I Walk With You

To go for a stroll with someone you love is one of the grandest experiences we could ever have. In the right company, with the right prevailing spirit, a walk hand-in-hand is sublime–a blessing for both. It’s both comfortable and exciting at the same time. When we’re moved by deep love, the conditions don’t matter. Most persons quite naturally assume that they walk under their own power. They are absolutely certain that it’s their hips, legs, and feet (in combination with other body systems) that propel them forward. What if, however, such isn’t truly the case?

Whether we realize it or not, the wonderful relationship that I described abov is occurring with our Divine Creator. If it wasn’t, walking–and every other human activity–wouldn’t occur. To our logical minds, this seems ludicrous. Humans are conditioned to accept a set of beliefs that are based upon, and founded in, innocent ignorance. By this, I don’t mean to imply that humans are stupid. In its root form, ignorance (derived from Latin, ignorantia) simply means lacking knowledge. The following Bible passage (John 15:4) may help us understand the principle more clearly:

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”

Is this not true? Have you ever seen a fruit that grew unto itself, by itself? Or did it need to be connected to the Life-Giving Vine to express the juicy gift within it? The easiest way that I can relate this principle is not coincidentally) through the analogy of a set of Christmas lights. Did you ever see a single light that shone by its own power, or did it have to be connected to a source of power? Perhaps another passage from the Bible (John 14:10) will give rise to another insight within us:

Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.”

As much as we’ve been conditioned to believe otherwise, the principle of connection to our Source also applies to humans. Through confusion about our essential nature, it is, indeed, possible for us to believe we are disconnected from our Creator (as related in the parable of The Prodigal Son); but such can never actually be the case. Unless our body-mind (person) is connected to our divine power Source, it cannot manifest as a living form. It is, therefore, true that we never walk alone. To do so is impossible.

Through enlightenment, we interpret the activities of our body-mind and the occurrences within the world from a vastly different perspective. We realize that just as we could not possibly be the person who is walking in our nighttime dream state (although it definitely feels as though we are during our dreams), we are, likewise, not actually performing our own walking now, in the waking state. In Truth, it is more accurate to state that we, as the apparent body-mind, are being walked. We are an aspect of our Creator, having an apparently human life. When we directly recognize That which walks by our side at every moment, all of our human mountains become so much easier to climb. In other words, when we draw nigh unto our Creator, our Creator draws nigh unto us. Hiking boots anyone, or would you prefer sandals or sneakers?

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2022 – 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 🙏🏻🧡

Walking on Water

I am not certain if the content I relate in this article will resonate with readers; but I feel compelled to share it. Most persons who delve into the subject of spirituality are doing so for one of two reasons: (1) Due to suffering, they are seeking solutions beyond the normal scope of daily living; or (2), for reasons unknown, they have been naturally drawn to investigate life at a deeper level. My life contained both components, with the balance periodically tipped toward suffering that provided the driving force to find answers NOW.

For many of my years, I lived in the opposite manner implied by the title of this article. I felt as though I was walking on eggshells–that circumstances could go horribly wrong at any moment. When we live in a fearful mode for extended periods, we unconsciously invite fear to stay, as though it were an old familiar friend. In my case, the behaviour may have been fostered by the sudden passing of my father when I was sixteen. It was then that I learned that unforeseen events can arise swiftly, without warning. What we assume is guaranteed–isn’t. Not even close. In hindsight, it’s not surprising that my fearful subconscious paradigms gave rise to circumstances that mirrored them. The tendency to worry provides situations that prompt an even greater degree of worry.

One of the practices that helped shift my perspective from fear to FAITH was the daily use of positive affirmations expressing gratitude to God. At the time, I wasn’t aware of the deep significance of them; but they definitely felt good to say. They helped me learn that I could trust that all was actually well, in spite of apparent circumstances. The following affirmation is still one of my favourites:

Thank you, God, for being my Infinite Source and Supply.”

