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

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” 🙏🏻🧡

This Mental Universe

In this article, we’re going to depart from our inquiry into the nature of our true Self and examine The Law of Attraction in greater depth. For persons who are unfamiliar with the subject, the law is basically summed up as follows:

“We bring about what we think about.”

One well-known example of the law at work is related in the Bible, through the account of Job, who suffered tremendously: “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.” That to which we give our attention, whether favorable or unfavorable, manifests in our “reality.” If you doubt this can be true, please read the following photo-messages from various books:

Socrates (470 – 399 BC) was no slouch when it came to philosophy. He was also an idealist, which basically means that he believed that everything is a concept in mind. Think opposite of a materialist; a person who believes in a world made of apparent matter. Before scoffing at the idea that matter doesn’t exist in the “concrete-real” way that most persons assume, please contemplate the following question: “Do you believe that you actually come into contact with matter?” If so, you might want to think again. All that we experience directly are our perceptions–basically sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell, which are modulations of thought. Beyond these, we’re only assuming that a correlative world made of matter actually exists. Quantum physics has yet not discovered the tiniest bits of matter; and it never will.

A few quotes may help us understand how the Law of Attraction really works, beginning with Socrates: “To be is to do.” Mahatma Gandhi pointed to the same understanding through his famous quote: “Be the change you desire to see in the world.” Bob Proctor, who studied the teachings of the Law of Attraction for almost sixty years, said: “If you can see it in the mind, you’re going to hold it in the hand.” Mike Dooley, who is a noted speaker and author about the Law of Attraction, states it this way: “Thoughts become things.” Neville Goddard, who was a Barbadian-born mystic, lecturer, and author of many books about deliberate creation, stated: “Things have no reality other than in consciousness. Therefore, get the consciousness first and the thing is compelled to appear.” Andrew Carnegie, who was once one of the wealthiest men in the world, stated the premise the following way: “Any idea that is held in the mind, that is emphasized, that is either feared or revered will begin at once to clothe itself in the most convenient and appropriate form available.”

If all of this sounds like lunacy, I hear you. At one time, I would have definitely agreed. However, if we engage in even a little self-inquiry, we can come to realize that we are neither the body nor the mind. In other words, you’re not the person you have assumed. Through time spent in stillness (Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God“), we can directly experience a deeper dimension of Self; one in which we recognize that we are the witness of sensations, images, feelings, and thoughts. All of these arise and subside; we, however, are the eternal witness (Universal Consciousness) of all the effects that appear. Persons (aka body-minds) are appearances in consciousness that are known by Awareness. Our true nature is Awareness–Spirit. Just for the record, the source of consciousness due to biological functions has never been found in the body (coined The Hard Problem of Consciousness by David Chalmers), and it never will be. Why? Because the body is rendered by the mind.

We are co-creators–not persons. We create by imagining what we desire to manifest, and we do so by believing that what we desire is ours already. This world is not made of matter; it’s made of mind. This explains why Nikola Tesla stated the following: “If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration; “and why James Jean, noted astrophysicist and author of The Mysterious Universe, stated “The stream of knowledge is heading towards a non-mechanical reality; the Universe begins to look more like a great thought than like a great machine. Mind no longer appears to be an accidental intruder into the realm of matter… we ought rather hail it as the creator and governor of the realm of matter.”

As much as it might seem that we are the doers and the personal knowers of the world, we are not. Those effects are produced by Maya (Sanskrit term, meaning illusion). There is One Knower and One Doer (God), which is manifesting through a multiplicity and diversity of beings. With regard to our waking dreams (which the majority of persons assume to be reality), if we persistently hold onto our visions, and imbue them with feeling, they will manifest. Just know that the effects will be made out of mind stuff–Consciousness.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Place Your Reservation

Imagine with me, if you will, that you walk into a fast food restaurant and approach the woman behind the counter. You look her in the eye and innocently say, “Yes, my last name is Smith and I have a reservation for two, at seven thirty. My friend and I would like a table with a view.” What type of response do you think you would receive? Imagine with me, also, that you visit the beautiful state of Utah. However, instead of appreciating the beauty of it’s amazing vistas and rock formations, that you’re disappointed because you can’t reserve a hotel room with a view of the Pacific! And–you’re probably asking yourself–the point of this?

