“Identification with
the ego or body-mind as being the ‘self’ is the long held
position of all ‘persons.’ That is, if you think you are
a ‘person’ separate and ‘other’ than all apparent
‘others,’ or separate from God, the One Reality, then you
are identified with your body as being your ‘self,’ and
the mind’s conditioning as being ‘my’ past, or ‘my’
experience. This is self-deceit, for there is no such separate person
or entity – there is only Reality, or Truth, or God, which is
the Source and Substance of all being, the Very Self of all selves.”
(Page 154)
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“Creative Imagination
arises from what Neville, my first known to be Conscious Teacher, called
‘Awakened Imagination.’ It is what I prefer to call ‘Awakened
Consciousness,’ for it is our direct awakening to the very Truth,
that our real and true nature is not physical but is spiritual. Or,
it is Imagination Itself. But by this, let us be very clear in our understanding
of what is meant by the word ‘imagination.’
“The word ‘imagination’
has many connotations or meanings, and some of them are not necessarily
complimentary, or may not be considered totally beneficial, and are
inappropriate to our context or intended usage here.
“Imagination, as
meant here, is the ability in consciousness, as Consciousness, to create.
“We as ordinary mortals,
are not aware of or yet awakened to the actual power that is available
and potentially ours when we understand and intentionally use imagination
for solving our problems and attaining our goals.
“To revise or erase
the negative impressions of the past that are recorded in our mind,
we need to have a working knowledge and understanding of the imaging
faculty of our mind, our imagination. Thought works to produce or manifest
ideas into their physical equivalent as actual happenings. It occurs
by means of this imaging quality and function of the mind.
“There are a few
basic facts regarding the way the mind itself functions which need to
be explored with you.
“First, awaken and
realize you are a conscious being! Some people may respond,
‘Well, what’s so outstanding about that?’
“What is its significance?
Well, it’s the beginning of everything! It’s our
‘Likeness with God’, or “Made in the Image of God,”
factor.’ God is Consciousness. And, likewise, we are
consciousness. Out of consciousness, or our own use of consciousness
– the use of which is itself mind – everything in our world
is made or formed. The Bible says, ‘In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the
beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him
was not anything made that was made.’ (John 1:1-3) This is
referring to man’s own consciousness.
“The word, ‘Word,’
as used here in the Bible is translated from the Greek word, logos,
which actually has no adequate English equivalent. It means the combination
of the thought or idea of the thing, together with the volition or action,
or moving power inherent in it, to bring it into manifestation or expression.
Think of it as a verb, rather than as a noun. It is the creative power
in consciousness that manifests ideas or brings them into form in matter.
“Out of our own thought
we create our world. With our imagination we lay hold of ideas and clothe
them with mind-substance, or the living energy out of which everything
is made. The idea is the seed; and, like a planted seed, draws to itself
all that is necessary to both sustain its growth and to ultimately express
it in its completed form. Like the life-spark or cell of life dormant
in seeds, ideas also have in them the power to manifest, just as an
oak tree is contained in every acorn.”
(Pages 106-108)
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“Ask yourself, ‘Who
would be wrong if all of a sudden my life started to work the way I
want it to?’ What do you feel? Does it feel natural, or good?
Or is there a contraction – a block, barrier or sense of resistance?
If so, feel the block or the resistance, or the contraction that exists
in your body as any felt-opposition, or that rises to defend against
any felt, believed or sensed opposition. Stay with it! Continue to feel
the contraction, which is an uncomfortable ‘me’ feeling.
Or feel the sense of fear, or anger, or frustration, or whatever negative
feeling is there. Don’t avoid it, or resist it! Don’t
even try to change it! Just continue to directly feel or experience
it! By staying with it in this manner, by directly and immediately experiencing
the experience, it will eventually melt, or dissolve, and in time completely
vanish. But you must stay with it in this manner, as uncomfortable as
it may feel, before it will vanish! Stay with the observance of it.
“Notice that it is
‘there’ as an objective thing that you are aware of, and
that you are ‘here’ observing it. Therefore, it is not you!
It is what you are aware of. By seeing it in this light, it eases and
releases its apparent grip on you. When it does, there remains a clear
feeling, or clear space. Or, a context, an expanded full feeling of
wholeness, or completion and ‘OKness.’ There is now an inner
and outer atmosphere in which there is no feeling of opposition. No
sense of inadequacy, incapability, unfitness or ineptitude. There are
only things for you to allow to be done by the Inner Power radiating
with you, or through you, or from you.”
(Page 270)
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