Who's pulling your strings?

As uncomfortable as this may be, let's consider a puppet metaphor for human existence.

We take our sensory input, our perceptual filtering, our learning, and our thought processes as evidence of our existence. But what if all those things were being caused by something else? Something outside of our awareness? What if your thoughts, actions, perceptions, life experiences, abilities, relationships, decisions, and circumstances were all being controlled by something other than yourself? Most of us would find this proposal very disturbing. It seems to call into question our autonomy and our very concept of self.

As difficult as this may be to think about and conceptualize, this is a very useful metaphor in the study of non-dualism. Earth life is not Reality; it is much more like a play, a show, a demonstration. The events and circumstances are all contrived. The selves that we defend so strongly are merely characters with which we have identified. And the thoughts, words, and actions of these selves? All part of a 'script' that reflects the intention of the 'writer.'

And just who is this puppeteer, the one pulling our strings, making all this seem so real? This is you. The REAL you. The mind, that exists outside time and space. The mind that was created to be eternal, but wants to pretend that temporality can exist. The mind that was created perfect, but wants to pretend that sin can exist. The mind that was created to be one, but wants to believe in separation.

Have you listened to little kids who play with dolls, Barbies, GI Joes, or video game characters? They get so wrapped up in the game that they temporarily lose their identities and begin talking about and thinking about the doll as if it were their self. "I can't get over that wall!" "I'm fighting a battle." "I'm getting ready for a date." "I'm a famous fashion model." "I'm under attack!" "You killed me!"  We can gain a lot of insight by paying attention to games that children invent.

Because children are not inventing those games. They are reflecting the same cosmic game that we're ALL playing. Their make-believe and alter-egoes remind us that we are also pretending to be something that we are not.

And just as the children eventually tire of the game, leave their playthings, and return to reality, so will we. The only question is "when?"

What if I'm wrong?

Have you noticed that every time you make some progress in your life, it comes about as a realization that you are 'wrong' about something? Think about it. Each step forward is preceded by the recognition that you have been believing in illusion.

• "I thought I could stay in Mom's womb forever."
• "I thought pooping my diaper was normal."
• "Walking? No, crawling suits me just fine."
• "Talking doesn't work as well as babbling."
• "Reading is not necessary at all."
• "Math facts? For what?"
• "My family is enough. Who needs friends?"
• "My friends are enough. Who needs family?"
• "The opposite sex is disgusting."
• "The same sex is disgusting."
• "This is the perfect job for me!"
• "This relationship will last forever."
• "The religion of my parents has to be true."
• "The politics of my family are just right for me."
• "My country.... right or wrong."
• "My family....right or wrong."
• "I can keep my body healthy forever."
• "What's in it for me?"
• "Is it good for the Jews?"
• "Support the troops."
• "I was just following orders."
• "This gadget changes everything."
• "The world isn't coming to an end."
• "Liberty and justice for all."
• "We are all special individuals."
• "Nobody's perfect."
• "God does not exist."
• "God does exist."
• "God cares about me."
• "God doesn't care about me."

And I could go on and on and on. I made this list long enough so that hopefully you can find examples of things you used to think were truth, but later realized are not. And I also hope you were able to find some things on this list that you currently think of as truthful. 

Do you see what I'm getting at? If we make progress by identifying false beliefs, perhaps we can hasten progress by questioning our beliefs. Perhaps when we are NOT questioning our beliefs, we slow down our progress. Perhaps we can't even judge for ourselves what real progress is!

How should we handle the suffering of others?

Outwardly, pretty much the same way believers in dualism do.  Be kind. Be supportive. Help if you can. Listen. You know all that stuff.

When you're beginning to see that the world is illusion, it's easy for ego to come rushing in to flippantly declare all the suffering of the world as false, also. Ego is masterful at taking a fact and spinning it to get you to keep perpetuating the ego thought system. 

Ego's thought system is founded on a belief in separation. And when a person close to you believes s/he is suffering, there is nothing more divisive than to glibly announce to the person that they are simply imagining it! See what I mean? Yes, it's true that there can be no suffering in God, but none of us truly is convinced that this all is illusion. None of us. Even the writer of this blog. 

Mind exists OUTSIDE time and space. When I talk about the mind, I'm not talking about the brain. Mind is not contained in brain. The brain is part of the body mechanism, through which mind expresses its belief system. When mind is truly reawakened to Reality, it only rarely sees a reason to appear as a body within the dream world. Put bluntly: if you still woke up this morning in a body, you still believe in the dream.

Thus, for one dreamer to tell another dreamer that suffering isn't real just isn't helpful. It's counterproductive. 

