I think we underestimate the (illusory) difficulty of the task we've accepted, which is (merely--ha!) to be happy even as we give up everything we've ever believed and replace it with reality and Truth. When I struggle with this, I turn to my favorite, most comforting spiritual book, Letters of the Scattered Brotherhood. At one point, it says, by way of reminder and reassurance: "It may help you to remember once in a while how deeply the human being is emmeshed in the flesh, and what is not often thought of, the flesh is very old. The cells bear the stamp of race memories and experiences of the ages past, and that is why this tired flesh, the body of the human race, which has met savagery, war, sorrow, and grief, is so friendly to despair."
Thank you for sharing this, Nancy. I love that quote; do not know the book. I do think we underestimate the work - certainly I have, and certainly a nontrivial part of my practice has rested in becoming responsible NOT underestimating it but meeting it where it is. And in terms of course yes, we underestimate that too, but that is why we connect with each other - to support and nurture and encourage one another. I am less scared when I know I am not alone.
You wrote, "that is why we connect with each other - to support and nurture and encourage one another." Lovely. Certainly true for me, and what a boost and a boon your Sunday gatherings are! I'm very grateful, too.
Saying yes to life in all it's forms, with no conditions is so hard. For me, that little bit of attention towards who I truly am always leads to a backlash of amplified thought, leading to a cycle of denial, forgetting, arguing, judgements :-) And the awareness of that in itself can be very painful. And then, somehow, there is a brief respite where the quality of life enters, briefly, into something else. Then life hits with a petty annoyance and.... I keep forgetting to ask for help along the way.
Being happy no matter what? I guess I have to question what true happiness is, in actuality. Instinctively I feel I have felt this and it isn't smiling to the camera and being jolly, but more a vibrancy of life.
Yes to all of this. Those brief respites you describe are like lights in the darkness; they become more frequent and last longer. It is a practice and, yes, for me the practice unconditionally involves asking for help - from God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, my friends and co-workers, my spiritual fellow travelers near and far. Remembering we are in this together - and share the way - is what reminds me most clearly and sustainably that the vibrancy of life - not its simulacra - is my actual identity, which I share with you, and with everyone. THAT is joy.
Thank, as always, for sharing and being here Martin.
Recently I had a shift in perception and found happiness waiting for me after years of suffering. I have a 88 year old aunt who is nasty, mean, and has alienated all family, yet I stayed. I stayed complaining, complaining to others how awful she is, that she has no one else to care for her so I have to. I started to get seriously sick , physically & mentally, from dealing with her. I blamed my Aunt for all my health issues, anxiety, frustration, etc.
After considerable inner work and the help of ACIM I began shifting my understanding and took full responsibly for my health. I became aware that I was using my Aunt as an excuse to stay a victim. My Aunt was just being herself. I was trying to change her to meet my needs. I prayed for guidance or and over, I stayed open to receive the truth and my prayers were answered as I saw all the gifts and lessons my Aunt was offering me to see. Nothing has changed outwardly, everything has changed inwardly. There is peace and happiness here and I stay vigilant as the same old patterns may reappear in another form.
I am responsible for what I see
I choose the feelings I experience, and I decide
upon the goal I would achieve.
And everything that seems to happen to me
I ask for, and receive as I have asked.
ACIM Text pg. 448 II-2
Happiness is always available. I love the last statement in your article Sean "The happiness to which we are called is the quiet awareness that we are one with God, and with all our brothers and sisters, broadly defined to include black bears, sunflowers and shooting stars.”…….and I will add “88 year old Aunts”.
Thank you for this beautiful witness unto the healing power of A Course in Miracles, Glenda. I hope everybody reads this, especially the insight that we "use" others to meet our own sick need to be victims. A thousand hugs, Glenda. Thank you for reminding all of us that this works and also HOW it works.
I think we underestimate the (illusory) difficulty of the task we've accepted, which is (merely--ha!) to be happy even as we give up everything we've ever believed and replace it with reality and Truth. When I struggle with this, I turn to my favorite, most comforting spiritual book, Letters of the Scattered Brotherhood. At one point, it says, by way of reminder and reassurance: "It may help you to remember once in a while how deeply the human being is emmeshed in the flesh, and what is not often thought of, the flesh is very old. The cells bear the stamp of race memories and experiences of the ages past, and that is why this tired flesh, the body of the human race, which has met savagery, war, sorrow, and grief, is so friendly to despair."
