Judgment

We can never hope to be free as long as any part of us struggles with, or suffers over what others are doing, have done, or won't do with their lives. Besides, if we could remain aware of the often-compromised state of our own character, that is, how we still do those things to others that we don't want to do, this awakened conscience would stir in us a new need. Rather than worrying about whether so-and-so gets his comeuppance for being the...

At some point in our lives we have all dealt with uncomfortable moments where an unexpected or unwanted change in one near to us brings up some unpleasant reaction in us. Of course we are usually very quick to find fault with this person, but here is the real, invisible story. The reason we fall under the rule of these reaction-driven dark states, and then find ourselves trying to dictate the life direction of the "offending" person, is that something...

Topics covered:  "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." -- Ecclesiastes, Old Testament; Any sort of development requires a certain amount of voluntary suffering. The path of development requires that you meet limitations; We will go through great pains to make sure that we get what we want. But there is another kind of pain that we don't usually want: seeing the truth of our present nature.

Topics covered:  True teachings are not intended to console the listener. They are intended to produce new insights that change the consciousness of those who allow the truth to act in them; Before rebirth there must come a death. "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." -- New Testament -- There is an order to things that cannot be twisted. True teachings talk about how things have become completely reversed.

Topics covered:  Most of us don't know anything at all about our obsessions. When a person is obsessed with something, he or she sees it as natural and necessary; Life is intended to be simple. Everything that is perceived as being difficult is, in reality, simple for the level of understanding that sees from a higher perspective; The Kingdom of Heaven is within. It is not out there in the world of thought and its temporary creations.

Key Lesson: We cannot see what we will not look at... but it is not "us" who refuses to look.

Topics covered:  Everyone thinks that their life is already in God's hands. But who's hands are we in when we are angry or fearful or anxious? Who's hands are we in when the only thing we are filled with are thoughts about ourselves; "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will (what is Good) is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not; For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

Key Lesson: If you want a "misery-backed" guarantee that the painful relationship you have with whatever troubles you about someone -- or with something -- will never change... Just keep complaining to yourself about it!