BRINGING IN THE KINGDOM

BRINGING IN THE KINGDOM

Every Second Sunday of the Month I speak at my UU Church on some of the Red Letters -referencing the Words of Jesus as highlighted in Red in some Bibles. Then I interpret them based in my own interfaith and interdisciplinary journey - not your typical Christian teaching. Below are my notes for a handout for next month and in more detail than I usually do. So I thought that even without commentary they might be of interest and possible benefit to some here.
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BRINGING IN THE KINGDOM - Red Letter Sunday notes for April 2017 ~Arjay

JESU QUOTES: [brackets mine]
"Thy Kingdom come [?*] on Earth as it is in Heaven."
"Seek you FIRST the Kingdom of Heaven and ALL THINGS [gifts, abilities] shall be added unto you."
"These things I do [materialize], you [collectively?] also shall do and GREATER things."
"You shall know [obgnose**] the Truth and the Truth shall set you Free [liberate and satisfy you]."

Kingdom = Authority symbol (As is the term Father), indwelling Presence of the Divine power.
Heaven = sky/ space, symbol of non materiality, Bliss enclosure/ container, invisible and indivisible Spirit [energy/ information or quantum state].

Text notes:
Notice the missing line: "Thy will be done." We have spent two Sundays on this. Now we will explore how to know this Will or we could not "do" it.  It is NOT a matter of religious legalism.
** Obgnosing: (obgnosis, obgnose) = A coined word: a combination of observing and knowing  (Gr. gnosis - intimate knowing = agape. A direct experience of reality.

Take (or imagine) two pencils (sticks) bound by a rubber band. (Image courtesy of B.M.)
Pull the pencils apart and notice the tension ... we can call this tension stress.
Relax the tension and the pencils move closer together. We can call this a state of equilibrium or  Peace.
Let the pencils touch and we can call this a uniting principle or Unity.

Every problem (stuck, conditional viewpoint), to be experienced as a problem must involve or contain an obscuring, compulsive trance state (illusion).

The emotions exist as a continuum and some of the points on that continuum are named in our cultures with their unique combination of pleasure and pain.
This emotional continuum reflects our stress level (as distress or eustress) ... which are energy states - reflecting the internal harmony/ disharmony of the life-force (soul).

Afflicting emotions reflect disharmony in that soul-force and mirror our perceived separation from the Unity (G-d).
Obscuring thoughts/ beliefs/ judgements reinforce that disharmony and perpetuate it through time.
Love and Joy indicate our proximity or (Divine) Presence - to knowing the One-ness of everything.

Joy is the "Native" or natural state of life knowing itself, prior to any persona (personification).

Love is the Native state of one who knows and enjoys the Unity Presence.
Metaphorically the Unity can be compared to the above bundle of sticks... a Unity in multiplicity.
We are divided for love's sake, for recognition of the prior Unity. (Paraphrase of A.C.

"The unexamined [reactive, unconscious] life is not worth [worthy of] living." ~Socrates
Allow yourself more life-love-joy. Make the wounded Unconscious consciously whole, per Jung.
THOUGHT EXPERIMENT 1
Imagine the pencils as sticks. Individually they break easily.
A bundle of sticks are strong and work together as a Unity.
We can see this Unity as a symbol for the ONE.

THOUGHT EXPERIMENT 2
Take (or imagine) a pencil in hand and notice...
A shaft or barrel (traditionally of wood) ... allow it to symbolize a "magic wand."
A graphite core, which we may use to to make signs and words to tell our "story" ... allow it to symbolize Imagination)
An eraser which will serve us in editing and rewriting. Allow its interpretation as "healing."

Let the eraser symbolize our power of letting go of the afflicting and obscuring emotions and attitudes which make up the illusory story of our separation from Unity as well as justify all our limiting beliefs.
Erasing the energetic charge or knots of our emotional history will move us toward peace, clarity and a restoration of sanity.
Thus we will be Free, Happy, Safe (fearless via embracing our unity) and Well in connecting with the healing power of seeing the Truth of our unlimited Unconditioned Nature.

OBSERVE a stuck condition AS IT IS and it will transform as the life-force or "energy" bound up in the condition begins to self liberate in light of awareness and give a sense of free flowing-ness.
The State of Flow is spiritually identified by a return to Love-bliss, unconditioned by circumstance and detached from any identity or fixed identification with a problem.
The Flow state is associated with enhanced ability and performance with less effort or stress.

Every problem (stuck, conditional viewpoint), to be experienced as a problem must involve or contain an obscuring, compulsive trance state (illusion). (L.R.H. paraphrase)

Ultimately, Contemplation is about realizing the silence of non judgement by pure obgnosis, thus realizing the no-thing-ness or empty spaciousness at the root of experience which releases bondage to all conditions.

EXERCISE: (inspired by D.H.& B.M)
Warning: do not do this if you are adverse to thinking more positively or clearly :-)
Ask: Does it get any better than this?
   Yes, there is always more! (Affirm something like: I am/ we are/ it is, worthy*** of, capable of, evolving toward ... so much MORE).
Intend: Consciously Choose it's Evolution toward a (higher, more perfect) state.
   Be inspired by the vision of greater possibilities it implies.
   Do not worry about "how" this might happen.
   Do this as a meditation until it becomes a new habit, countering pessimistic self talk.
   You may do this for up to an hour at a time (recommended).
   Then follow the Love-Bliss-desire of the open and awakened Heart.

*** Our sense of Divine Worthiness to receive is proportional to the willingness to give to and forgive others. So also give this attitude of abundance and innocence away - as a blessing, wish or prayer - for others to realize and benefit from as well.