Good Morning DearHearts,
Many times during A Course in Miracles group, the question arises, “How do I start to truly understand this?”. My answer has always been,
“The same way we get to Carnegie Hall, practice, practice, practice”.
I know that sounds like a rather flippant answer, but it is actually true. The only way to master a new spiritual path is to practice it. This same philosophy can be applied to learning to cook, garden, play the violin or do calculus. ( But why?)
In addition to applying time to the task one wishes to learn, if it is a spiritual endeavor, adopting the “practice” of quieting the mind would be quite helpful. Many start their day with their “spiritual practices”. The list of what modalities an individual might use can be quite long and varied. Everyone must find what works for them. Many find starting the day with breath work helps to bring the mind into alignment after a night of dream wanderings. A few deep breaths in through the nose and out the mouth brings the awareness into the now.
A Course in Miracles offers us 365 ways to practice. But in truth any ONE lesson can be the source of practice and awareness. Each of the lessons is an individual truth which is part of the ONE true thought of Peace.
For instance, if I realize (see with real eyes) that my mind is preoccupied with the past (Lesson 7) and finally stop viewing the now as defined by what occurred in the past, I will be able to see the innocence that is all around. OR, if I finally “get” the concept that I am NOT a body, (Lesson 199) but so much more than that limitation, my thoughts and the world will change before me.
The wonderful thing about the Truth is: it’s True, and what is True does not shift and change on the whimsy of a thought or perception. The Truth comes to us from multiple sources and yet it is always the same.
How many spiritual teachers does it take to convince us that our thoughts are the ONE source of our experiences?
That is the Truth.
But what is YOUR answer? So many of those who are seeking the truth, go from one path to another, read every new book, attend lectures, seminars, and retreats, only to find that each book, teacher, lecturer have the same information.
The constant seeking and yet not accepting the answer is the pattern the ego would have us follow. The longer we stay in denial of what our Truth is, the longer we will stay under the influence of egoic thoughts.
And now back to practicing.
A Course in Miracles often states the obvious throughout the text and workbook, this is one example from Chapter 30.
“ It must be clear that it is easier to have a happy day if you prevent unhappiness from entering at all. But this takes practice in the rules that will protect you from the ravages of fear.”
If we keep up our practice we will all get to Carnegie Hall.
Until then,
Remember That There is Boundless Love Available Here and Now.
In Light, Love and Peace,
Janet Weissman
©2015 All Rights Reserved
Good Morning DearHearts,
Last year I joined the wonderful world of Facebook because of my children. They urged me to join this social media phenomenon so I could keep up with their lives and see the pictures they share.
So one Saturday afternoon I thought, “why not?” I created a profile, hit the button and before I knew it I was receiving “friend requests”. It immediately was overwhelming and addictive.
The friend requests have slowed down now, but what has occurred is I have become a part of other peoples’ lives in a most unexpected way. The sharing that’s offered on this website can range from horrible to heartfelt.
Very recently one of my cyber connections has shared quite eloquently the process of his beloved pet and her failing health. He has shared how this extraordinary pet angel came into his life and resurrected it. The story of how the animal in need of rescuing actually “rescues” its owner is one that relates to many pet parents.
Last weekend, his beloved pet was ready to exit this world and be released from the bondage of the body. One of the most difficult times for any pet parent is when that time arrives. Again, my cyber friend was eloquent as he went through the process of taking his sweet girl to the vet for one last time. As I read his posts of the process my heart was full and my tears ran. I sent him a message that she will always be in his heart and therefore with him. Love knows no boundaries.
Interestingly enough the lesson that correlated to this event was “ There is no death, the Son of God is free”.
Death is not real, but exits indeed do occur in this world.
This world is often described as a movie or play that we have scripted and now are watching to see what will happen next. The thing is; we have forgotten what was planned, so we are surprised by each twist, turn, entrance and exit.
Shakespeare informed us “All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and entrances…”
It is certain that in any play, characters come and go throughout the course of the drama or comedy. In any script a character remains “on stage” for as long as his part is relevant to the action or moving forward the plot. After the storyline is resolved, one character exits to be replaced by another. Such is the way of our lives, as we know them to be.
