A universal assembly for true discernment
Day 205 AssignmentThis evening (or tomorrow morning):
Watch the following 21-minute video.
Tomorrow:
Please read and contemplate quotes #461-464 in The Seven Steps to Awakening with your inner teacher. This is the last quote today:
That is known as the attainment of the highest in which one abandons the notions of the existence of objects and in which one rests in one’s own pure Self. When all divisions are given up, the indivisible alone remains. It is pure, one, beginningless and endless.
Note: The next Daily Contemplation will be available tomorrow morning after 2am ET at this link.
Yesterday’s tip defined the “empty shell” as being empty of self and empty of self-will. The willingness to be empty is never an ego desire. Therefore, it is a safe desire. It is also a goal or focus that is helpful in both the purification and service phases. Therefore, it is a worthy goal for the individual who wants to awaken and realize truth.
In addition to being a worthy goal for the individual, the desire to be empty is the one individual goal that serves the whole.
Most individual goals create conflict, because most individual goals come from self-will, which is highly personal and conflicts with other persons. It is extremely fair and honest to say that all conflict comes from self-will.
The desire to be empty of self-will, however, is different. It is the only individual goal that does not create conflict, because there is no self-will in it.
As today’s reading says:
As an empty shell, you are filled by Me.
The “Me” in that sentence is the natural wisdom and love of awake consciousness. There is no selfishness in awake consciousness, because awake consciousness knows all things as its Self and loves all things as its Self. Therefore, a human vessel that is moved by awake consciousness is a vessel that serves the greatest benefit of the whole.
A human vessel that is empty serves the whole in two ways:
Today’s reading refers to “mind.” For example, it says:
That which has opened itself to the Spirit of God by becoming as an empty shell has made a statement unto the mind that is its own.
In this context, “mind” is the intelligent faculty in consciousness.
Everything is consciousness, but as you know, consciousness does not recognize itself as consciousness when it is focused outward on thoughts, body and world. Yet, consciousness that does not know itself as consciousness is consciousness, and its truth is communicated to itself through its intelligent or comprehension faculty whenever a part of itself realizes itself.
Today’s reading is short, but its meaning is far-reaching, since it provides an opportunity to help awaken the entire universe by choosing to become empty at the individual level.
Note: The next tip will be available tomorrow morning after 3:50am ET at this link.
True authority is within.
True authority is the seat of knowledge.
True authority comes from the Heart of one.
The outside appears to be authority.
The outside appears to know.
Imitating the outside appears wise,
but this is appearance only.
Imitate the deep inside
by being still.
From stillness
one shall touch and know
authority.
~From our Holy Spirit
This month, we revisited a movie we have seen before, “Peaceful Warrior.” Dan Millman is a gifted young athlete bound for Olympic gold who will do anything to be the best. Driven by success, Dan has got it all: trophies, fast motorcycles, fast girls, and wild parties. But Dan’s world is turned upside down when he meets a mysterious stranger in a gas station who holds the power to tap into new worlds of strength and understanding. The young man discovers that he has much to learn and even more to leave behind in order to master this new vision of greatness.
Revs. Kelly Barber and George Maddox led the Movie Group’s discussion.
Here is a link to a playsheet designed to facilitate contemplative movie watching: Click Here
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.
The title for this Ted Talk is: “How We Experience Awe-Why it Matters”
Neuroscientist Beau Lotto conducted an ambitious study with Cirque du Soleil on the emotion of awe and its psychological and behavioral benefits. In this talk and live performance, he shares some of their findings — and stands back as Cirque du Soleil dancers create their own awe-inducing spectacle.
This group was facilitated by Rev. Jacquelyn Eckert.
Kate shares her experience, poetry, and life with us as she goes about the business of giving up her ideas about herself and the world on her journey toward purification and awakening. Kate shares with wisdom and humor and allows us a glimpse into the beautiful and sometimes messy blossoming of life examined with an eye on Truth.
Revs. Glen Ganaway and Yolanda Mapes, who are interfaith ministers, share a delightful, funny and inspiring hour of A Course in Miracles. Come join in on the fun, the laughs, and the music while unlearning the ego through the lessons and chapters of ACIM. You can find out more about the Mighty Companions on their website: www.themightycompanions.com
Weekly Sunday Gathering with Anne Blanchard, LMTitle: “You Gotta Feel It To Heal It: Cultivating an Undefended Heart”
Description: Sometimes it seems like the best we can do when we feel hurt is to “turn the other cheek” and move on. And while choosing not to react, not to defend, not to engage outwardly is no doubt a great first step, that may not actually be the best we can do. Whenever we feel hurt, we are in reality being given a much more profound healing opportunity, that is, a chance to free our heart from what blocks its natural open loving flow. Anne Blanchard shared the secrets of the spiritual heart, how and why it closes, and how we can actively cultivate a genuinely open and undefended heart.
Reading: Rev. Sherry Daves read selected passages from Chapter 6 of Micheal Singer’s epic tome of purification, The Untethered Soul.
or
Day 204 AssignmentThis evening (or tomorrow morning):
Tomorrow:
(You may always select another meditation video from this playlist.)
Please read and contemplate quotes #457-460 in The Seven Steps to Awakening with your inner teacher. This is the last quote today:
When what exists is realized as it is, the world-appearance ceases.
Note: The next Daily Contemplation will be available tomorrow morning after 2am ET at this link.
