Because of Your Belief

To the best of my memory, it was late July of 2012 when I arrived in Hope, British Columbia on one of my long solo motorcycle trips. I would be staying there for two nights before heading to Vancouver Island. The next morning, I decided to take a day trip to Kelowna. It was there, in a Chapter’s Bookstore, that I purchased The Kybalion; a book about the Hermetic philosophy of ancient Egypt and Greece. When I was back at my motel and beginning to read, the The First Principle of Truth soon caught my eye:

“THE ALL IS MIND; The Universe is Mental.”

Can you imagine my reaction? This very real guy named Art Russell had just read that he, his motorcycle, the highways, the motel, the province, etcetera, were all mental. You guessed correctly, I thought the book was mental! But, wait; let’s be willing to investigate deeper knowledge. As I continued reading, parts of the book began to make sense. The book explained that the All in All, which is the Substantial Reality, or Spirit, was all there was and, still, is. If the All in All was the Divine Foundation, that meant that It (God, Source, Consciousness) had no-“thing” other than Itself out of which to create objects. A “material” world didn’t “exist” until the All in All imagined it. The Kybalion was describing an event that’s similar to the account found in Genesis 1:3: “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” During the coming years, as Awareness of my true Self began to shine more brightly, I found the following in other books:

“What you are seeing and hearing right now is nothing but a dream.”

(The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz)

***

“Consciousness is the one and only reality. All phenomena are formed of the same substance vibrating at different rates. Out of consciousness I as man came, and to consciousness I as man return.”

(Prayer, The Art of Believing, by Neville Goddard)

***

“You are what you think; you attract what you think; your life is a product of your thought and beliefs; and nothing in the world can change this fact. To alter your life the only single course open is to alter your thinking.”

(Three Magic Words, by U. S. Andersen)

***

“There is but one consciousness in the universe able to think; and when it thinks, its thoughts become objective things to it.”

(The Master Key System, by Charles F. Haanel)

***

“People can gain control of themselves and their environment because they have the power to influence their own subconscious minds, and through it gain cooperation of Infinite Intelligence.”

(Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill)

***

“As you think about the world, so will you see it. According to Pure Knowledge, the universe does not exist at all. This worldly manifestation is the doing of the Self. This is all imagination.”

(From Amrut Laya, The Stateless State, by Shri Sadguru Siddharameshwar Maharaj)

***

“For human beings, world and self seem to be solid objects, time and space seem to be a rigid always-existing platform. This occurs for enlightened people and for unenlightened people. However in the case of the enlightened person, a paradigm shift, a shift of interpretation, has occurred.”

(The Science of Enlightenment, by Shinzen Young)

***

“The Self is the witness. It is all-pervading, complete, singular, free, non-choosing, non-doing, unattached, desireless, completely peaceful. The world is an illusion, a projection.”

(Ashtavakra Gita, translated by Janki Parikh)

This content won’t be understood as long as we insist on believing that you’re the “person.” That’s part of story time. When we cast aside our assumptions about identity, we discover Truth; and it will, indeed, set us free. We are Consciousness dreaming a human experience. The great master Jesus knew his true identity (“I and the Father are one.” – John 10:30) and so, too, may we:

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

(John 14:12)

The use of the dream-state analogy makes this article much easier to comprehend. When you fall asleep at night and merge with a dream, perhaps of sailing over a vast ocean, it seems to have very real objective existence. You see the spray of the waves, hear the seagulls cry, and feel your sailboat list with the force of the wind. But, when you merge again with waking-state “reality,” you realize that the waves, the gulls, the sailboat, and the wind were all rendered by Consciousness. The same principle applies here and now. So I ask you, “What “works” would you like to dream possible?”

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” 🙏🏻🧡

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

The Life of Your Dreams

It was the last day of The Life of Your Dreams Exhibition for the current year; and Matilda, who had just turned thirteen, was so excited to see it. As she approached the grand entrance, her hand that was holding her ticket began to shake noticeably, in rhythm to the flutter within her chest. She had purchased the ticket from a scalper who had assured her that it was real. When the two persons in front of her had shown their passes, she nervously stepped forward to the grey-haired man who was checking tickets. He was wearing a name tag that read Noel the Gnostic. With a kind smile, he accepted her ticket and slid it beneath a scanner. A second later, he and Matilda heard a loud “Buzzz,” and the machine spat out “D-E-N-I-E-D” in a monotone digital voice.

