Guess its time for me to delve into Thomas, huh?

Diana

I, too, attracted both these books. The DaVinci Code was given to me by my
Mom shortly after I gave her the Disappearance book. Actually, she sent the
Disappearance book to her friend Ann and then Ann sent HER the DaVinci code!
Then, I got info on the Thomas Gospel...somehow...I may have looked it up
as I've been so interested. I hadn't clicked to order yet...wanted to ask
you guys which one is most readable? Guess it must be E. Pagel's!

Synchorinistic, isn't it?


Sheila

Namasté: I honor in you the divinity that I honor within myself and I know
we are one.

Hi Sheila,

Yes, very synchronistic. Reminds me of the way I was introduced to A Course
in Miracles for the first time. Sometime in the mid 80's I was walking down
an aisle in a bookstore when, for "no reason at all" (i.e., I hadn't bumped
into a shelf, nor had anyone else), a book literally flew off the highest
shelf and hit me in the head. It was ACIM. I'd never heard of it. I'd
never have noticed it up there if it hadn't fallen on my head, as I'm too
short. So I bought it. Wouldn't you?

This seems to be a primary way to get my attention. Has something to do
with my being hard-headed I suspect. Oh well . . . whatever works . . . ;-)

Namaste,

Diana

Guess its time for me to delve into Thomas, huh?

Diana

I, too, attracted both these books. The DaVinci Code was given to me by my Mom shortly after I gave her the Disappearance book. Actually, she sent the Disappearance book to her friend Ann and then Ann sent HER the DaVinci code! Then, I got info on the Thomas Gospel...somehow...I may have looked it up as I've been so interested. I hadn't clicked to order yet...wanted to ask you guys which one is most readable? Guess it must be E. Pagel's!

Synchorinistic, isn't it?


Sheila

Namast: I honor in you the divinity that I honor within myself and I know we are one.


From: "dsstorms" <dsstorms@...>
Subject: [Disappearance_of_the_Universe] Re: Elaine Pagels and the new interest in Saint Thomas
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2003 19:38:00 -0000

_________________________________________________________________
Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8.

Diana wrote: So today I join this group and look at the list of
recent messages here and am drawn to this one due to its subject
line. It's the first post I read (and the only one so far).
Lo and behold, you mention both the new books I've just bought ...and
also turn out to be the author of the one that I've ordered.
Guess its time for me to delve into Thomas, huh?

I guess so, Diana; no accidents around here. Delve away, and welcome.
I'd be interested in eventually hearing your comments or observations
about these books. Love and peace, Gary.

Hi Sheila, Gene, and everyone who's been contributing to this latest
discussion. The script is indeed written, and we can't change it,
although the Holy Spirit can collapse time and render parts of the
script unnecessary for us to experience and learn from, if we've
already learned that particular lesson. It's been interesting to see
that a lot of the focus here has been on forgiving and letting go. If
the result that is produced is peace, then it must be in harmony with
the Holy Spirit's script and not the ego's. Thus the discussion
reminds me of something Arten said on P.292 of Disappearance: "The
ego's script doesn't always appear to change when you want it to. But
it *is* possible to end all the suffering that's called for by the
ego's script and have peace instead of fear. *That's* the Holy
Spirit's script." I think you guys are setting a good example for
this. Love and peace, Gary.

Dear Gary (and All),

I just joined this group, having heard a friend recommend your book in another
group. I haven't read your book, but it is in the mail on its way to me. Meanwhile,
wandering the bookstore here this week, I came across two books I was drawn to and
bought. Haven't started them yet. One is The DaVinci Code. One is Elaine Pagels
book about the Gospel of Thomas.

So today I join this group and look at the list of recent messages here and am drawn
to this one due to its subject line. It's the first post I read (and the only one so far).
Lo and behold, you mention both the new books I've just bought ... and also turn out
to be the author of the one that I've ordered.

Guess its time for me to delve into Thomas, huh?

