Gazing in the Mirror

March 25 - New Thought, Ancient Wisdom

All these historical, cultural
and philosophical influences,
with silent prayer and meditation,
are ways to align with the
presence in the universe we call
God. This is not new age, this
is 'new thought' combined with
ancient wisdom.
~ Rev Dr Michael Bernard Beckwith

Religious Science is a correlation
of laws of science, opinions of
philosophy, and revelations of
religion applied to human needs
and the aspirations of man.
~ Ernest Holmes

I had an interesting Life Visioning session yesterday. I went into that meditation with some newly articulated perspectives from Adyashanti. I resonated with an idea of enlightenment being as simple as the emergence of the natural being from the constructed ego self. As a person who seeks to be in nature when practicing my heartfelt spirituality I can relate to concepts of "natural". "Before enlightenment – chop wood and carry water. After enlightenment – chop wood and carry water." I went into yesterday's meditation with a thought of the Heart's Will guiding me instead of my ego's will. Usually we hear of the concept of "God's Will" but I liked this variation on that theme. It seems more benevolent and more loving as a perspective to me.

Each week Beckwith asks me on the guided meditation – "What is God's perception of Itself as my Life?" I like this variation also. Not as "my" identity but as my expression as a "self". I already know that my connection to Source is something larger than this limited expression coming into the physical plane through this particular body and ego shaped by time and place, family and beliefs, culture and law. In my meditation yesterday I came to understand that what expresses as "me" is a blend of Eastern AND Western philosophies – primarily Taoism and Science of Mind. I appreciate the ancient nature and enduring value of the Tao Te Ching. I appreciate that Ernest Holmes' philosophy was "informed" by many diverse influences.

Eventually I would like to create my own interpretation of the 81 verses of the Tao Te Ching. Many have done this before me including Dr Wayne Dyer and Byron Katie and even a scholar who was well versed in the early New Thought philosophy, Ralph Waldo Emerson. I want to do that work because I wish to delve deeper into the wisdom of the Tao and find my own understandings that yet align with the enduring verses. Just as the symbol for the Tao is a swirling balance of light and dark I understand the wholeness and oneness inherent in that concept. Formless into form and back into formless again without end eternally. A concept that is valid not only for this planet Earth that I inhabit but applicable to the Universe as a whole.

In contemplating what might be termed my "core" I understand it as a still place of consistency. But I also understand the always changing aspect of time/space embodiment and physical manifestation. So in my visioning session, I came up with a concept to describe this for my own self as "moving consistency". Being in the center which is changeless and yet in the midst of an ever changing landscape of thoughts and experiences. The enduring part being that witness within me that seems to come from a timeless/formless realm and consciously knowing that experience of being in form which is ever-changing in nature achieving the growth and decline that is part of all physical forms.

This morning in a daily reading I read a reflection on the word "constant". This is a new book I recently acquired – "The Lunar Tao – Meditations in Harmony with the Seasons" written by and compiled by Deng Ming-Dao. The author is a western educated man of direct Chinese descent. What can be spoken or named contrasted with what is constant. The constant is beyond words and cannot describe the ultimate truth. The Chinese word "fei " implies opposites and its symbol stresses the importance of both aspects of duality in a wholeness that requires both. My wholeness requires both an awareness of my Source in the formless and of my life's contents in solid form as this "person".

I like the way that Jean Houston describes this eternal consciousness as "The Friend". Others call it The Beloved. The majority of humans consider this some name for God (Allah and other such "names"). As humans we have conflicting feelings about the creative/destructive wholeness of the All That Is (and all that is not as well). That perfect Taoist cycle of unending movement. There is wonderful guidance, good intuitions and insights in developing a personal understanding and relationship with the Eternal. As "choosing" entities we can align with whatever "parts" of duality suits our preferences. Many do that unconsciously on an auto-pilot in which the programmed and embedded beliefs, the hopes and fears of humanity, vie for control of our experiences even with no conscious awareness of making any choices on the part of the specific individualized Self.

~ perspective

I cherish my private and personal
relationship to a larger sense of
consciousness which has within It
possibilities of insight and intuition
that are often of value to me.
If I consider what is Life Affirming
in making my choices from the Heart's
Will then I make good quality decisions
that will have better outcomes than
if made from fear.
I trust inherently in the overall
"goodness" of Life and Life delivers
affirmations of that goodness to me
in the form of experience.
I am aware that I am a container for
a variety of beliefs and experiences that
are subjective and are not "reality" Itself
but are only my individualized perspective.
I seek ever more closely the natural
and simple core of Self from which to
allow all experiences of living to be
embodied and supported by blessings
of breath and heartbeat.

#beingness #constant #duality #ego #heart #nature #perception #self #Tao #wholeness