WHAT’S GOING ON

WGO#156-July 2007

ALONG THE WAY:

I give no one the authority to annoy me.

THIS MONTH’S THOUGHT:

Life tells me what to do moment by moment.

SCIENCE OF MAN:  Lesson 21

This week we will discuss seeing differently. As one begins to see differently, one is seeing much that has hereto for been in the dark, all the things that made up the self.  One is beginning to see as one observes the self where most of ones difficulties came from, where one set up a barrier by always wanting to have something ideal or what ought to be.  And, of course, then all the difficulties of trying to gain that state of idealism or the ideal, which is an illusion and not what is.   One might say this is revelation.  To reveal is to bring to light.  One might use the parallel of many objects in a very dark room.  With no light, one would bump into things, would find no beauty, could not see what was there and wouldn’t understand it.  But if one were given the light, one could throw the light into the room, see the beautiful things, not bump into things, and one would have something revealed to one.

Now in order to have the light and to have things revealed, one, of course, must have the light and use it.  If one had a light and didn’t use it or had a lamp and didn’t use it, it would be of no value.

Now the light or the lamp that one uses, of course, is the Teaching.  The Teaching points out that there is much in man that man is unaware of.  And it points out a means whereby he may be aware of it:  the light of self-observation.  It points out that the source of his difficulties are not to be blamed on something on the outside, but arise from within the  self.  As the great Teacher said, “From within the heart of man arise lust, murders, guilt, fears, all the other things.”  So from within this dark area called the self, self-observation is throwing a light on it and seeing all the mechanical behavior, all the conditioning, which one has heretofore was totally unaware of and was totally identified with.  One sees not that it is “Not-I” and it sees that all the limitation was from the idea of conditioning.  One can begin to see that all the things that one thought were impossible, are very possible, when the conditioning is no longer in the way. This is beginning to be a new person. One is considered, in certain areas we read, that one is little in the Kingdom of heaven.  One has a little bit of glimpse of everyone doing what they feel to be right, or proper or justifiable.  One has a little glimpse of agape or love.  But one is a new person, because that was not at all present in the self.  And I is observing all this and having a Light, which is seeing the mechanicalness, the conditioning and all the mean things that arise from that, the many accounts receivable. Begins to see and have revealed to it what forgiveness is.  It begins to reveal what anxiety is.  It begins to be revealed to one where all ones difficulties arise– from the conflict of the many “Not-Is”.  One group contending that one should stick up for ones rights, complain to get ones way and to blame.  And another group saying please everybody, believe as you’re told and do as you’re told by your authorities, and to put on a different front and that the conflict between these is the source of mans agony and misery.  But he’s always blamed it on circumstances outside, on other people, on disease, etc.  One begins to have revealed to one that the disorders of the body arise from the conflict within, of the many anxieties, of the preparing for fighting or running.  One begins to have revealed to one that X always does the appropriate thing for the information it receives from I whether I is asleep and identified with the conditioning, or whether it is awake and observing the conditioning, and observing all that’s outside.  This is revelation.  One begins to live in a Light and see what’s going on and understand.  And understand other people and not be in the dark of blaming, resentment, anger, guilts, fears, etc. As one begins to have agape, love, understanding. The first person, of course, to understand is I, and that there is nothing to be regretful about, nothing to feel ashamed about, that it is the usual state of man.  It is, indeed, something to be very delighted about. That one is beginning to see, to have the Light thrown on all the dark area of the within, of the inner man as being brought to Light, the motives are being brought to Light, all the conditioning is being brought to Light.  One understands that when one was totally identified with the self, with all the conditioning, that one did what seemed right, proper and justifiable.  That’s what was reported to X and X operated on it. Now one is seeing entirely different things as being right or proper.  And is also seeing that anything that has to be justified is of course, invalid, because only the “Not-Is”, the conditioning, justifies things.  I needs not justify anything. It merely reports what is.  It is seeing what is.  It is seeing the tremendous grace, the tremendous gift that every person has.  And it is seeing that most people are totally unaware of the gift. And it understands these people and has compassion for them.  This is the beginning of the Kingdom of Heaven, Agape, the Kingdom of Love. (To be

continued)

A STORY: 

I probably take much of my life for granted.  Not only take it for granted, but whine about some of it, especially the heat in the Texas summer.  This fruitless attitude can be quickly dissolved if I will take a few moments to reflect on the incredible magic in my world.

Last night I prepared one of my favorite dished—fresh broccoli. Somewhere someone had planted, fertilized and harvested the broccoli. Many others along the way played a specific, unique role, such as cleaning, packaging, shipping, etc. before it appeared in the produce section at the grocery store. The pans, utensils, stove, salt and butter in my kitchen were all waiting to move into service in my behalf—each of which had their own story line reaching into my home.

The most remarkable magic occurred when I swallowed the broccoli and my miraculous body knew the perfect procedure to change this vegetable into heat and energy to nourish the body.

If I could look at all my activities in this manner, I would be in a constant state of wonder.  I would marvel at the exquisite world in which I live and have my being.  I would forget my complaints and shift my attention to the abundance of miracles that surround me.  Everything has been provided that I need:  A car; fuel to move it; a comfortable home; a clean bed; even clothes to wear made by hands I shall never see…and on and on.

I resolve to remember and appreciate the magic provided by a supportive and benevolent Universe. Even more than that, I will be deeply grateful that I am here and a recipient of undeserved good.

TWELVE SYMPTOMS OF A SPIRITUAL AWAKENING

1. An increased tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
2. Frequent attacks of smiling.
3. Feelings of being connected with others and nature.
4. Frequent overwhelming episodes of appreciation
5. A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than from fears based on past experience.
6. An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
7. A loss of ability to worry.
8. A loss of interest in conflict.
9. A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
10. A loss of interest in judging others.
11. A loss of interest in judging self.
12. Gaining the ability to love without expecting anything in return.

THE LITTLE THING

As you might know, the head of a company survived

9/11 because his son started kindergarten.

Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.

One woman was late because her alarm clock didn’t go off on time.

One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike

because of an auto accident.

One of them missed his bus.

One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.

One’s car wouldn’t start

One went back to answer the telephone.

One had a child that dawdled and didn’t get ready as soon as he should have.

One couldn’t get a taxi.

One man took put on a pair of shoes that morning.  He took various means to get to work.

But before he got there he developed a blister on his foot.  He stopped at a drug store to buy a Band-Aid.  That is why he is alive today.

Now, when I am stuck in traffic, miss an elevator, turn back to answer a ringing telephone—all the little things that annoy me, I will think to myself:  “This is exactly where Life wants me to be at this very moment.”  Next time my morning seems filled with resistance it may be just that Life is watching over me.

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Please make me into the person my dog thinks I am…….