Dreaming of Coffee

At precisely 7:00 a.m., Bob Brightman heard the sound of the alarm on his bedside table and slowly wakened from his slumber. He shut off the alarm, stretched his arms wide, and ambled to the washroom. A few minutes later, he groggily joined his wife, Helen, in their rustic kitchen. The room was aglow with the warm sunlight that was shining through their kitchen’s eastward-facing window.

“Coffee?” Helen asked, as he approached her and kissed her softly on the cheek.

“You know it,” said Bob, with a grin. He added milk to the coffee and assumed his favourite position in the glider chair next to the window. The first few sips of his coffee tasted like morning nectar.

Holding her own cup of coffee, Helen moved into a chair directly across from her dream guy.

“You know,” began Bob, “last night I dreamed that I was drinking coffee that tasted every bit as real as this.”

“Tell me more,” said Helen.

“Well, I was holding my favourite mug, the one you and boys got me for my birthday. I could feel its weight, the heat of the coffee, and even smell the aroma of the freshly-ground coffee beans. Strangely enough, just like I’m doing now.”

Helen took a few sips of her coffee and looked around their kitchen. “It’s incredible, isn’t it,” she said, “how the mind can replicate reality in our dreams.”

“It definitely is,” said Bob, “even to the point of fabricating skyscrapers, mountains, and people.”

“Truly amazing,” said Helen.

Lost in thought, Bob seemed to freeze momentarily. “You know,” he said, with a puzzled expression, “it almost makes you wonder if the mind could be rendering this, right here and now.”

“What do you mean?” asked Helen.

“You know, dreaming us, drinking coffee in our kitchen.”

“Well, that’s preposterous,” said Helen.

“Is it?” said Bob.

Helen smiled and softly pinched her cheek. “I feel pretty real to me,” she said.

“But we feel real in our nighttime dreams, too,” said Bob. “When we dream that we’re skiing, driving a car, or eating a meal, it all seems very real.”

“Oh, you–you crazy Mr. Brightman!” exclaimed Helen.”Don’t be so silly. Enjoy your coffee and then get your butt into the shower. “Our backyard lawn really needs to be cut today.”

Bob smiled and slowly sipped the remains of his coffee; but as he showered and, later, cut the grass, the question about the nature of reality kept begging to be answered. As Helen washed the breakfast dishes, she also found herself pondering the following question: “How would we know if our lives were a dream?”

That afternoon, Bob was rummaging through his collection of books about spirituality when he came across the following quotes. Given what Helen and he had talked about earlier that day, it gave him pause to contemplate the issue very deeply:

“All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their mind, wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible.”

– T. E. Lawrence

***

“Live in the consciousness of Spirit, in that oneness with God wherein you know that life is a dream.”

– Man’s Eternal Quest, by Paramahansa Yogananda

***

“Everyone is sleeping. when you see other, when you see otherness, when you see duality, it is called dreaming. Only in the dream do you see objects. When there is other, it is a dream, and prior to this dream, you must be sleeping. Sleeping is ignorance. When you wake up from this state, you wake up to awareness.”

– Wake Up And Roar, Satsang With Papaji,” by Eli Jaxon-Bear

***

Dear Readers: We can awaken, now. When you realize this, a world full of new and exciting possibilities opens up before you. We’re informed of this in Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” You are Spirit eternal. (If you’re curious about learning more, you might find my YouTube video entitled “Living The Dream” and my blog article entitled “Notes From Beyond” helpful.)

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

P.S. Please share this article if you enjoyed it. If you’d like to view my latest book (This Taste of Flesh and Bones), press here. My YouTube videos can be found at Think2wice@I-Am-Aware. May the content of either or both help you along your spiritual journey. “Thank You” & “Note to Publishers” 🙏🏻🧡

“Fooled By Your Name”

The title of this article is borrowed from a line in The Book, by Alan Watts, who was a noted British author and expert on Buddhism, Taoism, and theology. The subtitle of his book, On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are, hints of a door to a dimension of Self that most may never be tempted to knock on, let alone open.

Our conceptual “person” can never know lasting peace and joy. It’s like asking an illusion to produce something that’s “real.” But beneath the world of name and form, in which we refer to things by words, there lies the most mysterious of mysteries. Our true Self is prior to the mind; therefore, beyond the scope of definition and comparison. It’s nature is peaceful, singular, and all-pervading; there’s, literally, nowhere that It is not. The key that unlocks the door to this dimension is stillness. When we turn away from sense objects and become still through meditation, it’s possible to “re-cognize” (know again) the very nature of our Being. We discover that we’re not our thoughts; nor our sensations, feelings, or perceptions. These, and everything else, are known by the real You, Awareness. Its nature is pointed at through the following quote from Chapter 25 of the Tao Te Ching:

“There was something formless and perfect before the universe was born. It is serene. Empty. Solitary. Unchanging. Infinite. Eternally present. It is the mother of the universe.”

