Distortion of Ho'oponopono and Truly Letting Go

Question: "Hey Nick, how are you? Nick I think we are alike in many ways, I also gave up and detached from almost all material things, information, knowledge, beliefs, dreams, illusions, programs, souvenirs, etc.., And you surrendered to the Holy Spirit and I to God (same). I say that I am almost detached because I'm still working in a place I don’t like where there is no love with my wife, where I still do not know what my true talents are, although I am still asleep it still hurts and I still suffer. I'm still reading your book and has much resemblance to the philosophy of Ho'oponopono (which is really true, ¿right Nick?) I'm telling you because Ho'oponopono and a Course in Miracles and serve the same purpose (awakening from illusions, from this dream, there are no idols in Ho'oponopono) Write when you can and that the Holy Spirit or God will continue to guide I inspire you, blessings Nick! "

Comment: Well, before sharing my comments, you say, "... I'm still reading your book and has much resemblance to the philosophy of Ho"oponopono .. " Yes, the course has many similarities with Ho'oponopono until the ego began using the Ho'oponopono and became another tool to try to make changes in the world which distorts the original message of Ho'oponopono, which is to heal the mind and not the form (illusions); heal the cause which is responsible for the world we see (projection) so that we can awaken from the dream. As I shared in my book What Happens When You Let God:

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“Before elaborating on how I apply the process, and to show you how The Course is just one path out of many, I am going to briefly share about a healing modality from Hawaii called Ho’oponopono, which means to make right, just to demonstrate how it compares to the teachings of The Course if used within The Course’s context. The reason I mentioned if used within The Course’s context is because many traditions operate from the belief that the world is real. Although I am not suggesting that is what Ho’oponopono believes, that is the place where most healers and practitioners of different healing modalities appear to be coming from. They see the world of effects (illusions) and use their healing mantras or tools to attempt to fix what their eyes seem to see. The Course on the other hand, is always operating at the level of cause, from the level of the mind. It is not concerned with what we see because The Course clearly states that what we see with our physical eyes are illusions.

“So without deviating from the teachings of The Course, let’s see how Ho’oponopono could be employed as a tool for awakening. According to their practice, the words they use as their healing mantra are:

I love you
I’m sorry
Please forgive me
Thank you

If I use those words within the context of what The Course teaches, the intention behind them would yield the same results. For example:

Ho’oponopono: I love you
ACIM: I love you because you and I are one

Ho’oponopono: I’m sorry
ACIM: I am sorry for having judged you

Ho’oponopono: Please forgive me
ACIM: Please forgive me for having projected you or I forgive myself for having projected you

Ho’oponopono: Thank you
ACIM: Thank you for letting me see what needs to be healed within me so that the Holy Spirit can correct it.”
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Continuing now with your question, when you say, ”…I also gave up and detached from almost all material things, information, knowledge, beliefs, dreams, illusions, programs, souvenirs, etc.., And you surrendered to the Holy Spirit and I to God (same)…” Well, I do not know if it was me the one who truly let go, but I felt inspired to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit through the pursuit of inner peace, and that’s how I found myself letting go of most of my attachments.

But the thing was, it all began to happen naturally and gradually. Even when I was looking for that inner peace, I realized that I still had attachments. However, as I already mentioned, I was not the one who let go of them, I simply offered my attachments to the Holy Spirit so that He can helps me detach myself from them, and as a result, the detachment did not feel like sacrifice.

When we are not ready to detach psychologically from an illusion, what the Holy Spirit does is, He first helps us look at it differently (correction of perception) and then we find ourselves naturally experiencing detachment from whatever it is we were attached to. That’s how gentle the Holy Spirit is. But we, however, have to be willing to offer to him our attachments, our illusions. That’s why this process seems so hard, because we think we want to let go, when in reality, we want an exchange of illusions. For example, if you find yourself arguing or attacking someone, even if you have studied and even taught A Course in Miracles for many years, it is because at a much deeper level, you truly want your drama over your peace. And therefore the ego will remain intact. It’s really that simple! That’s why we have to be very vigilant.

Yes, I would say that when I let go of all the books I had read and all that information from the world of self-help, that's when I was finally ready to hear the Voice from the heart of the Holy Spirit because in truth, what I was doing was setting all distractions aside. But again, that was my process. I’m not here to make any suggestions.

Obviously, I am still experiencing attachments just that at a much deeper level, however, I grabbed them at the moment, therefore finding it much easier to let them go. That’s really how you know if you are advancing on this spiritual journey. Yes, your level of peace is the ultimate barometer, but when you can catch the ego at the starting point without letting him take on speed, that’s how you know that you are truly doing the work because that is where you can choose again the right mind. Otherwise, once the ego pick up speed, it is very hard to stop it.

Using the very same example, if you feel bothered by someone, or feel like having an argument, obviously the reason is because of your attachment to your opinion. But if at that moment you catch yourself, because from the heart you want the peace of God, and here is the key, from the heart, all you want is the peace of God, you have another opportunity to choose again. In that choosing again, all the Holy Spirit is going to teach is how valueless our opinions, ideas and beliefs are so that we no longer have to defend them, and the result is peace.