So what SHOULD we do?

We ASK. While we listen to our suffering companion, while we hug them, while we assure them that we are there to help, we are ASKing inwardly for help in seeing the situation through the Vision of Christ. Because Mind is One, when one person ASKs for Vision, he is ASKing for all of humanity. 

One final reminder. The more one practices ASKing for Vision, the more one feels reflections of the Peace of God. When our mind is peaceful, Truth can flow unimpeded. A peaceful mind is much more helpful in times of suffering and turbulence. Don't join in the suffering of the other. That's false empathy. Simply be there, be kind, be gentle, be receptive. Get your own mind calmed down. And into your peaceful mind will come an answer. I can't predict what it will be; each situation is different in this world. You may be directed to say something, to give something, to do something. You may be directed to do nothing! But, what is so startling in these situations is that if you do it right, when your direction arrives it is unquestionably exactly what is needed. You actually become an 'instrument of peace' and a worker of miracles.

TRY it.

What about the sacred or holy?

Are there places, events, objects, or activities that are sacred or holy? This is another way of questioning God's involvement in this world. So the strict non-dualistic answer would be: No, God does not bless anything in this world with sacred essence or holiness because if God were involved somehow with this world, this world would be real, and God would then belong to the realm of duality.

However. There is another way of looking at this question that may be more helpful. First, remember that the word "God" means "that which is Eternal, Changeless, Perfect, Loving, Innocent, One, True, and Creative. Defined this way, God is clearly not involved in our experiences and perceptions in earth life. But, we carry with us in our mind (outside time and space) the memory of God. I call this memory Spirit, but the name doesn't matter.

Everything we see and experience here is a reflection or symbol of a thought system. And while the thought systems can seem to be legion, there are actually only two: ego or Spirit. Duality or non-duality. Illusion or Truth. Separation or Oneness. As our mind chooses between those two systems, our perceptions and experiences on earth reflect that choice. Thus it may be that your perception of certain situations may be an increased feeling of connection to the Holy or Sacred.

As mentioned before, because we want to believe in separation and individuality, the memory of Truth must filter through our individual views of our own uniqueness. Your own personality, then, may be more likely to be receptive to Spirit in some circumstances, but not in others. Maybe you feel a peacefulness as you contemplate the ocean. Perhaps you feel a connection with eternity when you're out in the wilderness. For some, churches and rituals seem to carry a message of holiness. Physical objects, such as relics, icons, or images might seem to convey sacredness. So, if you feel peaceful in some situations but not others, those situations may be reflections of Truth filtered through your OWN perception.

The important thing is not to confuse the reflection of reality with Reality Itself. Personally, I find a walk along the seashore to be very peaceful. But I attempt to remind myself that the same ocean that seems to speak of God to me, has brought tragedy and destruction to many others. Peaceful wilderness can quickly turn to viciousness as weather changes, earthquakes occur, wild animals attack, or people get lost or fall off trails. A beautiful sunset is made by the same star that brings drought and famine to other parts of the world. And the treasured religion may have a history of divisiveness or even violence. This is the realm of dualism!

So, if you feel a perception of holiness, divinity, or sacredness in something of this world, Spirit may be using it to communicate to you in your own unique way. Just be careful to not confuse the symbol with the Fact. And, as with all things of this world, don't get too attached. There are reflections of Eternity here, but reflections are just images.

What is sin?

For those with a secular humanist view, sin would be defined as actions that negatively impact others. For those with a religious view, sin would be defined as opposing the will of God. From a non-dualistic perspective sin is represented by the false beliefs of the mind, and gives rise to manifestations of the other two definitions. In other words, all three definitions are correct. But one is more helpful. Allow me to explain.

Clearly, humans can do things to attack or neglect others. Of course, this is wrong, but not only because of the effects. The very thought that inspires attack or neglect is erroneous. There ARE no "others." When we attack or neglect, we perpetuate the belief in the fragmentation of Creation. When we do or think wrong things we are definitely opposing the will of God, or rather, we believe we are opposing the will of God. In Truth, the Will of God cannot BE opposed, because there is no other will!

Thus we are left with the non-dualistic definition of sin:  sin is nothing more nor less than a false belief that there is something other than Truth, other than God, other than Oneness. And it's something we all do, regardless of the form it takes.

Jesus is said to have taught about how our actions are judged exactly the same way we judge the actions of others. This teaching is mistakenly interpreted as being punitive, almost karma-like; sort of a 'what goes around comes around' thing. Nope.

