Journaling with Lesson 44

Feb '24 • Feed

God is the Light in which I See is a lesson in meditation. This practice begins the disciplining of the busy mind, the one that is almost too distracted to write down these words (laughter). Nonetheless, you are coming along well. Even just a few brief minutes of this lesson will do you well. The idea overall is to help you recognize that there is a way beyond the thinking mind and a way beyond this personal hell. As we have shared before, the thinking mind seems to instantly produce distraction in the form of judgment, beliefs that tempt you away from Peace, self-critique and many other forms of self-torture. Any distraction from Peace is equal in its effects to return you to the mistaken identity, no matter how brief or mundane in nature (like wanting to eat dinner while you journal). Yes, Beloved, anything apart from Truth is NOT Truth. Pure and simple. The sooner you can accept this simple Teaching, the easier committing to Truth will feel.

Today’s practice will do wonders for the desire to be at Peace, once accepted. As noted, the ‘untrained’ will find today’s lesson to be challenging because there is little time that you have spent in Peace and do not actually recognize Peace as purposeful. In fact, the thinking mind determines Peace to be threatening. Why? Because turning towards and accepting Peace leads not but to the utter destruction of the thinking mind.

The thinking mind has had humanity in its misbegotten grasp for millennia! Time had been the measure of this reign and as the years pass by, not a single solid awareness of Self has won out. Ah, yes, many a master has come and gone.. come and gone.. only to find their teachings shared and not completely replicated. Let’s be direct, if any actual master had ultimately succeeded, there would be no reason to be writing these words or perceiving to be where you consider yourself to exist. Don’t get Me wrong, I’m not saying that the best known ‘spiritual masters’ of and beyond this conditional world are ‘failures’ no, this is not correct. All that I am saying is that indeed there remains work to be done. There are many who are more committed to disharmony than Peace. There are many more, a myriad more, who are simply afraid. This is not a judgment or condemnation in any form, only a recognition.

Who can you bring to Peace? More than you know; while also, beginning simply with this seeming self that is perceiving right now. I am not asking you to leave the world that you know. Indeed, you in body-time-self are not ready for that action. However, I am asking you to be willing to drop one thought at a time. I’m asking you to notice what distractions can be released, one moment at a time. I am asking you to accept the choice to forgive beyond the desire to hold grievances, one moment at a time. I am asking you to choose Peace instead. Yes, all of these practices are very available to you now.. and now.. and now. Perhaps even when chosen now, the practice applied may be healing also to moments considered ‘there’ or ‘then.’ Again, the miracle is timeless.

To accomplish the Peace that is beyond all imaginings, one must simply be willing to step beyond each distraction. Most distractions are in your thinking mind. It is through choosing to notice where these distractions pop up that you can walk past them. Each member of humankind has a story. These tales that are told are the narratives that seem to lead you astray. Notice I didn’t say that they ‘actually’ lead you astray. These narratives are but temptations and it is the agreement or disagreement of the one who is observing the tales that leads to the actual result. This is not to ‘blame you’ for listening to the thinking mind. This recognition is just to give you the opportunity to notice that there is an opportunity for changing your mind.

If the ‘thinking mind’ was in control of you, there would be no ability to opt out. There would be no way out of hell. However, there is a way, a Truth and a Light, is there not? Since the states of Pure Being still exist and cannot fall, there is always the choice to See again. That is why the teaching for today is so imperative. Let yourself sink deeply into the inner stillness and See again. Here you can see that there is a possibility to walk beyond distraction and turn away from temptation. Ah yes, there will be much discipline to latch onto, but surely the recognition is not beyond your capacity. Today, let yourself notice the distractions, so that you can observe the opportunity to walk past them. Even if there is very limited time spent in this inner sanctum, you have still accomplished much beyond your perceptions. Even if you do only one practice and that practice consists of less than 30 seconds, do not worry. Here, you have knocked on the door to opening beyond the conditional world of your nightmares. All such very Good News!!

Returning to the stillness will take practice. I’m not deceiving you. I understand how significant these inner ‘battles’ seem to present. I understand that believing your thoughts appears as much more rational that the ‘man in the sky’ theory. Do not worry. Your dallying does not cause any change to the Permanence of You. Even so, if you conceptually do not believe that you are dallying, if you believe that you are wholeheartedly committing without significant result seen in the moment, you are succeeding. To simply look beyond your dreams is a radiant welcoming to Truth. The Prodigal Son had much celebration not just in his eventual arrival, but in the simple decision to head back Home. The celebration has already begun and there are a million more waiting your arrival with joy beyond measure.

Therefore today, simply be willing. I’m not asking for hours of monk-like reverent commitment. However, a few minutes of your day or evening will do just fine. Do not concern yourself with measuring or judging your ‘success.' Simply allow yourself the opportunity to practice and see what reward can be felt by the willingness. Mountains are not climbed except but one step at a time. In fact, one cannot even begin the climb without the commitment to willingness. Do not give yourself a chance and you have obtained only nothing. Give yourself the tiniest opportunity to attempt and you have advanced further than your mind alone can take you.

Is there a particular environment that one must prepare for meditation? Not really. However, I wouldn’t recommend the closed eyes version while driving (smile). There is no need for intricate set up though. There is no need for ‘special’ scents, pillows or music. There is no need for chants or breathwork. These practices and objects are not but tools, or guideposts, if they are helpful at all. The reason why these are not as recommended, is that these devices can equally be distracting and fodder for the thinking mind to focus upon. “Am I breathing the breathwork, right?” “Is the candle scented correctly?” "How many do I use?" “What type of incense do I choose and has it been blessed?” “This pillow isn’t comfortable," "I am a bad student if I can’t get my body to contort in this position?” Not but more judgment and more distraction, is it not? Enough.

If the environment brings you Peace and has a sense of welcoming for you, that is truly all that is needed. Actually, I take back the use of the word ‘need.’ There is no ‘need’ for anything other than willingness. If you are in the bedroom, living room, couch or floor, You are well. Try an elevator for a couple of seconds between floors or simply sitting beneath a tree (a favorite place for many who have come before you). Each location is enough and perfect. Whether mere seconds, minutes or hours, the time is well spent. Find the perfect place and position for you and let your mind simply rest.

As with every day and in every moment, Love has You in the Arms of Comfort. Today is simply the opportunity to experience this Love and Comfort more deeply and dedicatedly for the One Who Knows.

Love Is.

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