What, you might ask, has this to do with the title? Am I now proclaiming that I’m capable of walking on water? No. However, I can relate that a dramatic shift in my life makes me feel as though I could, if the need arose. The shift is due to recognition of my essential nature, true Self. Now, I realize That which is the true Source of power and intelligence. The resources of Art Russell are as naught without the loving benevolence of The Absolute. Through That, I know peace that was previously lacking. I also realize that wherever I walk, through whatever nature of circumstances, I never walk alone. EVER. It is this direct recognition, dear readers, which I wish for you.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2022 – 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 🙏🏻🧡

Ever-Present “I Am”

Regarding knowing recognition of our essential nature, it has been my experience that apparently “little” points can make a huge difference in the degree of our understanding. Through Grace, the gifts of clarity often arrive when we least expect them and displace more of our delusional beliefs. The following is the account of one such incident that occurred out of the blue:

***

About three years ago, I was in a local store when I met a man whom I occasionally interacted with during my career as a paramedic. His formal career was as a respiratory therapist; but from our past discussions, I also knew that he was very knowledgable about our spiritual nature. Our meeting was an opportunity of which we took full advantage. For several minutes, we stood to the side of an aisle and allowed our enthusiasm to transport our conversation into the very depths of life.

At that time in “my” life, a lot of conditoned beliefs were still being shed. On some days, it felt as though “Art” had disappeared in the ocean of Truth; but on other days, it felt as though “Art” had reappeared to recite the details of “his” apparent life. In relating the situation, I believe that I said that some days I feel as though “It” (meaning my essential nature) is here, but that on other days as though “It” has left. In response to this, my friend made the following short comment, which serves as the foundation of this article. He said:

Where would It go?”

I immediately smiled and nodded in agreement. The comment that my ex-colleague had made was so relevant and CLEAR. On those days when it felt as though my essential nature had departed, that, of course, wasn’t the case. And it can never be the case for you, either! A seeming departure actually means that my old conditioning (the belief in being the person) had once again returned and attempted to take center stage. Although our essential nature can neither be described nor defined (for it is limitless), It is often expressed as being omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent–meaning all knowing, all powerful, andpresent everywhere.

The main point of this article relates to this: We awaken to true Self when we knowingly recognize That which neither comes nor goes. It is the substratum of all that ever was, is, and will be. The Absolute is One, playing all of our apparent roles as persons. It does not arise in us–the persons; we–the persons–arise in It. Eternal and indivisible, It is the unchanging foundation of our Being.

***

The photo at the top of this article is taken from my apartment. Several years ago, I felt inspired to attach the quote from St. Francis of Assisi to an old suitcase that had belonged to my parents. His message was that we are now–already–That which we are seeking. My point in attaching the message to the suitcase is actually the opposite of what persons might assume: We don’t have to pack our suitcase and travel anywhere to know That which we already are…here and now. We can unpack our history, take a deep breath, and just BE.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2022 – 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 🙏🏻🧡

“Spiritual High Rollers”

The majority of Beings are knowingly unaware of their essential nature; so it really wasn’t surprising to learn that Reginald still seems lost in his body-mind “story.” How can we be certain that Reginald has not yet awakened to his true nature? When he was recently a contestant on a game show called Spiritual High Rollers, the host asked him to complete the following sentence: “As it relates to your essential nature, beyond name and form…”

I

A m

A n

E T E R N _ L

B _ _ _ _

As the clock ticked down the remaining seconds (dum de dum-dum, dum dee do; dum dee dum-dum, dee, dee, dee-dee-dee-dee), Reginald’s face turned red, and he blurted the following answers:

I am an eternal bigot!

I am an eternal beast!

I am an eternal baker!”

When the timer alarm sounded, Reginald spun on his heels and flung down his arm. It was over, and he knew it.

“I’m sorry,” said the host, as he noticed Reginald’s dejected expression, “but time has run out. Please don’t feel too sad, though; there’s good news. We’re inviting you back for another round!”

