Category: Idealism

Knowing Self As “No-Thing”

For centuries, the world has seemed bent on having us define self as an object; it has stressed (through various criteria that change with the times), that a desirable object, an intelligent object, and rich object with a blueblood family name (insert Rocker-Something-or-Other) is more appealing than the alternative (Russell). Thus, those who pretend to know what’s in our best interest, have created the materialist interpretation of the world; a world in which some souls fall into the desirable class (exclaim: “I have made it!”), while the majority fall through the human abyss (pray: “Please let it all be over!”) and land in the undesirable heap. Sadly, the majority of beings often succumb to the human “story” and try to be one of the so-called “in crowd; instead of using their precious incarnation to find their way back to Oneness. I could swear right now, but I won’t. I’ll transform that energy positively and offer a quote from Ramesh S. Balsekar and his magnificent book entitled The Ultimate Understanding later in the article.

I have never favoured an interpretation of so-called reality in which some of my spiritual brothers and sisters feel inferior due to a botched world belief system that deliberately leads us away from Truth. A Cadillac, a Ferrari, a mansion, and an in ground swimming pool can never make anyone superior to someone else. Only a person would believe such lunacy. The system is appropriately labeled judgment, and our society is rampant with it. We are not now–or ever–the sum of our name and body-mind. Desirable objects and great financial wealth are not intrinsically bad; it is only our love of money above all else that creates problems. Those who would pretend superiority are merely caught in the misguided value system which is so prevalent on Earth.

Let’s cut to the chase, and practice some discernment (not judgment) about our essential nature. All experience–whether it be of the janitor or the Wall Street Tycoon–is known by One Knower, Consciousness. We cannot have any experience without the linchpin known as Consciousness. We are “That.” We have been conditioned to believe that consciousness is personal and dependent on neural processes of the body; but such is false. A search for “the hard problem of consciousness” via the internet will verify that scientists do not know how consciousness arises. We’ve also been conditioned to believe that we are a body-mind with a certain name; such is also false. It’s simply not the Truth. It’s why Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, who was often termed the fiery sage of Bombay, stated the following: “You can only be what you are in reality; you can only appear to be what you are not.” Translation: You cannot be the body-mind. And now, the quote that saved you from my profanity at the bottom of the first paragraph:

“Therefore, the only conclusion is that on object does not exist–that the ‘observed’ object is an illusion,

and the observing can only be a noumenal functioning.”

The Ultimate Understanding by Ramesh S. Balsekar

“Who Am I?” is a question (when the answer is known directly) that can take us to the depth of our essential nature. The answer is beyond words; therefore, beyond any of the false definitions with which and by which persons attempt to define themselves. Such is more aptly termed the treadmill of human existence. It’s what leads to questions such as the following: “Dear, do you think a solid rhodium toilet could make us feel more special than the Joneses? Theirs is only gold.” You are not a thing. You are beyond any of the smarmy descriptions for which so many persons fall. Let’s think: How can you truly be a nationality, a physical description, or a professional or financial status? In short, you can’t.

The mind is the creator of everything, including our body-mind. True Self is prior to the mind; therefore, independent of it. The Bible describes this as “being in the world but not of it.” If you believe that you are the body-mind, you inherit all of the fears that come along with that belief. It is not the Truth. Through the practice of clear discernment (meditation is invaluable), you can knowingly rise above all circumstance. What’s more, you do not die; because the body-mind is an effect of mind. You are First Principle, Cause. It’s why Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj stated the following: “There is as much death present when a million die as when one perishes.” We need not fall for the fiction related to the human story. Truth is available, now and forever. We have only to seek It.

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”

Working For “The One”

The following fictional account didn’t take place–ever; but for fun, let’s go with it and pretend that it did. Special Note: The characters and events depicted in this article are fictitious. Any similarity to persons, either living or deceased, is purely coincidental. No persons were harmed in any way during the writing, editing, or subsequent publishing of this article. 🙂 Thank goodness, no one lost their job, either; came close, though.

