Category: Consciousness, Spirituality, & Law of Attraction

The “Discernment Show”

Backstage, in the Green Room,

ten minutes before the interview is about to begin:

Two guests, Mr. Ego-Head and Ms. IAmThatIAm, are sitting in chairs as the secretary to the host of the show preps them before going onstage. “So,” Ms. Hathaway, began, “because this is a live show, we’ve decided to set a timer for your replies–just to be fair about the interview. You’ll both be given three minutes in which to make your statement, and then the other guest will be given an opportunity to make a statement and/or a rebuttal. That sound, okay?”

Mr. Ego-Head said, “Certainly, Ms. Hathaway. Thanks so much for having me. By the way, that’s a lovely dress you’re wearing.”

“Certainly,” said Ms. IAmThatIAm with a smile.

“Great,” said Ms. Hathaway. “Let’s get you into your chairs onstage and we’ll roll in about five minutes.”

***

And…rolling:

“Welcome, folks, I’m your host Donald Discerning; and this is the “The Discernment Show;” a show in which we get to the bottom of topics that range from ants in your pants to quantum physics to the use of the media to control the masses. Our guests today–who have widely differing approaches to life–are Mr. Ego-Head and Ms. IAmThatIAm (cue applause). Donald nodded to both of the guests and then said, “Welcome to both of you.”

“Thanks for having me,” said Mr. Ego-Head.

Ms. IAmThatIAm nodded, smiling.

“So,” continued Mr. Discerning, “we tossed a coin backstage (honestly, this has nothing to do with a guy named Art Russell guy who pretends to write these articles) and the toss went to Mr. Ego-Head. We’ll begin with you.”

A smile the size of Saskatchewan (hint: Canada) spread across Mr. Ego-Head’s face.

“If you will, please tell our viewing audience a little about your approach to life.”

“Well, Donald, thank you for asking. “Why, it was just the other day that a good friend of mine–a well-known professor at Yale–was asking me for advice about that very topic. I said to him, Barney, I’ll tell you the same points that I shared with the president. I said blah, blah, blah, blah, yada yada yada, blah, blah, blah, blah–and then I said yada blah blah, yada blah blah, yada blah, yada blah, yada yada, blah blah. Well of course, I laughed; and my friend just howled–he has such an infectious laugh! I tell you, I slapped my knee more than once! But it was important that he realized this:

***

3 Minutes

(Donald waves, in a polite attempt to get Mr. Ego-Head’s attention)

***

…yada blah haha, yada blah haha. Do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti do, MEEEEE-so-so, MEEEEE-so-so. La, la, la, la, laa laa laa. La, la, la, la, laa laa laa. This-life-is-all-about-ME and ME and ME and Me and MEEEEE. This-life-is-all-about-ME and ME and ME and Me and MEEEEE. Yada yada, bling, so-ho. Yada yada, bling, so-ho. He saw my point–he truly did. He said to me, you are so wise–perhaps the wisest man I’ve ever met. How fortunate I am to have a friend like you…

***

13 Minutes

(Donald is standing, waving, stomping his feet; signaling for help from crew members back stage)

***

….and so I said to Sylvester, Stallone, that is, I said, ‘Sly, why don’t you do a film about boxing; you could call it Rocky.’ He wasn’t too sure, but thank goodness he listened to me. Rata tat, haha, rata tat, haha. I was a gifted child. Chug-a-chug, chug-a-chug, me me meeee. Chug-a-chug, me me meeee. Got straight A’s–in everything! Yada bling, yada bling, so so so. Steve–you know–Jobs, was once asking me for advice; and I said, ‘Why don’t you go with something fruity–maybe an apple, with a different look to it.’

***

47 minutes…and counting

(Backstage

(Crew Member One: “Can you get a bead on him?” Crew Member Two: “No, he keeps moving too much.”)

***

Finally

Donald Discerning fanned his hands at Ms. IAmThatIAm to signal there was nothing more he could do. Through it all, Ms. IAmThatIAm had remained peaceful and calmly detached. She appeared as though a serene bird that was perched high in a tree. Below her, a different bird was busily building its nest and tasting of fruit that was either bitter or sweet. Ms. IAmThatIAm was not bothered by such nonsense; for she realized that so much of what people worry about really doesn’t matter. Mr. Ego-Head was still talking when Donald Discerning signaled to Ms. IAmThatIAm that they might as well leave. They stood and quietly walked off stage. Stage hands soon appeared and began to sweep the floor. When they were finished, the stage manager turned off the overhead lights. As far as we know, Mr. Ego-Head is still there.

***.

Special Note: What’s the point of this little drama above? My intention is to illustrate that we have a choice–one largely unrecognized by the masses–about what type of Being/guest we invite to be dominant in our life. We can let Ego-Head dominate, especially if we desire to listen to negative and meaningless chatter all day; or we can discover that deeper dimension within ourselves and live with the peace of I Am That I Am. (P.S. The statement “get a bead on him” at the forty-seven minute mark referred to a water gun…just in case you were wondering.)