Consider this example: An intruder breaks into your home and steals money. The intruder is later caught, and you realize that you are hoping that he will be prosecuted and punished by the law. You feel violated and wronged. You are righteously indignant. You smile with glee as his sentence is handed down, and you are thrilled that he will be incarcerated. But think back to the very beginning of this adventure.  Why did the intruder break into your home? To get money. Why? Money has value to him, and he believes he wants or needs some. And why were you so violated by his actions? Because money has value to you and you believe you want or need some. It's exactly the SAME belief!


Everything we label as a crime, wrong-doing, or a sin is a theft of one kind or another. And every one is based on a false belief of ownership combined with misplaced value. We are able to completely forgive when we see there is no harm done. But until we change our minds about where real value lies, we will continue to find many opportunities to judge and to perceive sin in the world.

This is not something we can think ourselves through in a logical progression. This requires willingness to question the very underpinnings of reality and to ASK for guidance in seeing each situation in the light of Truth rather than through the ego's dark glass. We can't be unfairly treated because there are no 'others' to treat us. But we believe there are. And that belief..... is sin.

What about healing?

There is much confusion on earth about healing because there is much confusion about illness. From our human perspective, illness is anything that interferes with optimal functioning of body or brain. Thus, healing is that which alleviates symptoms and allows normal functioning to resume, or at least be adequate.

However, healing of this nature is temporary. While some symptoms may subside or disappear, they may reoccur later; or other symptoms will arise to take their place. And, of course, the biggie: the body and the brain will eventually die. Death is the ultimate illness!

Illness cannot happen in a perfect being. Perfection means optimal functioning at all times and forever without limit. Why do we not see this here? Because we are misdefining ourselves. Our True Self is not a body or a brain, but rather a Mind. This Mind is perfect because is was created by and emanates from Perfection. However, there is one little tiny glitch:  because our Source must remain non-coercive, our True Mind does have the ability to deceive itself. And that's just what we believe we've done. Earth life is a bad case of mistaken identity. And THIS is our "illness."

Healing now is seen for what it really should be. We are healed when we once again are fully aware and fully accepting of Who and What we are in Truth. This can only happen when our Mind is truly willing to accept Reality. In the realm of time, this can take eons. In the realm of Eternity, time does not exist.

As our Mind (outside time and space) is healed, this process is reflected in our human experience. Peace enters our awareness more and more. We are less and less affected by illusions of change and threats to ego. We are more cognizant and accepting of our oneness with seemingly other people and things. As the myth of separation gradually loses its grasp on our Mind, our true power becomes apparent. Time, space, material, and energy are seen as malleable to be used as tools to help the Awakening Process (Atonement). This may involve seemingly miraculous events such as physical healings, miracles, and even resurrections. Bodies may be made, used, and discarded instantly, as needed.

Seen from this perspective, the life and ministry of Jesus makes much more sense. He was fully Awake to his True Identity:  Christ. Thus, all power in Heaven and earth was given him. That is, the Christ has all power, and when we accept our inclusion in the Christ, we will also reclaim that same power. Thus, we are truly healed.

What about guilt?

Even if you've had little or no religious training, you've felt guilt. It's an interesting feeling. There's the pang of remorse when you realize you've done something 'wrong.' Often, that feeling is followed by a flash of anger or defensiveness as you try to explain to yourself (or others) why you did it. Then, dealing with the aftermath. If you were truly wrong, do you try to fix it somehow? Or if you feel you were only wrong in the view of others, do you try to justify it? Hide it? Spin it differently to manipulate others' perceptions? All of this turbulence gets lumped together under the label of 'guilt' and we've all felt it.

Baffling indeed, though, is another thing we've all felt: guilt over something with which you have no apparent connection. Do you feel guilty sometimes when your family members do or say something wrong? Do you catch yourself apologizing TO a person who's throwing a tantrum? Do you feel guilt (or embarrassment) by proxy for total strangers who do something dumb?

Tied to guilt is shame, a vague lingering sense of not just DOING something wrong, but even BEING something wrong. The Genesis story of Adam's guilt followed by shame is very telling, and a very accurate description of feelings we've all experienced.

In the dualistic format, one of our major human activities is the attempt to minimize guilt and shame. You may call it something different, but it's really the same thing. "I'm trying to contribute and be helpful." (Because you would feel guilty if you didn't!) "I'm trying to do the right thing." (Because you'd feel bad if you did the wrong thing.) "I want to be there for my friends who need me." (Because you'd feel guilty if you let them down, PLUS they may not want to be there for YOU when you need them later!) And don't even bring up body issues! We have so much guilt and shame centered around the body, that we could do an entire blog entry just about THAT!