Even a little investigation can reveal invaluable insights. Think: For objects to be known, they must be known by something. True Self is not a thing in the common use of the word; nevertheless, it is present; or, more accurately, Presence. Wherever we are, Consciousness is. It’s impossible to think “I don’t exist” because the very thought requires Consciousness to think it. Our essential nature is That which registers impressions from an apparently external world. It is also Consciousness that registers the name and form of the body-mind that we erroneously believed to be our personal identity.

Why should we care, especially when life seems to be ticking along just fine? For that very reason. The hands of our body-mind’s clock are moving; but we need not wait for the “alarm” of its impending death to recognize true Self. There’s a multitude of benefits that can be realized now; not the least of which is that we are immortal Beings. Our true Self is immune to the human drama; thus, not tainted by suffering and fear. No event, circumstance, or situation can harm it. The Bhagavad Gita (Song of the Lord) points to our true nature through the following quotes:

“Weapons cannot cut it, nor can fire burn it; water cannot wet it, nor can wind dry it.”

“I am the Self, O Gudakesha [one who has conquered sleep or ignorance], seated in the hearts of all creatures. I am the beginning, the middle, and the end of all beings.”

Dear Readers: There’s a Source of Love within you that’s waiting to be rediscovered. Due to the veil of forgetfulness that’s required for a “human” journey, we forfeited knowledge of our true nature; but forgetting can never erase That which we truly are. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare summarized a deep truth about names, through a line spoken by Juliet: “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” The essential You is That sweet fragrance–not the name and form through which true Self expresses Its divine nature. (If you’re curious about learning more, I believe you would find the content of my YouTube video entitled “To The Point: I Am” helpful.)

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Rubber-Meets-The-Road” Wisdom

It’s my hope that my latest YouTube video will provide some real “rubber-meets-the-road” wisdom to help you gain traction toward better lilfe experiences.

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Awake In The Dream

Simon couldn’t remember a time when he hadn’t loved to read. It seemed as though his passion for reading and books was woven into the strands of his DNA. When he was a young boy, the stories of Robinson Crusoe, Treasure Island, and The Hardy Boys had transported him into fictional worlds in which he experienced great adventures and solved crimes that puzzled adults. Now, at fifty-two, Simon’s love of reading was as strong as ever. For the last twenty years, his focus had been directed to books about the law of attraction and our spiritual nature.

In the fall of 2017, Simon’s logical mind was not prepared for the revelation that occurred during an evening flight from Toronto to Vancouver. He was in a window seat, reading The Power of Awareness, by Neville Goddard, when a quote leapt like a lion of realization into his awareness. In the depths of his being, beyond the level of his personality, he understood it fully:

“However much you seem to be living in a material world, you are actually living in a world of imagination. The outer, physical events of life are the fruit of forgotten blossom-times–results of previous and usually forgotten states of consciousness.”

Simon’s breathing had slowed, so much so that his body inhaled a deep breath to compensate. He had previously read the book at least twice, but the meaning of the words hadn’t registered. This time was different. Consciousness was awakening to Itself. For unknown seconds, he gripped the armrests tightly. When his attention returned to the book, the following quotes lighted up his awareness:

“Nothing has existence for man save through the consciousness he has of it.”

***

“Your assumption of the wish fulfilled is the ship that carries you over the unknown seas to the fulfillment of your dream.”

***

“The present moment is always the most opportune in which to eliminate all unlovely assumptions and to concentrate on only the good.”

***

Simon was staring out the window, at clouds that seemed mystically surreal, when he suddenly heard, “Can I get you anything, sir?” Shaken from thoughts that were vying for his attention, he turned and saw a flight attendant, with her hands on a service cart. “No, thank you,” he said with a faint smile. As he settled again, all of the information that he had read about spirituality and the law of attraction began to make sense. Consciousness, “I Am,” was our true nature; the body-mind, “person,” an appearance. It also explained why the teachings of the law of attraction stated that we could be, do, and have anything we desire. The Bible verse from Mark 11:24 called out to him: “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Soon after, the verse from Romans 12:2 crossed his mind: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

***

Dear Readers: I realize that it doesn’t take a sleuth with Hardy Boy credentials to conclude that Simon is playing the role of “Art.” Although the account is fictional, there are pointers to Truth in the quotes from Neville Goddard. In the case of Art’s story, as he continued to meditate and read books about the law of attraction and our spiritual nature, I, Awareness, awakened in the dream of life. This means that I knew my Self as the Self; the Dreamer at the foundation of all dreams. To state that this was a surprise is an immense understatement. My interpretation of reality gradually shifted from one based upon physical “matter” to that which is founded in Consciousness only.

