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” 🙏🏻🧡

At The Links

Judging by the photo, it could be easy to assume that I’m indulging in self promotion. I’m definitely not promoting “Art,” but I am offering some information that I hope will be helpful. I attached the photo with the Youtube logo to show that the information is in video format; for those who don’t enjoy reading as much as I do.

The following links connect to relatively short videos in which I share pointers and quotes that are pertinent to true Self and the Law of Attraction. I hope that the content will be of service and help lead you deeper into your own investigation of both subjects.

(True Self)

Ten Quotes To A More Fulfilling Life

I Am, Our Nondual Nature

Ruminating on Rumi

Living the Dream

Finding Your Way Home

The Bedrock of Being

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(Law of Attraction)

Knowledge About The Law of Attraction

Law of Attraction: Key Points

***

To help tie this information together, I believe that another of my blog articles, entitled “Pointing to Truth,” will be helpful. It contains quotes from deep thinkers that point to a very different level of “reality.”

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

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

Living The Dream

At one time or another, most of us have probably asked someone how his or her day was going; and their reply was, “Oh, I’m living the dream.” What I’m asking you to consider is whether there could be more to that saying than meets the eye.

I offer you my short video with content that points to our true nature as Consciousness, or Spirit. I hope that you’ll find the information helpful.

Dare to Dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Ready For A Secret?

When I was in my late teenage years, I was drawn to books such as Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill, and The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, by Joseph Murphy. In my innocence, I thought that the books might help me find my way. At the time, I couldn’t grasp the depth of their content; but I was right about one point: they did (eventually) help me find my way. If you’re seeking solutions, or a better way of living, the information within this article may help. It’s my sincere hope that it will be of service.

The following quotes are from You Too Can Be Prosperous, by Robert A. Russell. To understand their meaning, you must be willing to look at the nature of “reality” in a very different way. What’s Real is so much grander than what you may have previously assumed. I offer my own explanation following each quote:

If your mind is shouting, “No, this world is made of matter;” please know that I hear you. But I can no longer agree. The use of dream analogy makes this quote easier to understand: When you’re having a nighttime dream, all of the persons and objects seem very physical. They seem as real as real can be. But when you merge again with waking-state “reality” of your daily life, you realize that all of the seemingly “material” things were rendered by Consciousness. They only appeared physical within the framework of the dream. The same principle applies here and now. In the same way that your perspective awakens from a nighttime dream, our true Self (Awareness, or Consciousness), can awaken from the waking-state perspective related to our “person.” This isn’t an event that happens to the person, because the person’s perspective is transcended. Through this knowledge, we realize that our habitual thoughts are directly related to the nature of our Earthly experiences: They’re the mental blueprints of coming circumstances.

***

In this quote, Robert A. Russell explains more of what I shared about his first quote. He’s informing us that “things” are appearances within Consciousness, or God; in the same way that objects and people seem to “exist” within nighttime dreams. Our predominant thoughts, especially if imbued with emotion, become apparent things and circumstances. It will help to know that science has been unable to discover discrete independently-existing “matter.” Smaller and smaller bits of apparent “matter” always break down to energy. Atoms, in fact, are considered 99.999% empty space. Do “things” within a nighttime dream “exist” without a witness? Even with a witness? Or are they appearances?

***

This quote is easier to understand if you’ll consider the amazing effects that have been attributed to a placebo; which is basically an inert substance (commonly referred to as a sugar pill) or fake treatment. It is the power of our belief in the treatment that causes it to work; not the treatment, itself. This is what puzzled me as a young man. As I was consciously unaware that I was anything more than the body-mind, I couldn’t understand why changing the nature of my thoughts could possibly make a difference. I, thus, believed that the only avenue to success was education, luck, or hard work. The following quote from Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill will add to your understanding: “If you are one of those people who believe that hard work and honesty alone will bring riches-perish the thought; because it’s not true. Riches, when they come in huge quantities, are never the result of hard work. Riches come if they come at all, in response to definite demands, based upon the application of definite principles, and not by chance or luck.”

***

Every Law of Attraction book that’s worth its purchase price mentions this one main point: We must first have what we desire in Consciousness before it can ever manifest in our apparent “reality.” Can you see why knowing the nature of our “world” is so important? Contrary to common belief, we’re not dealing with a static world that “exists” of its own accord. We’re dealing with God’s Living World, here and now. If God was not, we would not be. In Mark 11:24, the great master Jesus is attributed with sharing the same message:

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

The teachings of the Law of Attraction become quite logical when we know the nature of reality and our true Self. Contrary to what we’ve been conditioned to believe, this world and our apparent Earthly body-mind, are moment-to-moment experiences within Consciousness. I believe my YouTube video entitled “Knowledge About The Law of Attraction” will also be helpful.

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

Haanel’s Gift to Us

One of the finest, yet most challenging, books that I discovered during my study of the Law of Attraction is entitled The Master Key System, by Charles F. Haanel. Initially created as a correspondence course in 1912, it was published as a complete book in 1916. It took several readings before I began to understand its content at a deeper level. To spare you some time and effort, I’ll share a few of its golden-nugget quotes:

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“The world without is a reflection of the world within. What appears without is what has been found within.”

***

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

***

“We live in a fathomles sea of plastic mind substance. This substance is ever alive and active. It is sensitive to the highest degree. It takes form according to the mental demand. Thought forms the mold or matrix from which the substance expresses.”

***

“The world within is the cause, the world without the effect; to change the effect you must change the cause.”

***

“The law is that thought will manifest itself in form.”

***

“All things have their origin in mind, and appearances are the results of thought. So that we see that things in themselves have no origin, permanency, or reality. Since they are produced by thought, they can be erased by thought.”

***

“It is the few who know that the things which they see are only effects, and understand the causes by which these things were brought into existence.”

***

As you can tell by the qutoes, the “world” that Haanel was describing isn’t “material” in nature. It’s a world that’s made of, and rendered by, Consciousness. This can be known through enlightenment, which means to awaken from the dream of personhood. Such explains why changing the nature of our feeling-imbued thoughts can alter our personal “reality.” It’s the “key” to which he referred. If that seems puzzling to you, reading more of my articles or The Master Key System in full will help to make it clear.

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

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

Think2wice

CONSCIOUSNESS, SPIRITUALITY, & LAW OF ATTRACTION

Tag: Consciousness

The Doe Boy

At The Links

Our Divine Nature, I Am

Mining Gold

Living The Dream

Ready For A Secret?

The Big “Oh”

Haanel’s Gift to Us

Because of Your Belief

Shaking The Maya Tree

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