Posts by Sandra Murphy33

When you look at the irreconcilable duality found in Abrahamic traditions—that eternal tug-of-war between Light and Darkness—one might argue that Steiner transitioned from something far too controlling and self-contained, something we could call Satanic, over toward the somewhat brighter, so-called God's side of the spectrum? 😬

(Though, it’s worth remembering that we are dealing strictly with mental constructs here, which lack any grounding in actual, rigorous academic disciplines...)

casualtiger2 said:Gurdjieff is probably onto something here.
If we didn't have all these layers—physical, astral, mental, causal, and even the atmic body (look, I get it, these concepts are exhausting)
,
this whole "nightmare scenario" wouldn't even be possible. We’d all just be wide awake and living in paradise.
:blame kundalini:
The only thing I can't figure out is whether this is the influence of the Holy Spirit🤔 or just
Kundalini.
Exorcising demons via the internet

Everything you ever wanted to know about demons but were too afraid to ask your parents—how they operate, how to spot them, how to kick them out, and how to stay protected.
"...when you look closely at arthritis, you see the devil at work..."

😲

It might have been better for you to skip the Theosophists entirely, much like Steiner did....
(Though, to be fair, he was involved with them before they split ways. If my memory serves, the rift happened because he wouldn't go along with their attempts to predict the next incarnation of certain figures...)

He’s managing to hold his own against them quite effectively.
Let's wish him luck. And may he rest in peace. 😁

It's a pure Coincidence that I just happened to stumble upon this quote by Gurdjieff:

"Kundalini is the force injected into a human being to keep them anchored in the present
state. If people could actually grasp their true situation and comprehend
the full extent of its horror, they wouldn't be able to stay where they are, not
even for a second. They would start searching for a way out and find it quickly, BECAUSE
AN EXIT EXISTS, but people fail to see it for one simple reason—they are under hypnosis.
Kundalini is the force that maintains them in this hypnotic state.
To be 'awakened' means to be 'liberated from hypnosis."
😲

I honestly think, casualtiger2, that he’s directing this entirely at you.

Brian Young76 said:Well, now... I suppose I might have to disagree with the idea that ACIM is purely New Age or that it isn't Abrahamic in nature. While it certainly might sound that way at first glance—or even a second glance, for that matter—if you were to read The Bible in parallel with ACIM (since the New Testament essentially mirrors ACIM), alongside the Catechism of the Catholic Church, I don't really see any major contradictions. This is especially true if one considers that the original Greek meaning of what is translated as "sin" actually refers to "missing the mark."

What I think might need adjusting, perhaps, is those sections where it says, "my sin..." It really ought to be phrased as "my failure to hit the target, my failure to hit the target, my massive failure to hit the target." If you were to replace the word "sin" everywhere with "missing the mark"—which is what the original texts intended—then I feel everything would align perfectly. 🙂

😂

Brian Young76 said:I just wrapped up my workout this morning, and I have to say, I found myself sticking to the exact same routine I followed yesterday.

I feel like I really need to post the text of this exercise here, and since it was originally written in English, I’m hesitant to try translating it myself because I’m worried I won't be able to preserve the intended impact. If you haven't seen them already, I suppose the results of my training sessions have been shared in some of my previous posts within this thread.

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I have often found myself reflecting on the profound nature of consciousness, and I sometimes find that my thoughts drift toward the idea that God is essentially the very Mind through which I process existence. It is perhaps a bit of an abstract way to put it, but I suppose there is a certain sincerity in suggesting that the divine isn't just some distant entity watching from above, but rather the fundamental cognitive framework—the very essence of thought itself—that allows me to perceive and reason. I guess it’s more of a deeply personal, internal connection than anything else, though I realize how much that might challenge traditional views held by many Americans. Still, I feel quite strongly that if we are to truly understand the spiritual, we might have to look inward at the mechanics of our own awareness.

I have been reflecting on today's concept, and I truly believe it serves as a vital window into the core of your actual perceptions. It seems to me—and please correct me if I'm wrong here—that there is almost no connection between what we imagine our thoughts to be and what those thoughts actually represent in their purest form. It's a bit disorienting, I suppose, to realize that what we perceive as our inner monologue might bear absolutely no resemblance to our true cognitive essence. In much the same way, I suspect that what we believe we are seeing through our eyes isn't really an accurate reflection of sight itself. It feels as though there is this profound, perhaps even overwhelming, disconnect between the reality of our internal experiences and the filtered versions we mistakenly claim to understand.

Perhaps we might consider the idea that we are essentially thinking with the Mind of God itself. If that’s true—and I suppose it must be—then it follows that we are constantly sharing our deepest reflections with Him, just as He is perpetually sharing His with us. It seems to me that these thoughts are actually one and the same, simply because they originate from that single, unified Mind. When we talk about "sharing," maybe what we really mean is the act of becoming similar, or even becoming one. I would also venture to suggest that these divine thoughts never truly depart from our own consciousness, since a thought can't really ever leave its original source, right? So, in a very real sense, our thoughts exist within the Mind of God, just as we ourselves exist there. And since we are an integral part of His Mind, it feels only natural that our thoughts are an inseparable part of His as well.

