now thatwe face two of themostsignificantquestions inourentireexistence. “Whatis life?”Life isthemanifestationofthevitalforcesofGod,individualizedinmanasanindividualentity,becauseGodisAll-in-All.Welive,moveandhaveourbeinginGod.ThatwhichweareissomepartofGod,individualizedinusasus.Welive,therefore,thatGodmaybemoreadequatelyandabundantlyexpressed.“Whatisdeath?”Deathisthepassingbeyondthisthree-dimensionalworldintootherworldsofvaryingdimensions—intoanever-expandingUniversewithever-broadeninghorizons.Wedie,butwelive!Life,asweknowitinthisthree-dimensionalworld,willcontinuejustsolongasthebodyretainssufficientchannelsthroughwhichthevitalenergyofGodcanflow.Whenenoughofthesechannelsceasetofunction,thebodydies.Itislikediscardingoldclothes.InICorinthians15:40,theBiblesays“Therearecelestialbodiesandbodiesterrestrial:butthegloryofthecelestialisone,andthegloryoftheterrestrialisanother.”

Whathappenswhentheindividualpassesthroughdeath?Wheredoesonego?JustastheunbornbabymustpassthroughtheprocessofbirthsothatLifeshallcontinue,theindividualpassesthroughdeathforexactlythesamereason,toexperiencegreaterlife!Wheredowegowhenwedie?Wedon’tgoanywheresincewe’realreadythere.Liketheprocessofbirth,whenthebabypassesfromits“one-dimensional”worldwithinthewombandmovesoutintothisworldofthreedimensions,deathisthepassingfromthisthree-dimensionalworldintothatworldofmanymoredimensions.Ourconsciousnesscontinuestoexpandindirectrelationtotheever-expandingUniverse,withitsever-broadeninghorizons,asitunfoldsbeforeus.Just as the unborn baby cannot possibly perceive that itsworld is partof andwithin the threedimensionalworld,weapparentlycannotanddonotperceivethatourworld ispartof, andalsowithin,otherworldsof innumerabledimensionsbeyondthisone.Jesussaid,“Letnotyourheartbetroubled.Inmyfather’shousearemanymansions.IfitwerenotsoIwouldhavetoldyou.”The“mansions”towhichJesusreferredarewhatwemightcall“dimensions.”Deathisnotthelonelythingitappearstobe.Remembertheexperienceofbirth,whenthenewbornbabyisgreetedbya“welcomingcommittee”offriendsandlovedones.Sinceconsciousnessistheonlyreality,ourconsciousbeing,whichistheSpiritofGodinusasus,willalwaysclotheusinsuchformasmaybeappropriatesothatweshallconformtotheneedsofwhateverdimensionalworldwemaybelivingwithin.InGodwelive,moveandhaveourbeing,forLifeisEternal.

FromDimensionsofLifeBeyondLife,JohnHefferlin,D.D.,R.S.D.

Neverthespiritwasborn;Thespiritshallceasetobenever.Neverwastimeitwasnot;Endandbeginningaredreams.BirthlessanddeathlessandchangelessRemaineththespiritforever;Deathhasnottoucheditatall,Deadthoughthehouseofitseems.Nay,butasonewholayethHisworn-outrobesaway,Andtakingnewonessayeth,“ThesewillIweartoday,”SoputtethbythespiritLightly,thegarbofflesh,AndpassethtoinheritAresidenceafresh.—EDWINARNOLD,THESONGCELESTIALTRANSLATEDFROMTHEBHAGAVADGITA

TheWayItWorks…

Self-UnderstandingMYBELIEFSABOUTIMMORTALITY

AdaptedfromaGallupPollQuestionnaire

Date 1.Doyoubelieveinlifeafterdeath?Whyorwhynot?

2.Inwhatwaysdoyouthinklifeafterdeathwillbedifferentfromyourpresentlife?Pleasebeasspecificasyoucanaboutwhatyoubelieve.

3.DoyouthinkthereisaHell,towhichpeoplewhohaveled“bad”liveswithoutbeingsorryareeternallydamned?Explainyourpointofview.

4. DoyouthinkthereisaHeavenwherepeoplewhohaveled“good”livesareeternally

rewarded?Explainyourpointofview.

5.Doyoubelieveinreincarnation—thatis,therebirthofthesoulinanewbody[hereonEarth]afterdeath?Whyorwhynot?

6.Doyoubelievethereishumanlifeonotherplanets?Whyorwhynot?

7.Doyouthinkitispossibletohavecontactwiththedead?Whyorwhynot?

8.Doyouthinklifeafterdeathwilleverbeprovedscientifically?Whyorwhynot?

9.Pleasereadthislistcarefullyandplacecheckmarksintheblanksfollowingthosewordsortermswhichdescribeyourbeliefsaboutlifeafterdeath.

Itwillbepeaceful. __________

IwillbeinthepresenceofGod. __________

God’slovewillbethecenterofmylifeafterdeath. __________

Therewillbelovebetweenpeople. __________

Iwillseefriends,relatives,spouse. __________

Iwillliveforever. __________

Crippledpeoplewillbewhole. __________

Iwillgrowspiritually. __________

Therewillbehumor. __________

Therewillbeangelsordevils. __________

Iwillberecognizableasthesamepersonasonearth. __________

Peoplewillministertothespiritualneedsofothers. __________

Peoplewillhaveresponsibilities. __________

Peoplewillhavehumanform. __________

Therewillbesomesortofcontactwithpeopleonearth. __________

Iwillbeabletoministertothespiritualneedsofpeopleonearth. __________

Iwillenjoymaterialcomforts. __________

Itwillbeboring. __________

Therewillbetotaldarkness. __________

Noneoftheabove. __________

10.Addotherdimensionstolifeafterdeathwhichyoubelievein,butwhicharenotcoveredinthelistonthepreviouspage.

11.Somepeoplehavereportedunusualexperienceswhentheyhavebeenonthevergeofdeathorhavehada“closecall.”Haveyou,yourself,everbeenonthevergeofdeathorhada“closecall”whichinvolvedanyunusualexperienceatthattime?Ifyes,pleasedescribewhatyouexperienced.

TheWayItWorks…MeditateontheBreath

ASimpleKeytoClarityandRelaxationByShinzenYoung

Breathmeditationisasimple,naturaltechniquefordevelopingcalmandconcentration.BasicallyitinvolvespayingattentiontotheLifeEnergyasitexpressesitselfwitheachinbreathandoutbreath.

WhatAretheBenefits?Self-control,relaxation,concentration,anddirectexperienceoftheflowofSpirit,whichisalwayswithyouasbreath.