The point relates to an axiom of the Principle of Correspondence in the Kybalion, a book of ancient wisdom. It states: As Above, so Below; As Below, so Above. Meaning? It means that there is correspondence–or correlation–among the planes of being and life. The three planes– The Physical, Mental, and Spiritual–are not actual planes but arbitrary divisions or degrees in the scale of life. Such divisions are not hard and fast but shade in and out of one another. The Principle of Correspondence is important to understand, for with it, we can–and will–manifest more effectively.

What does this mean, practically? It means that to manifest more effectively we must align ourselves spiritually, mentally, and physically. In the spiritual: We must habitually be whatever we desire. In the mental: we must habitually think of what we desire. In the physical, we must habitually act in ways that reflect what we desire. The three states must align–or correspond–before we’ll experience the manifestation.

Using the analogy of the reservations from the first paragraph, that means that we cannot manifest prosperity by being, thinking, and acting poor. That means that we cannot enjoy health by being, thinking, and acting sick. That means that we cannot enjoy success by being, thinking, and acting failure. To be, think, and act in ways that contradict what we desire–does not make sense; in the same way that seeking a view of the Pacific from Utah does not make sense. You just can’t get that from there.

So, what do we desire? Is it great health, increased wealth, wonderful relationships, or more success? If so, it’s time to place our reservations. How to you do this? Through the powers of our imagination–first. Be it, think it, act it! We must imagine what we desire, and concentrate with patient and detached persistence. By doing so, we’re placing our reservation with the Universe. After that, we have only to remain strong in our faith, and then act upon our intuitive nudges. Law will bring what we desire.

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. May it help you in your spiritual journey. 🙏🙏

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Preemptive Strikes

Most of us, unfortunately, will be familiar with the term preemptive strike, which is usually used in the context of war. From Wikipedia, its basic definition is as follows: A surprise attack launched with the stated intention of countering an anticipated enemy offensive. In theory, the first to strike will gain an advantage, likely by catching the enemy off guard or unprepared.

As this relates to the Law of Attraction, a preemptive strike is not against an enemy but against ourselves and our goals! In many cases, the action reveals hidden fears or subconscious beliefs of unworthiness, rather than any real reason why our goals can’t be achieved! This covert operation is often habitual, a mechanism related to memories of past goals attempted without success. It works thus: Instead of allowing our goal to manifest, through intuitive guidance toward action required, we unconsciously defeat it with our negative thinking. Once again, this type of mentality offers proof that we bring about what we think about! It is destructive in nature, not constructive. This is the strike; the attack against our own aspirations.

Why, though, would our mind attack a goal that could potentially enrich our life? Because a new goal requires us to shift out of our comfort zone, and that can be a terrifying experience! In fact, many motivational speakers claim that if a goal doesn’t scare us a little that it’s probably not big enough! When the mind strikes down a goal, we may temporarily feel some relief, just to have the matter settled. However, in the quiet hours of the soul we realize what’s being sacrificed.

Regarding preemptive strikes in war, who would know the best action to be taken? This, however, is certain regarding the achievement of our goals: Unless we remain open to possibilities, we doom our dreams. The mind that’s launching preemptive strikes would have us believe that it’s being of benefit; that it’s protecting us from painful future experiences. But such a mentality negates the value of lessons learned from attempting in the first place! It’s actually sabotaging our dreams before they’ve been given a chance.

How do we counter such attacks? By recognizing them for the enemy they are! By questioning their validity and, if appropriate, refusing to accept that our goal can’t be achieved just because we don’t know the way now! Such requires patience, persistence, insight, faith, and action! The subconscious will undoubtedly attempt to convince us to be realistic; to accept that some people are lucky and some not. The truth, however, is that luck has nothing to do with it.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

The Way of Trust

All of us bring attitudes to the situations of our life. Some situations we may label as good; some we may label as bad; some perhaps a mixture of both. Whatever the case, it’s unavoidable that we will bring our habitual thoughts and feelings with us. However, for the sake of manifesting the best of life, let’s share a perspective that may help us greatly.