Seen through the lens of non-dualism, the cause becomes clear. Human and earthly existence is a conscious (though insane) attempt to literally be something we were not meant to be. Guilt and shame are natural feelings that follow from not fulfilling our true function and role. Perfect, eternal creations of perfect oneness and unity come to this dream world to pretend that we are anything but. Here we can be imperfect, sinful, limited, evil, carnal, and mortal. Here, all that we do, all that we say and think, all that we believe we are, centers around a false concept: that God has been successfully attacked. No wonder we feel guilty!

Many religions' answer to this is to teach people how to reconcile their lives to the plan of God. For many, this path will be helpful. But many others are dismayed to find that even after years of being faithful in their religious practice, they still feel guilt and shame. The root cause of guilt is still being avoided. It's not what you believe you've DONE that is making you feel guilty; it's what you believe you ARE.


The good news?  You are not what you believe you are!

What about accountability?

This question points to another great 'portal' into a more non-dualistic approach to life. It won't quite get you all the way there, but is a great stepping stone for those who are presently considering that their approach to life is lacking something.

Accountability means accepting responsibility, of course; but responsibility for what? You can't be accountable for the actions of other individuals, organizations, governments, nature, etc. The common view is that we can only be responsible for our own choices.

But, TRY being a little more honest. Everything that manifests in your life is something you have either created, promoted, or allowed.  (CPA! An accountant!)  Startling? Think about it. Start with the people in your life. They are in your life because you choose to have them there. Your job or career? Obviously your choice. 


The further we get away from our immediate proximity, the more challenging this concept is to see.  But TRY it, anyway. Can you take any responsibility for what you are seeing? If you honestly can't find any way to do so, you can at least admit that you are in charge of your perception and interpretation of it. Maybe you can't be accountable for the tornado that killed nine people, but you ARE the one who chose to believe in the concept of people who can be killed by forces beyond their control. You perceive it, and you interpret it. Usually, you label it, too. A tragedy? A triumph? Good? Bad? Absurd? All your responses to seemingly external stimuli are quite clearly your own choices, which means you are accountable for them.

A word of caution:  I'm not talking about fault or blame here. Accountability simply means accepting your power and rejecting your weakness. It does not mean that you should feel guilty over things. Guilt is a subject for another blog entry, but know that guilt is deceptive. It's an ego device. When you accept accountability, ego rushes in to tell you that you should feel guilt and shame. When you do this, you reinforce separation, and you're right back where you started! Accepting accountability puts you on the path to ending your perception of separation; guilt puts you back on that erroneous avenue.

In the end, just before the carpet of time gets rolled up, we will ALL accept accountability for this entire illusion. We will see that we are not 'all' but rather ONE. And we will see that there is nothing to feel guilty about because we have not done anything to Reality. And when we are totally convinced that Reality remains perfect, we are back Home, in God.

What about honesty?

In a world that believes in the myth of separation, honesty is a very dicey subject. Most of us think of honesty as ethical behavior in relation to other, separate individuals. If you truly shared a mind with another human, honesty (as commonly defined) would be a moot point. It would never occur to you to lie, cheat, or deceive if all your thoughts were not private. Thus, the entire question of honesty with other people is already predicated on the acceptance of duality.

Honesty with self is a different issue entirely. Can we deceive ourselves? Most would answer, resoundingly, YES! But how can that happen? You know your own thoughts. But we all know how it happens. We either keep certain things out of our consciousness, or we build a faulty system of logic in our minds. Indeed, the entire teaching of non-duality could be summarized by asserting that the human view of existence is inherently dishonest! If we are truly ONE, how can we convince ourselves that we are many?

Organized religions teach the value of honesty to young people, and those who accept the teachings can easily fall into a lock-step reflex-like reaction to communication; they've been taught that being dishonest is 'wrong' and that lying is 'bad.' Human life, though, frequently presents situations where being honest conflicts with other important parts of the credo. Is it wrong to lie when the Nazis ask if you're hiding a Jewish family in your home? Is it wrong to lie when a person asks your opinion about their new hairstyle or lifestyle? Is it wrong to lie when you are asked a question that is not appropriate to the situation?

I have to say that moving from the training of organized religion into my current practice of studying non-dualism has really clarified some of the thorny questions of honesty that used to plague me. If Oneness is Reality, then all of us who believe in separation are dishonest! Each moment that I believe in an aspect of individuality, I'm being dishonest. Each time I believe I have needs, I'm being dishonest. Each time I feel fear, I'm being dishonest. Each time I feel anger, I'm being dishonest. Every thought, word, or action in human life is dishonest because human life itself is founded on a faulty concept.

