Because we are Students of the Course as strange as it may sound I know you. I know the parts of you that matter. I know that our struggles are one and the same and it's a beautiful thing to be able to go through life knowing I am not alone. Did I say that right? The love you feel for life is 10 fold. Thank you Sean, have a great day.
Right, wrong I don't always know Maureen but it felt true and it made me happy and grateful that we share this path so thank you for saying it, and for being here with such a big heart and clear mind 🙏.🙏
Thanks for this Sean. I’m coming to the understanding that any suffering I experience comes out of ego identification. And the best way out of it is to focus only on being truly helpful. Seems I can’t think of others and myself at the same time. And according to ACIM, it’s really the only thing I’m here for - to represent the one who sent me.
I'll add you to the list, Mark. It will be great to meet and share with you. "I can't think of others and myself at the same time." I'm going to steal that sentence 🙏🙏
Sun in Edinburgh! I have both fond and bitter memories of Edinburgh but I don't think any of them involve sun :) I probably wasn't there long enough. Thank you for reading and sharing, Sarah!
St. John Of The Cross called it "the dark night of the soul" and it is a predictable stage that seekers go through who continue the journey of enlightenment. Jesus says this on the cross, "My God, My God why have you forsaken me?" and then in an epiphany he says, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do" and his body physically dies but his spirit is resurrected.
This descent into hell you seem to describe in the terms and thoughts of the Course. I don't know if all seekers must go through this but it is common I suspect with some not knowing what it is. The mystics have called in the "gift of tears" which come of the sadness brought on by the lies of the ego as well as the joy of knowing as Bill Thetford said, "There must be a better way."
And then there is that mystic Kurt Vonnegut who said often at the end of his stories, "And so it goes...."
Yes! Thank you for sharing this, David, especially Kurt Vonnegut. I remember reading Cat's Cradle over and over in college, arguing with it endlessly. He was a such a beautiful and thoughtful and loving mind - thank you for reminding me of his place here 🙏🙏
Thanks David. I've added you to the list. I send an invite out on Fridays and we meet on Sundays. You can share or just listen. I think it's pretty low-key and friendly. I learn a lot :)
Thanks for being interested - maybe I will see you on Sunday!
Sean first I want to apologise for not being able to attend the meeting yesterday. I know I missed it more than you missed me. The reason I couldn't join was because the lady who started the course here and helped me so much is suffering dementia and she needed help which was a blessing to me to be able to give back to her. I'm reading the book you alluded to in the past. Perfect Brilliant Stillness,it's showing me how brilliant the course is. Sean I love the way you teach sharing your own journey which gives me hope that I'm not alone. I haven't studied your post today yet so I'll make no comment,but I'm sure it will be very helpful. Thanks again
Thanks, Sean. I'm sure you were exactly where you needed to be; service to another, especially to a helpful friend, is a true gift both given and received. I don't know about missing more or less, but I did miss you!
I'm glad you're enjoying Perfect Brilliant Stillness. It really did help precipitate the spiritual crisis I point to in this post. Carse was unrelenting in his clarity; I am so so grateful to him.
Hi Sean, Thank you so much for your texts. I have just started the study of A course in Miracles as I look for help on my path of spiritual awakening. My last 2 years have been quite brutal & I have walked quite alone. If you still run the sunday groups I would love to join. Love, Paula
Thank you for reading and sharing, Paula. I'm glad you are finding the Course helpful; I hope you feel less alone. It is a premise of ACIM that we awaken together, in relationship. I will add you to the Sunday list and hopefully we will see you!
Sean, thank you so much for this and for every word you offer for us who live in the dark periods of life. Reading your words always instantly helps me know that I am not only not alone; I am also it, the same as you and all other brothers and sisters. How fortunate. Thank you.
You're welcome, Yihsing. Yes - that feels like the critical insight to me. Not only are we not alone but we are joined as one. So we remember together, and our gratitude is shared. Thank you for being here, Yihsing. 🙏🙏
Thank you so much Sean, this is so uplifting. I often find myself in forgetfulness and keep arguing with God and Jesus about why they are putting me through this😄 It’s very comforting to read these words and be aware of a different, empowering perspective other than my ego’s gloomy, bitter and sour response to all these. Much gratitude 🙏🙏
You're welcome, Aysin. Thank you for reading and sharing, and for being here. Arguing with God and Jesus is a familiar space for me :) I am lucky they are so patient, and also that they never engage in the conflict. I am a slow learner but my Teacher has faith in me, which is enough. And, of course, the fellow classmates are a joy 🙏🙏
Yes! Thank you Sean. For me this is relevant to my current patterns. At times the meaninglessness manifests as bliss. Other times, for days sometimes utter despair, nothing matters, dark night of the soul, unfamiliar depression, morbid reflections, fuck eating or anything like self-care. Where is the meaning in any activity?