WhenandWheretoDoIt.Youdoitasadailypracticeinitsownright.Eachsessionshouldlast10to45minutes.Itisgoodifyoucandoitatthesametimeandplaceeachday.Manypeoplelikethemorning.Itmakesthewholedaycalmandpeaceful.

Oryoumaychoosetodoitfor5to10minutesbeforeprayerorspiritualtreatment.Youwillfindthesespiritualpracticesgreatlyempoweredbytheextrafocusandconcentrationthebreathmeditationgivesyou.Youcanalsodoitfor5to10minutesbeforedealingwithsomedifficultproblemorsituation.Itwillclearyourmindandgiveyouabetterperspectiveonthings.Remember,however,thatwhileyouaredoingthebreathmeditationexercise,youmustcompletelyletgoofthatsituationorproblemandjustconcentrateonthebreath.

Finally,duringtheday,wheneveryoufeelyouwouldliketocenteryourself,closeyoureyes,allowthebodytosettle,andfocusonthebreathforafewminutes.Ifyouhavesomeemptymomentsduringtheday,suchaswhenwaitinginanofficeorridingonaplane,youcanusethesemomentsasyour“secrettime”toenjoycalmandconcentration.

WhoShouldDoIt?Anyonewhorealizesthebenefitsofcalmandconcentration.Thebreathisa“nondenominational”formofmeditation.EveryonesharesthesameLifeForce.

WheretoFocus.Thebodyshouldbeuprightbutrelaxed,headandbackstraight.Letthebodysettleintothepositionandbecomeverystill.Feeltheundersidesofthearmsandabdomentobealittleheavy.Imagineyouarerootedtothespotandhavenodesirewhatsoevertomove.Breathenaturallythroughthenose.Eyesmaybeclosedoropen.Withinthisstillnessofthebodytherewillnaturallybeoneactivitythatcontinues…thecycleofinbreathandoutbreath.

Therearetwoconvenientplaceswhereyoucanfeelthebreath.Oneisatthenostrils,wherethebreathpassesinandout.Thereisalwaysacolumnofairpassingacrossthe

nostrilscausingatinyimpactor“touch”sensationthere.Thissensationisconstantlychanginginsmallwaysasthecolumnofairmovesacrossit.Theotherlocationforfeelingthebreathisattheabdomenasitrisesandfalls.Witheachinbreaththeabdomenwillnaturallyexpandslightlyandwitheachoutbreathitwillcollapse.Thusthereisacontinuouslychangingbodysensationcausedbythemotionoftheabdominalmusclesasyoubreathe.

Indoingbreathmeditationyoumaychoosetoconcentrateeitheronthesensationsoftheairmovingoverthenostrilsorthesensationoftheabdomenmovingupanddown.However,onceyouhavemadeyourchoicestaywithitfortheentiresession.Donotswitchbackandforthduringthesamesession.Ifyoufinditimpossibletodetectthebreatheitheratthenostrilsortheabdomentrytofeelitwhereveryoucan,forexample,intherisingandfallingofyourchest.

BasicPrinciples

1.Focusallofyourawarenessonthepointofconcentrationandcomebackeachtimeyourattentionwanders.Letallsurfacethoughtandstimulisuchassoundsfadeintothebackground.Fromtimetotimeyouwilldiscoverthatyourattentionhaswandered…youhavebecomepreoccupiedwithsomethought,memory,judgment,orsomesensationsuchasnoiseorbodydiscomfort.Withoutgettingfrustrated,gentlyturnyourattentiontothepointofconcentration.Dothisoverandoveragaineachtimeyourattentionwanders.Afterawhileyouwillnoticethatfocusingiseasier.

2.Letthebreathbenatural.Donottrytocontrolit.Allowyourselftobebreathed.Ifthebreathwantstobelong,letitbelong.Ifitwantstobeshort,letitbeshort.Ifitstopsforamoment,don’tworry—itwillstartupagainonitsown.Justletit“doitsthing.”TuneintotheLifeForcewhichmovesanddirectsthebreathwhenyoucompletelyletgo.Surrenderallcontrolofthebreath.Atthebeginningandendofeachbreath,donotstarttobreatheasanactofwill.Justrestandwaitfornaturetomakethebreathhappenforyou.FeeltheSpiritbreathingyouandletitbe!

3.Keepawarenessontheactualsensationofthebreath.Feelitdirectlyasabodysense,eitherasanimpactonthenoseorasthefeelingofthemusclesofthebellyastheymove.Beawareofeachinbreathandoutbreathdistinctly.Ifyouarefocusingatthenostrilstrytodetectthefactthattheoutbreathisalittlewarmerthantheinbreath.Youwilldiscoverafascinatingworldofrichnessandvarietyinthesimpleactofbreathing.

DifficultiesYouMayEncounter

Twomajordifficultiesaredistractionandsleepiness.Bepatientwithdistraction.Remember,likeanyotherskill,concentrationcanbedevelopedonlywithcontinuousregularpractice.Justkeeppracticinganddistractionwillgraduallylessen.Ifyouhavedifficultywithsleepiness,trytokeepthebodyverystraightandupright,andmeditatewithyoureyeswideopen.

HowtoEndtheSession

Averyimportantmomentcomeswhenyouendthemeditationandreturntoyourordinaryactivities.Thistransitionmustbemadesmoothly.

Towardstheendofthesessionleaveofffocusingonthebreath.Justsitforamomentandfeelanycalmandenergythatmayhavedeveloped.Letyourmindbelikethesky,bright,open,andreceptive.Randomthoughts,sounds,andbodysensationsarejustpassingguests;theydonotaffecttheoneTrueMind.

Havingbecomecenteredinthisway,youmaywishtobeginprayerorspiritualmindtreatment.Justlettheprayerorspiritualtreatmentflownaturallyoutofyourcalmnessandclarity.Alternativelyyoumaywishtosimplyendthesessionatthispoint.

Makeaclearresolvetostayinameditativestatewhilecarryingouttheactivitiesofyourday.Getupveryslowlyandcarefullysoastopreservethemeditativestate.StayintheOneTrueMindallday!

ReprintedfromScienceofMindMagazine,July1987:apublicationofScienceofMindCommunications,UnitedChurchofReligiousScience,LosAngeles,CA.

PERSONALPROJECTYouareaskedtoprepareapersonalprojectaspartofthefinalrequirementsofthiscourse.DuringBeyondLimits,manyinsightsandchangesinlifestyleandthinkingoccur.Yourprojectshouldexpresssomeorallofthesechangesastheyoccurredforyou.Youwillbegivenablankposterboardasyourcanvasforcreativeexpression.Yourprojectshouldfitononesideofthisboard.