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2021 – R. Arthur Russell

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–released September 8, 2020), press here. May it help you in your spiritual journey. 🙏🙏

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Interviewing “Art”

The radio host’s name was Donny Jay, which was convenient–they called him “DJ” for short. Art Russell, who was his next guest for the radio show at WK-WHY-IN-THE-WORLD, sat quietly in his chair. Across the desk from him, DJ was wrapping up his previous segment. “As always, folks, thanks for listening. We love to serve you here at WK-WHY; the radio station that brings you the latest and the greatest music, sports, interviews, and news updates from around the corner and around the globe. Our next guest is Art Russell, a man who hails from a small town in Ontario, Canada. He’s passionate about sharing his love of Oneness.” DJ disconnected his microphone, played a 15-second taped commercial, and then signaled to Art; counting 10, 9, 8, 7, 6….” And we’re live:

***

“So, Art–do you mind if I call you, Art?

“No, that’s fine–it’s just a name, right?”

“We’re so glad that you could join us for the show today.”

“Thanks for having me.”

“If you don’t mind, I’d like you to tell our listening audience a little bit about yourself.”

“Sure, DJ, I’d be glad to. My name is Art Russell, from a little town in Ontario, Canada. I’m here to spread the word about Oneness.”

“By Oneness, Art, what do you mean?”

“That’s a good question, DJ–one that stumps a lot of persons. It literally means not two–only One.”

“But how can that be?” said DJ, as he leaned toward his microphone. “I mean, it’s quite obvious that there’s a lot of separate persons and objects.”

“I hear what you’re saying, DJ. The key is that all of them take place in Consciousness; Universal Consciousness, to be exact.”

“I hope this won’t sound rude, but why do you want to spread the word about this Oneness stuff?”

“Because suffering arises when Beings erroneously believe they’re a body-mind. They’re filled with fear and anxiety about a future that’s just a concept in the mind. When more of us realize this, it will also help to end conflicts between people and facilitate peace among nations. Logically, if we knew that we are One, how could we ever go to war against one another?”

“What do you mean by body-mind?”

“That’s another term for a person, DJ.”

“I see. So let me get this straight, you don’t think we should consider ourselves as persons?”

“That’s right.”

DJ’s eyes rolled upward, his head tilted. “So what do you think we are?”

“Souls, Spirit, aspects of Consciousness.”

“And…you can prove this?”

“No, DJ, I can’t. But our essential nature can be experienced–directly–if persons will turn within and be still. When we meditate, it becomes quite obvious that we can witness sensations, images, feelings, and thoughts. We are That, the witness. Our modern world has had it backward for centuries. We’ve been led to believe that a fictional substance called matter, which is actually rendered by the mind, somehow magically gives rise to consciousness within the body-mind. It doesn’t. Consciousness gives rise to the mind and the body. They both appear in Consciousness.”

“That’s quite the statement you’re making. Just for the record, you didn’t eat one or two of those magic station brownies while you were waiting for this interview to begin, did you?”

Art smiled understandingly. “Nope.”

“So you’re also saying that matter doesn’t exist?”

“Yes, that’s what I’m saying. It’s actually rendered via the mind. Maybe a quote from the Tibetan Book of the Dead will help: Phenomena only exist in the mind that perceives them.”

“Wowsers, Art. Now, you’re scaring me! Maybe I should have one of those brownies.”

“You might want to have two, DJ,” Art said, smiling.

“This is pretty radical stuff you’re sharing with us.”

“Definitely is,” said Art. “Let me see if I can help. Have you ever considered how eyesight works?”

“Can’t say that I have.”

“Neither did I, until about ten years ago. You see, DJ, most persons believe that there’s a little “i” running around somewhere behind their forehead who’s looking out at a world.”

“And there’s not?”

“No, there’s not. That’s the fictional self; sometimes called the ghost in the mechanism. As far as the body-mind is concerned, it’s more accurate to think of it as a camera, than a photographer. Just bear with me for a moment and truly consider how you see anything. When the eyelids open, light enters the eyes. Through neural and chemical processes, light is then translated into a variety of forms and shapes at lightning speed. What we believe that we experience as an outside world is actually rendered within the mind.”

DJ fanned his hands at the equipment and the walls of the booth. “So, let me get this straight. You’re saying that all of this is occurring within the mind.”

“Yup,” said Art, “that’s what I’m saying. Every form we experience is merely a representation. Perception is our world. That’s at the heart of the teachings of the Law of Attraction. It’s why we can change our lives by changing the quality of our minds. We have absolutely no way of proving anything beyond it exists.”

“Have you considered visiting a doctor, Art? Maybe having a check-up?”

Once again Art smiled. “I know what this sounds like, DJ–it sounds crazy; but it isn’t. The world that you see around you isn’t solid. It’s made of light, interpretted as form. The famous Double-Slit Experiment proves it.”

“What’s that?”

“It was first performed by Thomas Young…in 1801, I believe. He was a physicist who set up an experiment to determine if light was a wave or a particle.”

“Fascinating,” said DJ.

“More research into the experiment in the early 1900’s gave birth to the field of science called quantum physics. Subsequent experiments found that light contains packets of energy called quanta–it’s actually the basis of everything in our world. They’re called waves of probability. Atoms, which people once believed to be the foundation of matter, are actually 99.999% empty space. They’re more appropriately called clouds of energy.

“You mean like this?” said DJ, as he tapped the top of his desk.

