Our current goals:
- Widen the horizons of our vision
- Take direct approaches to uncover the blocks that keep our vision narrow
- Lift those blocks, however briefly, in order to experience the sense of liberation that comes when the blocks are removed
- Intensify our motivation for freedom
Today’s lesson says, “Protect the things you value by the act of giving them away, and you are sure that you will never lose them.“
Although I highly support giving in the material way, and I like to live this value, I don’t think that’s what this lesson is really talking about. The clue to what this lesson means comes near the end of the lesson. It says, “And as we look within, we see the purity of Heaven shine in our reflection of our Father’s Love. … What we have looked upon we would extend, for we would see it everywhere. We would behold it shining with the grace of God in everyone. We would not have it withheld from anything we look upon. And to ensure this holy sight is ours, we offer it to everything we see.”
I am reminded of something I once heard. “Be enlightened now.” I think it was Byron Katie that said this, but I can’t be sure. The idea behind the statement was this: Stop waiting to be enlightened someday. Be enlightened now.
How do you do that? Let me give you a few examples:
- Someone says something to you that feels like a strong insult. Be enlightened now. Don’t be defensive. Relax. Be present. Be still. Be open. Watch the energies inside of you, but don’t become involved with them.
- You find out that a friend has been taking money and other things from you, a little at a time, so that you hadn’t noticed. Be enlightened now. Instead of seeing your friend as guilty or betraying you, notice that you are unharmed.
- You go with a friend to her elderly mother’s house to help clean the house. While dusting some collectables, one slips from your hand and breaks into dozens of pieces. Be enlightened now. Watch the energies that may arise inside you, but don’t become involved with them. Apologize to your friend and her mother. If they seem upset, turn to intuition for guidance.
- A friend feels he needs some money. You’ve had lack thoughts lately too. Be enlightened now. Help your friend by giving him some money, and realize you are always taken care of.
I could go on forever.
- Your computer breaks down. Be enlightened now.
- You lose your wedding ring. Be enlightened now.
- Your spouse has an affair. Be enlightened now.
- Someone tells an unflattering lie about you in Facebook. Be enlightened now.
Being enlightened now has nothing to do with pretending you are awake. It has everything to do with being consciously tuned in to spiritual intuition. It has everything to do with asking, “What am I to do now? How am I to see this? How shall I respond?” Etc.
Again, today’s lesson says, “Protect the things you value by the act of giving them away, and you are sure that you will never lose them.” The key here is to be aware of what you truly value.
In the Bible, Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found … Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Going and selling all that he had represents letting go of his attachment to his personal thinking. Buying the field represents living as the ground in which the treasure exists. It represents living from spiritual intuition.
By living from spiritual intuition, you discover what is within you. After all, you could not be enlightened now if enlightenment were not already present.
Today’s lesson mentions sacrifice as the idea that blocks our ability to be enlightened now. For example, I may think that if I let someone spread a lie about me on Facebook, my reputation will be ruined, and that may feel like a sacrifice. I may also fear that I will lose friends, which is another sacrifice.
As you can see, believing this type of thinking is an obstacle that can get in the way of choosing to be enlightened now.
The lesson says, “Never believe that you can sacrifice. There is no place for sacrifice in what has any value. If the thought occurs, its very presence proves that error has arisen and correction must be made.”
This is a good time for some form of self-inquiry. You might choose to practice root cause inquiry. You might choose to notice the difference between the idea of sacrifice and you, the awareness that sees the thought. You might feel its best to do nothing except rest, accept and trust. The point is, when you see the idea of sacrifice as an error that needs correction, you will make another choice, and that is being enlightened now. In this way, you bless the world because you’ve blessed yourself.
