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Tom's introduction to his workshop: Your Choice for
Oneness
"Most of us highly value our ability to freely choose
and
make what seems to be
hundreds of choices every day,
without realizing what we are actually choosing.
In truth,
there are only two choices available. We will
examine
how to be more conscious of what these choices
mean
and how they effect our return to oneness."
It was very tempting to sit back and just soak
up
Tom and Linda's vibes instead taking notes while
Tom was speaking. As was mentioned frequently
during the conference words are but symbols of
symbols and as such are
twice removed from the
truth. There are times
when it's better to refrain from
analyzing what is
being said and just listen from
the heart. This seemed
to be such a time. However,
I did take notes
and relaxed into the words as well.
Tom and Linda Carpenter clarified some nagging
questions for Bob
and me in a few simple words. Be
sure and see the Q and A near the end if you
don't
read all the notes.
Tom: "What is our intention in study?
To get a better
relationship? To heal our
body in the world? There is
no problem with wanting these things in the world.
ACIM will serve both instances but don't sell it short.
Nothing has any meaning. It has only the
meaning that
I give it.
"We cannot expand perception or purify it or make it
real.
Natural being is oneness. Ego is not something to be
healed completely. Ego is something to be
abandoned.
[This is] a different way of thinking. We can
presume
our oneness. The very instant the thought of
separation
entered our mind the Holy Spirit's idea counteracted
the
idea of sin and separation. The Holy Spirit's
idea has
as much function as we are willing to give
it.
"Do not call ego 'my' ego. It is 'the' ego.
Use the other
idea ... the God Self idea. Claim that instead of
claiming
something else. You haven't yet realized [the
ego] isn't
going to give you what you want. Understand your
perception for what it is. We think we should
manipulate
it [our perception]. We try to purify ego by
suffering and
sacrifice.
"Jesus purpose is to show the alternative, another way
of thinking. We try to use A Course in Miracles
to change
our perception, or by doing the forgiveness process for
20
years. You may have been trying to do the
forgiveness
yourself. [Rather]
presume there is a God Self idea in ego
consciousness that will do the forgiveness to extend
the
principles of love in place of judgments. Then
notice the
difference in how we feel. Which brings us what
we want?
"Why does forgiveness not work? Because we tried
to
do it ourselves. We really don't know how to give
perception any other meaning than what we give
it.
Remove all limitations we place on forgiveness.
Then forgiveness will work.
"When we don't recognize the alternative and we don't
move ahead with God's forgiveness. [When] we have
[accepted] God's [forgiveness] without judgment fear
doesn't exist. We fear that God wants us to
atone/
sacrifice. If we are in fear we try to keep [hold
back]
one thing or another and we
feel conflict. Stop. Ask,
'Would I rather experience
peace rather than this?'
Watch what happens. Just make a decision to have
peace rather than experience
conflict.
"This world is a mirror which is acting out a thought
in our mind. Align with peace and know the peace
of God has nothing to do with body experiences.
Peace is Who you are, not what is happening outside
of us.
"Don't think you can't have peace before you are fully
awakened. You can.
Q. I don't want to watch the TV
news. It that okay?
A. There are two ways to look at this
idea. One is
not to watch the news because it bothers me too
much. Or I don't need to watch it because I know
I am peace.
[There was only] one ego thought -- not mine,
not
yours -- just one ego thought. When I no longer
use
that thought I awaken. Only one of
us awakens.
"[As] we create more ideas around ego thought
we build ego consciousness. Awakening is
abandoment of ego ideas.
"Jesus said 'I cannot awake without you.
Jesus
said 'See your brother as ourself.' Identify
with
the whole. How can you see yourself awaken
and
not your brother? How can you see another
awaken
and not yourself?
"How? Let the ego idea end! Open to being
an
_expression_ of the whole ego consciousness and
that we are awakening for the entire
consciousness.
See the whole and your part in the whole.
