Author: Joseph Dewey

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Transcending Irritation

August 16, 2024 Joseph Dewey

Transcending Irritation

We are now on the subject of the Keys of Discipleship, not to be confused with the Keys of Knowledge.

We are now moving on to the Second Key of Discipleship. DK hinted at this key and did not use the word tolerance in relation to it, but “irritation.” He basically stated that one of the last things to overcome on the path to discipleship is irritation. By this he didn’t mean irritation in the normal sense at situations, but irritation at fellow seekers. Irritation with another person is a form of intolerance, but it is intolerance with a specific effect. It is the seeker allowing his intolerance get the best of him to the extent that the semi anger of irritation radiates from his being.

The intolerance and irritation we feel toward coworkers is not their fault, but our fault and the aspirant must check himself to make sure his energies are channeled correctly so such feelings do not surface. He should also be honest with himself so such feelings are not suppressed, but properly channeled.

As I have taught previously about in “The Lion Principle,” — it doesn’t do any good to be angry, intolerant, or irritated over a lion for who it is. Recognize the lion for what it is. Realize that if you get too close you may get your head bitten off and act accordingly. It does no good to get irritated at a lion for being who it is.

Even so, we all have faults and instead of being irritated by those faults the disciple just acknowledges their existence and works around them as constructively as possible.

Have fellow workers irritated you? What have you done to deal with it?

Why is The Second Key Of Discipleship such an important key?

This is especially important because energy follows thought. If the seeker is intolerant or irritated at others in the group this means that his attention is on their lower personality. This draws energy toward the lower self, which means that this energy cannot go toward opening the door toward the soul.

Thus the person who is continually criticizing others for not being in the soul is himself directing energy away from his own soul.

How does violating The Second Key of Discipleship hurt the group?

If energy is taken away from being directed at soul contact for one, it will affect the spiritual health of the entire group.

How does violating The Second Key of Discipleship interfere with soul contact?

See above.

Is it possible that the other guy who disturbs you so is following the highest he knows and should be respected?

This is entirely possible. Both you and he could disagree on a number of items and have numerous faults but both are still doing the best they can to follow the highest they know. Following the highest you know does not bring instant enlightenment, but is the one sure way over a period of time to become embraced by the light.

Think of how embarrassing it would be to criticize your brother and not tolerate his faults and then, after death, when you go through the life review, you discover that your problems were as bad or worse than his.

If you follow this key does it mean you overlook the faults of the other person completely. How should you handle such flaws in others?

The problem with black and white thinking is it always only leads to a partial truth. Yes, we should not put excessive energy on the other persons faults, but neither should we ignore the shortcomings of others as they affect the work.

How can we do this without feeling irritable or intolerant?

The key is to view shortcomings purely from the standpoint of the mind with the emotions detached and unaffected. You do not give others power to disturb your emotional body but maintain awareness to the point that you work around the limitations of others in your group.

“You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.” — Eric Hoffer (1902 – 1983)

April 28, 2009

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The True Self

August 15, 2024 Joseph Dewey

The True Self

A Course in Miracles clearly teaches about two selves. The first self is eternal and dwells in heaven, and the second is a temporary illusion and identifies with this world of illusion.

Many spiritual teachings call these two the lower and higher selves. Here is a description from the Course:

“You are what God created or what you made. One Self is true; the other is not there. Try to experience the unity of your one Self.” W-pI.93.9

That which is often called the higher self then is the one that is “true” while the other self “is not there.” but an illusion.

While identifying with this illusionary self, if you listen to the Holy Spirit “you will perceive another self in you. This other self sees miracles as natural.” T-21.V.3

This “other self” or our true self, is recognized by its power to reason, something lacking in the false self:

“You do not realize the whole extent to which the idea of separation has interfered with reason. Reason lies in the other self you have cut off from your awareness. And nothing you have allowed to stay in your awareness is capable of reason. How can the segment of the mind devoid of reason understand what reason is, or grasp the information it would give?” T-21.V.4.

Some believe this false self is the ego but we are told that “the ego is not the Self.” T-4.II.4

“The ego is the questioning aspect of the post-separation self, which was made rather than created. It is capable of asking questions but not of perceiving meaningful answers” T-3.IV.3

So the ego is not the self, but an “aspect” of it. What aspect?

The questioning aspect. This sheds some more light:

“The ego, then, raised the first question that was ever asked, but one it can never answer. That question, ‘What are you?’ was the beginning of doubt. The ego has never answered any questions since, although it has raised a great many.” T-6.IV.2

The ego’s first big question which was “What are you?” was the beginning of doubt.

What is it that we began to doubt? We began to doubt that we were really our true self which shares the mind and attributes of the Father. The ego then went even farther and caused us to even doubt that we had a self and convinced us that our end was not self-awareness, but oblivion for it speaks of “your plan to keep His Son in deep oblivion, and go the way you chose without your Self. It is not God you have imprisoned in your plan to lose your Self.” W-pI.166.9-10

The ego puts its attention on convincing us that we are merely bodies, and what do those who see themselves as bodies believe? They see themselves as having no enduring self and that the destruction of the body results in either oblivion or hell.

