Some Pers Dev help please

[Sponge]

Am a self help junkie these days! Feeling frustrated with intentional manifestation am always looking for the next fix. Having read amongst other books now, zero limits, power of now, busting loose, am I right in saying the message seems to be to get out of your own way? Either by cleaning, recognising the illusion/game, understanding that it's all just an experience, meditating etc? So many different tools and methods I seem to have confused myself. Anyone else feel this way?

2nd point: What's worse is that I am Catholic and now no longer give the church credibility. I was never a real practicing Catholic, but nonetheless it is my faith and I am struggling with it all. I went to a church wedding at the weekend and found it bizzare. I have stopped going to mass at all and my girl is due to start at a catholic school and I am so unsure about it all. And even Christmas now has lost its meaning. I do still believe in the story of Jesus etc just not the rules and the judgmental God out there...anyone have any advice in how to deal with this pls?

[ButterflyWoman]

Originally Posted by Sponge

am I right in saying the message seems to be to get out of your own way?

Yup. That's how I experience it.

Originally Posted by Sponge

I went to a church wedding at the weekend and found it bizzare.

Yeah, that's happened to me, too. I kind of transcended my old religious belief system. I still respect it, and see value there, but for other people, not for me. (I had very mixed feelings on that, by the way. It was a combination of joy, freedom, and sadness.)

Originally Posted by Sponge

And even Christmas now has lost its meaning.

Research the history of Christmas. Any "meaning" it has is what we bring to it, because it's a real mish-mash of Celtic and Roman pagan traditions, with a Christian gloss on top.

Originally Posted by Sponge

I do still believe in the story of Jesus etc just not the ruled and the judgmental God out there...anyone have any advice in how to deal with this pls?

All I can say is don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. Take what's important and leave the rest. As you continue, you might find those things less or more important, and you might keep them or drop them or change your view of them. For now, keep the stuff you find valuable and which resonates with you, and just let the rest be what it is.

[Reefs]

All paths lead to boredom eventually.

[zeitgeist]

It is great to get motivated and inspired by others, but in the end you have to find your own way. The same with the church. Perhaps you can educate your children, that's what I do.

All the best,

zeitgeist

[Sponge]

Thanks for the responses. Butterflywoman it's comforting to know someone else has experienced the same. The religion one is tough. Going from believing something all your life to just feeling like it's made up is hard to accept. It's also mad how one minute I can see the illusion and literally the next be back in it, totally forgetting and getting angry at something or another or judging someone/something.


I feel like I'm in a game of levels and am stuck at lvl 5. Like there's a lesson or something I need to learn before moving on.

[Thunder]

Originally Posted by Reefs

All paths lead to boredom eventually.

Why are you here?

Better question: how have you arrived here?

[ButterflyWoman]

Originally Posted by Sponge

Going from believing something all your life to just feeling like it's made up is hard to accept.

I know. Totally get it.

Originally Posted by Sponge

It's also mad how one minute I can see the illusion and literally the next be back in it, totally forgetting and getting angry at something or another or judging someone/something.

I know that one, too. It's easy to get sucked back in. In time, your basic equilibrium point will shift, though. I suspect that there comes a point where being pulled back isn't an issue, but I'm not there, so I can't say.

[guthrio]

Sponge,

Please bear with the length of this explanation to your excellent questions.

It's really as simple as 2+2=4. How ? Think about it.

2+2=4, whether you sum the equation correctly or not !!

Don't believe me? Try MAKING 2+2=5. It doesn't work does it?

We cannot even MAKE 2+2=4, either. WHY ??

Because neither Truth nor Perfection can change or BE changed !

We are absolutely free to choose to believe that 2+2=5 for as long as we want. We may (or may not) recognize that we have MADE A MISTAKE, in perception or conduct, certainly. Regardless, the consequences of INCORRECTLY applying the PERFECT principles governing this mathematics equation are inescapable....but correctable. It is only when the correct perception IS CORRECTLY APPLIED, that the resultant "answer" enables us to declare the truth of that experience to ourselves. The consequences of CORRECTLY applying the principles of mathematics (or those governing our own Being) are ALSO inescapable, to our eternal good.

