Today’s reading tells two stories, one that highlights thinking as a guide and one that highlights intuition and spontaneity as a guide.

The first story is about Judas’ decision to help the chief priests arrest Jesus. The interesting thing about the thinking revealed in the story is that it appears reasonable under the circumstances. Let’s put ourselves in Judas’ position and look at his thinking from his point-of-view.

While sitting on the Mount of Olives earlier in the day, Jesus revealed deep truths to the apostles about the world, the oneness of consciousness, and the pure awareness of the absolute, in which the world disappears. This was the first time Jesus shared these truths with the apostles as a whole. He had shared these teachings with Peter, James and John while on a mountain retreat with them, and the teachings had scared Peter. Now, Judas experienced that same fear. (Reference the tip for Day 43)

While Judas’ mind was reeling from the newly revealed teachings, he looked at Jesus through that fear and saw what appeared to be self-indulgence. Jesus allowed a woman to massage his head and feet with a very expensive perfume. She told Jesus over and over again how much she loved him as he sat there smiling. It looked like he loved the admiring attention.

Judas’ fear increased as his thoughts went on-and-on about the outrageous teachings from that afternoon and the hedonistic display in front of him now. He couldn’t see clearly. He didn’t know how to tell what was true and what was not true. And then an idea occurred to him: If Jesus was put on trial before the chief priests, everything would become clear. They would know the questions to ask. Given the opportunity to interview him fully, they would know if Jesus was genuine or not.

Remember, Judas was raised to trust the chief priests. This line of thinking made sense to him. He concluded that the best thing to do was to turn Jesus in to the chief priests. Judas didn’t know that the best thing to do while in fear is to rest-accept-trust until the fear passes.

The second story in today’s reading is about the apostles learning to follow intuition. Interestingly, they are also afraid. However, their fear is different. Instead of being afraid of Jesus and the teachings, they are afraid of stepping outside of the thinking mind.

Like most people, the apostles believed that thinking protected them. On this day, Jesus asked the apostles to go into Jerusalem without a plan, and trust intuition and spontaneity to lead them to a room that could be used for Passover. The thinking that arose in their minds might have encouraged them to do something different. For example, the mind might have said something like, “Just go knock on Mark’s mother’s door. She lives in Jerusalem. She will provide a room.”

It can be difficult to trust intuition and spontaneity over thinking and the urge to take control. We can feel like we are stepping outside of safety. However, remember this quote from Nisargadatta Maharaj:

That which sees all this, and the nothing too, is the inner teacher. He alone is; all else only appears to be. He is your own swarupa (true Self), your hope and assurance of freedom; find him and cling to him and you will be saved and safe.

Fortunately, the apostles did not listen to fear. They did not follow the urgings of the mind. They waited to see what would happen without taking the matter into their own hands first, and they were led to the perfect place for Passover. They were led to place that wasn’t associated with Jesus or with them, and so it was a safe place where the temple guards would not find them.

Thoughts of Awakening # 54

Love is the way
that leads from the Heart,
‘though it be hidden beneath
murky flood waters
of pain and fear.

Let the waters pass over you,
that they may be gone;
the love that rested beneath them
shall rise and brighten your mind.

~From our Holy Spirit

Letting Go of Fear

An Online Evening Retreat
with Regina Dawn Akers

May 16-20, 2021
6pm – 9pm ET each evening

Fear can be experienced in many ways. It may feel like uneasiness or angst, which blocks your ability to relax fully; it may be experienced as nervousness, apprehension or excessive worry; it may be experienced as absolute terror. Fear can also be repressed and experienced as other emotions, such as frustration or anger. In any case, fear distorts your perception and your ability to think clearly with the right mind.

At this retreat, you will come to understand the cause of fear and learn how you can become free of fear.

Retreat Details:

The retreat will begin at 6pm ET (4pm MT) and end at 9pm ET (7pm MT) each evening.

Retreat Fee: $120.
$50 non-refundable deposit required.

Registration is Closed

Registration closes on May 13.

Join us at 10:15 am ET/ 8:15 am MT for Our Weekly Sunday Gathering with Rev. Regina Dawn Akers

*Weekly gathering is held every Sunday morning at 10:15 am ET/8:15 am MT in the Awakening Together Sanctuary. Join us after the Gathering for our Fellowship Time, hosted by Rev. George Maddox.

Enter Sanctuary Here.