TheprojectswillbepresentedinSession#10aspartoftheend-of-classcelebration.Tosymbolizeyourspiritualdevelopment,youmaywanttoconsidersomeofthefollowingforms:

Apainting

Aself-portrait(anymedium)Acollage

Adiagram

Apuzzle

Acollectionofphotographs

Anyothervisualorartisticmediumthatappealstoyou.ConsultwithaPractitionerTeachingAssistantforfurtherinformation.Enjoythisopportunitytogetintouchwithandhonorthegrowthyouhaveinitiated!

Session10ofyourStudentNotebook

Complete:

Completespiritualtodolistonpage143fordiscussioninclass.

Pleasecompleteyourpersonalprojectontheposterboardyou’vebeengiven.RefertoPage135forideasandsupport.Bringyourpostertoyoursmallgroup.Note:completionofthisprojectisarequirementforcertificationin“BeyondLimits.”

Practice:

Meditationexerciseonpages132-134.

BeyondLimits:

SESSIONTEN

PersonalProjects

NextSteps

OURCLOSINGSESSIONAsourcourseconcludes,itisappropriatetoreflectontheinsights,shifts–evenmiracles–thathaveemergedduringtheseweeks.Moreover,itisanopportunitytoshapeanongoingcommitmenttotheupliftingofawareness,theempowermentofconsciousness.ItisthisdedicationthatwillcontinuetoelevateyourlifeandrevealmoreandmoreoftheGoodofGodyousoabsolutelydeserve.

ThissessionfeaturesaforetasteofwhatliesaheadonthespiritualpathofthestudyoftheScienceofMindandSpirit.Wewillexplorethenatureof“ego”ascontrastedwiththeessential“Self.”Wewillunfoldamatrixoffaithtogetherandtherichpathwayofadeepeningspirituality.Sothatthesupportandmomentumgeneratedbythiscoursemaycontinue,embracingspecificongoingspiritualpracticeswillbeencouraged.

Inconclusion,mayyoualwaysbeblessedandmayyoueversoarBeyondLimits!

EveryhumanbeingisadoorwaythroughwhichtheInfinitepassesintothefinite,throughwhichGodbecomeshuman,throughwhichtheUniversalbecomes

individual.-RALPHWALDOEMERSON

TheMomentsofHighResolve

Keepfreshbeforemethemomentsofmyhighresolve.

Despitethedullnessandbarrennessofthedaysthatpass,ifIsearchwithduediligence,Icanalwaysfindadepositleftbysomeformerradiance.ButIhadforgotten.Atthetimeitwasfull-orbed,glorious,andresplendent.IwassurethatIwouldneverforget.Inthemomentofitsfullness,Iwassurethatitwouldilluminemypathforalltherestofmyjourney.Ihadforgottenhoweasyitistoforget.

Therewasnointenttobetraywhatseemedsosureatthetime.Myresponsewaswhole,clean,authentic.Butlittle-by-little,therecreptintomylifethedustandgritofthejourney.Details,lower-leveldemands,allkindsofcrosscurrents—nothingmomentous,nothingoverwhelming,nothingflagrant—justwearandtear.Iftherehadbeensomedirectchallenge—aclear-cutissue—Iwouldhavefoughtittotheend,andbeyond.

Inthequietnessofthisplace,surroundedbytheall-pervadingpresenceofGod,myheartwhispers:KeepfreshbeforemethemomentsofmyHighResolve,thatinfairweatherorinfoul,ingoodtimesorintempests,inthedayswhenthedarknessandthefoearenamelessorfamiliar,Imaynotforgetthattowhichmylifeiscommitted.

Keepfreshbeforemethemomentsofmyhighresolve.

DR.HOWARDTHURMANFORTHEINWARDJOURNEY

TOTHEDEGREETHATYOUWANTTOGROW

bySwamiChetanananda

ThepointIwanttomakeisthatwegrowtothedegreewewanttogrow.That’ssimpleenough.Butwantingtogrowisnotjustsomethingthatcanwaftcasuallythroughourmindsonceaweek,oronceadaywhenwecometomeditation.Itmustbecomeanongoing,livingreality.IntheBible,itsays,“Askandyoushallreceive.”Idon’tthinktheywerejoking.Itisthedepthfromwhichwewantthisgrowththatmakesitbegintotakeplace.

Thinkofatree,orofanylivingeventthatemergesfromwithinitself.Itisthedegreetowhichitobeysitsinnercommitmenttounfoldacertainpatternthatenablesittoovercomealloftheresistanceandtheobstaclesintheenvironment,andtodemonstrateitselfasavastandvitalmanifestationoftheenergyofLife.Inthesameway,theextenttowhichweareconnectedwiththatliving,innerforceistheextenttowhichwereallychangeandgrowspiritually.

Theessentialideahereisthatwegrowtothedegreewewanttogrow.Wegrowtothedegreethatwemobilizeresourcesthatwemaynotevenknowwehaveatthemoment.Butbecausewedeeplywanttogrow,becausewehavethisdeeppassion for knowingGod, becausewe have this deep love of life and love forGod,thenthatloveitselfbecomesalivingeventwithinus.Itdemonstrateseverykind of potential to overcome obstacles, to overcome barriers, to movemountains.Itcertainlyallowsustodiscoverwithinourselvesvast,unrecognizedtreasures.Thestoriesofmanygreat saintsarebasedon thisunderstandingofthedeep,deepdesiretoknowGod—adesirewehavetocultivate.Incultivatingit, countless extraordinary capabilities organize themselves within us, andmanifestforthepurposesofourliberationandfulfillment.

FromTheBreathofGod,SwamiChetanananda.Cambridge,Massachusetts:RudraPress,1988..

TheWayItWorks…AutobiographyinFiveChapters

Chapter1

Iwalkdownthestreet.Thereisadeepholeinthesidewalk.Ifallin.Iamlost…Iamhelpless.Itisn’tmyfault.Butittakesforevertofindawayout.

Chapter2

Iwalkdownthesamestreet.Thereisadeepholeinthesidewalk.IpretendIdon’tseeit.Ifallin,again.Ican’tbelieveIaminthissameplace.Itisn’tmyfault.Butitstilltakesalongtimetogetout.

Chapter3

Iwalkdownthesamestreet.Thereisadeepholeinthesidewalk.Iseeitisthere.Ifallin…it’sahabit…butnowmyeyesareopen.IknowwhereIam.Itismyfault.Igetoutimmediately.

Chapter4

Iwalkdownthesamestreet.Thereisadeepholeinthesidewalk.Iwalkaroundit.

Chapter5

Iwalkdownadifferentstreet.