***

What about you, dear reader: Beyond belief, would you have known–directly–the answer that stumped Reginald? It’s possible to recognize a deeper dimension of Self here and now.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2022 – 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 🙏🏻🧡

Observations of Terah

In a distant galaxy, far far away, there’s a planet named Terah with a population of almost eight billion people. The people, who are of various races, colours, and creeds, live in compartmentalized sections of land called “countries” and usually consider themselves to be quite civilized; that is, when they aren’t waging war against one another for the sake of keeping the peace. Terahlings are usually quite proud of themselves; for they believe they have advanced from the dark ages. Ignorance, however, can be a tricky beast to wrestle, because we are often unaware that we’re unaware. This is the case with the majority of Terahlings, who, for reasons unknown, choose to turn a blind eye to the following:

***

Despite the discovery in 1911 by Ernest Rutherford (one of Terah’s acclaimed scientists) that atoms are actually comprised of 99.999% empty space, the citizens of Terah continue to believe that they live upon a planet made of solid stuff called matter, which they assume to exist independent of consciousness. No amount of logic-based arguments can sway their population from the reports of their senses.

***

Despite passages in one of their Holy books called the Bible, which states (in Acts 17:28) “for in Him we live and move and have our being,” Terahlings continue to believe that each of them is, indeed, a separate source of consciousness. Their argument is that it certainly feels that way. That David Chalmers, who’s a noted philosopher and cognitive scientist, coined the phrase “the hard problem of consciousness” to refer to the unprovable assumption that neuronal processes of the brain give rise to consciousness, seems unimportant.

***

Despite the best efforts of sages and saints of Terah, who claim that the “reality” of their lives actually occurs in the Waking State (which is similar to the well-known Dream State, in which people, objects, and events are also experienced), the majority of Terahlings choose to ignore such reports and continue to believe in their autonomy as “persons.” The irony is that by doing so they’re denying the existence of the Creator that is the very Source of their life.

***

Despite evidence from science (The Double-Slit Experiment), which strongly suggests that mind is directly related to apparent objects experienced in consciousness, and that a world independent of consciousness cannot be proven, Terahlings continue to deny their divinity as co-creators with Infinite Living Mind and assume themselves to be mortals of flesh and bones.

***

The majority of Terahlings are actually prodigal, without being aware of it. In the well-known Biblical account of the prodigal son, the son turned away from The Father (his Creator) and spent his inheritance with his attention facing outward, toward the apparent world. When his suffering related to the perspective of being a “person” became too great, the son finally turned his attention back toward The Father, which symbolizes turning his attention within, to the Truth of his Being.

By last account, life is much the same for the citizens of Terah–strife, conflict, mass shootings, selfishness, greed, and war. Of course, there’s also a lot of goodness that occurs; but for some strange reason, that doesn’t get reported very often. One noted university professor of Terah, who preferred to remain anonymous for the purposes of this article, stated, “Do you have any idea how much it would cost to rewrite all of our history books…and tell the Truth?! Don’t be insane!” Please note: Any similarity to the situation on Earth is purely coincidental.

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2022 – 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 🙏🏻🧡

The Still Small Voice

One day, Frank became aware.

He became aware that he had been living unaware; that for as long as he could remember he had been existing on automatic pilot. Every day of the week was pre-planned, and so a week, a month, and, thus, a year. With startling clarity, he realized the shadow of his future–scripted by forces not his own–was both frightening and depressing. The revelation foretold the story of a man, apparently alive, standing at the foot of his own grave, awaiting the fall.

As Frank’s level of consciousness increased, he noticed that for years untold, he had willingly subjected his “Self” to the “cacophony of the multitude.” The trend had been so insidious that its increasing noise had escaped his attention. Morning news (“weapons of mass destruction“) was parroted at mid-day and echoed, yet again, at night. Repeatedly, various media outlets offered identical sound bites. For most of his life, Frank had assumed that the intention of such programs was simply meaning to inform; but now, he realized that conform, conform, conform was their more likely message. He also began to notice that neighbours and colleagues, in somnambulistic reverie, were eager to instruct him in action that he should take…if he were wise. “They’re asleep,” Frank now realilzed, “as was i.”