The process of accepting the One Reality of God could be described as the process of gradually becoming more honest.

I want to give non-dualism a TRY; how should I begin?

Just reading this post indicates you've already begun!

But you want some kind of practice, something to DO, don't you? Yeah, you do. Ego wants you to believe that your doings matter.

Okay.  Here's something you can do.

Get quiet, take several deep breaths, and search your mind. See if you can find something in recent memory over which you are harboring a grievance. Find a situation where you feel you were treated unfairly by another person, an institution, the universe, a circumstance. It can be anything. Just find a time when you felt like a victim.

Now, as you think about your victim experience, you will notice that separation is integral. That is, there had to be two roles: persecutor and victim. You are playing the victim role, in this case. You have read in other posts that non-dualism claims that separation is not real, therefore there can't truly be such a thing as a persecutor or a victim. As you contemplate this, you may start to feel defensive. You may begin to realize that holding onto the grievance and your role as victim is perversely attractive to you! You also may not be ready for that realization yet. But, for now, just identify the situation, replay it, and TRY to come to grips with why you feel you were slighted.

Now, the ASKing part. ASK yourself (or God, or Jesus, or Spirit, or the Universe) if there could possibly be a different way of seeing this situation? Is there some other way to define your role in this? Is there another interpretation possible for the other person? Also ASK yourself how willing you would be to consider other perspectives if, and when, they are offered to you. Are you going to argue? Are you going to get all defensive? Or could you at least take a breath and say, "Hm. That could be true. I will consider it."

This whole process takes, what, about five minutes? Just TRY it! Then, just go about your life as usual, but be watching, listening, and reading. Your new perspective is on its way. It may be a startling mystical experience, a vision, a revelation. It may be something you read or hear about. It may be lyrics in a song, or a quotation shared with you. It may just be a thought that slips into your mind or comes to you in your dreams. It will come. The big question is, will you receive it?

What about our relationships?

Like everything in human experience, relationships begin and continue as devices of ego. Separate, limited beings trying to communicate some thoughts while keeping others private. Attempting to interact with each other while still reserving some time and space that is 'just mine.' Relationships can get quite messy and ugly, as we have all seen and experienced, and yet we are continually attracted to them.  (Note: There are some humans that seem to not want relationships with other humans; but they still want relationships with something. . . pets, possessions, nature, career, activities, etc.) Relationships are not just attractive to us, but they are also seeming sources of fear. We feel fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of being misunderstood, fear of being left alone, etc. Human relationships have beginnings, phases, transitions, and (usually) endings. The very long description in this paragraph should clearly demonstrate that relationships are firmly in the realm of ego.

That's the bad news. The GOOD news is that relationships (like any other ego device) can be offered to Spirit for reinterpretation. When we do this, the tool of ego becomes the instrument of Spirit, leading us back to Reality and Oneness.

Though any illusion here can be thus utilized, relationships are particularly effective. Here's why. First, we are very attracted to them and feel very compelled to 'get' relationships. From a very young age, we want to collect family, friends, comrades, colleagues, partners, lovers, spouses, etc. Most of us collect a great many (seemingly) different relationships with many (seemingly) different people. As with all ego devices, the differences initially seem more important than the similarities, the form seems more important than the content. Then, somewhere along the way, something in the relationship doesn't meet our expectations or requirements. (With separate individuals, this is bound to happen!) Often, it's something minor that we can overlook or work out with dialogue and compromise. But, eventually, something is going to surface that gets labeled a MAJOR problem. Oh, no! An obstacle, a roadblock! Well, now we have a decision to make. Do we TRY to work together and reach a solution? Or do we angrily and fearfully reject the other person and run for the hills? Major problems in relationships often boil down to ego's characteristic fork in the road:  "Should I stay or should I go?"

A great book I've been studying recently calls such false dichotomies "The Sucker's Choice." Ego is masterful at making a problem distill down to two choices, both undesirable. In relationships, often we reach a point where staying with the other person seems horrible, but leaving seems awful, too. And in these moments, we forget there is another choice.

We can ASK to see the relationship differently.  As soon as we express willingness to surrender our own separate paradigm, and have a new one taught to us, Spirit, at last unfettered, can enter the relationship and bless it with Vision. When your view of the problematical relationship is changed, usually the result is so dramatic that the lesson stays with you. It's quite miraculous. Even if the outer form of the relationship doesn't change, a reframing thought can do amazing and startling things.

Each time we do this, each time we ASK for more vision, more light, more understanding, and each time we willingly accept the vision, light, and understanding that comes as a result of our ASKing, we become more likely to do it again. And again. And again.  The learning curve has begun. The snowball is rolling. Ego's grip is loosened, Spirit makes inroads, and we begin the journey back to our Home.