For those who are earnest about self inquiry, I ask this: If space-time isn’t fundamental, where is there “room” for discrete persons and objects that stand apart from the mind that perceives them? Do the persons and objects within nighttime dreams truly “exist?” If you’re interested, you might find my YouTube video entitled To The Point: “I Am” helpful.

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

To The Point: “I Am”

I offer you my latest YouTube video about our essential nature, beyond the name and form of the “person.” There’s a much deeper and richer dimension of True Self.

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

The Doe Boy

The Doe boy, John, learned everything he knew about swimming from his parents, Mike and Mary Doe. In truth, they knew very little about swimming; but, nonetheless, they did their best to teach John how to swim. They were of good heart, but unaware of that which they were unaware (as are we, all). John was taught that to swim effectively he must continuously pat the top of his head with one hand, while flailing the water with his other arm. As a result, he swam in circles for years.

Similarly, John was taught what was acceptable and not. Seeking love and approval, he, therefore, denied the deep callings of his heart and allowed his parents, teachers, and other influencers to teach him how to be a good “person.” John, thus, believed that to be worthy he must achieve great marks (in subjects that bored him); hold a respectable career (in a field that didn’t interest him); be a financial success (defined by neighbours); say “yes” to keep the peace (even if that meant denying himself); be married (with children); and never be late. From his limited perspective, he came to believe that “following these rules” must be the fabled way of becoming happy. To settle for anything less would signify that “he”–not the circumstances–was a failure.

Just as John’s swimming style appeared awful; so, too, did the quality of his life. Having sacrificed the Truth of his Being for the loud opinions of the masses and his demanding ego, he found his career, marriage, and finances in ruin. As his suffering increased, the health of his body decreased. In the dark hours of his loneliness, he questioned whether his life held any value.

An unexpected event changed him and his outlook: One summer day, when he found himself wading into a nearby lake, he heard a faint but undeniable voice, as though spoken from within. It whispered: “Just turn on your back and float. Let Me carry you.” At first, John was puzzled; by both the voice and the message. Could it possibly be that by not trying so hard, he could actually remain afloat?

Daringly, John waded into the water…to his knees, waist, and then chest. A quiver ran through his being. Leaning backward, trusting, he eased his head toward the water, while focusing skyward. With a gentle push off, he let his legs and belly rise. There, floating gently, he realized directly that swimming (and life itself) needn’t be such a struggle. With barely any movement at all he floated easily.

In the coming months, John also realized that true Self, the One beyond name and form, had been there all along; seeking to express Itself through him. As he heeded the intuitive nudges of his essential nature, other aspects of his life soon began to improve dramatically.

***

Dear Readers: The account of the Doe Boy is fictional, of course; but what it represents is true. There’s a reservoir of Divine Love that’s flowing to and through you. Via the practice of self inquiry, you may knowingly recognize true Self. You don’t have to try to be That which you are; you are It already. To recognize this deeper dimension, you may find the following question helpful: “Who Am I–really?” You are not a name; not a definition; not your body-mind. You are a spark of the Divine Creator, having an apparently human experience. The Source of peace and joy that you’ve been seeking lies within.

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

At The Links

Judging by the photo, it could be easy to assume that I’m indulging in self promotion. I’m definitely not promoting “Art,” but I am offering some information that I hope will be helpful. I attached the photo with the Youtube logo to show that the information is in video format; for those who don’t enjoy reading as much as I do.

The following links connect to relatively short videos in which I share pointers and quotes that are pertinent to true Self and the Law of Attraction. I hope that the content will be of service and help lead you deeper into your own investigation of both subjects.

(True Self)

Ten Quotes To A More Fulfilling Life

I Am, Our Nondual Nature

Ruminating on Rumi

Living the Dream

Finding Your Way Home

The Bedrock of Being

***

(Law of Attraction)

Knowledge About The Law of Attraction

Law of Attraction: Key Points

***

To help tie this information together, I believe that another of my blog articles, entitled “Pointing to Truth,” will be helpful. It contains quotes from deep thinkers that point to a very different level of “reality.”

