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BeyondLimits:

PracticalSpiritualityforDynamicLiving

SESSIONNINEImmortality

Death

TheManyDimensionsoftheUniverse

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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

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BeyondLimits!

BasicPrincipleTen:Immortality

THETHINGITSELF...TheUniversal…

THEWAYITWORKS...TheHuman…

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.

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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.

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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,andfinally reachesmaturity,takingitsplaceintheworldofadults.Then,eventually,deathoccurs;itmaybetheresult

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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

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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?

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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. __________

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10.Addotherdimensionstolifeafterdeathwhichyoubelievein,butwhicharenotcoveredinthelistonthepreviouspage.

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

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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

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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.

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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.

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

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

Apainting

Apoem

Aself-portrait(anymedium)Acollage

Adiagram

Apuzzle

Acollectionofphotographs

Anyothervisualorartisticmediumthatappealstoyou.ConsultwithaPractitionerTeachingAssistantforfurtherinformation.Enjoythisopportunitytogetintouchwithandhonorthegrowthyouhaveinitiated!

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PREPARATIONFORNEXTWEEK

HomeStudytoprepareyourselfforSession10

Read:

Session10ofyourStudentNotebook

Complete:

Completespiritualtodolistonpage143fordiscussioninclass.

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

Practice:

Meditationexerciseonpages132-134.