How can I relate to my wife, now ex-wife, who may want to watch a movie or talk about current events? I can't eat popcorn and watch a movie. I cannot watch tv. Humor is meaningless. Pop culture is not a thing. At my very best during one of these episodes…maybe… if she is willing to sit around and talk about the course or watch and discuss a Deepak Chopra video, then I have something to offer. I am as fun as a bag of doorknobs. Paralyzed. I butt right up against what I fear may be a permanent insanity. Then it goes away and I can exhale away the whole mess.
“God has one child and we are it.” … I love this sentence.
Thank you Carl for sharing. I identify very much with all of this, and I love the phrase "as fun as a bag of doorknobs."
Yes - the fear that the condition is permanent is nontrivial - thank you for speaking to that. One of ego's biggest and most effective trips is that suffering is inevitable and permanent. The nihilism I speak of is dark not like when you turn the lights off but keep your hand on the switch but when you don't know if you will ever see again and the decision feels way beyond your control.
I say this a lot: ego is not fucking around.
God has one child and we are it - good to remember that with you today Carl!! Thanks for being here and for sharing.
This is so beautiful and, from my experience, true. By writing this you're doing exactly what you're suggesting to us to do--extending the truth of your experience, which encourages us to slog and weep through our own Dark Nights of the Soul, and then to extend our stories by sharing them. I think that's called "walking your talk." : ) I think that when we have those seemingly horrible experiences, we're not braving them just for ourselves, but for everybody else, too, and the journey isn't over until we share our news to those whose ears are practically quivering with the desire to hear them. Thank you!
Because we are Students of the Course as strange as it may sound I know you. I know the parts of you that matter. I know that our struggles are one and the same and it's a beautiful thing to be able to go through life knowing I am not alone. Did I say that right? The love you feel for life is 10 fold. Thank you Sean, have a great day.
Right, wrong I don't always know Maureen but it felt true and it made me happy and grateful that we share this path so thank you for saying it, and for being here with such a big heart and clear mind 🙏.🙏
Love,
Sean
Thanks for this Sean. I’m coming to the understanding that any suffering I experience comes out of ego identification. And the best way out of it is to focus only on being truly helpful. Seems I can’t think of others and myself at the same time. And according to ACIM, it’s really the only thing I’m here for - to represent the one who sent me.
I'll add you to the list, Mark. It will be great to meet and share with you. "I can't think of others and myself at the same time." I'm going to steal that sentence 🙏🙏
Love,
Sean
Thanks so much Sean! I always enjoy your writings and musings and this in particular touched me on this sunny Edinburgh afternoon…
Sun in Edinburgh! I have both fond and bitter memories of Edinburgh but I don't think any of them involve sun :) I probably wasn't there long enough. Thank you for reading and sharing, Sarah!
Love,
Sean
St. John Of The Cross called it "the dark night of the soul" and it is a predictable stage that seekers go through who continue the journey of enlightenment. Jesus says this on the cross, "My God, My God why have you forsaken me?" and then in an epiphany he says, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do" and his body physically dies but his spirit is resurrected.
This descent into hell you seem to describe in the terms and thoughts of the Course. I don't know if all seekers must go through this but it is common I suspect with some not knowing what it is. The mystics have called in the "gift of tears" which come of the sadness brought on by the lies of the ego as well as the joy of knowing as Bill Thetford said, "There must be a better way."
And then there is that mystic Kurt Vonnegut who said often at the end of his stories, "And so it goes...."
Yes! Thank you for sharing this, David, especially Kurt Vonnegut. I remember reading Cat's Cradle over and over in college, arguing with it endlessly. He was a such a beautiful and thoughtful and loving mind - thank you for reminding me of his place here 🙏🙏
Love,
Sean
P.S. I host an ACIM discussion group on Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. EST. If you'd like to be added to the list, let me know.
Please add me. What do I have to do?
Thanks David. I've added you to the list. I send an invite out on Fridays and we meet on Sundays. You can share or just listen. I think it's pretty low-key and friendly. I learn a lot :)
Thanks for being interested - maybe I will see you on Sunday!
