Today’s reading is very short, but its message is the crux of true spirituality. It deserves the utmost contemplation.

The problem with humanity is the belief in separation and self-centeredness. That is one problem, not two. The problem is complicated by the fact that humans do not realize it is a problem. They think separation is a fact, and they typically do not notice their own self-centeredness. The ways that humans hurt each other, themselves, animals and the planet because of this way of seeing are too numerous to list. Extreme hurt is much more common than we’d like to notice or admit. In the past, I have shared two videos—Kirtana’s “Happy Birthday Jesus” and John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas”—to help us look more honestly at the pain caused by the ego. And yet, those videos only show a tiny portion of that pain.

Ashleigh Banfield’s “Primetime Justice” on CNN Headline News often highlights news stories that show just how cruel and self-centered humans can be. If you can watch that show without judging the accused, it can be helpful to tune in on occasion as a reminder of the pain that is caused by the belief in separation and self-centeredness.

In Jesus’ time, there was just as much cruelty as there is now. Nothing has really changed in 2,000 years, which is the point of Kirtana’s song, “Happy Birthday Jesus.” That’s also the point that Michael Langford makes in his book, The Most Direct Means to Eternal Bliss:

For thousands of years humans have been stuck in the same pool of inward unsolved problems. Thousands of years ago humans had the problems of suffering, sorrow, anger, fear violence, conning, cheating, lying, death, etc. Today humans have the problems of suffering, sorrow, anger, fear, violence, conning, cheating, lying, death, etc. All of those problems have a single cause.

Michael Langford goes on to explain that the single cause of all of those problems is the ego. He also explains that the answer to all of those problems is the final end of the ego. It would be the same to say that the single cause of all of those problems is the belief in separation and self-centeredness. Therefore, the answer to all of those problems is the final end to the belief in separation and self-centeredness.

Note: Notice that Michael Langford says, “For thousands of years humans have been stuck with the same pool of inward unsolved problems.” The belief in separation and self-centeredness are inward unsolved problems.

In today’s reading, Jesus is asked, “Of all the commandments, which is most important?” Jesus answers with two commandments. The first addresses the belief in separation. The second addresses self-centeredness.

Instead of simply reading today’s brief excerpt from NTI, and then going on with your day, take time to contemplate the following questions. Journal with inner wisdom until you feel you have reached genuine insight.

What can I do to love God (truth, Self, awareness) to a greater extent?

What change (or changes) can I make to be less self-centered and more inclusive?

Again, seek genuine insight regarding these questions. When we reach genuine insight, we are able to feel it. It is the feeling of something new dawning on the mind, like a new realization, a new way of seeing, or a new or deeper way of understanding something that has been presented before. An insight may lead to an increase in the desire for truth realization, or it may lead to a more authentic approach to spiritual practice. If there is a dull “I-already-knew-that” feeling or a feeling of guilt associated with your answers, you have not yet reached insight.

Note: It doesn’t have to take a long time to reach insight. It’s possible that genuine insight may come quickly.

Day 50: NTI Mark 12 (v1-12) – (v18-27)

When we derive a portion or all of our self-image from the truth teaching that we study, the teaching is hijacked by the ego, and it is no longer effective. Instead, the teaching becomes a tool that is used by the ego to continue the ego and its illusion.

That is the meaning of the story about the vineyard, which you will find in today’s reading. The perfect vineyard is the teaching. However, the one who becomes identified with the teaching turns it into a personal thought system. Once the teaching is reduced to a thought system that ‘I’ identify with, it needs to be defended whenever the thought system appears threatened. At this point, the teaching becomes completely ineffective, and it isn’t used for the purpose that it was originally given, which is truth realization.

A term commonly used for this process of identifying with a teaching, turning it into a personal thought system, and then defending the thought system is, “fundamentalism.” Like ritual, fundamentalism is the husk of truth faith.

Awakening Together’s fourth core value addresses fundamentalism.

We affirm one true Self as the only truth. We live this value by embracing what is helpful on the path of awakening without idolizing any spiritual doctrine as truth.

