A Prelude to Forgiveness stories

admin · A Prelude to Forgiveness stories

A Prelude to Forgiveness

To err is human; to forgive, divine

We could say that forgiveness is the act of pardoning or excusing oneself or another without harboring resentment. If we want to truly forgive, we must understand that forgiveness does not mean we are agreeing or disagreeing that an action in question was wrong, right, bad, good, appropriate or inappropriate.

Instead of looking at what is "right" or "wrong," we recognize that an action was taken in ignorance of our true nature and the action caused pain and suffering. (By ignorance, we mean lack awareness of who we truly are.)

The true nature of humanity can be described in many ways, depending on one's spiritual or philosophical tradition. To be as simple and inclusive as possible: When we experience the One consciousness or God that exists within all things, we have realized our true divine nature.

With this experience comes the understanding that our concepts, ideas, and beliefs create duality and separateness among people, rather than supporting the oneness of our spiritual nature. As long as we hold on to our beliefs, then we have something we can argue about and use against others.

Practicing the lesson

Identify 5 issues you argued over this past week.

List your beliefs about those 5 issues.

Is it possible there are other points of view as valid as yours?

Is your attachment to being right causing suffering in your life?

If so, practice detaching from wanting to be right and see what happens.

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Today's Affirmation

Today, Creator, grant me the courage and the will to forgive the people I love the most. Help me to forgive every injustice I feel in my mind, and to love other people unconditionally. I know the only way to heal all the pain in my heart is through forgiveness.

Today, Creator, strengthen my will to forgive everyone who has hurt me, even if I believe the offense is unforgivable. I know that forgiveness is an act of self-love. Help me to love myself so much that I forgive every offense. Let me choose forgiveness because I don't want to suffer every time I remember the offense.
Today, Creator, help me to heal all the guilt in my heart by accepting the forgiveness of everyone I have hurt in my life. Help me to sincerely recognize the mistakes I have made out of ignorance, and give me the wisdom and determination to refrain from making the same mistakes. I know that love and forgiveness will transform every relationship in the most positive way.
Thank you, Creator, for giving me the capacity to love and forgive. Today I open my heart to love and forgiveness, so that I can share my love without fear. Today I will enjoy a reunion with the people I love the most. Amen.

From Prayers, A Communion with our Creator by don Miguel Ruiz

Please post your comments, feelings and stories about these lessons on the forum

admin · Forgiveness and Compassion

Forgiveness and Compassion

Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.

~ Luke 6:36-7

In this New Testament quote, why is compassion linked with being non-judgmental? Simple. You can't be compassionate when you're sitting in judgment.

If we believe we're better off than a homeless person, for example, this is only the self-important pride of the ego-mind and its concepts and beliefs speaking. (The "ego-mind" is our rational thinking mind which perceives itself as separate and distinct from the world and others.) The feelings of repulsion toward that person cause suffering inside of us and are the result of our ignorance of the oneness and inter-connectedness of all life.

When we truly and deeply experience the oneness of all life, we have humility. We no longer have the desire to put ourselves above or make ourselves less than others. True humility is the result of recognizing that all beings are of equal importance. We call this way of perceiving equanimity. When we embody this, we treat everyone with respect and kindness as if they were Christ, Allah, Krishna, Buddha or God. Without equanimity, we cannot have compassion.

It's easy to feel compassion for someone suffering for reasons you feel drawn to, like a child dying of hunger in Africa. But compassion doesn't come easily when we judge the person repulsive or not worthy of our compassion, like a suicide bomber, rapist or clergy member who's guilty of sexual abuse.

Compassion and forgiveness are unconditional love in action. Are we really being compassionate and forgiving if we only allow ourselves to love members of our own country, race or religion? Of course not, because that involves judgment and separation and is conditional.

Practicing the lesson

Take one compassionate action today whether it's:

Giving up your seat on the train.

Telling someone that you appreciate them.

Bringing dinner to a sick friend.

Listening to someone in pain.

Giving a donation of money to someone you normally would not give to.

When you feel you've lost your compassion, consider listening to Robin's wonderful meditation: www.MeditationMovie.com

admin · Practicalities of Forgiveness

Practicalities of Forgiveness

When I have forgiven myself and remembered who I Am, I will bless everyone and everything I see.

~ A Course in Miracles

Each day we take hundreds of actions. Often we're doing our best to consider others when making choices, but oftentimes we don't. It's not that we're intentionally unkind and selfish. We often operate from our own limited point of view and are not aware of all the consequences of our actions. As a result, someone is hurt by what we did or said and they become angry with us, or we become angry with ourselves.

We also hurt others when their beliefs, opinions and ideas challenge our notion of what's right. This can happen when a family member doesn't agree with us and we stop speaking with them. It happens on a larger scale when one religious group doesn't agree with the beliefs of another and they choose to blame and terrorize each other.

Humans are the only species who continually punish themselves by re-experiencing past wounds. We regret something we've said or didn't say, something we've done or didn't do, or we blame someone else for their actions or failure to act. Each time we remember the situation we reactivate hurt, anger, sadness and suffering.

Forgiveness involves the action of letting go and surrendering our attachment to judging circumstances from our personal point of view. Conflict arises when people act according to their beliefs and concepts without acknowledging that other people have their own concepts and beliefs.

For example, if someone commits a murder, we understand that something in that person's mind compelled them to take their actions. We may become very angry and feel deep hate towards that person and judge them harshly. The solution is to see the "what is" in the situation. In this case, it's that someone acted in ignorance of the true nature of humanity and created suffering both in themselves and in others. (This concept was expressed by Jesus when he said; "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34)

Forgiveness does not mean we condone acts of violence or physical and verbal abuse of others. It means we forgive actions committed in ignorance of our divinity and inter-connectedness. This is may be difficult to put into practice, but we assure you that expressing unconditional love offers more to heal ourselves and the world, than anger, hatred, blame and violence.

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Practicing the lesson

Did you condemn yourself or another today? Condemning yourself could be as simple as calling yourself stupid for doing something you did.

Condemning another could be judging their words or actions to be inappropriate to a situation and projecting your anger or resentment on them.

Can you see the situation from the point of view that everyone takes actions that in the moment that seem fine, but later may not?

With this understanding, forgive yourself and/or the other person for what happened today.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive myself for condemning and judging others. I recognize when I condemn others I am condemning myself. We are all one and there is no difference between that person and me.

admin · How and why we forgive

How and Why We Forgive

When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel.

Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free.

Any time you feel resentment or regret toward yourself or another, it's time to forgive. When you are plagued by a circumstance from the past, it's time to forgive. When you believe you're right and someone else is wrong it's time to forgive. When you are criticizing, blaming and making demands of yourself or others, it's time to forgive.

You may have heard all of this before. But when we go deeper in exploring forgiveness, we see that with forgiveness there is compassion, true freedom from emotional pain, reconciliation between people, unconditional love and world peace.

When we shine the light into the very essence of forgiveness, we discover that we are an expression of love in the universe, and powerful creators. It's our made-up concepts and ideas that create separation, conflict, pain, misery, and war - whether we create war within ourselves with thoughts of unworthiness, doubt and fear - or we create war on a battlefield with missiles, rockets and guns.

The challenge we offer is to move past judgment itself. When we say forgiveness is the act of pardoning or excusing, that's saying that we've judged a person's acts or words to be wrong according to our point of view or the point of view of society. This is where we get stuck over and over again, constantly judging, becoming angry and then having to forgive.

When we finally let go of the judgment we hold of ourselves and others, we'll no longer have anything to forgive. Only when we judge is it necessary to forgive. You might be thinking that we have to judge or society will slip into chaos, but this is not true. With compassion, we can help others take responsibility for their words and deeds committed in non-awareness of their divinity.

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Practicing the lesson

Here are some suggestions on how to forgive, from our friend Brandt Morgan's new book, Vision Walk: Asking Questions, Getting Answers, Shifting Consciousness:

In meditation, imagine you are talking with the person in question, sending them your forgiveness and love. Feel their gratitude for the freedom you've given them.

Make a list of the things you want to forgive or write a letter of forgiveness and burn it along with prayers of thanksgiving.

Find an object that represents the unforgiven person or situation - a photo, a stick, a stone, or some other symbol - and burn or bury it, or set it adrift on a river or lake.

Whatever you do, follow your heart, and you're sure to feel as though a great weight has been lifted.

Consider downloading the entire "Breath of Forgiveness" exercise from Chapter 8 of Brandt's new book at www.brandtmorgan.com

Today's Affirmation

I forgive all beings for believing "we" are individuals, separate from Spirit and for creating a painful earthly dream of life.

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admin · Self-Sabotage & Intuition

Self-Sabotage & Intuition

The mind can assert anything and pretend it has proved it. My beliefs I test on my body, on my intuitional consciousness, and when I get a response there, then I accept.

Our lives are filled with choices; from what to eat and wear, to who to marry, and what medical treatments to follow. Daily life choices are often made automatically. However, our bigger life choices are often influenced by the opinions, ideas and beliefs of others (including our parents, friends, the media, and the prevailing consciousness of our culture). We look outside of ourselves for the right answer that will result in living happily ever after. The question is always: What should I do?

How many times in your life have you made a decision only to say afterwards, I should have taken the other job (or moved into the other house, or turned down another street on my way to work). I knew what to do, I just didn't pay attention. The other choice didn't seem logical! Although we gather the opinions of others in an effort to figure out the best course of action, time after time, we fail to access our most valuable source of information - our intuition, our inner knowing. We fail to acknowledge that we are wired from the inside-out with a fail-safe system which, when followed, illuminates a path that nourishes our deepest desires and our greatest well-being.

Take a moment to identify when you've sabotaged yourself by allowing your mind to edit what's possible for you in life? How often have you made choices and taken actions dictated by the fear-based voice of your ego-mind? Our friend Pamela Harper RN shares this thought with us: "Without intentional, purposeful thought we might start to think that life events are somehow random. We might also venture onto the path of the "victim". My mantra states there are no victims - only volunteers. Every step of my journey is paved with a knowing that I am surrounded by divine opportunities to fulfill my purpose in prosperity." Indeed!

After years of muting our intuition how do we discern between our ego-mind and our inner knowing? The answer is simple; listen to your body. Remember, our intuition comes through our bodies as a sense of absolute knowing that may be experienced as chills, a whoosh of sensation, or amplified sensory experiences. The words that follow are simple direct statements: make a left turn, write about forgiveness, buy this house. There's no story, no long explanation or rationale. To strengthen your intuition, clear the slate and forgive the ways you've sabotaged yourself in the past.

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Practicing the lesson

Make a list of all the choices you regret in which fear-based beliefs replaced your intuition.

Go through the list one by one and say out loud: I forgive myself for believing I made the wrong choice about: (state the item on your list)

Imagine the item on your list is inside a helium balloon attached to your body by a string. Taking a pair of scissors, cut the string as close to your body as possible and watch the item on your list float, up, up and away and disappear.

Repeat this exercise for each item on your list. It may take more than a day!

Today's Affirmation

I forgive myself for the self-sabotage of ignoring and failing to honor my intuition. My intuition is my personal guidance system. My choices are based on my intuition, expressed through the wisdom of my body.

admin · Judgment and Acceptance

Judgment and Acceptance

Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the Gods.

~ Albert Einstein ~

How often during the course of a day do you find yourself judging, criticizing and evaluating others? Do you defend your judgments because you believe you're right? How often do you disregard another point of view because you self-righteously believe that your view is more loving and more caring? My guess is that if you pay attention to your thoughts and words for just one day, you'll discover that judging dominates much of your thinking.

Countless conversations are focused on gossiping about others, and most of these discussions are filled with judgments about how the person looks, what's going on in their life, and our opinions and criticisms of how they're living their lives. We seem to have endless opinions of how others should live their lives and we feel enormous freedom to express our views.

Our thoughts form the basis of the world we experience. When the main focus of our thinking is on what's wrong with someone else or ourselves, we're instructing our eyes to only see what is wrong, what doesn't work, or problems. Let's imagine our judgments and criticisms as invisible poisonous darts aimed directly at the person we're judging. At the same time we're thinking these thoughts, the very poison we are projecting is moving through our own bodies.

We live in an interdependent world here on earth. To survive and thrive, we're dependent on being in community. Communities fail when there is constant judgment and criticism of its members. Communities thrive when the worthiness, diversity, and inter-connectedness of their members is acknowledged.

Isn't it time to free ourselves of the tyranny of judging and see the perfection of each moment, the gift available when our ego-mind is put to rest and we see the world through the eyes of love?

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Practicing the lesson
Anytime you notice you are judging yourself or others:

Do your best to stop immediately!

Pay attention to how your physical body feels and whether you can perceive the poisonous arrows of criticism moving through your body.

Acknowledge yourself for noticing, and say the following: "I recognize the voice of judgment within me and I no longer choose to victimize anyone."

