Amy Torres and Bill Free had a chance to interview Rupert this week while on a Retreat in Burlingame, CA.

Contemplating the Nature of Experience.

Hear Rupert offer a few insights to specific content from A Course in Miracles that was delightful to hear expressed from this Advaita Teacher and new friend of Bill and Amy. Enjoy!

Chop wood carry water

This week I was at a seven day retreat with Amy Torres to see Advaita Teacher and Mystic Rupert Spira effortlessly open the mind of understanding to support the claims of A Course in Miracles, Advaita and all the non dual paths pointing to Enlightenment that says we all have it right Now! It’s under our nose and in the breath.

Chop wood carry water is not a joke… If you pause for a moment and ask yourself. What is aware of this that is being experienced you will notice it is the I of the I AM with no person identity. It is the Self that God created.In this interview you will watch in 40 minutes Rupert Spira unpack a few ideas and clarity around ideas offered in the Course and Advaita that will literally blow your mind (Nirvana) as you see the simplicity of Enlightenment explained by a Master Advaita Teacher. Enjoy this interview with Rupert.

I saw this poster on Facebook this morning – “Perspective 101” – and it perfectly sums up life in 4 short sentences.

It also happens to be the entire message of A Course in Miracles condensed in 4 quick easy to remember bullet points.

This week I invite you to LIVE and PRACTICE these 4 sentences in your life – to watch how drastically your experience changes.

First, think about the “something happening” part. Think about events and circumstances in your  life that seem to be happening. It could be your health, things involving your relationships, your work or money. It could be someone said something to you that caused a chain reaction of other events.

Jesus in A Course in Miracles uses the word “seem” a lot – and that’s because everything that happens to you is actually not happening at all, it only SEEMS that way.

And then the mind automatically makes up a story. Pay extremely close attention this week to the swiftness of how fast the mind starts telling details of what just happened.

See if you can go a whole week and not tell any details of the things you think are happening. The ego goes nuts on this one! It has to tell someone! But see if you can just observe and be aware this week of the play of the mind. Pay attention to your emotional state. Pay attention to the thoughts you’re having. Pay attention to how often the mind goes to the past and replays what it thinks happened back then. Then pay attention to how often the mind goes to the future and thinks about what will happen out there.

Remember Workbook Lesson 5 in A Course in Miracles: “I am never upset for the reason I think.”

That’s astonishing! You are never upset for the reason you think.

You think you are upset because of A, B, C, D or E. Your mind can absolutely pinpoint a specific reason why it’s upset.

Then it goes on to say in Workbook Lesson 6: “I am upset because I see something that is not there.”

You think people are doing things to you. You think life is doing something to you. You may think you are being punished or tested, but nothing at all is going on! This is A Course in Miracles.

You are “training your mind in a systematic way to a different perception of everyone and everything in the world.”

What’s amazing to me is that these lessons are given to us on Day 5 and Day 6 of the one-year mind-training! Jesus gives them to us right in the very first week of the workbook lessons.

And yet, how many of us have completed the one year training of the workbook lessons (or 20-year training for some of us!) and still we believe that things are happening to us that shouldn’t be happening. I AM NEVER UPSET FOR THE REASON I THINK.

Jesus is quite clear when he says: “Nothing at all has happened but that you have put yourself to sleep and dreamed a dream in which you were an alien to yourself and but a part of someone else’s dream.”

Whenever I feel upset, the way I find joy and freedom is with this thought: Everything is FOR me.

I think things like: Everything is for my good. Everything is a gift from God. I love life. I love what is happening. How exciting change is occurring! I asked for change, and here it is! It’s not happening the way I expected or anticipated, but I am rejoicing that everything is for my good and the good of the world. Let me remember the truth. Let me remember that I am the light of the world. This event (the situation that seems to be happening) does not have the power to pull me into darkness. It does not have the power to disturb my peace. I am the holy Son of God Himself and I absolutely can remain in joy because is God is here with me, now.

Today – and for this week – I invite you to live the above poster and the 4 steps.

