Hashtag (#) Everyone

How paradoxical truth IS…

Humankind is being sold a story of the apparent good life, and the majority of persons unwittingly buy it without examining it for value. I, for one, buy it no more. On the surface, the story seems bright, shiny, and sensible; a story that deserves to be placed on a high shelf in our lives. At some point, however, many of us learn that the degree of truth contained within the story is equivalent to the facts found in the rag magazines at the grocery store checkout line. The story promises, but it doesn’t deliver.

There are various versions of the story related to name, fame, and achievement; but the theme always remains the same: “If you, little Johnny or Mary, work hard enough, sacrifice enough, and keep your nose to the grindstone long enough, you can make something of yourself. You can be a success, become a somebody, and, thus, be happy.”

With that dangling carrot in mind, the false donkey “i” within us pulls back its shoulders and goes to work. Thoughts inform us that we must build an impressive resumé and be noticed to be worthy of the happiness we desire. We practice our hashtagging skills at every opportunity. We #this about ourselves, and we #that; #I was #here–don’t you know; and #I was #there. In our mind, life revolves around me and my story.

As long as we continue to feed the insatiable appetite of our ego, we will #never…#be…#happy. Through wisdom, we can finally realize the insanity of the story we’ve been telling. How long is it–really–before the luster of the shiny new car wears off? How long is it--really–before the promotion that promised happiness is realized for what it is? How long is it–really–before the perfect partner we adored doesn’t meet our needs?

So what’s the paradoxical truth alluded to at the beginning of this post? That the happiness we seek is recognized when we are empty of the “self” that requires anything in order to be happy. We discover–quite surprisingly–that we’re naturally most joyous when we:

#Give of our Heart,

#Be of Service,

and

#Share our Resources

And that’s not a story–it’s the Truth. I can’t imagine an emptier way to live than for #me, #me, #me.

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” 🙏🧡

8 Billion Prodigal Sons

This article contains an exaggeration: There aren’t actually eight billion prodigal sons. It’s true, however, that the vast majority of Beings are prodigal sons and daughters without being aware of it. Before we go further, let’s share what the term prodigal son actually means:

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, prodigal is defined as follows: “characterized by profuse or wasteful expenditure; recklessly spendthrift.” The Parable of the Lost Son, found in Luke 15: 11 – 32, relates the account of a father and his two sons. The younger son asks to receive his inheritance from the father, who willingly grants it. He travels to a distant country and lives an extravagant and wasteful life; while the older son stays at home. In time, the son who went away becomes destitute and is forced to work as a swineherd, which would have been considered repugnant work. When the circumstances of his life finally become unbearable, the prodigal son finally realizes that he must rise and return to his Father, who welcomes him with open arms.

The parable is actually a metaphor for what happens during our human journey. When we stray from the Father (Awareness), it means that we have been ensnared by the world of illusion (Maya) and forgotten our essential nature, which is Spirit. Due to conditioning, we assume ourselves to be a separate self of name and form. That’s what it means to turn away from the Father, aka Consciousness. In our confusion, we waste our life on self-centered goals related to a fictional self. The parable mentions repentance, but this doesn’t have to be interpreted heavily. To repent merely means to acknowledge our error (sin: to miss the mark) and recognize true Self. The son’s return to the Father means that the son has “awakened” and realized his true nature as Spirit.

For several hundred years, the materialist paradigm of reality has convinced the vast majority of beings that their apparent body-mind and world are made of independently existing stuff called “matter.” This continues to occur despite science informing us that atoms, which were once considered the building blocks of matter, are 99.999% empty space. The truth is that our apparent body-minds and the world are rendered by mind, which is Consciousness in motion. When Jesus said, “I and my Father are one,” he was referring to Consciousness.

How do we turn to the Father? By investigating the nature of our true identity through self-inquiry. We can “Know Thyself” by withdrawing our attention from our senses and becoming still. When we meditate, it becomes obvious that we are the witness of our sensations, images, feelings, and thoughts. Our true nature is That which knows. Awareness, Itself, is the the very Substance of All That Is. It’s not dependent on the body or the mind. In fact, the truth is the other way around–the body and mind are dependent on Consciousness. They appear in the Waking State and are erroneously assumed to be the sum total of our being. Every time that we rest in the stillness of our essential nature, we return to the Father and, thus, know peace and joy. We only suffer, or become destitute (as in the case of the prodigal son), when we fall back into Maya and the perspective of personhood.

