Interesting...before I reached the end of your piece, I realized that for me, what I experience is real (for me). ...difficult to explain, but I "know" that a shift in me from not being caught up in events and reporting of events often leads to an experience of calm...sometimes as compassion for a villain like Putin or Trump...sometimes as a mild curiosity about what is true here. So, yes, I'd say EXPERIENCE on a gentle loving level in the midst of consternation feels like a sacred gift.
T -2.VI.2.4 You must change your mind, not your behavior, and this is a matter of willingness.
T-8.VIII.9.5–7 Nor can anyone doubt your willingness to listen until you choose not to accept anything except truth. When you lay the ego aside, it (ego)will be gone. The Holy Spirit’s Voice is as loud as your willingness to listen.
T-.VI.9.8–11 Truth can only be experienced. It ( truth) cannot be described and it( truth)cannot be explained. I can make you aware of the conditions of truth , but the experience is of God (Love). Together we can meet its conditions, but truth will dawn upon you of itself.
In my studying of the Course I have learned to ask. What is this for? Whatever the this is I want clarification to help me understand. That question is my willingness to listen. I completely let it go and wait. And I have experienced someway some how clarification occurs. How do I know? Peace. And change of mind.
Asking opens the doorway and listening points to the truth, yet as you said the answer cannot be put into words. Whatever your mind can generate and name is not that to which the word “God” “Love”points to. That feeling of Peace generated is from the “Word”of God which for me is Love. There are no words for God or Love. I can feel and experience Peace.
Thank you Sean Your thoughts help me to ask and receive clarification. 🙏
Thanks for this enlightening article Sean, which made me realize I am still caught in believing words are truth, instead of what is always present behind the words.
Over the past year I have had difficulty with three different people because of the offensive words they spoke and I eliminated all three people from my life. Once I eliminated these people and began to examine the nature of the reaction I was having, I found that the words they had spoke were actually touching on old unhealed wounds within this ego structure, where deep pain was stored.
In taking responsibility for what was “offensive” about the words the others spoke, an inner freedom arose, and I found love behind the ego’s interpretations. Those three people are back in my life, they can still be offensive to this ego mind, but that “offensiveness” is now a gift that there is something that needs to be looked at through love’s eyes.
I welcome your invitation “As a fun exercise today, try to encounter that which cannot be denied or accepted because it merely is.” 🙏
Thank you for sharing this, Glenda. It mirrors a lot of my own experience, especially "old unhealed wounds within this ego structure, where deep pain was stored." Going into that with the Holy Spirit in order to undo it is so much the beating heart of my ACIM practice. And I also deeply appreciate how you connect "taking responsiblity" with freedom and in that way getting beyond the ego's narrow interpretation to love. Yes yes yes!
And yes, so much remains, but knowing there is a way to undo it and that it will be undone is such a happy feeling.
Good morning Sean . . . Just dropped by to say calling Lennon and Denver luminaries feels spot on. Their songs are now playing in my head, which is a lovely morning soundtrack. And thank you for the light of your “Words.” Hope all is well.
Sean, I am currently re-reading the “Conversations With God” trilogy by Neale Donald Walsch, alongside ACIM. To me, the teachings are much the same but told from different voices and styles. Each one helps explain and fill gaps from the other. I also include your newsletter here as supplementary support.
To this topic of theology, both narratives speak to the separation between religion (body/rules) and spirituality (soul/spirit); at least this how I interpret them. When I look across the history of humankind, including [sadly] to this day with all of the strife and separation in the name of religion, I am grateful for my awareness of the options at our disposal (and often right in front of us), and that heightened levels of consciousness are spreading and, for me, help keep my head above water, be less fearful of the things out my control, and experience life with a knowing that there is a Universal or Divine order to all that occurs. Thank you for your part in helping shape and spread this awareness.
Thank you, Tom. I agree that generally we are presented with a beautiful & helpful array of options from which to choose in terms of spiritual paths, teachers, communities, et cetera. And I think that this is generally net positive. Certainly I have been a beneficiary. On the other hand, a lot of familiar errors seem to be multiplying and intensifying out there in the exterior and so I wonder sometimes . . .
I never read Walsch's books but the Windham Hill soundtrack did introduce me to Ray Lynch's work, for which I am very grateful 🙏🙏
Sean I love your love for this course,theology was and is way above my comprehension but yet i understand something I can't explain not having words to express it. Jim obrien rightly quoted only an ancient shadow stands between us and the face of Christ. For me that shadow was I saw god through the eyes of my community and that god was what this course aims to free me from. So to the dickens with theology,freedom is all and everything.
Yeah I think the course is very much here asking us to dial down the theological/philosophical speculation and focus on allowing that "ancient shadow' to be gently shined away by forgiveness. And yes, "freedom" is very much a word that points to the experience, absolutely.
Sean I think I replied to your email about canceling the meeting on Sundays for the foreseeable future in a thoughtless manner. I want to apologise sincerely. Please let me know how you are it didn't cross my mind to ask you if you had a serious problem with your health. I do hope you're going to be well soon Sean
No worries at all Sean! I am struggling a bit physically right now but it's okay. I just needed to simplify my life in order to make space for rest and healing. I hope to be back soon.
Sean's, Tara writes something that helps me to step back and remember to ask for silence, "there is a purity of space untouched by thought - a moment of eternity".
Interesting...before I reached the end of your piece, I realized that for me, what I experience is real (for me). ...difficult to explain, but I "know" that a shift in me from not being caught up in events and reporting of events often leads to an experience of calm...sometimes as compassion for a villain like Putin or Trump...sometimes as a mild curiosity about what is true here. So, yes, I'd say EXPERIENCE on a gentle loving level in the midst of consternation feels like a sacred gift.