That’s why the course reminds me, "I want the peace of God: To say these words is nothing. But to mean these words is everything. If you could but mean them for just an instant, there would be no further sorrow possible for you in any form; in any place or time." W-pI.185.1:1-3 Then it goes on to say, "To mean you want the peace of God is to renounce all dreams (beliefs, opinions, ideas, concepts, everything we’ve learned, everything we have taught and we’ve been taught, in other words, everything that our physical senses can see, hear, touch, smell, perceive, imagined, EVERYTHING!). For no one means these words who wants illusions, and who therefore seeks the means which bring illusions." W-pI.185.5:1-2 ¿Can you honestly say that you are truly willing to do that? ;o)

That’s why one of the most overlooked paragraphs, and yet, probably the most clear and important of the course is: "Simply do this: Be still, and lay aside all thoughts of what you are and what God is; all concepts you have learned about the world; all images you hold about yourself. Empty your mind of everything it thinks is either true or false, or good or bad, of every thought it judges worthy, and all the ideas of which it is ashamed. Hold onto nothing. Do not bring with you one thought the past has taught, nor one belief you ever learned before from anything. Forget this world, forget this course, and come with wholly empty hands unto your God." W-pI.189.7:1-5

Continuing now with your question, when you say, "...I say that I am almost detached because I'm still working in a place I don’t like where there is no love with my wife, where I still do not know what my true talents are, although I am still asleep it still hurts and I still suffer..." Let’s look at your comment a little closer because it seems to me that you are confusing form with content. Your job, as your wife and your personal circumstances, are all neutral. They don’t have the power to affect you. What affects you is the teacher with whom you are looking at your live experiences, the story you have in your mind about your circumstances. The ego makes up a story, the Holy Spirit liberates you from it, not by replacing it, for that is self help stuff, but by liberating you from it. It’s a bit different.

These circumstances, or rather, projections, can be used for completely opposite purposes. If you see them with the ego they will serve its purpose, which is the perpetuation of fear in your mind, but if you see them with the Holy Spirit your projections will serve another.

As the course reminds us, "The ego has a purpose, just as the Holy Spirit has. The ego's purpose is fear, because only the fearful can be egotistic. The ego's logic is as impeccable as that of the Holy Spirit, because your mind has the means at its disposal to side with Heaven or earth, as it elects. But again, remember that both are in you. ... We have learned, however, that there is an alternative to projection. Every ability of the ego has a better use, because its abilities are directed by the mind, which has a better Voice. The Holy Spirit extends and the ego projects. As their goals are opposed, so is the result." T- 5.V.1 :2-5 .. T-6.II.4 :1-4

The first thing I have learned is to recognize that wherever I am, that's where I’m supposed to be. And if I look at that experience with the Holy Spirit I can use it to heal through letting Him teach me how to perceive love and innocence in all things, remembering that any judgment (attack) is a judgment against me, and what I love is a recognition of what I am.

"The Holy Spirit begins by perceiving you as perfect. Knowing this perfection is shared He recognizes it in others, thus strengthening it in both. Instead of anger this arouses love for both, because it establishes inclusion." T-6.II.5 :1-3

That obviously does not mean I should stay in a situation that for lack of a better word is not healthy or positive (I know these words are judgments but in this world of illusions are the words I can use to convey this message), but while choosing the peace of the Holy Spirit, I can choose to remove myself from any situation. But if for some reason I can not remove myself from a particular situation, then I do not resist anything, for I understand that that is the perfect curriculum for my learning, always remembering what the course says, "All things work together for good. There are no exceptions except in the ego's judgment." T-4.V.1 :1-2

When we are dominated by the ego's thought system, we only see, or I should say, perceive fear, judgment, terror, and we don’t know how to get out of whatever experience we seem to be trapped in, because as the course reminds us, “When you have been caught in the world of perception you are caught in a dream. You cannot escape without help, because everything your senses show merely witnesses to the reality of the dream. " Preface

In your case, you're so trapped in your apparent circumstances, or as I said, your perception of them, that you can not see another way out. However, there is another way of looking at things; another way to perceive, which is the same as to say, there is another way out.

But you are not the one who teaches yourself how to get out of anything as the course reminds us, "You cannot be your guide to miracles, for it is you who made them necessary." T-14.XI.7:1 It is your right mind that can set you free. And that's why when you do not resist anything, and choose inner peace, a change in perception takes place. This change in perception all it does is uses the same illusions that the ego employs to perpetuate fear in your mind to recognize the innocence and love in everything.

That innocence is your innocence, only that has been covered by a veil of unconscious guilt that is being projected outwards by your fearful mind, and now it is the excuse the ego uses to justify your anger, your fear, your suffering. But beware, I'm not suggesting that you are guilty or anything like that. It's just a recognition that nothing is happening outside but inside for everything is a projection. That’s why the course reminds us, "I am not the victim of the world I see." W-pI.31

However, having said that, there is only one solution, the choice of inner peace which is the same as to say, to choose again, or to practice forgiveness. In my case, while I was writing my book, I did not even know what was going on with my life. I was lost and confused, and yet, I learned through the practice of choosing internal peace, that during those three or four years, and obviously the rest of this illusory life, each and every one of my experiences have served and will serve a purpose, the only purpose that there is, forgiveness.