So, where exactly do your true, unvarnished thoughts reside? I suppose today we ought to make an honest attempt to actually locate them. It feels like we’ll have to go searching deep within the recesses of your own mind, simply because that is the only place they could possibly be. I imagine they must still be tucked away in there somewhere, given that it seems impossible for them to have ever truly departed from their primary source. After all, if we consider that what is conceived by the Divine Mind is eternal—existing as an intrinsic part of the very fabric of creation itself—then those thoughts are surely still waiting to be found.

For our three five-minute practice sessions scheduled for today, I think we should probably follow a similar structure to the approach we took when we were working through yesterday’s concept. My intention, if I can express it clearly, is that we might attempt to step away from everything that feels superficial or illusory in order to search for what is truly substantial. It seems to me that we ought to set aside the distractions of the material world in favor of seeking out the actual truth. I suppose we shouldn't allow the noisy, frantic thoughts of the outside world to impede our progress, nor should we let the prevailing beliefs of society convince us that following a divine path is somehow an impossible feat. Rather, I feel it might be more helpful to try and recognize the possibility that perhaps only what is aligned with the Divine is actually achievable at all.

I suppose we should also strive to grasp the idea that our true desires will eventually align perfectly with what God intends for us to accomplish. It feels like a necessary realization, though perhaps a difficult one to hold onto at times. Along those same lines, I think it’s important for us to remember that if we are truly walking the path He has laid out, failure isn't really an option in the way we typically perceive it. There is, I believe, every possible reason to approach today with a sense of quiet confidence and steady resolve, simply because we are moving in accordance with His Will.

To begin today's exercises, I find it helpful to start by simply repeating the core concept to myself, perhaps even closing my eyes to really settle into it. Once that's done, I suggest spending a brief moment just letting your own mind wander around the subject; I mean, try to cultivate a few of your own related reflections while keeping that central idea firmly at the forefront of your consciousness. After you feel like you've woven about four or five of those personal observations into the fabric of the thought, go ahead and repeat the idea once more, perhaps adding a gentle, quiet affirmation to yourself as you finish.

I often find myself feeling as though my true, unvarnished thoughts are drifting somewhere just out of reach, tucked away in the quietest corners of my own mind. It’s a strange sensation, isn't it? I suppose I have this deep, persistent longing to actually track them down—to truly locate and understand those genuine reflections that seem to elude me whenever I try to grasp them. I guess I am searching for a way to bridge that gap between what I feel internally and what I can actually articulate.

Perhaps if you could just attempt to push past those fleeting, superficial distractions that tend to cloud your inner perception—those illusions that seem to shroud the actual truth within your own mind—you might finally be able to reach for something truly eternal.

Beneath all those chaotic, frantic impulses and the sheer clutter of irrationality we tend to pile into our minds, I suspect there exists a deeper layer—the primordial truths we once shared with the Divine at the very start of everything. Even now, amidst the noise, I believe those foundational thoughts remain tucked away within us, entirely untouched by the passing years. It seems to me that while every fleeting opinion or wandering idea we’ve ever had will inevitably shift and fade, that core bedrock upon which our entire existence is built remains absolutely, beautifully constant.

Everything we’ve been working toward leads directly to this specific Foundation. In these exercises, you aren't just meditating alone; you are essentially merging your own consciousness with the Divine Mind. Your very thoughts begin to align and flow as one with His. I suppose if there is one thing you truly need to keep in mind to make this work, it’s this: you ought to approach this practice with the same profound reverence you would show when standing before a sacred altar in a great cathedral. That is the spiritual altitude you are aiming for. To be honest, you might not even fully grasp just how incredibly high you are attempting to climb right now. But, even with the modest understanding you’ve managed to gather so far, I really think you should remind yourself that this isn't some trivial pastime or a casual mental game. This is a serious pursuit of holiness—a genuine, heartfelt attempt to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

During those brief windows when you manage to squeeze in a workout or a quick break today, I think it might be helpful to hold onto this one specific intention: please, try to remember just how profoundly sacred your own mind truly is—specifically, that incredible capacity to think in alignment with the Divine. If you can find even just a minute or two throughout your day, perhaps while you're repeating this thought to yourself, I would encourage you to really sit with that realization and appreciate the inherent holiness within your own consciousness. It might be worth trying to step back, even if only for a fleeting moment, from any stray or unworthy thoughts that don't quite honor the One you serve. And, if it feels right, maybe take a second to simply offer up a word of thanks for the higher thoughts He is inviting you to share in.
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Could you have mentioned this was Lesson 45? 😵

It’s an interesting line, and one I actually quite like (it serves as proof that ACIM leans more toward New Age philosophy rather than being a strictly "Abrahamic religious" text):

"God's will for me is perfect happiness.
This is the truth, because there is no sin"
(Lesson 101)
👍

"In the act of observation, the subject is fundamentally fractured. Objects are perceived from the vantage point of the ego—the subject defined by labels—yet they are desired from the perspective of the unconscious subject."