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Our Divine Nature, I Am

I offer you one of my latest YouTube videos about our essential nature, beyond name and form. I hope that its content will be of service to you.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Mining Gold

The gold referred to in this article isn’t found as shiny nuggets panned from streams; nor is it bound in ore within the Earth. It’s spiritual Gold, and It’s closer than your breath. It’s the most precious non-thing, never found via the senses.

In some spiritual traditions, gold is used as a metaphor for the Source of our Being. We, as humans of various shapes, sizes, and colours, are likened to articles of golden jewelry such as rings, bracelets, and necklaces. Through this analogy, we understand that all of the pieces of jewelry are, essentially, gold. This principle applies to humankind; since at our core, all of us are fashioned from, and known by, Consciousness. In spiritual terms, we refer to It as God (or other reverent names); in scientific terms, we refer to It as the Unified Field; and informally, we refer to It as “I Am.”

To understand our true Self more deeply, it’s important to realize that Consciousness is self aware and that Its nature is creative. Out of the One Spiritual Gold, all of the forms, including the world and our apparent body-minds, are made and known. Logically, therefore, “each” of us must intrinsically be a shining nugget of Gold. As we’re made of It, It’s the one non-thing that can never be stripped from us.

To mine spiritual Gold, no amount of data collecting or soil sampling about our essential nature (books, religious services, spiritual retreats, online presentations) can ever replace leaning into our shovels and digging into the nature of our Being. Daily meditation is the tool with which we recognize the Gold that we are. When the overburden is removed (that which is not our essential nature; i.e., name, form, title, status, nationality, race, etc), the Gold is directly revealed. Please contemplate the similar message that’s uniquely expressed through the following quotes:

"Be still and know that I God."
—Holy Bible, Psalm 46:10

"Surely, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest."
— Qur'an, 13:28

"When the mind, restrained by the practice of meditation, becomes still, one sees the Self through the Self and is satisfied in the Self."
—Bhagavad Gita, 6:20

"Without meditation there is no wisdom; without wisdom there is no meditation. When meditation and wisdom are mutual, one is freed."
—Dhammapada, 372

"And after the fire came a gentle whisper."
—Tanakh, 1 Kings 19:12

"Empty yourself of desire, keep still inside, and the world will arrange itself."
—Tao Te Ching, 16

When God is raised from the depths of our Being to the surface of human interactions everyone’s life is enriched. Our experience is literally transformed. The ego’s selfishness is displaced by God’s selflessness. Base human traits are replaced with the genuine love of the Creator. We can, thus, know and appreciate the Gold that’s shining through the form of “others.” This type of Gold is worth mining, here and now. (If you’re eager to recognize your divine nature, you might find my YouTube video entitled “The Bedrock of Being” helpful.)

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Here and Now: The Holy

Oh, how our ego loves to tell tales. With its sly reptilian ways, it regales us with continuous stories about our life. Through its silent voice, it decrees that we and so-called others are either wicked or worthy. Via the faculty of memory, it inflates us with pride about our successes; but then, in a moment flipped like a coin, reduces us to shame about our failures. In a dizzying twirl, it winds us up like gossiping toys about our neighbours’ sins; yet conveniently ignores our own. Through our belief in the ego’s reality, suffering arises.

In the blink of an eye, our ego shape-shifts from role to role. As the charmer, it coddles us with, “You’re the best–so good and lovely!” When it plays the stern judge, it holds the gavel high as we pray for a favourable verdict. Reduced to beggars, we wonder, “Today, will I be spared or thrown to the lions? But even if we’re spared, it soon jabs us with the next grave thought–“But what about tomorrow?” Behind our backs, the ego slaps its knee and howls, “Ha-ha, ho-ho, they don’t even know that Now is all there is!”

***

Dear Readers: If you’re begging to be freed from your ego’s harsh treatment, please consider the practice of daily meditation. Even five or ten minutes each day can be helpful. You might also consider asking: Who Am I?–really. Hint: The real You can’t be found through accretion. It’s only by removing all that we aren’t that we realize All that we “are.” Can you really be the person that’s perceived? If so, what is That which is perceiving it? We’re free when we realize that true Self is beyond the ego’s stories–both good and bad. (If you’re eager to recognize your divine nature, you might find the content of my YouTube video entitled “The Incarnate I Am” helpful.)

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Think2wice

CONSCIOUSNESS, SPIRITUALITY, & LAW OF ATTRACTION

Dreaming of Coffee

“Fooled By Your Name”

“Rubber-Meets-The-Road” Wisdom

Awake In The Dream

To The Point: “I Am”

The Doe Boy

At The Links

Our Divine Nature, I Am

Mining Gold

Here and Now: The Holy

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