“The ego teaches that your function on earth is destruction, and you have no function at all in Heaven. It would thus destroy you here and bury you here, leaving you no inheritance except the dust out of which it thinks you were made. As long as it is reasonably satisfied with you, as its reasoning goes, it offers you oblivion. When it becomes overtly savage, it offers you hell.”

Since the Course places much attention on the true rather than the false self it would seem beneficial to explore what it says about it. After all, “Salvation comes from my one Self. Its Thoughts are mine to use.” W-pI.96.9

In addition, we are told that beyond the body “You go where you would be, gaining, not losing, a sense of Self. In these instants of release from physical restrictions, you experience much of what happens in the holy instant.” T-18.VI.13

It is curious that many seem to think we lose a sense of self when we return to our true spiritual home, but instead the Course says that we will be “gaining, not losing, a sense of Self.”

We then come to the realization that “To be egocentric is to be dis-spirited, but to be Self-centered in the right sense is to be inspired or in spirit.” T-4.in.1

The Course stresses that sharing and unity are essential to finding our true self. The illusionary self sees itself as alone and separate while the true self sees itself as not being alone at all

“You cannot understand yourself alone. This is because you have no meaning apart from your rightful place in the Sonship.” T-5.III.8

Indeed when we realize who we are, we see ourselves as being united with our brothers rather than a separate entity all alone.

“You are one Self, the holy Son of God, united with your brothers in that Self.” W-pI.95.13

“But healing is his own decision to be one again, and to accept his Self with all Its parts intact and unassailed.” W-pI.137.3

Our true self is one in the mind of God, but it is a oneness through sharing:

“Only an illusion stands between you and your brother, and the holy Self you share together.” T-22.IV.7

Some seekers are concerned that they may suffer loss in dropping the false self for the true. To them the Course asks this question:

“Can your self be lost by being found?” T-29.I.9

Realizing our true self is the ultimate act of atonement concerning which it is written:

“The Atonement must be understood as a pure act of sharing.” T-5.IV.2

“If you would give yourself as your Father gives His Self, you will learn to understand Selfhood.” T-15.VI.7

Good advice. Let us follow the example of the Father who “maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matt 5:45

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12 Keys of Discipleship

August 14, 2024 Joseph Dewey

12 Keys of Discipleship

The Highest You Know

The first and most important Key to Discipleship is found in this simple sentence:

“Follow the highest you know.”

Question… Why is this the most important key toward becoming an accepted disciple?

If a person does not follow the highest he knows then every other thing he does or tries to do in connection with the path of discipleship will be corrupted and lead to illusion to some degree. If he follows the highest he knows then each step he takes will be a step toward the light.

This may not seem true at times for sometimes the highest he knows will be completely wrong. But if the highest one can see to do turns out to be an error, the error will be seen if he is pure in heart and true to himself.

If he is not pure in heart then he will not follow the highest he knows and when the error surfaces he will ignore it. He who overlooks error is not following the highest be knows. It is indeed difficult for seekers to recognize error and correct it as they proceed upon the path. Often this is more difficult for an aspiring disciple than it is for the average person because the aspirant is often convinced he is closer to God than his neighbor and therefore certain kinds of mistakes are just not supposed to happen.

The truth is that the seeker is apt to make most any kind of mistake in thinking and needs to always be open to correction.

It is interesting to contemplate the story of Lucifer’s rebellion against God. He could not admit to a mistake in his thinking even when corrected by the Presiding One himself. Even in this high state was one who did not follow the highest he knew.

Keep in mind that he could have really thought he was right in his own plan, but overlooked one point that he knew. God saw from a higher angle of vision and experience than did he so Lucifer should have been open to the possibility that he was wrong. Instead of following the highest he knew and becoming one with God and seeing through his eyes he saw only through his own eyes and hence saw incorrectly and fell from his high estate.

At one time or another we all make the same mistake as Lucifer. We only look through our own eyes thinking we are following the highest we know while at the same time we have pushed away a piece of knowledge that would truly take us on the path of the highest we know.

We see this flaw appear often in debates of all kinds, in particular religious and political ones. One person gives a true piece of data that gives evidence of his point and the other person acts as if the data does not exist and changes the subject or attacks from another angle. Instead of just trying to win the debate the person following the highest he knows will incorporate the true data and see where it leads him. If it proves him to be embarrassingly wrong, then so be it.

To follow this first key the seeker must be true to himself and be aware of all that is before him that can be perceived to be true and follow where it leads to the best of his ability.

Sometimes following the highest you know is easy, and other times very difficult. Being true to ourselves in the easy times will help us to weather the storms and stay true to the course in the trying times.

The Second Key is almost as important as the first, which is this:

The disciple must have tolerance of views and behavior of others, which are different than his own. This especially applies to others of his own group or who are aspiring to the same place along the path as himself.

Contemplate the following questions:

Why is this an important key?

How does violating it hurt the group?

How does violating it interfere with soul contact?

Is it possible that the other guy who disturbs you so is following the highest he knows and should be respected?

If you follow this key does it mean you overlook the faults of the other person completely. How should you handle such flaws in others?

Question: “How can you overlook the highest you know. Isn’t it natural to follow it?

JJ: We overlook the highest we know all the time. His happens when that which we desire conflicts with our highest insight. When we decide to go with the lower desire instead of that which we know then a cloud comes up and covers our soul. When we do it again another cloud forms. If we do this enough then darkness reigns. If we just have one or two clouds then there is still a sense of soul (the sun) behind the clouds, but the seeker cannot see in the light of day.