—PortiaNelson

TheWayItWorks…MySpiritualPractice

SPIRITUALPRACTICEFAQSFollowingareanumberoffrequentlyaskedquestions(FAQs)aboutspiritualpractice:Whatis“dailydedicatedspiritualpractice?”“Dailydedicatedspiritualpractice”isthetimethatisspenteachdayexclusivelydevotedtodevelopingagreaterawarenessofGodinyourlife.Itisatimespentinmeditation,prayerandspiritualstudy.Althoughitisdesirabletobringaspiritualperspectiveintoeveryactivityofyourday,dedicatedpracticehasnootheractivitymixedinwithit.Don’tdeludeyourselfwithrationalizationssuchas,“IkindofmeditatewhileI’mmowingthelawn.”Whilethatmaybetrue,mowingthelawnisnot“dedicatedspiritualpractice.”HowmuchtimeshouldIspendeachday?Whateveramountoftimethatyouarewillingtospendonadailybasisistherightamount.Itisbettertostartwithafewminutesadayonaregularandconsistentbasisthantoattempttospendalargeamountoftimethatwillbedifficulttosustain.Theidealwouldbetospend10%ofyourdayindedicatedspiritualpractice.However,ifyouarewillingtobeginwithafewminutesadayonaregularandconsistentbasisyourpracticewillgrownaturallyovertimeintoalongersessionthatwillbeeasytosustain.Doesitallhavetobeatthesametime?Yourtotaldailypracticecanbebrokenupintototwoorthreesessionsthroughouttheday.Anearlymorningandaneveningsessionwouldbehighlydesirable.However,allsessionsshouldbescheduledatfairlyregularandconsistenttimes.Additionally,itisadvisabletodesignateoneofthosesessionsasyour“anchorpractice”thatyounevermiss.Where’sthebestplacetopractice?Anyplacethatisquiet,comfortableandrelativelyfreeofdistractions.Theactuallocationisnotasimportantasthefactthatyouconsistentlygotothesameplace.Itwouldbebestifyoucouldsetaplaceasidethatisusedfornootherpurpose.Considerittobeyour“sacredspace.Whatyouwillfindisthatafteratimesimplygoingtothatplacewillimmediatelydrawyouintoahigherstateofconsciousness.Itisgenerallyrecommendedthatyoudonotattempttoperformspiritualpracticeinyourbed,whichisplaceofsleep.Spiritualpracticeisabout“wakingup.”DoIneedanyspecialmaterialsorapparatus?Notreally,althoughyoumayfinditbeneficialtofurnishyoursacredspacewithvarious“formsofremembrance”oftheDivine,suchassacredimages,flowers,candles,incense,etc.However,itisimportanttorememberthattheseobjectshavenopowerinandofthemselvesexcepttoremindyouofthe“divinitythatiswithinyou.”Arethereanyspecialtechniquesinvolved?Thereisnooneperfecttechniqueorpracticethatisrightforeveryone.Awidevarietyofspecifictechniquesareavailablethroughthemanyexcellentspiritualtextsthatareavailabletoustodayinalmostanybookstore.Askforguidanceandselectthosepracticesthatfeelrightforyou.Neverdoanythingthatseemsbizarreorunusual.Lookforwaystopracticethatarebothchallengingandproductive.Bepreparedtoexpandandmodifyyourpracticeasyouspirituallyevolveandmature.What’sthemostimportantaspectofpractice?Thesinglemostimportantthingistojust“showup”eachday.Thisdemonstratesyourwillingness.Godwilldotherest.

SPIRITUALPRACTICETO-DOLISTGothroughthelistbelowandcheckoffeachoftheitemsthatyouarealreadyperforming.Gothroughthelistagainandcirclethe‘checkbox’oftwo(2)newbehaviorsthatyouarewillingtoinitiate. Once the new behaviors are established, check themoff and circle twomore. Don’tforget todate themwhenyoucheck themoff. Inmakingyourselections trytopickoneeasyoneandonescaryone.

Prayer[]DailyPrayersforMyself[]DailyPrayersforOthers[]SayGraceBeforeMeals[]WrittenGratitudeLists[]

Meditation[]DailyChanting/Mantram[]DailyVisualization[]DailyMeditation[]

Education[]ReadTeachingsofTruthDaily[]TakeClassesBasedonSpiritualTruth[]TeachOthers‘PrinciplesofSpiritualTruth’[]

Intention[]DevelopaLifePurposeandVision[]SetSpiritualIntentions&Goals[]SetPersonalIntentions&Goals[]

Affirmation[]AvoidCriticismofMyselfandOthers[]SpeakWellofMyselfandOthers[]PracticeHarmlessnesswithOthers[]PracticeHelpfulnesswithOthers[]

Self-Observation[]KeepaJournalofMeaningfulExperiences[]Record&AnalyzeMyDreams[]

Service[]ServeMySpiritualCommunityinSomeWay[]ServeMyLocalCommunityinSomeWay[]AllowMyselftobeServed[}

Circulation[]RegularFinancialGiftstoSpiritualSource[]Regularothercontribution[]

PrayerPartnering[]PrayRegularlywithaPartner[]SeeaPractitionerWhenNecessary[]SeeaPractitionerRegularly[]

KeepGoodCompany[]AttendSpiritualServicesRegularly[]ParticipateinaSupportGroup[]ParticipateinSpiritualGroupActivities[]SocializewithSpirituallyMindedIndividuals

BeyondLimits

WorldIssuesandCollectiveConsciousness

AFFIRMATIONOFRESPONSIBILITY

Imakemyworldabeautifulplaceinwhichtolive.

Iacceptresponsibilityformylife.

Iacceptresponsibilityformythoughtsandfeelings,myactionsandreactions,andIexercisecontroloverthem.Iusemyabilitytochooseandmakewisechoices.IhaveallthehelpIneed,forIhavethepowerofGodwithinme.

Iturntothisever-presentPowertoreceiveguidance,courage,andreassurance.

IchoosetodoandbeonlythatwhichItrulywanttodoandbe.

Iexercisemyyesandnopower.Idonotpostponemygood.

Iknowthatitisavailabletomethisverymoment.

Itakechargeofmythoughtsandfeelings.

Idonotletouterthingsdisturbmyinnerpeace.

Idonottrytochangeothersbutacceptthemastheyare.

Iexpressthespiritofpowerandloveandself-controlthatgodhasgivenme,andImakemyworldabeautifulplaceinwhichtolive.

ASFORME…

Asforme,beforeleavingthisplanet,Iwouldliketosaythistomyhumanbrethrenandsisters:

DecidetobeaspiritualpersonRenderothersspiritualIrradiateyourspirituality

TreateverymomentofyourlifewithDivinerespect.LovepassionatelyyourGod-given,miraculouslife.Beendlesslyastonishedatyourbreathtakingconsciousnessoftheuniverse.