We dream of the way we’d like life to be. We want this, that, or the other thing. We want a relationship to be just so; our career to happen this way but not that; travel to unfold according to our expectations; and solutions to arrive on our schedule. Alas, this is often not the case. Life surprises us, shocks us, knocks us, confuses us, and downright rebels against our most valiant efforts. However…

What if we adjusted ourselves–and our beliefs–to life; rather than expecting life to adjust to us. Would there be a benefit? Could we actually find ourselves flowing with the tide of life, rather than against it? The undeniable and unequivocal answer is yes! Could we arrive at a state of Being–deep within ourselves–in which we accept every moment as it is? And could we adopt the belief that life is always working in our favour, even if at first glance it appears otherwise?

Think: As life is always changing, is it safe to say that we never truly arrive? Is not every moment merely a stepping stone to the next? Can a supposed arrival ever truly be static? And with this knowledge, may we conclude that the outcome we have desired–which has not yet appeared–doesn’t have to be labelled as disappointment? Could the fulfillment of our desire still be on its way? Or could that which didn’t occur, still turn out to be for the best? And could we, thus, learn invaluable lessons?

To live in this manner is to live by the way of trust. We may believe that whatever happens in life–the loss of a recent relationship; the end of a business venture; an unexpected displacement from the workplace–is in our best interest. From our limited and small perspective, we so often assume that we know best. The truth, however, is that life’s detours often yield the best results…and the greatest joy!

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

To Think Deliberately

Eckhart Tolle is one of the most influential spiritual teachers of our time. In the last several years, he has risen to prominence not only for his books, which include The Power of Now and A New Earth, but also for his television spiritual retreats. Although he has great wisdom to share about our essential nature, he’s also skilled at teaching us the art of deliberate thinking.

Many persons may wonder if deliberate thinking is, indeed, possible; but that’s likely because they’ve never attempted it. For most people, thoughts just occur; most often in a random and repetitive manner. As a consequence, their lives often that lack of deliberate intention.

Some experts believe that it’s impossible to know what our next thoughts will bewe cannot possibly know what our next thoughts will be; that we are not, in fact, capable of producing them. This may or may not be true; but through deliberate effort, we can at least attune ourselves to the nature of thoughts we receive. In one presentation, Eckhart likened the process to the following:

Imagine that you’re sitting on a park bench, with no agenda in mind except to enjoy time in nature. A few minutes pass by, but then a dog runs into our field of vision. It sniffs the ground in one location; paws the earth at a second; stops to urinate at a third. The dog moves on and on. In this example, the dog, of course, is analogous to our thinking process. Must we follow that dog and focus on it exclusively, merely because it entered our awareness? If we answered “yes,” we’re training ourselves to be the slave–not the master–of every other dog (thought) that enters our mind. Negative “dogs” lead to more thoughts of a similar nature, as though connected by an invisible leash. Fortunately, the same is true of positive thoughts.

What does this mean in practical terms? That we can choose not to follow painful thoughts related to our ex spouse, business deals that failed, or financial worries. That we can choose not to focus on relationship thoughts that cause stress, worry, or concern. We’re not being negligent when we choose not to do so; we’re actually nurturing a better state of mind. And we may remind ourselves just who gives importance, relevance, and meaning to all of our thoughts and experiences. We hold the scepter of opinion–not the thoughts.

With practice, we may train ourselves to follow only thoughts that we wish to entertain. There are also times when we will choose not to think; to remain in the bliss of present awareness without engaging the thinking process. We may also liken thinking to our arms or legs: Just because we have them, must they always be in motion? No, they may be at rest; and the same is true of our mind. If we have nothing good to think, we may choose not to engage negative thinking just to fill time. Such, in fact, will benefit us greatly.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Ride On

I’ve just returned from a 13, 000-kilometer motorcycle trip in which I visited the west coast of Canada and also a few of the States of America. I was away for thirty-three incredible days. It was a great trip, and I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity to travel in a way that provides both excitement and joy.