We are influenced by those who appear and disappear. We have established some relationship with each human in our play, and also with each pet/animal/ butterfly that appears as well. Each encounter is given us so we may hasten the time when our minds awake to experience true joy and peace.
Our furry encounters are one of the gentlest ways to stir us to consciousness. They are the embodiment of unconditional love. They are ever present and never judging. If I trip over a cat in my house I am never concerned that the cat thinks I did it on purpose and holds a grievance. I know the cat accepts and moves on with her day.
To believe in “death” is to align our energy and mind with the ego. To believe that each encounter is given us to teach a lesson “…that God would have me learn” is to bless the time spent with the other and be in gratitude for the gifts that are given. It is a Holy Encounter.
“If death is real for anything, there is no life. Death denies life. But if there is reality in life, death is denied.” Manual for Teachers # 27
The big dog with his tongue out is a picture of my dog that now lives in my heart. His name is Boe.
The presence of LOVE in the relationship affirms Life.
Remember,
There IS Boundless Love Here for US Now.
In Light, Love and Peace,
Janet Weissman
©2015 All rights reserved
Good Morning DearHearts,
The other day while watching a wedding on television, I realized that not until the very end of the wedding ceremony does the groom actually “see” whom he has married. Before he ever lifts the veil that hides the bride’s face, he must first pledge his love and life. Then, after he has sworn to love and forsworn others, he may lift the veil and see his beloved. There is of course the Bible story where Jacob believes he is marrying Rachel but finds out he has instead married Leah when he lifts the veil. Truly we do not really know who stands beside us until we lift the veils between us.
At a wedding there is an actual veil to lift, but in our daily moments we do not have a physical object to use as a reference, nevertheless there are veils to dispel in every instant and relationship. The curtain that keeps us in a seeming mist resides within our ego mind and even though it is gossamer by nature it has the power to hide the presence of Truth.
This flimsy shroud has been given the task, by the ruler of the ego kingdom, to not allow any kindness or joyful thought to enter into the awareness of his domain. One small loving thought could usurp the entire fortress of pain that has been so carefully erected by the ego. The ego is aware of the power of thought and has done all things possible to keep all thoughts in the past where the memory of injustice resides. If the Thinker can bring his thoughts into the NOW the domain of the past disappears and with it goes the power the ego has established in our mind.
Veils lift when our desire to see our “beloved” becomes the strongest wish we have. So, just as the bridegroom lifts the bride’s veil so they can join in union, we unite when we choose to be in the present moment and not let the past keep the veils of separation in front of us. The One in front of us is recognized as the Holy Child of God, the mirror of our own refection. The veil has lifted.
From A Course in Miracles T31:VII.9:1
“The veil across the face of Christ, the fear of God and of salvation, and the love of guilt and death, they are all different names for just one error; that there is a space between you and your brother, kept apart by an illusion of yourself that holds him off from you, and you away from him.”
Every Tuesday and Friday in the South Florida area we lift veils in our ACIM groups. If you live in this area, or know someone who does, please contact me for more information. You can contact me by leaving a comment.
And Let Us Remember There IS Boundless LOVE Here For ALL!!!
In Love, Light and Peace,
Janet Weissman
©2015 All Rights Reserved
Good Morning DearHearts,
Whenever I visit my Granddaughter the first thing I want to see is her smile.
I greet her gently, pick her up and wait for that light to come as she smiles with her whole face and little being.
So, what if our only goal with each being that we saw each day was to see their smile?
All family, friends, co-workers, bank tellers, supermarket employees, store clerks, EVERYONE we meet or greet each day, with one goal, see their smile. And, receive their smile and allow it into your heart.
Somewhere along the way of life we were told to not speak to strangers. I believe that guidance encouraged us to feel separate and afraid. Although I am sure the advice was given to “protect” us; what it actually did was depleted our ability to trust others. We began to look for the undesirable in unknown others rather than see the positive qualities each one possesses.
Now this could mean that we need to start the process of a Universal Smile.
We may need to be the one who “smiles first” and not be afraid to allow our Light to go forth and touch others. This could even mean we may have to speak to “strangers”, greet them with a Good Morning. We might have to go against all of the laws that keep us isolated and separate from our brothers and sisters.
We just may need to reactivate the thought of Trust.