What about magic?

We tend to think of the word 'magic' when we observe a phenomenon that we can't explain with our current paradigms. We observe something that seems to contradict natural law, and we say it's 'magical.' But what do we mean when we use this word? Here are a few possibilities:

(1) Illusions or trickery. It seems magical, but it's only an appearance.
(2) Natural law. It seems magical, but only because of my limited understanding of natural law.
(3) True magic. It actually does suspend or supersede the laws of nature.

Most modern people in our part of the planet do not believe in definition three. The laws of nature are LAWS, we believe. Thus, when something seems to contradict, it can only be because we are being deceived (illusion) or because we don't have sufficient understanding (ignorance).

But how does the word 'magic' apply when we are talking about non-dualism? Non-dualistic thought asserts that anything that is changeable, opposable, limited, separated, individuated, or vulnerable cannot be Real.  In other words, the universe, the cosmos, earth life, the human race, nature, the solar system, all our politics, religions, and paradigms. . . everything we think of as reality, is magic. And, further, non-dualism states that it is magic of the first sort:  illusion. We are being tricked by appearances, deceived by being distracted and misdirected. And, sadly, this is happening because we want it to happen.


"I don't WANT to be deceived," you may protest. "I want truth, I want honesty, I want reality. I hate lies, I can't stand deception, I won't tolerate false appearances."

But consider this:  Psychology quite clearly has established that we can (and are) continually affected by things of which we are not conscious. In other words, what you say you want, and what you believe you want, may not be what you REALLY want! 


What if the honest truth is that you are not real? Do you want that? Do you want to believe that your entire existence is a lie? I didn't think so.

Why are we here?

This question can be answered based on several different perspectives and levels of understanding. I'll start with the more kind ones and then work my way to the brutal truth.

I'm assuming by the word 'we' you mean humans. Human life can be assigned any purpose you can think of. You get to choose this one! Are you here to get lots of money? Have fun? Help others? Work hard? Relax? Retire early? Become famous? Live all alone? Fall in love? Have a family? Gain knowledge?You get to choose your own purpose for living.

But that's not what you meant, is it? You're really asking if there's some higher purpose, something outside of our awareness, a reason for the whole thing.

From the non-dualistic perspective, there are two 'reasons' for the human race. The default purpose is based on the ego thought system. And, as with everything, the ego interpretation can be offered to Spirit for a new interpretation that reflects truth rather than insanity.

Ego made the human race to attack God. Humans symbolize the antithesis of God is just about every respect. God is perfect, we are not. God is One, we are fragmented. God is innocent, we are guilty. God is peaceful, we are fearful. God is Love, we are anything but. God is Eternal, we are temporary. And so on. Of course, God cannot truly be attacked in Reality. So, we left Reality and went to a (pretend) place where attacking God seems possible and desirable.  Welcome to earth life.

Here, on earth, we can live an individual life that is decidedly ungodlike. We don't even have to believe in God! We can live lifetime after lifetime after lifetime believing in all kinds of concepts that have nothing to do with Reality. Why would we do such a thing? Because it feels good!  Except when it doesn't. And this, of course, is duality. Goodness defined by contrast.

When we begin to grow tired of this nonsense, we eventually reach a point that we ASK for help. We plead for understanding, answers, guidance, a different perception. The exact wording doesn't matter one bit; all that matters is that we are willing to open our minds just a bit to the possibility (hope!) that we have been wrong about something.

That's when Spirit can come in. Actually, Spirit was 'in' there the whole time. We just don't pay attention to a Voice of Peace when we're in love with conflict. Spirit can take any part of this world/human/body experience and re-interpret it to be a reflection of Reality rather than a perpetuation of illusion. Most of us experience this as a gradual process through which we gently come to realize that the purpose of our life is to reawaken to Life. The reason for being here is to come to understand that 'we' are NOT 'here.' Never were. There is no 'we.' There is no 'here.' There is only God. And we are safe at Home, in the Mind of God.

Will I feel happier if I work with non-dualism?

Happiness is a human emotion, not a true state of mind. Emotions are flaky things. When people use words such as 'happy' it's hard to even figure out if they're describing the same thing as another person. Very subjective, very individual. . . like everything else here.

A non-dualistic practice will require that you confront the ugliness of the ego thought system. This spiritual path is a gentle one, in the sense that you can go at your own pace. It's also a brutal one because you have to face the difficult truth that all the 'good stuff' you're striving for and all of the 'bad stuff' you're trying to avoid is all part of the same package. And when you get to the part where your very self-concept is called into question, well . . . that's challenging.