Today's Affirmation

Today I open myself to the breathtaking potential of forgiveness. I see myself free from the burdens of resentment, the weight of guilt, and any and all barriers to healthy relationships. I recognize the divine calling to forgive myself and others, and to let go of the past, and by doing so, I actively step into the realm of unlimited possibilities paved by the path of continuous forgiveness.

admin · Perfection and Surrender

Perfection and Surrender

Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

A main function of the mind is to analyze, compare, separate and qualify. It performs in a similar manner to your computer's operating system. When we align ourselves with the point of view of the mind, we're always going to compare what we perceive with what our personal database considers "normal" or "the way it should be."

Comparisons in and of themselves are neither good nor bad. It's when we use comparisons to hurt or judge that emotional suffering occurs. We can use the word perfection to represent the mental image of the way we think life should be. However, each person's computer mind will contain a different model of perfection; and it's not logical to think that every human would have the same picture of perfection.

When we recognize that from the vantage point of the mind perfection is a made-up point of view, we can easily forgive ourselves and others for disrespectful judgments and comparisons.
The bottom line is: The infinite consciousness of Spirit is perfect, and all of us are part of that perfection.

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Practicing the lesson

Notice how many times in one day you judge yourself as better or worse than others based on your concepts of perfection.

Do you use your concepts to feel that you're not good enough, that you're too much (as though your personality is too big for people to handle), or that you're unworthy of love or success in life?

When you acknowledge the concepts you've used to judge yourself, create a new thought acknowledging your perfection.

Then forgive both your personal mental concepts about the way you "should be" and the pain that you've created within yourself from your self-judgment.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive myself for using my image of perfection to condemn myself and others. I know others are acting from their point of view and that has nothing to do with me. I respect all points of view.

admin · Unworthiness & Success

Unworthiness & Success

The Successful Self feels valuable, self-accepting and self-confident.

Success is something we all desire. Getting good grades in school, scoring points for our team, winning the game, dating the homecoming Queen or King, marrying Mr. or Ms. Right, landing a promotion, living on the right side of the tracks - the list goes on and on. As much as we desire success, our experience of success is fleeting.

When we're successful, it's rare that we take the time to celebrate our natural talents as creators. Instead, we set our sights on our next goal - hoping to feel good about ourselves when we get the larger house, fancier car or bigger paycheck - unaware that the process of creation is what's truly important.

We've been raised to believe that success and failure are real. We perceive the world through our definitions - labeling some experiences as successful and others as failures. If we get the job we've interviewed for, we're successful, and if we're not hired we're failures. If we marry we're successful in love, and if we divorce we're failures. The bottom line is: Success and failure are based on the meaning we assign to a particular outcome.

Why is it that humans who began their lives as magnificent creations are so often walking around feeling a sense of failure and unworthiness? We've been programmed and domesticated, often unconsciously, to believe that we don't measure up to an outside standard of success based on a particular outcome. The truth is we're always successful because we're always creating. While we may not enjoy a particular outcome, we can seize the present moment and successfully create anew. To embody success requires taking responsibility for our actions and forgiving ourselves for believing we are failures and unworthy.

If we could take action from this point of view, we'd never be afraid of failure because we'd understand that there is no such thing. Without the fear of failure hanging over us, we would be bold and adventurous with our lives.

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Practicing the lesson

Create a list of thoughts and behaviors you've believed to be evidence of your unworthiness and/or failure. Here are some examples:

Thoughts:
Nothing ever works for me.
I can't do anything right.
I'll never get that job.

Behaviors:
Showing up late habitually.
Important items are always misplaced.
Appointments are not written down.

When you hear yourself thinking the thoughts on your list, or engaging in those behaviors, acknowledge yourself for noticing, forgive yourself, and create a new choice in thought and behavior that supports your experience of success.

Today's Affirmation

I consciously acknowledge that I am the creator of my experience. I forgive myself for perceiving my circumstances through the filter of unworthiness. When I love and accept myself, I am successful.

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Please post your comments, feelings and stories about this lesson on the forum!

admin · Victimhood and Divinity

Victimhood and Divinity

The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You don't blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the President. You realize that you control your own destiny.

Our society loves to blame. Where does this tendency come from, and why is our culture so invested in its' victim mentality? Simply put, if we set ourselves up as victims, we don't have to take responsibility for our actions and choices. It's much easier to blame things on others - that way we don't have to feel guilty about anything.

Guilt, shame and remorse are great strategies of the ego-mind to keep us disempowered, weak, and at the mercy of beliefs that aren't the truth. They keep us from embracing our divine nature and the power we've been given to create our reality. Most importantly, they allow us to abdicate the responsibility we've been given by Spirit for our lives.

The truth is there are no good or bad actions - only ones that are taken with awareness or without awareness. When we totally disempower the judge in our ego-minds, we no longer feel guilt, shame or remorse. In addition, if we are not guilty, we do not have to fear punishment. It is the fear of punishment that has us wanting to blame our actions on others.

Once the fear of judgment and punishment is removed, we can take responsibility for the actions we have taken in non-awareness with gratitude - rather than guilt. (Taking responsibility means that we make good on what we've done to the best of our ability, which is a more effective approach then simply receiving punishment.)

Then we can clearly see what we've done to create pain and suffering in our lives or the lives of others and take different actions next time. This is called learning from our life experiences, and the lessons learned are far more valuable than feeling badly about choices we've made in non-awareness, beating ourselves up and becoming weighed down with guilt.

"Victims lie to themselves because the truth is too painful. They lie for fear of losing the only structure they know, however painful it is. Ultimately, it was my suffering that drove me desperately to the truth and the light, and to forgive my parents and myself."

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Practicing the lesson

Take notice of three situations in which you felt victimized by.

Write down why you felt that way.

Look carefully at what you wrote and ask yourself if it's truth. For example, if you wrote that you feel victimized by your partner for having an affair, is it truth that they did anything to you? No, it is not. They simply took actions based on whatever they believed at the time. Their choices had nothing to do with you.

On your side, your actions are threefold:
Take responsibility for your inner guilt, shame, remorse, and projected anger.

Make a choice to proceed forward in your life in a positive fashion.

Forgive your partner and yourself for actions taken in non-awareness.
Today's Affirmation

admin · Shame and Communion

Shame and Communion

It's also helpful to realize that this very body that we have, that's sitting right here right now - with its aches and its pleasures - is exactly what we need to be fully human, fully awake, fully alive.

How many of us have heard the statement that our bodies are the temple for our Spirit? Most of us, I imagine. If we feel there's truth in this statement, then why do we constantly renounce our bodies by labeling the way they function as disgusting, embarrassing, shameful, and not Godly?

There's purpose in the design and function of all our bodily systems - we need them for our physical survival. Whether we judge them to be bad or good, doesn't change the fact that these processes are going to occur regardless of whether we like them or not (like sweating, burping and yes, passing gas).

It is the mind, which has no physical form per se - think of it as a virtual reality - that judges the body. Allowing our minds to judge our bodies is a disrespectful act of sabotage. In this way, the ego-mind victimizes us with our own judgment, and the result is shame, embarrassment, and suffering.

Let's make the commitment to practice self-respect, gratitude, and acceptance for our physical bodies. Although the ego-mind is responsible for some pretty clever acts of self-sabotage, it's important to have gratitude for it too. With this awareness, we can practice peaceful and loving communion of the mind, body and Spirit (the meaning of yoga!) rather than the fragmentation and separation that occurs when we reject aspects of ourselves.

Let's forgive ourselves for believing all the judgments that our minds have passed on our physical bodies and have gratitude for all the metabolic and chemical processes our bodies engage in and celebrate them.

Practicing the lesson

When you notice yourself being critical of your body's natural processes, forgive yourself in the moment and acknowledge the perfection of your body.

Make a list of things you don't like about the way your body functions. Realize that you can either be in resistance to those processes or surrender to them and be at peace. It's your choice!

Today's Affirmation
I forgive myself for rejecting the way my physical body functions, smells, and behaves. I honor and celebrate the temple in which my Spirit resides.

admin · Abuse and Nurturing

Abuse and Nurturing

Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live.

We are spiritual beings having a human experience. Our body is our home which Spirit lives and breathes life through. We can view our body as a finely crafted instrument through which we offer our unique expression of Love to the world. My guess is that at some level you agree with these statements, but how does your agreement translate into action?

Often we abuse our bodies through our thoughts and actions. We complain about, judge and evaluate the way our bodies look, function and feel. We eat poorly balanced diets, overeat, or starve ourselves. We wake up early, stay up late, use caffeine to keep us alert, and take pills to help us relax. We don't exercise, or we over-exert ourselves. We fail to get regular check-ups for our teeth, our eyes, and our general sense of well-being.

We take drugs to enhance our sex-life, get surgery to keep us looking young, and rely upon legal or illegal substances to manage our stress and mood. We get angry with our bodies when they re-act with aches, pains, fatigue, dis-ease and distress. Generally, it takes a "scream" on the part of our body in the form of a medical diagnosis, illness or debilitating pain to get our attention.

My guess is if you focus your attention for one week on how you treat your body, you'll be amazed at the degree of unconscious abuse you inflict. What are your beliefs about your body? Do they honor this sacred home of your Spirit or do they abuse your physical form as an unwanted nuisance?

"Pay attention to what you're paying attention to," states wellness coach, Connie Eberhart of (im' pakt) Personal Wellness. "What you focus on expands. Have a vision for what you are doing, and more importantly, how you are feeling when you are living your Healthiest Self!"

Our bodies are amazing creations, and just as with any fine instrument, they require care and maintenance. The perfect place to begin your personal body nurturing routine is to forgive yourself for past mistreatment and abuse. Remember to love and bless your body, it's the only one you've got.

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Practicing the lesson

On sheet of paper, make a list of all the ways you've mistreated and abused your body. For example: by wearing shoes that are too tight, abusing alcohol, not flossing your teeth, and not taking the time for regular medical care.

When you've finished your list, forgive yourself for each item.

Once forgiven, cross that item off the list. Do this with each item.

When you do something in the present that is abusive, forgive yourself in the moment and make a new choice that nurtures your body.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive myself for abusing my body in my thoughts and actions. I commit to easily nurturing and lovingly caring for my body.

admin · Disease and Wellness

Disease and Wellness

Disease is an experience of mortal mind.
It is fear made manifest on the body. Divine Science takes away this physical sense of discord, just as it removes a sense of moral or mental inharmony.

Illness and disability are challenging. We assume that we're entitled to be well, and when we become sick we often feel victimized and angry. Illness disrupts our schedules, forces us to rest when we feel we don't have the time, and sometimes it's simply painful. If we're born with or develop a physical or mental disability, we may feel depressed or angry. We also have many theories about illness: Some folks believe it's divine wrath, bad Karma for sinful acts, mentally created, genetically spawned, or just the normal course of life.

We've been given an amazing gift in life, called choice. When we're born, we get to experience whatever we feel we need to learn, grow and evolve. Perhaps we can see disease and illness as part of this experience. Does that mean I'm implying that we cause our own illness and disease? Well, many people have successfully healed themselves and others of serious illnesses. How is this possible? We could say that we're in the early stages of recognizing the power of mind, as the key to the entire expression of our reality, including the ability to heal - or to create illness. If you've never thought of taking ownership for your physical experience in this way, consider this point of view.

Recently, I watched a movie called Emmanuel's Gift, which was featured as part of the Spiritual Cinema Circle. The story focuses on a young man named Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, who was born with a congenitally short leg. He not only transcends the beliefs of his own country (which perceives such disability as a family curse), but goes on to become an advocate for physically challenged people, proving that they can do anything in life, if they choose to. Rather than being a curse, his "disability" becomes a gift both for him and for the world.

In the end, it's a blessing for us to forgive all those we blame for illnesses, whether that might be the medical profession (a misdiagnosis from the doctor), poor care in the hospital (resulting in a worsening of an illness or death), a medication, an implant or surgery that caused more illness, or a sickness linked to a chemical plant or poisoning.

Also, forgiveness is critical for any illness we feel we've caused ourselves; for example, liver damage from drinking, AIDS, Herpes or Hepatitis C from unprotected sex, physical disability from an accident or from ignoring our bodies alarm systems (like not paying attention to chest pains, bad gums, shortness of breath, etc.).

Michelle James, Founder and CEO of The Center for Creative Emergence and developer of the Creativity for Wellness Program, reminds us: "Underneath the illness, surgery, accidents, self-criticism and blame exists a unique body-voice which delights in itself and is ever-seeking of more life. It calls for our embodiment. To forgive ourselves and our bodies means to reconnect with - and directly experience - our body-voice - whether through dialogue, drawing, journaling, storytelling, acting, movement, humor, ritual or deep listening."

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Practicing the lesson
If you're ill or have been in the past, look at the way you've chosen to perceive your experience. I invite you to answer the following questions:

Are you angry and resentful about your illness?

Do you enjoy the attention you receive because of your condition?

Do you fight and resist your ailments rather than finding a place of acceptance?

Do you blame your sickness on others?

Is there a way to take what you perceive as a curse and turn it into a gift?