“Exactly,” said Art. “Everything in this world is made of energy, including our body-minds.”

“How can this be?”

“Because this–Earth–is a dream world. The ancient sages had a term for it–‘Maya, in Sanskrit, which is loosely translated as illusion. You might feel more comfortable calling it a simulation. Nick Bostrum, Elon Musk, Donald Hoffman, and Dr. Bruce Litpon are only a few of the many persons who realize this is true. There’s only Consciousness, DJ. It’s the only reality. Basically you can’t be who you think you are. The good news, however, is that you can recognize the Truth that you’re an eternal Spirit. You couldn’t die if you wanted to–only the idea of a person dies. We suffer in degree to our ignorance of the true nature of our Being.”

DJ’s eyes were as big as saucers. “Okay, folks, it looks as though we’re just about outta time. Our guest today has been Art Russell. We’ve been talking about non-duality. I’m your host, Donny Jay. Next up…”

***

Note: If you’re curious about learning more about non-duality and our essential nature, there are many great books on the subject. Here’s a short list: The Nature of Consciousness, by Rupert Spira, The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle; I Am That, talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj; The Ultimate Understanding, by Ramesh S. Balsekar; The Tao of Physics, by Fritjof Capra; Open Secret, by Wei Wu Wei; Who Am I?, by Sri Ramana Maharshi; The Mystical I, by Joel Goldsmith. To that list, I humbly offer my own book listed below.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2021 – R. Arthur Russell

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” 🙏🏻🧡

In The Spirit of Oneness

As Tom sat on the bench at the edge of the park, the beauty of the warm spring day caught his ego off guard. It stole his attention and dissolved his personhood in the transcendent unity of the present moment. He was limitless, beyond time. It was impossible to say where he began or ended; for there was only here and now. The birds, squirrels, and flowers, and even the ants at his feets, seemed to shimmer with innocent aliveness. Everything looked so beautiful. There was no impulse to judge this as right, or that as wrong. He was afloat in the world of Is-ness; his heart overflowing with gratitude. Any thought of work or need or duty or fear had vanished. The faint echo of Spirit called to him; and he found himself mouthing, “Hello.”

“Hello,” said Spirit. “I’ve been missing you.”

Without thought or pause, Tom said, “And I, You.”

“Please come and visit,” said Spirit.

Tom smiled, and a shiver of delight swept through his Being. It had been a long time since he had visited that placeless place. “What do I need to bring?” he asked softly.

“Nothing,” whispered Spirit. “Just come as you are.”

“But don’t I need to bring my trophies, or at least my résumé? ” asked Tom.

“No, Little One,” said Spirit. “You need bring none of those things.”

“What does it cost?”

“Nothing, it’s free to everyone.”

“Do I need to schedule an appointment?” asked Tom.

“No,” said Spirit with a smile that Tom could feel, “it’s always Now when we visit.”

“What should I wear?” asked Tom. “Is this a formal or informal affair?”

“This is a LOVE affair,” said Spirit, “and everyone is welcome. Just come as you are. In fact, it’s impossible to bring anything else.”

“That’s so different from the human way,” said Tom, incredulous. “Here, it’s the custom to pride ourselves on being above one another. Almost all of our societies implicitly and explicitly command our members to feel superior or inferior based on criteria that ultimately mean nothing.”

“Yes,” said Spirit, “I know. That’s the human way; but such is not My Way. With Me, everyone is welcome. My love doesn’t discriminate. It embraces all in all.”

“A current of relief swept through Tom’s body. “You mean I’m good enough just as I Am?” he asked.

“Oh, yes,” replied Spirit, “most definitely.”

A fluttering butterfly brought Tom’s attention back to the bench. Tom looked at his lunch bag, which was untouched. Had he dreamed the enlightening conversation with Spirit? No, he had not–it was real. In fact, his experience felt more real than the world around him. A glance at his watch told him it was time to return to work. He ate his sandwich as he walked back to the office. Later, at home, he would make time to meditate; to commune once again in the Spirit of Oneness.

***

Dear Friends: I’m sure that you reaize this isn’t just a sweet account of a man daydreaming on a park bench. It’s far more than that. Through the use of the story, my intention was to illustrate an inner dimension–of true Self–that’s beyond the conceptual little “i” of name and form. This dimension goes unnoticed by the majority of persons, who’ve become lost in the apparent world of form. The price of admission to knowingly enter this dimension is to become still and quiet the mind for a few minutes each day. In doing so, we escape the clutches of the mind and ascend to a vantage point where we may recognize our true nature. From The Mystical I, by Joel Goldsmith, I offer the following quote: “The reason we meditate is that the Kingdom of God may be established on earth as it is on heaven.” It’s possible–here and now–to wake up from the dream of personhood. We are neither the body, nor the mind. We are Spirit, eternal.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2021 – R. Arthur Russell

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” 🙏🏻🧡

A Message From Source

“Source:” Godhead, The Fountainhead, The Absolute, The All in All, Noumenon, The Universe, That. In truth it matters not the term by which we refer to Source; for words deal only with concepts and, thus, always miss the mark. To believe that a name could actually “be”–That–which is Most High only reveals our innocent ignorance and creates a false idol. What matters most is that we think and speak of That Which Cannot Be Named with utmost reverence. This article, which is intended for everyone, contains a message from Source that’s writing itself through the form known as “Art:”

***

“I,”–the only true Self there Is–don’t see you as you see yourselves from your finite perspective. In I, there is no judging of greater or lesser, favoured or unfavoured, sinner or saint. As you are in and of Me, how could I love some of you more and others, thus, less? To do so would be an act against Myself. I Am Love, Itself; and all of you are my spiritual children. It is only through confusion and innocent ignorance of the nature of your Being that you have erroneously believed that you are unloved, unlovable, or separate from Me.

