Today’s reading is about resistance. We each experience resistance to truth. We experience resistance to the degree that we are attached to the body-personality-mind as “me.” In other words, the more I see ‘this’ as me, the more I resist truth and the practices that lead to truth.

Why?

If I think ‘this’ is me, including this mind’s desires, fears and will, then I feel threatened by truth to the point of believing that I am losing what I am.

Resistance can take on many forms. Sometimes resistance is light and barely noticed as resistance. An example of light resistance is avoiding daily contemplation and meditation in favor of something else, like sleeping later, watching TV, playing video games, hanging out on social media, and etcetera.

Sometimes resistance and can be very strong. It can appear as absolute panic. I remember one of my biggest bouts with resistance. I thought I was being led, step-by-step, away from sanity into insanity. While the resistance attack lasted, there seemed to be evidence to prove that I was right. I became very afraid. Fortunately, clarity broke through long enough for me to see that I was experiencing an attack of resistance, and I was able to move into rest-accept-trust until fear dissipated. This happened just before finishing NTI. If I had “run from the spiritual path—run away now,” which is what the fear was encouraging me to do, we wouldn’t have NTI, The Thoughts of Awakening, The Teachings of Inner Ramana or Awakening Together today.

In today’s reading, Peter is overcome with extreme fear after Jesus shares “great truths that had not been shared before.” These truths are the same truths that I shared with you in Year 1 through the tips on ACIM Workbook Lessons 298-358. Until this day, Peter had not realized that he was on a path of letting go of the sense of self-existence. Imagine yourself in the wilderness, on a mountain with a man who you thought taught simple forgiveness and love, and then suddenly realizing that he is leading you to the end of your personal sense of existence. And you’re stuck on top of a mountain with this madman, miles from the nearest village!! What if he pushes you off of a cliff?

That’s how strong resistance can be sometimes. Fear can take hold with a very tight grip. Panic sets in. Seeing and thinking become incredibly distorted.

When fear is strong, it is not the time to do anything. It is not the time to make decisions or make changes. When fear is strong, it is time for rest-accept-trust. Wait in patience—realize, “This too shall pass”—until a sense of peace, trust or well being returns.

The spiritual path can be likened to a children’s game, which is called “Red Light, Green Light.” Here’s how to play: Do nothing—make no changes—whenever fear is present (red light). Move forward with intuition when there is peace and trust (green light). In this way, you make steady progress to the finish line (awakening).

Note: Today’s reading ends about one third of the way down page 94. The last line of the reading is, “In this way, you find yourself on the path of healing with a mighty companion by your side.”

Thoughts of Awakening # 43

Release your fears
and listen to Me.

In welcoming Me,
you welcome
all that you desire to welcome,
and you let go
all that you do not want.

~From our Holy Spirit

Today’s story is symbolic of your relationship with the Inner Teacher. When you read today, you will notice that Jesus has an early discussion with the apostles about doubt and a later discussion with the apostles about doubt. The content of the discussions are different, because as the apostles go deeper with the teaching, Jesus is able to be more direct and point towards deeper truths. This is also true in your relationship with the Inner Teacher.

When people are new in their relationship with the Inner Teacher and new to the journaling process, the wisdom received from the Inner Teacher is often filled with encouragement. People are told, “You are love,” “You are loved,” “You are innocent,” “You are light,” “You are my perfect child,” and etcetera. This encouragement is needed in the beginning, because the student is afraid, lacks confidence and is full of doubt. However, if the student progresses with the teachings, at some point the wisdom received from the Inner Teacher is more pointed—sharper, clearer, drilling onward and inward.

In order for this advancement to happen, the student needs to put her doubts aside. If the student stays at the level of believing her fears, doubts and unworthiness, the wisdom will stay at the level of encouragement. If the student puts her fears aside with the honest intention to purify and realize truth, the Inner Teacher will assist clearly and directly. It’s important to note that the Inner Teacher will only go as far as the student is willing. The inner Teacher will not violate your freewill.

Today’s reading says, “More and more, the apostles began to seek private counsel with Jesus to discuss their fear and doubts.” This is an example of how you should use your journal. Be absolutely honest with wisdom as you look directly at your fears, doubts, guilt, unworthiness and upsets. Give Inner Wisdom permission to go beyond simple encouragement to dissection; that is, to helping you see exactly how you make mistakes in your thinking, believing and perceiving.

Today’s reading says, “Jesus responded lovingly with every discussion brought to him. Never did the apostles feel judged.” You can trust inner Wisdom to be the same with you. As you allow directness, there will be extremely helpful and insightful directness, but never judgment.

In today’s reading, Jesus asks the apostles, “And who do you say I am?” Peter answers, “You are me, master…the Son of God…the Christ.”

Through this answer, Peter demonstrates that he is becoming aware of consciousness. Jesus did not teach about consciousness directly. His teaching focused on practice and parables instead of direct theory. So, when Peter revealed this clarity, Jesus knew Peter was listening to Inner Wisdom.

In today’s reading, Jesus says this to the apostles:

The Voice within will lead you clearly when you give it your trust and put your doubts aside. It will reveal truths to you that you have not imagined, and so you will know they are true.”

I can tell you from my own experience that this is true. First, journaling will advance from pure encouragement to dissection, and then when enough dissection has occurred, truth will begin to shine through in your journal—truth that you have never realized before. Although truth is never new, it will seem new to you. It will seem new, because it is dawning fresh for you as a direct insight. It will be beyond any understanding that ever occurred intellectually through learning. As you continue to advance, the wisdom in your journal will continue to advance, and it will lead you all the way to truth realization.

Of course, you must practice the guidance that comes through your journal. To merely write and be amazed at the clarity is not enough. In order for your journal to continue to progress, you must progress by practicing everything the journal gives you to practice.

Thoughts of Awakening # 42

Do not think.
Listen and accept.

To think is to think you know
and to think you can decide,
because to think is to believe
that you are all that you think you are.

To not think is to trust
that you are more than you think
and more than your thoughts.

To not think is to allow an opening
through which you may discover.

~From our Holy Spirit