Today's Affirmation

I forgive myself for hurting my physical body through mental or physical abuse and for judging any medical condition I may have. I commit to listening closely to the wisdom of my body's warning system.

admin · Aging and Unfolding

Aging and Unfolding

You only hurt yourself when you're not expanding and growing. Many people can't stand the thought of aging, but it's the crystallized thought patterns and inflexible mind-sets that age people before their time. You can break through and challenge your crystallized patterns and mind-sets. That's what evolution and the expansion of love are really about.

In the western world, aging is an enemy to be conquered. In recent years the number of men and women having face-lifts, Botox treatments, breast implants, liposuction and a variety of other invasive and non-invasive procedures to capture the fountain of youth, has exploded exponentially. At the same time, the vast numbers of dollars spent on anti-wrinkle creams and lotions continues to grow.

In our youth-obsessed culture, what happens when wrinkles appear, aches and pains greet us in the morning, or our sexual drive decreases? We look for a solution to re-capture our youthful appearance, whether that means going under the knife, experimenting with lasers, injections, or magic blue pills. Inherent in this quest, is the assumption that aging is bad, and that if I am the one who is aging then I am losing my value and worth in the world.

Right now, acknowledge that aging is as natural as breathing. It's a made-up story to believe that one age is better than another, that younger is better than older. I wonder how many of us would truly want to repeat our teen-age and young adult years when self-consciousness and self-loathing were ruling our thoughts. Especially when our ego-mind was busy judging, comparing and evaluating every word we said, and every action we took.

All life experiences reflect the cycle of germination, birth, growth, decline and death. This process is neither good nor bad, nor right or wrong, is it simply is. Time spent denouncing "what is" fills our present moment with misery and unhappiness.

What would it take to appreciate and honor the process of our lives unfolding? What would it take to forgive our bodies and minds for the natural process of aging? In indigenous cultures throughout the world, Elder is an honored title. What if in our culture, wrinkles were a symbol of a life fully lived?

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Practicing the Lesson

Forgive yourself for your judgments, criticisms and complaints, shame, and fears about aging.

Write a story that demonstrates the gifts of aging (like mine below).

Read your story aloud to at least one person.

Today's Affirmation
I forgive myself for all beliefs I have had, currently have or may have in the future that dishonor the natural process of aging and unfolding. I celebrate the gifts of aging.

admin · Control and Parenting

Control and Parenting

All the time a person is a child he is both a child and learning to be a parent. After he becomes a parent he becomes predominantly a parent reliving childhood.

Is there a more challenging and rewarding endeavor than raising children as far as our own spiritual development is concerned? Children test every aspect of our belief system. They're the first to point out when we're not walking our talk. One of the best ways to lose the respect of a child is to tell them to "do as I say, not as I do."

When we were children, we made many agreements about the way our parents should be, how much love we were receiving and if that love was expressed the way we desired. As children, we judged everything about our parents. These assessments were made from a child's point of view, one that did not comprehend the whole story or circumstances of what was going on at the time.

Those memories, judgments and assessments remain in our minds as adults and we either follow through in raising our children as our parents raised us, or we do the opposite in reaction to our childhood experiences (or a combo of both!). This observation is what Dr. Spock is alluding to in the quote at the opening of this chapter. The key to being the best parent possible is to avoid the trap of reactive parenting. To do this we must look deeply at ourselves and what we believe about our childhood, through the eyes of truth and compassion.

Every person must transcend their own childhood and forgive their parents' mistakes in order to be happy. In turn, our children will eventually learn to forgive us for our ignorance and decisions we made out of fear. The difficult part is forgiving ourselves because we feel so guilty for hurting our children and for imposing our will on them. Let the guilt and shame go. Know that you did the best job you could've done at that time, based on the awareness you had back then.

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Practicing the lesson

Make a list of all the things that you feel guilt or shame for, and all the mistakes you feel you've made as a parent.

Look at each item and ask yourself if you would take the same action again if you were functioning at the same level of awareness again (of course you would!).

Do not use the level of awareness you are at now to judge what you did back then.

Next to each item on your list, write the declaration: I forgive myself for _______. When you are finished, burn the list, detach from your guilt and shame and give it to Spirit.

admin · Disappointment and Honoring

Disappointment and Honoring

If there is anything that we wish to change in the child, we should first examine it and see whether it is not something that could better be changed in ourselves.

It's natural for parents to desire the best for their children. When gazing at their newborn, parents have glimpses of an imagined future. In this future, their child is healthy, loved, satisfied in their work and has the financial abundance to enjoy a full life. While these are admirable wishes, too often we have fixed ideas of how our children's lives should look and the road they should follow. Parents' expectations may arise because of a road not taken in their own lives, or the desire to uphold a family tradition.

Expectations for our children often lead to disappointment. For example; your child gets in trouble in school (you're disappointed with her poor behavior), or your son doesn't try out for the football team and wants to take dance lessons (you're disappointed because everyone knows that dance is for sissies and football is for young men). Perhaps your daughters' first serious boyfriend is of another race and you're disappointed she's not considering the future problems this may cause. Late in the night you receive a call from the police that your son has been arrested for selling drugs, again disappointment.

As much as parents may think that their children "belong to them," they are on their own journey in life. We can love our children and illuminate a path for them but when we're disappointed in them, our disappointment is a reflection of the incongruence between our beliefs of how their life should be and the way their life's actually unfolding.

Isn't it time to forgive your children for not doing what you wanted them to do? Isn't it time to free yourself from the expectations that are causing conflict and dissension between you and your children? In your heart of hearts, of course you only want the best for them, so why criticize and judge their choices harshly - isn't it time to honor your children with unconditional love?

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Practicing the Lesson

Sit quietly with a photo of your child.

As you look at the photo forgive him/her for all ways they've disappointed and hurt you.

When you've completed this, write or tell your child that you love and honor them unconditionally.

Read the poem below.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive myself for the expectations and rules I place upon my children. I forgive my children for not fulfilling my expectations. I honor my children as full expressions of the divine and for the opportunities they offer me to embody unconditional love.

On Children

Your children are not your children.
They are the son's and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

admin · Resentment and Unconditional Love

Resentment and Unconditional Love

Children begin by loving their parents; after a time they judge them; rarely, if ever, do they forgive them.

But what if our parents are the perfect parents for us? "Suppose that our parents unconsciously knew what they were here to help us with, to help us learn so we could be successful in our mission? Is it possible that they actually put up cosmic obstacles or hurdles in our path, because that was their job, as our angels, to make sure that we developed the needed attributes to fulfill our mission?"

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Practicing the lesson

Make a list of wounds that you believe have been "caused" by your parents.

For each item, consider the benefits and gifts of the situation.

Forgive yourself for believing your parents meant to hurt you.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive my parents for not meeting my expectations. I love my parents unconditionally, see them as expressions of the divine, and recognize that they did the best they could.

admin · Opposition and Union

Opposition and Union

I like to think of the dynamics of marriage and partnership as a microcosmic reflection of global politics. Certainly there's conflict and war, reconciliation and harmony - all present in one bedroom! Conflict and opposition arises because we get more involved in defending our beliefs than in loving each other.

I know very few people who haven't had the opportunity to grow and learn about themselves within the context of partnership and union. A partner is a mirror reflecting our expression of divine unconditional love as well as reflecting us as the Wicked Witch of the West (at times)! If we start from the place of gratitude for our experience, we are less likely to get defensive and be more open to learning.

Forgiveness allows us to change our old points of view and ways of perceiving the world, which opens us up to amazing experiences. Having heard my story and Krystalya's, think about how you could reframe some of your more challenging life situations. Re-write those old victim stories taking responsibility for your creation and see it as a powerful opportunity for self-growth and discovery.

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Practicing the lesson

I've created a short list of things we can forgive our partners and ourselves for. Of course, feel free to adjust list so that it applies to you. If you get stuck, light a candle for that item and pray for clarity, an open heart, and for Spirit to assist you in your process. It's all right if forgiveness does not come all at once.

Today's Affirmation

admin · Rivalry and Respect

Rivalry and Respect

When you focus, not on your siblings so much, but on your own peace of mind, you'll notice that as you become more at ease with life, forgiving others - even your siblings - will be a snap!

Many of us are familiar with the Old Testament story of the rivalry between two brothers, Cain and Abel. Cain, the older of the two, was constantly expected to help care for his younger brother, Abel. With time, Cain became annoyed and frustrated with Abel. Cain resented the expectations and responsibilities he had as an older brother. Finally Cain's anger towards Abel grew, and he murdered Abel. The concept of sibling rivalry has been part of our collective consciousness for as long as we can remember. I often wonder if the warring in the world today is an exaggerated expression of sibling rivalry.

"You can begin to understand, perhaps for the first time, that they truly did the best they knew how, given what they knew at the time. When someone is seen as innocent, even if they hurt you, it's relatively easy to forgive them. To not take their words and actions or their lack of words and actions personally is the path to personal freedom."

We may never know for sure why our siblings are our siblings, whether it was divine design or random chance. What we do know is that the human you call brother or sister, step-brother or sister, or half-sister or brother is an expression of the divine. Are you learning about unconditional love in relation to your sibling or is the rivalry expanding as the years go on? Are you a victim in this relationship, a persecutor, or do you dance between the two? Isn't it time to forgive for your own peace of mind, and to honor, respect and see the perfection of your siblings?

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Practicing the lesson

Identify a situation that is a source of discord between you and your sibling(s).

Even if you believe they have done you wrong, apologize for anyway you may have hurt them.

Forgive them for past rivalries.

Tell them you love them and appreciate the contribution they've made to your life.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive myself for comparing myself to and judging my sibling(s). I know that my sibling(s) are expressions of the divine and give me the opportunity to be respectful and expand my capacity for unconditional love.

Guest · Feuding and Harmony

Feuding and Harmony

You don't choose your family.
They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.

At forgiveness workshops, I often ask how many people in the audience are aware of a feud in their family where one person refuses to speak to another. It always amazes me to find between 50-75% of the audience raising their hands! What does that say about the human state of affairs regarding forgiveness?

We often make the assumption that because we are related, our points of view and the way we see life should be similar. However, familial genetics do not assure agreement when it comes to beliefs, opinions and judgments!

As far as our friends go, we choose people whose belief systems align with ours. We purposely pick people to be friends with because they continually reinforce our personal viewpoint. When it comes to family, we don't choose them according to whether or not their point of view agrees with ours - we get what we get, just as former archbishop Desmond Tutu states in the quote above.

How do we deal with feisty relatives and family situations? We start with understanding that everyone is entitled to their personal point of view whether we agree with that perspective or not. If both parties cannot detach from their perspective or at least learn to compromise, then the only thing we can do is agree to disagree. However, seeing things from another's perspective creates an opening for understanding, compassion, discussion, and unconditional love. And aren't the qualities of love and harmony the foundation for the structure we call family?

Make the time to forgive yourself for any family discord that you either participated in or perpetuated. As part of the act of forgiving, forgive your family for any actions they took against you in their need to be right, even it if meant they were stubborn and contentious. If your family members are not interested in forgiving, that's okay - you've done your part to open your heart. Who knows what might happen in the future as a result of your action? Miracles are always possible.

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Practicing the lesson

If you're not speaking to a family member, consider forgiving them for whatever you believe they did or did not do.

Write them a letter asking for their forgiveness for imposing your personal point of view onto them.

Let them know you acknowledge their point of view (whether you agree with it or not) and that it's more important to have them as part of your family, than to hang on to your resentment.

Make sure that you do not defend your point of view anywhere in that letter - that's not forgiveness!

Today's Affirmation

I forgive myself for any anger and resentment I have held against any family members. I forgive my family for their harsh judgments against me. I no longer desire to excommunicate people from my family and condemn them and myself in the process.

admin · Opposition and Union

Opposition and Union

I like to think of the dynamics of marriage and partnership as a microcosmic reflection of global politics. Certainly there's conflict and war, reconciliation and harmony - all present in one bedroom! Conflict and opposition arises because we get more involved in defending our beliefs than in loving each other.

I know very few people who haven't had the opportunity to grow and learn about themselves within the context of partnership and union. A partner is a mirror reflecting our expression of divine unconditional love as well as reflecting us as the Wicked Witch of the West (at times)! If we start from the place of gratitude for our experience, we are less likely to get defensive and be more open to learning.

Forgiveness allows us to change our old points of view and ways of perceiving the world, which opens us up to amazing experiences. Having heard my story and Krystalya's, think about how you could reframe some of your more challenging life situations. Re-write those old victim stories taking responsibility for your creation and see it as a powerful opportunity for self-growth and discovery.

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Practicing the lesson

I've created a short list of things we can forgive our partners and ourselves for. Of course, feel free to adjust list so that it applies to you. If you get stuck, light a candle for that item and pray for clarity, an open heart, and for Spirit to assist you in your process. It's all right if forgiveness does not come all at once.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive myself for not taking responsibility for the co-creation of my relationships. I have gratitude for my partners and the lessons they've shared with me.

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admin · Expectations and Understanding

Expectations and Understanding

Blessed is he who expects nothing for he shall never be disappointed.