My passion for motorcycling struck me when I was a teenager, and despite a period of over twenty years in which I didn’t ride, my passion returned several years ago. How glad I am that it did! Several friends I know also ride, but we have strikingly dissimilar belief systems when the subject of continued riding in future years comes up. Two people I know have even planned the exact age when they will quit riding–stating reasons such as, “Well, you know that your reflexes get slower as you age,” or “you have to be very sharp when you’re riding on two wheels.” I don’t deny that these statements are true; but both negate that safe riding can still be possible, in part due to benefits that we’ve acquired as we age. We’ll look at the subject from a Law of Attraction viewpoint:

The Law of Attraction basically states that what we think about, we bring about. When we apply this to the subject of safe motorcycling, it, thus, means that if we focus upon the day when we will quit, to be safe, we will actually manifest that as a consequence of our thinking. Our mind, when directed in such a manner, will offer ample evidence as proof of why this should be so. My approach is much different.

Yes, the day will undoubtedly come when I will stop riding, but until that day appears I’m going to focus all of my efforts on staying in the saddle. Why not? I’m going to tell myself that such is possible for as long as possible. The point? It’s definitely not solely about riding a motorcycle! It’s about indulging in and enjoying all of our interests! Golfing, skiing, running? Travel, adventure, passion? I’m saying “Yes!” to all of my interests. Isn’t it wiser to let life determine when the time is right to forgo an interest, and trade that one for yet another? The details will look after themselves. We need not plan for the day when we figuratively park our motorcycle for the last time, or shelve our helmet. In fact doing so, only makes such occur that much sooner!

Why was my trip only 13,000 kilometers long? Simple: Because I started to entertain thoughts (which brought about corresponding actions) that it was time to turn eastward and return to life in Ontario. If I had continued to think about riding in other States–perhaps heading further south–it would have been much longer. This little example applies to so many of our other interests? Why are we not travelling anymore? Because we stopped entertaining the idea that we could or should? Why have we given up on driving, maintaining our own home, or hiking the surrounding parks? Quite often it’s because we stopped thinking that such was possible; long before any physical reason presented that actually inhibited our ability to do so.

In a book entitled In The Flow of Life, the author, Eric Butterworth, tells the account of a businessman named Joseph McDonald, who, despite being eighty years of age, was vibrant, energetic, and doing the same amount of work of employees many years younger. At lunch one day, a young employee politely asked Mr. McDonald his age. Without missing a beat, Joseph replied, “My son, my age is none of my business!” What he was so wisely saying was that his age need not ever be his focus. Must we squeeze ourselves into the stereotypical definitions of someone who is sixty, seventy, eighty and beyond? No! We can let age take care of itself. It will. In the meantime, isn’t it time to be planning our next trip?

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Awakening To The “Now”

There’s a paradox related to the Law of Attraction: From the beginning of our study, we’re told that we must govern our thinking; to choose our thoughts wisely; to concentrate on what we desire to experience, not on what we don’t! The importance of being the watchful guardian of our mind is stressed repeatedly. We’re taught that positive thoughts create positive outcomes; negative thoughts, negative. Intuitively, we realize this is true, for our instincts inform us nothing good can come from entertaining negative thoughts. So, what’s the paradox?

That thinking, the very tool we use to attract the good we seek, can become a hindrance. When used correctly, thinking is undoubtedly one of our greatest gifts. Used incorrectly, however, it can be more a curse than a blessing. Not only is it important to know how to direct our thinking, but also how to get out of it! Contrary to popular belief, we needn’t have endless thoughts and opinions about every aspect of life; nor in our best interests to do so. But how do we enter the transcendent beauty of the present moment?

By directing our attention out of the mind and into a dimension apart from thinking. Eckhart Tolle, a renowned spiritual teacher and author of The Power of Now and A New Earth, advises us to leave the mind’s incessant chatter by focusing our attention into the body. A deep breath may help us enter–then anchor in–the present moment; for the breath is a potent reminder of life that’s happening right now, moment to moment. To exist in a conceptualized realm is not to live. An overactive mind, subject to thoughts that hijack our attention, may render us incapable of truly enjoying the fruits of our labours. What sense in that?

With practice, we may regain our sense of innocence and wonder, as though reborn into the world as a child. We may surrender to life as it is. By doing so, we discover that the good we sought is naturally present, closer than we previously thought. Awakened, we realize that our experiences come vibrantly alive. The difference is not related to the activities themselves, but to the degree of presence we bring to them! That sense of aliveness has been shining there all along, obscured by conceptualization.