Trust is the idea of believing in what we cannot quantify. Yet there is a deep understanding within that if we could just believe enough we would experience a Truth that is our fondest wish.
Isn’t the Peace that comes from healing the idea of separation our fondest wish?
When we choose to only experience Trust we will no longer believe in mistreatment, lack or deceit. We will know every experience has been selected by our own wishes to assist our awakening. This is a powerful acknowledgment and has the ability to bring us home.
“Today we smile on everyone we see, and walk with lightened footsteps as we go to do what is appointed us to do.”
A Course in Miracles: WB:Lesson 123: 4:3
I don’t want to smile without YOU.
And Let US Remember There IS Boundless LOVE For Us Here & Now!!!
In Love, Light and Peace,
Janet Weissman
© 2015 All Rights Reserved
Good Morning DearHearts,
Most mornings I stop by the neighborhood Dunkin Donuts on my way to work. Usually the same tall young man is behind the counter to take my order. Each day I order a large un-sweet ice tea with extra ice.
This morning I saw the young man and rather than giving my order I said, “I’ll have the usual.” Instead of him smiling knowingly at my comment he said, “ I have a bad memory so I don’t remember your order.” Okay.
I gave him my usual order and while I was paying he added, “It’s easy for me to be nice to the customers because I don’t remember anything”. My thought as I picked up my tea to leave was “WOW!”
This young mans’ confession was reminiscent of “Groundhog Day”, but he was not the Bill Murray character, he was everyone else in the movie. If you remember (and I am sure you do) each morning all of the town’s population except for Bill Murray’s character had no recollection of the previous days events. It was easy for each of them to be nice because nothing un-nice had ever occurred. This is the demonstration of Forgiveness. Nothing happened.
My young Dunkin server is the embodiment of a forgiving soul. If a customer is less than nice on Monday, this will not interfere with the service received on Tuesday. Nothing happened.
Each customer that he serves is involved (knowingly or not) in a Holy Instant experience. For however long the encounter, the employee is only there to assist to the best of his ability. He requires nothing of the customer, except payment at the end. The customer’s request is fulfilled and then he goes on with the day ahead.
In this world having a bad memory or losing our memory is associated with Fear, because it is a symptom of illness. However, in the case of my Dunkin server the inability to remember is the most Loving thing he can do. He does not build up any grievances surrounding his customers or his job. Each new day is a pristine mirror that only reflects the kindness of customers and the promise of a joyful day. What a wonderful way to experience each day, always in the Now.
The awareness of Being Present, with or without memory loss, is a characteristic of the Awakening Process. The only memory required is one of God.
“The memory of God comes to the quiet mind. It cannot come where there is conflict, for a mind at war against itself remembers not eternal gentleness.”
T. Chap 23 I:1-2
May we all have a Gentle Day.
In Love, Light and Peace,
Janet Weissman
©2014 All Rights Reserved
Good Morning DearHearts,
In an infinite world with infinite numbers; what number do you choose to self identify? Every time someone asks your age, weight or height, and you answer you have set a limit in a limitless universe.
Every time we limit our self in any manner even the most innocuous ways we are strengthening the idea of separation. And the ego is happy.
Numbers are of the body world and even though there is an infinite supply of numbers we chose finite (defining) ones.
In the body world there are body doctors and when we go to a doctor they determine our health by using a sequence of numbers. And they have numbers for EVERYTHING. The medical profession has an unwavering goal to prove we are not eternal beings. They not only record height, weight and age, they then continue to assign a number to our body fluids. If the number is not in the medical book range of “health” then we must now subscribe to medicines to “change our number”. And the ego is happy.
In the world, ego numbers are used to define our ability to “do” things.
We must be a certain height to ride Space Mountain. We must be a certain age to vote and we must reside within certain number parameters of weight to be considered healthy.
Besides informing us of what we can do, these numbers also tell us when we have passed the point of being able to do. Again, here are limitations being set and if we choose to believe in them we have agreed with the ego mind. That agreement once made will lead us to the ego’s idea of a final destination – death. And the ego is happy.
What if the next time you visited a doctor and your age was asked, you answered “ I am timeless”? Spirit has no limitations, no age, no weight, no height. Of course the medical professional will probably laugh and ask again, he/she will not be deterred by the Real Truth and that is okay.