Examples of not following the highest you know:

[1] Betraying your spouse who you love through having an affair with another.

The guy loves his partner and didn’t want to betray her, but his lower desire influenced his decision rather than the highest he knew.

After the passing of time the guy starts blaming his faithful spouse for his indiscretion. He points out her faults and claims he wouldn’t have had the affair if she had behaved differently. He pushes the highest he knew to the background.

[2] You have an argument with a friend and reach a dead end. A few days later you read an article that proves his point of view. You ignore this and never mention it to your friend, but still maintain your erroneous point of view in discussions. Pretty soon it is as if the article did not exist in your memory.

Here the desire to preserve pride was greater than his desire to reveal the truth. The highest he knew was the truth — not his ego.

[3] Your friends all come to a controversial conclusion and support it and you go along. Then on reflection you conclude they are wrong. After meeting with them again you discover they are very enthusiastic about their conclusion and call people morons that think otherwise. You go along with them because you do not want to lose the confidence of your best friends.

Here your desire to be popular outweighs following the highest you know.

After a period of time the seeker forgets the highest he knew and that on which he places his energy and attention becomes his illusionary belief.

The point is there are many times that people do not follow the highest they know, but for the few who consistently do, the reward is great and the peace is profound.

“He harms himself who does harm to another, and the evil plan is most harmful to the planner.” — Hesiod (~800 BC), “Works and Days”

April 27, 2009

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Faith Explained

August 13, 2024 Joseph Dewey

Faith Explained

A reader wrote me that they were having a conversation with an LDS authority over my teachings on faith where the following was stated:

“What of those who the Savior has said “thy faith hath made thee whole.” So was it their ability to logically reason to others that that made them whole? The woman who touched the hem of Christ’s cloak was noticed by the Savior, not because of a logical argument or externalization, but because the Lord felt virtue leave him. There was no reasoning when the Savior healed the blind man, repaired the lame, and no logic expressed when he raised the dead child — only silent pleas for help and unwavering hope that he was who he said he was.”

The reader then wrote:

“I searched both my own memory of and The Archives to see if you had discussed the topic of “faith” as described in these specific instances, and could neither remember nor find where you had. “As you can see from what he has written that he is essentially stating that by virtue of these examples that one does NOT have to use ANY ‘logic or reasoning’ or even understanding in order to have ‘faith’ — but only has to ‘believe’ as described in the above events. “Can you possibly shed any light on either what it is or was that these people were actually ‘exhibiting’ or to at least help me to understand how it is that what is being called ‘faith’ in the above instances is not ‘faith’ but something else?”

JJ: The apparent problem here comes from my definition of faith which this reader is evidently using as follows:

In the New Testament faith comes from PISTIS, which is derived from the root word PEITHO which basically means “to prove a thing true or false by evidence, argument, reason or experiment and through the guidance of your inner authority.”

This LDS authority apparently believes I am wrong here because many of the people Jesus healed were simple folk who didn’t apply much reasoning, but just believed and were healed. Isn’t faith then just a simple belief?

Two points here:

[1] I didn’t just make up this definition from my imagination but got it from studying the core meaning of the Greek PISTIS from whence it came.

[2] If all faith was or is a simple belief, then why is it that most of the things that people believe in do not materialize? Some people believe they will be healed and are healed. Others also believe and are not healed. Did the second just not believe strong enough? I’ve seen some pretty strong believers not get that they want.

The basic problem here is the LDS guy just doesn’t understand my teachings on faith, and not even that of his own religion. Alma, Chapter 32 in the Book of Mormon explains it pretty well.

The important point to understand is that a person does not have to be a genius or Socrates to use sound principles or even advanced technology. Some pretty simple people use complicated computers as well as the advanced technology that goes into their big screen TVs.

The remote control for my TV has 46 buttons on it, but only one of them will turn it on and off. If I want to turn the TV on I must press the right button. None of the others will work. Now many fairly simple folk, including myself, have a similar remote. It matters not whether the person has great reasoning powers or not, he must follow some simple basic logic that will lead him to pressing the right button. If he does not the TV will not go on.

Even so it is with the simple folk who Jesus healed. They must press the right button of faith or it just will not work.

And who says the people that Jesus healed were that simple? The scriptures says nothing of their intelligence. It is quite possible that those who were successfully healed contemplated the true meaning of faith. After all, their word for faith had a much more complete meaning in that day than the English word we use today.

Let us then apply the original meaning of faith with a story corresponding to a typical healing by Jesus

There was a man named Timothy who lived with an infirmity in the days of Jesus and could not be healed by orthodox methods. He did, however, believe it was possible to be healed through the exercise of faith. He had already gone to three faith healers and nothing happened. This did not deter him though for he still believed a supernatural healing was possible. One thing he concluded, however, was that he did not seem to have the knowledge or power to heal himself. He had to find someone who understood faith healing greater than himself.

After much searching, he finally came across Jesus and decided to give him a try. While waiting in line he heard many testimonies about his healing power, some even saying he was the Son of God. This gave Timothy encouragement and straightened his belief that something good may happen.