Join us at 1:30 pm ET/ 11:30 am MT for Freedom Practice Sangha

This will be a time of sharing our inquiries, insights, and challenges, listening to others, or just knowing that we are in community as we find that undefended place within ourselves that longs to be free. This program will be facilitated by Anne Blanchard.

Join us at 5:00 pm ET/ 3:30 pm MT for The Mighty Companions

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.

Join us at 6:00 pm ET/ 4:00 pm MT for Something Genuine with Rev. Jacquelyn Eckert

Rev. Jacquelyn Eckert facilitates this program, in which Awakening Together members and friends join together to watch and discuss TED talks that reveal the Truth of ourselves and our universe based on the actual experience of ordinary people. Their insights are genuine—not based upon theory or dogma—and give us a “man on the street” perspective on what we are coming to learn through Awakening Together.

Join us at 7:00 pm ET/ 5:00 pm MT for The Guiding Light with Rev. Regina Dawn Akers

Regina Dawn Akers reads selections from the book Perfect Brilliant Stillness by David Carse. The purpose of this inspired book study is to learn to stop focusing on words and concepts. Look where the pointers point! Be still and realize Perfect Brilliant Stillness just as it is. Join Regina as she dives deep into this enlightened book study which isn’t a book study at all! Here’s a link to the book here: Get the book for free

It’s helpful to review the Four Principles of God once again:

First Principle of God – Pure, un-manifest, life-awareness; abstract, unlimited potentiality.

Second Principle of God – Consciousness; the unaffected, still witness. All things manifest are made of this principle; therefore, all things are consciousness.

Third Principle of God – The ongoing activity of creation, which occurs naturally through the interaction of the witnessing principle with that which is witnessed. It is how consciousness forms itself into the many temporary forms that make up the manifest universe.

Fourth Principle of God – Manifestation.

The discussion in today’s reading is about awakening to Heaven, which is awakening to the First Principle of God. It is also about the disappearance of the world. These two—awakening to the First Principle and the disappearance of the world—are not two steps; they are one simultaneous step. Full enlightenment and disappearance of the world occur simultaneously.

In today’s reading, Jesus talks to the apostles about the world as it appears. He speaks of wars, of natural disasters and of discord within families. He asks the apostles to accept everything they see without fear. In other words, he asks the apostles to practice discernment: to let go of their own fearful thinking and let it be replaced by acceptance and detachment.

As A Course in Miracles says:

“Seek not to change the world, but choose to change your mind about the world.”  (Chapter 21, Introduction)

That is Jesus’ teaching. He lets the apostles know that under the most extreme of circumstances—such as arrest and flogging—one has the opportunity to choose his perception, and he recommends choosing the highest perception that one can choose.

Jesus’ teaching is reminiscent of The Code, which we studied in Year 1. The Code says:

“The code is ideas, just as all things within illusion are ideas. The code can be seen as specific manifestations in form, can be felt as feelings or can be heard as thoughts. The best way to look at the code is as the potential driver of experience. I say it is the potential driver of experience, because code will only drive your experience if you fully believe the code. Even if you let go of your belief in the code partially, it no longer has full influence over you. The code can only drive your experience to the degree that you believe the code.

… the code is a layered code, and the layers are different vibrational levels of the same basic code. … by choosing another way to see, you are choosing to shift vibrationally to another layer of the same basic code.”

In other words, Jesus is teaching the apostles to shift their vibration above the vibration of the world by seeing differently—that is, by choosing a higher perception. When we studied The Code, we learned to choose the highest perception or thought available to us in each moment. In that way, we raise our vibration and even higher perceptions become available to us. It is as Peace Pilgrim said:

“As I lived up to the highest light I had, higher and higher light came to me.”

As one practices discernment and chooses the highest way of seeing that is possible, one rises in vibration. This is also called purification. At some point, one transcends the vibration of separation. This transcendence is awakening to the Second Principle of God. At this higher vibrational level, one experiences oneness. One sees God—consciousness—in everything and as everything. In today’s reading, Jesus describes it this way:

“…you will look out on the world and see the Christ as if it rains upon the earth from clouds held up by angels.”

Jesus tells the apostles that when this way of seeing occurs:

“…you know that Heaven (the First Principle of God) is near, right at the door awaiting you.”