Expectations can be said to be the root of all evil. Think about it: If we didn't have expectations of people and situations we'd never have cause to be upset about anything! We expect our friends are going to show up for lunch, that the business contract we signed will come to fruition and that no one will cut us off in traffic. But truly, we can have all the expectations we want of people; it doesn't mean we're going to get what we want from them - even if they promised.

Every person is doing the best they can from their current point of view and level of consciousness. Measuring others against our personal yardsticks is never productive because other people don't think or have the same beliefs as we do. When we impose our beliefs on others, the result is pain and suffering on both sides.

Whenever I talk about these ideas, people say that we have to have expectations or no one will do anything. However, think about this for a minute. When we say that, we're making the assumption that without a contractual arrangement - whether it is verbal or written - people won't be inspired to follow through on their word. If we need the threat of retribution to force people to do what they've promised, this means that humanity is not a very responsible bunch! However, if we are impeccable with our word, we will do our best to follow through with what we've said and not create pain and suffering in others. (By impeccable I mean speaking without going against ourselves or the intent to do wrong.)

We live most successfully when we all operate from wanting to do our best because we enjoy doing so and it makes our heart sing - as opposed to being under the whip of a feisty belief system filled with expectations telling us we must perform in a certain way to be good enough. In one case we are living the will of the Creator moving through us; in the other, we are living the will of our domesticated mind. One way of living is fulfilling and limitless, and the other is limiting, controlling and rigid.

Rita Rivera and Meghan McChesney-Gilroy, co-creators of Life Mastery, share this powerful advice: "When life doesn't meet your expectations, be aware of your emotional reaction and the way your physical body feels in the moment. Imposing our expectations on others and/or ourselves can only lead to disappointment. We experience disappointment as an uncomfortable and disturbing sensation within our bodies which steals our happiness and sense of inner well being. Suddenly our quality of life is altered because we believed our expectations about the way someone or something "should" or "should not' be. In fact, becoming aware of when we use the words "should" or "should not" in our internal dialogue is a great indicator that we're about to set ourselves up for pain and suffering."

Whatever the situation, the bottom line is this: It's not about us. People do what they are going to do and it isn't always what we want, wish or hope for. If we could just remember this one statement, we could be happy for the rest of our lives. Let's forgive others for their side of the situation and forgive ourselves for imposing our belief system on them, for not understanding and for using their actions (or lack thereof) to get ourselves upset.

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Practicing the lesson

Identify 5 times you imposed your expectations on others. These may be expectations that you have of your family, employees, your partner, the President, or even yourself.

Once you have clarity about the motivations for a person's actions, can you have compassion and understanding for them and what they have done? If not, why?

Does having understanding help you detach from your need to be angry at them or yourself?

Forgive yourself and the other person in each of your 5 situations by taking an action - either by saying so verbally, writing them a note, sending flowers or through a creative act of your choosing.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive myself for imposing my expectations and beliefs on others, and for allowing myself to get upset when others do not live up to my expectations

admin · Presumption and Listening

Presumption and Listening

There are men who would quickly love each other if once they were to speak to each other; for when they spoke they would discover that their souls had only separated by phantoms and delusions.

Human communication is complicated at best. How many of us have been in a situation where someone said to us, "I never told you that!" or "I said that, but that's not what I meant." When someone is speaking to us, we take their words and filter them through our belief system. Then we come to a conclusion, believing we understood the other person.

To confuse issues further, we know that people don't always say what they mean out of fear of hurting each other, fear of judgment, or retribution. They may say something that isn't what they actually mean figuring we'll understand what their true intention is. While we're at it, we can add in the difficulty we have translating other languages, especially idioms, colloquialisms and words that have no translation from one language to another. What's the solution?

Listening! It isn't about listening to what we want to hear according to our personal point of view. It's about listening to what the other person is saying from their point of view. This requires putting interpretations and assumptions aside and asking for clarification if there is any doubt. A statement as simple as; "I heard you say x, y and z - is that what you meant?" can make a huge difference in human communication.

It's also crucial to listen to the emotional quality of the message, the music behind the words. For example, I can say "I love you" with love dripping from my words or say the same thing with rancor and sarcasm. To truly listen requires being present in the moment. Too often we're thinking at the same time another person is talking and we've answered or judged what they've said before they're finished speaking. Or maybe we're completing their sentences out loud! If someone's speaking, focus your attention on them not on you.

Forgiving often seems more difficult in western cultures, simply because we are taught to compete, be better, win, and conquer. We aren't taught the intricacies of deep listening and understanding. Nor are we are taught to see, or readily accept, different perspectives. But truly, listening is the first step on the ladder to creating beautiful personal and business relationships. Too often we make assumptions about what others are thinking, feeling or doing, and this affects our ability to work successfully together. Forgiveness is the solution to these issues, opening the door to abundance and creativity."

Listening and being present is an art. There's wisdom in the proverb: God gave us two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak! Let's forgive all beings for not paying attention when others talk, for distorting their words, for cutting them off, for completing their sentences, and for making assumptions about what they are saying.
With all my love, Sheri

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Practicing the lesson

To enhance your listening skills practice the following for the next 24 hours:

Notice if you cut someone off before they're finished talking, or if you complete other people's sentences. Stop yourself immediately - and forgive yourself for behaving that way.

Notice if you fade off into a dream world while another person is speaking to you. Look directly into their eyes when they are speaking - then forgive yourself for not being 100% present.

Notice if you launch into your own story while someone is sharing their story with you. Stop yourself immediately, and allow them to speak until they are totally finished.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive myself and others for all misunderstood and misinterpreted communications and for not being present in a heartfelt way. I choose to actively listen to others, respecting them and what they're saying when they're speaking.

admin · Non-Awareness and Grace

Non-Awareness and Grace

Each of us at any time and space is doing the very best
we can with what we have.

Our thoughts and actions are a direct reflection of our consciousness and current level of awareness. Using a computer analogy our awareness is based on the software installed. Our parents, cultural and societal morals, the media, and those people and organizations we perceive as authorities, have programmed our software. This programming is based on thoughts voiced with authority and conviction that, consciously or unconsciously, we have agreed are truth. Once the programming is installed, it functions as an invisible filter directly influencing every relationship and experience we have.

Each version of software has rules and beliefs about the behaviors and actions of others. If their behavior is congruent with our beliefs, peaceful co-existence and indeed a magnificent harmony is possible. If their behavior is at odds with our beliefs, there is conflict, anger, and blame.

Every act, whether we agree with it or not, is the very best a person can do based on their current thinking. If you really take the time to listen to the reasons someone has for joining a gang, committing acts of violence, having an affair, or failing to remember your birthday you will discover that, their behavior is understandable according to the way they perceive the world.

Most people believe they are making conscious life choices, when in fact they are responding to their computer software. This isn't true awareness. We take action with grace when we recognize life and Spirit moving through us and make our choices based on that wisdom, rather than the "knowledge" lodged in our programming. Each and every moment we have the ability to have a new thought, to upgrade the software of our mind. Forgiveness is a key to upgrading the software.

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Practicing the lesson
Think about all the male-female relationships you have had in your life.

As an exercise in expanding your awareness, forgive all men for the way they've treated you as a women; forgive all women for how they've treated you as a man.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive all beings for all actions taken based on our programming rather than on the awareness of Spirit moving through us. Grace fills my relationships through knowing we are one, I am love and I am loved.

admin · Critical and Allowing

Critical and Allowing

Don't hold to anger, hurt or pain. They steal your energy and keep you from love.

Emotions are energy in motion. There are times when our energy flows freely and smoothly. We feel confident, happy, at one. Our body, mind, and spirit are aligned in the present moment. This experience has many names: the zone, peak performance, nirvana, love, and grace. When we're having this experience, we are peace, we are love, our heart is open, and our spiritual eyes see beauty in all creation.

When you pay attention to your thoughts, words and actions you may notice that your attention is frequently focused on what's wrong, problems, who's to blame, past wounds, and future fears. Circumstances generating this suffering and misery can be as simple as having to wait in a long line in the supermarket or being on hold on the telephone; or as frightening as a raised terror alert or a diagnosis of cancer.

When we're around people who are constantly complaining, moody, and angry, their energy is contagious. Sometimes we "catch" their anger and frustration because we agree with their story. Other times we're critical of their emotions and get angry at them for being moody and angry. We think our anger is justified since they're wrong to be angry!

What causes someone to be angry, moody and miserable? Anger is often sparked when people or circumstances don't meet our expectations of how things should be. Rather than acknowledging what is, we feel victimized by others for persecuting us, or angry with ourselves for getting into the predicament we're in. We're attached to the story of "poor me."

When we get angry with someone for the emotions they're expressing, there are now two angry people. When we understand that someone's emotional response is based on their current point of view and no longer judge them, we can have an experience of peace and happiness no matter what someone else is feeling. This doesn't mean we're cold and uncaring when someone is experiencing emotional pain. Instead, we have compassion for their suffering without taking on their suffering.

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Practicing the lesson

Identify someone in your life whose emotional responses you've been critical of and ask for their forgiveness for your judging them.

Recognize that everyone is allowed to express their emotions, but we don't have to be present if they are disrespectful to us while emoting.

Today's Affirmation

"I forgive because I am capable of expressing compassion. By forgiving, I release this situation from my energy field and feel clearheaded and full-hearted. I forgive because I am able to rise to my higher self and feel lighter. My light knows no boundaries when I forgive. Life feels lighter when I forgive."

admin · Separation and Oneness

Separation and Oneness

Those who wish to embody the Tao should embrace all things.

To embrace all things means first that one holds no anger or resistance toward any idea or thing, living or dead, formed or formless. Acceptance is the very essence of the Tao.

To embrace all things means also that one rids oneself of any concept of separation: male and female, self and other, life and death. Division is contrary to the nature of the Tao.

Foregoing antagonism and separation, one enters in the harmonious oneness of all things.

One of the more challenging aspects of being in a physical body is reconciling the seemingly obvious physical separation between each of us and the spiritual notion of the oneness of all beings. How is it possible that both concepts can exist simultaneously when they appear to be in opposition? How can we say there are no differences between humans when we obviously look different?

The reality we perceive depends solely on our point of view. If we take the point of view of the human body (using our sense of sight and touch), we perceive things that are either us - or not us. However, take the point of view of a quantum physicist and you'd find that there is no difference between you, your chair and the person sitting in the next room.

Just because we can't perceive the universe as being one with our physical eyes doesn't mean that it's not truth. When we open our spiritual eyes, we see reality with our spiritual self as energy - not with our physical eyes as objects. We're seeing the same reality, but from a totally different point of view, one that is inclusive of all individual and limited points of view.

If all humanity perceived the oneness of life rather than seeing us as separate, it would become ludicrous to even consider the thought of eliminating entire races, genders and/or ethnicities. When we're caught up in these superficial differences, we feel justified to hurt people of seemingly different races and ethnicities. We must forgive ourselves and others for perceiving ourselves as separate, and for all harm done in ignorance.

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Practicing the lesson

When you have some quiet time and you can sit undisturbed for about 30 minutes, practice this meditation: Sit comfortably so that there is no stress on your physical body, but do not lie down in a way that will cause your body to fall asleep.

Close your eyes and focus your attention on the feeling within you that feels like a "buzzing."

Put all your focus on that feeling, releasing any thought that enters your mind with each exhalation.

Relax, stay alert and go deeply into that feeling.

admin · Supremacy and Humbleness

Supremacy and Humbleness

Racism is man's gravest threat to man -
the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason.

The roots of racism seem to lie deep in man's nature. Sometimes I think racism began with original sin, but what is original sin? Sin is a word used in archery to mean being "off the mark." I have come to view original sin as being off the mark with our connection with the Divine - having forgotten we are all connected. We all live and die, and if cut, we bleed. We laugh and cry, and for whatever mysterious reason we share time together on earth.

Throughout history, stereotypes and generalizations have been made about different races. Africans were seen as subhuman, taken from their homeland, loaded on ships, and brought to North America as slave labor. Jews were viewed as "cheap," charging unfair interest rates in business. Italians are associated with organized crime. Blacks excel at sports. Japanese are brilliant in math. Name an ethnic or racial group and there is a stereotype ultimately serving to compartmentalize those people.

Once we believe the very stereotypes we have created, we are then empowered to take action based on those notions. If we feel that Africans are ignorant, then that justifies our decision to take them from their homeland and use them as mindless labor. If we believe that the Jewish people control the banks, are cheap and are the downfall of our financial success, then we can rationalize our plan to eliminate them from the face of the earth. If we believe that the American Indians are savages and heathens, then we are absolutely correct in taking over their homeland and destroying them.

The only way we can follow through on such self-centered and devastating actions is if our egos can find a way to exalt ourselves to a position of such authority that we can justify those actions. By making ourselves superior to others we can feel good about ourselves and make everyone else "less-than." This behavior is the hallmark of the ego. The only way to counter this type of thinking is with humility. Again, we know that humility is not making ourselves less-than another, it simply means we recognize that we are all equal in the eyes of the Creator.