~ Sean
Hi Sean, I’m interested in joining the Sunday discussion group
Sean first I want to apologise for not being able to attend the meeting yesterday. I know I missed it more than you missed me. The reason I couldn't join was because the lady who started the course here and helped me so much is suffering dementia and she needed help which was a blessing to me to be able to give back to her. I'm reading the book you alluded to in the past. Perfect Brilliant Stillness,it's showing me how brilliant the course is. Sean I love the way you teach sharing your own journey which gives me hope that I'm not alone. I haven't studied your post today yet so I'll make no comment,but I'm sure it will be very helpful. Thanks again
Thanks, Sean. I'm sure you were exactly where you needed to be; service to another, especially to a helpful friend, is a true gift both given and received. I don't know about missing more or less, but I did miss you!
I'm glad you're enjoying Perfect Brilliant Stillness. It really did help precipitate the spiritual crisis I point to in this post. Carse was unrelenting in his clarity; I am so so grateful to him.
Hope to connect soon, Sean.
Love,
Sean
Hi Sean, Thank you so much for your texts. I have just started the study of A course in Miracles as I look for help on my path of spiritual awakening. My last 2 years have been quite brutal & I have walked quite alone. If you still run the sunday groups I would love to join. Love, Paula
Thank you for reading and sharing, Paula. I'm glad you are finding the Course helpful; I hope you feel less alone. It is a premise of ACIM that we awaken together, in relationship. I will add you to the Sunday list and hopefully we will see you!
Love,
Sean
Please add me to the list. Thanks!
All set, Dena - hope to see you on Sunday 🙏🙏
~Sean
Could you please add me to your Sunday study list? Thank you.
Yes :)
Sean, thank you so much for this and for every word you offer for us who live in the dark periods of life. Reading your words always instantly helps me know that I am not only not alone; I am also it, the same as you and all other brothers and sisters. How fortunate. Thank you.
You're welcome, Yihsing. Yes - that feels like the critical insight to me. Not only are we not alone but we are joined as one. So we remember together, and our gratitude is shared. Thank you for being here, Yihsing. 🙏🙏
Love,
Sean
Thank you so much Sean, this is so uplifting. I often find myself in forgetfulness and keep arguing with God and Jesus about why they are putting me through this😄 It’s very comforting to read these words and be aware of a different, empowering perspective other than my ego’s gloomy, bitter and sour response to all these. Much gratitude 🙏🙏
You're welcome, Aysin. Thank you for reading and sharing, and for being here. Arguing with God and Jesus is a familiar space for me :) I am lucky they are so patient, and also that they never engage in the conflict. I am a slow learner but my Teacher has faith in me, which is enough. And, of course, the fellow classmates are a joy 🙏🙏
Love,
Sean
Again, i just love you man! I spent some time resenting being human. I'm not alone in that am i? Love
You are not alone in that 🙏🙏
Thanks for reading and sharing, Rebecca -
Love,
Sean
Yes! Thank you Sean. For me this is relevant to my current patterns. At times the meaninglessness manifests as bliss. Other times, for days sometimes utter despair, nothing matters, dark night of the soul, unfamiliar depression, morbid reflections, fuck eating or anything like self-care. Where is the meaning in any activity?
How can I relate to my wife, now ex-wife, who may want to watch a movie or talk about current events? I can't eat popcorn and watch a movie. I cannot watch tv. Humor is meaningless. Pop culture is not a thing. At my very best during one of these episodes…maybe… if she is willing to sit around and talk about the course or watch and discuss a Deepak Chopra video, then I have something to offer. I am as fun as a bag of doorknobs. Paralyzed. I butt right up against what I fear may be a permanent insanity. Then it goes away and I can exhale away the whole mess.
“God has one child and we are it.” … I love this sentence.
Thank you Carl for sharing. I identify very much with all of this, and I love the phrase "as fun as a bag of doorknobs."
Yes - the fear that the condition is permanent is nontrivial - thank you for speaking to that. One of ego's biggest and most effective trips is that suffering is inevitable and permanent. The nihilism I speak of is dark not like when you turn the lights off but keep your hand on the switch but when you don't know if you will ever see again and the decision feels way beyond your control.
I say this a lot: ego is not fucking around.
God has one child and we are it - good to remember that with you today Carl!! Thanks for being here and for sharing.
Love,
Sean
Please add me to your Sunday list
Thank you
Pamela
You bet!
This is so beautiful and, from my experience, true. By writing this you're doing exactly what you're suggesting to us to do--extending the truth of your experience, which encourages us to slog and weep through our own Dark Nights of the Soul, and then to extend our stories by sharing them. I think that's called "walking your talk." : ) I think that when we have those seemingly horrible experiences, we're not braving them just for ourselves, but for everybody else, too, and the journey isn't over until we share our news to those whose ears are practically quivering with the desire to hear them. Thank you!
Thank you Nancy - I'm glad we are walking together 🙏🙏
Love,
Sean