Diana



--- In Disappearance_of_the_Universe@..., "garyrrenard"
<garyrrenard@y...> wrote:

I've never read any of Elaine Pagels books. (For those who don't
know, she is a Ph.D. from Harvard and Professor of Philosophy at
Princeton, and author of a couple of famous books, including "The
Gnostic Gospels" and her new best seller, "Beyond Belief: The Secret
Gospel of Thomas.") As you know, Thomas is a subject that's near and
dear to my heart (LOL) so when Elaine was interviewed on National
Public Radio a couple of weeks ago, I listened with great interest.
The first thing I noticed was that she seemed to be confirming,
albeit in a more scholarly fashion, the things that Pursah said about
Thomas and the church in "Disappearance." It reminded me of what
Pursah half seriously said on P.81, "I told you they snubbed me." I
think Elaine made a good case for the Jesus of The Gospel of Thomas
being much closer to the historical Jesus, who was the most highly
advanced wisdom teacher and was leading people to the Kingdom of God
through an internal process, while the later written Gospels,
especially The Gospel of John, (which may have been written as long
as 70 years after the first version of Thomas) portrayed Jesus as
God's only Son who came to die for our sins in a sacrificial act of
Atonement, which is a concept totally alien to Thomas.
I also think it's interesting that there has been a marked
increase in interest lately in The Gospel of Thomas as well as Thomas
himself. Surely my visitors knew this would happen, and it will be
interesting to watch how "Disappearance" takes its place in the grand
scheme of things. (BTW, I have also been told that one of the themes
of the new and very popular novel, "The DaVinci Code" has to do with
Jesus' marriage to Mary Magdalene, a subject that my teachers also
touched upon.) It's fascinating to me that my book came out just
before these two.
I think perhaps Elaine's most important contribution is that she
emphasizes in a highly credible way that Jesus was not about
Christianity's made up set of beliefs, but about the seeking of
spiritual experience that would lead one to God. I also hope that my
book demonstrates, through Arten and Pursah's many statements,
including Pursah's explanation of about 20 of the sayings in The
Gospel of Thomas, which she then uses to move into the teachngs of
the Course, that the Voice of that Gospel and the Voice of A Course
in Miracles are indeed one and the same: the Voice of the historical
Jesus. Love and peace, Gary.

From: "Sheila Bush" <namastebush@...>
...I am sleep deprived and responding as best I can...

"Delirium can be FUN!"

...landed my plane...and no luggage. Must be in the script, huh?
Letting go works... > Sheila

Hi Sheila,

Yeah, one of the things I have most gained from reading the dialogues in
"Disappearance" is a far more solid awareness of the nature of "the script".
I have experienced throughout my entire life an endless series of "things
that go wrong"; almost never anything too serious, like being horribly
maimed in an accident... but little things, things that can't possibly go
wrong *every* time -- yet still do. (You know "Murphy's Law"..? "If
something CAN go wrong, it will"...? Well, I wrote "Bogart's Corollary":
"Even when something can't POSSIBLY go wrong -- it still will"!)

Seeing it now, from the more "advanced" perspective of the Course, and
realizing that it's already over, and I'm just "viewing" it through the
equivalent of a glorified hologram... well, it takes the worry out of it,
and makes it actually kind of fun to observe! ("Oh man, you won't believe
the crap the script threw at me today!")

What has traditionally driven me the most crazy is the PRECISION with which
the screwings present themselves; things seemingly designed, against all
natural odds, to be *exactly* what I "don't want most" to happen at any
precise given moment. So now, at last, I'm beginning to see (at least when I
look at it with the HS) that yes, all of this IS designed specifically for
me, and that I'm able to not take it seriously at all, if I see it as the
cosmic joke that it is. And further, I realize it's a wonderful confirmation
of the happy fact that I must be in an "advanced class" in this lifetime, to
be receiving such a comprehensive series of customized lessons!

Another pleasant result of this is the fact that it seems, lately, that
there are actually not as many "things going wrong" as there always used to
be; it's almost like whoever's in charge of presenting this script material
("Mister Ego"..?) is beginning to feel like, "Well, if he's not gonna get
really pissed off about all this, there's no sense in wasting our time on
all these elaborate pranks"...

Perhaps this is part of the "saving thousands of years" that J speaks about
in the Course; if so, that's fine with me, I'm definitely ready to take
things to the next level! In any event, it's at least a lot more pleasant
while still seeming to be here.

However we choose to see it -- I'm glad you got your luggage back!

Bliss,

Gene

Hello, All...

Just needed to ask your support...as I am sleep deprived and responding as best I can...landed my plane after a lonnnng series of flights...and no luggage. Must be in the script, huh? Only...I JUST NOW remembered that....they had found one and not the other...and ONLY when I completely surrendered to the Holy Spirit and admitted I could definitely live without ANY of that; it'd just be a huge inconvenience...did they call and say it had been located.