No human deserves to be eliminated, punished or enslaved, nor do any of us deserve to suffer. Yet the history of humanity is filled with such behavior. Only by each one of us recognizing and taking responsibility for the desire to be superior within our own minds, will we be able to eliminate that desire in the global arena. It is easy for us to look at the behavior of others and blame them for the atrocities of the world. However, in the end we must take responsibility for the seed of superiority that exists within our own minds.

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Practicing the lesson

Everyone has a friend of another race or ethnicity.

Today, share with that person how you've contributed to racism in your thoughts and behaviors.

Ask for their forgiveness.

Be open to dialogue about this exercise, and make sure you acknowledge their feelings.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive all beings for perpetuating racism in thoughts and actions. I forgive past racial injustice and the consciousness that supported it. I choose to be a voice for honoring all members of humanity.

admin · Other and Self

Other and Self

It was he [John the Baptist] who said, "Love your enemies," not J [Jesus]. J wouldn't have any concept of an enemy.

The dream of life we unconsciously live in is filled with labels, stereotypes and definitions. These create a distinction between what we perceive as our "self" and "others." Throughout history, these differences based on race and ethnicity have resulted in verbal abuse, physical violence, and genocide. Just as we swat a fly at a picnic, step on a cockroach in the kitchen, or initiate chemical warfare against ants in our home - we treat those who are not like us as the enemy and less than human.

Our world seems to be in the midst of chaos. As I write this, fear-based beliefs of the "other" in the Middle East create daily images of violence and destruction. We can witness heartbreak on the faces of people as missiles and rockets annihilate those we call "the enemy." Isn't this an extreme and dramatic expression of the judgments we hold against people who are not like us?

In seeing "others" as the enemy, we agree to a set of beliefs that justify our fears. Our beliefs are so much a part of the fabric of our consciousness that we have an automatic response that goes into effect when we are in the presence of the "other," independent of how politically correct we may try to be.

What would our experience be like if the definition we used when seeing people were: They are an expression of the divine? What would it be like to see and experience the world through those eyes?

We can change our thinking and acknowledge that we are one and inter-connected. Franklin Delano Roosevelt once said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself". We can see the true enemy is fear itself - not the people who we perceive to be different from us. Forgive yourself for your fear-based beliefs about those who appear to be the "other". You will discover compassion, reconciliation and unconditional love when you give yourself the gift of forgiveness.

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Practicing the lesson

When you greet someone today, practice saying Namaste, a Sanskrit word that translates to: The divine in me honors and acknowledges the divine in you.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive myself for the fear-based beliefs I've projected on "others" and for the fear they have projected upon me. I see the divine in all people.

admin · Selfishness and Generosity

Selfishness and Generosity

The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.

Our ego-mind develops when we're young and learning to have a sense of ourselves as individuals. Our Spirit is eternal whereas our ego-mind, matches our chronological age. The mind is young and impetuous with many wants and needs, like a two year old child. It's often frightened by other people, while our Spirit is patient, at peace, and the expression of unconditional love.

When we operate from the childlike wants and needs of our ego - we spend our lives afraid, constantly trying to figure out how to protect ourselves from others, and how to get what we believe we need to survive or to look better than others. We can see this pattern mirrored in the larger global picture. Every country worries about the resources they have, whether or not someone else is going to try to take them away - and how they can get what they believe they need.

Generosity, when it comes from the ego, is the need for validation in disguise. When we give to receive the accolades of others, this is selfishness. The motivation for true giving is an open heart and the desire to live and love audaciously, without fear or boundaries. When we can give and it no longer matters to us what anyone thinks - we are free of the ego's habit of linking its self-worth to others. Imagine if you no longer lived your life needing love, approval or validation, and no longer had the need to be right and make others wrong to bolster your ego.

We are compelled to take actions from our wounded ego-mind, which has us behaving in hurtful ways towards others. At the same time we are compelled to take action from Spirit moving through us, which has us expressing our unconditional love. In each moment, one force will prevail. That's why humans can be so beautiful, loving and generous in one moment, and mean, hurtful and selfish in the next. It is up to us to make a conscious choice - do we live from selfishness or generosity?

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Practicing the lesson

Watch how you interact with people. Notice if you express any of these behaviors. If you do, forgive yourself in the moment and do your best to practice new behaviors. Remember, these are challenging aspects of our selves to look at. Make sure that you do so with kindness, forgiveness and lots of unconditional love.

Do you find yourself only expressing your love to those you know or approve of?

Are you kind only when you know you'll be noticed or acknowledged?

Do you do things that you really don't want to do, but do anyway because you want the approval of others?

If you do not receive a compliment or appreciation for something you've done, do you complain?

Today's Affirmation

I forgive all beings for living the will of the ego-mind and for denying ourselves the opportunity to express unconditional love, generosity and joy in every moment. I choose to generously living the will of God/Spirit moving though me.

admin · Critical and Allowing

Critical and Allowing

Don't hold to anger, hurt or pain. They steal your energy and keep you from love.

Emotions are energy in motion. There are times when our energy flows freely and smoothly. We feel confident, happy, at one. Our body, mind, and spirit are aligned in the present moment. This experience has many names: the zone, peak performance, nirvana, love, and grace. When we're having this experience, we are peace, we are love, our heart is open, and our spiritual eyes see beauty in all creation.

When you pay attention to your thoughts, words and actions you may notice that your attention is frequently focused on what's wrong, problems, who's to blame, past wounds, and future fears. Circumstances generating this suffering and misery can be as simple as having to wait in a long line in the supermarket or being on hold on the telephone; or as frightening as a raised terror alert or a diagnosis of cancer.

When we're around people who are constantly complaining, moody, and angry, their energy is contagious. Sometimes we "catch" their anger and frustration because we agree with their story. Other times we're critical of their emotions and get angry at them for being moody and angry. We think our anger is justified since they're wrong to be angry!

What causes someone to be angry, moody and miserable? Anger is often sparked when people or circumstances don't meet our expectations of how things should be. Rather than acknowledging what is, we feel victimized by others for persecuting us, or angry with ourselves for getting into the predicament we're in. We're attached to the story of "poor me."

When we get angry with someone for the emotions they're expressing, there are now two angry people. When we understand that someone's emotional response is based on their current point of view and no longer judge them, we can have an experience of peace and happiness no matter what someone else is feeling. This doesn't mean we're cold and uncaring when someone is experiencing emotional pain. Instead, we have compassion for their suffering without taking on their suffering.

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Practicing the lesson

Identify someone in your life whose emotional responses you've been critical of and ask for their forgiveness for your judging them.

Recognize that everyone is allowed to express their emotions, but we don't have to be present if they are disrespectful to us while emoting.

Today's Affirmation

"I forgive because I am capable of expressing compassion. By forgiving, I release this situation from my energy field and feel clearheaded and full-hearted. I forgive because I am able to rise to my higher self and feel lighter. My light knows no boundaries when I forgive. Life feels lighter when I forgive."

admin · Stereotyping and Inclusiveness

Stereotyping and Inclusiveness

Ultimately, we must understand that from the perspective of Spirit there are no ethnic groups or races. These labels are simply ways that we, as humans, have separated and qualified ourselves. As Spirit, we are no-thing (as opposed to nothing). That is, we're not objects to be placed in limiting boxes. It's amazing how we've created a whole hierarchy of humans with our minds, stereotyped them and then used those very labels to condemn each other.

Let me share how these ideas work within the context of gardening. Let's say you plant a garden based on what your analytical mind deems lovely. You might have rules about what kinds of flowers should be growing in your garden and where. When a plant grows in your garden that you don't like, you call it a "weed" because it is undesirable, unattractive, troublesome, useless, detrimental, or worthless according to your personal point of view - especially if it's growing where it's not wanted.

Now take this mindset and apply it to people. Perhaps you are African-American and you don't want a Asian person living on your block. You've decided in some way that they're a weed and they don't belong in your neighborhood, as they're considered undesirable, unwanted, and possibly troublesome.

It's not up to us to determine what grows in this wonderful garden of manifest reality. Many humans in history have been compelled to "weed out" or exterminate the races and ethnic groups they've judged to be unworthy of living because they were "dangerous" or "useless." Truly, it's not up to any individual flower to decide the fate of any other. It's up to the Creator. All of us have the ability to see beyond the superficial illusion of duality and multiplicity. All we have to do is acknowledge the truth of inclusiveness, which is that we are all One.

Practicing the lesson
Think back to when you were growing up.

What kinds of racial slurs and fear-based talk did you hear at the dinner table with your family?

How did that affect the way you view the world today?

Do you still feel some fear come up inside of you when you are in the presence of someone of another race or ethnicity?

When you notice yourself feeling that way, forgive yourself and others for judging and discriminating. Know with all your heart that when you forgive, you heal not only the wounds of your generation, but all the human wounds that existed before your time. Truth, forgiveness and love heals all wounds.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive myself for using the stereotypes I have learned to make others less than or worthless in my eyes.

admin · Punishing and Loving

Punishing and Loving

Wherever you are, God is.

One idea is that God is a supreme, judging, authority determining what is good, bad, and sinful. This God not only doesn't forget; he doesn't forgive. And he is a he - which makes it hard to be made in his image if you are a she. If you don't measure up as a good person, you can expect an afterlife in the fires of hell or perhaps you'll wait in purgatory, until the end of time. With this idea of God there are endless opportunities to be punished. This God ranks species and decides what caste you will be born into, some more privileged than others.

Another concept of God is that of a loving, embracing, compassionate being who loves all creations. He's accepting and forgiving. Yet, even with this concept, there is the notion that God is outside of us somewhere. Many people believe in this idea of God, but lose their faith when bad things happen to good people. After all, why would this loving God punish people with unhappy circumstances causing them to suffer?

These ideas of God reinforce a sense of separation. As my personal consciousness evolved, I started to experience God from a different point of view. I saw God-Goddess-Consciousness-Source as energy, and everything that exists is part of this absolute whole. I saw that nothing stands outside of creation. I realized that humans are the creators of our human experience. I understood that creation or the manifestation of form into a three-dimensional reality is based on where we focus our attention. I witnessed that it is God-energy moving through us directed by our thoughts, which ultimately determines our experience.

Examine the concepts and beliefs you have about God and if the idea that God is Love resonates within your heart - then do your best to live your life as an expression of that Love.

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Practicing the Lesson

Have a conversation with God. In your journal or on a piece of paper, write down God's responses to:

Who are you?

How can I get to know you better?

How can I be an expression of your love in the world?

Wherever there is conflict in your life invite the loving energy of the universe - God's energy - to illuminate your path.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive all beings for using concepts of God to punish and cause harm. I see all creations as an expression of the creative power of God. I consciously focus my attention on being an expression of love and compassion

admin · Extremism and Embracing

Extremism and Embracing

At least two thirds of our miseries spring from human stupidity, human malice and those great motivators and justifiers of malice and stupidity; idealism, dogmatism and proselytizing zeal on behalf of religious or political idols.

There are so many religious traditions and philosophies; and of course it's natural to feel that ours is best. Each religion is a system that's leading us to become good, respectful, kind, peaceful, enlightened people, and to know and experience Spirit/God. All religions espouse the idea to love our neighbors, our family and our earth. Yet, religion is one of the major causes of conflict and war on our planet. How can this be?

Let's take Christianity and Judaism for a moment. There are so many branches and types of each; Roman Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Methodist, Born Again, Mormon, etc. The same exists in Judaism: Reformed, Conservative, Hasidic, Orthodox and Reconstructionist. If we look at other religions, we find the same kind of multiplicity.

The reason for this multiplicity is that over time, humans came up with different concepts that they felt better represented the true message of their religion. This encouraged them to create new branches of their religion, and the people who resonated with those concepts and ideas became followers. With so many thousands of religions present around the world, can any one religion or philosophy be the true one? In our world of concepts, ideas and points of view, can only one be right?

When we use religion to create separation between people that doesn't truly exist - we create conflict. When we evangelize what we believe to others and make what they believe wrong - we create discord. When we are so certain that what we believe is the only way - this can compel us to take extreme and violent actions.

When we are kind, compassionate and expressing our unconditional love - we are embracing what our religions are teaching us. Tolerance, respect, acceptance, and understanding are all qualities that most religions would consider beautiful attributes. Condemnation, impatience, intolerance and disrespect come from fear of differences that truly don't exist, and are not from God or Spirit. How can we love unconditionally if we're busy putting conditions on others? It just doesn't make sense. Heaven on earth cannot come if we practice extremism.

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Practicing the lesson

When you see extremism on TV, do you get upset and project anger towards that group?

If so, experiment with eliminating judgment and condemnation, and forgive them for being possessed by their fear-based beliefs.

When you see yourself getting angry, forgive yourself for projecting anger (and being like them), rather than compassion into the world dream of life.

Our good friend, Catherine Corona, has produced and directed a documentary, Great Mystery, to foster peace between the world's major religions. The film focuses on the spiritual essence that all religions share showing the commonalities that transcend the dogma. Visit www.greatmysterymovie.com to view the trailer and learn more about this inspiring film.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive myself for any judgment I have of other religions. I embrace people with beliefs different from my own, and in the presence of extremism, I choose compassion.

admin · Authority and Accountability

Authority and Accountability

The greater the power the more dangerous the abuse.