NTI Revelation, Chapter 1, also addresses the mistake of fundamentalism.

The world is an illusion, and so everything you experience as you let go of the world is illusion also. You are not to believe any of it. But helpful symbols will be given to guide you. Remember that they are only symbols. Follow them, realizing you know not where they lead.

Do not idolize anything within the world or any symbol or any thought that is sent to lead you from the world. Hold to them as they are useful, but let them go when their usefulness has past. You are to keep moving by letting go until you find yourself with nothing left to hold onto.

Twice, today’s reading says, “Jesus understood the confusion within the mind and the thought that gave rise to such confusion.” The confusion is fundamentalism. The thought that gives rise to the confusion is the “I” thought, a thought that constantly seeks for a self-image.

To awaken, we must let go of self-image, including spiritual self-image, and embrace “the oneness of God”—consciousness, the Second Principle of God—as what we are.

As a reminder, NTI Mark is a fictional story that provides helpful symbols. Our role is to derive meaning from the symbols, and then live from the example provided by those symbols.

I am reminding you of this today, because today’s reading in NTI is quite a bit different from the way the stories are told in the Bible. In the Bible, Jesus rides into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey and is hailed as king by crowds of people. The next day, he wakes up hungry. The Bible says:

Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. ~ Mark 11:12-14, 20-21

That fig tree “withered from the roots” and died.

After cursing the fig tree, Jesus went to Jerusalem. This is what happened next:

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ ~ Mark 11:15-17

Why does NTI tell the story differently? Because, NTI Mark is a fictional story that provides helpful symbols. Our role is to derive meaning from the symbols, and then live from the example provided by those symbols. So, NTI changes the story in order to provide us with an example we can follow and model ourselves after.

What about the story as it is told in the Bible?

The morning after Jesus rode into Jerusalem and was hailed as king, the Bible says:

The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. ~ Mark 11:12

As we know, Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights in the desert and refused the ego’s temptation to turn stones into bread. But on this day, Jesus sees a fig tree in the distance and, even though it wasn’t the season for figs, he gets so angry at the tree for not having fruit that he curses it, and it dies. Doesn’t it seem a bit unusual that physical hunger would have such a strong effect on him?

It’s interesting to note that “hungry” has more than one definition. The obvious definition is “feeling the need for food,” but notice some of these other definitions:

Having a strong desire or craving; grasping

Strongly motivated as by ambition; power-hungry

Extremely desirous, avid; hungry for recognition

It’s possible that thoughts of grandiosity entered into Jesus’ mind as he rode into Jerusalem the evening before, and so the next morning he woke up “hungry.” It’s also possible that he was beginning to sense the threat of arrest, and he was upset by thoughts about that. Whatever the case may have been, it appears he was not immediately alert to his thinking. He was temporarily deluded by his thoughts, and that’s what led to the outbursts with the fig tree and in the temple courts.

In NTI, Jesus doesn’t make the same mistakes that he made in the Bible. NTI provides us with a role model that we can emulate when we notice wrong-minded thoughts in our minds. However, the Bible story is helpful too, because it can be helpful to realize that even Jesus made mistakes. That point-of-view can help us forgive ourselves when we are not quickly alert to our thoughts.

As you read today’s tip, keep the Four Principles of God in mind.

In today’s reading, Jesus says, “When you look at me as one who is in a body, you do not look at me at all.” At this point in our story, Jesus has awakened to the Second Principle of God, which is consciousness. As such, Jesus is aware of everything as consciousness. In A Course in Miracles, this way of seeing is called true perception and the real world. In other teachings, it is referred to as the unitive state or oneness.

Nisargadatta Maharaj said, “The very nature of the Self is love. It is love, loving and lovable.” He also said, “Love is not a result, it is the very ground of being. Wherever you go, you will find being, consciousness and love.” This is Jesus’ way of seeing.

Not too long ago, we did an exercise in the mind using the image of children’s molding clay. To understand the teaching in today’s story, let’s do a similar exercise.

1. Imagine that you have a can of children’s molding clay, like Playdoh, in front of you. Imagine taking the clay out of the can. Set the clump of clay on the desk or table in front of you.