However. This is not a path you are walking alone. And, because it's based on Truth, the more you practice the more peaceful you will feel. No, happiness and peace are NOT the same thing at all. As you practice this path, you will come to see that even in your unhappy moments, you can still be very much at peace.

Most people who seem happy all the time are (a) probably in denial and (b) probably faking it! The dualistic nature of this world/body/mortality format requires that everything (including emotions) be defined by an opposite. Happiness is defined by states of UNhappiness. You can't feel one without experiencing the other.

The Peace of God is not like that at all. This is a state of mind that has NO opposite. It's always present and always available. When you begin to glimpse It, you feel a comforting sense of recognition, a feeling of coming Home. This state of mind is your natural state. As you return to it, you are returning your mind to the way that God created it. The more you practice and the more you become aware of this state, the more effective you will become at overlooking the illusions of this turbulent world. This is not the same thing as simply denying suffering; it's a re-defining. You will start to see that people in this world suffer, not because the suffering is real, but because they have defined themselves as creatures capable of suffering. They have made a self-concept that could not have come from God.

As you become more and more aware of this peaceful state, you also become more sensitive to your own errors. Small judgments and grievances that you used to be able to live with for years and years now begin to feel like heavy burdens. But the discomfort lasts only until you make a different choice of perception.

As I've written before, this path is not for everyone. This path is for people who have begun to see human life as a flawed concept. This path is for those who are losing hope in the current events of the world. If you believe that humans were meant to be happy all the time, get over to the closest new-age bookstore as soon as possible! If, however, you have begun to suspect that happiness is over-rated, you may want to TRY this stuff. If you've noticed that the more you join with others the more peaceful you feel, this may be your path. If you have observed that your judgments of others may not be as justified as you once thought they were, non-dualism may be your cup of tea.

And if you're still not sure, would it hurt to ASK?

What about original sin?

In the strictest sense, sin cannot oppose God. Truth is One, Eternal, Real, Unassailable. The Real is defined as 'that which cannot be threatened.' When you look at non-dualistic definitions, sin simply cannot exist.

In the earthly format, however, sin is very much with us, and is usually a device of the ego. Most of the time, we define sin as a wrong-doing seen in another person. Occasionally, we observe a sin in our own life, but we are pretty quick to forgive and dismiss it. Rarely, there are people who perceive themselves as sinful and live a life of guilt and shame because of this belief. Sin, as used by human ego, is a measuring device by which to justify judgment; and judgment literally holds the universe of duality together and makes it seem real.

Spirit can also use the concept of sin to help us awaken to Reality. In non-dualistic thought, sin is defined as the belief that something other than God can be possible. When defined this way, we see that all human existence is predicated on sin. We believe we are individuals (not One). We believe we are bodies (not Spirit). We believe we are temporal (not Eternal). We believe we are limited (not Limitless). We believe we are fallen (not Saved). We believe we are human (not Christ). The list goes on. Every action we take, every word we speak, every thought we think is usually a symbol of our belief that we exist, separate and apart from each other and from God. When defined this way, the idea of original sin makes sense. Just by choosing to believe that a universe such as this can exist is SIN.


However, the fact that we are all conceived by and born into a life of sin does not mean that hope is gone. Quite the contrary. Sin is illusion, or rather the belief that illusion is real. This belief does not justify punishment, but it does beg for correction. Correction comes though Spirit and is individualized for each being. This correction (to which I apply the term Atonement) is for all beings who wander the realm of differentiated existence. It requires acceptance, though not intellectual understanding. It requires willingness, though not action.

The Atonement saves everyone from original sin. "God will not be mocked," sounds like a threat; but look on it as an assurance, instead. Our paradigm of what existence is does make mockery of God's perfect Creation. But our paradigm will not stand. Truth will prevail. Sin is not just doing something wrong; sin is the belief that it's POSSIBLE to do something wrong. God can't be opposed. The only thing opposing God is our belief that it's possible to oppose God. And this belief doesn't affect God in the least; it only affects us.

Mystical Experience: The Clipping

Life was being very mean to me. After falling head-over-heels in love and having both relationships come to an end, I was almost two years into a third romance. Things seemed to be going well in so many respects, but I became aware of the presence of an addiction that had not been disclosed to me. I felt deceived and tricked. I felt abused. I felt used. I vacillated between the extremes of trying to accept the person (and the addiction) and that of simply chucking everything and going back to a life of solitude. I had stopped praying years ago, defining myself as agnostic and finding (some) solace in the realms of cognitive psychology. However, a few very startling experiences had lead me to begin using the word 'spiritual' again and to begin praying again; although to whom (or what, or FOR what!) I was praying was still a mystery.