In recent years there've been countless scandals depicting the abuse of power by religious authorities. We've witnessed televangelists who've used their congregations' donations for personal benefit, buying expensive cars, houses, first-class travel, jewelry, clothing and lavish vacations. How many times have we seen the church hierarchy cover-up sexual abuse of congregants? How often has the news reported gurus who've influenced their followers to leave their families, give away their money, and even commit mass suicide?

There's an implicit assumption that religious authorities and people ministering to the spiritual lives of others should live according to a higher moral code than mere mortals. Religious leaders are endowed with power that evokes trust. Indeed, some believe they are the intermediaries between a congregant and God, or that they are God's messengers with the power to free us of our sins. We see them as interpreters of the word of God, and count on their authority to guide us, during the dark nights of our soul when our vulnerability is at its height.

This is a lot of power for a mortal human. The danger with power is that in the hands of our ego-mind, we can begin to believe that we're above or outside the law and rules do not apply to us. Egos become inflated and an addiction to power can override ones conscience. Simply because a person is a religious authority, doesn't automatically mean they're capable of dealing with the power their position is endowed with; or is free of personal demons.

It's easy to condemn the acts of others; to expect that someone in authority "should," "would," and/or "could" act in a particular way. But life is messy, power is enticing, and when power and ego are combined - the results can be explosive. Yes, it would be nice if each of us was accountable for our behavior and took responsibility for our actions, but that's not necessarily the way it is.

What if our journey on earth is to deepen our experience of love and compassion? What if the abusive acts of clergy are opportunities for us to strengthen our muscles of compassion, forgiveness and unconditional love? This is not a request to condone harmful behavior, this is an acknowledgment that each human, regardless of the title and power they hold, is doing the best they can based on their thinking and beliefs about themselves. Granted, some of this thinking results in experiences that cause harm and suffering, but does our condemnation do anything but nourish continued suffering?

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Practicing the Lesson

When in your life have you taken actions that have involved abuse of power? It could be something as simple as yelling at an aging parent or spanking your child too hard in a fit of anger.

Each one of us is accountable for our actions that create suffering. If you see yourself behaving in this way, forgive yourself and make the commitment to make a different choice.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive the abuse of power by religious leaders, authorities and spiritual guides. I commit to being accountable and respectful of my own power remembering that each human is on a journey of ever expanding love.

admin · Justification and Justice

Justification and Justice

Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death.
And some die that deserve life. Can you give it to them?
Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment.
For even the wise cannot see all ends.

It's too easy for us to be tempted to take our religious teachings and distort them for our own fear-based reasons to protect ourselves from "others." We can consider it evil when we use our holy writings to justify murder and war in the world and call it "justice".

The people who wrote our holy books and documents are dead and gone. They're not around to let us know if we're interpreting what has been written in the way it was meant to be read. The language was different then and there can be multiple meanings for certain words and phrases. As long as we have words and concepts, we can turn them around to mean anything we want them to mean. Once we've done that, there's nothing we can't justify.

It's easy to do this. There are Christians who'd never kill or destroy anything as life is sacred (like St. Francis of Assisi). Yet, there are Christians who killed "witches", and participated in the great Inquisition. In the Islam tradition, the Sufis follow the path of love to God, The Beloved; their point of view of love is clearly expressed in the poems of Rumi and Hafiz. (Sufi is the mystic tradition of Islam.) Yet, there are Islamic terrorists who see fit to destroy anyone they see as an infidel - actions taken out of fear.

How can there be within the same tradition such opposite translations of the same religious texts? How can some readings lead to unconditional love and other readings empower people to murder? The truth is it is not the texts themselves, but the fear-based minds that are interpreting those texts.

For us to have compassion, it's important to understand that it's not the religions that are to blame. We must forgive those people who are angry and afraid, who look for any reason to lash out at others. Let's forgive all beings for justifications masquerading as justice. This deep understanding can help us change the way we perceive the religious tension in the world, and allow us to open our hearts and minds to each other.

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Practicing the lesson

Can you find one thing you did or said today to justify your point of view and anger?

What concept did you use to defend yourself? Notice how we can use anything to justify our position.

When we see ourselves doing this in our personal lives, it's easer to understand and forgive it on a global level.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive myself for passing judgment on others and for getting myself upset when religious issues are discussed. I choose to no longer justify myself in the name of justice when I am afraid, but instead look to have compassion for all beings.

admin · Blaming and Ownership

Blaming and Ownership

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.

Mother Teresa

We have discussed that our thoughts and beliefs have a direct impact on our experience and the collective global consciousness. Nothing illustrates that as clearly as the subject of politics. Politics generate strong emotional reactions. Our attachment to our personal ideals compels us to projectour anger, disdain and frustration on people who express points of view differing from ours. In the political arena we see this played out as adversarial mudslinging. On the international level this is sometimes expressed as war. When we see our point of view as "right," we can justify and blame the problems of the world on others, abdicating responsibility for our words and deeds to them.

As we hold fast to being "right" about our political position we are usually unaware of the impact our anger, frustration and sometimes, hatred is having. It is therefore vital for each of us to take ownership for projecting our emotionally charged points of view into the world. It is much too easy to sit around and blame people who disagree with our political agenda for not doing enough to make the world a better place. A greater challenge is to responsibly take ownership of our thoughts.

What is most important for each of us to understand is that when we are engaged in judging, blaming and not respecting others opinions, then the thoughts that we personally contribute to our collective global consciousness energetically supports discord, conflict and war. Angry, hateful thoughts of blame create disharmony, and loving, compassionate, and forgiving thoughts create peaceful coexistence.

Dianne Eppler Adams of Spirit in Matters tells us that, "Responding with anger to someone with a different political view has resulted in wars, insurrections and, yes, even terrorism throughout the ages. If I take responsibility for the opinion I hold gained through my life experiences and open to listening to the other person's position gained from their life experiences, I may discover places of agreement arising where there was previously only conflict. Today, I forgive myself for seeing politics as a battle I must fight. I forgive the opposition for their opinions that are different."

Let us play with the idea that the variety of political points of view expressed, are simply a reflection of the vast number of human ideas in our group consciousness. While you do not have to agree with the content of a particular point of view, allowing someone the right to their personal point of view is vital for greater peace. Keeping in mind that each one of us is constantly and powerfully contributing to the collective global consciousness, what thoughts and emotions are you projecting when faced with views that differ from yours?

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Practicing the Lesson

We all get caught up in blaming others for situations in our personal lives in the same way that politicians love to blame situations on the opposing political party.

Think of one situation in your home right now where you are blaming something on another person.

Make the choice to take ownership and stop projecting your anger and blame on the other person.

Now think of a politician you have expressed anger and blame towards.

Acknowledge your gratitude to them for mirroring the fear-based emotions you are projecting into the world.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive all beings for the anger and blame directed toward people with political points of view differing from our own. I take ownership and responsibility for the thoughts I add to the collective global consciousness.

admin · Contempt and Sensitivity

Contempt and Sensitivity

Anger and intolerance are the twin enemies of correct understanding.

There are many topics that we deal with as a society that are challenge the very foundation of our beliefs. Most of these issues revolve around moral concepts, which come from our sense of conscience of what is right and wrong - and much of that originates from our religious beliefs. We learned on day 35 that we can read our religious texts in many ways and
justify our actions on their behalf. When we realize that we base ourmorality on interpretation, it becomes more difficult to know what's really "right" and what is not.

As soon as issues of "morality" come into politics, it's like throwing a match into dry brush. Gandhi's quote is critical because if we approach these political issues with anger and intolerance, no understanding can ever come. Understanding does not mean we agree with one another. It simply means we can see another point of view.

It's easy for us to become passionate about what we believe because we're so attached to our perspective, but we lose our compassion when we cross the line from passion to contempt. Gandhi once said, "I am prepared to die, but there is no cause for which I am prepared to kill." That is because we lose our humanity when we kill and maim for a belief.

When we're able to listen and take the time to understand what others are thinking and feeling it becomes possible to find a way to discuss, rather than kill. Even if we don't come to any conclusions, at least the doors to communication are open. Why must we take the attitude of "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth?" Does it truly make sense for us to all be blind and toothless?

There are times when political issues are critical and all options have been exhausted - we may be forced to make a choice to got to war. But there's a big difference between fighting when we are filled with contempt and hatred for the other, and taking that same action with compassion, sensitivity and the desire to end the conflict as quickly as possible. Let's forgive ourselves for any contempt we have held towards each other and for the lack of sensitivity that accompanies that type of thinking.

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Practicing the lesson

What political issue is important to you?

When you start to talk about this issue, how do you feel, and what emotions are you experiencing?

Are any of those emotions fear-based, for example, anger, frustration, righteous indignation, hatred, or contempt? Consider that when we experience these emotions, we are actually hurting our own bodies by raising our blood-pressure and upsetting our stomachs.

Is it possible for you to have a point of view, but not experience and project anger when talking about it?

When you see yourself getting upset, forgive yourself for allowing yourself to use that political issue to make yourself sick.

Make an effort to hear other points of view before jumping in, cutting others off, and defending your position. It's possible that you might learn something that you didn't know or consider before.

Today's Affirmation

In the name of peace, I forgive myself for any anger, contempt and intolerance I have shown towards the political perspectives of others and I forgive others for the same. I choose to be more sensitive, listen more and judge less, and realize that I do not have all the answers to any political issue.

admin · Drama and What Is

Drama and What Is

I think journalism gets measured by the quality of information it presents, not the drama or the pyrotechnics associated with us.

Now more than fifty years later it's often difficult to distinguish news stories from entertainment, and extreme reality TV from the drama that fills the news screens. News pundits yell and denounce one another for voicing different points of view. With twenty-four hour news stations on radio, TV, and the internet, stories of terrorism and violence are repeated, insuring that images sustaining fear of the "enemy" are imprinted in our consciousness.

When I hear the word television, I actually hear tell-a-vision. In a 30-second sound bite we view a vision of reality filled with commentary and judgments. And that's all it is, a particular point of view. Confusion occurs when we don't understand the difference between "what is" and drama. The "what is" can be viewed as what's happening without all the judgment, points of view, and assumptions - "just the facts Jack."

Drama occurs when we add all kinds of judgment to the events, and suffer the emotional turmoil that results from the judgment. With awareness, we can learn to distinguish between what is a story and "what is," and not fall prey to the emotional manipulation of the media. In addition, we are able to listen to the news without losing our happiness or raising our blood-pressure.

What is crucial to remember is that instead of blaming, complaining and judging the media we each have the choice to change the channel and listen to a new story when drama and fear are being served as steady diet by the media. It is up to each of us to determine the best images and stories with which to nourish our minds.

So what will you decide to fill your plate with - drama or the "what is?" Rather than blaming the media, embody your power and consciously choose the thoughts and images you allow to capture your attention.

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Practicing the Lesson

Go on a media diet for one week. No TV, radio, internet news, newspaper, magazines, movies or music. Yikes!

Use this time to quiet your mind, and "hear" what you're thinking.

When you re-introduce media into your life, you will be more conscious of what you choose. It is up to you to use your awareness to view what is happening from a neutral place, rather than from a fear-based point of view.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive the media for focusing on drama and sensationalism. I choose to view news stories from the vantage point of "what is."

admin · Disaster and Evolution

Disaster and Evolution

There are two big forces at work, external and internal. We have very little control over external forces such as tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, disasters, illness and pain.

What really matters is the internal force.
How do I respond to those disasters?

Earth is an amazing entity. She supports the lives of billions of living creatures and is a living sentient being. Truly, ' our mother and we owe our lives to her. But what happens when major shifts in our planet occur, and we must endure hurricanes, tornados, tsunamis, floods, draughts, and earthquakes? How do we choose to respond to things that we cannot control, as Leo Buscaglia asks above?

Whenever the human mind cannot grasp the immensity of what is happening in life, it searches for a reason or an entity to blame; it has the need to know why. But most of what occurs in this reality we don't have the answers for. Yes, we're responsible for the way we care for our planet - there are definitely reactions to the way we live on earth. However, in the end, it's not the fault of God or retribution for the evil acts of man. We may be simply observing and experiencing the evolution of our planet in action.

Mother Nature affects our lives in so many ways; weather influences our weekend activities, it contributes to car accidents, mold in our homes, and bolts of lightening frying our computers. Planes are put on hold, flights cancelled, and vacation plans laid to rest. No use being frustrated, it's just life unfolding creating multiple opportunities for us to practice being centered in forgiveness.

We can choose to say these events are terrible and be devastated, or we can accept them as part of life and remain calm. Our emotional reaction is important in these times because if we use our energy and personal power to be upset, we won't have the energy and clarity to do what is needed to help the people who are suffering.