The ratio referred to in the first paragraph will begin to tip in favour of the Father when more beings investigate their essential nature. All that’s required is to ask the question “Who Am I?” with earnest curiosity. We are neither our body, nor our mind. Instead of trying to appease the false “i” through objects or activities, we are wise to turn within and discover the true Source of happiness. Human incarnation provides a unique opportunity to recognize our essential nature. It would seem a shame to waste it.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“One In Other”

I have just had an up-close-and-personal reminder of the incredible goodness (Godliness) that’s shining just beneath the surface of human experience. I was shopping at a store in my home town, when I was approached by a man who made a huge difference in my life. He’s one of the many to whom I owe so much gratitude. We smiled and shook hands; and within a couple of minutes, I started to thank him for what he did several years earlier. A little back story is required:

In 2006, the apparent life story of Art included a sudden divorce from a twenty-year marriage. The shock of the event was like being driven off of a cliff; the after effects, a free fall that lasted for years. At the time, it was one of the most challenging circumstances I had ever faced. That life had fallen apart was the last thought on my mind before sleep, and the first thought to cross my mind in the morning.

Several months after the initial shock, I was shopping in the grocery store where Mark worked. We didn’t really know each other, beyond making a few passing comments to each other. On that particular day, I must have been having a tougher time than usual, which Mark sensed. For the next ten or fifteen minutes, he listened while I attempted to empty myself of some of the incredible pain that I was feeling. Patiently, supportively, non-judgmentally, he listened. When we parted, I felt better and a little stronger. And Mark was the reason.

As I began to thank Mark again today, he (remembering what had occurred) just patted me on the shoulder, looked me in the eye, and said:

“Hey, we look after one another.

It’s what we do.

It’s why we’re here.”

I was driving the short distance home, when I realized that Mark had summed up the whole purpose of life in just a few words. Whether we realize it or not, we’re here to nurture and look after “One in Other.”

The One that’s shining in me–“as” me–is the same One that’s shining in you–“as” you.

In Truth, there are no “others.” When we see beyond the differences in our personalities and fleshy costumes and recognize the God in all of us, life flows so much more smoothly. Our human experience then literally shines with immanent divinity.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

In Him We Live

The following verse from Acts 17:28 may leave many of us scratching our head; especially if we interpret it thorugh the materialism perspective of reality: “For in him we live and move and have our being.” The “Him” (God) referred to often seems missing in action, and our logic begs the question: “If God is real, where is He/She/It? That we are puzzled by the verse, or write it off as complete insanity, is due to ignorance of our essential nature. The situation is made worse because we are unaware that we’re unaware.

During our waking-state reality, we believe with absolute certainty that we are persons living in a world made of matter. Our challenges appear very real; as do our triumphs. We mourn the passing of a dear friend; and we are joyous to receive a promotion. Due to our conditioning, we assume that we are persons and, thus, the doers of actions. In time, this often leads to feelings of pride or guilt.

The verse is easier to understand when it’s contemplated in relation to dreams within the dream state. Such dreams (which may include people, events, and circumstances that seem absolutely real during the dream) are assumed to arise within the brain of the person; but this is erroneous. They occur within Consciousness. The evil person who chased us, and the lovely person who invited us for tea, were both made of Consciousness, by Consciousness. It becomes obvious that any apparent matter must have been rendered by the mind.

If we replace “Him” in the above passage with “Consciousness,” we realize that the dream characters did, in fact, live and move and have their being in Him. This is completely logical. When we apply that template of understanding toward our experience within the waking state, the light of greater awareness shines more brightly within us. Through direct experience, we may awaken from our delusional belief of being the person and realize that the experience of our body-mind within an apparent world is also occurring within Consciousness. As we stabilize in Truth, the sense of doership lessens; and we realize that Infinite Living Mind is the doer of all actions and events.

