A universal assembly for true discernment
Please read quotes 1221-1224 in The Seven Steps to Awakening with your inner teacher. Here is the last quote:
Tranquility is the supreme satisfaction, leading to incomparable bliss.
Note: The next Daily Contemplation will be available tomorrow morning after 2am ET at this link.
In this program, we watched and discussed a selected TED talk. TED talks follow a unique format. Speakers at TED events have a maximum of 18 minutes to share their messages, which are delivered in highly polished, succinct speeches. TED talks are delivered by people from all walks of life on a multitude of subjects. A great many of these talks are about the insights gained by ordinary people–insights gained through extraordinary experiences or based on their contemplation of the ordinary events of their lives. Either way, their insights are genuine—not based upon theory or dogma, but through experience.
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The title of this Ted talk is “The Surprising Solution to the Imposter Syndrome” by Lou Solomon.
Answers to the self-doubt experienced by successful people can help anyone build a stronger sense of self. 70% of successful people have experienced the feelings associated with the Impostor Syndrome, such as fear of failure and perfectionism. Whether you have it or know someone who does, there are steps to build a more satisfying and happy life.
Lou Solomon is a CEO, author, and communications expert who is also a survivor of the Impostor Syndrome, a widespread condition that prevents successful people from internalizing and enjoying their accomplishments.
Lou is a member of the adjunct faculty at the McColl School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte, and co-founder of the school’s annual TWIST Conference for Women. She released her first book, Say Something Real in 2010 and is currently working on her second book.
Lou’s articles and insights have been published by Fast Company, Entrepreneur.com, CEO.com, HBR and more. She regularly conducts surveys in collaboration with Harris Interactive on leadership and the human connection.
This group was facilitated by Rev. Jacquelyn Eckert.
Please read quotes 1217-1220 in The Seven Steps to Awakening with your inner teacher. Here is the last quote:
For the man who has recognized his own nature and who is enjoying the experience of inner bliss, there is nothing that gives him greater satisfaction than the peace that comes from having no desires.
Note: The next Daily Contemplation will be available tomorrow morning after 2am ET at this link.
The heart of today’s tip comes from three sentences in today’s reading:
“A house divided cannot stand.”
“A house divided cannot stand.”
“Look within yourself and find what keeps you from being healed,
that you may overcome that thing and be healed.”
Today is another day of self-examination. As Nisargadatta Maharaj said, we tend to “do and undo at every step.” We need to get in the habit of looking at ourselves to see how we are out of harmony with our desire to awaken. Where do we “undo” our own good work?
As a reminder, self-examination isn’t about judging ourselves to be good or bad. It’s about realizing what we want, and then looking to discover how our current way of being is in our own way, hindering us instead of helping us. It helps to see self-examination as a process of ongoing gentle refinement.
Just as a house that’s divided can’t stand, a ship that’s divided sinks. Let’s find where we are divided against our own purpose, and then see where we are willing to “tighten the portholes and batten down the hatches.”
Ohhh! The previous reference to leaking water reminds me of a Sufi story about Nasruddin, the comical spiritual master:
One day, a student of the legendary wise fool, Mullah Nasruddin, went to visit him at his home. Already expecting some crazy behavior on Mullah’s part, the student reminded himself not to react. Another spiritual teacher once told him, “If you react unconsciously, you push the lesson of the moment away.”
When Mullah opened the door, he was overjoyed to see his student.
“My friend! Just in time! You can help me draw water from the well! Here, take this bucket and follow me!”
The student followed Mullah to the well and watched while he began to pull water from the well and splash it into the bucket that the student held.
After a few minutes, the student noticed that the level of the water in the bucket was not rising very quickly. Where was all the water going?
The student glanced underneath the bucket and saw that the bucket was leaking almost as much as Mullah put in each time.
Not appearing to notice, Mullah continued to put water in the bucket. The student was exasperated.
“Mullah, you idiot! Can’t you see that the bucket is leaking?”