It has been stated that I will never forsake you; that I will be with you beyond the end of time. Such is absolute Truth and you may know this–directly–now. You, space, and time are, in fact, in Me. Before all forms (of whatever nature), Am I. It is I That causes the sun to shine; likewise, your lives shine due to me. I Am the Rock of your Being; and you may lean on me for strength, love and compassion, and I will freely give to you. Each and every one of you are in ME; it’s, thus, impossible for you to ever perish. Through grievous error, you have adopted the belief that you exist due to the body-mind. Such is backward. The body-mind and the Universe appear because “I Am.” You are eternal, immortal, an aspect of That which is beyond the appearance of birth and death.

My dear dreaming children, please awaken to what you ARE. One of your great sages, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, clearly stated that “To be a person is to be asleep.’ You have become mesmerized with the world of form. You are neither the body, nor the mind; to believe so leads to tremendous suffering. We are One, Spirit, differing only in degree. Have I not told you through sacred texts that you were created in my image and likeness? I Am the ocean of Consciousness; and all of you are waves in Me. It’s, therefore, impossible to state where I begin and you end. I give rise to all that ever was, is, and will be–for such is my nature. The world and all forms are only relatively real. The real “You” exists eternally because I exist. Lastly, my dear children, please know that you are loved beyond measure.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2021 – R. Arthur Russell

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” 🙏🏻🧡

Consciousness HumAuto

Dial: 1-111-111-1111. Ringggg, ringggg, ringggg.

“Consciousness HumAuto. Wrench speaking. How may I help you?”

“Oh, hi. I’d like to schedule my holographic human for a tune up.”

“Haha–holographic human. Is there any other kind?”

“Good one. No, guess not.”

“Anyhoo, what can I-Am-That-I-Am do you for?”

“My human’s been acting up.”

“How so?”

“Well, it’s always been a little problematic–but even more so, lately. It runs hot or cold. Sometimes it brakes hard and pulls to the left–as though driven by fear; and sometimes it suddenly accelerates and veers right–as though chasing pleasure. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear that it had a mind of its own.”

“If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard that,” said Wrench. “Sounds like a governor issue, to me.”

“Oh, and another thing, for the last forty years or so, I’ve been hearing a loud tick, tick, ticking–kind of like an internal voice. It’s begins when the alarm goes off in the morning and it doesn’t quit until deep sleep.”

“Is your human judgmental?”

“It wrote the book! It’s also got a really bad shimmy–seems to worry about everything.”

“Humph, it sounds as though it’s picked up an ego-stone in your hubcap. Anyhooo, bring your human in to the shop; and I’ll lift it up on the hoist and give it a good going over. How’s Thursday at 1:00 work for you?”

“Perfect. See you then.”

***

Thursday at 4:00. Ringgg, ringgg, ringgg

“Yelloooow.”

“Hi, there, it’s Wrench calling from Consciousness Humauto. You can come over and pick up your human.”

“Oh, great, how’d you make out?”

“Let’s just say that’s it’s a miracle you were still keeping that human of yours on the road.”

“You don’t say. What did you find?”

“Well, I put it on the dynohumanometer–ran a battery of tests. The harder I pushed that human of yours, the more it resisted. Timing was wayyy off. It was back firing regrets about the past, and belching fears about the future that made my mechanics blush. I did the best that I could to center it in the here and now.”

“I apologize. Thanks for doing all that you could.”

“It’s all good. The main problem was that your Spirit Reserve was dangerously low–your I Am That I Am barely registed on the dip stick. I strongly suggest that you knowingly fill that up again–but that’s up to you. We can’t do it for you.”

“Really? How do I do that?”

“You gotta get out of your mind. I recommend daily meditation, even for just a few minutes. Second choice would be to go for a walk in nature. Just be. That should help put an end to that shimmy.”

“What about that ticking sound.”

“I guessed that one right–your human had picked up an ego stone. That’s what was causing the loud ticking. Yeowee, it was a big one! I don’t know if I’ve ever seen an ego that big. It thought it was running the show. No wonder your human was veering all over the place.”

“How much do I owe you?”

“No charge. This One’s on the House. Trust me, you’re doing the Universe a favour by getting your human in order.

“Thanks, I’ll do my best.”