***

“Have a seat, Bob,” said Mr. Swanger. He descended from a long line of Swangers, before swanging became a cultural phenomena in certain circles.

“Thank you,” said Bob. He slowly stepped forward and settled himself in the chair across from Mr. Swanger’s desk. He tried to appear calm, but his fidgetting fingers gave him away.

Mr. Swanger leaned forward over his desk, which was distracting because he had a mole on his left cheek the size of Saskatchewan. His computer screen was open to Bob’s profile. “How long have you been working with us at The One?”

“Little over a month,” said Bob.

“I’ve brought you in here today,” said Mr. Swanger, “because there’s been a nasty rumor circulating, at the yellow ticker tape that surrounds the previously available water cooler.”

Bob leaned forward, an expression of innocent curiosity pasted on his face. “‘Bout what?” he said.

Mr. Swanger sat back and arched his hands together in the stereoptypical teepee power position. “This makes me very uncomfortable,” he began. “Rumor has it that you actually believe that you’re ‘Bob.’ That’s incredibly awkward, given that we all work for The One. See my point?”

“Can’t say that I do,” said Bob. “I’m not Bob?” He patted his knees; they certainly felt real.

Mr. Swanger rolled his eyes; inwardly he was wondering how Bob had slipped through the hiring process. “No,” said Mr. Swanger. “These bodies are what show up in the waking state. A few people still mistake that as reality.” Mr. Swanger turned his attention to the computer screen. “It says here,” he said, “that there’s evidence that you still believe you’re the doer.”

Bob crossed his legs and gripped the arms of the chair firmly–knuckles blanched. “I’m not?” he said.

“No,” said Mr. Swanger. “Not now–or ever, for that matter. These,” he said, moving his arms about with floating ease, “move by one power alone–Consciousness. This is idealism, Bob. We gave up that old software called naive realism years ago. That’s when we got with the times and formed the new company–The One.”

Bob began to fidget; he needed this job. He had nowhere else to go. Everyone these days was talking about the wonderful living immediacy of the present moment; the “Here and Now,” they called it. “What can I do to make it right?” he asked, learning forward. “I could stay late, make coffee. I have an advanced degree in Modern Sychophany,” he offered. “Would that help?”

“No,” said Mr. Swanger, with a wave of his hand. “Groveling is passé–went out with landlines and the notion of personal consciousness. Since enlightenment, we don’t work that way–we’re all equal here. There’s no solution except that you go home–now, of course–and spend some time in silent solitude. If you do so often enough, you’ll see that the true You isn’t Bob at all. This company is founded on the principles of The One. There’s no room for a bunch of persons running around like egoic chickens, thinking that they own the place. We work for The One; and the world functions a whole lot better when all of us know It.”

***

The meeting concluded a few minutes later, and Bob departed with a fearful I-could-soon-be-walking-down-the -road-kicking-my-lunchpail look. He was almost out of the building before he thought about the curious note with instructions that Mr. Swanger had handed to him before leaving. Politely but firmly, he had told Bob that if he wanted to continue working for The One, he should follow the instructions on the note closely. Bob’s pace slowed as his hand fumbled to remove the note from his pocket. It read as follows:

  • Meditate for ten minutes, once a day. Increase to fifteen minutes, twice each day.
  • Earnestly ask the question (“Who Am I?”) and don’t settle for the story self.
  • Read the works of Buddha, Jesus, Ramana Maharshi, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj; or, if you’re searching for any easier but informative book, R. Arthur Russell’s most recent work.
  • Watch this presentation on self-inquiry by Rupert Spira.