1. Pay close attention – be aware! – to the things you think are happening in your life. (see #1 in the poster above)
2. Realize nothing is happening (#2)
3. Be aware of how you tell stories about what you think is happening (#3)
4. Realize that the story you tell (even quietly in your mind) is creating your reality as you think you experience it. (#4)

You might want to buy a new journal this week and keep track of the thoughts and stories and situations that pass through your mind.

You can choose to see everything differently.

If you are new to this kind of thinking, I encourage you to get a copy of A Course in Miracles.

Also check out our online programs – Living in Purpose and ACIM 365 – if you would like to make a commitment to LIVE in a new way with these principles guiding your life and would  like additional support and encouragement to stay on track.

Imagine if you were to LIVE the above poster for one week – as a science experiment in your life.

I encourage you to do it. For one week, pay attention to the “something happening”.

Then realize “nothing is happening.” Watch how the ego goes ballistic over this one because it means the game is over, and the ego goes absolutely nuts when your mind tells it that nothing is happening when SO CLEARLY SOMETHING IS HAPPENING. Just try this one on and see what happens.

Then watch how you tell a story to yourself and to others about what you think is happening. Watch how the mind scrambles to find a solution to your pain and problems. Watch how it makes you and others a victim.

Then realize you can simply let it all go. You can trust that everything that seems to happen to you IS FOR YOUR GOOD.

Everything that seems to happen is attempting to wake you up, so you remember your wholeness and perfection.

“The miracle does not awaken you but merely shows you who the dreamer is. It teaches you there is a choice of dreams while you are still asleep, depending on the purpose of your dreaming. Do you wish for dreams of healing or for dreams of death? A dream is like a memory in that it pictures what you wanted shown to you. An empty storehouse with an open door holds all your shreds of memories and dreams. Yet if you are the dreamer, you perceive this much at least—that you have caused the dream and can accept another dream as well. But for this change in content of the dream, it must be realized that it is you who dreamed the dreaming that you do not like. It is but an effect which you have caused, and you would not be cause of this effect.” -A Course in Miracles

Try this for one week.

To see your  life transform dramatically in a few days by doing thing differently will make you want to make a life-time commitment to living in a new way. You will realize that while you are never in control of the circumstances that seem to occur, you ALWAYS have the power to control your attitude, emotions & responses. 

If you want to participate in this GREAT EXPERIMENT with me, please leave a comment to let me know you are in.

I love you.

Lisa

Recently, I read a sentence that knocked me off my feet.  It is surely the most profound sentence I’ve ever read and I had to share it, and I had to understand it fully.

Here goes:

“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you change and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18.3 and Jesus, ACIM)

Do you get how HUGE that is?  This is so huge, that I’m going to say it again with more clarity.

It will be impossible for you to experience the indescribable Love, Joy and Peace of Heaven, where all things fall into place, unless you become like a child.   

THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO HEAVEN!

Let me remind you that Heaven is a conscious choice that must be made by us.  It’s not some walled off place up in the clouds where “good” people get to go when they die.  Heaven is not a reward that you get later, if you’ve earned it.

God’s Love is Heaven.  And it is yours for the taking.

I love clarity and I love simplicity so please allow me to continue breaking this down.  It is the most important choice there is – so we should get really, really clear, don’t you think?

Heaven is available RIGHT NOW but I must become like a child to enter.

Do this ONE thing and you get to live in Bliss-town!

OK, YOU’VE GOT MY ATTENTION!

I want Heaven!  I’ll do whatever it takes. I’m declaring this my #1 priority.  If this is a choice I must make then I’m making it!

I will live like a little child.

I’m just not sure what that really means??????

I’ve heard it 100X but never put it into action in my life.  I forgot how to be a child!  I’ve stuffed my “innocence” into my “big girl pants” and it vanished!

We’ve squeezed our “wild selves” into business suits and grew up like we were told.

We now wear this protective shield of unawareness.

Jesus is telling us that we have to undo that in order to expose Heaven which is within you at this very moment, waiting, WAITING, on your decision.

Yes!  I’m deciding today.  Will you join me?  Will you decide for Heaven with me?  Let’s stop waiting.  What, in hell, are we waiting for?  LOL  Jesus tells us that if we practice becoming childlike together, it’s extra potent and He promises to be right there beside us.