On this particular occasion, I had discovered (again) that I had been deceived (again) by words and promises and appearances. The addiction was still very much present. I had made promised, threats, ultimatums, and yet I hesitated. I wasn't getting any younger. Should I quit the relationship? Should I continue trying to make it work? Should I impose restrictions or conditions? What the bloody hell should I do? My mind was in turmoil. I needed guidance! !

I took a solitary walk along a small stream that flowed through a wooded gully in a residential part of town. Though totally surrounded by civilization, I felt like I was alone with nature. A light rain sprinkled the ground as I cried my frustration and pleaded for relief.

My current mindset was that I needed to DO something. But what? Leave? Stay? Ignore the problem? Reframe the obstacle? Intervene? Involve extended family? Separate? Disappear? What???

After I had cried my tears and vented my conflicted emotions, silence set in. I continued walking, still feeling awful, but no longer able to put anything into words of prayer.

Suddenly, two phrases came into my mind. I don't know how to describe this adequately, except by using a computer metaphor: I felt like a 'download' was happening. That is, it seemed like the words were being FED to me, rather than retrieved from my memory. The first phrase was some catchy little new-age axiom I'd heard my younger brother use once or twice:  "When in doubt, do nothing." And the second was from the Bible: "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." Tears flowed freely as I felt the relief of knowing that I didn't have to take any particular course of action at this specific moment, but that I would know (I would KNOW!) what to do when the time was right! 


And at that very moment, I stopped dead in my tracks and looked down.  There, on the ground, was a phrase that had been clipped out of a glossy magazine. The sentence was framed almost perfectly within the clipping, and the fragment was situated on the ground, right-side-up just barely touching my left toe.  It said, "Free the Mind."

Of course, I kept the clipping.

Is there a problem non-duality cannot solve?

Question:
Our family is faced right now with a very baffling psychological disorder. An eight-year-old in our family, diagnosed with Asbergers, is flying into fits of blinding rage and fury. His dismayed parents have had to seek in-patient care for him, since lately his behavior is putting him in danger. The treatment will include medicines, supervision, and counseling. This is heart-wrenching for our family. What would non-dualism say about a situation such as this?

Answer:
This world was made to give rise to and perpetuate the illusion of a separate self. There is nothing quite so convincing as insoluble problems. The entire Autism spectrum is marked by problems connecting with other humans in meaningful and useful ways. Extreme emotions can change any attempt at connection into a situation of confrontation and competition. These situations demand attention and care being so startling and seemingly dangerous. Think also of natural disasters, political revolutions, famines, accidents, and the list goes on and on. The problems the world gives us to solve are never-ending, time-consuming, and frustrating.

Our brains perceive with a comparison and contrast mechanism. This question makes two crucial assumptions:  (1) It assumes that we can properly identify a 'problem,' and (2) it assumes that we have the ability to solve some of our problems.

Non-duality would assert that everything we experience and perceive in our earthly lives is illusion. Everything. The good stuff AND the bad stuff. The easy problems and the hard ones. The solvable ones and the unsolvable ones. It's all FAKE. Of course, merely looking at a worldly situation and labeling it unreal is not helpful. This is known as denial, and can quickly lead to many problems of its own!

However. By considering the possibility that our formulation of reality (and thus our problems) may be mistaken, our minds are lead to questioning. As soon as we ASK a question, entire avenues open up that were not previously apparent. We begin to see that the form our problems take is not nearly as important as is our state of mind when we are facing those situations.

When we ASK for other perspectives, other perceptions, new ways of looking at life, we catch glimpses, reflections, and reminders of our non-dualistic Reality. This Reality is marked by eternal, unassailable peace. This is not the peace of the world; it is a calmness that is always present, always available, and not threatened in any way by anything.

When you are facing a problem (big or small) are you more effective when your mind is turbulent, or when you're feeling peaceful and calm? The answer is obvious, when put that way. A peaceful mind is not just more pleasant; it's more effective.

Seen through a perception blessed with reflections of Eternal Peace, the problems of the world are clearly seen as illusions, distractions, and appearances. We still go about our lives, dealing with the various situations as best we can. But our state of mind will be a peaceful one. Everything identified as a problem will change for the better, then back to bad, then back to good, and on and on. Contrast is the nature of dualism. But when one can begin to walk the false world of dualism with the Peace of God, the problems of the world cannot affect one's peace of mind.

There is only one problem. We believe we've split apart Oneness. In Truth, we haven't. Problem solved.