***

Special Note: Contrary to public opinion, that loud and often annoying tick, tick, ticking commentary that your human makes, isn’t the real YOU. That’s an ego-stone attempting to make your life miserable. The sooner you regain control of your human, the better. Just know that it’s going to rebel. It’s going to tell you that it’s the driver; that it’s normal to brake hard or suddenly accelerate right or left. It isn’t. There’s a balanced way to live in harmony; but to experience that you have to find your Divine Center. A word of advice: Don’t waste time searching for the Center outside of yourself. Turn within–it’s the only place you’ll find It; because you are It. Your essential nature has just been overshadowed by the false driver that goes by your name and description. If all else fails, you can phone us at Consciousness Humauto and ask for Wrench.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2021 – R. Arthur Russell

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” 🙏🏻🧡

Render Me “Human”

Spirit Child was four years of age, according to Earth years; but unlike almost all of his spirit friends, he still remembered his true Self. He was beginning to worry that his mission might be terminated due to incomplete memory loss. One night, he dreamed that he visited two men who were experts at teaching “Ways of the Human.” He humbly approached them, bowed, as a student to masters, and assumed a lotus position on the floor. The following is the content of his dream:

***

“We heard that you needed a little help,” said the first man. He and the other man were sitting upon a couch.

“Yes, Master,” replied Spirit Child.

“We don’t go for such formalities, here,” said the man. He tipped back a swig of beer. “You can call me, Sweenie.”

“Sweetie?” said Spirit Child, perplexed.

The second man broke into laughter. “He said, ‘Sweenie,’ little one! You can call me Darryl.”

“I apologize, Mr. Sweenie and Mr. Darryl; I misheard you.”

“It’s all good, kid,” said Sweenie. “Now, we better get on with this—we’ve got another consultation booked in an hour.”

“I understand. I would be eternally grateful if you could teach me how to be a human.”

“Sorry, kid,” said Darryl, with a wave of his hand. “If that’s what you’re looking for we might as well call this session finito right now.”

“Have I offended you in some way?” asked Spirit Child.

“No, Child,” said Sweenie. “It’s purely a glitch in understanding. We can teach you how to think like a human, how to talk like a human, and how to act like a human; but it’s important that you realize you can’t actually be human.”

“Why not?” asked Spirit Child.

Darryl took a draw on his cigarette, hacked a cough into his fist, and then addressed the question.”You see, little one, this so-called place is the Matrix; a world of apparent opposites. We label things good and bad; right or left; up or down. But you have to know that we can’t literally change your true nature, which is Oneness. Nobody can! Sweenie and I are the best of the best; but even we can’t do that! What you truly are can’t change; it’s actually the backdrop of everything that happens here.

“I see,” said Spirit Child.

Sweenie leaned forward and looked Spirit Child in the eyes. “At this point,” he said, “I think it will save a lot of time if you just close your eyes, relax fully, and let the messages that I’m about to tell you sink deep into your subconscious mind. Let me hypnotize you in the human ways. If all goes well, you’ll feel their full effects in the coming years.”

“Thank you, Mr. Sweenie,” said Spirit Child innocently.

Sweenie rolled his eyes at Darryl, and then said, “Okay, kid, here we go. Listen up.”

***

“To become an apparent human, it’s important that you absolutely believe that you are nothing more than name and form–no ifs, ands, or buts. You can’t question that for a second! When someone calls your name, you gotta stand up and know that you’re human! Anything beyond that has got to seem a pipe dream. Do you hear me?”

“Yesss,” replied Spirit Child softly. His eyes remained closed; his body, still.

Sweenie nodded to Darryl, who took a swig from his beer and then gave the “thumbs up” sign.

“If you want to act like a good human, you’ve got to treat everything as an object with a name—including persons. You have to see according to the dualistic way. There’s none of that Oneness stuff allowed here. Humans see life differently; everybody believes that they’re separate from one another. You’ve also gotta learn how to compete; and the sooner, the better. You have to place a great deal of importance on winning; and after you win, you gotta win some more. You have to chase happiness as though it’s great big ol’ teddy bear, waiting for you in an imaginery place called the future. Oh, and it really helps if you learn how to subtly brag. Name dropping, financial status, and social position are favored here; so do your best to fit in. You gotta be full of yourself; but the trick is to appear humble. In other words, be proud, but keep it your own little secret.

When life goes wrong (and trust me, it will), you have to blame others for all of your shortcomings and problems. To give this human life the best that you’ve got—indulge in a lot of fear, anger, guilt, shame, and sometimes even hatred; and if you’re expectations aren’t fulfilled and you have an opportunity to get stressed, take it! React, don’t respond; that’s the predominant human way. It’s also vital that you ignore your intuition; override it whenever you get a chance. Instead, try to find your way through the darkness by the light of your own noodle. Leave any thoughts of God and divine assistance completely out of the picture.”

***

Darryl signaled to Sweenie and tapped his watch; it was time for the session to conclude. “Okay, Spirit Child, your session is over,” said Sweenie. And with that, Spirit Child blinked his eyes, yawned, and stretched. It was time to get out of bed. His so-called real mom was calling him for breakfast.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2021 – R. Arthur Russell

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” 🙏🏻🧡

In The Case of “Stupid”

“All rise,” said the bailiff in a booming voice–there was a loud shuffle of feet as members of the courtoom stood. The bailiff continued: “Court is now in session. The honourable Judge Mary Bullwinkle is presiding.”

The judge ascended the two steps to the raised platform and assumed her position behind the bench.

Mr. Travolta, the attorney for the defense, raised his hand.

“Something on your mind?” said Judge Bullwinkle, with a frown.

