The Doe Boy

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

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

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

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

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

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

***

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

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

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” 🙏🏻🧡

Our Divine Nature, I Am

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

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Mining Gold

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Pawn’s” Homecoming

In a land called Prodigus, there was a young chess piece named “Pawn.” He disliked his name because it seemed common and lower class. In his innocent mind, he dreamed of being a king; in fact, the greatest king that ever lived. He knew that pawns were often considered peasants of “the board,” as it was called; and that they were often sacraficed, a tactic that he found most unappealing.

During one game, when Pawn was waiting to be moved, the King on his side of the board noticed the young chess piece’s malaise. Pawn looked tired and forlorn. Because of his loving nature, the King inched closer and struck up a quiet conversation. “Is something bothering you?” he asked.

Young Pawn’s face immediately brightened. He was honoured to have the King’s attention. “Uhm, thank you for asking,” he stammered. “I’ll be okay. It’s just that I don’t really like being a pawn. I want to be a great king like you.”

“Ahh,” said the King, with a nod. “Now, I understand. Has the competitive nature of our game been bothering you?”

“What do you mean?” asked Pawn.

The King chose his words carefully. “Well, enthusiasm for the game is important; but we must also remember what really matters. Pieces often compare themselves to other pieces and imagine that someone with a higher ranking is more valuable.”

“But you are!” exclaimed Pawn. “You’re royalty–the most important one! The whole chess game is based around you.”

The King smiled and patted Pawn on the shoulder. “That’s just the way it looks,” he said. “We’re wise not to judge by appearances.”

“What do you mean?” asked Pawn.

The king looked deep into Pawn’s eyes. “The truth is,” said the King, “that I’m not worth one whit more than you.”

“Huh?,” said Pawn, with a puzzled expression. “I don’t understand.”

“I mean,” said the King, “that you and I are of equal worth, even though we play different roles. I’m called the King, but “King” isn’t what I Am. It’s only relatively true that I’m more valuable than you. From the perspective of Truth, we’re equal. We’re both made of God stuff.”

“What’s God stuff?” asked Pawn.

“God stuff,” said the King, “is your essential nature. It’s what you and I actually are. At the deepest level, we’re the same.”

Pawn beamed quietly. Within him, he felt a sense of warm belonging that felt vaguely familiar. “Thank you, my King, for telling me.”

The King leaned down and discreetly gave Pawn a hug. “Just between you and me, you don’t have to call me King. It’s just a name…basically just letters arranged in a particular order. In fact, my real name is Archibald. I used to get called “Baldy” when I was a kid; but that can be our little secret.”

***

Dear Readers: Like all of us, Pawn was conditioned to think of himself as a thing. He knew himself only as a chess piece with a certain name, who lived on this or that type of board, and was a commoner in the game of life. His status was determined, so he assumed, by the definitions that he had accepted about himself. Thus, he believed that he’d finally be a somebody when he, too, was a king. What he overlooked, as most “persons” do, is that a king who’s unaware of his essential nature is impoverished, even if he’s living in a palace. Thank goodness that the King told him that he was made of God “stuff.” Could you, too, be overlooking a deeper dimension of Self that’s priceless? The difference between being played by life, and being an aware player, is tremendous. (If you’re earnest about recognizing your divine nature, you might find my short YouTube video entitled “Ruminating on Rumi” helpful.)

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Affording Grace

One night, Timothy Cares-Andwoes fell asleep. In the dream that followed, he found himself standing in the presence of the Lord of his Being, his true Self. He couldn’t see the Lord, but he sensed that he was amidst tremendous Power; the kind that creates galaxies and bumblebees with equal ease.

“Dear Lord,” he asked, “I have a question I’d like to ask, if you don’t mind.”

“Certainly,” came the reply. “Go ahead.”

“As you know, I have lived less than a perfect life. There have been mistakes, errors in judgment, and times when I acted without thinking.”

“And your question?” asked the calm voice.

Timothy shifted back and forth, searching for words. Finally, he said, “What must I do to receive Your grace?”

“You mean as a pardon?” asked the Lord, with a puzzled sounding voice.

“Yes, my Lord. How can I make it right with You?”

“Oh, my dear, dear child,” replied the Lord. “There’s nothing to forgive. When I look upon you, I look with my heart. How could I wish anything for you but joy?”

“You mean that I don’t have to pay a penance?”

“No,” said the Lord. “My system is rigged. Because I never condemn you, there’s never anything to forgive. All that I Am “is” Love; thus, all that I have for you is Love. When you, yourself, stop carrying your cares and woes about a non-existent past and an imaginary future, you’ll find that you’re standing in the glory of the Holy Now. Resist nothing, my child. It’s only because you resist what is that you create suffering.”