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”

The Raping of The Sheep

“Don” is in this life for himself, and he makes no bones about it. He frequently says “You gotta look out for number one,” and the expression perfectly reflects his attitude and behaviour in the apparent world. Behind his customers’ backs, he calls them foul names and ridicules their mannerisms. In business deals, which he approaches with utter lack of integrity, he’s proud of “raping the sheep,” which means getting the apparent upper hand through sly manipulation. The love of money is his sole reason for being. After a deal concludes, he smiles and shakes hands with his customers; but behind closed doors after they have left, he ridicules his sheep’s degree of gullibility. The memory of the sweet and easy deal with Rosie, one his trusting elderly neighbours, always brings a smile to his face; it was so easy to defraud her of an extra ten thousand dollars. In his personal relationships, he is no less ruthless; for his pleasure is what matters most. It is all about him. Although Don is six feet two inches tall, he is a small man; trouble is, he doesn’t know it.

***

What Don and innumerable persons like him don’t realize is that our body-minds are expressions of The One, aka Consciousness. Consciousness is the only reality. Due to this, absolutely nothing can be hidden from The One–how could it? If such were, indeed, possible, how could we ever accomplish this miracle of hiding our best or worst from the Loving Power–“That”—which is Omnipresent? In Luke 12:7, KJB, we may read the following: “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. When we come to know Truth, we realize that there is only One Knower and One Doer masquerading as a multiplicity and diversity of apparent forms. Any act performed against an apparent other is actually an act against ourself. I make no pretense of being an authority on the Bible, but this truth is clearly revealed in Galatians 6:7: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” It’s informing us that Consciousness knows whether you’ve been bad or good; so be good for goodness sake.

It’s important to realize that we are not punished for our sins (by some vengeful God in the sky); rather, we are punished by our sins (which is actually defined as to miss the mark). What we apparently do comes back to us. Fortunately, the same holds true as it relates to goodness. Thus, if we desire more love in the world, we must be more loving. If we desire to experience more compassion, generosity, and sincerity, we must be more compassionate, generous, and sincere. We can spare ourselves a lot of needless suffering by embracing high ideals on a regular basis. If we’re serving “we” on a regular basis, as opposed to the little “me,” we’re on the right track. Our human incarnation is of tremendous value; for it provides an opportunity to awaken to the Truth of our essential nature. We are so much more than name and form. We are divine Spirit having an apparent human incarnation.

***

Update: The majority of us are likely tempted to wish otherwise, but Don’s unethical business tactics went undetected while he remained in human form. However, nothing escapes the snares of karma. Subsequent to a major business deal in which he apparently raped all of the sheep involved, his body-mind passed from this world–not one soul attended the funeral. Don is currently serving time in Colorado, as an intestinal parasite in a sheep named Rosie. You might say, that’s he’s awaiting his extradition papers. With any luck and a little more grazing, he’ll be out in a day or so to continue his journey. Be kind; wish him well; embrace the love that flows through you–that is you–and be wise enough to turn the other cheek and seek not human revenge. Hold no evil wish against anyone. The wheels of this Universe roll along in unexpected and mysterious ways.

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“

The Body-Mind Manual

This article is likely going to seem irreverent, but if that’s what it takes to relate Truth, so be it. The manual which serves as the title of this article is also known as The Human Manual, the one that most of us didn’t receive. Almost all of us inherited our limited knowledge of body-minds from persons who had little or no understanding of their essential nature. This is not intended to blame; rather to inform. You might think of the manual as being similar to “The Proper Care and Maintenance of a Chia Pet.” There, as promised–irreverence. I’m not actually suggesting that we shouldn’t love our body-mind and take good care of it; quite the contrary. As with the Chia Pet, we should feed and water it and love it dearly. An object (and that’s what a person is) tends to perform better if it’s well maintained. The key point is that we–true Self–are meant to govern the body-mind; contrary to an abundance of evidence otherwise, it isn’t intended to govern us.