Finally, he gets to see Jesus. The Master looks him in the eye, grabs his hand and states, “Your faith has made you whole.”

As Jesus made this statement the thing that first impressed Timothy the most was his sublime confidence. Did Jesus really think that saying this would produce results?

But during the next couple seconds Jesus held him fast and fixed his gaze as Timothy felt a current of energy surging through his body. This got his attention and he returned the eye contact and suddenly felt like he was merging with this strange man. When Jesus let go of his hand Timothy stood up and found that all of his pain was gone and he seemed to be healed.

He turned to the Master and said, “Am I truly healed?”

“Yes,” said Jesus.

“Thank you,” said Timothy about a half dozen times.

“Thank God,” said Jesus, “and remember your faith has made you whole.”

Now Timothy had gone to other faith healers and believed but nothing happened. This time it was different. Did he have faith with Jesus, but not the others?

Not really. The truth is this: Timothy had faith from the beginning of his illness.

Again, the meaning I gave for faith is “to prove a thing true or false by evidence, argument, reason or experiment and through the guidance of your inner authority.”

Timothy believed a spiritual healing was possible and sought to prove the truth of this through experiment, through reason, through evidence and through guidance from his inner authority.

Even though the first three healers did not work for him he believed that a healer with the correct knowledge could help him. By faith he proved his belief to be true when he met Jesus.

He did not give up on proving his belief to be true, and when it was proven true he, at that moment, realized he was exercising true faith.

If a teaching or principle is true, faith will prove it. If a teaching or supposed principle is false, true faith will prove them false and lead to the true.

To further understand faith, Hebrews, Chapter 11 is helpful:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb 11:1)

We can again find that the Greek will give us a much clearer translation here. “Substance” comes from HUPOSTASIS and in modern translations it is usually rendered “assurance” or “confidence” but in reality one English word cannot do it justice. It more literally means “That state of mind which supports an idea through a sustained effort.” “Evidence” comes from ELEGECHOS which means “to prove a matter true or false.” The word indicates that faith establishes the true reality. Thus a clearer translation of the preceding verse would be:

“Now faith is having that state of mind which sustains that which is hoped for and reveals the truth of those things we do not see.”

This definition corresponds much better with the root meaning of the Greek PISTIS which is translated as “faith.”

“Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought.” — Henri Bergson (1859 – 1941)

April 25, 2009

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Decision and Molecules

August 12, 2024 Joseph Dewey

Decision and Molecules

Prayer seems to be a negative word with many “New Agers,” and a dead word with many religionists, but a prayer offered by one who is sincere is truly a powerful tool.

If you pray for guidance and get a definite answer then you are one with the Spirit; there is no real decision to be made if you have already decided to follow “the still small voice.”

An answer given by the Spirit is always toward the Middle Way, but the Spirit does not always give you a definite answer or assistance. Remember the words of Jesus on the cross: “Why have you forsaken me?”

Sometimes the Spirit withdraws and leaves us on our own to make a decision, especially if either decision will work. At that time everything seems to be in shades of gray and many look to some authority for an answer. The disciple will continue to look within and use his faculties. In this situation he must use a certain ability before he makes a decision. What is it?

The use of this ability is condemned by many. It is the second key of judgment.

There are two aspects of judgment as with almost all words. Because the world mainly sees the negative aspect they have put aside the Power of Judgment and have a black-and-white view that all judgment is wrong. Jesus did not say do not judge at all, but warned us to make righteous judgments “for with that judgment that you give out, you will also be judged.” This is basically the Law of Karma.

We must be prepared to judge all things, even people. If we do not then our decisions will lack judgment and lead us into strange paths.

Contemplate the difference between a positive use of judgment in relation to others and a negative use. How is judgment necessary to manifest the power of God in your decisions?

The light behind the keys is found in no book that I know about. Some of them are hinted at, but not explained.

Decision is talked about in many writings, for instance, but the light we are looking for in the principle is not. I have never heard of any other writing linking the Power of Decision to releasing the Power of God within you.

The first three keys all revolve around decision and from a larger point of view is one major key.

The first thing to realize is that the Power of Decision is used by both your higher and lower selves. It is a power that links the two and leads them to Oneness.

The difference between the Power of God and power as a human sees it is that the Power of God has no limits. The individual always sees limits in his power. One may say he sees no link between the Power of Decision and the Power of God. In reality you must see this link before you go beyond the first few keys. You must always question the setup of things, no matter who sets them up.

Many believe they are making a decision when they are merely reacting. How many do you think make true decisions? If they are reacting they will not experience the Power of God. “Choose you this day…”

The name of the first key is Decision. How is the Power of Decision linked to what you are?

How was it that the ordinary working people associated with Jesus were transformed into something more than human — something that we have no correspondence to in today’s world?

It was not a fluke or accident, but the result of a scientific procedure that can still be duplicated today.

Just as a molecule with certain properties must have a certain number of atoms to acquire certain properties, so must there be certain numbers of “Human Adams” to produce certain results.

Jesus produced two Molecules in his day. One was a Molecule of Twelve units, but there was another lesser-known Molecule of Seventy that also acquired the power to do miracles. You can read about them in Luke, Chapter 10, Verses 1, 17-18.