ThankGodeverymomentforthetremendousgiftoflife

Liftyourhearttotheheavensalways

Beacosmic,Divinebeing,anintegral,consciouspartoftheuniverse

ContemplatewithwonderthemiraculousCreationallaroundyou

Fillyourbody,mind,heartandsoulwithDivinetrepidation

Knowthatyouarecomingfromsomewhereandthatyouaregoingsomewhereintheuniversalstreamoftime

Bealwaysopentotheentireuniverse

Knowyourselfandtheheavensandtheearth

Actspiritually

TreateverypersonandlivingbeingwithhumanenessandDivinerespect

Pray,meditate,practicetheartofspiritualliving

AndbeconvincedofeternalLife.

—ROBERTMULLER,NEWGENESIS

“VALEDICTORY”

byErnestHolmes

Rightnow,today,anysequenceofcauseandeffectmaybeinterceptedand changed and everythingmade new in our lives. If this were nottrue no one could be healed physically or psychologically today.Analytical psychology and psychiatry and the practice ofpsychosomaticmedicinewouldbe impossible,nonewhabitscouldbeformed, no transcendence of ancient experience. There would be noinventioninscience….

AsweturnwithintothatDivinePresence,weknowthatalltheagesofthepast, all theexperienceswehaveeverhad, donotmatter today.Here and now we stand forth free from the burden of the past….Iftherehasbeenasenseofseparation,wenowreuniteourimaginationand will with that fromwhich we have never been separated, norcould have been. There is OneLife,andwearethatLife.“Iamthatwhich Thou art, Thou art that which I am” — eternal and perfect,foreverblessed.Withineachoneofus,circulatingandflowingwiththerhythmoftheheartbeatoftheUniverse, isbuttheoneheart….Thereisbutonecirculation,unimpededbyanythingwehavedone,andthatwholesystemofcirculationistheharmonyandthejoyoftheflowandthereturncircuitofdivineintelligenceandwisdom.

We are guided and governed and sustained by infinite Mind whichknowswhat to do within us, how to do it, and does it. There isOne Mind, thatMind isGod,thatMind is inwhatwearedoing.Theeternal process of that Mind, forever manifesting its limitlessimagination and activity, is at the point of our own intelligence,thinking inwhatweare thinking,creating inwhatwearedoing,andbeingwhatweare.Thereisnothingelse.

—FROMDISCOVERARICHERLIFE

BeyondLimitsGlossaryInthebackofTheScienceofMind,byErnestHolmes(commonlycalled"thetextbook")isaglossaryofterms.Wehavereprintedafewofthosedefinitionsheretoassistyouinyourstudies.Dr.Edwardhasaddedsomenotes(seeindents)forfurtherclarification.Weencourageyoutoexploreyourownunderstandingofthesewordsandconcepts.

AbsoluteTheUnconditioned—thatwhichnothingcanlimit;thatwhichforevertranscendsanyconceivablelimitationordetermination.Unconditionedperfection.Self-Existent,Self-Sufficient.OftenusedasasynonymforGod.Truthisabsoluteandremainsunaffectedbytheopinions,desires,orbeliefsofhumankind.

Note:Inmathematics,absolutemeansconstantinvalue;withoutvariables.Inlaw,itmeansinnowayconditionalonanyfutureevidenceorbehavior(suchasinanabsolutepardon.)Ingrammar,absoluterefersto,amongotherthings,theuseofawordwithoutadirectobject(suchasin“weaimtoplease”).InScienceofMind,TheAbsolutereferstotheoneultimateRealitythatdoesnotdependonanything,isnotcreatedbyanythingandisnotrelativetoanything.

AffirmationToaffirmanythingistostatethatitissoandtomaintainthisasbeingtrueinthefaceofallevidencetothecontrary.Humanthoughtcanonlyaffirm,forevenatthemomentofdenial,itisaffirmingthepresenceofthatwhichitdenies!Repeatinganaffirmationisleadingthemindtothatstateofconsciousnesswhereitacceptsthatwhichitwishestobelieve.

Note:Affirmationsareshort,personallymeaningfulstatementsmadeinpositivetermsandinthepresenttense.Forexample“Ihaveawonderfuljoyinawonderfulwayandthiswonderfuljoyisheretostay”isanaffirmationwrittenbyFlorenceScovelShinn.Itiseasytoremember,hasnonegativereferences,andisinthepresenttense.Affirmationsactassupplementalreminders.Theymayberepeatedfrequentlyduringthedayasawayofretrainingmindtodwellinthatwhichislifeaffirmingandbeneficial.

AlphaThatwhichisfirst.Thebeginning.

Note:Inmetaphysicsthereisnobeginninginthesenseofcreationbeingcreatedatsomespecifictime.Insteadcreationisthoughttobecontinuouslyhappening,andalwayshasbeenhappening.“Thatwhichisfirst,”then,referstothebeginningofanycreatedthingandservesonlyasareferencepointtoexaminehowthinkingisrelatedtocreation.

AppearanceThewordappearanceisusedtodistinguishthatwhichseemstobe,fromthatwhichactuallyis.Negativethinkingmayproduceconditionswhichappeartobetrue,buttheseresultshavenopower,noreality,exceptasgivenpowerbybelievingthattheappearanceistheactuality.

Note:Howtheworldappearstobeisconsideredtobeveryrealandnotanillusion.Whetherapersonisexperiencingsickness,poverty,confusion,happiness,wealthorexcitement,itisallconsideredtobeasrealasitis.Metaphysicsasserts,however,thatrealityissubjecttothoughtandinterpretationandthatwhenthoughtandinterpretationchanges,sodoestheexperienceofreality.

Atmosphere(Mental)Aninfluence,orcondition,surroundingaplace,personorthing.Apersonwhoseatmosphereisoneofloveandcheerfulnesswillalwaysattractfriends.Inthesameway,placesarepermeatedwiththethoughtsofthepeoplewhoinhabitthem,andthismentalatmosphereofaplaceortingmayeasilybefeltbyonecontactingit.

Note:Amentalatmosphereoryourthought-mood,ischaracterizedbythedominantthemesthatrunthroughyourthinking.Justaswemaybecomeparchedwhenwewalkintoadryatmosphereofadesert,ourpersonalmentalatmospherenotonlyaffectsthosearoundus,butdrawstousthosewhofindourparticularthought-moodtobeattractiveandbeneficial.

BeingThatwhichexistsactuallyorpotentially.Generallyusedasconsciousexistence.Whencapitalized.BeingreferstotheDivineBeing;God.ThereisbutoneSourceofbeing—God—andweareconnectedwithItatalltimes.