Life happens now. Plain. Simple. Real. True. The present moment is all there is. When we think about the past, we do that now. When we think about the future, we do that now. There’s definitely a time to visualize, to dream and mentally reach beyond our current circumstance. However, there’s also a time to enjoy–fully engaged in the aliveness of experience. As always, balance is key.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

The Power of Patience

There are countless books on the Law of Attraction that repeat the same formula: Ask, Believe, and Receive. We know that to ask is to know what we desire. We know that to believe is to have faith that our desires can be fulfilled. We know that to receive we must act in ways that are congruent with our desires. All of this we know. What we may not realize, however, is the power of patience. Although it may seem counter-intuitive–or even ludicrous–to link power and patience in the same sentence, the title of this article holds great truth. Think of this for a few minutes, if you will.

In our fast-paced culture–that routinely demands instant gratification–we’ve grown accustomed to wanting results fast! We want our food fast; a product fast; our travel fast. Advantages have come with this mentality, but we’ve also experienced disadvantages from expecting everything to occur today, if not yesterday. This becomes even more obvious when we examine our attitude regarding the achievement of our goals.

We have become clear about what we desire in life–the new home; our own business; better health; increased wealth; a wonderful relationship. And with our desire in mind, we begin taking steps toward its achievement. Initially, we may be making great strides. We witness progress on a regular basis. If we’ve started a business, we may have opened a shop and attracted our first customers. If we’ve committed to being an artist, we may have improved our skill and learned how to market our art. However, a time may come when our results stall or take a downturn. It’s at this point of deliberate creation that we need to practice the power of patience. What may we do?

Realize, first, that this time is not wasted. Although trite, the old saying that Rome wasn’t built in a day still holds truth. Our business or work of art will not be completed in a day, either. To expect so is unwise, and may lead to negative thinking that works against us. However, if we maintain the view that we’re gaining every day–even if the results aren’t obvious–we’ll be given the fortitude to achieve our goal. Step by step is the way of our journey toward greatness.

Through an attitude of patience, we become a conduit to inspiration, which–if acted upon–will elevate us to the next level of accomplishment. Solutions arrive because we remain calm and expect them. If we permit impatience to dominate our spirit, however, the channel to inspired thought actually constricts. We may consequently feel distanced from the Universal Intelligence we seek. Fortunately, if we live from a point of wisdom, we realize what’s to be gained by nurturing a positive and patient attitude. Without this, we may be sabotaging the achievement of our desires.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Be “That” Friend

The study and deliberate application of the Law of Attraction can take us a long way–from that faint vision of our heart’s desire to its achievement in the here and now. What was once only an intangible dream can be made real through faith and action. A definite method exists; one practiced by wise men and women through the ages. Through this process, we may not only achieve our goals but also awaken to our essential nature.

However, anyone who has reached for a goal will likely tell us this: Along the path of achievement, there will be many unexpected twists and turns. There will be hills to climb and valleys to forge; there will be days that seem darker than the night; there will be times when our doubt is strong and our faith is weak; when we wonder Why did I even start? It’s at times such as these–when the world seems braced against us, and our dreams beyond our reach–that we may consider ourselves very rich, indeed, if we can call on that friend.

Who is that friend? A soul that wishes us only good health, happiness, and fortune; an individual who wishes to take nothing, but eagerly offers meaningful encouragement, honest opinion, and good wishes; a person who goes that extra mile in kindness, and generosity. Most of us realize the importance of having a mentor–someone who has bravely led the way and achieved what we desire to achieve; but to have a friend who believes in us and our dreams is equally invaluable. What, though, if we don’t have such a friend?

All is not lost. There’s still something of great importance that we may do. We can be that person for an acquaintance, colleague, or so-called stranger. What goals do they desire? And how can we help them achieve them? What trials are they going through? And how can we help them surmount them? As ye sow, so shall ye reap. We may be that friend. It’s in everyone’s best interest to do so.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Think2wice

CONSCIOUSNESS, SPIRITUALITY, & LAW OF ATTRACTION

Tag: Mind Power

We Are The Solution

This Mental Universe

Place Your Reservation

Preemptive Strikes

The Way of Trust

To Think Deliberately

Ride On

Awakening To The “Now”

The Power of Patience

Be “That” Friend

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