As shocking as this may be, our so-called human lives are being dreamed in their entirety—including the writing of this article! We are characters of Consciousness who live and move and have our being in Him—God. Our ego (which is only a repetitive thought related to a conceptual person) will strongly rebel against this information; for its psychic realness is based upon the assumption that it lives of its own accord. Such is a falsity that creates tremendous suffering within Consciousness. The good news is that when that which is false (the ego) is crucified, the Truth of our being is recognized as Life eternal. We are made of the very God that many deny.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

One Serving One

In 1998, Joseph decided to follow his passion; he took a leap of faith and opened his small diner. By the menu standards of other restaurants, the food that he offers is basic–burgers and fries, hotdogs, chili, stew, pulled pork sandwiches, and homemade soups and biscuits. Joseph runs his business simply but efficiently. When customers arrive, they’re directed to approach the front counter, place their order from the large menu board, and then take a number when they pay. When their number is called, they return to the counter to pick up their tray of food.

In the first two years of business, Joseph began to wonder if opening his diner had been a mistake. On many days, the flow of customers was pitifully slow. Initially he blamed the situation on the fact that his diner wasn’t on a major thoroughfare; but then he also noticed that first-time customers who trickled in rarely returned. He worked long hours just to make enough to pay the bills. In his desire to “get” success, Joseph seemed to be failing miserably.

The situation changed soon after Joseph experienced a startling revelation about his essential nature. His focus turned toward “giving” each and every one of his customers a successful dining experience; which meant serving them the best meals possible in a kind and courteous manner. He wanted them to feel his love for them. In the following months, his business quadrupled; and many of the first-time customers became regulars. Family and friends assumed that his business had only been saved by luck; but Joseph knew the real reason:

For more than twenty years, Joseph has secretly whispered to himself when customers come to pick up their food at the counter. Although he outwardly calls their number tag (e.g. “Serving #17”), in his heart he knows the truth that he’s actually “One Serving One.” He realizes that his customers are within him; and he’s within them. Together they’re a success. God in apparent form is serving God in the forms of guests. And therein lies the secret of his success. As a result, the people who visit his restaurant often think of it as a loving sanctuary, more than a restaurant.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Being No-Thing Incorporated

To begin, please press the arrow:

***

“You’ve reached Being No-Thing Incorporated, specializing in the business of eternal IS-ness. My name is Divine Diana. How may I be of service?”

Caller: “Oh, hello, I’m Pamela Person, and I’ve been having a lot of problems. Everything seems to be going wrong.”

Divine Diana: “Your call is important to us, Pamela, and so are YOU. Please hold the line. I’ll just need a few moments to redirect you to one of our representatives.”

Pamela Person: “Certainly.” (hums the theme from Jeopardy, while waiting).

Divine Diana (speaking offline, to her co-light worker Heavenly Helen): “You’re not going to believe this–I’ve got another Being on the line who thinks she’s a person with a lot of problems. That’s four in the last hour!

Heavenly Helen: “But our job here, Diana, is to help as many as possible.”

Divine Diana: “Yes, I know; it’s just that even a spirit can only take so much.”

Heavenly Helen: “Let’s put your caller through to Serene Specialist. She’s been with the company since the beginning; she’ll know what to do.”

Divine Diana: “Done,” she said, with an affirmative nod; and she transferred the call.

***

(Moments later)

Serene Specialist: “Hello, Pamela, I apologize for keeping you waiting. My name is Serene; I work as a specialist at Being No-Thing Incorporated. I understand that you think you’re a person with a lot of problems. Would you care to share more?”

Pamela Person: “Hi, Serene. Yes, I’m definitely a person with a lot of problems. My mind’s driven me close to the edge during the last several years. I think many of my issues began when I felt a sense of being abandoned by my mother when I was two. Can you teach me how to let go of my problems?”

Serene Specialist: “Thank you for sharing that,” Serene said compassionately. “Here at Being No-Thing Incorporated, we really can’t teach you anything. Our main intention is to help clear up some confusion and point to knowing recognition of your essential nature.”

Pamela Person: “My essential nature?” said Pamela. “Well, my mother was a McFadden, of Scottish decent, if that’s any help; and my father’s background is a mix of Dutch-Irish.”

Serene Specialist: “Thank you,” said Serene, “but that wasn’t what I meant. To get to the root of human problems, we have to dive deeper into the investigation of true Self, beyond the apparent person. It’s called self inquiry. Have you ever heard that term before?”