When Frank examined what he had assumed to be his life, he discovered that the grooves of his own behaviour were very deep, indeed. He realized (from the perspective of witness), that he always stirred the milk into his coffee with three clockwise turns–not two, followed by a tapping clink of the spoon against his favourite mug. He realized that he prefaced many sentences with the word actually, for no apparent reason. After showering, he realized that if it were not for awareness, his right arm would always reach to dry his left shoulder first. From his new vantage point, Frank intentionally severed as many patterns as possible; and subsequently felt more alive than he had felt in years.

On that day that Frank became aware, he made a promise to himself, which he has kept. The promise is that he would always favour the Still Small Voice within, instead of the cacophony of the multitude. Much later, Frank discovered that the Voice that guides his actions is referred to in Deuteronomy 31:6: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Frank also wisely follows another action. When persons ask him for his opinion, it is to “That”–their own Still Small Voice–that he politely suggests they turn.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2022 – 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 🙏🏻🧡

Almighty Fearlessness

Have you experienced fear that robs you of the joy of each moment? Have you, as the person, been afraid of the so-called future? Have you, in the dark of night, tossed in a bed of worries about the coming day? If such is the case, there’s a solution of which you may be unaware. We lead into it through the following passage from Teachings of Ramakrishna:

Q: What is the nature of absolute reliance?

A: “It is like that happy state of comfort and satisfaction which is felt by a weary man when, reclining on a pillow, he smokes at leisure after a hard day’s toil: it is the ceasing from all anxiety and fear.”

The peace that’s described in the passage is not achieved by actions taken by the person. In fact, to attempt any actions from that perspective will almost certainly fuel our anxiety; or at best allow a brief reprieve. To discover the peace that passes all understanding, we must recognize our essential nature beyond name and form.

To understand this clearly, we must realize that persistent anxiety and fear belong to the perspective of the false self, also referred to as the person. Our body-mind is imbued with natural protective instincts that are intended to keep it safe; these usually function perfectly and should be heeded. However, prolonged anxiety and stress is generated by the fictional “i,” which believes it’s separate from All That Is. Fear of any nature doesn’t belong to true Self, because there’s literally nothing to oppose It.

How do we adopt this point of view? From the human perspective, we don’t attempt to do anything; for by repressing our fears, we would only add another layer to the belief in the false self. To arrive at true fearlessness, we must go within and knowingly recognize That which we actually are. When we become still (meditate)and know that I am God; we realize that we never were the person. We are Consciousness, in which the perspective of our body-mind appears. It was only our human conditioning that has made us interpret experience in such a fearful manner.

When we recognize that our higher Self is actually in charge of our life, we realize that we are free to live fearlessly. We learn to trust and have faith during circumstances that seem very uncertain. And the more that we trust That, which is our true nature, the more easily we flow with life. The verse from John 14 offers more inspiration: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2022 – 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 🙏🏻🧡

Notes From Beyond

In the spring of 2019, I was intuitively inspired to purchase I Am That, which is considered a spiritual classic. At the time, I was consciously unaware that its content would play such a pivotal role in liberating “me” from “my” life. The book relates the wisdom that Sri Nisargatta Maharaj shared with seekers of Truth. After I finished it, I immediately began successive readings in which I highlighted quotations that resonated with deep meaning, such as the following:

Both sleep and waking are misnomers. We are only dreaming. True waking and true sleeping only the gnani [sanskrit, “wise” or “sage”] knows. We dream that we are awake, we dream that we are asleep. The three states are only varieties of dream state. Treating everything as a dream liberates.”

From the materialist paradigm (example or pattern) of reality, the quote will seem ludicrous. After all, this world is real, and we know itor do we? What could Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj possibly have meant? That we would be perplexed by, or totally discredit, his message is understandable; for we have little or no way to process it. Since our apparent birth, we’ve been conditioned to believe that the “world” in which we rise and shine is comprised of solid matter. However much that we assume this, science has been unable to discover “matter” that exists independent of mind. Perhaps the following quotes will help shine more light on the nature of the world and our essential Being:

The mind is the creator of everything.”

The Law of Success, by Paramhansa Yogananda

***

Phenomena only ‘exist’ in the mind that perceives them.”