“Yes,” your Honour, “may I approach the bench?”

“Only if you do a funny walk.”

Without batting an eye, Mr. Travolta stepped out from behind his desk, did a slide step right, a scoot to the left, and a two-step goose step. After a brief moonwalk, he was there–in front of the bench. Ms. Ciriello, the Crown Prosecutor, sedately stepped forward and joined him.

“Nice work, Travolta,” said Judge Bullwinkle as she leaned forward. “You realize this is highly irregular. We haven’t even begun.”

“Yes, your Honour, I’m well aware; but I believe I can supply evidence that can end this trial before it even begins.”

“Hmph, we’ll see about that,” muttered Ms. Ciriello.

While the members of the court remained standing, the two attorneys conferred in whispers with the judge. Finally Judge Bullwinkle gave a nod and motioned for the bailiff to approach the bench. After he listened to her instructions, he nodded assent and turned around to face the members of the court.

When the attorneys were standing behind their respective desks, the bailiff nervously said, “All of you may now be seated–ahem, except the stupid ones.”

A great kerfuffle erupted. The members of the court sat, stood up again, turned right and left, and yo-yoed between standing or seated positions.

“Do I look stupid?” one elderly woman beseechingly asked the person next to her. “Not particularly,” came the reply.

“I got a “C” once in Home Ed. Does that count?” asked another lady.

“Don’t be ridiculous!” exclaimed a man behind her. “Letters don’t count–numbers do!”

“I’ve never been good with directions,” said one woman nervously. “I got lost twice coming here!”

“I don’t know a great deal about cooking,” stated one man with a glum expression. “I’ve been eating bacon and eggs for years–don’t know how to cook anything else.”

“I flunked History and Geography in high school,” said a young woman.

“My ten-year-old son had to solve my Rubik’s Cube for me,” stated a mother, close to weeping.

“I once purchased polyester slacks,” blurted another lady. “Honestly, I thought they were cotton!”

“I’ve been married six times,” said one lady. “Does that make me stupid?”

“Of course not!” exclaimed the man to her right. “I’m on my seventh–practice, my dear, practice!”

The see-saw of the members of the court seemed unstoppable. With a stern expression, Judge Bullwinkle finally reached for her gavel and slammed it down hard. “Order!” she exclaimed. “All of you–sit down, now!”

Mr. Travolta adjusted his tie. “May I, your Honor?,” he asked with a wave of his hand.

“I wish that you would,” replied Judge Bullwinkle, “since you’re the cause of this mess.”

“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,” he began.

Suddenly the doors at the back of the courtroom flung open as Jack Nicholson burst into the room and snapped off his trademark sunglasses. After positioning himself mid aisle, he shook a scowl onto his face and bellowed, “You can’t handle the truth!”

“C’mon, Jack, ” said Mr. Travolta, “is this really necessary?”

“Not at all,’ said Jack, grinning nonchalantly. “A guy named Art Russell asked me to do a walk-on.” He then saluted the court, snapped his heels together, and marched from the courtroom.

Mr. Travolta rolled his eyes at the court reporter and said, “Now, where was I?”

The reporter carefully scanned her computer and said, “yada, yada, yada.”

“Oh yes,” said Mr. Travolta, “thank you. I assert that my client, Mr. Dimwatt, has been unjustly accused of “Gross Stupidity” and that all charges against him should be dropped immediately! We’ve just had proof–right here, in this very courtroom–that even you fine folks can’t determine if you’re stupid unless you compare yourselves against someone else. Humans have this insane habit of judging themselves by appearance and performance. It’s nonsense! Isn’t it true that each and every one of us has strengths and weaknesses? Aren’t all of us gifted in our own ways? I’ll tell you what’s really stupid, folks:

Trying to be like everyone else!

Be yourself, shine!

We’re meant to share our unique gifts for the common good.

I strongly urge you–in fact, I beg of you–to find Mr. Dimwatt NOT GUILTY, on all counts! Finally, Mr. Travolta spun around to face Judge Bullwinkle and spiked his best Saturday Night Fever impression. He then bowed and said, “Your Honour, I rest my case.”

Given a few moments to reflect upon the case (and the secret knowledge that she had flunked the Bar Exam twice, and always been a Jack Nicholson fan), Judge Bullwinkle snapped down her gavel and proclaimed, “Case dismissed! Mr. Dimwatt is free to go.”

***

Believe it or not, there’s actually a point to the story: The competitive mindset of humankind is the cause of great suffering and misery. If we desire to express our greatest potential, we must learn to accentuate what’s positive and embrace our innate creativity. We must cast aside our habit of judging ourselves against the appearance and performance of so-called others. Each of us is a miracle, with unique talents and intrinsic value. Isn’t it time that we learned to love ourselves…just…as…we…are?

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2021 – R. Arthur Russell

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” 🙏🏻🧡

Affirming Truth

It’s almost inevitable that anyone who is earnest about studying the Law of Attraction will come across the following famous quote attributed to Henry Ford. It has become an integral part of the human story, especially as it pertains to motivation. Unfortunately, the depth of its meaning is often lost to most persons. The quote reads as follows:

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.”