Identification with Truth is good, indeed. Identification with falsity never leads anywhere good. Such is true with regard to the proper care and maintenance of a human being. If you (as is the case with the majority of the world’s population) identify solely as a body-mind, you are bound to suffer. It’s just the way that humans function. They come–straight from the factory–with inherent desire. Due to this, they’re usually temporarily happy if they get what they desire; but, conversely, unhappy or fearful if they don’t. Some have been known to gripe for a lifetime if they don’t get their way. If you’ll refer to your manual (page 13, subsection C), under “Catch-22 Warning,” you’ll notice that fulfillment of your body-mind’s desires often leads to an inflated sense of “i” and an overabundance of needs, many of which are worthless and selfish. As a result, quality of life diminishes greatly.

Of note: You are wise to keep your body-mind under control. If that’s challenging (or seemingly impossible), enforced isolation may be required. In the company of other body-minds (persons), they have been known to exhibit the nasty habit of judging themselves against apparent others. Your body-mind may have been feeling perfectly fine, until it was brought into proximity of more attractive or more successful body-minds. If you pay close attention, you’ll sympathetically feel yours cringe when threatened. In minor cases, it may retaliate by spitting out a passive-aggressive remark (such as, “Have you always liked wearing mini dresses at weddings?”) at the offending party. In more serious cases, you’ll likely hear it utter a version of the following remark to make up for its feelings of inadequacy or unworthiness: “You know, when I was the president of The World, I was twice voted most popular by an overwhelming majority!”

Body-minds are also inherently selfish and self-centered. Again: programming. Honestly, it’s as though the apparent world revolves around each and every one. How absurd. Collectively, they have (get this, I don’t think you’ll believe it) gone to war against various nations under the guise of creating peace! The real cause of all conflict is lack of awareness about our essential nature. With understanding of our shared Oneness, how would we ever again lift a weapon? We are all of One, Consciousness, expressing Itself as a multiplicity and diversity of form.

The most important advice contained within the Body-Mind Manual is that we should never–ever–listen to the negative babble from the mind of your person. For that matter, we are also wise to ignore its absurd tales of grandiosity. Body-minds attempt to get your attention at all costs, often for prolonged periods. They thrive on imbellishment. If uncontrolled, they’ll try to convince you that everything is wrong. Body-minds occasionally lash out in anger if they’re feeling afraid; or convince you to listen to attacks against your inherent value. Spirits have been known to break under such extreme punishment. Rest assured that true Self is of inherent value because It’s a divine child of God. Don’t let your conceptual Chia Pet convince you otherwise.

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”

Rocking The Boat

The boat that I’m referring to in the title of this article is commonly called Materialism. It was christened so long ago that most individuals assume that it’s the only boat available. The boat is a large one, indeed; for it holds the majority of the world’s population who–in most cases unknowingly–drift along in what is termed naive realism, the “subject-object” dualistic interpretation of a world that is apparently made of stuff called matter. In this article, we’re going to do our best to rock that boat with information that suggests there is another valid way of interpreting reality. For the purpose of greater understanding (and as a pointer toward awakening), you’re welcome to board the alternative boat called Idealism via this article. We’ll begin rocking the more common boat by contemplating the following quote from Interpretation of Scripture: Unlocking The Secrets of The Bible by Neville Goddard:

“It is impossible to do. You must be in order to do.”

What, pray tell, could Neville Goddard have meant when he coined that sentence? Didn’t he realize that the majority of persons believe–with absolute but unverifiable certainty–that they are the doers of their actions. Surely, he must have meant to write, “to accomplish anything, you must work like a slave;” that is, unless he realized that this–right now (including the typing of these words) is happening in what is termed the Waking State; a state not that dissimilar from the state in which nighttime dreams occur. He, no doubt, was informing us–as did Paramahansa Yogananda–that “Mind is the creator of everything.” Perhaps another quote, this time from Plato, will help us rock the boat a little harder:

“Reality is created by the mind; we can change our reality by changing our mind.”