Letting go works...


Sheila

Namast: I honor in you the divinity that I honor within myself and I know we are one.

_________________________________________________________________
Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online

Now (and it's a question that we in Bogart-Land ask constantly), "why" does
crap like this even happen to nice people who are doing and thinking all the
right things? Maybe Pursah can jump in here, and give us a clue...

I evidently draw these crappy situations into my life of my own free will on SOME level.... But, as has been stated so many times and so well this past few posts, it's our purpose to learn how to respond to our life and situation. All else matters little...the script is written...


Sheila

Namast: I honor in you the divinity that I honor within myself and I know we are one.





From: Gene Bogart <gene@...>
Reply-To: Disappearance_of_the_Universe@...
To: <Disappearance_of_the_Universe@...>
Subject: Re: [Disappearance_of_the_Universe] Using Forgiveness reLawsuit/Deposition
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2003 13:35:41 -0400

My Goodness, Sheila -- I thought that situations this boneheaded only
happened to me... I refer to it as "Bogart-Land", and it sounds like you
seem to be visiting this strange and Twilight-Zone-like territory!

I'd say, it appears you are handling the situation *extremely* well, and no
matter what the outcome of all this here on Earth (or as Gary's friends so
aptly call it, "psycho-planet"), we can rest easy, knowing you will be able
to completely recognize the final resolution of this as being exactly what
will ultimately bring the greatest peace to all concerned.

Now (and it's a question that we in Bogart-Land ask constantly), "why" does
crap like this even happen to nice people who are doing and thinking all the
right things? Maybe Pursah can jump in here, and give us a clue...

My spiritual legal advisor (a certain Mssr. J, Esq.) assures me that you are
in good hands. Please keep us posted on all the juicy details, and remember
that we're all in your corner!

Peace & More Peace,

Gene





To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
Disappearance_of_the_Universe-unsubscribe@...



Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to

_________________________________________________________________
Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8.

Speaking of forgiveness lessons....

After all that rambling I did, all I had to do was say this:

"Today I will forgive others who have not discovered the vast enormity of their own hearts."
-Daily Thought for Saturday, June 21, 2003, from Ascended Master Djwhal Khul

I just had to share that...


Sheila

Namast: I honor in you the divinity that I honor within myself and I know we are one.

_________________________________________________________________
MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*.

My Goodness, Sheila -- I thought that situations this boneheaded only
happened to me... I refer to it as "Bogart-Land", and it sounds like you
seem to be visiting this strange and Twilight-Zone-like territory!

Thank you, Gene...I feel very supported by you and all of this wonderful group! It's all a journey, isn't it??? But here's another bone-headed situation that I caused today, and my daughter was completely aghast while I was taking responsibility for it (please note that Id called on the Holy Spirit today to assist me in seeing my life as Spirit would have me see it. Otherwise, I cant imagine how Id have handled ANY of this!)

I was just getting onto the Interstate, off the ramp, and you know how those lanes end eventually, and the lines get closer together until there is no lane left? Well, I realized it a little late while a pokey driver in front of me was not moving my speed (still under the limit, but I was creeping up on him a little too fast...when I decided to move on down that lane, not realizing the lane was going to end. So I ended up passing him from the LEFT, and moving on out. He blew his horn long and hard, and I said, "Oh I just realized what I did, and I blew it. So sorry mister!" But of course, he couldn't hear me, and he drove up to my left and yelled and flaled his arms all over the place, and I attempted to gesture with my shoulders up and my palms straight up that I didn't realize what had happened. And he slows down, with paper and pen in hand to "study" the front of my car. My daughter Sarah (age 14) asked "NOW what's he doing?" And I said, probably taking down the description, make and model of our car. He may have already gotten the license tag, and someone from highway patrol could easily call on me in the next few days about all this." She said, "But you didn't DO anything!" And I said, YES, I did! I passed him on the left , and just as the lane was ending, too. That was against the law. He got really mad. So mad that he's going to show me and try to possibly have me ticketed for it. So if they call, I'll say, Yes, I remember that situation, and yes, I was at fault. I passed him on the left. " And Sarah said, "But that's rediculous! Why does he even care?" And I said, "Well, I COULD have put his life in danger, but I DID make sure I didn't, as I got over into the shoulder while I passed. And it's okay that he's mad. He chooses his own response, and I choose my own response."

