Misconception of Sacrifice

-- Chuck Ross, LAKOTA

People sometimes have a misconception of sacrifice.  This is a strong word for Indian people.  On the other side of sacrifice is another whole new world.  During sacrifice, our beliefs are tested. We may all have good beliefs but if you test a good belief, then you get real beliefs. * Real beliefs make new people * Real beliefs make new self images. * Real beliefs allow determination and desires and faith to come true. Good is always available to us but we often can't bring it within until we let go of the old ways. We let go of the old ways by suffering. Suffering is only letting go of things that don't work anymore. On the other side of suffering is a new world.

Enemies are only friends who have not learned to join.

There are no true enemies in life, for all war and conflict are born of confusion. This I must understand. A life without Knowledge can only be confused and must create its own inner guidance system, which is merely the ideas and beliefs with which it identifies itself. Thus, individuals have their own individual purpose and self-identity. These evaluations clash with those of other individuals, and thus one to one, group to group, nation to nation and world to world, war is generated and waged.

In Knowledge this is not possible, for in Knowledge all are my friends. I recognize each person to be at whatever stage of development he or she is currently engaged. I may become involved with some of them, and with some of them I may not. Some of them may be able to receive my contribution directly, while others will need to receive it indirectly. But they are all my friends. There is no opposition in Knowledge, for there is only one Knowledge in the universe. It expresses itself through each individual. As each individual becomes more purified as a vehicle for Knowledge, as each individual becomes a greater recipient of Knowledge and as each individual follows Knowledge and becomes responsible to Knowledge, then the opportunity for him or her to be in conflict will diminish and eventually will disappear.

I will recognize that all war and conflict simply express a lack of capacity for those involved to join. When individuals join, they recognize a common need, which becomes their primary need. This must be born of Knowledge and not idealism if it is to be actualized. It must be born of Knowledge and not mere philosophy if it is to lead to true action and true involvement. Thus, I become a peacemaker and a peacekeeper in the world as I follow as a student of Knowledge. The stronger Knowledge is within me, the weaker will be my fear and ambivalence. In this way, war within me will be ended, and my life will be a demonstration that war is unnecessary.

I will dedicate myself today to ending war within the world by ending war within myself so that I may be a peacemaker and a peacekeeper. Upon the hour I will remind myself of today’s lesson and apply it to the world that I see around me. I will apply it to all of the conflicts in the world of which I am aware. I will try to understand its complete relevancy to these conflicts. This will require that I see these conflicts from a different point of view in order to realize the full impact and meaning of today’s idea. It is this point of view that I must cultivate, for I must learn to see as Knowledge sees, to think as Knowledge thinks and to act as Knowledge acts. All this I will most certainly accomplish as I follow Knowledge each day.

I will return to stillness and silence so that I may strengthen my ability to cultivate and prepare myself to be an emissary of Knowledge in the world. This is my responsibility today. This will permeate all of my other activities and give them value and meaning, for today I am a student of Knowledge.

Life's priorities

How about puffing up your to do list with entries like:

· Go for a walk

· Sit outside without doing anything

· Listen to the birds

· Watch a sunrise

It seems to me that even a little time appreciating the simple things can make each day a little richer and with richer days comes a more peaceful and pleasant life.

It's the wiring

"It's the wiring." Everything is about re-connecting, re-aligning and re-membering.

By starting out restructuring the wiring in order to increase our ability to download and integrate the information, it may be helpful in setting your intention for ease, clarity and understanding by reviewing.

• Please don't quit before you start. This is a very different set of experiences than you have experienced to date.

The rational mind does not understand what you are doing.

Its job is to make you safe and fit in a 3D way. So it will try to move you to a status quo where nothing new occurs.

• You are on a new journey..."I am bad, I did it wrong, it doesn't work, etc..." These are 3D patterns which do not support you.

You do know what you are doing. Trust yourself. It's the thinker/rational mind that doesn't know.

The rational mind only knows what it knows and doesn't know what it doesn't know. Allow yourself an adventure and enjoy what is around the next turn. Be easy on yourself.

• Negative emotions are leaving. When / if you hit emotional places that don't feel good, know these are the patterns that are leaving. Or at least, coming up for you to consider releasing.

These are old 3D reactionary patterns. Let them go, shift your attention to something that brings you to a place of feeling good (petting the cat, viewing a beautiful scene, smelling a rose, etc.)

• Habits and references points will be changing. As you begin to become more conscious you will become aware of habits and references that no longer have value. They are from the past, which is gone.

• As Time is dissolving, Reaction will begin to shift to observation and choice. The more conscious you can become to this, the quicker this shift will come about.

• You may lose association with others. This is because you are changing rapidly. The more you can notice this for what it is, the quicker you will alter old patterns and reference points.

This will allow many others to begin to move with you as you stop playing their 3D games.

Begin to substitute the word curiosity for frustration. This will allow you to see beyond the point you are hold your attention upon.

The Three Big Pieces:

1. Thinking. Begin to notice if the questions you ask have value or are they habits, which do not add value and instead contribute to your distractions and noise.

2. Seeing. You see just fine, however, for the most part may not understand what seeing is at this spiritual level. Expectations and beliefs are generally in the way. Allow yourself to pretend you see and you will.

Play, allow, imagine; begin to incorporate these choices as new concepts for the fun of it. You will surprise yourself at how you begin to actually see. We may fit in some small group sessions to help with this.

3. Going Unconsciousness - is a well-worn pathway that occurs when you close your eyes on your way to sleep, rest or a difference trance state. We will work with this through the class. In the meantime don't make this a problem. Just intend to be conscious as you work both with your eyes open and closed. Be easy on yourself.

My task on this adventure is to be a guide or roadmap director. I will be pointing out the landmarks and road signs; a provider of information as to what you might find if you choose to open the many doors along this rising spiral staircase.

Your tasks are to enjoy yourself and allow yourself to remember yourself.

Jim Self http://www.masteringalchemy.com