It’s well known that Plato was an idealist. In case you’re not familiar with idealism, the following is the definition from Merriam-Webster Dictionary: “a theory that ultimate reality lies in a realm transcending phenomena.” This basically means that all so-called matter is mental phenomena created by mind; and that our body-mind and the world exist solely in Consciousness. Buddha was spreading this very message when he stated that nothing had independent existence. William Blake and Anaïs Nin, respectively, delivered a similar message through the following two quotes:

“As a man is, so he sees.“

“We don’t see things as they are; we see them as we are.”

The position of idealism is at the very core of any worthwhile teachings of the Law of Attraction. It’s also what allows mystical verses from the Bible, such as “Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee” from Job 22:28, to make sense. From the perspective of persons aboard the common boat called Materialism, the Law of Attraction may seem little more than positive thinking; but when you examine the current world situation (run by materialists), are you really so certain that you desire to continue to float along in their boat? If you board the boat christened Idealism, you’ll be setting out on the grandest voyage of discovery about your true Self–not the conceptual “i” that you’ve been conditioned to accept as identity. It’s obvious that if all takes place within a dream (the Waking State), there is no room for flesh and bones. Truth deems that we are so very much more: We are divine Spirit having an apparently human experience.

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”

Not Until “I Am”

The world, as all of us realize, is currently reflecting a state of tremendous confusion. Everywhere we see evidence of this. Even if we’ve unplugged from mainstream media, someone–somewhere–is going to inform us of ongoing fear and strife. There is the continuing world story about an apparent virus; conflict related to a presidential election; illogical regulations and restrictions; joblessness; hunger; homeless persons living in tent cities in the middle of previously prosperous cities. Entrenched ways that were corrupt–and heartless–at their core are being revealed. This is not intended as a rant; for what we resist does, indeed, persist. The heart of this article relates to the Law of Attraction and the following verse from Proverbs 29:18:

“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

What does this mean? It means that if we desire positive change beyond our current circumstances (refer to the above paragraph), we must see with eyes not of this world. In short, we must envision a new world. The Law of Attraction (we bring about what we think about) applies both personally and collectively. If we–through ignorance of our essential nature–continue to believe that we are merely stick figures called persons, our challenges will continue unabated. Ignorance of our true nature does not relieve us of the effects that we, as co-creators, are creating. We must apply vision–such a rare commodity these days. We must learn to ask ourselves–and know–what we desire to see. What kind of world do we wish to inhabit? Is it a world in which we live free? Is it a world in which we value qualities such as love, honor, and respect? Or is it a world in which only robotic actions, performed by unaware persons, are welcomed? To move beyond what is currently presenting, we must learn to have faith–not in a God outside of us; but in a vision which we, as incarnate aspects of God, envision. I offer the definition of faith, as defined in Hebrews 11:1:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

To understand what we’re currently witnessing on a deeper level, we may conceptualize humanity as a shared basket. All of us, whether knowingly or not, are spiritual basket weavers. Everyone is contributing, because what everyone thinks matters through the power of attention. We may ask ourselves what type of energy we are contributing to our universal basket. Are we offering the energy of fear or FAITH? Are we offering the energy of selfishness or GENEROSITY? Are we offering the energy of hatred or LOVE? Are we reinforcing–through focus–the current situation, or are we envisioning a BRIGHT NEW WORLD?

Not until we collectively unite and envision a positive future, will we see it. Not until we envision peace, will there be peace among nations. Not until we envision brotherly and sisterly love for everyone, will our interactions reflect that love. Not until we envision feeding the world’s hungry people, will everyone’s belly be full. Not until our hearts are purged of the negativity that has permeated our lives, will we see beauty rise, glorious and transcendent. Not until we have stopped gorging ourselves on problems, will we eat the fruit of solution-based thinking. Not until “I Am” reigns supreme over egos, will the selfish fires of humankind be extinguished.