My friend,” Mullah responded, “I was only looking at the top of the bucket. What does the bottom have to do with it?”
Be what you are
by remembering your truth.
Do not question it
or analyze it
or attempt to define it
in any way.
Rest and be it.
Let peace take you in.
Be peace.
Know your Self by being…
by asking nothing more,
and by asking for nothing specific
other than
to be.
~From our Holy Spirit
Do you find yourself having questions about some of the teachings from Regina Dawn Akers? Have you ever wondered what Regina’s Inner Wisdom meant to Regina?
For many years, Regina has been a spiritual teacher for so many. As such, she has taught on many topics through her own contemplations and spiritual journey. 2022 is Regina’s final year as full-time employee with Awakening Together. In this final year, Regina has been inspired to clarify her teachings, as they come to her, on her path.
Each week, Regina picks a topic and points us directly to the intention of the teaching around that topic. In addition, when time permits, Regina takes questions on the topic of the teaching in a Satsang type of format.
These teachings are available on this website as well as on our podcast channel, Clarifying the Teachings with Regina Dawn Akers.
Weekly Sunday Gathering with Rev. Joanne Schneider
Title: “I Live as a Fraud and So Do You”
Description: Being a fraud is an ego experience. Being a fraud, or feeling unworthy or not good enough, are ego thoughts. All egoic experiences are fraudulent because your experience comes out of the belief that you are a body/personality. Thus, everything you tell yourself that you are in your world experience is fraudulent. So yes, in this world you are living a fraudulent life. You are living from the belief that you are a body/personality.
Reader: Rev. Rayla Daniels read The Holy Spirit’s Interpretation of the New Testament (NTI) 1 Corinthians, Chapter 14.
or
Rev. Joanne’s written contemplation for this week’s homily:
Contemplation behind the Weekly Gathering of 3/13/2022 with Rev. Joanne Schneider
3/9/2022
Holy Spirit Inner Wisdom, sometimes I feel inadequate, not good enough, unworthy; sometimes I feel like a fraud. I know these times are learning opportunities for me. And I have been presented a learning opportunity this week. In fact, I see it as a healing opportunity.
Holy Spirit Inner Wisdom, how am I a fraud?
Being a fraud is an ego experience. Being a fraud, or feeling unworthy or not good enough, are ego thoughts. All egoic experiences are fraudulent because your experience comes out of the belief that you are a body/personality. Thus, everything you tell yourself that you are in your world experience is fraudulent. In your world experience, you get wrapped up into being right, perfect, and in control. You do not realize how impossible that is within the temporary, ever-changing experience that you created. Being right, perfect, and in control is simply not possible in your world experience. The feeling of being a fraud within that experience is simply part of the turbulent human experience that is presented to you to again practice letting go. And what adds to your distress is your belief in judgment. You believe that you are judged as wrong, imperfect, and out of control. You may well be judged, by others as wrong, imperfect, out of control personalities. Do you see how ridiculous your mind is? It feeds you crazy thoughts to keep you clinging to your personality in the world. It totally distracts you from seeing your True Self. In fact, your mind highjacks the direct path to your spiritual aspiration.
So yes, in this world you are living a fraudulent life. You are living from the belief that you are a body/personality. That is fraudulent. You are Truly the image and likeness of Eternal Love and Perfection; You are the Light. So, when the ego-mind tells you that you are a fraud, smile and agree and remember what you truly are. You are the Light, trying to reduce yourself to impossible standards in an imperfect, temporary experience. Then chuckle to yourself and ask, “What were you thinking?”
Let’s take this one step further. Every body/personality in your world experience is living a fraudulent life. They too are the Light covered by a disguise, a similar disguise to the one you wear. To straighten your path, take off your disguise and see through theirs; see them without theirs. Don’t be fooled by what they want you to see. Refuse to see them as anything other than the Light and Love that is their True Self.
Holy Spirit Inner Wisdom, thank you for teaching me about THE Light that is shining in my world experience. Help me live from this lesson. I am willing to see Light from Light, the One Light.