The Tibetan Book of The Dead, by Sogyal Rinpoche

***

All your body sensations, all your visual and audio input, the body itself, all the objects in the room, all the objects in the sky, everything–it all exists in aware [Consciousness].”

Liberation Is, by Salvadore Poe

***

It is not the body that contains Awareness and separates it from the world, but rather our true body, Awareness, that contains the body, mind, and the world.”

The Intimacy of All Experience, by Rupert Spira

***

If you understand that this is all illusion, the body, mind, and all that you see and perceive, then I can say you are on the right path, and you’ve understood yourself.”

Illusion vs Reality, by Shri Ranjit Maharaj

***

This world is a play of the mind.”

Thought Power, by Sri Swami Sivananda

***

The Absolute [Consciousness] is the only reality, all else is unreal.”

Teachings of Ramakrishna, by Sri Ramakrishna

***

The world which is described from observation is a manifestation of the mental activity of the observer.”

Neville Goddard’s Interpretation of Scripture, by Neville Goddard

Humankind’s understanding of the nature of reality has been erroneous for hundreds of years. Do not the occurrences in nighttime dreams seem very real–until you awaken? Such is the case with the continuing drama of “our” life in the waking state. So-called “matter,” our body-minds, and all apparent objects only exist in Consciousness. The brain doesn’t give rise to consciousness (the hard problem of consciousness) ; consciousness gives rise to the apparent brain. Yes, dear readers, this means that YOU are dreaming the reading of this article right now. We are Spirit, eternal, having an apparently human experience within the Divine Matrix. Have you been told stories to the contrary?

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2022 – 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 🙏🏻🧡

The Eternal Now

Alice kept a close eye on time. It was a major driving force in her life. She was fascinated by it, at least when it wasn’t driving her around the bend. The thought of ever being late was a stimulus that could set heart racing. She had a small collection of watches; one for every occasion. Every spring and fall she synchronized them with Greenwich Mean Time to ensure that they were as accurate as possible.

One afternoon, Alice and Blake (the new tenant down the hall) engaged in a brief conversation. It began when they stepped onto the elevator of their apartment building, and he noticed her glance at her watch.

“Nice watch,” Blake said, smiling. “Is it new?”

“Thank you,” said Alice. “I’ve had it for about a year.”

It’s odd, isn’t it” said Blake, “we count something that doesn’t exist.”

“Say what?” said Alice, with a puzzled look.

“Time; it’s just a concept. All there actually is, is the eternal now; but humankind mentally slices it into arbitrary measures that we label seconds, minutes, hours, and days.”

“But there’s even atomic clocks,” said Alice. “They’re incredibly accurate.” The elevator doors slid open, and they stepped out, onto the 8th floor.

“Yes, I know,” said Blake, “but they’re still just measuring a concept.”

“I’m not sure that I know what you mean,” said Alice.

“Can we sit for a minute?” said Blake, with a glance toward the bench opposite the elevator. Alice nodded, and they sat down.

“This might help,” he said. “Time is just a convenient concept. It’s basically a framework that we use to arrange our lives. It allows us to get to appointments on time, and schedule a conceptual future.”

“Conceptual?” said Alice, perplexed.

“Yup, conceptual. Let’s try this,” said Blake. “If I asked you to meet me at McMillan Park this Saturday at 2:00 p.m. to go for a walk, when do you think that would take place? That is, if you agreed.”

“Well, this Saturday at 2:00 p.m.”

“This is where time gets tricky,” said Blake. “Our walk at the park could only take place now.”

“But that’s crazy!” exclaimed Alice. “Now, we’re sitting on a bench in our apartment building.”

“Is it?” asked Harold. “Can you ever live the future, even half an hour from now?”

Alice became still, and a grin swept across her face as she arrived at her answer. “No, I guess not.”

“We only live now,” said Harold. “It’s all there is.”

“I agree,” said Alice. “It’s important to be in the moment.”

“We can never actually be in a moment, either; because a moment is still a measurement of time. It might help if you considered the Now as a constant backdrop, rather than a measurement. We literally can’t escape it.”

“This is so strange,” said Alice.