Pamela Person: “No, I must admit that I haven’t.”

Serene Specialist: “You’re not alone in that regard,” said Serene. “Most human beings haven’t. The root of the issue related to self inquiry is misunderstanding. It’s a case of mistaken identification.”

Pamela Person: “Hmmm,” said Pamela, “sounds interesting. How much will it cost for me to get rid of my problems?”

Serene Specialist: “At the most profound level, such requires sacrificing every erroneous belief of ever being the person. I know that sounds strange, but it’s Truth.”

Pamela Person (perplexed): “You mean I’d have to surrender myself?”

Serene Specialist: “Only the beliefs of ever being the person. What remains is real.”

***

Dear Readers: The primary purpose of this article is to relate the following: There is a great difference between believing yourself to be the conceptual “self” that’s fabricated by the mind, and BEING That which you already are. In short, the definitions “of” you can never be the “real” YOU. The idea that you exist as a “person” is just that–an assumption that’s gathered so much gravity that it appears real. To “Know Thyself,” it’s important to discern clearly. With clear seeing, the quality of life that expresses through our “I Am” perspective in Consciousness improves dramatically.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Moving Mountains

During the years that I have studied the law of attraction and our essential nature, I’ve faithfully used many affirmations. One of my favourites is the abridged version of the passage found in Matthew 17:20:

“If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain,

‘Move from here to there,’

and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

If the statement that “and nothing shall be impossible for you” seems too good to be true, please continue reading with an open mind. My initial interpretation of the passage was based upon a much more limited perspective; but now I know–not just believe–that all things are truly possible through God. As each of us is unique, the circumstantial mountains that we might desire to be removed will be different. For some persons, it might be a health issue or financial problem. For others, it could be a career challenge or conflict within a relationship. Whatever the nature of mountain we face, greater understanding plays a tremendously important role in removing it.

The biggest issue that all of us face is our own ignorance (meaning unawareness) of the nature of the world and our true Being. The majority of persons are unaware of their essential nature; but they’re also unaware that they are unaware. Thus, they (as the apparent person) struggle against circumstances that often seem insurmountable. This was certainly the case with me. To gain greater clarity, we must let go of our assumptions and know REALITY as it IS. Let’s dive deeper into the subject by reading the following content from various books:

The Wish Fulfilled, by Neville Goddard

***

Before I Am, by Mooji

***

I Am That, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

***

Living Truth, by Jean Klein

***

What you have read in the quotations is true. The reason why mountains can be moved by our belief is because they are “dream” mountains, MADE OF MIND. What we habitually affirm (through our thoughts, beliefs and actions) is confirmed as our apparent reality; but when we change our beliefs and attitudes, our problems are compelled to change. The well-known placebo effect illustrates this perfectly. When a patient has absolute faith that a medication or procedure will work, the treatment WORKS! The principle related to belief is shared in the Bible in Matthew 9:29, through the following words spoken by Jesus:

“According to your faith be it unto you.”

To move our apparent personal mountains, it’s vitally important that we realize that we are–literally–not the body-mind (person). Such goes against every last bit of our mental conditioning. Therefore, we cannot possibly be the doer of actions. We are Awareness dreaming an apparently human life. This is also related in the Bible, in Acts 17:28:

“For in him we live, and move, and have our being.”

The depth of this is more easily comprehended by contemplating that we also believe, with absolute certainty, that we’re the doers during our nighttime dreams. Of course, when the dream ends, we realize that such couldn’t possibly have been the case–that all of the fantastic adventures, or scary situations, were rendered via the mind. Any actions that seemed to have been performed occurred within a dream. The same holds true in this, the waking-state dream. In Truth, we are the witness only.

Most Beings who are tightly bound to egoic identity will find the content of this article impossible to believe or, perhaps, even ludicrous; but its Truth may be known directly via the practice of self inquiry. Are you absolutely certain that you are the person? Can you actually be a name, or a body form that is changing moment to moment?

It took years for me to comprehend the nature of our mountains. The biggest challenge was my own lack of understanding. Perhaps you will also realize that you’ve been attempting to move mountains through an illusory character, instead of via the real YOU. Wouldn’t it be easier to let God within do it for you, and open yourself to life more abundant?