 

2. Before beginning to mold anything out of the clay, spend time appreciating the clay itself. Imagine the color of the clay. Pick the clay up and feel what it feels like in your hands. Smell the clay. Appreciate the unlimited potential of the clay. Realize it can be molded into anything. The clay represents consciousness. Be with that thought for a moment before continuing to the next step.

 

3. Begin to mold the clay into Jesus. See yourself creating a perfect image of him. Imagine using tools to create the fine features of his face, hair and clothing. When your image is complete, see it setting on the table or desk in front of you.

 

4. Now, shift your perception. Instead of focusing on the image of Jesus—instead of focusing on his features, such as the face, hair and clothing—focus on the clay. Notice the color of the clay again. It is the same color as when you started. Notice the smell of the clay is the same. Pinch your molded image just enough to notice that the clay remains malleable, just as it was prior to creating this image. The clay is still clay. The clay represents consciousness. Be with that thought for a moment before continuing to the next step.

 

5. Now, destroy the image of Jesus. Squish it. Tear it apart, and press the pieces back together into a formless clump of clay. Completely eliminate the image that was molded from the clay. When you are done, hold the clump of clay in your hand.

 

6. Examine the clump of clay. Look at the color of the clay. Feel the clay in your hands. Smell the clay. The Jesus image is gone, but the clay is still clay. The clay represents consciousness. The clay itself is love. Jesus of NTI sees himself as the clay. He does not see himself as the image of a man called Jesus.

 

When you read today’s story, keep this exercise in mind. If you do, you will understand what Jesus means when he says, “When you look at me as one who is in a body, you do not look at me at all.” You will also understand his meaning when he says, “Remember that Love cannot die.” When Jesus talks about love, he is not talking about an emotion. Emotions come and go. Jesus is referring to consciousness and the unlimited potential of consciousness. That’s love.

As Nisargadatta Maharaj said:

“The very nature of the Self is love.”

“Love … is the very ground of being.”

Nisargadatta also said:

“The right use of mind is in the service of love…”

Contemplate that last quote along with what Jesus says about the “Servant” in today’s reading.

Today’s reading provides the opportunity to contemplate, once again, the goal of the spiritual path.

Awakening is not becoming a better person. It isn’t attaining eternal life for the self that you think you are. Awakening is realizing that you are That which is beyond all sense of self, even beyond consciousness itself.

Let’s review the Four Principles of God:

First Principle of God – Pure, unmanifest, life-awareness; abstract, unlimited potentiality.

Second Principle of God – Consciousness; the unaffected, still witness. All things manifest are made of this principle; therefore, all things are consciousness.

Third Principle of God – The ongoing activity of creation, which occurs naturally through the interaction of the witnessing principle with that which is witnessed. It is how consciousness forms itself into the many temporary forms that make up the manifest universe.

Fourth Principle of God – Manifestation. Everything in this realm is temporary, and so it is often referred to as a dream. It is consciousness appearing as something other than consciousness, and so it is called illusion. One who believes manifestation is the realm of reality is referred to as unconscious, not awake, or ignorant. When this realm is seen through ignorance, it is fearful and full of suffering. When seen through clarity, this realm is miraculous.

The goal of the spiritual path is to realize we are the First Principle of God. To do that, we cannot be attached to anything in the Fourth Principle. Attachment to the Fourth Principle maintains our identity as a body-personality-mind in the Fourth Principle. It’s like being a balloon tethered to a fence. The only way to float up to the First Principle is to cut the string.

It’s important to realize that the person is part of the Fourth Principle. Whether you are a good person, a bad person, or an improved person, it is still the Fourth Principle. Everything in the Fourth Principle is temporary. You can never attain eternal life for a temporary manifestation, but you can realize that you are not a temporary manifestation.

After you read the story in today’s reading, ask yourself:

What about my life is so important to me, that if I were about to be absorbed into infinite awareness, I would hesitate and look back toward the world?

Hint: Watch the type of thinking that distracts you from awareness during meditation.