"Sacred gift" is a great pointer, Valerie . . . thank you 🙏
~ Sean
Janice
Willingness.
T -2.VI.2.4 You must change your mind, not your behavior, and this is a matter of willingness.
T-8.VIII.9.5–7 Nor can anyone doubt your willingness to listen until you choose not to accept anything except truth. When you lay the ego aside, it (ego)will be gone. The Holy Spirit’s Voice is as loud as your willingness to listen.
T-.VI.9.8–11 Truth can only be experienced. It ( truth) cannot be described and it( truth)cannot be explained. I can make you aware of the conditions of truth , but the experience is of God (Love). Together we can meet its conditions, but truth will dawn upon you of itself.
In my studying of the Course I have learned to ask. What is this for? Whatever the this is I want clarification to help me understand. That question is my willingness to listen. I completely let it go and wait. And I have experienced someway some how clarification occurs. How do I know? Peace. And change of mind.
Asking opens the doorway and listening points to the truth, yet as you said the answer cannot be put into words. Whatever your mind can generate and name is not that to which the word “God” “Love”points to. That feeling of Peace generated is from the “Word”of God which for me is Love. There are no words for God or Love. I can feel and experience Peace.
Thank you Sean Your thoughts help me to ask and receive clarification. 🙏
Thank you for sharing, Janice. I appreciate the clear example of how clarity works in practice - that is why we are here!
Love,
Sean
Thanks for this enlightening article Sean, which made me realize I am still caught in believing words are truth, instead of what is always present behind the words.
Over the past year I have had difficulty with three different people because of the offensive words they spoke and I eliminated all three people from my life. Once I eliminated these people and began to examine the nature of the reaction I was having, I found that the words they had spoke were actually touching on old unhealed wounds within this ego structure, where deep pain was stored.
In taking responsibility for what was “offensive” about the words the others spoke, an inner freedom arose, and I found love behind the ego’s interpretations. Those three people are back in my life, they can still be offensive to this ego mind, but that “offensiveness” is now a gift that there is something that needs to be looked at through love’s eyes.
I welcome your invitation “As a fun exercise today, try to encounter that which cannot be denied or accepted because it merely is.” 🙏
Thank you for sharing this, Glenda. It mirrors a lot of my own experience, especially "old unhealed wounds within this ego structure, where deep pain was stored." Going into that with the Holy Spirit in order to undo it is so much the beating heart of my ACIM practice. And I also deeply appreciate how you connect "taking responsiblity" with freedom and in that way getting beyond the ego's narrow interpretation to love. Yes yes yes!
And yes, so much remains, but knowing there is a way to undo it and that it will be undone is such a happy feeling.
Thank you again, Glenda. I'm grateful for you.
Love,
Sean
Good morning Sean . . . Just dropped by to say calling Lennon and Denver luminaries feels spot on. Their songs are now playing in my head, which is a lovely morning soundtrack. And thank you for the light of your “Words.” Hope all is well.
Love,
Cheryl
Yes, they are lights, certainly for me. Thanks for the kind words Cheryl - always grateful for your presence 🙏🙏
Love,
Sean
Sean, I am currently re-reading the “Conversations With God” trilogy by Neale Donald Walsch, alongside ACIM. To me, the teachings are much the same but told from different voices and styles. Each one helps explain and fill gaps from the other. I also include your newsletter here as supplementary support.
To this topic of theology, both narratives speak to the separation between religion (body/rules) and spirituality (soul/spirit); at least this how I interpret them. When I look across the history of humankind, including [sadly] to this day with all of the strife and separation in the name of religion, I am grateful for my awareness of the options at our disposal (and often right in front of us), and that heightened levels of consciousness are spreading and, for me, help keep my head above water, be less fearful of the things out my control, and experience life with a knowing that there is a Universal or Divine order to all that occurs. Thank you for your part in helping shape and spread this awareness.
Thank you, Tom. I agree that generally we are presented with a beautiful & helpful array of options from which to choose in terms of spiritual paths, teachers, communities, et cetera. And I think that this is generally net positive. Certainly I have been a beneficiary. On the other hand, a lot of familiar errors seem to be multiplying and intensifying out there in the exterior and so I wonder sometimes . . .
I never read Walsch's books but the Windham Hill soundtrack did introduce me to Ray Lynch's work, for which I am very grateful 🙏🙏
~ Sean
Sean, thanks for the reminder that the answer lies in the question. As you write, an Experiential Realization defies mere words.
Only an ancient shadow stands between you the face of Christ and the memory of God. Perhaps, that is "It".
Ch26,IX. Paragraph 2.
Sean I love your love for this course,theology was and is way above my comprehension but yet i understand something I can't explain not having words to express it. Jim obrien rightly quoted only an ancient shadow stands between us and the face of Christ. For me that shadow was I saw god through the eyes of my community and that god was what this course aims to free me from. So to the dickens with theology,freedom is all and everything.
Yeah I think the course is very much here asking us to dial down the theological/philosophical speculation and focus on allowing that "ancient shadow' to be gently shined away by forgiveness. And yes, "freedom" is very much a word that points to the experience, absolutely.
Sean I think I replied to your email about canceling the meeting on Sundays for the foreseeable future in a thoughtless manner. I want to apologise sincerely. Please let me know how you are it didn't cross my mind to ask you if you had a serious problem with your health. I do hope you're going to be well soon Sean
No worries at all Sean! I am struggling a bit physically right now but it's okay. I just needed to simplify my life in order to make space for rest and healing. I hope to be back soon.
Love,
Sean
Sean's, Tara writes something that helps me to step back and remember to ask for silence, "there is a purity of space untouched by thought - a moment of eternity".
Indeed 🙏
🙏🙏