“I’m sorry, Miss,” said the kindly man, “but your ticket is a fake. The price of admission is a real one.”

Suddenly, the pressure was too much for Matilda, and she began to sob.

“There, there, Miss,” said Noel, as he leaned down and handed her a tissue. “Come with me, and I’ll explain a little more.” As soon as a replacement employee had arrived, he guided Matilda toward a quiet cubical nearby.

“Honestly, Sir,” said Matilda, “I paid for my ticket. I thought it was good.”

“I understand,” said Noel, “but the ticket isn’t real. When I placed it under the scanner, the message that popped up on the screen was Hope instead of Faith.”

“What’s the difference?” asked Matilda, as her sobbing subsided.

“Well,” began Noel, “the price of admission to The Life of Your Dreams is faith. We must believe with all of our heart and absolutely trust that our desires will come true. Hope, on the other hand, is more like an idle wish. It lacks true power.”

Matilda was beginning to see the difference. “I guess I was just hoping,” she said.

“That’s understandable,” said Noel. “This life is an apparent journey, and we’re meant to learn from it. Would you like some friendly advice about how to make your dreams come true?”

“Yes, please,” said Matilda, as a tremor shook through her body.

“It’s much easier to switch from hope to faith when we truly know What–not who–we truly are. You may not realize this yet, but you’re actually an unlimited co-creator of your life. You’re a walking and talking spark of God. What you believe can–and will–manifest in your reality when you persistently envision your desire as Now–already–achieved. Every night before you fall asleep, imagine your desire in living detail. The best technique is to think from the end; which means feeling as though your desire is fulfilled. Use as many of your senses as possible; see, hear, smell, taste, and touch your desire in your imagination. The thoughts that we repeatedly impress into our mind are like seeds planted in a garden. Given time and faith, they’ll grow into the events and circumstances of our life.”

“Really?” said Matilda, with an innocence that touched Noel’s heart deeply.

“Yes,” he said, “absolutely.”

“Thank you for telling me,” said Matilda. She was about to turn and walk away, when Noel tapped her gently on the shoulder and gave her a twenty dollar note. “Here,” he said, “please put this towards your ticket price for next year. I’ll be here, waiting to see you.”

***

Dear Readers: Our experience, of ourselves and the world, appears only within Consciousness. This so-called “reality” occurs in much the same way that events seem to occur within our nighttime dreams. To inspire you to keep the faith in the achievement of your desires, I offer the following quotes from Neville Goddard, who was a Barbadian-born mystic, author, and interpreter of Biblical truth:

“God in you creates and sustains your world by the use (or misuse) of your human imagination.“

***

“Things have no reality other than in consciousness. Therefore, get the consciousness first and the thing is compelled to appear.”

***

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

***

“Imagination and faith are the secrets of creation.“

***

“God is your consciousness.”

***

“As in the subconscious, so on earth.“

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

The Fraud Called “Death”

The title of this article isn’t intended as click bait, nor am I attempting to instill a belief system about death. I’m employing the title because it relates to my direct experience of life, itself. Let’s begin with the following stanza from The Psalm of Life, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:

Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

So, Mr. Russell, “How can you possibly claim that death is a fraud, especially when we see evidence of it on a daily basis?” If that’s what you’re thinking, please know that I “hear” and respect you. Out of love, I humbly offer the following: I’m not denying that bodies die–obviously, they do. Anything that has an apparent beginning will also have an apparent end. To make sense of the information I’m sharing, it requires that we investigate the essential nature of our “Being”…beyond the superficial assumptions that we’ve been conditioned to accept as true. If we believe (as the majority do) that the sum of all that we are is contained within the body-mind, this article may not only seem insensitive, but also the product of a delusional mind.