It is as it says in A Course in Miracles:

Knowledge is restored after perception first is changed, and then gives way entirely to what remains forever past its highest reach. ~ Workbook Lesson 336

In other words, the final awakening is beyond vibrational levels entirely, and therefore beyond consciousness, perception and the idea of a world.

Note: If you are interested in a more thorough teaching about the process of awakening to full enlightenment, which is awakening to the First Principle of God, listen to this audio. Advance the audio to 9:30. From that point, the audio is about 49 minutes long.

Thoughts of Awakening # 53

There is no difference
between what you see
and what you think.

When you see the ego,
know it is in the mind,
and focus on releasing it there.

This is your freedom in action.
This is your path of release.

~From our Holy Spirit

Saina guides a group of committed students through year 1 of Gentle Healing who would like to make consistent, gentle progress toward genuine peace, joy, and love. This group meets weekly on Thursdays at 6-8 pm ET and all members are committed to specific assignments and practices between group meetings.

Listen to the Audio

Please note: it may be necessary to download the audio to listen to it fully.

FunPlay for the week:

1. Homework Assignment A: Do Acim workbook lessons 87-93. Read Tips for Lessons 87-93. The tip should be read after reading the lesson on your own. Direct link to Regina’s tips: Click Here
2. Homework Assignment B: Contemplate your spiritual aspiration. Next, watch either “The Secret” or “The MetaPhysical Secret – The Law of Attraction.” The Secret: Click Here to Watch Movie Listen for teachings in this video that will help you realize/achieve your spiritual aspiration. Take notes on the things that will help you realize/achieve your spiritual aspiration. (You may be able to find one of these movies on YouTube. You may find better quality with a movie download provider.) Here’s the link to the Metaphysical Secret-Law of Attraction: Click Here
3. Homework Assignment C: Listen to RDA teaching, “The Secret Holy Spirit Style,” parts 1 & 2. They are audio #3 at https://devwp.awakening-together.org/interact/regina-dawn-akers/oldies-classics/
4. Homework Assignment D: Create a visualization plan that promotes your spiritual aspiration.
5. Homework Assignment E: 5 minutes of Awareness watching Awareness (Being aware of Awareness).

 Additional instructions: Be sure to do assignments, B, C, and D in that order. To create your visualization plan, simply ask within and then write what feels right for you now. The idea is that your plan will take you beyond where you are now. However, it should be written in present tense as if you are already there.

For example, if you feel in your heart that it would be really good if you could learn to pause and look at your mind before responding to others, your plan might include, “I always pause and feel for what to say before I respond to another person.” Or, if you would like to be more peaceful than you are now, you might write, “I embrace peace in every moment and I am not affected by circumstances that arise.” Your plan should probably include about 3 – 8 visualization statements. Each statement may have further clarification or stand on its own.

Yesterday we looked at the ego as the belief in separation and self-centeredness. Those are two legs of the three-legged stool that is the ego. The three legs that hold up the seat of ego-self are:

Today’s reading includes pointers that help us remove these three legs. When we do, the ego collapses, because it doesn’t have a leg to stand on.

To remove the belief in separation:
Focus on awareness.

To remove the sense of self-existence:
Ignore mental chatter.

To remove self-centeredness:
Surrender.

Here are some quotes to help you contemplate today’s pointers:

In true meditation the emphasis is on being awareness; not on being aware of objects, but on resting as primordial awareness itself. Primordial awareness is the source in which all objects arise and subside. As you gently relax into awareness, into listening, the mind’s compulsive contraction around objects will fade. Awareness naturally returns to its non-state of absolute un-manifest potential, the silent abyss beyond all knowing. ~ Adyashanti

The Lord, your God, wants one thing from you and one thing only. He seeks all that you think, that He may show you all that you are. ~ Today’s reading

You should offer up to me the bright ruby of your mind. That is the gift that will bring me delight. ~ Ramana Maharshi

[Surrender] is the feeling ‘I am helpless by myself; God alone is all powerful and except by throwing myself completely on him, there is no other means of safety for me.’ By this method one gradually develops the conviction that God alone exists and that the ego does not count. … Complete surrender is another name for jnana or liberation. ~ Ramana Maharshi

Thoughts of Awakening # 52

Remember your Self.
Stay true to your Heart
and that which you truly want.

Your brother is your Self
and your path of true forgiveness.
Letting go of the ego,
as you see it in him,
is letting go of the ego
as you see it in you.

~From our Holy Spirit