After the crucifixion and the Apostles were killed, the knowledge of the Molecular Order also died. The knowledge resurfaced again in Camelot and was taught by Merlin. The Molecule was composed of the twelve knights of the Round Table and their female companions. The sword Excalibur was a symbol of the power of the divine order. The order was successful until the betrayal of Lancelot and Guinevere. King Arthur refused to give his heart to another woman and the power was diffused.

There is more to building a Human Molecule than to just get the correct numbers together. They must be linked by an initiate to the inhabitants of the Spiritual Kingdom of God. This linking process is a great mystery. Also all the members of the Human Molecule must have some degree of soul contact. They do not have to be perfect, but they must be sensitive to the spiritual flow to the extent that they can achieve a degree of Oneness with the other members.

Question: Was the problem that King Author could not forgive Guinevere and Lancelot?

The problem has nothing to do with forgiveness, but letting go. To create a human atom of two individuals you need an intertwining of the heart energies. This definitely must include spiritual love and in many cases it includes romantic love. If the person designated to complete the human atom breaks off from the molecule, but the romantic love persists, there is created an interference of energy that prevents a new atom from being successfully created.

King Arthur passionately loved Guinevere and after the break up his energy still went out to her preventing a new atomic unit from completely forming. Since the energy of the Molecule passed through him the whole thing was greatly weakened and the kingdom eventually disintegrated.

Question: After molecules are established can one move to different ones?

Yes, the different numbers will have different properties and people can move from one to another, but in leaving a position — that position must be replaced immediately.

Once the Molecular Order is firmly established, the relationship to the order itself will be eternal — at least for the life of this universe. There will be changes in relationship as the individual moves around within the system, though, as the order advances, a link will always exist through the Oneness Principle.

Question: Can one person belong to several molecules?

Only one at a time, but he can be linked to many.

“Things are only impossible until they’re not.” — Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation

April 18, 2009

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The Fall

August 10, 2024 Joseph Dewey

The Fall

A reader quotes me as follows:

“Sex had little to do with the fall, but was a natural evolution of human descent into matter. The choosing of matter over spirit was the cause — which could include wrong use of sex.”

Then he asks: “Are you saying ‘the fall’ could have been avoided? I have always associated ‘the fall’ with the INVOLUTION process of the Theosophists and that it was all pretty much ‘part of the plan.’”

JJ: What the Theosophists say is true but they do not give the full picture. Matter does fall and rise through the seven globes but life itself does not always fall with the matter. The story of Adam and Eve relate a time when the lowest globe was in the process of creation and the two creations co-existed. Adam could continue to partake of all the spiritual ethers and he would not lower his vibration and fall. But if he were to partake of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, or physical food his will and vibration would be affected and he would descend to deal with hostile physical reality.

Question: “Are you saying we actually DID “screw up” (fall) by choosing to incarnate into matter (physical) and are thereby “born in sin” as the fundamentalists teach?”

JJ: Yes and no. The further the descent the greater the knowledge and wisdom to gain, but also the greater the risk. Other planets, such as Venus, does not have fallen man upon it as we do, but the life there exists in the higher ethers. The life on Venus only fell to the third ether, counting from the top.

We are not born in sin as the Fundamentalists teach, but we are born out of harmony with our true nature.

There are seven ethers that constitute the entire spectrum of the physical. All life falls to ethers, but not to the dense physical. There is no way to master the dense physical without making the full descent, but many lives to not wish to make the plunge. Just like in this life not everyone wants to learn to deep sea dive or ski but if you master them there is quite an experience and ability to be gained.

Here is an interesting quote from The Aquarian Gospel on the Fall:

17 “And backward through the ages master minds can trace themselves; and thus they know.

18 “Time never was when man was not.

19 “That which begins will have an end. If man was not, the time will come when he will not exist.

20 “From God’s own Record Book we read: The Triune God breathed forth, and seven Spirits stood before his face. (The Hebrews call these seven Spirits, Elohim.)

21 “And these are they who, in their boundless power, created everything that is, or was.

22 “These Spirits of the Triune God moved on the face of boundless space and seven ethers were, and every ether had its form of life.

23 “These forms of life were but the thoughts of God, clothed in the substance of their ether planes.

24 “(Men call these ether planes the planes of protoplast, of earth, of plant, of beast, of man, of angel and of cherubim.)

25 “These planes with all their teeming thoughts of God, are never seen by eyes of man in flesh; they are composed of substance far too fine for fleshy eyes to see, and still they constitute the soul of things;

26 “And with the eyes of soul all creatures see these ether planes, and all forms of life.

27 “Because all forms of life on every plane are thoughts of God, all creatures think, and every creature is possessed of will, and, in its measure, has the power to choose,

28 “And in their native planes all creatures are supplied with nourishment from the ethers of their planes.

29 “And so it was with every living thing until the will became a sluggish will, and then the ethers of the protoplast, the earth, the plant, the beast, the man, began to vibrate very slow.

30 “The ethers all became more dense, and all the creatures of these planes were clothed with coarser garbs, the garbs of flesh, which men can see; and thus this coarser manifest, which men call physical, appeared.

31 “And this is what is called the fall of man; but man fell not alone for protoplast, and earth, and plant and beast were all included in the fall.

32 “The angels and the cherubim fell not; their wills were ever strong, and so they held the ethers of their planes in harmony with God.