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Love So Deep

The Bible might be unfamiliar territory to a lot of readers (myself included), but the majority of persons may know of the following well-known passage. Found in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7, the passage describes the nature and qualities of God/Love:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

By comparison, the egoic love of humankind can seem barren, or lacking, in any real substance. It’s a poor imitation, which is often unstable and dependent on circumstances and/or behaviour. This type of love might be termed the “thought” of love, because it’s based on the sliding scale of polarity. Such explains why many persons experience a version of love that feels hot one day, yet frigid the next.

To know and express God’s love, we must become It. No shortcuts exist; there’s no other way. We know that we’re dealing with real–So Deep–love by the depth of our emotional capacity. To pour forth as that which is pure, we must first be emptied of that which is impure. For instance: If the love that we profess is dependent or tainted by self interest, it’s not pure. If there are motives that are suspect, self-serving, or selfish attached to the love we express, such a love is also impure. If there’s the faintest hint of getting, instead of the purity of giving, we are dealing with imitative love. Logically, this makes sense. As God is already everything, what could It possibly hope to gain? If, on the other hand, our love is abundant, non judgmental, and overflowing with sincerity, we have tapped the Golden Fountain of Love. At this point, we aren’t loving “like” God, but “as” God.

Awareness is the key to helping us to express, as much as humanly possible, the shining fullness of our Creator’s Divine Love. Left to his own resources, the guy named “Art” is incapable of expressing Love So Deep; but when he is surrendered, God is enabled to flow in and express a love that’s deep, rich, and real.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Spiritual High Rollers”

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

A m

A n

E T E R N _ L

B _ _ _ _

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

“I am an eternal bigot!

I am an eternal beast!

I am an eternal baker!”

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

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

***

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

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

We Are The Solution

There’s an old story told that goes as follows:

***

A town lies in the pathway of an oncoming flood. The residents are warned that they must evacuate because the water level is rising very quickly. Most people heed the warning and flee, using whatever means available to find dry land. One man, however, remains alone in his home. The water rises to the level of his front porch. Soon after, people in a rubber dinghy paddle up to his house. “Get in,” they call, “we’ll save you!” “No,” says the man, “I’m waiting on God to save me!” The people in the dinghy reluctantly leave, and the waters continue to rise.

A few hours later, the man is forced to climb to the second floor of his home. He is standing on the balcony when people come by in a power boat. “Get in,” they call, “we’ll save you!” “No,” calls the man, “I’m waiting on God to save me!” The people reluctantly leave, unable to believe their eyes.

The flood waters rise with even greater intensity, and the man is forced to climb onto the roof of his home. He’s clinging to the chimney when a helicopter flies overhead. A rope ladder is flung out of the helicopter, and a rescuer descends. “Grab hold,” calls the rescuer, “we’ll save you!” “No,” shouts the man, “I’m waiting on God to save me!” The helicopter is forced to fly away. The house finally tumbles over in the raging waters, and the man drowns. When the man arrives in Heaven, he’s very angry with God. “I believed in You!” he cries. “Why didn’t you save me?” To this, God replies: “What did you want? I sent you a dinghy, a power boat, and a helicopter!”

***

There was a time when I thought the story was just a mildly humorous joke–which reveals that I, too, missed the boat! The story is actually intended to relate great wisdom. God/Source/The Universe works through us. Until we understand this, we’re missing a tremendously important point. All of us possess gifts that are intended to be shared for the benefit of everyone; and fortunately our gifts are unique. To enable ourselves to give from the heart, we must do some soul searching and discover our true passion. When we live our purpose–there’s the joy!

The next time that you’re seeking divine assistance for a problem, keep your eyes open and your intuition attuned. The solution might arrive through a person sitting next to you on the bus or subway; or through a friend who knows of a friend. More important, you might realize that Divinity Incarnate–in the form of you and the “other” person–is present.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Think2wice

CONSCIOUSNESS, SPIRITUALITY, & LAW OF ATTRACTION

Tag: God

Hashtag (#) Everyone

8 Billion Prodigal Sons

“One In Other”

In Him We Live

One Serving One

Being No-Thing Incorporated

Moving Mountains

Love So Deep

“Spiritual High Rollers”

We Are The Solution

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