And I loved this next question from Sarah, "Well, would YOU get that mad at someone who did that?" And I said, well, today with as little sleep as Ive had lately, I MIGHT get mad, but I'd get over it. And I know I'd blow the horn whether I was mad or not just to alert them to what they were doing. But I don't think I'd call the police after them. She then said, "Well I hope he doesn't. You don't deserve it." And I said, YES I DO! I was wrong about passing him from the left, especially when the lane was ending. f I hadn't been right on his tail, I wouldn't have had to make a snap decision like speeding up and around him. I should have slowed down and let him go first and then get into an actual LANE! Its okay, though. He chose his responses, and Im choosing mine. Ill pray for his highest good and for mine and let it go.

The conversation that followed just blew me away, as it was just intense and incredible, as Sarah then asked, Well, I dont see how you respond to Dad so calmly when HEs the one whos always mad when YOU never did anything wrong! I had to take a DEEP breath on this one. I said, Well, Im choosing my reactions, and have no control over his. But if and when someone points out something to me that I could improve on, I think its important that I admit it and go on.

I dont always respond calmly and with such zeal, but it was evidently synchronistic that I read Garys responses to Karen in the book in Chapter 6 where I was recently reminded of the egos reality and loves reality. More on the illusion of this marriage Im dreaming a little later! Ive rambled enough!

Good night, all!


Sheila

Namast: I honor in you the divinity that I honor within myself and I know we are one.

_________________________________________________________________
STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE*

Jon Mundy and I are going to be appearing together to conduct two one
day Workshops, the first on Sat. Oct. 11 and the second on Sun. Oct.
12. The Saturday Workshop will be at the Unitarian Church in Rock
Tavern, N.Y. (near Newburgh) from 10-6 (two three hour sessions with
a two hour lunch break.) Then on Sunday it's off to the big city as
we'll be appearing at the National Institute for Psychotherapy at
Columbus Circle, in the center of Manhatten (same hours). Space is
limited and we're keeping the price low. I'll be announcing further
details after I talk to Jon again next week. Stay tuned for more info
and how to register. Love and peace, Gary.

My day of the deposition started out with a 2-mile walk with my close friend Kelly, who heard about the lawsuit for the first time. I refused to give it much energy for all this time, so I figured NOT talking about it would pretty much make it not exist for me (denial IS a safe place, isn't it?!)! Prior to the walk, though, I got out the Disappearance copy which I gave to Kelly this morning, and opened it up directly to the first chapter of Part II "Waking Up" section, actually chapter 6, page 205, "The Holy Spirit's Alternative." It occurred to me immediately that perhaps this incident was all about waking me up to many things, my surroundings, the car in front of me (ahem!), the cars behind and beside me, and to just ME. The chapter started with a Course quote: "The ego made the world as it perceives it, but the Holy Spirit, the reinterpreter of what the ego made, sees the world as a teaching device for bringing you home." ((((((((((((((resonation))))))))))))) right there on my porch swing!

The chapter went on to remind me ever so beautifully of the Atonement, the idea that we are NOT separated, and that forgiveness is all that matters. "The ego says you've suffered a terrible loss...(while)... the Holy Spirit says there is no loss in reality." I knew I somehow needed to learn from this woman who has filed suit. I went into prayer and stayed that way all day.

I had complete and total peace with my attorney as he explained that we were here simply to get all on the same page. I listened as my attorney questioned the lady filing the suit. Her name is Tonya. I prayed for her the entire time, and as she spoke of her hurt neck, I sent healing energy and light to her even more. When it was time for me to be questioned, I simply let the words flow, and her attorney actually seemed stumped as to why we were really there. After only a few questions, he said, "That's all I have." Things that Tonya accused me of, I simply re-told from my perspective, and calmness enveloped me. Afterward, my attorney shared that the other attorney stopped so abruptly because he really didn't have anything to go on. However, if a judge and jury were needed for this, we'd see them on September 22nd. All I know is that if, in fact, my bumper touching her bumper could cause her neck to sprain and be under a doctor's care for three months, I am really sorry. And I told her that afterward, and that I was praying for her. She continued having a difficult time giving me eye contact.