Timothy was struck dumb with the Lord’s revelation. Tears of welcome relief were welling in his eyes when he heard the Lord speak to him again.

“Do you mind if I ask you a question?” said the Lord.

“Uh, uh,” said Timothy, wiping a tear from his eye, “please, go ahead.”

“Where on Earth did you get that surname?”

“Oh, that,” said Timothy. “I never did like it. This guy named Art Russell gave it to me.”

“You might want to see about changing it,” said the Lord; and with that Timothy wakened from his dream.

***

Dear Readers: Prior to the mind’s interpretation, life just is what it “is.” It’s the ego (which is only the idea of yourself, not the real YOU) that creates the narrative related to suffering. I offer that we should strive to hold high ideals and live by the Golden Rule; but avoid the voice of the ego, as it can lead us astray. If your mind is attempting to kick you around like a damned soccer ball, it’s worth remembering that your essential nature is Love, Itself. As you descend from Love, how can the real “You” be anything else? (For those seeking a deeper dimension of Self, you may find my short YouTube video entitled “Finding Your Way Home” interesting.)

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Your Mission: Found

Back by popular demand (okay, that might be stretching the truth just a little), I offer you my rendition of Mission I Am Possible. Press here to play it. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to re-cognize (know again) That which you are. With that in mind, I offer the following:

Maxwell Planck, the German theoretical physicist, is attributed with this quote: “I regard consciousness as fundamental. I regard matter as derivative from consciousness. We cannot get behind consciousness. Everything that we talk about, everything that we regard as existing, postulates consciousness.” This is easier to understand through the analogy of our nighttime dreams. All of the objects, events, and persons are made of Mind, which is Consciousness in motion. No one would claim that they exist beyond the mind that perceives them.

In Why Materialism Is Baloney, by Bernardo Kastrup, who’s a noted philosopher, author, and computer scientist, he wrote: “Experience is all there is. The world, as we know it, is a representation in consciousness.”

In John 1:3, it’s stated: “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” In this verse, “him” refers to God. I suggest that God is Consciousness, or Awareness of Being.

In Acts 17:28, it’s stated: “‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” All of the characters and events within a nighttime dream “exist” only within Consciousness.

In John 8:58, it’s stated: “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” I humbly suggest that He wasn’t saying that “I, Jesus” was before Abraham. He meant that “I Am” is the substratum from which everything arises.

In Isaiah 45:5: it’s stated: “I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me.” I offer that to “not acknowledge me” refers to being ignorant (unaware) of the Source of our Being.

***

In Ego-land, aka Earth, most “persons” see things very differently. When asked who they are, most will likely reply that “I am…name, age, form, gender, race, nationality, status, etcetera.” But words are merely terms, or conceptual structures, that refer to something else. Thus, we realize that all of the words with which we define or describe ourselves can’t possibly “BE” what we are. The question–“Who, or What, are we?”–then begs to be asked.

In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, which illustrates the story of a son (child of God) who requests his inheritance early and goes to a foreign land where he spends it wastefully, it’s told that the son finally becomes weary of his struggle in the world and returns to his Father. In Luke 15:24, the following is shared: “For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” Consciousness, which forfeits knowledge of Itself to take an apparently human journey, celebrates when It awakens to Its essential nature.

Could it be that we are Consciousness, the ground of all Being, masquerading as form in the dream of human life? Could it also be that we’re “found” when we know our essential nature as Spirit? That’s for you to question and only You to know.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

The Big “Oh”

In the movie entitled When Harry Met Sally, starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, there’s a famous scene in which Harry and Sally are having a discussion about relationships while sitting at a table in a busy diner. Sally is telling Harry that at one time or another most women have faked an orgasm. Harry doubts that such has ever happened to him—he would know. Sally then goes to great length to demonstrate a fake orgasm that includes tossing hair, hand pounding the table, and cries of “Oh, God, ohhh, God–yes, yess, yesss!” After Sally finishes making her point, Rob Reiner’s mother, Estelle, who plays a character sitting at nearby table, nonchalantly tells her waiter, “I’ll have what she’s having.”

***

Most adults are probably familiar with the type of big “O” referred to by Harry and Sally; but for the purposes of this article I’m going to relate some information about a very different type. It’s the big “Oh” related to our spiritual nature; which by and large goes unrecognized by the masses for a human lifetime.