33 “Now, when the ethers reached the rate of atmosphere, and all the creatures of these planes must get their food from atmosphere, the conflict came; and that which the finite man has called, survival of the best, became the law,

34 “The stronger ate the bodies of the weaker manifests; and here is where the carnal law of evolution had its rise.

35 “And now man, in his utter shamelessness, strikes down and eats the beasts, the beast consumes the plant, the plant thrives on the earth, the earth absorbs the protoplast.

36 “In yonder kingdom of the soul this carnal evolution is not known, and the great work of master minds is to restore the heritage of man, to bring him back to his estate that he has lost, when he again will live upon the ethers of his native plane.

37 “The thoughts of God change not; the manifests of life on every plane unfold into perfection of their kind; and as the thoughts of God can never die, there is no death to any being of the seven ethers of the seven Spirits of the Triune God.

38 “And so an earth is never plant; a beast, or bird, or creeping thing is never man, and man is not, and cannot be, a beast, or bird, or creeping thing.

39 “The time will come when all these seven manifests will be absorbed, and man, and beast, and plant, and earth and protoplast will be redeemed.

[End of quoted material from “The Aquarian Gospel”, Chapter 32]

“We are rich only through what we give, and poor only through what we refuse.” — Anne-Sophie Swetchine

April 14, 2009

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What is Love?

August 9, 2024 Joseph Dewey

What is Love?

Many students of A Course in Miracles, as well as other spiritual traditions, consider love to be a mystery that is beyond understanding. I will submit that it may be difficult to put the meaning of love into words, but that doesn’t mean it is beyond our understanding. After all, we are told that God created us as an extension of His love so understanding love would be a key ingredient to understanding ourselves,

“The step I take today, my Father, is my sure release from idle dreams of sin. Your altar stands serene and undefiled. It is the holy altar to my Self, and there I find my true Identity.” W-pII.309.2

And what is the key ingredient of your identity?

“I seek my own Identity, and find It in these words: Love, which created me, is what I am.” W-pII.229.1.

The Course makes it clear that finding our true identity is essential “to be restored to Heaven.”

“For we, Your loving Sons, have lost our way a while. But we have listened to Your Voice, and learned exactly what to do to be restored to Heaven and our true Identity.” W-pII.300.2.

To say then that love is beyond our understanding is to say that realizing our true identity is also impossible, and, if this is impossible, then we would be stuck in the illusion forever, for we must understand and realize our true identity to awaken from the dream.

Since love is what we are then it would seem wise to seek out what the Course actually tells us about love, for love is indeed something we are supposed to understand:

“He will shine through your idle thoughts today, and help you understand the truth of love. In loving gentleness He will abide with you, as you allow His Voice to teach love’s meaning to your clean and open mind.” W-pI.127.9

Before we can realize the true love which is from God we have to understand the false counterpart presented by the ego. Concerning this the Course says:

“The ego is certain that love is dangerous, and this is always its central teaching. It never puts it this way; on the contrary, everyone who believes that the ego is salvation seems to be intensely engaged in the search for love. Yet the ego, though encouraging the search for love very actively, makes one proviso; do not find it. Its dictates, then, can be summed up simply as: “Seek and do not find.” This is the one promise the ego holds out to you, and the one promise it will keep.” T-12.IV.1

It would indeed be helpful to examine the key ingredients of the true love of God in order to not be fooled by the false love of the ego.

It is helpful to understand that “To create is to love.” T-7.I.3 and as creation took place

“He (God) did not set His Kingdom up alone.” T-30.II.1

Then there is this:

“You dwell in the Mind of God with your brother, for God Himself did not will to be alone.” T-11.I.1 “God is incomplete without you.” T-9.VIII.9

It seems obvious that God is impelled to create to have someone to love for love cannot manifest when one is alone with nothing to share “It is not His Will to be alone. And neither is it yours.” T-25.II.9.

“Never forget that God did not will to be alone… You who share His life must share it to know it, for sharing is knowing.” T-11.I.11

In heaven we are told that all the Sons of God are united through partaking of the one Mind and Spirit from God. The question arises as to how love is manifest in heaven when there is a state of blissful union and oneness

The answer is very profound.

“For it is the function of love to unite all things unto itself, and to hold all things together by extending its wholeness.” T-12.VIII.7

The key phrase there is that it is the function of love “to hold all things together.”

We can only enjoy absolute oneness in heaven because of the love of God which draws all things toward its center and holds them there.

This agrees with reports from many who have had out of body experiences who tell us of experiencing a love from God that is far beyond anything experienced in the body. It is also notable that this love is without compulsion and eagerly accepted by those who experience it.

We may not fully understand love while seeing ourselves in a body, but the Course does give us some great food for thought on the subject.

Here are a few things the Course says about real love.