THIS is the operative principle behind "Ye shall reap what you sow".....for good or ill.

As a matter of Truth, the ONLY way you'd know if you have made a mistake in perception or operation is BECAUSE the principles of Life operate perfectly, without the slightest deviation, variation, or attenuation at ANY time or in ANY place for ANYBODY!

Otherwise, you would not know what electricity perfectly does FOR you when you utilize it correctly. Or you wouldn't know what electricity perfectly does TO you when operated incorrectly, either.

If you consider this carefully, what is referred to as, goodness including love, patience, kindness, self-control, faithfulness and gentleness", is analogous to what the immutable principle of electricity does FOR you when operated consistent with its purpose.

Conversely, what is referred to as "The acts of our brokenness, hatred, discord, sexual immorality, dissensions, greed, laziness, hatred, jealousy, fits of rage, drunkenness, envy, selfish ambition and the like....." are analogous to what the immutable principle of electricity does TO you when it is operated incorrectly.

This is about G I G O.....

Garbage in, garbage out....perfectly !!

Perfect input, perfect output....perfectly !!

NOT BECAUSE there is inherent EVIL in US!

NOT BECAUSE there is inherent EVIL in God's Creation.

NOT BECAUSE we are flawed or "born in sin and full of sin".

It is because the infinite SYSTEM of which we are an inseparable part operates flawlessly and impartially....

It is because this infinite SYSTEM was created by the same Source Who created perfect principles of Life, such as mathematics which operate undeviatingly to create ONLY 4 as the answer to 2+2.

The gift in BEING FREE to make mistakes (in other words, to be wrong) is precisely so that you can LEARN HOW TO CORRECT THEM....not in being penalized (hell) for making mistakes. This is how we learn to manifest 4 by adding 2 plus 2, and by recognizing that 4 is the correct solution in EVERY instance.

When you realize that you have made a mistake in a mathematical operation, what do you do?

You correct the mistake, right?

We are no more obligated to beat ourselves up for making mistakes than we are required to keep making the same mistake over and over and over again.

After the mistake is corrected and the answer is revealed, we must acknowledge to ourselves that this is so.

.....and then, go on to the next problem in our perception that needs correction.

Moreover, we are no more required to keep making the same mistake (sin) over and over again than we are obligated to REMAIN unaware of the correct answer (the Truth about ourselves) for ever and ever !!

We can choose to believe that 2+2=5 for eternity until we have acquired FOR OURSELVES the necessary knowledge of the immutable principle that correctly sums the answer.

But understand: even AFTER we have acquired the correct knowledge, using it INCORRECTLY will not change the correct answer (Truth !) one whit !

Why ? I think you NOW know the reason why, don't you ?

Please understand that I am only using this mathematical example as a metaphor for THAT which is not only real, but is also true, and which ALSO cannot change.

Truth CANNOT change. ONLY our perception and APPLICATION of it can.....change or be changed.

As author Baird Spalding says in the reference, ”Becoming aware of yourself as a spiritual being, offspring of an infinite spiritual system and one with all the powers and capacities within that system, is the very essence of attainment. To grow from the present state of awareness of himself as a material being and into the consciousness that he is a spiritual being contains the full secret of man's attainment.' Man's nature cannot be reversed for he always remains a spiritual being. He can only reverse his notion of himself. Instead of doing this, he should reverse his mistaken idea that he is a material being and retain the truth that he is a spiritual being created in the image and likeness of God."

WE ARE PERFECT EVEN AS OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN IS PERFECT......

.....because the Creator created US and ALL the principles of Life out of His Own perfect, Divine pattern.

......whether you know that this is so, whether you do not believe this is so, or whether you are ignorant that this is so.

….and as also indicated in the reference, "Perfection does not come from projecting our own ideas but from awakening to the knowledge that it is already the established order of things."