It may be that we underestimate our courage, too.
Thank you for sharing this, Nancy. I love that quote; do not know the book. I do think we underestimate the work - certainly I have, and certainly a nontrivial part of my practice has rested in becoming responsible NOT underestimating it but meeting it where it is. And in terms of course yes, we underestimate that too, but that is why we connect with each other - to support and nurture and encourage one another. I am less scared when I know I am not alone.
Thanks for being here, Nancy. I'm very grateful.
Love,
Sean
You wrote, "that is why we connect with each other - to support and nurture and encourage one another." Lovely. Certainly true for me, and what a boost and a boon your Sunday gatherings are! I'm very grateful, too.
Nancy, thanks for the book suggestion. I'll check it out.
https://archive.org/stream/ACIMLettersOfTheScatteredBrotherhood/ACIM_Letters_of_the_Scattered_Brotherhood_djvu.txt
Thanks for the link, Terence. I also picked up the book.
Thanks, Sean,
Saying yes to life in all it's forms, with no conditions is so hard. For me, that little bit of attention towards who I truly am always leads to a backlash of amplified thought, leading to a cycle of denial, forgetting, arguing, judgements :-) And the awareness of that in itself can be very painful. And then, somehow, there is a brief respite where the quality of life enters, briefly, into something else. Then life hits with a petty annoyance and.... I keep forgetting to ask for help along the way.
Being happy no matter what? I guess I have to question what true happiness is, in actuality. Instinctively I feel I have felt this and it isn't smiling to the camera and being jolly, but more a vibrancy of life.
Yes to all of this. Those brief respites you describe are like lights in the darkness; they become more frequent and last longer. It is a practice and, yes, for me the practice unconditionally involves asking for help - from God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, my friends and co-workers, my spiritual fellow travelers near and far. Remembering we are in this together - and share the way - is what reminds me most clearly and sustainably that the vibrancy of life - not its simulacra - is my actual identity, which I share with you, and with everyone. THAT is joy.
Thank, as always, for sharing and being here Martin.
Love,
Sean
Eternal energy is vital energy.
all the energy there is 🙏🙏
Sean this is just all no more needed to be said. Gratitude is all I feel. Thank you Sean
Thank you, Sean. I'm glad you're here.
~ Sean
Shaun missed you Sunday everything all right love, Jack
Thanks for checking in Jack. I hope to be back for this Sunday.
Love,
Sean
Recently I had a shift in perception and found happiness waiting for me after years of suffering. I have a 88 year old aunt who is nasty, mean, and has alienated all family, yet I stayed. I stayed complaining, complaining to others how awful she is, that she has no one else to care for her so I have to. I started to get seriously sick , physically & mentally, from dealing with her. I blamed my Aunt for all my health issues, anxiety, frustration, etc.
After considerable inner work and the help of ACIM I began shifting my understanding and took full responsibly for my health. I became aware that I was using my Aunt as an excuse to stay a victim. My Aunt was just being herself. I was trying to change her to meet my needs. I prayed for guidance or and over, I stayed open to receive the truth and my prayers were answered as I saw all the gifts and lessons my Aunt was offering me to see. Nothing has changed outwardly, everything has changed inwardly. There is peace and happiness here and I stay vigilant as the same old patterns may reappear in another form.
I am responsible for what I see
I choose the feelings I experience, and I decide
upon the goal I would achieve.
And everything that seems to happen to me
I ask for, and receive as I have asked.
ACIM Text pg. 448 II-2
Happiness is always available. I love the last statement in your article Sean "The happiness to which we are called is the quiet awareness that we are one with God, and with all our brothers and sisters, broadly defined to include black bears, sunflowers and shooting stars.”…….and I will add “88 year old Aunts”.
Thank you for this beautiful witness unto the healing power of A Course in Miracles, Glenda. I hope everybody reads this, especially the insight that we "use" others to meet our own sick need to be victims. A thousand hugs, Glenda. Thank you for reminding all of us that this works and also HOW it works.
And yes, absolutely, 88 year old aunts 🙏❤️
Love,
Sean
Yes, God consciousness within(meditation) leads to God consciousness in the external.
Sean, thanks for the reminder.
You're welcome, Jim. Thanks for sharing and being here. I appreciate your experience and insight very much.
~ Sean
Thank you Sean for this reminder to just be joyous.
You're welcome, Ginny. Thank you for being here.
~ Sean