The quote is truly inspiring; but it may lead many individuals to conclude–understandably so–that if we focus on our goal, work extremely hard, and apply ourselves diligently that we can achieve whatever we desire. However, there is a huge chunk of missing information that must be known and understood if we desire to manifest more effectively. For the majority of individuals, the information will seem so astonishing as to be unbelievable. Before we delve deeper, please read the next quotation; it’s from Andrew Carnegie, who was once considered the richest man in the world:

“Any idea that is held in the mind, that is emphasized, that is either feared or revered, will begin to clothe itself in the most convenient and appropriate form available.”

Are you curious why a man who–apparently–achieved such incredible financial success would write such a quote? What could he possibly have meant by writing that ideas held in the mind would begin to clothe themselves in form? Mr. Carnegie did not inform us to work really hard, forfeit our heath, and sacrifice our family life in an effort to achieve our goals. So, just what was he really suggesting? Could it be that he and a relatively few others knew a secret–unrealized by the masses–by which they wielded a scepter of great power? Let’s open our minds to more understanding by reading the following quote from Napoleon Hill, who was commissioned by Mr. Carnegie to write Think and Grow Rich, which is still considered one of the best motivational books of all time:

“More gold has been mined from the minds of men than the earth it self.”

What could Napoleon Hill have possibly been trying to convey through such a quotation? I mean, really, Napoleon–get a grip! Let’s read his words again in an attempt to absorb their full meaning: “More gold has been mined from the minds of men than the earth it self.” Nonsense–at least from the human perspective; for any logical thinking human knows that gold is mined from the earth–that real stuff beneath our feet. The following passage from Mark 9:23 may add to our growing curiosity:

Jesus said unto him, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

Could it be that the Bible and other sacred books actually hold great truths that have been thrown aside by the majority of persons due to innocent ignorance? Is it possible that we could be healed if we changed our fundamental beliefs about the nature of reality? Could this explain why placebos (sugar pills) often outperform supposed “actual” drugs in test trials? The next quotation is borrowed from This Mysterious Universe by James Jeans, who was a noted English physicist and astronomer:

“The Universe begins to look more like a great thought than like a great machine. Mind no longer appears to be an accidental intruder into the realm of matter… we ought rather hail it as the creator and governor of the realm of matter.”

The true secret related to the Law of Attraction eluded me for many years, in spite of my reading a great many books related to the subject. Such is understandable; for we’ve been strongly conditioned to blindly accept the materialist perspective, which supposes that objects exist independent of the mind. They do not. For more than one hundred years, science has realized that mind and matter are irrefutably linked. The original Buddha shared Truth twenty-five hundred years ago through the following quote:

“Events happen, deeds are done, consequences happen, but there is no individual doer of any deed.”

To understand this fully, we must deeply investigate the very nature of our Being. We must be relentless; we must ask ourselves What–not who–we truly are. Here’s the answer: We are Spirit, whether we’re aware of the fact or not. What is impressed upon the mind (as Andrew Carnegie expressed) will be expressed as the apparent circumstances of our so-called human life. Right now, as you read the lines upon this page, YOU ARE DREAMING; but the majority of human beings are asleep to this fact. Let’s add to my words through a passage from Open Secret, by Wei Wu Wei, who was a respected author and scholar of philosophy and metaphysics:

“Our dreamed ‘selves,’ autonomous in appearance, as in life, can be seen in awakened retrospect to be puppets totally devoid of volitional possibilities of their own.”

The person that you think you are is rendered by the mind and is conceptual only. Enlightenment means to awaken from the dream of personhood to the awareness of our essential nature, which is Presence. Sages have been aware of this since time immemorial. We do not live on a planet made of matter; we live in a realm that exists in Consciousness, as do our body-minds.

For readers who believe this is ludicrous, it may help to know that René Descartes considered this, although he ultimately backed away from the position. His famous quote–“I think, therefore I am”–is backward; rather, it should read: “I am, therefore I think.” To realize this can be of tremendous benefit. According to our degree of faith, we may remedy at least part of our apparent lacks–in health, wealth, and relationships–through a change in our beliefs. This means, of course, that we must be careful about what we intentionally–and unintentionally–impress upon the mind. And, yes, this definitely applies to what has been impressed upon us during the current world situation. Wake up, wake up, wake up!

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2021 – R. Arthur Russell

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” 🙏🏻🧡

“Role” Call

Many of us may be familiar with an old but well-known hymn entitled “When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder.” It’s been performed by numerous musical artists, including Johnny Cash, Reba McEntire, and Willie Nelson. From what I know of the hymn, its lyrics relate hearing the trumpet call and being called back to be with the Lord, in the non-physical realm, For many, the song may offer comfort in times of grief; and to those I offer my sincere apology in advance as I share this article, which relates an account of a very different “role” being called. I’ll set the scene by sharing that it occurs up yonder and involves an interaction between God and a spirit child with a playful nature. Off we go:

***

God (thinking, clipboard in “hand”): “Okay, please listen up, folks. I’ve just received a somewhat urgent request for a baby on Earth. A couple who lost a baby boy at birth a couple of years ago has their hearts set on conceiving again.”