That is the lesson we can learn from Adam and Eve….

Perfection, Itself created US perfectly.....though most of us have yet to appreciate the awesome majesty of our created state. But we are learning.....

I AM THAT I AM AND BESIDE ME THERE IS NO OTHER.

2+2=4 and beside 4 there is no other answer.

The same SOURCE who created the perfect principles of mathematics which operate immutably to create ONLY 4 as the correct sum of 2+2 ALSO CREATED US out of perfect principles!! Though we were ALL lovingly and perfectly created by our Father with PERFECT qualities, WE have chosen to act as if they could be utilized inconsistently with their original purpose.

Truth is as obvious as 2+2 can NEVER be 4 AND also 5.

The Creator Himself IS the VERY pattern by which mankind was made. Our Father also created Jesus just as He created us...the exact Spirit and Likeness of Himself.

Jesus' message and reason for coming to this earthly dimension was to show us, in as stark, as uncompromising, and as definitive a manner as possible, that we are as He is, which is as our Creator endowed us all to be, and that is as immortal, Spiritual beings who are the Spirit and Image of our Creator. We are NOT physical beings. We are Spiritual Beings like He is!

Believing or acting as if we are physical, dying, imperfect Beings instead of the perfect, immortal, Spiritual beings we were created to be, and ARE....is like erroneously accepting that 2+2 CAN be 4 and also 5.

There is an inescapable consequence to this perception, which is, simply, that you remain in error (in ignorance) of the truth, until you realize it AND act accordingly with it. As soon as we correct the error, that act ERASES the effect of the ignorance immediately so that we SEE and EXPERIENCE for ourselves the FACT which has been perfectly and ALWAYS true even BEFORE we were aware of our error.

We see that the correct answer NEVER CHANGED AT ALL......nor, in all Reality, have we! Do you see?

Is it not obvious that whether you KNOW or DO NOT KNOW that you are in error, and continue to proceed erroneously, anyway, that the correct answer (Truth) is not in the slightest bit affected? A lie (false perception) believed CAN NEVER be the Truth !!

Ask Adam and Eve if a false perception believed could ever be the Truth.

But the ADVERSE EFFECT upon your perception of Truth remains, doesn't it? The correct answer CAN NEVER come out of erroneous perception or operation.

ONLY CORRECTING THE ERROR IN PERCEPTION AND APPLICATION CAN DO THIS !!

G I G O.....perfectly !!

Ignorance of the unchangeable Truth of ourselves (that we are perfectly created), acts PRECISELY like ignorance of the perfect operation of a mathematical equation ALWAYS and INVARIABLY produces incorrect results. The solution can only be experienced when we recognize AND apply the Truth to ourselves or to the equation.

Can there be ANYTHING more obvious than that we are best served when we work with the UN-changing Truth of our Being, not with EVER-changing beliefs about who we think we are?

I'd say that's a pretty good way to learn about the wonder of our Selves and especially about the Giver of such a gift as the capability to make mistakes. Through such a gift, you realize how serious our Creator is to have us freely discover the Absolute Truth about ourselves, FOR ourselves....Don't you ?

Created of the Spirit and as the Image of the Creator Himself.....we cannot help but BE LIKE UNTO HIM.......

GOD IS LOVE. GOD IS TRUTH. GOD IS PERFECTION

DO YOU SEE ? We must RE-awaken to the knowledge that OUR OWN PERFECTION within this infinite Spiritual system is ALREADY the established order of things....and act accordingly.

It IS built into you.....and each of us, too.

Because I AM is Who WE Are....

The fact is, that Man, created as the very Spirit and Image of the Creator, Himself.....IS the MIRACLE....

As thus created, it becomes apparent that our true heritage is not only within our grasp, but that our reach, in Truth is infinite !!

.....which awaits Mankind's discovery (grasp) of that immutable Truth....

.....every moment of Eternity....

Source(s):
Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East (Vols 1 - 6) by Baird T. Spalding