“To create is to love. Love extends outward simply because it cannot be contained. Being limitless it does not stop. It creates forever, but not in time.” T-7.I.3

Love is freedom. T-16.VI.1

“Happiness is an attribute of love. It cannot be apart from it. Nor can it be experienced where love is not.” W-pI.103.1 “Love is happiness, and nothing else brings joy.” W-pI.117.1

“Love is extension. To withhold the smallest gift is not to know love’s purpose.” T-24.I.1 without extension there can be no love.” T-7.VIII.1

“For if love is sharing, how can you find it except through itself? Offer it and it will come to you, because it is drawn to itself.” T-12.VIII.1

“Love is a law without an opposite. Its wholeness is the power holding everything as one,” W-pI.127.3

“All that (love) you would keep away holds all the meaning of the universe, and holds the universe together in its meaning.” T-15.XI.6

“Love is the same as union.” T-16.V.3

“Love is not special. If you single out part of the Sonship for your love, you are imposing guilt on all your relationships and making them unreal.” T-13.X.11

“Only love is strong because it is undivided.” T-12.V.

“Love, too, is recognized by its messengers. If you make love manifest, its messengers will come to you because you invited them.” T-12.VII.8

“Perfect love casts out fear. If fear exists, Then there is not perfect love.” T-1.VI.5 “For love is wholly without illusion, and therefore wholly without fear.” T-16.IV.11

“Heaven looks with love on what is joined in it, along with its Creator.” T-18.I.11

“Love would never look on guilt at all. It is the nature of love to look upon only the truth, for there it sees itself, with which it would unite in holy union and completion.” T-19.IV.A.10

“Love is not learned. Its meaning lies within itself. And learning ends when you have recognized all it is not.” T-18.IX.12

“Love is your power, which the ego must deny.” T-7.VI.4

“Father, Your Mind created all that is, Your Spirit entered into it, Your Love gave life to it.” W-pII.263.1

There is no better quote to end with than the promise that the love we experience here in this world will not be lost but taken with us.

“All your past except its beauty is gone, and nothing is left but a blessing. I have saved all your kindnesses and every loving thought you ever had. I have purified them of the errors that hid their light, and kept them for you in their own perfect radiance. They are beyond destruction.” T-5.IV.8

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Understanding Love

August 8, 2024 Joseph Dewey

Understanding Love

The first paragraph in the Course says this about love:

“The course does not aim at teaching the meaning of love, for that is beyond what can be taught. It does aim, however, at removing the blocks to the awareness of love’s presence, which is your natural inheritance. T-in.1

It is interesting that for a subject that it does not aim at teaching that it indeed covers it quite well and mentions it 1737 times in the FIP edition.

Even though this is a major subject. the Course maintains that its real meaning cannot be taught:

“Love is not learned. Its meaning lies within itself.” T-18.IX.12

In other words, we cannot just take one who does not understand love and cause him to understand it by explaining it to him. That just does not work.

What does work then?

What works is to remove “the blocks to the awareness of love’s presence” so it can be felt.

Then, because love is our “natural inheritance,” we can recognize true divine love when we feel it. We know it when we actually experience it.

There is a problem with recognizing real love and that is false or illusionary love gets in the way and “blocks” our understanding of it.

“In Heaven, where the meaning of love is known, love is the same as union. Here, where the illusion of love is accepted in love’s place, love is perceived as separation and exclusion.” T-16.V.3

The real meaning of love is known in heaven, but here in our separated state “the illusion of love is accepted in love’s place, love is perceived as separation and exclusion.”

What does it mean when it says that in the illusion “love is perceived as separation and exclusion.”

This is explained by what the Course calls the “special relationship.” This quote sheds some light:

“Be not afraid to look upon the special hate relationship, for freedom lies in looking at it. It would be impossible not to know the meaning of love, except for this. For the special love relationship, in which the meaning of love is hidden, is undertaken solely to offset the hate, but not to let it go.” T-16.IV.1

This is a very difficult teaching for many students to accept for all of us in this world have special relationships with our spouse, our children, our family and friends. Concerning them we are told this:

“You cannot enter into real relationships with any of God’s Sons unless you love them all and equally. Love is not special. If you single out part of the Sonship for your love, you are imposing guilt on all your relationships and making them unreal.” T-13.X.11

I do not think that the admonition to love all equally means that you pay as much attention to your neighbor’s wife and kids as your own, but that you treat everyone with equal fairness.

For example, let us suppose that your child gets in a dispute with another child at school and the principle thinks your kid is mostly to blame. The natural tendency of many parents is to defend the kid right or wrong. This is showing special love. The parent who loves equally will be as concerned for the other child as with his own and if his own child is in error, he will place responsibility where it belongs.

In this day and age perhaps the greatest temptation of special love comes from our current political division. Perhaps on one side you cannot stand a certain politician and his supporters, but love the other side and their voters.

To love equally would mean that you see perfect Sons of God on both sides who equally deserve your love and support. Let us suppose you pass by one of these opposition voters who has car trouble. Do you smile at his problem and drive on, or do you stop and help him with the same care as you would with one who votes as you do?

Similarly, the parable of the Good Samaritan given by Jesus is a great example of one who transcended special love, but these words from the Biblical Jesus surely make the point:

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

“For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matt 5:43-48

There has been a lot written about the problem of special relationships but the main point I wish to make here from the Course is that in the special relationship “the meaning of love is hidden, is undertaken solely to offset the hate, but not to let it go.” T-16.IV.1

In other words, your love for one political candidate “is undertaken solely to offset the hate,” you have for the other guy.

