Thoughts From A Mystic

. The greatest challenge in the process of religious transformation is the 'dissolution of expectation' which allows the unexpected [mystery] to be discovered. There is no transformation available though seeking, which is goal oriented. The problem of seeking is often recognized in searching for a misplaced pair of [eye]glasses, wallet or keys. 'Expectation blindness' often keeps the person from seeing what is in view... but the sought item can be easily seen when seeking is dropped. The process of 'finding' is much more akin to creative 'problem solving'. The solution isn't clearly defined, but certain limitations are recognized. The 'process' is a form of meditation, or 'availability', which allows unrecognized solutions to present themselves. The 'solution' will seem to appear on it's own, as if presented to 'the one who waits in patience'. Here's how 'finding' is described in ...

. "So it doesn't matter that we start out on our journey with our holy cards, gongs and bells, sacred books and religious feelings. All of it should lead to growth and transformation, the ultimate surrender of our images and concepts, and a life of selfless giving. When there is nothing left to surrender, nothing left to give, only then can we come to the end of the passage - the ending of consciousness and its personally subjective God. One glimpse of the Godhead, and no one would want God back." Bernadette Roberts interview with Stephan Bodian

. "Consciousness sets up the divisions of within and without, spirit and matter, body and soul, immanent and transcendent; in fact, consciousness is responsible for every division we know of. [Imagine consciousness as a balloon filled with air, suspended in air] But what if we pop the balloon - or better, cause it to vanish like a bubble that leaves no residue. All that remains is divine air. There is no divine in anything, there is no divine transcendence or beyond anything, nor is the divine anything. We cannot point to anything or anyone and say, "This or that is divine". So the divine is all - all but consciousness or self, which created the division in the first place." Bernadette Roberts http://www.spiritualteachers.org/b_roberts_interview.htm Interview with Bernadette Roberts Reprinted from the book Timeless Visions, Healing Voices, copyright 1991 by Stephan Bodian (www.stephanbodian.org)

. Excerpt (last minute of interview) from a 2008 video interview on Conscious TV with Tony Parsons, interviewer Iain McNay- Tony Parsons- "You could call wholeness 'absolute unconditional love'...they're all words. Yes, That's basically what we long for... is the ultimate love that we absolutely know, we absolutely remember as tiny children. When we're just trying to return to childlike wonder. Iain McNay- (pause) "Yeah...." TP- (Laughs) IM- "That's how children (inaudible)..." TP- "That's what we sense in tiny children. IM- "Yeah, yeah." TP- "Just this. (the simplicity of what's happening in the moment)" IM- "Yeah.... That's happening with you moment to moment?" TP- "It's just happening" IM- "It sounds amazing" TP- "It's amazing for no one." Watch the interview here- http://www.theopensecret.com/

. Jesus spoke about an 'abundant life'. Most people believe they must work hard and believe 'correctly' to 'earn' that life. However, no amount of effort can guarantee this earned result. An 'abundant life' requires that a person STOP TRYING to 'make it happen' in order to SEE THAT IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING (to 'them'). DO NOTHING. Unless a person recognizes the truth that they are not in control of reality can that person 'see' that they are already living that 'abundant life', and need do nothing to make it happen. Peace, Matthew