Since infancy, all of us have programmed to believe that “our” consciousness is personal and arises due to neuronal processes of the brain. This belief is so deeply ingrained within us that the majority never question its validity. We assume that our identity is a combination of sensations, images, feelings, thoughts, and memories related to name, age, gender, race, and nationality, etc. Due to this, we conclude that “we” begin at conception or birth and will, thus, end at death of our body-mind. Upon this common shaky assumption we base our entire life.

What if, however, that such isn’t true? The big “Oh” related to spiritual awakening turns this paradigm of reality on its head. Through enlightenment, we realize that our essential nature is Consciousness, Itself; in which the world and our body-mind arise. For those who claim that such is impossible, it’s worth contemplating the fact that space-time and all of the apparent “material” objects and scenarios within nighttime dreams are rendered by Consciousness. During a dream, situations seem as real as real can be. A brick building within a dream seems to be made of “real” bricks and mortar; but when we, Awareness, merge once again with waking-state “reality,” we realize that the brick building and everything else within the dream were created by mind, which is Consciousness in motion. At that point, we assume that “Earth” is made of matter, not Consciousness. But, is it?

To support the information I’m sharing, I offer Saying 2 (of 114 Sayings attributed to Jesus) from The Gospel of Thomas:

Jesus says: “Let him who seeks cease not to seek until he finds: when he finds he will be astonished; and when he is astonished he will wonder, and will reign over the universe!”

I humbly suggest that the “astonishment” to which Jesus referred isn’t that we’re a person in a material world; but that we, in fact, are the Universal Consciousness, or Spirit, in which our “person” and the world arise. The false self, our person, is nothing but a repetitive “I-thought” that we assume to independently “exist.” Please contemplate the following quote from Man’s Eternal Quest, by Paramahansa Yogananda:

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

This is supported in this quote, from “Why Lazarus Laughed,” by Wei Wu Wei:

“Reality alone exists–and that we are. All the rest is only a dream, a dream of the One mind, which is our mind without the “our.”

Our understanding can also deepen through the following quote from The Book of Secrets, by Deepak Chopra:

“This embarrassing problem–that there is no way to prove the existence of an outside world–undermines the entire basis of materialism. Thus we arrive at the second spiritual secret: You are not in the world; the world is in you.”

If you would like to experience the big “Oh,” I highly recommend the practice of meditation. Make “time” to sideslip the world of the senses and enter the transcendent Now. In the stillness of Being, it’s possible to realize that you are Spirit, here and now, dreaming a human life. Recognition of true Self is the biggest “Oh” you’ll ever experience. If you’re eager to recognize your essential nature, I offer more information through my following YouTube video entitled “Unchained Love, Our True Nature.” When you knowingly “meet” your true Self, you’ll experience a sense of glory beyond compare.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Shaking The Maya Tree

If we shook a tree that was full of ripe oranges, we would–quite logically–expect to see oranges fall to the ground. Likewise, if we shook a tree that was loaded with ripe apples, we would see apples fall. To expect something other than the fruit of each tree (perhaps, coffee cups or lollipops) would be insane. With regard to the title of this article, I’m going out on a limb by stating that all that falls when the Maya (Sanskrit, loosely translated as illusion) Tree shakes is illusory in nature. The fruit of Maya is transient, changeful, and only relatively “real.” It could appropriately be called dreaming.

To transition from the view (subscribed to by the masses) that “reality” is only defined by what appears via our senses is not an easy task; and to be honest, only those rare Beings who are, indeed, ripe with curiosity for Truth will be willing to earnestly investigate their deeper nature. Until the dream of life turns challenging or outright nightmarish, it’s highly unlikely that individuals will question their blind assumptions about the nature of their identity. To take a figurative step in the direction of Truth, it will help if you know the following:

When Sri Ramana Maharshi (a realized sage) was questioned about the difference between Dream State and the Waking State (referred to as “reality” by the masses), he replied, “Waking is long and dream short; other than this there is no difference. Just as waking happenings seem real while awake, so do those in a dream while dreaming.”
From The Law of Success by Paramahansa Yogananda: “Mind is the creator of everything.” You might think of this as the shaking of the Maya Tree. Please note that he stated that “everything” is created by mind.
From The Wish Fulfilled, by Neville Goddard: “This world, which seems so real, is as much a dream as the dreams we encounter while sleeping.”
From The Final Truth, by Ramesh S. Balsekar: “All that appears is mind-stuff of which all dreams are made.”
From Man’s Eternal Quest, by Paramahansa Yogananda: “Live in the consciousness of Spirit, in that oneness with God wherein you know that life is a dream.”
From Before I Am, by Mooji: “World is not. You, me, and all else that you see within and without are unreal; they do not exist independent of yourself. The world you inhabit is created inside your own mind. It is all a dreaming.”
From my blog, more proof is offered through this article, entitled “Notes from Beyond.”
From William Blake: “As man is, so he sees.”
And finally, a photo passage from Open Secret, by Wei Wu Wei:

What’s the benefit of knowing this information? If your “life story” is ticking along fine, you’re most likely not reading this article. You’ll be apparently slaying dragons in the business world, or flying to your island home in your personal jet. However, if you’re finding that your story has run full speed into a brick wall, it may help to know that what you have previously assumed to be material “reality” isn’t, indeed, real in the way you’ve assumed. It’s the fruit of the Maya tree; which appears when the mind’s ability to perceive via the senses is functioning. The so-called real world recedes from waking state to dream state (a more ephemeral dream world), and is totally absent in deep sleep, which is without objects, time, and space.

The real Self is That by which the apparent world is co-created and known. So what of “us” is real–for it certainly seems that we exist? Consciousness–independent of form. Please contemplate this: Can anything be known in the absence of Consciousness? If you believe this possible, how could such ever be proven? Is that not like trying to know if the refrigerator light remains “on” when the door is closed? A tree in the forest that supposedly falls unwitnessed, neither exists, falls, or makes a sound; for such requires an observer to co-create the event and report its occurrence.

We are Divine Spirit, dreaming our character’s role of personhood. To know this now, while living, means that one is jivanmukta. If you’re tired of suffering the world of form, please join me on the other side of the bridge. The view is beautiful and eternal. You’re not who you think you are–never have been. You can only be what you are in reality—Spirit.

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Invitation to Play

Please join me, if you will, on a journey of remembering the feeling of days when our spirit sang with freedom; when we were happily unaware of mind chores that claim they must be done; when the words yesterday and tomorrow held no meaning. “Such” is still alive within us.

During the next few hours, you’re invited to:

Withdraw from all news media; in spite of being fearful of being struck ignorant or uncaring.
Write a list of 12.279 things that must be absolutely right before you will enjoy life. Prove the list wrong by literally or figuratively burning it.
Drop the seeming importance of your medals, trophies, formal education, resumé, and achievements. Ask, “Are they?” Ask the same of your so-called failures.
Imagine how a child feels upon meeting a new friend.
Listen carefully to children playing. As you overhear them rant and complain, make a list of their sorrowful woes about the economy or state of the world.
Glance at your “To-Do” list of chores demanding attention; then just as quickly turn away.
Drop all of your mind stories related to “I did this” and “He/she did that.”
Close your eyes and follow your breath into an inner world of wonder. Return as awareness, carrying the sense of wonder with you.
Remove the stain related to “life will be better when” by asking if “when” ever arrives.
Take off your ego’s muddy galoshes, and run bare foot.
Acknowledge the Divine Power that’s beating your heart. Bow your head and whisper “Thank you.”
Pack a picnic (however meager) and dine at a new location, in the glorious fullness of Now.
Look upon everyone (the young and the seeming old) as a child of the Creator. They are.
For sixty seconds, feel your heart’s warm unity of Oneness with All. Repeat.
Count your “haves,” instead of your “wants.”
Be with your hands as they slowly open and close. Can you feel the miracle?
Through awareness, Be peace, here and now. Silently say “hush” if the mind attempts to intrude.
Give.
Love.
Be grateful.

Through awareness, we may reignite so much of the joy that we felt as children. This world, Life, needn’t seem like such a bothersome chore. We don’t have to manage it, change it, or define it according to the mind’s perspective. Wonder, amusement, and excitement are waiting to be born into experience through Presence.

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Choices from “I Am” Now

Hello Everyone,

Please step out of time and join me–here and now–in the glorious beauty of our true nature. We are so much more than the person we “think” we are. I offer you my latest video:

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

P.S. Please share this article if you enjoyed it. If you’d like to view my latest book (This Taste of Flesh and Bones–released September 8, 2020), press here. My YouTube videos may be found through this link. May the content of either or both help you along your spiritual journey. 🙏🏻🧡

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Think2wice

CONSCIOUSNESS, SPIRITUALITY, & LAW OF ATTRACTION

Category: Love

The Doe Boy

Our Divine Nature, I Am

Mining Gold

“Pawn’s” Homecoming

Affording Grace

Your Mission: Found

The Big “Oh”

Shaking The Maya Tree

Invitation to Play

Choices from “I Am” Now

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