My attorney says he has a bit more homework to do, but that he does not see that this will be going anywhere. Tonya could not state any reasons she was asking for the amounts of money she was asking. It was weird. And the raging husband stayed out of it. Usually, according to my attorney, the other spouse will co-file the suit. But that's not happening. Anyway, I am grateful, and continue to pray for everyone's highest good.

"Love holds no grievances..."

I AM...


Sheila

Namast: I honor in you the divinity that I honor within myself and I know we are one.

_________________________________________________________________
The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE*

开云体育

In a message dated 6/19/2003 12:35:41 PM Eastern Standard Time, gene@... writes:

Now (and it's a question that we in Bogart-Land ask constantly), "why" does
crap like this even happen to nice people who are doing and thinking all the
right things? Maybe Pursah can jump in here, and give us a
clue...

As I understand it, all part of a script already written ... the only thing we have control over is our response to the situation. Look at with the ego or with the HS.

Anything that happens in this world validated one of the many ego concepts, one of which is victim/victimizer.

For me in some ways it is freeing not to have to worry about the outcome because it has already been decided and I just have to decide whether I want to see peace or not, but there times I do experience frustratration at not having control (ego attack)

:-)


"Ideas Leave Not Their Source"

My Goodness, Sheila -- I thought that situations this boneheaded only
happened to me... I refer to it as "Bogart-Land", and it sounds like you
seem to be visiting this strange and Twilight-Zone-like territory!

I'd say, it appears you are handling the situation *extremely* well, and no
matter what the outcome of all this here on Earth (or as Gary's friends so
aptly call it, "psycho-planet"), we can rest easy, knowing you will be able
to completely recognize the final resolution of this as being exactly what
will ultimately bring the greatest peace to all concerned.

Now (and it's a question that we in Bogart-Land ask constantly), "why" does
crap like this even happen to nice people who are doing and thinking all the
right things? Maybe Pursah can jump in here, and give us a clue...

My spiritual legal advisor (a certain Mssr. J, Esq.) assures me that you are
in good hands. Please keep us posted on all the juicy details, and remember
that we're all in your corner!

Peace & More Peace,

Gene

For anyone unfamiliar with "The Gospel of Thomas" I wanted to point
out a couple of things. First, "Thomas" is a Sayings Gospel, which
means it is not a bunch of stories about Jesus that were written by
Thomas, it's a list of Sayings that were actually spoken by Jesus.
That's why I said before that the Voice of Thomas and the Voice of
the Course were one and the same.
Second, Pursah said that about 70 of the 114 Sayings in the
surviving copy of "Thomas" were authentic. She then went on to
explain about 20 of them on pages 74-82 of "Disappearance." The only
surviving copy of "The Gospel of Thomas" was re-discovered in 1945 in
Egypt. (About a year and a half before the Dead Sea Scrolls began to
be re-discovered at Qumran.) It is not the original version, which
was probably written in Aramaic, (some scholars may say Hebrew rather
than Aramaic) but it is an expanded, Coptic language (a combination
of Greek and Egyptian) version. If Pursah is right and about 44 of
the Sayings were added on later, then some people may teach Sayings
from the Gospel thinking they were spoken by Jesus when they actually
were not. Pursah explained that you had to take into consideration
300 years of Egyptian culture and Gnostic philosophy to account for
the Sayings that were added on by others. Love and peace, Gary.

Namaste, Sheila. Hang in there, you're doing great. Please give us
the update on Friday! Love and peace, Gary.

Hello cowdoc@...,

In reference to your comment:

Please remove me from your mailing list.. Thanks very
much.Peace out.

You have to unsubcribe yourself.? No one else can do that

Yahoo! Groups Sponsor

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
Disappearance_of_the_Universe-unsubscribe@...



Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the .

---

Do you Yahoo!?
- Now only $29.95 per month!

What I hoping for most in this group are ideas on practicing,

both formally and, more importantly, in day to day examples

of living the Course.? I will be most easily seduced into lively

metaphysical discussions and most likely bored to tears with

(excessive) swapping of quotes (from any source).? Im always

interested in anything that augments, supplements, enhances

the ideas which have drawn us here.? For example Garys

mentioning Elaine Pagels Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel

of Thomas.?

?

I wonder if anyone here thinks some of the other non-dualists

have worthwhile contributions to this practice (Nisargadatta

comes to mind for example).

?

---

Do you Yahoo!?
- Now only $29.95 per month!