Note:Beinginmetaphysicsgenerallyreferstoexistence,or“thatwhichis.”TheDivineBeing,Godmentionedaboveisnottobethoughtofasabeing,separateorapartfromcreation,butratherasoneindivisibleSelfthatincludesallthatis.

BeliefConvictionorfeelingofthetruthofapropositionorcondition.Beliefmaygonofurtherthanintellectualassent,whilefaithembodiesatrustandconfidence.“Beliefadmitsofalldegrees,fromtheslightestsuspiciontothefullestassurance.”

Note:Thequoteinthisdefinition,“Beliefadmitsofalldegrees,fromtheslightestsuspiciontothefullestassurance”comesfromThomasReid'sInquiryandEssays.ThomasReidwasareligiouslytrainedScottishphilosopherwhobelievedthatcommonsenseis,oratleastshouldbe,atthefoundationofallphilosophicalinquiry.

BlessingConstructivethoughtdirectedtowardanyoneoranycondition.YoublessamanwhenyourecognizetheDivinityinhim.Youblessaman’sbusinesswhenyouthinkcorrectlyaboutthatbusiness.

Note:Morespecifically,blessingissomethingthattakesplaceinthemindoftheonedoingtheblessing.Itmaybethoughtofasanactofseeingthesacrednessofthepersonforwhichtheblessingisintended.

BodyTheoutwardform.TheentiremanifestationofSpirit,bothvisibleandinvisible,istheBodyofGod.WithinthisoneBodyofGodisincludedalllesserbodies.ThisoneBodycoupledwiththeIntelligencerunningthroughIt,iscalledtheSonortheSecondPersonoftheTrinity.This,ofcourse,includesman,bothvisibleandinvisible.Italsoincludeseverygradationofconsciousness,fromthesimpletothecomplex,fromacelltoanarchangel.ItistheentiremanifestationofSpiritonanyandallplanes.Bodyisthedefiniteoutlineofflesh,containingalloftheideaswhichgotomakethecompletephysicalinstrument.

Note:Simplystated,thewordbodyinmetaphysicsreferstoeveryappearingthing,oreverycreatedthing,includingpeople,beings,circumstances,results,outcomes,andobjectsofeverykind.

Cause…Causation…FirstCauseCauseisthatwhichoccasionsorproducesaneffect.Thereason,motiveoroccasion.Causation,tooistheactoragencybywhichaneffectisproduced.FirstCausealwaysmeansthatfromwhicheverythingcomes.TheCauseofallthatismademanifestonnayplane.Thatwhichcomesfirst.Thefirstinanycreativeseries.TheLifebackofthings.

Note:FirstCauseisusedasasynonymfortheCreator,forthatwhichoriginatesanythingandeverything.Thetermcreativeseriessuggesttheongoingsequenceofcausesandeffectsextendinginalldimensionsoftime.Thismakesitimpossibletohavealiteralfirstcause,andthetermFirstCausebecauseasymbolforthatwhichiseternallybeginningandoriginatingnewness.

Changeless,TheThisreferstotheOnethatcannotchangebyreasonofthefactthatbeingAll,thereisnothingforIttochangeintobutItself.TheOneCausebackofallneverchanges,butItconstantlycreatesforms;andsoweperceiveachangingformwithinthatwhichisChangeless.

Christ,TheTheWordofGodmanifestsinandthroughman.Inaliberalsense,theChristmeanstheEntireManifestationofGodandis,therefore,theSecondPersonoftheTrinity.ChristisUniversalIdea,andeachone“putsontheChrist”tothedegreethathesurrendersalimitedsenseofLifetotheDivineRealizationofWholenessandunitywithGood,Spirit,God.

Note:ThewordChrist,fromtheancientGreekwordChristos,isatranslationoftheHebrewwordMessiahandmeanstheanointedone.ItiscommonlyusedasasynonymforJesusofNazareth.Inmetaphysics,however,thewordreferstoconsciousnessofunitywiththeDivine.ChristConsciousnessthenreferstothementalawarenessofbeingcompletelyunitedwithDivinity.

CompensationRecompense,reward,remuneration,balance.Thelawofbalanceinthementalworld,causeandeffect.Asyousow,soshallyoureap.

Note:Thelawofcompensationisalsoknownasthelawofcauseandeffect,anddescribesthereciprocalrelationshipbetweenactionsandreactions.

ConsciousMindTheSelf-knowingMindinGodorinman.TheIntelligenceintheUniversewhichrevealsitselfinallItscreation.ItisimpossibleforustoconceiveofUniversalConsciousness,butweglimpseitthroughouruseof“theOneMindcommontoallindividualmen.”

Note:ConsciousMindreferstohumankind’sawakestate,specificallywhenchoosing,deciding,andthinking,asopposedtootherstatesofmind,suchassubconscious,forexamplethementalprocessthatallowsustodriveacarwhileconductingmultipleactivitiessimultaneously.

ConsciousnessMentalawareness.Consciousnessisbothobjectiveandsubjective.Objectiveconsciousnessisastateofconsciousawareness,equippedwithwill,decision,anddiscrimination.Itsreasoningisbothinductiveanddeductive;thereforeithasself-choice.Thesubjectiveconsciousnessisentirelyareactiontothisobjectivevolition.Itiscreativebutnotdiscriminative.Itis,ofcourse,conscious,butitisnotself-conscious.Itisconsciousinthesamesensethatthesoilisconsciousoftheseed.Itknowshowtoproduceaplant,butitisnotconsciousthatitisproducingit.Ithasnoreflective,deductiveordiscriminatingfactors.Itiscompelledbyitsverynaturetoacceptandcreate.WhenwespeakofMindinItsself-consciousstate,wemeanSpirit,whetherwetingofitinGodorman.Whenwespeakofconsciousnessinasubjectivestate,werefertothementalmedium,theUniversalSubjectivity,whichisalsothesubjectivityofman.Inreferringtothesubjectivestate,theBibleusesthewordsoul;thepsychoanalystusestheterm“theunconscious”,thepsychologist,“subjective”or“subjectiveconsciousness.”Allhavethesamemeaning.

Correspondence,TheLawofThelawofcorrespondenceworksfromthebelieftothething.Ifwebelieveweshallhaveonlyalittlegood,onlyalittlegoodwillcomeintoourexperience.Thedemonstrationwemakecorrespondswithourabilitytoprovideamentalequivalentofourdesire.

