Steven Liebowitz's Blog, page 112

Form Follows Thinking

Devorah smiled. “When I’m able to remember that all thinking produces form at some level – internal and/or external, I’m better able take responsibility for my thinking and my experience of the world. Form follows thought because the ‘thinking’ I normally do is with the ego in my brain and not with spirit which is in my mind. Since mind is spirit, mySelf, outside of time and space, I know that if I’m ‘thinking’ I’m identifying with ego and creating form. The goal of my spiritual practice is to realize this and that form is irrelevant except as feedback about which of the two realities I’m identifying with – myself or mySelf, ego or spirit.

“It also helps to remember that I am never alone, that I do not have to shift from brain to mind on my own. That I merely have to be willing to do this to claim my atonement with spirit, for it is spirit Itself that doeth the work.

Two Views of Reality

“The very fact that we think we think and see a world is saying there is a reality outside of God,” Devorah continued. “To get through the process of shifting from the Scrolls to the Covenant, it is essential to cultivate a relationship with some non-ego thought, some sense of a spiritual presence in your life, a reassuring thought and feeling experience that says: ‘yes, you will experience resistance, sometimes fierce resistance, and the shifting will be difficult but as you go you will feel the difference and ultimately everything will be alright.’ This is relying on yourSelf instead of yourself.

“In addition to helping cope with the difficulty of shifting, this inner relationship with yourSelf is essential because the world is a shared illusion. That is, you are not alone here. Everyone agrees that the world is real. But the fact that everyone agrees and shares the same illusion does not make it real.”

Two Views of Reality

“You are as God is; as the Scrolls say, ‘but a little lower than the angels.’ And when the writing also says, ‘made in the image and likeness of God’ it means sharing the one mind, not that God is literally and physically like us; for God knows nothing of bodies in a world.” Some people were nodding in agreement, others frowning, most seemed bewildered.

“I understand that this is a great deal to absorb. So it is important to understand that shifting from the Scrolls to the Covenant is a process, a slow deliberate process of one thought one deed at a time. But it begins by realizing that there is no such thing as an ‘idle’ thought.”

Two Views of Reality

“The Covenant, the other, non-traditional way of looking at things, teaches that God did not create the world, we did.” Malachizer shook his head and grumbles of “blasphemy” shivered around the crowd. But most of the people were receptive and wanted to hear more. After all, Devorah was a good person, an effective Judge, and an excellent prophet so there had to be something to what she was saying.

“In a single instant, long ago past, the ego – an ‘idle’ thought that we were separate from God – wandered into our minds. Instead of ignoring that thought and laughing at the ridiculous idea that such a thing could be possible, we took the idea seriously. We thus became separate bodies in a world of separate things. But our minds, not our brains, but our minds, which share reality with God, remain with God.

Idle Thoughts

The tent was full for the Sabbath Eve service. The High Priest, Malachizer, had finished his sermon and gestured for Devorah to give her remarks.  “There is no such thing as an ‘idle’ thought,” Devorah said, gesturing inclusively. “All of you know I live in this world with you; but that I see it and experience it differently.” A murmur of ascent. “Malachizer, our good High Priest, sees it one way as do most of you, I see it another. The way most people see and experience the world, the traditional way embodied in the Law and the Scrolls, is that the world is real and outside us. It is and we react to it.

“The other way of seeing and experiencing the world, the non-traditional way that I call the Covenant, is that the world is not real, but a product of our thoughts….”

Struggle

“And,” Devorah said, “if you find yourself struggling as we all do too much of the time, remember, the essence of struggle is to become new, rather than simply to become older.”

Tone of Voice

“When I pause and go within for guidance,” Barak asked, “how do I know it’s the still small voice – mySelf – I’m hearing instead of the ego?”

Devorah smiled. “The tone, my general,” she said. “What is the tone? Is it loud, strident and demanding, or soft, calming and soothing? Does it come from your head or heart? Does it make you feel smart, brilliant and in control, or comforted, peaceful and grateful? Is the advice good for all concerned or will some people and things be harmed or punished? Are you concerned that you not embarrass yourself and be right, or have faith and trust, going forward in spite of your doubt and fear? In other words, are you proud or humble?  Are you letting go and letting yourSelf do it, or are you holding on and struggling?”

Immune to Facts?

“Have you ever noticed how some people, especially true believers like the T Party, are immune to facts?” Barak asked Devorah. Devorah nodded. “Why is that?”

“Making something visible to those who don’t believe in it does not mean it will be seen. Making something like global climate change visible to those who don’t want to believe makes them afraid. When people are afraid, they become defensive and look for reasons to be angry, and the anger makes frightened people feel safer.” Barak nodded. “The best we can do,” Devorah continued, “is allow a thing to just speak for itself so that when people do find it they feel like discoverers.”

Humility is Smart

Devorah continued, “Humility isn’t a ‘nice’ thing you do, to please your parents or God or show what a good person you are. Being humble is a practical useful thing intelligent people do to find peace, be successful and seize opportunities. Think about it – the world is a complicated place, zillions of variables. Even in your own small life, zillions of variables. What should you do now, five minutes from now? Which variables should you manipulate, which first, second? The one power that is these variables, in and through them as it is in and through you, knows. It alone knows. Being humble and accepting how small and relatively powerless your self is and allowing yourSelf to guide you, is not ‘nice,’ it’s smart. Having humility, letting go and letting God, is the intelligent thing to do.”

Humility

“The power that is God – that is us as us, uses us as we use it,” Devorah said. “When we are humble, when we get our bloated nothingness out of the way of the divine circuits, we are able to make a unique contribution to a world that works for everyone and everything. Being humble doesn’t mean being self-deprecating or self-debasing. It means being available, open and willing to be guided. You and I are made in the image and likeness of spirit. We are not junk! Being humble and available means not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”