To gain a true understanding of love we have to let the hate go or the true love of God will elude us. On the other hand, if we transcend the special relationship, we are promised that the true meaning of love will be revealed for “It would be impossible not to know the meaning of love, except for this.” (the special relationship) T-16.IV.1

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Human Evolution

August 7, 2024 Joseph Dewey

Human Evolution

There is a lot of truth revealed and hidden in the book of Genesis. It was originally written by Moses with two objectives in mind. First he wanted to present an account of creation that would give glory to God in the minds and hearts of a rather primitive people. The second objective was to be an accurate presentation of truth by the use of the Law of Correspondences that would be useful for many ages hence.

Most New Agers only see the simple presentation to a primitive people and often see contradictions when in reality the whole picture is not seen.

For instance, Chapter One of Genesis seems to present one version of creation, and Chapter Two seems to describe another.

The truth is that they are not two contradictory versions, but corresponds to two steps in creation. The first creation was in etheric, or spiritual matter, and the second was creation in physical matter. Nevertheless, the first creation also corresponds in a large measure to many creations and recreations on this and other earths.

Notice that the first human was called Adam, a unit of human energy, and how closely it resembles the word “Atom,” a unit of physical energy.

Several times in the first few chapters the word Adam is mistranslated as “man.” Let us translate it correctly in Genesis, Chapter 1, Verse 27:

“So God created Adam (Translated as man) in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

This statement was made some time before Eve was created. In other words, the first Adam was an Hermaphrodite — male and female in one body, just as an atomic atom has a balance of male and female energy in one unit.

This is verified in Genesis, Chapter 5, Verse 2:

“Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and CALLED THEIR NAME ADAM, in the day when they were created.”

Jesus also verified this when he said:

“Have ye not read that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female?” (Matt 19:4)

The seeds for the Fall were created even before Adam’s sin, but it was prepared when Adam was split in two and made into a separate male and female. In the Hebrew we read that Eve was taken from the side, not the rib of Adam.

The first race of human was the male-female Adams which were many. The second race was the split male-female units who lived in a state of innocence and looked only to the Masters for their decisions. This race was not yet physical but was a lower vibration than the first.

In the midst of The Garden was a Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and Adam and Eve were commanded not to eat of it lest they die.

During the latter period of this second spiritual race the earth was descending from the spiritual to the physical and when the Tree of Knowledge appeared the elements of the earth were part spiritual and part physical. The Tree of Knowledge was the parts of the earth which had a vibration in physical matter yet was high enough to still be seen and touched in the spiritual. The Masters warned Adam that if he partook of the physical he would lose his apparent immortality and become physical, subject to the perils of mortal flesh including death. This would be a path to knowledge and the exercise of free will, but it would be painful and also bring a separation from innocence and the presence of God.

The Serpent was a member of a race that seemed part human and part Serpent. It had arms and legs as we do. The Serpents had already fallen into physical matter and sought to take the race of Adam along with them. The reason they sought Adam was that they were vampires in the sense that they got a large part of their energy from the life energy of other beings. They felt that by pulling Adam from the spiritual to the physical they could siphon off his God energies and live indefinitely.

Fortunately, after The Fall there were enough Adamites who recognized the God within who were able to resist the Serpents and teach the truth about them that the race of Serpents did not dominate the Adams, but eventually became extinct during Atlantis. Today, however the Serpents are incarnated as humans. Many of them are our leaders in the areas of business, government, and finance. They still seek (unconsciously) not to have their own power but to have power over others. If you meet one you can recognize him by a feeling of weakness you will experience in his presence. Only your personal soul contact can neutralize their power over you.

Eve being a female energy identified with the pull of “mother matter,” or Mother earth, and led Adam in a great, but necessary journey if the human units were to obtain greater knowledge and understanding.

The third, but first physical race was the Lemurian of which the Australian aborigines are a remnant. The Fourth Race — the Atlantean of which the “Oriental” is a remnant — and the Fifth Race was the “Aryan.” The Sixth Race is currently being created by the gathering principle — which principle is a core part of my teachings. The Sixth or coming race is being gathered from all the races and a person belonging to this race will have refined features, but can belong to any current race. This will be a synthetic race and the major change will be in consciousness. An individual belonging to this race will be capable of soul contact and will have a strong desire to serve the planet as a whole. He or she will also have a sense that the Kingdom of God will soon manifest.

During the Sixth Race all the races of the earth will blend and right human relations will be a key teaching, especially the relationships between the male-female. The marriage relationship is part of a great preparation for the Seventh and final race on this planet. The goal in the male-female relationship is to find the opposite with which one can blend or fuse. Just as your head and your heart are blended in your own body so will you merge with your opposite sex in the body of an hermaphrodite ages hence. The urge we have for sex is the force that is driving us in that direction.

Plato once told the story of a race of male-female beings that were so powerful that the gods became threatened and sent and angel with a sword to cut them in two. Since that time each entity has been looking for his other half so he can regain his power. There is some truth to this story.

Few, if any of us have learned to harmonize with soul energy with even one other human being, but many of us will master this during the coming era.

In the coming era the Garden of Eden will reappear. In other words, the spiritual and physical will co-exist. Many physical beings will have casual communications with spiritual beings. Others will be able to partake of “the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”

“An expert is a person who avoids small error as he sweeps on to the grand fallacy.” — Benjamin Stolberg

April 13, 2009

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