What is important is YOU know and that it is indeed Your Truth.
Now if you are wondering if I have been to the doctor lately; the answer is no. This was just an awareness that came to me while I was doing my 2 mile morning walk. There is another number. HA HA!
“ The ego literally lives on borrowed time, and its days are numbered.”
Text Chapter 9: IV 9:1
In Light, Love and Peace,
Janet Weissman
©2014 All Rights Reserved
Good Morning DearHearts,
“I Love to Laugh” is not only a personal statement it is also a song from the movie Mary Poppins. The song is performed during a tea party on the ceiling. I have not participated in an aerial tea party, but I do share the song’s sentiment.
Laughter is one of the best ways to pass through this thing we call time. It is beneficial for both the body and spirit. We laugh when we are filled with joy and it just spills over and out of us. In addition, laughter is one of the most enjoyable ways to exercise your core stomach muscles. It is considerably more fun than 100 crunches.
I am having the experience of a baby in the family and my granddaughter laughs often. There is pure joy in her little laughs that are still for the most part soundless. However, even without a soundtrack the elation is completely evident. The facial bliss is quite contagious because seeing a laugh brings a laugh. There is no need to know what tickled the funny bone of a baby who has only been here for four months. Laugh just because.
I have given the statistics in an ACIM gathering before and still I find them amazing. There have been psychological studies that found a child laughs an average of 300 times each day. The same study found adults laugh a paltry 20 times each day. How did the humor of life escape us?
There is great emphasis in spiritual teachings of the importance of being in the here and now. Laughter accomplishes this, as does meditation.
It is impossible to be laughing at a movie, TV show, a joke or with friends and not be in the now. The act of laughing must mean that for that moment only the now exists, because the mind cannot be focused in two places at one time.
The ego mind believes there is a past and a future where we should spend our time. Fear, which is the condition of the ego mind, resides in the future. Resentment and regret are the by products of the egoic mind’s view of the past.
The possibility of joy is not what the ego mind has in store for us. Joy and its signature sound of laughter destroys the plans of destruction and death that the ego has worked so hard to build. We can not be sad and happy at the same time. We can not be in the past or future and be ROFLMAO
(Rolling On Floor Laughing My A**Off) or LOL (Laughing Out Loud).
If we accept the premise that Pure Joy is what Creator meant for us, then every un-joyful moment is one in which we deny our birthright. How long will we allow this to continue when we could be laughing instead?
“In lightness and in laughter is sin gone, because its quaint absurdity is seen.” ACIM Lesson 156 “ I walk with God in perfect holiness.”
And one more thing—have you heard the one about…………
In Love, Light and Peace
Janet Weissman
© 2014 All Rights Reserved
Good Morning DearHearts,
Have you ever noticed that when a song comes on the radio that you have not thought about or listened to in a very, very long time; you still know ALL of the words? This week I had that very sweet experience of time travelling back to long forgotten fun songs and wondering where the lyrics had been stored in my brain.
I was introduced to another blog site called The Immortal Jukebox. It was just pure fun to read. The blog post I read was about whistling in songs and showed four YouTube videos. One of the songs mentioned was from The Lovin’ Spoonful. (Bet it’s been a while since you thought about them) I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the happy ditties of John Sebastian. Now, I just happen to have a CD anthology of their songs, so I popped it in the car and to my surprise – I knew the words. Hmmmmm, I thought.
I realized that A Course in Miracles is in a sense just like those song lyrics. The Truth is already in our Mind. The word “remember” is mentioned close to 400 times throughout the Text, Lessons and Manual for Teachers.
Lesson 124 is “Let me remember I am one with God”
The true purpose of spiritual paths is to awaken our self with the awareness of the True Self. We already KNOW- but have merely forgotten that we know. Just like the song lyrics that reside somewhere within our memory, the wisdom that can bring us back to the Truth is already known.
The definition of remember is to bring back to mindful. (Mind Full).
Here’s something else to recall; according to ACIM teaching we are simply a Thought emanating from the Mind of God. Until we return Home to where that thought began, “God Himself is incomplete without me.”
Our remembering is not only our completion, but God’s as well.
