Regina Dawn Akers guides a group of committed students who would like to make consistent, gentle progress toward genuine peace, joy and love.
A universal assembly for true discernment
Regina Dawn Akers guides a group of committed students who would like to make consistent, gentle progress toward genuine peace, joy and love.
Facilitated by Rev. Jacquelyn Eckert & Connie Poole
Anne Blanchard guides a group of committed students through year 2 of Gentle Healing who would like to make consistent, gentle progress toward genuine peace, joy and love. This group meets weekly and all members are committed to specific assignments and practices between group meetings.
Everyone who has completed year 1 Gentle Healing and is willing to make a commitment to deepening even further into healing/awakening is invited to join this group.
Our beloved Chairman of the Board, Rev. Hal Seeley, passed away on Saturday, November 9, after experiencing a stroke several days earlier. Hal is shown above standing next to the Cucharas River during his first trip to La Veta, Colorado.
In addition to being an AT Minister and our current Chairman of the Board, Hal built the partitions that create three semi-private rooms in the Ladies’ Dorm at the Retreat House.
Awakening Together will hold a memorial service for Hal in the Awakening Together Sanctuary immediately following the Weekly Gathering this coming Sunday, November 17. The memorial service will begin at at 11:30am ET. We hope you will be able to attend.
Please read quotes 893-896 in The Seven Steps to Awakening with your inner teacher. Here is the last quote:
That heart which truly knows the Self is full of love whence Bliss supreme wells up for ever.
Note: The next Daily Contemplation will be available tomorrow morning after 2am ET at this link.
What is Sin?
Since we have been with this special theme, we have replaced the word “sin” with “insanity,” with “My ideas of right and wrong, good and bad, what should be and what should not be,” with “judgment,” and with “duality.” As we read our special theme today, let’s replace the word sin with “ignorance.” In this case, “ignorance” is defined as ignoring the truth.
For example, “Ignorance is insanity.” Or, “Ignoring the truth is insanity. It is the means by which the mind is driven mad, and seeks to let illusions take the place of truth.”
After you have read the special theme using “ignorance” or “ignoring truth,” please return to my tip for today.
Ignorance is accomplished through outward focus. We ignore truth when we give all of our attention to thoughts and to the world.
Let’s read the special theme again. This time, replace the word “sin” with “outward focus.”
For example, “Outward focus gave the body eyes, …” and “Outward focus is the home of all illusions, which but stand for things imagined, issuing from thoughts that are untrue.”
After you have read the special theme using “outward focus” in place of “sin,” please return to my tip, and we will look at today’s lesson.
God is the only goal I have today.
Today’s lesson also uses the word, “sin.”
If sin had not been cherished by the mind, what need would there have been to find the way to where you are?
If insanity had not been cherished by the mind, what need would there have been to find the way to where you are?
If ideas of right and wrong, good and bad, what should be and what should not be had not been cherished by the mind, what need would there have been to find the way to where you are?
If judgment had not been cherished by the mind, what need would there have been to find the way to where you are?
If duality had not been cherished by the mind, what need would there have been to find the way to where you are?
If ignorance had not been cherished by the mind, what need would there have been to find the way to where you are?
If ignoring truth had not been cherished by the mind, what need would there have been to find the way to where you are?
If outward focus had not been cherished by the mind, what need would there have been to find the way to where you are?
It’s important to look at all of these alternative terms, because “sin” typically implies guilt to most people. It reinforces the false idea that something is inherently wrong with me, which reinforces the idea of separation.
However, as we consider alternative terms, we see that there is a habit that has been formed. It is the habit of ignoring our true Self, focusing outward, and believing our thoughts’ judgments regarding everything the body senses. We also see that the body, as the sensing organ, reinforces this habit of looking outward, a habit that has been cherished by the mind.
When we see the problem clearly, we can also see the solution.
If ignoring the truth, focusing outward and believing the mind’s judgments is the problem, then paying attention to truth, focusing inward and ignoring the mind’s judgments is the solution.
Said another way, awareness-watching-awareness meditation, surrendering to intuition and the Loving All Method are the solutions to insanity.
Today is a day to put special attention on changing our goal. The mind has cherished ignorance. Today, we direct the mind to cherish truth instead. The mind is capable of cherishing truth, but we need to take the lead by teaching the mind new habits and by reminding the mind to attend to those new habits.
If you have 30 minutes for meditation today, I recommend this meditation:
If you have time for two meditations today, and you would like to try a different meditation the second time you meditate, I recommend this meditation for later in the day:
Introduction to Loving Consciousness Meditation
Please read quotes 889-892 in The Seven Steps to Awakening with your inner teacher. Here is the last quote:
In the flawless state of Being the Self, without a sense of “I” or “mine,” the still abidance in and as Awareness pure, this is the noblest victory worth winning.
Note: The next Daily Contemplation will be available tomorrow morning after 2am ET at this link.
What is Sin?
Our special theme says:
Sin is the home of all illusions, which but stand for things imagined, issuing from thoughts that are untrue. They are ‘proof’ that what has no reality is real.
Yesterday we replaced “sin” with “My ideas of right and wrong, good and bad, what should be and what should not be.”
My ideas of right and wrong, good and bad, what should be and what should not be are the home of all illusions, which but stand for things imagined, issuing from thoughts that are untrue. They are ‘proof’ that what has no reality is real.
NTI calls these ideas “judgment.”
Judgment is the home of all illusions, which but stand for things imagined, issuing from thoughts that are untrue. They are ‘proof’ that what has no reality is real.
Gina Lake calls these ideas “duality.”
Duality is the home of all illusions, which but stand for things imagined, issuing from thoughts that are untrue. They are ‘proof’ that what has no reality is real.
Today, we continue to notice our judgments or ideas of duality. We remember that these ideas feed the ego, make illusion and hide truth. We choose to disregard these ideas as mistaken, limited or unwanted and to practice the Loving All Method instead.
This day I choose to spend in perfect peace.
If we do not believe ideas of duality, and we practice the Loving All Method with everything that comes into our consciousness today, we will spend the day in perfect peace. This is entirely possible today.
If you find that you are not at peace at some point today, look at the thoughts that are in your mind, and ask yourself these questions:
Is there a thought of duality (judgment) in the mind now?
What is it?
Am I willing to see that idea as mistaken, limited and/or unwanted?
Am I willing to practice the Loving All Method now?
If you have 30 minutes for meditation today, I recommend this meditation:
If you only have 20 minutes for meditation today or if you have 20 minutes later in the day for a second meditation, I recommend this guided meditation by AHAM and Karen Worth again today:
Preview YouTube video Say your truths and seek them in others | Elizabeth Lesser
Rev. Jacquelyn Eckert led us in this group discussion.
Regina Dawn Akers reads selections from books by Bernadette Roberts. The purpose of this inspired book study is to learn from one who walked through the final doorway to no self, no world, no God–Only Reality.