"An idea does not have a voice of it's own. It
does
nothing until you embrace the idea. If I don't
claim
it then there is no voice there.
"Reach the point where you recognize the power of
oneness and no longer recognize the force of
separation.
"The voice of the Holy Spirit is our own voice.
It connects
us back to the Holy Spirit idea. An idea cannot
leave its
source. We cannot make something different of
ourselves.
We cannot separate cause from effect. Mind is
whole. We
can't get outside of mind. We can shift our
awareness
and make a belief. The experience of the
belief [we made]
is then what we believe to be true.
"We cannot deny our perception, but we can deny
its truth.
"The instant you had the thought the
effect [seemed to be] there.
There is justication for letting go of the idea. The
moment we
let go of it we are free to change our belief [away]
from the
magic show.
"Our mind is awesome. People who have an out
of body
experience see in all directions, they see county
wide, they
see all places at once. They are not seeing with
the body's
eyes. The body's eyes witness
to ego beliefs and that is all.
"Within the ego framework all is judgment. We
can't get
there [to heaven/truth] from judgment. Here is a
test of the
ego voice: God will not say there is a way to
improve ...
that there is something you can do ...
that you should
[practice] tough love, etc.
Nothing is more important than
you be happy and at peace. [Observe] which
thought is
lighter. Choose the thought that is
lighter. Be aware
when asking guidance, be clear that we want it and
that
we deserve it. [Be aware that] any way I feel
about
myself I feel about you.
[When] I condemn myself I
condemn you. Does this bring me
peace?
"God's son can entertain any thought that he
wants,
but if it is not of oneness it has no [real]
effect.
"The ego idea was not wholly
accepted within the
one mind of God.
"What is one can be a multiple of one with
one
purpose. As an example of this consider a
cell
of the body. DNA for the whole body is
contained
in each cell and is the
intelligence of the whole body.
Therefore it has one purpose, however; each cell has
an individual _expression_.
Q. Is ego the little ray that is
separate from the sun?
A. It is more like the little
ray that denies it is the
sun.
"Our purpose? Purpose and function is
oneness.
All the rest is irrevevant. Anything that
expresses
oneness is true. In Truth we are the purpose of
oneness. Ego purpose: what we do is what
we
are instead of ... We Are.
"Jesus opened the door to [realize] our
oneness.
The movement back to [awareness of] oneness
begins with acceptance of
one ego thought
consciousness which is perceived in
ego
consciousness.
"Awakening is not an event that occurs.
It is
your recognition of an event that didn't
occur.
"The idea of the ego is like a mirror of our
thoughts.
The idea of God allows us to see though
[perception's
mirror] into the eternal knowing.
Q. If there is only one mind the ego
must be in that one mind.
And if God is
benolvolent is there a benolevent purpose for
the ego? Also; how can
God not be aware of what seems to
be going on in the world?
A. God is aware of this world, but he
doesn't claim it. Only a
very small part of the sonship
accepted the tiny mad idea.
God is aware of the idea, but he
doesn't accept it. Since God
doesn't accept it the ego idea has
no effect. God's son
would not be free if he were
not free to think any thought.
[The logical thought would be if God doesn't accept it
why
should we?]
Q. What will be the end of the
universe?
A. How long does it take you to
think about it?
"Experiment: Take an occasion that seems not to
have a solution. See
yourself as who can bring a
solution to it. See yourself begin to think of who
you are as Is-ness.
Q. There is a spiritual teacher
from whom I have learned
much and yet he himself does not seem to accept
his own teaching of peace and freedom from fears
and ego
desires. How am I to think of this teacher?
A. I want you to this do one
thing for me.
Just love him just as
he is."
Tom is the author of the excellent:
The inner light can answer any of this world's queries and resolve any of its problems. Beyond all of these concerns, the inner light will show you who you are and your relationship to all...and bring you an understanding of love and peace that transcends ordinary human thought processes. Discover what it truly means to "love one another" and to "see peace." Yahoo! Groups Links
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