One more thing to remember………
Remember There IS Great Love Here For You, Now!!!
In Love, Light and Peace,
Janet
©2014 All Rights Reserved
Good Morning DearHearts,
I have noticed that oft times there is a disconnect between what is said and what is heard. This is not done with malice or even forethought; it is simply a condition of the ego mind.
All have been in conversations with friends, family or co-workers and have noticed that either of the parties present is not actually there. Sometimes rather than listening to the person who is speaking, the mind is busy planning a response or rebuttal and not actually “hearing” what is being offered. This method can produce some hilarious results as well as some tragic ones.
When experiences such as these pass for communication, it is no wonder that the effects of feeling separate and even isolated are common.
True communication requires us to be in the now, to be open to listening and to use our own words wisely and with love. We must realize the power our words contain because they come from the thoughts in our mind. If we are more connected to the ego mind our words can be harsh and thoughtless. Offhand remarks can be hurtful and inflict pain that last much longer than the conversation that gave birth to them.
In the “Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz, the first agreement is to be impeccable with our words. The author explains that impeccable means without sin.
The words that emanate from our mouth are spoken thoughts. A Course in Miracles teaches us EVERYTHING started as a thought and we are merely a thought from The Mind of God.
If we truly believe our birthplace in within God then our words and actions can only be sinless, because “sin” is a form of conflict in thought and there is no conflict in God. If we speak words that inflict suffering to others, we too will experience that loss of impeccability.
All that we are and do starts as a thought.
From ACIM Workbook, Lesson 111
“Let the light of holiness and truth light up my mind, and let me see the innocence within”
The innocent are without sin so they will speak what they know they are. See yourself as that.
AND
Please Remember
There IS Great Love Here For Us, NOW!!!
In Light, Love and Peace,
Janet Weissman
©2014 All Rights Reserved
Good Morning DearHearts,
We have all heard the phrase “seeing is believing” or is it? We have also been informed to believe only half of what you see. This advice comes straight from the ego, yes, one statement conflicts with the other, but what would you expect from a force that revels in confusion?
A Course in Miracles guides us to move away from solely using the physical eyes, because they alone cannot show us the Truth. To really “see” we must use the gift of vision that comes from our Holy Mind. In this case, it is best to not believe what we think we see when only utilizing the eyes of the body.
So, what is the best use of those lovely orbs that are located on your face?
Our eyes (as well as our other senses) are best used when they are guided by our desire to connect rather than separate. When we begin to “see” the likenesses in every living thing it is because we recognize the Spirit that emanates from within it, we are using the eyes wisely. Sight becomes Vision. Simultaneously we believe in what we are witnessing.
Because these two occurrences happen in an instant (a Holy One) we often do not realize the cause and effect. Belief is the cause, Vision is the effect.
A personal favorite cinema example of believing and then seeing is in Steven Spielberg’s movie “Hook”. It takes place at a banquet of sorts that has the Lost Boys feasting on an array of colorful deliciousness. But when Peter Pan (Robin Williams) looks at the table, he cannot see anything on the table. At this point of the story Peter does not believe he is who he is, nor does he believe he has any ability to fulfill his purpose in Neverland.
A challenge of words ensues between Peter and Rufio who has been the leader of the pack up until the arrival of Peter. As the war of insults unfolds, Peter somehow gets the best of Rufio and in that instant begins to believe he is indeed Peter Pan and capable of fulfilling his mission. At that moment of belief the “food” appears to Peter. When he believes – he sees and he becomes part of Neverland.
I know this is a bit of an extreme example but there are a few spiritual moments in this film that has put it on my list of favorite movies. This was just one.
Our beliefs are an integral part of how we see and define our own being.
If we believe we are helpless and inconsequential, we will make sure our beliefs are upheld by our actions and outcomes. On the other hand, if we can alter our self assessment to include the possibility of a Spiritual Center from which we all originate, our beliefs will be radically shifted to include the infinite and eternal. We can then “see” truly because our vision will be in alignment with our belief system.
In truth then, Believing is Seeing- not the other way around.
Another truth is
There IS Great Love Here For US, Now!!!
In Light, Love and Peace,
Janet Weissman
©2014 All Rights Reserved
goodmorningdearhearts 