As we end Gentle Healing Year 2 and prepare to begin Gentle Healing Year 3, it’s important that we realize:

Our thinking is not who we are;
therefore, it cannot lead us to know what we are.

When we are attached to mind, we trust thinking regardless of how foolish thinking is. Here are some very foolish ideas that almost all humans believe without ever questioning them:

1. I am a self
2. I am this self (body-mind-personality)
3. I am a bad/lacking self

Detaching from these three core ideas is  detaching from mind.

Of course, the self that believes these ideas cannot detach from these ideas. That is why we need to learn to trust the guidance that comes from within.

Sometimes the guidance that comes from within seems contrary to what you think you want. However, it’s important to notice that your individual will is merely believing-attention on thought. It’s not reflective of your truth.

You can see this for yourself if you practice s/Self-inquiry on what you think you want.

Typically, what a person perceives as his/her wants is based on the last two ideas in the list of foolish ideas above.

You can see that for yourself by drilling down into your upsets using root cause inquiry. Through root cause inquiry, you can discover that what you want is often a defense against the belief that you are bad or lacking. It also upholds the idea that you are a specific body-mind-personality. That’s why letting go of what you want can sometimes feel difficult. It is like letting go of you (as you perceive yourself.)

On Day 6 of this year, we read the following in NTI Matthew 8:

“Do not ask for what you want. Ask Me what it is that you need, and I shall lead you to it. But follow Me in purpose and faith only, for if you seek anything else, you will not see what I am showing you.”

When we ask for specific things or circumstances that we want, those specific things are based on the fears and desires of the imposter self. Therefore, believing we need or want those things reinforces the idea that we are that self. By letting go of what we think we want, and by asking in trust for whatever guidance we need, we loosen our grip on who we think we are.

As we near the end of Year 2 and prepare for Year 3, ask for your “daily bread” each day by asking inner wisdom:

What do I need now?

Other ways to ask that question include:

What would you have me see or realize now?
What would you share with me today?

A good time to ask is while contemplating the daily Thought of Awakening. Inner wisdom can always use the daily thought to give you specific guidance that is helpful to awakening.

In year 3, you can ask for guidance while contemplating the daily quotes from The Seven Steps to Awakening.

Today we begin a review of year two teachings that will take us through to the introduction to year three.

We began Gentle Healing Year 2 by looking at Michael Langford’s Five Steps for the Majority. These five steps emphasize kindness with others—with all  others. Michael recommends these five steps for anyone who wants to experience more light and less darkness in their lives, even if they are not interested in awakening. However, he emphasizes that these five steps are critical if awakening is your goal.

Here’s a review of the Five Steps for the Majority:

1. Every time you speak to a human being either in person or over the phone, make sure the content of what you are saying and the tone of your voice are loving, caring, and kind.

2. Every time you write something to a human being, make sure that what you are writing is loving and kind. Pause before you send someone an email or a text message and make sure that your email or text message is loving, caring and kind.

3. Never do any harm of any kind to any human being or animal.

4. Treat even the people who you think do not deserve your kindness with kindness.

5. Treat even people you only see briefly with great caring and kindness.

When Peace Pilgrim began her spiritual investigation, she noticed that nearly every spiritual culture had a rule similar to “the golden rule.”  Jesus taught the golden rule in the Bible when he said:

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” ~ Matthew 7:12

In Jesus’ final teaching to the apostles, just prior to his arrest and crucifixion, he said:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” ~ John 13: 34, 35

What these spiritual teachings point out is that kindness with one another and with all living things is a way of being that needs to be mastered by the genuine spiritual aspirant.

Here’s our reason for mastering kindness:

Not to be kind is to be a slave to the ego.

It is good to act kind even if you do not feel kind. Restraint from acting based on mental chatter is the first step toward disengaging from mental chatter, just like restraining one’s self from smoking a cigarette is the first step toward quitting smoking. However, restraint on its own isn’t enough.

The second step toward disengaging from mental chatter is rest-accept-trust. Allow the emotions that are covering natural love-peace-joy to rise and pass.

When you have some distance from ego emotion, practice self-inquiry to discover what you believed—what idea(s) you attached to as me  thinking. Question that idea(s) until you achieve clarity with inner wisdom.

Finally, practice Self-inquiry to complete the process; turn attention toward awareness. Recognize your Self, and abide there. (The mantra may help you make this transition.)