What I’m asking you to do is to step outside the costume that has been masquerading as “you” and flex your spiritual power of Beingness. You, dear friends, are neither the body nor the mind; no more so than the boots in the corner of my kitchen. You are Divine Spirit…now. United in vision, we are capable of creating a bright new future. We arrive at that tomorrow by envisioning it as already existing…today, here and now. We are wise to embrace it, embody it, and wear it with every fiber of your being; for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.

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”

There Walk “I”

Existing on the superficial strata of life, we appear as though we walk and interact with apparent others. There is John; there is Mary; there is Bob, and there is Alice. They have a form, and they have a name; as do we. When we know ourselves only as the superficial little “i,” we, therefore, can only relate to the little “i” of everyone else. It’s just the way the system works; it is the balancing of perception. As we rise in consciousness, we gain clarity and understand more; we leave the level of egoic identity behind. Thus, “Dear God, please give me more understanding” is such a valuable prayer; outdone only by a heart full of gratitude for what is as it is.

The Truth is that each and every one of us is being walked. Under the illusion cast by Maya, we assume with absolute–but erroneous–certainty that we are the doers of our actions. Such is not the case; nor was it ever. How could characters in a dream life (the Waking State) actually walk themselves? There’s no room in this matrix for flesh and bones–only the appearance thereof. According to the nature of our hidden beliefs and conditioning, we are being walked by One Power; and the experience–both within and without–is known by One Knower. There is nothing but God, appearing as a multiplicity and diversity of forms. We–Divine Spirit–wear the disguise of apparent human of name and form. However, we are wise to remember that following expression is true, indeed: appearances can be deceiving.

This knowledge can lead to a deeper understanding that transcends the appearance of things. “There is John, Mary, Bob, and Alice,” thus, becomes “there walk I.” All sense of separation falls away, as easily as the sun slipping beneath the horizon. Everything and everyone is actually the Self, Consciousness. In Truth, such was always the case; only ignorance made it appear otherwise. The apparent personal “i” of name and form is but an illusion rendered by the mind–a total fabrication. When such is clearly understood, all conflict dissolves. A boxing ring with only One is lacking an opponent with whom to box.

What does this mean in terms of real and lasting effect when realized on a worldwide basis? When we are no longer a stranger to our real Self there dawns the realization that no one else is a stranger, either. They, too, are I; and I, too, am them. We, quite literally, become “One for All; and All for One.” Upon recognition, must we all don musketeer outfits? Of course not, we may keep our apparent individuality; but in our heart–where it matters most–we realize that We Are One. With this knowledge , the lyrics “mine eyes have seen the Glory” becomes so much more than words. They come to symbolize the path of transcendent peace and love.

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”

I’ll Be “Seeing” You

Our purpose while here on earth as apparent human form is to express the highest ideal that we hold within us. It is Divine in nature, expressed through the person’s journey amidst other Beings who, more often than not, erroneously mistake themselves for the sum of their body-mind. Ignorance of our true Being, and lack of discernment, is the reason. A mysterious paradox is at work: What we truly are–neither a conception nor a perception–can never be seen; it can only be expressed through that which we are not–namely the human costume. This confusion often leads to less than ideal results; for the competitive system on earth frequently pits one against apparent others and leads to tremendous heartache and suffering.

The goal of this article is to help you clearly see that which you are not, and know That which we are. Why? Because when we know our true Self, our suffering is greatly diminished. Contrary to public opinion, any objective part of you—either of the mind (as sensations, images, feelings, and thoughts) or of the body (as the apparent physical form)—is not true Self. I state this unequivocally; for the Truth is not a matter of opinion, as much as many individuals may believe. This is Truth, the Ultimate Understanding

Many of our common expressions are not fully understood beyond a superficial level. The following is one of them: “There’s more to me than meets the eye.” The majority of persons may interpret this to mean that there are other aspects to my personality that remain secret. In Truth, the expression means that “That which I Am truly” cannot be seen. I Am cannot be pointed to as being either here or there. It is everywhere (omnipresent) and yet nowhere locatable. I Am, Consciousness–the foundation of every experience that could ever be known–including my own body-mind.