If you’re ready to join me, keep reading.

But let’s keep it simple and, most of all, let’s have some fun.

Start with this:

Think of YOU and God as you would think of a child and parent.

Got that?  Now let’s move on.

Children trust their loving Mother and Father to completely take care of them, to protect them, to provide for them, to correct them when they’re wrong, and to love and cherish them.

Jesus is telling us that we need to have this same type of trust and faith in God. After all, we are His children.

Let’s examine the qualities of a child so we know what we have to un-do.

TRUSTING

A child doesn’t know how to get where it’s going.  The child needs to be led and the child follows, sure he is safe. There is something in the child that recognizes his inability to follow a path on his own which is frightening to him. A CHILD NEEDS SOMEONE TO HELP THEM FIND THEIR WAY BECAUSE HE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND WHICH WAY TO GO.  And if the child stumbles, we raise him up.  If a child wanders off, we call him back

How to practice this quality:  Stop thinking you know how ANY of this should go.  You have no idea what is Real and your plans are frightening.  Let yourself be led by your Father who knows the way. Trust God with everything.  100%!  He will not let you fall or let you wander off and get lost.

BELIEVES WITHOUT COMPLICATION

A child takes what his father says to heart and without any doubt.

How to practice this quality:  Ask and listen.  The Truth is always simple.  Stop analyzing God’s word and please, stop doubting.

UNTOUCHED BY CONCERNS OF THE WORLD

We have become cynical.  We’ve invented judgments and grievances that close down our radiance. We’re taught to worry and fix because we’re told that everything is NOT how it should be.  A child has yet to be touched by the concerns of the world.  Jesus is telling us we can let that all go!  Whatever it is, we can let it be.

How to practice this quality: Remember that the Truth of you is unlike the world in every way.  Your meaningless thoughts have created a meaningless world.  To release this world is to accept everything just the way it is.  (Jesus calls this forgiveness).  Then, our childlike radiance is returned. 

RECEIVES WITH JOY, FORGETTING HERSELF WITH ABANDONMENT

Children are never self-conscious.  They are wild!  Children let ecstasy fill them to the tips of their fingers and toes.  They see no limitations. 

How to practice this quality:  Stop cautioning yourself to be careful or realistic!  Unleash your joy and wonder.  If anyone tells you that you’re “out there”, say “Yea!  Thank you!”

HUMBLE

Little children recognize that they don’t understand what they perceive, and so they ask what it means.

How to practice this quality:  Don’t assume you know what’s going on here.  Regardless what you’ve been taught, you don’t know what anything means.  Rejoice in the freedom of that!  Look on everything with wonder and ask the Holy Spirit to look with you.   

CONTENT IN THE LITTLE THINGS

Kids will play for hours with a rock or a box. A child will have a blast with a pile of dirt.

How to practice this quality:  Stop trying to fill your God sized hole with material possessions, relationships, busy-ness, prestige, etc. The simplicity of the present moment is the place where you experience God. 

AND THAT’S IT!  The most fun practice EVER.

This is so cool!  Take a look at these 2 definitions of the word “innocent”:

Webster’s Dictionary:  The state of being not guilty of a crime or wrong act.  Lack of experience with the world.  Lack of knowledge about something.  BOOM!

A Course In Miracles:  Innocence is wisdom because it is unaware of evil, and evil does not exist.  DOUBLE BOOM!

So thanks for being here with me.  Let’s be kids.  If you slip back into adulting, just bring yourself back.  Make Heaven your #1 priority!  Climb out of the driver’s seat and into the Toddler Seat in the back.  Kick your feet, grab a juicebox and joyfully go wherever God leads you.  Keep it simple.  Take a nap.  Accept everything just the way it is and look upon all of it with fresh new eyes and wonder.

Let yourself be held in the Loving arms of your Father. Let Him take good care of you.

“Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God”

If you’re still here and making this EPIC decision with me, I’d love to hear from you.  Let your child come out to play with me!  If you’re not ready, that’s totally ok!  I’d love to hear from you too.

I love you so much,

Linda