This carries weight.
It brings to mind something I read a while back regarding the necessity of letting the "autonomic nervous system" simply function on its own. We shouldn't over-intervene or attempt to "bring to consciousness" those processes that are meant to remain submerged in the unconscious...
I believe that was Bert Hellinger.

steelridge58 said:Oh, please, don't make this more complicated than it needs to be!
🙂

I was just totally focused on my keyboard and really concentrating on what I was typing.
The Moon wasn't even a passing thought in my mind.

You were focused on crafting a response—and then, seemingly without provocation, you looked up at the Moon, and there it was, your answer.

Isn't that just a beautiful coincidence?
🙂

And how can you be certain that some part of you didn't trigger his response...?
(The same goes for all those other variables...)

Of course, this assumes you actually believe in this idea of "something within yourself"—a concept that doesn't necessarily align with your own self-perception, yet remains something you might find yourself questioning repeatedly over time.

😂

..why does it always have to be me who deals with this first

I find myself agreeing with this hiker's take; it hits the nail on the head:

hiker said:Philosophy is essentially a simulation of reality—as long as there are unanswered questions regarding our existence, philosophy will remain relevant.

... which is to say, any unresolved question about our reality qualifies as a philosophical one.

... and we really ought to start a discussion on this point: 😎

Tut II said:Let's add some complexity here. One fundamental question is whether an external reality exists independently of the mind. If we concede that it does, the next hurdle is determining if our perception is actually realistic or merely a subjective construction. In the philosophy of perception, these two opposing viewpoints are known as realism and anti-realism. Both sides offer a litany of arguments for and against their positions (for instance, see S. Price: "The Eye and the World").

That wasn't actually a quote from Sartre.
It was something Saganova wrote in one of her novels 😎

I’m just not following you here.

Where on earth did this idea for a compliment even come from? 🙄

Back in the 60s, they used to have this saying in Paris:
"You can do anything you want—as long as you do it with a smile"

Sandra Murphy33,

The whole concept you’re touching on—survival, whether we’re talking about an individual, a species, or the entire galaxy—it all just "happens." It isn't as if humanity stepped in to engineer the fact that any of this exists. As individuals, we simply find ourselves adrift in a state of affairs that was already set in motion...
Since there is no human architect behind that "purpose"—that eternal continuity of life that persists regardless of its physical vessel or form—it stands to reason that life and survival aren't actually our responsibility, right?

I’ve always found it amusing how materialists grab hold of the concept of Life itself with such unearned confidence. They act as though they sit above it rather than being subject to it, prescribing rules and regulations as if Life were some fragile thing that would vanish instantly without their paternalistic intervention. It strikes me as incredibly arrogant; a sort of inflated, God-complex performance. It feels as though they invented the idea of being a protector just to give themselves the legitimacy to claim they need to look after the very life that produced them in the first place!

ruggedraven36 said:Logic works the exact same way.

Hmm.

I prefer to think of logic as a spiral. 😛
If it just circles back on itself, it loses its inherent value.

What’s the actual distinction here?

Harold Doyle3 said:To me, "survival" is an individual thing, or maybe a small group. Like surviving a heart attack or walking away from a car wreck on the I-95.
But "survival" in the way you mean it? That's collective. It's about maintaining continuity.
It’s pure nonsense to prioritize secondary things over primary ones. Look at nature: a parasite that kills its host too quickly ends up killing itself. That’s fundamentally senseless behavior unless there’s some other evolutionary trick up its sleeve to compensate. Without it, it's just suicide. Extinction.
Now, look at us humans. We’re cranking up the heat on this entire planet... and honestly, whether common sense will be enough to save us remains to be seen.

"Survival" implies overcoming some kind of obstacle—a threat to one's life—that once conquered, leaves you alive.
Surely you aren't suggesting that the entire point of living is to constantly hunt for hurdles just to clear them, all while knowing full well that you won't be able to overcome the final one?
The inherent finitude of an individual life calls into question the meaning of every single struggle, large or small, fought for individual "survival."

I find no meaning in this idea of "collective survival through the assurance of continuity" either. 😢
Why should I care whether my species survives as a whole, especially during those moments of frustration when I'm tempted to wish its downfall?

Aren't those kinds of "definitions" just a fancy way of describing a tautology?
🤔

Harold Doyle3 said:The relay keeps going until someone drops the ball, and then they’re out of the running.
The whole point is simply not to be the one who fails (survival).

Whose survival, exactly?
🤔

We survive until we die—whether we're connected to our ancestors or completely isolated, whether we're starving or well-fed, wealthy or broke. Survival is a given from birth to death. So when you claim that this is somehow deeply meaningful, I have to ask: compared to what?
If we look at life through that lens, is there actually anything that could be considered meaningless? And if so, why?

Unless, of course, your definition of "survival" is specifically about reaching old age after ensuring your children carry on your lineage, and then their children do the same, indefinitely...

Your idea of "survival" is poorly defined.
That term only makes sense when you're talking about animals fighting for their lives—one predator trying to eat while the other tries to escape. In human terms, where those kinds of raw struggles aren't the norm, the concept of "human survival" becomes incredibly vague.