--- In Disappearance_of_the_Universe@..., "Gary"
<g35813@y...> wrote:
That's an interesting topic, but not an easy one to nail down. I
think the reason for that is best stated by Pursah
in "Disappearance." "You should keep in mind that each of the four
major attitudes of learning are long roads in themselves, and you
will sometimes bounce around like a ping pong ball in between them.
Gary, I think you bring up some good points. I think everyone would
have to agree, the road can be long, and I know I have been road-kill
more times than I would like to remember. I apologize for the
lengthiness of this. My finger would not obey me; even they
recognize they are not real.
Dualism:
I spent over forty years purposely fine-tuning my Dualism attitude.
I would have to say I could Bible thump with the best of them. I
knew God was there, I was here and Jesus was the path to salvation.
Of course, there was always hell to catch you if you fell off the
straight and narrow.
Semi-Dualism:
I would have to say despite my Bible thumping qualities I always had
questions. They haunted me for years and conveniently, I was able to
tuck them in the far reaches of my mind. I think more in fear of
condemnation than anything. However, I could not hide from them
forever. They begin to become real and louder as time went on. How
could God kill what He created? Was punishment (hell) an act of
love? Does perfect love really make one supplicate on a daily
bases? Of course, there was the fear factor. In addition, hell,
where did that come from? For me the door has always been nudging
open. It just took my mind longer get over the fear of God Himself.
Not to mention that is one hell of a pitchfork the devil carries
around. Shiskaboob anyone?
Non-Dualism:
Now this became my answer to all the questions I harbored for all of
those years. Oneness, now there is something to ponder. I used to
entertain how we as bodies are linked through DNA and genetics. Say
you have a child and everyone who comes to see this child always has
comments like, they have your eyes, her mouth. Not to mention the
good old DNA tests for those who lack the courage to admit that child
is theirs and how much is child support.
I knew being a creation of God had to go deeper. I knew He knew me
by my soul (His creation). A level that is conceptually more
difficult to fingerprint in my mind. How does one (spirit) divide
oneself from what is inseparable? Of course, as bodies, we see the
individualism but as spirit, the slicing dicing game does not work.
Run out and try separating the fog one morning. Now if I am truly
Gods creation, then how the hell did I end up in an orphanage (body,
earth)? Who put me on the adoption block? Knowing a loving Father
(God) would never give up His children, I was forced to face the
devil.
Perhaps I never was given up for adoption. So where was I if I was
not adopted out? Perhaps I was nowhere. As any child, I perhaps
longed for the freedom of individualism and dreamed of faraway
places. Of course not realizing what was in my own best interest.
Dreaming a dream of running away and going nowhere. A place where
time and space do not exist and dividing by zero is plausible. It
became apparent I was in a deep REM cycle and the big bang signified
the beginning of my nightmare, by my hand. I now realize reality is
not a dream, but a goal. I know the truth is not out there, but
within. The place where we all are and have never left.
"Spirit is in a state of grace forever. Your reality is only
spirit. Therefore, you are in a state of grace forever."
"God, Who created neither sin nor death, wills not that you be bound
by them."
The Fourth Obstacle: The Fear of God
"What would you see without the fear of death? What would you feel
and think if death held no attraction for you? Very simply, you
would remember your Father. The Creator of life, the Source of
everything that lives, the Father of the universe and of the universe
of universes, and of everything that lies even beyond them would you
remember. And as this memory rises in your mind, peace must still
surmount a final obstacle, after which is salvation complete, and the
Son of God entirely restored to sanity. FOR HERE YOUR WORLD DOES
END."
Pure Non-Dualism
How can we place value on what is not real? Easy! Ever dream of
what it would be like to drive around in Lamborghini Diablo? Live in
your dream house? Visit other countries and travel the world? How
about seeing someone who just begs to be lusted after? We have
placed value on things that are not real. They have a power over us
simply because we have chosen to give them that authority. When I
view someone and see ugly (such as the guy in the mirror) or see
someone who begs to be mentally undressed, I have placed value and
judgment on them. There is no hierarchy in judgment. There are no
good judgments that would be an oxymoron.
ACIM Chapter 20 Page 440
It is impossible to see your brother as sinless and yet to look upon
him as a body. The unholy instant is the time of bodies. Who sees a
brother's body has laid judgment on him, and sees him not.
If I look at the Catholicism and see a myriad of wrongs and bad
judgments. I have fallen into judgment. As Jesus was neither
judgmental nor reactionary (page 39, Arten). Just try not reacting
to the ass that just cut you off in traffic. Yet sitting back and
realizing they are you, one with OUR Father helps shed a little more
forgiveness on the situation. How about Advanced forgiveness (page
38, Arten)? Forgiving what has never been done. Ever been angry
with someone who you knew was not going to do what you asked them to
do? All of these have power over you because you have acknowledged
that power and given rise to its authority.
Nothing is so key to everything. Anything that comes from God must
be exactly like Him. God could not create anything that is not
perfect or else He would not be perfect. Since there is nothing
perfect and eternal in this world, Jesus was able to see it for what
it was…. Nothing (page 39, Arten).
Summary:
I think anyone who believes the truth of the Course and recognizes
the validity of Gary's visitors can intellectualize each one of these
and gain the understanding needed. Faith is a powerful and in
reality moves beyond the intellect. I can add 2 + 2, but must ask
where the hell did 2 come from in the first place? There used to be
this chasm between science and religion, for the most part scientist
were more on the atheist side of belief. I have come to believe that
Quantum Physics is the bridge that connects the two. Even Quantum
Physics recognizes time, space, and everything in between in not
real.
Page 40, Arten: J made a complete and uncompromising distinction
between God and everything else – everything else being totally
insignificant except for the opportunity it provided to listen to the
Holy Spirit's interpretation of it, instead of the world's. I remind
myself that thousands of lifetimes are a lot of undoing.
Thank you,
Sapient
"Always looking for something, someone else thinks they lost."
Gary