It is so much easier to recognize our essential nature if we meditate regularly; even if for only a few minutes each day. We are told that we must fast from the world to find the kingdom. This simply means that we must turn away from our senses and go within. At first, individuals may believe that meditation is something they do; but it is actually a non-doing, a dropping of that which is false. It is a sinking back into what we truly are. During meditation, we can clearly and directly perceive thoughts; they are like subtle objects–appearing to a knowing Source. This also holds true for objects which appear as form–namely our body, and the world and objects contained therein. Every object that we see is actually energetic frequencies and vibrations interpreted as form.

To “see” true Self, we must do so from the perspective of Spirit. Anything less is to see from a point of illusion. If this seems metaphysical, so be it–it is. What this means on a deeper level is that we can know one another feelingly, at a level beyond form. Isn’t that what everyone desires–to be known for What we truly are, not misperceived for the illusory self of name and form? The quest to recognize true Self is the most important journey we will ever undertake. Please join me. Let’s see life in all its wholeness and, thereby, elevate our world.

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”

The Way of Spirit

Oh, how we’ve become accustomed to existing in the shallows; the superficial strata of life in which we accept circumstances and events as they appear! Habitually, we believe without question; assume without knowing that we assume; complain or celebrate based upon ingrained attitudes about the relative mirage in which we live–blindly accepting it as real. This is the burden for the majority of apparent human beings, and we–Spirit–carry it (Maya, illusion) without knowing. If the content of this paragraph seems just too far “out there” to consider, please read the following few lines from the spiritual classic I Am That:

Questioner: “What am I if not human?”

Maharaj: “That which makes you think that you are human is not human. It is but a dimensionless point of consciousness, a conscious nothing; all you can say about yourself is: ‘I Am’. You are pure being–awareness–bliss.”

“I Am That,” Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Isn’t that an eye opener–a far different version of the story called “my life” than the one we’ve been told! It’s certainly different from the story that I was subliminally and explicitly conditioned to believe to be true. We were programmed to believe that we were everything human; so much so, that there was no absolutely no choice but to accept that we were mere flesh and bones; that we were born and would surely die. Not so. Contrary to the story believed by the masses, we are neither the body nor the mind–literally, here and now. I offer you another passage for contemplation. It’s from The Gospel of Thomas, which contains 114 sayings attributed to Jesus that were discovered in 1945 in caves near Nag Hammadi, Egypt:

29 (1): Jesus said: “If the flesh came into being because of the spirit, it is a marvel, (2) but if the spirit came into being because of the body, it is a marvel of marvels.”

The Nag Hammadi Scriptures

Can you see where this article is leading? If you think it’s heading fullspeed off of Nutbar Cliff I understand, but please continue to read with an open–inquiring–mind. This article is intended to present a case for the idealist paradigm of reality; that which is opposite to the materialist paradigm which claims matter as its foundation. With the idealist paradigm, everything and everyone is a concept in Consciousness; that is to say that so-called matter is rendered by the mind. In the passage above, you’ll notice that Jesus seems astonished that persons could believe that the body could ever give rise to Spirit, aka Consciousness. He knew, of course, that the Truth was the other way around–that Consciousness gives rise to the body via the mind. Here’s a question that may help: “What is the only ‘thing’ (non thing) required to have an apparent experience?” Answer: Consciousness. We can’t possibly have an experience without consciousness. Here are a few more quotes from the Bible that may cause you to investigate your assumptions:

Mark 9:23: Jesus said unto him, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

Job 22:28: “Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.”