Our investigation of our “I”-ness (that sense of “me” which knows our experience) requires that we challenge a collective set of beliefs to which the masses currently subscribe. You may or may not realize that Science can’t explain how biological processes give rise to consciousness. Why? Because Consciousness doesn’t arise from them. Science also states that matter, as conceived by humankind, has no independent existence–it’s actually rendered by the mind. In 1911, Ernest Rutherford proved that atoms, which were once believed to be the foundational “stuff” from which things were made, are actually 99.999% empty space. The following quote from Max Planck, a great theoretical physicist, adds to this understanding:

“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.”

The key to understanding more about the nature of death is by knowing more about the “reality” in which we apparently live. We never perceive a discrete “world.” We perceive perception–in a similar way that we perceive a “world” in our nighttime dreams. Could it also be, therefore, that the waking-state “world” is made of the same dream stuff? In Who Am I?, the following question was asked of Sri Ramana Maharshi (a realized sage who awakened to his true nature at sixteen):

Are you daring enough to challenge the current interpretation of “reality?” Could Consciousness, indeed, be fundamental and Universal? Is it not true that before you can have any experience that Consciousness must be present? To lend credibility to the information I’m sharing, I offer the following five quotes, which I’ve collected during years of reading:

(From I Am That, Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj):

(From Open Secret, by Wei Wu Wei):

(From The Abundance Book, by John Randolph Price):

(From The Physics of Consciousness, by Ivan Antic):

(From A Course in Miracles, by Helen Schucman):

Several years ago, I remember reading the following: “We’re not human beings having an occasional spiritual experience; we’re spiritual beings having occasional human experiences.” I actually scoffed at the idea; but such only revealed my own lack of understanding. Could this explain why ancient Grecians inscribed “Know Thyself” on the frontispiece of the Temple of Apollo in Delphi? Yes, most certainly.

To have any experience–of a world, a cup of coffee, or our body-mind–awareness must be present. How else could we ever know anything? The linchpin of our Being is Awareness. We are That in which the body and the mind appear. Yes, the body dies; but we never were what appeared. We are That which can’t be known via the senses. Buddha referred to It as emptiness. This dramatic change in the way of interpreting reality is often referred to as The Shift.

The body-mind arises out of Consciousness. Through misidentification (which is still being preached by those who believe in a materialist model of the world), we–Spirit–are relentlessly conditioned to believe that we are nothing more than name and form. We are so much more! We are Awareness, having an apparently human experience. It’s impossible to be separated from That which we actually are. It’s why Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj stated:

“You can only be what you are in reality. You can only appear to be what you are not.”

I support this through the following verses from the Bible:

(Psalm 46:10):

“Be still, and know that I am God:

I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

(Isaiah 45:5):

“I am the Lord, and there is no other;
apart from me there is no God.”

Consciousness is the only reality. There’s only one “I Am.”

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

I Am That I Am

The following quote from I Am That is attributed to Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj:

“We do not wake up into a really waking state. In the waking state, the world emerges due to ignorance and takes one into a waking-state dream. Both sleep and waking are misnomers. We are only dreaming. True waking and true sleeping only the gnani [realized one, sage] knows. We dream that we are awake, we dream that we are asleep. The three states are only varieties of the dream state. Treating everything as a dream liberates. As long as you give reality to dreams, you are their slave.”

***

The Bible advises us not to judge by appearances. Now, science is confirming what saints, sages, and ancient spiritual masters have known about the nature of “matter.” As a way of demonstrating a deeper level of reality, I offer this short video, filmed on November 6, 2025:

If you’d like to learn more about cloud bursting, I explain more in this related video.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

The Spirit of Four-Minute Focus

Note: This post is a revamped edition of the first article that I posted on my blog, on January 17, 2016. I hope that it will inspire you to turn within and activate more of the innate greatness that’s the real YOU.

***

Until May 6, 1954, a mile had never been run in under four minutes. Think of it: under four minutes to run 1,760 yards, 5,280 feet, or 1609.34 meters. That a human can run that distance, that fast, is still an amazing feat. The math works out to an average of fifteen miles per hours.

At the time, the idea of running a sub four-minute mile was inconceivable to most people. The human body was believed incapable of moving that fast; as though opposing forces were shouting “impossible!” and that we had to listen. That assumption stood as a seemingly solid and unbreakable barrier until it crumbled under the will, belief, and ability of one man–Roger Bannister; who ran a race that was fueled by the indomitable power of his spirit. His world record of 3 minutes 59.4 seconds was set at Iffley Road Track in Oxford, England.

