During the time when I was scribing NTI, I used to post to a Yahoo group. Each day, I posted the portion of NTI that I received that morning. I remember there were some people who didn’t like my posts. In fact, they became pretty belligerent about it. They argued that Helen Schucman was the only legitimate scribe, and anyone else who heard Jesus or Holy Spirit was a fake.
Of course, many years before Helen Schucman, there was Mary Baker Eddy. Mary Baker Eddy received great insight from within. Her work became known as Christian Science. However, Mary Baker Eddy felt that her work was the final revelation. Eventually, this resulted in a split in Christian Science. Her student, Emma Curtis Hopkins, started her own school of Christian Science. Unlike Eddy, Emma felt that the truth had been revealed to many people throughout history and was always available to everyone. She taught that we each already know everything. She said truth isn’t a matter of learning, but a matter of recalling. Emma Curtis Hopkins always saw herself and her students as equals.
Awakening Together is founded on those same principals. Here are three of our core values:
We trust everyone is led by unique inner guidance to one experience, called awakening, which is realization of one true Self. We live this value by supporting one another on different paths of awakening.
We realize everyone is equal and no one has been given spiritual intuition that is an authority over the spiritual intuition of others. We live this value by listening to each other, respecting each other, and allowing each one to be where he/she is.
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.
When you learn from wisdom that came through another person, that learning passes through the mind. To one degree or another, it is also distorted by the mind, and it is not the same as it was for the individual who originally received it. In fact, all world religions are based on original wisdom, but they are severely distorted because the wisdom has passed through many minds over the ages. Mental ideas that were not part of the original wisdom have become part of the religion.
Divine wisdom speaks to you best when divine wisdom comes through you. This is why I encourage you to contemplate, journal and teach from your own experience and insights.
In today’s reading, Jesus says, “God will call many teachers to do his work, and each one may seem to teach in his own way…Do not be distracted by what may seem to be differences.”
We will find differences in the way people teach. There are even differences among the masters’ teachings. If we are looking for the one teaching that is right, we are missing the point. The point isn’t about one right teaching. The point is, we are one. And that’s why divine inspiration comes through each of us. We are the same one, and the inspiration is speaking from our Self.
Interestingly, oneness doesn’t mean that divine inspiration is always exactly the same. Although we are one Self, our manifestations are unique. So, divine inspiration comes through each of us in a way that is perfect for the one receiving the inspiration. And that, of course, is what’s most helpful for everyone.
I love to listen to your inspiration. I love to hear how it expresses itself through you. It amazes me how one simple truth can dawn on each of us in an absolutely unique, one-of-a-kind way. It reminds me of a high altitude alpine valley filled with dozens upon dozens of different brilliant wildflowers, each one just as beautiful as the next.
Of course, anyone who feels that a specific book or teaching is the final revelation will disagree with everything I have written in this tip. They will feel this tip is a distortion. You will have to decide for yourself.