Mark 11:24: “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

King James Bible

The implications of this are profound. It will undoubtedly take those of you who are earnestly curious (to even consider that the materialist paradigm of reality is erroneous) several days to assimilate the information you’ve just read. Just so that you know, science backs this claim, perhaps if only indirectly: Despite earnest efforts, scientists have been unable to determine how biological processes give rise to consciousness (they don’t); and if you delve into research about quantum physics, you’ll see that it has long been known that mind and matter are inseparable. Paramahansa Yoganda stated: “Mind is the creator of everything.” Another of my articles, This Mental Universe (press here to view it), may help increase your understanding. You are an eternal spiritual being having an apparent human experience. This, my dear friends, opens up a world of possibilities.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2020 – 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”

Making Room for Emptiness

Dear FamilyofOne,

I thought I’d inform you of some recent happenings in “my” life. I’ve got some good news, and some good news. Although it may sound bad, or even wacko, I finally had to give “Art” the boot to make room for the emptiness of true Self. For the figurative move to the Truth, I had to clean house, so to speak. The place is feeling a lot more spacious without him. Sure, Art meant well, but his arrogance (he claimed to be the doer, when all of us know that mind is the creator of everything) and ignorance of our essential nature became very wearisome. By ignorance, I don’t mean to imply that he was stupid; I just mean that he didn’t know. He was unaware, but unaware that he was unaware. He and the majority of other persons on the planet are asleep to their true nature.

Have I lost anything by giving Art the boot? No, not at all. What can be lost by losing a ghost? In fact, I’ve gained–peace, joy, and freedom–simply by dropping what I am not. In truth, Art was simply a collection of repetitive sensations, images, feelings, thoughts and perceptions that habitually reinforced the idea (but not reality) of a separate self. Give it a name–like Jane or John Doe–and you’re off to the races. I’m happy to report that my suffering has decreased immensely since I got rid of Art. It was only he who was the negative voice; he who suffered apparent losses or wins; he who existed as a fictional self in apparent linear time and space. You and I–Spirit–realize that there is only here…now.

Doubt that space-time (they go together) can be an illusion? Go ahead, please try to experience the future. Can you actually live an hour from now or next Tuesday? Of course not. When that conceptual future hour or day arrives, it can only be lived “now.” Can you take a step into the past? No, even when you remember it, you do so “now.” Eckhart Tolle, a well-known spiritual teacher, shares this point through a sign that he once saw in a pub in England. The sign read: Free Beer Tomorrow. Get it? If you think you can show up and drink free beer tomorrow, you will remain thirsty forever. It’s always now, despite the protests of the finite mind.

Maybe you also feel that it’s time” for the shift to true Self. It’s easier than you might imagine. The key is to drop the thinking self–the fictional “i”–and let Awareness, your true identity, rule the roost. Don’t expect to find your true Self in anything that can be conceived or perceived. That’s why the following is expressed in Luke 17:21: “Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” In stillness, you might at first only recognize a glimpse; but as you remain as Presence, the perspective of That will become your established point of view. This was the way that life was meant to be; but the conceptual self can be an ornery type. It doesn’t like to be dethroned. Take your position as Truth, and politely kick the little “i” out by regularly withdrawing your focus from it. You’re not losing anything that’s real; only a virtual thief. Stillness itself will help you transcend the costume playing “you.” Through self-inquiry, you lose nothing and gain the knowledge of true Self–Spirit.

Oh, by the by, just in case you think the “you’ve-gone-nuts” truck has pulled up to my place and picked a permanent parking space, you might be interested in this: Even science is backing up these findings. What was once considered matter is recognized as being nothing other than mind. They are one and same. The apparent objects that appear to our senses are perception only. What you call reality is nothing more than the Waking State, which is actually a projected story of “you” and the “world” in high definition 3-D. If you care to do a search regarding atoms on the Internet, you’ll discover that they’re 99.999% empty space, more aptly described as whirling clouds of energy. Ain’t that a kick in the imaginary gut! Yup, the “you” that you’ve been identified with is nothing more than a projection of the mind. True Self, my dear friend, is Spirit, aka Consciousness. Press here to view an article regarding the subject of “matter.”

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2020 – 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”