Having the ability to forgive our Mother Earth in these difficult and challenging times is important. Blaming accomplishes nothing other than allowing us to feel like victims. No one promised that life would be without glitches. If we're comfortable with the uncertainty of life, we'll always meet these ordeals with grace, compassion, positive action and respect. Let's appreciate our relationship with our planet as we evolve together. Putting our attention on gratitude, rather than feeling victimized by the environment, changes our emotional state to one of peace and acceptance.

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Practicing the lesson

When was the last time your life was affected "adversely" by Mother Nature?

How did you feel about what happened?

Did you feel imposed upon, financially compromised, or inconvenienced?

Now that you have a deeper awareness that the weather is not personal, take the action to forgive Mother Nature, and let your frustration, feelings of injustice or anger go.

Make the choice not to take the environment personally or allow yourself to become upset. Use gratitude to change your attitude to acceptance.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive Mother Nature for all events that have caused suffering on our planet. I choose to have gratitude for everything Mother Earth provides me with, and to have a deep appreciation for my relationship with this planet.

admin · Condescension and Tolerance

Condescension and Tolerance

In relation to our environment and how we use, share and sustain our natural resources, there is much conflict and dissension between people and groups. Scientific data reveals that carbon dioxide and other gases naturally warm the surface of the planet by trapping solar heat in the atmosphere. This keeps our planet habitable. However, by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil and clearing forests it seems we have dramatically increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere. As a result, some scientists believe that rising temperatures are causing glaciers to rapidly melt, and category 4 and 5 hurricanes become more frequent.

Some reports call for radical changes in our use of fossil fuels, particularly oil in order to halt future devastation. This information is compelling. Yet at the same time, other scientists suggest we may in fact be experiencing the effects of the natural fluctuations of the earth's environment.

These are extremely different points of view, and if we look to data and physical evidence - we'll never come to any firm conclusions. The reason is that physical evidence can easily be manipulated to confirm any number of view points. In the end, the truth is that we don't know what our earth would or wouldn't be doing right now if we hadn't been around to affect the environment.

Knowing this, it behooves us to be tolerant and understanding of all points of view. Being tolerant doesn't mean we ignore caring for our earth. It simply means we do the best we can, understanding that we don't know the answers. As a result, we're always going to have different ideas about what's good or not good for our earth. Let's forgive our condescension and intolerance of points of view unlike our own.

Regardless of where we stand regarding the environment, it doesn't solve anything to be poisonous in our words and actions toward folks whose opinions are in opposition to ours. What is most helpful is for all of us to communicate with respect and discuss all possible outcomes and options honestly.

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Practicing the lesson
Here are some environmental issues that appear important right now.

The topic of climate changes.

The decrease in biological diversity.

The growing human population and its effect on resources and pollution.

Get together with a group of friends and discuss each of these issues and offer what you believe are solutions to these problems.

After hearing what everyone has to say - what have you discovered?

Is it possible to take action when you're all in opposition?

What have you discovered about condescension and tolerance within yourself?

Today's Affirmation
I forgive all beings for any ways in which we've poisoned the environment with our attitude of condescension towards one another. I am tolerant of the vast diversity of ideas in the world. I honor the environment in my thoughts and actions.

admin · Exploitation and Responsibility

Exploitation and Responsibility
You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow
by evading it today.

Time changes all things. This applies to us as a country, as well as a planet of human nations. Where the initial focus of our country was more on the ideals of freedom and democracy; now our attention resides more on the bottom line, profit margins and stockholder interests.

When the bottom line becomes more important than the planet, problems may arise including; chemical poisoning, ozone problems, global warming, destruction of marine life, acid rain, sewage issues, illegal dumping, erosion, and deforestation. When the bottom line becomes more important than humanity, we may be creating a situation that exploits people and drains our creative resources.

The global ego can be as dangerous as an individual ego. Our ego engages in exploitation any time we utilize another person, group or entity for selfish purposes or for some kind of advantage. Just as each of us is responsible for exploiting others in small ways and not taking responsibility for many of our actions, the same behavior is at work on business, governmental and global levels. When we only think of ourselves, our happiness, and our financial situation - as individuals or nations - suffering is the result.

As far as the larger picture is concerned, rather than getting frustrated with these companies, we can forgive them and take action to create change. Pretending to be unaware of the possible outcomes of our actions is not an excuse for our lack of responsibility. As President Lincoln suggests, we cannot escape the responsibility we have for the future by avoiding it today.

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Practicing the lesson

No situation is too small to have an impact on. When you see yourself tending to be apathetic, forgive yourself and make a commitment to take an action. Some actions to consider taking are:

Look at the way you "exploit" and/or manipulate people in your life. Take responsibility by making changes in those relationships which are supportive of both parties.
Look at your stock portfolios and the stores you patronize to see if these companies support your intentions.

Get involved with an organization that creates change in a non-violent way. There are many such groups, find one that resonates with the way you would like to see the world.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive businesses and governments for exploiting the resources of our planet, and for not making responsible choices that benefit all peoples. I choose to be aware of when I am using people for my personal benefit and forgive myself for such behaviors.

admin · Terrorism and Peace

Terrorism and Peace

If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm any hostility.

Before September 11, 2001 , the idea of a terror alert was foreign to most U.S. citizens. Stories of terrorism as well as the changing color of the terror alert have become an ordinary part of world news reports. When I first heard about the terror plot that was uncovered in England in early August 2006, I thought: "This isn't surprising, with so much attention paid to terror it seems natural that it would come to form and be created in our three-dimensional experience." What we give our attention to persists and grows and during the past five years, terrorism has gotten enormous attention. President Bush declares regularly that we are fighting a war on terrorism. Well isn't war a form of terrorism?

What is terror? It's extreme and overpowering fear. It captures our attention, and floods our consciousness with concerns for our safety and our life. Fear is the result of our ego-mind believing that there is someone out there, an enemy who is different from us and can hurt us. If I can destroy the enemy then all will be well. The truth is that the real enemies are our beliefs and fears: that one religion is better than another, one race is superior to another, and one political party better than another. Terror is a strategy to control people by arousing their fear so they will submit to our will.

Given both the intense psychological effects of terror (in the form of heightened fear and anxiety) and the horrendous violence (resulting in death and destruction), is it possible to truly forgive terrorists and terrorism? The answer, if we want to experience peace and happiness in our personal lives and contribute to peace on earth, is Yes.

When we remember, person-by-person that we are one and that inflicting pain on any part affects the whole, we open the door more widely to heaven on earth. If peace is truly what we desire then we must be peace, not just with people who are like us, but with all people. We must acknowledge and love the seed of the divine that is present in all of God's children. We must be the worlds' greatest lover. Are you ready to forgive terrorists and forgive yourself for the same kind of hatred?

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Practicing the Lesson

Do you remember the set of emotions that you felt as the result of watching the news on 9/11? (For example; shock followed by fear, frustration, anger, numbness, compassion.)
Make a list of some of the thoughts that were running through your head in that moment and then make a list of what you believe at this time.
Have a conversation with your family and/or friends about their emotions, thoughts and beliefs.
Explore what it would take for each of you to take the powerful action of forgiving terrorists.
Read Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza
Today's Affirmation

I forgive all terrorists of the past, present and future. I acknowledge the terrorist in me, and I choose to be peaceful in my words and actions. I know that fear-based actions are always a reflection of fear-based beliefs.

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Please post your comments, feelings and stories about this lesson on the The Li nksclan forum !

admin · Stories and Truthfulness

Stories and Truthfulness
Anger so clouds the mind, that it cannot perceive the truth.

Every ethnic and religious group in the world has a long history of storytelling, whether they are about creation stories, family lineages, historical events, wars and conflicts, and/or religious traditions. These stories are passed on from generation to generation and are beautiful expressions of our humanity. But other times we use these stories to pass on our resentments, anger, injustice and grudges.

There are groups of humans fighting all over the world as a result of these stories of injustice. Some groups want to totally eliminate their enemies, others want to win (whatever that means), and still others just want to have the injustice acknowledged and amends made. A story of injustice in and of itself is not bad. When we take a story about the past and use it as a filter to view the present and future through, it corrupts the way we perceive life. Then we cannot see what is truth.

So what is the truth in these stories? Well, let's make a list and see if we can agree on this:

People were killed, maimed and suffered.

Buildings, homes and land were destroyed.

The environment was adversely affected.

This is the end result of all human conflict, no matter who was involved and where in the world it occurred. The key is to let go of the lies we have been telling about each other. Statements like, "They need to pay"; "We need to get even"; "We'll teach them"; "When they're gone then we'll be okay"; "They need to suffer for what they did"; and "God wants them to die."

Until we stop blaming others and start taking responsibility for our half of those stories, the cycle of ping-pong warfare will never end. The answer is in compassion; the understanding that we've all suffered and that we wish to end the suffering. It takes a commitment on the part of each human to make the choice to say - no more. When we see suffering, our desire to move past the pain is so great that we're willing to forgive and let the injustice go. We realize that in our insanity and fear, we forgot we are all divine, and that our greatest enemy is the ego-mind.

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Practicing the lesson

To better understand how we use stories to create conflict globally, it helps to understand how we do the same in our daily lives. Take a few moments to consider some stories you've been telling in your family. It might be a story you're telling your children about your ex-partner to make them side with you - or maybe it's a story you're telling about a sibling who did you wrong. In your journal, make a list of these stories and ask yourself:

What am I accomplishing by telling and re-telling these stories?
Am I trying to get people to side with my personal point of view about an act of injustice?
If people side with me, does that change anything in the end - what have I accomplished?
When I tell these stories, am I feeling unconditional love, or righteous indignation?
When you find yourself telling stories that don't have the intention to create peace, love and resolution in your family - forgive yourself for your selfishness.
Make a commitment to yourself to put an end to those stories by taking action to heal what has been broken.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive myself and others for perpetuating stories of injustice for the purpose of creating fear and resentment within ourselves and the desire for revenge. I choose to create peace both inside my own home and in the global arena

admin · Genocide and Coexistence

Genocide and Coexistence
What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?

Human holocausts and genocides are by far the most devastating outcome of the expression of the human ego-mind. Nothing creates more physical and emotional suffering and pain than the mass murder and torture of people. It's the ultimate manifestation of all human fear-based lies - the most destructive one being, "They are not me and they are not divine."

All justifications and rationalizations for war, ethnic and racial cleansings, start from this belief. In the end, it doesn't matter what concepts we use as the basis for our justifications, as Gandhi suggests in the quote above. Once we make that agreement, we're empowered to attack what we perceive to be outside of us because what's outside of us is dangerous.

Let's look at some of the larger genocides and holocausts during the past two thousand years: Hitler in Europe, Africans taken to America, Cortez in Mexico, the nuclear bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Hutus killing Tutsis in Rwanda, Pot Pol in Cambodia, the Armenian genocide, the Crusades, and the list goes on.

There's a concept that Malcolm Gladwell wrote of in his book, The Tipping Point. He suggested that theres a point in an epidemic when a virus reaches critical mass and expands exponentially. The same thing happens to consciousness, the moment when the prevailing point of view of humanity shifts. Each one of us, by changing our beliefs of separation to an experience oneness, can be responsible for tipping the scales from a mass mentality of fear-based beliefs (leading to torture, genocide and death) to an infinite consciousness of love, harmony and happiness.

It seems that in our world it's easy to blame, judge and ultimately annihilate those who are different from us. We've already seen the horrific suffering caused by holocausts and genocides. Isn't it time to forgive ourselves and see the divine in every being? We'll never create world peace until we create personal inner peace first.

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Practicing the lesson

Notice how you annihilate "others" in your thoughts and actions. From simple things, like calling someone's point of view stupid, to more serious actions, like physically or emotionally abusing another.
When you notice these actions, forgive yourself and remember that person is an expression of the divine, that our lives are interconnected. Be kind, compassionate and caring.
When you are in line at the supermarket or movies, or waiting at a traffic light, take a look around you and as you look at each person in your mind say: "You are Love".

Today's Affirmation

I forgive myself for any fear-based beliefs that I have acted on and for harming others in my thoughts, words and actions. I am a peacemaker and nourish peaceful co-existence in my thoughts and actions.

admin · Poverty and Abundance

Poverty and Abundance

When most of us hear the word poverty, we immediately equate it with not having the money to live in a decent way or the lack of physical possessions. But poverty can be found in many other situations, such as poverty of spirit, kindness, gratitude, love or self-worth. Abuse of power, greed, and unbridled neediness all contribute to the economics of poverty. Judgment, condemnation and harsh opinions all lead to the inability for us to open our hearts to others, causing poverty of spirit and love.

Truly, there's no reason for anyone to suffer any type of poverty in our modern world, as we live in an abundant universe. There's plenty of food, water, clothing, money, love, and friends to go around. Poverty exists because people operate from their egos, hoarding what they believe they need to feel safe. As a result, many of us exist in simultaneous states of poverty and abundance, both materialistically and spiritually.

Each of us must look deeply into ourselves and see where we're suffering from poverty. Mother Theresa once said, "The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved." Love and kindness are two of the simplest actions we can take to end poverty of spirit. Why hoard and withhold your love - especially from yourself? If we don't share our love unconditionally, we can say we're a cause of spiritual poverty in the world, and with this awareness forgive ourselves.