CreationThegivingofformtotheSubstanceofMind.Creationalwayswasandalwayswillbe.Tobeconsciousistocreate,becauseSprithastobeconscious,andthereforemusthavesomethingofwhichtobeconscious.CreationisGodmakingsomethingoutofItself,bybecomingthethingItcreates.ThethoughtofGod,comingintoexpressionmustgoonforever.WemustunderstandthatCreationdoesnotmeanmakingsomethingoutofnothing,butmeansthepassingofSubstanceintoform,throughalawwhichissetinmotionbytheWordofSpirit.TherecouldnotbeatimewhentheactivityofSpiritwouldcease.ThewholeactionofSpiritmustbewithinItself,upontheLaw,(whichisalsowithinItself)andupontheUniversalStuff,ormatter,whichisalsowithinItself.ThethreemustinrealitybeOne;hence,“TheTrinity.”

CreativeMediumFromtheUniversalsense,itistheWorld-Soul;andfromtheindividualsense,itisthesubjectivestateofaperson’sthought.Likethecreativesoilinwhichseedsareplantedandfromwhichplantlifegrows,theSouloftheUniverseistheCreativeMedium,intowhichtheWordofSpiritfalls,andfromwhichCreationarises.WemustbecarefulnottothinkofSoulandSpiritasseparate,fortheyarereallytwoparts,oraspects,ofthesameReality,beingSelf-ExistentandCoeternaleachwiththeother.

Demonstrate…Demonstrable…DemonstrationThroughthementalandspiritualactivityofthought,directedtowardadefiniteend,webringaboutagreatergood,amoreabundantlife,abettercondition

thanexistedbefore.Thisiscalleddemonstration.Wecandemonstrateatthelevelofourabilitytoknow.Thetreatmentwhichleadstothedemonstrationisnotforthepurposeofmakingsomethinghappen,butistoprovideanavenue,withinourselves,throughwhichthingsmayhappen.SpiritualdemonstrationismanifestationofReality.

DivineMindThereisnosuchthingasyourmind,mymind,hismind,andGod’sMind.ThereisjustMindinwhichweallliveandmoveandhaveourbeing.WethinkofConsciousMindandSpiritasOneandtheSame.Thatwhichwecalloursubjectivemindis,inreality,ouridentityinInfiniteMind…ourcenterintheUniversalSubjectiveMind.DivineMindistheOneMind.TheSpiritwithinusistheDivineMind.

EffectThatwhichfollowscause.Effectisthatwhichdidnotmakeitself,butwhichmusthaveapowerbackofitcausingittobe.Allmanifestationiseffectandalleffectissubjecttoitscause.TheCreatorisgreaterthatItsCreation.Everythingwhichwesee,touch,taste,feel,hearorsensewiththephysicalsensesisaneffect.

ErrorErrormeansincorrectthinking.Itmeansthinkingbaseduponthebeliefinsomepowerorpresenceopposedtogood.

EternalHavingnoelementoftime.Withoutbeginning,withoutend.Alsomayimplyastateorqualityotherthantime.Aseternalbliss,eternalglory.Immortal,imperishable,uninterrupted,boundless.OneoftheappellationsofGod.

EvilThatwhichseemsdestructive.EvilisanexperienceofthesoulonitsjourneytowardtherealizationofReality.Evilwillremainaproblemaslongaswebelieveinit.Ofitself,itisneitherperson,placenorthing,andwilldisappearintheexactproportionthatweceaseusingdestructivemethods.

EvolutionThepassingofSpiritintoform.AllemergefromthatOneWhoseBeingiseverpresentandWhoseiseverpresentandWhoseLife,robedinnumberlessforms,ismanifestthroughoutallcreation.CreationisthelogicaloutpushofLifeintoself-expression.ItisthecomingforthofSpiritintomanifestation.TheunfoldmentofFirstCauseiswhatwecallevolution.

Faith“Faithisthesubstanceofthingshopedfor,theevidenceofthingsnotseen.”Faithisamentalattitudesoinwardlyembodiedthatthemindcannolongerdenyit.Faithiscompletewhenitisbothaconsciousandsubjectiveacceptance.Faithmaybeconsciouslygenerated.InSpiritualterminology,faithmeansabeliefinthepresenceofanindivisibleprincipleandlawwhichdirectlyandspecificallyrespondstous“Thyfaithhasmadetheewhole.”

FreedomRealfreedommeansthateachpersoniscreatedintheimageofperfectionandletaloneandallowedtomakethediscoveryforthemselves.Freedomofwillmeanstheabilitytodo,sayandthinkasonewishes;toexpresslifeasonepersonallydesires."Yeshallknowthetruth,andthetruthshallsetyoufree,"Jesustaught.TheunderstandingofTruth--InfinitePrinciple--istheemancipator.Weareboundbyourveryfreedom;ourfreewillbindsus.TheUniverse,beingdeductiveonly,cannotrefuseusanything,theveryforcethatmakesussickcanhealus.AswerealizeourOnenesswithCreative

Mind,wearereleasedfromthebondageoffalsethinking.Wesee,too,thatfreedommeanslibertybutnotlicense.

GodTheFirstCause,theGreatIAm,theUnbornOne,theUncreated,theAbsoluteorUnconditioned,theOneandOnlySpirit,ortheCreativeEnergywhichisthecauseofallvisiblethings.Love,Wisdom,Intelligence,Power,Substance,Mind.TheTruthwhichisreal,thePrinciplewhichisdependable.

God-ConsciousnessAperson'sself-knowingmindistheirUnitywiththeWhole,theirperceptionofReality.ThisUnitywithGod,ontheconscioussideoflife,istheguaranteethatoneisacenterofGod-Consciousness,thateachoneissomepartoftheConsciousnessofGod.

HealingMentalhealingmeansMindhealing.Tohealmeanstomakewhole.Weseektohealaperson’smentalities,knowingthattothedegreeinwhichwearesuccessful,weshallalsobehealingtheirbodies.BeliefindualityhasmadepeoplesickandtheunderstandingofUnitywillhealthem.GodstandstousfortheOneLifeinwhichwealllive.Mentaltreatmentisadirectstatementinmindofwhatwewishtohavedonandarealizationthatitisdone.Healingistheresultofclearthinkingandlogicalreasoning,whichpresentsitselftoconsciousnessandisacteduponbyit.RealizethatyouareaDivineIdeaandthatyourwordisthelawuntothetinguntowhichitisspoken.Thewholeideaofhealing,whenunderstood,isthesubstitutionofTruthforsense-testimony.Thisrestoresapersontoaconditionofwholeness.