“I agree,” said Blake. “We live our lives as though a real past and a real future actually exist; but they don’t. And they never will. The past is just a conceptual period in memory; and the future is just a conceptual period in imagination.”

“So, if I understand you correctly,” said Alice, “you’re saying that this morning at my job doesn’t really exist.”

“Not beyond memory, no,” said Harold.

“Sure feels real,” said Alice.

Harold smiled. “I know. I learned something from Eckhart Tolle that helped me understand this stuff more clearly. Here’s an example he gave about the past: He said that if you had a time machine and could push a button and travel backward in time–say to the 17th century, that you would still step out of the machine and say, “Now, I’m in the 17th century!”

“I get it,” said Alice, smiling. “And now, I guess I better get these frozen groceries into the refrigerator before they melt!”

With that, Alice and Blake stood and headed off in opposite directions to their apartments. He had only taken a few steps, when he turned around and said, “What do you think about having a walk in McMillan Park? Would you like to go sometime?”

“Sure,” said Alice, with a smile. “Now?”

***

Dear Readers: Have you been carrying worries that belong to the false self of space-time? They don’t belong to the real YOU.

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2022 – 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 🙏🏻🧡

The Story of Gain and Loss

The paradigm of reality which I relate in this article is radically different from the one that we’ve been conditioned to believe. Almost everyone, particularly in western-type cultures, has been programmed to blindly accept that they are a separate self (the little “i”) who either gains, and is, therefore, labelled a success; or losses, and is, therefore, labelled a failure. Due to this, we naturally judge the value of our life and that of the people around us by this criterion. Such could be described as a competitive way of living, at best; a treadmill of despair, at worst.

For many, this societal system based upon comparative ranking is the cause of many sleepless nights and an underlying stress to perform. “Yes,” says the little i-voice within us, “if i perform well enough, i will then receive what i need.” That need is usually the desire to be loved. The trouble is that this little i-voice toggles between success and failure on a regular basis. It’s a fickle phantom, inclined to whimsically praise or criticize. Success that’s achieved is eventually replaced by so-called failure. It is this erroneous belief that leads to false pride and boastfulness in so-called winners; and their opposites in the so-called losers. We might contemplate the situation of a star athlete who is happy as long as his/her career is going along well. What happens in retirement, after the glory days are over? What then?

The compass related to the “personal” story of gain and loss points only outward or inward. In the outward direction, persons continue to believe that if they work harder, perhaps in a different arena, they will achieve the success for which they yearn. In the inward direction, the failure-related suffering can be so great that Grace appears and points us to a deeper dimension of Self, which transcends the world of the person. The majority of persons may be unaware that success based soley on outer circumstance must ultimately fall to its opposite. How could it be otherwise in an ever-changing world?

What I’m suggesting is that the quality of everyone’s worldly experience improves dramatically when we catch the thief—the egoic “i”—before it steals more of our innate joy. Being is easy. Attempting to be a “successful person,” however, is riddled with pitfalls and problems. Buddha called such Dukkha, which loosely translated means “stress” or “suffering.” When we investigate the nature of the little “i” that has been blindly chasing gains and shunning losses, we may discover that the “i” that we’ve been attempting to appease doesn’t truly exist.

In the paradigm of reality that I refer to as Truth, every person flows from One Fountain of Divinity. As droplets of The Divine, each of us possesses unique talents that are intended to be expressed. We might imagine this as dipping our ladle into the Ocean of Universal Consciousness prior to incarnating. The droplet of consciousness labelled as John Brown, might later express a talent for carpentry or the practice of medicine; while the droplet of consciousness labelled as Jane Smith might later express a talent for writing or the practice of law.

Upon recognition of the truth of our Being, we naturally transition from the competitive mindset and embrace our collective talents and abilities. Everyone is viewed as being essentially equal. No one is above or below “another;” for ultimately we realize that there is no “other.” In recognizing our Oneness, we appreciate All. When this occurs on a grand scale, everyone experiences a more peaceful and beautiful way to live. The phantom storyteller of gain or loss is nowhere to be found.

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2022 – 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 🙏🏻🧡