There’s a rumour that I’m going to use for the purpose of this article; and it doesn’t matter one whit if it’s true. Years ago, I read that in preparation for his famous run, Roger wrote a time–sub four minutes–on a slip of paper and placed it in his shoes.

Imagine how keeping his desire close

and being reminded of it

could motivate him to achieve his goal.

You, too, can write a note to yourself, about any desire that you choose. It’s important to be specific and clear. By doing so, we bring our intention to life. We’re not leaving our life to fate; we’re writing our own destiny! For this technique to be effective, ensure that you read your note (goal card) every day, with an attitude of calm and receptive faith. If the logical mind comes knocking, don’t open the door.

For those of you who may wonder how doing what I’ve just described could possibly make any difference, please know that I “hear” what you might be thinking. We’ve been conditioned to believe that we must be extremely fortunate, born lucky, or work extremely hard to achieve our goals. But such is not actually the case. In support of this, I offer the following quote, which is attributed to Andrew Carnegie, who was one of the wealthiest men in the world:

“Any idea that is held in the mind, that is emphasized, that is either feared or revered,

will begin at once to cloth itself

in the most convenient and appropriate form available.”

When the quote is interpreted through the materialism lens of “reality,” the part about an idea “clothing” itself in form seems ludicrous. The KEY of understanding the principle of deliberate manifestation is to know your true Self (beyond the ego) and realize the following:

Awareness is all that there is. Every person, object, and event is made of Awareness. It’s impossible to have an experience in the absence of Awareness. Such explains why the nature of the thoughts and feelings that we entertain is so important. They’re the mental blueprints for our life.

Now, I ask you: What will you write on your goal card? Would you like to lose a few pounds? If so, write an affirmation, phrased in the present tense, and assume you’re at your ideal weight NOW. If it’s financial prosperity that you desire, write that affirmation and assume you’re that rich NOW. Make it your habit to read your goal card when you first awaken in the morning, and before drifting off to sleep at night. These are the times of day when our subconscious mind is receptive and highly impressionable. Believe that you have your desire NOW—because NOW is all that we ever experience. The past and the future are only concepts. So what’s your desire? Better health? Greater success? Loving relationships? You know what to do.

Based on the title of this article, I also suggest setting aside a minimum of four minutes each day to envision your goal in as much sensory vividness as possible. Imagine a scene that implies that your goal has already been achieved. By doing so, you’re planting a seed of intention in the garden of your mind. Through gentle but persistent repetition, the subconscious mind will accept your new belief and prompt you to act upon intuitive nudges. The more that you trust, the closer you’ll move toward the fulfillment of your goal.

In case you’re curious, Roger’s record for a sub four-minute mile lasted for only forty-six days before it was broken by John Landy, on June 21, 1954. So, where does the world record stand now? Has it been lowered by a few more seconds, or a minute or two? According to Chatgpt, the current record for a human running the mile was set on July 7, 1999 by Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco. His time stands at 3:43.13. This didn’t happen by chance.

The mysterious power of belief was involved…every…step…of…the…way.

Special Note: To add to your understanding about the nature of our “reality,” I recommend reading some or all of the following articles in my blog. They contain information that supports what I’ve already shared. Here’s list of titles, with links that lead directly to the articles:

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”

We Needn’t Suffer Our “Person”

Hello Everyone,

In an effort to lessen suffering related to confusion about our true nature, I offer my latest YouTube video.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

The Bastard Child’s Hierarchy

Contrary to what the bastard child (the ego/conceptual self) might attempt to tell us, we are children of the Living God. In the attached video, I offer pointers that I hope will help you discern between the false self and That which you truly are.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Think2wice

CONSCIOUSNESS, SPIRITUALITY, & LAW OF ATTRACTION

Category: Non Duality

Because of Your Belief

Shaking The Maya Tree

Invitation to Play

The Life of Your Dreams

The Fraud Called “Death”

I Am That I Am

The Spirit of Four-Minute Focus

Choices from “I Am” Now

We Needn’t Suffer Our “Person”

The Bastard Child’s Hierarchy

Menu