WHAT’S GOING ON

#151 FEBRUARY 2007

ALONG THE WAY:

Scratch the surface of impatience and what you will find lying beneath, subtly or not so subtly, is anger.

THIS MONTHS THOUGHT:

I will watch the thoughts that drag me into the dead past or push me into the unlived Future.

SCIENCE OF MAN: (Lesson Sixteen)

To those of us who have practiced the work this far of self-observation. We have done it slowly, week by week. We not tried to run ahead. We have not tried to improve upon it. We have been using it. And we have experienced certain things. We may have experienced a certain serenity that one never knew before. One may experience that there is an absence of the resentment, an absence of the load and the burden that one has carried about of the accounts receivable. One may be aware that anger and guilt is gone and the expectations are gone. One may be able to see what is and the value in what is. But, powerful adversaries are still active in the world. And one is little in the new world. So, one is subject, yet, to suggestion. Sometimes it is called temptation. So, temptation begins to be very active at this stage of existence. And, one can be tempted into falling away from their state of being that they have just entered. They’re little ones in the Kingdom. They’re little ones in peace. And it is said that there are great stumbling blocks. It says, “Woe to the one who is the stumbling block”, but they don’t seem to notice that. So, the world around one is powerful suggestion at this state. So, there is the beginning of a new phase of self-knowing. It is still self-­knowing and it leads to still further experiencing. Not only experiencing a new man, but if one continues in the work of self-observation and it’s other phases one will experience faith. And one will experience grace. And one may experience a much richer, richer degree of agape. It is little and it is new at this stage. While one is considerate, there is constantly the suggestion from without that one should be very proud of this state. One will find that there is constantly someone saying how wonderful it is and there is a powerful temptation to accept that idea. So, this stage of self-observation is that of re-evaluation. Now, re­evaluation is to put a new value. To see it consciously and to look at what is and always look for it’s value. You see, there are certain habitual values that the world uses and they’re constantly being suggested to one. So, one re­evaluates every suggestion. Now, there is two fundamentals that we will use for re-evaluation. One is: that whenever anything is made important, the self becomes anxious. Now, the only thing it can be made important is ideals. And one may be tempted by suggestion from the environment to consider that their state of being is ideal. And, of course, that would be a stumbling block in one’s way. It would cause a little one to get caught away and might have to start all over again. Now, this is not given as any warning or as any threat. It is given as an aim to continue self-observation, self-awareness. To observe all selves, now. To observe what other selves are suggesting to one. Remember that because one is out of certain clutches that it does not mean that one is not subject to suggestion. So, there’s still constant suggestions being made to one to make something important. And the only thing that can be made important is an ideal.

SOME IDEAS TO WORK WITH:

1. Blaming the body, the self or another is an illusion.
2. We don’t have to straighten out anything or anybody.
3. Who or what determines how we feel.
4. The reason the inner state is so valuable is that that is what Spirit acts upon.
5. To be a friend of Spirit we maintain an inner state that aids to the survival of the motor and awareness functions. We see what is and we do not compare it to what ought to be. If we report conflict, X operates on that.
6. Anytime we are disturbed, we tend to call it bad.
7. We can all handle what is.
8. If we are contented, we are on the edge of boredom.
9. We are not serene unless we are vitally interested.
10. We are about as healthy as we choose to act. This is the way we determine our physical condition. Our survival is dependent on maintaining a mood of vital interest.
11. Energy is another word for Life.
12. Much of our conflict comes from impatience. Everything is a process. This is the nature of things.
13. Conflict, struggle and resistance (all synonyms) are the only human problem.
14. The only thing that can be integrated is purpose and will. Then there is real I. Real I is not controlled by shoulds, oughts, have to’s and musts. When purpose and will are integrated, there is real I
15. The thing that maintains fear is not wanting to have it. The remedy is to be free to experience fear.
16. A conscious person lives without struggle, conflict or resistance. We are in charge of our inner state of being.
17. As long as we feel that we have to, must, should or ought to—we are in conflict. If we do something because we want to, there is no resistance.
18. If we want to feel good, we start acting like we feel good.

20. awake, or conscious. We forget anything we don’t put value on. Being a conscious person is the most valuable thing we can do. If we forget that, we will think being non-disturbed has the most value. ­
21. There is no conflict, struggle or resistance when everything is alright just like it is. Some call this happiness.

2. What do I think needs to be changed in order for me to be happy? What value does feeling less than happy have for us?

3. Depression: a fancy work for self-pity.

4. When we’re free to feel sorry for ourselves, we will soon begin laughing. When we’re free to be fearful, it goes away quickly. We are human beings and free to experience frustration. We’re free to experience whatever inner state we have at the moment. When we’re free! to have cruddy moods, we don’t have them.

5. We are already free individuals. We may not have discovered this yet. Without freedom we can have no peace, serenity, joy, etc.

6. When my purpose is to be a good guest at this incredible party on Planet Earth, all resistance ends. Awareness is knowing what we are, where we are, what is going on and what we can do. We are considerate, harmless and make a contribution. This is a new frame of reference. We are then creating a soul, or spiritual body.
7. We CAN be happy with what is. Life can be very beautiful or very miserable. We choose how we want to see it.

2. We can choose how we see everyone. And they respond as we see them.

3. Our health is as good as we act.

4. Eliminate shoulds, musts, have-to’s and oughts. They cause conflict, struggle and resistance.

5. Everything comes to pass. Not-I’s suggest that everything is permanent.

6. The best way for us to insure that we have a body to live in is to avoid anger, guilt, fear, insecurity and all the many synonyms.

7. If we discard all ideals we will not make any judgments.

8. Peace: We have ceased to make anything important.

9. Our circumstances are in balance to our inner state because Spirit acts on our inner state. Therefore, it is of great value to be in charge of our inner state.

10. We can all handle what is.

11. We don’t have to straighten out anything or anybody. All is O.K. just like it is.

12. We can be fully integrated today. We are living the Teaching when we remember What I am, Where I am, What is going on, and What I can do.

A STORY:

Now and then I stop and ask. “What is going on?” I realize that I’m not as joyful as I would like to be. Some subtle “Not-I” had taken over when I was not paying attention. In other words, I had fallen sound asleep.

Here are some of the things that surfaced:

1. I had been taking everything much too seriously.

2. I felt a sense of urgency– as if were running out.
3. I was making a bunch of things important time, work.

4. I was starting to feel that if I didn’t do it. It wouldn’t get done. Pride and vanity were in complete charge.

5. Thoughts were focused on what I “needed” to do, many of them rather gloomy and distasteful..

6. Long red traffic lights and long lines were irritating (Big “Not-I” at work there!)

WHOA!

What can I do?

1. Remember what I am, where I am. what is going on and what I can do.

2. Hold attention to the present moment.

3. Remember that Spirit does all the work.

4. Remember with thankfulness that I am at an incredible Party and all is well.

5. Remember that I am responsible for my inner state, which is my most valuable asset.

PEACE. . . .