HeavenAstateofhappiness.Heaveniswithin,itrevolvesaboutus;itistheresultofthatatmosphereofconvictionwhichourthoughtawakenswithinus.TheKingdomofHeavenisunformed,unlimited,unconditioned.Heavenisnotaplace,alocality“withstreetsofgoldandgatesofpearl.”ItistherealstateofBeing.Wedonotmakeitreal,foritiseternalReality.IfweabideintheFatherandHeabidesinus,inharmony,power,Ipeace,inwisdom;andourthoughtisfriendly,happy,confidentandopen,ourKingdomofHeavenisagoodplaceinwhichtolive.

HellAdiscordantstateofbeing.Abeliefinduality.AsenseofseparationfromGod.Abeliefthatourgoodisalwaystobe,andneveris.Hellisnotalocation.

ImpersonalNotbelongingtoanyparticularpersonorpersons.TheCreativeMediumisImpersonal,havingnopersonalityofItsown.ItneitherknowsnorcareswhousesIt,butisalwaysreadytoworkforanyorallalike.Itisveryimportantthatwerememberthis.TheCreativeMindisimpersonalreceptivity,inthatitreceivesallseedsofthought.

IntuitionIntuitionisGodinhumankind,revelingtheRealitiesofBeing.Justasinstinctguidestheanimal,sowouldintuitionguideaperson,iftheywouldallowittooperatethroughthem.Theabilitytoknowwithoutanyprocessofreasoning.Godknowsonlyintuitively.

LawMindinaction.TheCreativeMediumofSpiritisthegreatMentalLawoftheUniverse.ItistheLawoftheSpirit.ItistheUniversalLawofMind.TheLawsofMindandSpiritmustbeunderstoodiftheyaretobeconsciouslyusedfordefinitepurposes.ThereisnolimittotheLaw,butthereappearstobealimittoourunderstandingofit.(Abbreviatedhere.)

LoveLoveistheself-givingnessoftheSpiritthroughthedesireofLifetoexpressitselfintermsoncreation.EmersontellsusthatLoveisasynonymforGod.WearealsotoldintheNewTestamentthat“Hethatlovethnot,knowethnotGod;forGodislove.”Loveisfreefromcondemnation,evenasitisfreefromfear.Loveisacosmicforcewhosesweepisirresistible.

MentalEquivalentHavingasubjectiveideaofthedesiredexperience.Aswebringourselvestoagreatervisionthattherangeofyourpresentconcepts,wecantheninduceagreaterconceptandtherebydemonstratemoreinourexperience.

Note:Amentalequivalentmaybethoughtofasthatwhichistakenasnormalinaperson’sworldview.Anewmentalequivalentwouldthenbea“newnormal.”Theideaofnormalisahelpfulwayofunderstandingthefeelingofhavingasubjectiveideaofsomething.Itmeanscompletelyacceptingwhateveritisasreal.

MindNoonehaseverseenMindorSpirit.TheonlyproofwehaveofMindisthatwecanthink,butweareperfectlyjustifiedinbelievingthatwehaveamind.Actually,thereisnosuchthingasyourmindandmymind,hismind,hermind,andGod’sMind.ThereisjustMind,inwhichweliveandmoveandhaveourbeing.(thereismorehere)

PrincipleTheScienceofMindisthestudyofthePrincipleofBeing.Thesourceorcausefromwhichathingresults;atruthwhichisunchangeable.Wefirstunderstandaprincipleandthenrelateittoourproblemforafinaltest.

Note:Wikipediadefinesprincipleasfollows:A principle is a law or rule that has to be, or usually is to be followed, or can be desirably followed, or is an inevitable consequence of something, such as the laws observed in nature or the way that a system is constructed. The principles of such a system are understood by its users as the essential characteristics of the system, or reflecting system's designed purpose, and the effective operation or use of which would be impossible if any one of the principles was to be ignored.

In The Science of Mind, Ernest Holmes uses Principle as a synonym for Divinity (…Spirit[is]theLifePrinciplerunningthroughallmanifestation,theCauseofall.P.64)

SinWehavetriedtoshowthatthereisnosinbutamistakeandnotpunishmentbutaconsequence.TheLawofcauseandeffect.Sinismerelymissingthemark.Goddoesnotpunishsin.Aswecorrectourmistakes,weforgiveourownsins.

SoulTheCreativeMediumofSpirit;thesubjectivesideoflife;theMirrorofMind,forItreflectstheformsofthoughtwhicharegivenit.Man’ssoullifere-enactstheSoulLifeoftheUniverse.Soulissubjectivebecauseittakesthethoughtofconsciousmindandactsuponit.ItsnatureissubjectiveandItcannotanalyzeorreject;ItcanonlycarryouttheordersgivenIt.InfiniteinItspowerandabilitytodo,butnotknowingthatItdoes.

Note:InTheScienceofMind,theterm“soul”isusedinaspecializedwaytorefertospirituallawthatgovernscreation.Morecommonly“soul”isdefineddifferentlyasthespiritualpartof

apersonthatgiveslifeandisbelievedtoliveforever.Therefore,itmustbekeptinmindthatinScienceofMind“Soul”hasaspecialanddifferentmeaningandisasynonymforspirituallaw.

SubjectiveBeneaththethresholdofconsciousness.Theinnerside.Subconscious.

TreatmentTreatmentistheart,theactandthescienceofconsciouslyinducingthoughtwithintheUniversalSubjectivity,forthepurposeofdemonstratingthatwearesurroundedbyaCreativeMediumwhichrespondstousthroughalawofcorrespondence.Initsmoresimplemeaning,treatmentisthetime,processandmethodnecessarytothechangingofourthought.Treatmentisclearingthethoughtofnegation,ofdoubtandfear,andcausingittoperceivetheever-presenceofGod.

Note:Theterm“prayer”isstronglyassociatedwithpetition,requestandcommunionwithanexternaldeity.Forthisreason,itishelpfultoadoptanewtermtodescribeourmethodofaffirmativeprayer.SpiritualMindTreatmentisthecompletenameandtheformofprayeritreferstodoesnottypicallyincludepetitionsorrequests.

WordTheWordmeanstheabilityofSpirittodeclareItselfintomanifestation,intoform.TheWordofGodmeanstheSelf-ContemplationoftheSpirit.TheManifestUniverse,asweseeIt,aswellastheInvisibleUniversethatmustalsoexist,istheresultoftheSelf-ContemplationofGod.

MyIntentionsfortheClass

“Yesterdayisgone,tomorrowhasnotyetarrived,buttodayIamlivingintheeternalpresentfilledwithaneverlastinggood.”

ErnestHolmes,CreativeIdeasp.143

Mywords,bothspokenandwritten,arecreative.Here,Isetmyintentionsforthisclass.WhatdoIwanttogetoutofit?

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October 2013 Update, Center for Spiritual Living, Santa ......For students who intend to enter...

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