Spirit Child (eagerly peering over the shoulders of other spirit children, thinking): “Ahh, lovely, a baby, for a couple who dearly desire another child. That’s so nice. “

God (intending clearly and informatively). “The mission is set to depart at 07:00 tomorrow (their time); so whoever goes would be wise to pack their spiritual bags tonight.”

Crowd: (muffled whispery-type thinking): “Ruh-bah, ruh-bah, ruh-ba-hah. Wonder who it will be!“

Spirit Child (shifting, feeling an intuitive twinge at The Master’s call, thinking): “But I don’t really want to leave so soon. I just got back, realitvely speaking; and that last trip was a doosey, as you well know. Mexico–lovely country, but had a dreadful time. Intestinal bug, abundant diarrhea. Ring a bell?”

God (shifting “eyebrows,” with stern but loving look, thinking): “Do you want to evolve…or not?”

Spirit Child (hopeful of being excused): “Oh yes–love to learn. Nothing like it. Let me tell you, I learned a lot during that Mexican vacation. Eat at the resort–ONLY!“

God (making a symbolic “check mark” on the list on the clipboard, followed by a wink): “Love you!”

Spirit Child (rolling eyes): “Love you, too. Don’t worry, I’ll make you proud. I better go pack–07:00 comes early.”

***

Now, to the actual point of this article: You are not now–nor ever were–the role you play here on Earth. That’s it. You are not your body; not your mind; not your gender; not your career; not your degree of success or failure; not your bank account; not your nationality; not your colour, not your race; neither a writer (say, what!) nor non-writer. All of us are far grander than any of our descriptions. In I Am That, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj stated the following: “You can only be what you are in reality; you can only appear to be what you are not.” We are Spirit (Consciousness), eternal. Our suffering occurs when we erroneously identify with being the role we play. There’s a deeper dimension of Self that’s waiting to be recognized. Are you curious? If so, look within.

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2021 – R. Arthur Russell

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” 🙏🏻🧡

Arrogance, Thy Name is “Human”

Humankind (collectively) is free, indeed, even to display its ignorance. In celebration of our apparent dominion over nature and foreign nations, we are free to march our merry band and proclaim ourselves rulers of the Universe; but as we do, we simultaneously–unknowingly–proudly wave our own arrogance and ignorance like flags of honour. Time and time again we do this; for we are unaware, but unaware that we are unaware. How staunchly humankind proclaims that God has no place in the Universe; that we arose to our self-appointed high-and-mighty position through our ingenuity and marvelous talents. Like dancing apes, we pat ourselves over the latest Plexiglas innovations deemed to keep ourselves safe; for we, humans, will prevail. H O G W A S H. We are gnats (although fine ones), unaware that we are riding an Elephant. “Look how mightily we thunder along!” we cry. “We stomp; we shake the earth; we know!”

Anyone with even the slightest interest in neuroscience realizes that we don’t have a clue how consciousness arises. We guess, we theorize, and we assume. Scientists observe correlative activity in the brain; but the fact remains: We Do Not Know. Yet, we presume that we rule the Earth via a strange and magical combination of neural processes that gives rise to the little “i” within each of our cranium. We claim this, but we cannot prove it. Why? Because it’s an assumption that is false through and through. The Elephant referred to in the first paragraph is God, aka Consciousness. The majority of humankind rides ITs back without knowing that our very lives depend upon IT. If God were not, we would not be. Simple as that. From Acts 17:28, we may read the following:

“For in Him we live, and move, and have our being.”

Our collective egos gag in discomfort with this verse; for it not only suggests but states–outright–that humankind is not as independent as it claims. Oh, yes, we are willing to admit that we let God do some activities (such as creating our babies, healing our cuts, and pumping our hearts), but still we insist on burying God’s light within the depth of our own ignorance. For what? Is human pride and belief in lies worth that much? What is to be gained by denying the way, the truth, and the life that lovingly and unconditionally gives that we, too, may live?

The fact is that humans are being lived. To believe that we possess volition from the body-mind perspective is to believe–as does a child seated behind the wheel of an electric circus car–that we are steering. The majority of persons will strongly deny this fact; for their egos cry, “Balderdash, I decide and I act!” For a contemplative few, this might seem depressing; but such need not be the case. Although living by Truth, as an aspect of Truth, involves surrender of the false personal identity, we, thereby, gain understanding that we are an aspect of That which is real and everlasting. From this vantage point, we realize that humanness is bondage, but Spirit is absolutely free.

Until humanind recognizes it’s true nature, the creation will express less power and knowledge than the Creator; yet with sly arrogant pride, humankind beats its chest and proclaims that it somehow–miraculously–creates itself. How, dear readers, would we even begin from the human perspective? Do we have the slightest clue of how to propagate our species? We realize, of course, the functions of gender required in mating, but do we know how to orchestrate the grand cellular symphony required to create a human? No, that is done for us–a gift of God. How patient God is, silent and still, as humankind takes bow after bow upon this stage called “life on Earth.” Upon reflection, we have opportunity to richly express our thanks for our very life. It may become our heart song of gratitude to our Creator.

Special Note: I, Art Russell, did not write this article. By myself I can do nothing. It is the Father that dwelleth in me that doeth the works.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2021 – R. Arthur Russell

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–released September 8, 2020), press here. May it help you in your spiritual journey. 🙏🙏

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”