If we have a surplus of money and resources, we must ask ourselves if we are reaching out to assist others with those assets. Resources don't have to be money; they can be a teachable skill or simply a smile that can be shared. A cautionary note here is: What is your point of view when you're offering your resources? Are you the "have" and you are giving to the "have not?" Are you better because you're not in a position of need? If any of these judgments are present, forgive yourself, as the intent of your action is clouded.

When we share from our inter-connectedness as human beings we experience wealth and abundance that is life sustaining. When we allow ourselves to give without any restrictions or conditions, we abolish poverty and strengthen our global family.

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Practicing the lesson

Make a list of the ways you hoard your possessions or love. It could be your clothing, money, CD's, compassion, friends, anything. This exercise is meant to encourage you to open your mind to all the ways you are creating poverty in your life and the lives of others. When you see yourself taking these kinds of actions, forgive yourself and take a counter-action to change that behavior.

When in need, ask. All too often, we support poverty in our experience by our shame about asking. Remember ASK is an acronym for: A-ask and it is given, S-seek and you shall find, and K-knock and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened (adapted from Matthew 7:7- Cool

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Today's Affirmation

I forgive myself for using my beliefs about poverty as a way of judging myself and others. I acknowledge that I live in an abundant universe and my thoughts, words and actions support this abundant point of view.

admin · Ignorance and Acknowledgement

Ignorance and Acknowledgement

How far must suffering and misery go before we see that even in the day of vast cities and powerful machines, the good earth is our mother and that if we destroy her, we destroy ourselves?

Humans have often viewed the environment as a thing, something outside and separate from us. While the environment may be inconvenient at times, like raining on a day we planned to go to the beach, we rarely pay attention to our inter-connectedness. While we all learned in school about photosynthesis and our dependency on trees for the air we breathe, we are often ignorant about the deep relationship we have with the environment.

Imagine what the world would be like if each of us acknowledged our intimate relationship with the environment. Find out what actions you can take to honor the earth and natural environment that provides the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. How would you express your gratitude and how would your actions be a reflection of your love of our home, our earth?

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Practicing the lesson

Make a list of how you can honour the environment. Items on your list may include: recycling, in the winter keeping the heat low and the windows closed, using reusable bags for your groceries, reducing the use of plastic utensils and paper plates, turning off the water when it is not needed.

If you haven't always honored the environment, forgive yourself for any laziness, lack of awareness, or for believing that your individual actions don't make a difference.

Take a moment to watch Linda's short movie After the Storm: Compassion, Wisdom, Change.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive my ignorance for any actions that have had a harmful impact on the environment. I honor the environment in my thoughts, words and actions. I acknowledge that I make a difference and my contributions are valuable.

admin · Disrespect and Discernment

Disrespect and Discernment

This we know: the earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.

As humans, we possess the most amazing power of creation. We can mine metal from the earth, and transform it like magic into a refrigerator, an airplane or a car. On the other hand, we can also transform that metal into a gun, a tank or a missile. We have the ability to devise creations that uplift our lives and make our existence more effortless, or to destroy and mutilate ourselves and the planet.

Creation and destruction are ever present in our illusion of duality, they go hand in hand. For every wonderful invention, there is its shadow. Whenever we utilize Mother Nature's gifts, we create the potential for great abuse and exploitation.

We've mentioned that every action has a set of reactions. As humans we don't have the ability to see all the outcomes for each of our actions and this can create a very narrow way of perceiving the world. For example, most people would agree it's lovely to use what Mother Nature has to build a home. But how often do we think about the number of birds, insects, and squirrels who've lost their homes as a result of those felled trees?

I'm not suggesting we stop building homes or inventing all of these creations that use Mother Nature's resources. As responsible beings utilizing the massive power of creation, we must be cautious not to be egocentric and disrespectful. We must remember we are an ecosystem and are unable to live without the other creatures on our planet. It all comes down to having respect for creation, and clarity about cause and effect. Then we can use our discernment to make uplifting and wholesome choices about how to use Mother Nature's resources.

Let's forgive ourselves for misusing the power of creation and for taking helpful inventions and using them to destroy and harm living beings. Committing to have more awareness, discernment, and clarity will positively affect our world.

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Practicing the lesson

Take a few moments to contemplate all the items in your life that come from this earth that make your life comfortable.

What are the most obvious reactions in the environment to those conveniences?

Do you feel those reactions will affect the function of the earth in the future?

Do you feel that those conveniences have already created issues on our planet?

Forgive yourself for making use of inventions that have possibly harmful effects and make a choice to take at least one action to shift those effects.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive myself for my lack of awareness of the harmful side effects of the conveniences in my life. I forgive humanity for the evil and disrespectful use of our creations. I choose to be more cognizant of the shadow side of all human creations and inventions.

admin · Exploitation and Responsibility

Exploitation and Responsibility

You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow
by evading it today.

Time changes all things. This applies to us as a country, as well as a planet of human nations. Where the initial focus of our country was more on the ideals of freedom and democracy; now our attention resides more on the bottom line, profit margins and stockholder interests.

When the bottom line becomes more important than the planet, problems may arise including; chemical poisoning, ozone problems, global warming, destruction of marine life, acid rain, sewage issues, illegal dumping, erosion, and deforestation. When the bottom line becomes more important than humanity, we may be creating a situation that exploits people and drains our creative resources.

The global ego can be as dangerous as an individual ego. Our ego engages in exploitation any time we utilize another person, group or entity for selfish purposes or for some kind of advantage. Just as each of us is responsible for exploiting others in small ways and not taking responsibility for many of our actions, the same behavior is at work on business, governmental and global levels. When we only think of ourselves, our happiness, and our financial situation - as individuals or nations - suffering is the result.

As far as the larger picture is concerned, rather than getting frustrated with these companies, we can forgive them and take action to create change. Pretending to be unaware of the possible outcomes of our actions is not an excuse for our lack of responsibility. As President Lincoln suggests, we cannot escape the responsibility we have for the future by avoiding it today.

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Practicing the lesson

No situation is too small to have an impact on. When you see yourself tending to be apathetic, forgive yourself and make a commitment to take an action. Some actions to consider taking are:

Look at the way you "exploit" and/or manipulate people in your life. Take responsibility by making changes in those relationships which are supportive of both parties.
Look at your stock portfolios and the stores you patronize to see if these companies support your intentions.

Get involved with an organization that creates change in a non-violent way. There are many such groups, find one that resonates with the way you would like to see the world.

Today's Affirmation

I forgive businesses and governments for exploiting the resources of our planet, and for not making responsible choices that benefit all peoples. I choose to be aware of when I am using people for my personal benefit and forgive myself for such behaviors.

admin · Doctrine and Equanimity

Doctrine and Equanimity

Truth is eternal, knowledge is changeable. It is disastrous to confuse them.

There are countless human concepts; we've spoken about many of them over the course of our time together in this book. Let's make sure we understand the definition of doctrine and dogma which pertain to our discussion in this chapter. A common definition for dogma would be an authoritative principle, belief, or statement of ideas or opinions, which are considered to be absolutely true without proof. Doctrine is somewhat similar, as a principle or body of principles presented for acceptance or belief, by a religious, political, scientific, or philosophic group (dogma).

Many people have the idea that dogma is bad, but dogma is neither good nor bad. It's a system of knowledge, or information. Just because something is considered doctrine or dogma does not mean it's transcendent truth, it simply means that a group of people have chosen to take that knowledge as their personal truth. To be clear, transcendent truth is the absolute knowledge of God-consciousness that cannot be put into words without distorting it. This way we don't confuse universal or transcendent truth, with human knowledge.

For example; it can be a republic, democracy, autocracy, monarchy, dictatorship, aristocracy, ecclesiarchy, totalitarian, socialistic or communistic system. Or perhaps it is Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islamism, Shintoism, Sikhism, Bahá'í, Confucianism, or Jainism. Although some of these systems may be inspired or directed by God, dogma and doctrine are still conceptual human knowledge and are based on human agreement, rather than universal or transcendent truth.

Peace will only come when we understand that these are simply doctrines, and in the world of concepts they're all equal. Each one of these systems is capable of creating great suffering or contentment, depending on how we choose to use them. As soon we say that one system is better or worse than another, the conflict begins.

Human evolution occurs when we can acknowledge other's doctrines and learn from them. As a result, the world's viewpoint shifts holographically and is inclusive of multiple points of view. Otherwise, evolution comes as a result of one viewpoint consuming another through war and domination, and this becomes exclusive, limiting, and linear. Let's forgive ourselves for condemning the belief systems, dogmas and doctrines of others. When we operate from the place of unconditional love, doctrine becomes our assistant in life rather than our master.

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Practicing the lesson

Use this exercise with a group of friends or your partner.

Make a list of all the doctrines that you feel are wrong and list your reasons.

Now take a moment to ask, is the belief system itself the problem, or the way that people have been interpreting the beliefs? (For example, there are some Christians who are liberal, and others who are fundamentalists. Is the problem Christianity, or the way we interpret and use the doctrine of Christianity against each other?)
Is it possible to change the way you feel about your list of doctrines to become more accepting of them even if that isn't what you believe?
If you cannot accept the existence of your list of doctrines at this time, can you see that your choice might perpetuate human conflict?
Can you forgive humanity's attachment to our concepts and your own attachment to what you believe is right and wrong?

Today's Affirmation

I forgive all beings for thinking that any one doctrine or system is better than another. I choose to ask whether we are using the belief system in a harmful or uplifting way, rather than condemning the doctrine itself.

admin · Duality and Holism

Duality and Holism

We are one, after all, you and I. Together we suffer, together exist, and forever will recreate each other.

The dominant evolutionary shift occurring today is from a consciousness of duality to holism. Duality views life through separate and opposing polarities, experiences including: life or death, secular or spiritual, inner or outer, right or wrong, good or evil, and love or fear.

The consciousness of holism is based on a "both-and" point of view including; life and death, love and fear, art and science. In this rapidly manifesting consciousness, the circle of life contains all experience. All is part of the creative process: the suffering, the bliss, the fear and the love. There is nothing outside of the whole.

Some of the fundamental shifts taking place are:

We are eternal: Rather than viewing death as the enemy robbing us of life, we can recognize that our physical existence offers us the opportunity to savor, enjoy, celebrate and honor the mysterious gift of human experience. At the same time, we can recognize that there is neither birth nor death, our divine essence is eternal and it's our human experience that appears finite.

We are one: While we look separate, as though there is space and distance between us, we are moving through the world breathing the very same air. I walk toward you, I exhale, and your next inhalation includes air that just moved through my body. At the same time, let's acknowledge, embrace and embody that we are one - an interconnected matrix of consciousness.

We are creators. While it is a common belief that we have a limited ability to make changes in the physical world, it's actually our innate birthright as creators to have the power to project our entire reality into being. We can create anything the human mind can conceive of, from the horrors of war to the heartwarming harmony of beautiful music. This is the process of Spirit moving through us expressing itself as form and matter.

It is crucial to remember that duality is not bad and holism is not good, they are simply different points of view. Holism is a natural progression, the natural expansion of consciousness. Knowing this affords us the opportunity and the responsibility to forgive all beings for forgetting that we are one, for forgetting that any action we take in thought and behavior affects the whole, and for any failure to consciously create experiences based on compassion, unconditional love and harmony.

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Practicing the lesson

If you truly embraced the idea of holism, how would these aspects of duality change for you?
If you knew you were eternal and could never die, would the way you currently live your life change?
If you knew yourself as Spirit, would you have any doubt that you are anything but 100% responsible for the creation of your life?
If you knew that every other living being was you, could you reject anyone?

Today's Affirmation

I forgive myself for seeing the world through the lens of duality. I embrace holism by acknowledging that we are eternal, that we are one and that we are creators.

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A Prelude to Forgiveness stories

Forgiveness and Compassion

Practicalities of Forgiveness

How and why we forgive

Self-Sabotage & Intuition

Judgment and Acceptance

Perfection and Surrender

Unworthiness & Success

Victimhood and Divinity

Shame and Communion

Abuse and Nurturing

Disease and Wellness

Aging and Unfolding

Control and Parenting

Disappointment and Honoring

Resentment and Unconditional Love

Opposition and Union

Rivalry and Respect

Feuding and Harmony

Opposition and Union

Expectations and Understanding

Presumption and Listening

Non-Awareness and Grace

Critical and Allowing

Separation and Oneness

Supremacy and Humbleness

Other and Self

Selfishness and Generosity

Critical and Allowing

Stereotyping and Inclusiveness

Punishing and Loving

Extremism and Embracing

Authority and Accountability

Justification and Justice

Blaming and Ownership

Contempt and Sensitivity

Drama and What Is

Disaster and Evolution

Condescension and Tolerance

Exploitation and Responsibility

Terrorism and Peace

Stories and Truthfulness

Genocide and Coexistence

Poverty and Abundance

Ignorance and Acknowledgement

Disrespect and Discernment

Exploitation and Responsibility

Doctrine and Equanimity

Duality and Holism