Back to your question, if you keep complaining about your experiences, you're not letting the Holy Spirit teach you. That does not mean you have to stay in uncomfortable circumstances as I mentioned earlier, but you have to take full responsibility for your projections and your experiences, for you are only given the opportunity to undo the internal guilt by choosing the thought system of the Holy Spirit.

That’s why the projections are there, NOT to be fixed, for there is nothing to fix. You are not seeking a change in circumstances (effects, form, world) but a change of mind (cause, content, mind). "Therefore, seek not to change the world, but choose to change your mind about the world." T-21.in.1:7

Remember that the Holy Spirit does not share the thought system of the ego (illusions). If anything, all the Holy Spirit is teaching you is not to take this world seriously. As the course reminds us, "He bids you bring each terrible effect to Him that you may look together on its foolish cause and laugh with Him a while. You judge effects, but He has judged their cause. And by His judgment are effects removed." T-27.VIII.9:3-5

Your whole problem, which is everyone’s problem, mine too for my whole life, and even after being sharing A Course in Miracles, aside from the fact that the only problem which is illusory is that we think we are separate from God, but is that you have taken your experiences seriously, and now, instead becoming a happy learner you are now resisting your experiences making it difficult for you to let them go and to be taught.

Remember that once something is healed in the mind, no longer needs to be projected. But we have to be WILLING to look at our fears, and judgments with the Holy Spirit so that He can remove the cause, for as the course reminds us again, "You judge effects, but He has judged their cause. And by His judgment are effects removed." T-27.VIII.9:5

Keep also in mind, that this course is not about exchanging illusions for more pleasant ones, but to undo our false sense of self, and now we use our illusions to recognize our innocence in everyone and everything, so that the mind can heal and can be reverted to its natural state, peace, love.

Once your mind is filled with peace and love, ¿does it matter what you do in the world or who you are with, or what anyone does? Because whatever it is that you end up doing, being with, or watching others doing, you’ll be at peace and filled with love. And that’s the true meaning of the happy dream! But like everything, it takes practice. Just remember, "The way is not hard, but it is different." T-11.III.4

All I can say is this, you are exactly where you need to be, as we are all exactly where need to be for if we needed to be somewhere else, that’s where we would be.

The question now is, ¿with whom you want to look at your experiences, with the ego, which is nothing but a believe in order to continue perpetuating the belief in separation in your mind, or with the Holy Spirit so that He can teach you how to awaken from this dream?

That’s the only freewill you truly have.

Was Jesus Christ Enlightened?

I found a comment under one of my videos, but I chose that question in order to elaborate on this note. So enjoy it!

Question: "Are you saying then that Jesus was not enlightened when he was on the earth?"

Comment: That's a very good questions, which is very easy to answer, but not necessarily easy to accept unless you are clear about what the Course in Miracles is about.

So, let me briefly elaborate. There is a significant difference between the Jesus of Nazareth and the Christ of the course. And here is it. The Jesus of Nazareth was a story made up by the ego in order to make believe that the world of form is true, while the Jesus of the course is the Voice, the mediator, the one that communicates with us reminding us of Who we really are.

How could this possibly be, that Jesus of Nazareth never existed? Please, before you start throwing tomatoes at me, hehehe, pay close attention. ¿What is the most significant teaching of A Course in Miracles? "There is no world! This is the central thought the course attempts to teach." W-pI.132.6:2-3

That being said, how could it possible be that the world we are saying is not real, was real 2000 years ago? And how could it possibly be, that here we are trying to teach ourselves that we are not bodies, however, 2000 years ago, which we have already establishes that did not exist, there were bodies, and one of them was the body of a "man" called Jesus who walked amongst us, again, amongst people that did not exist, can you see the contradiction?

Now, you may not be ready to accept that, which is why the course says, "Not everyone is ready to accept it, and each one must go as far as he can let himself be led along the road to truth." W-pI.132.6:3

But that's okay, because the Holy Spirit, Jesus, whatever you want to call it does not care if you accept that or not. What He surely ask you through out the whole course is to stop trying to teach yourself and to let Him teach you.

Now, here is an interesting thing. Many people, specially "spiritual teachers" say that they channel Jesus and that Jesus speaks through them in order to convey a message. And the funny thing is, each one has a different message that supposedly came from the same Jesus. Many of them talk about Jesus saving the world, or Jesus wants us to raise our energy for a higher vibration or that Jesus is telling us through them what to do in the world when we have already established that there is no world, and that message came from the same Jesus!

And again, the problem is that all these teachers try to apply the teachings of Jesus to form (world). And when you do so, you take the non dual message from Jesus and turn it into a dual message, which is ego. Because remember that anything that has to do with the world of form is dual. That's why the course is about changing our minds, not the world of form. "Therefore, seek not to change the world (form), but choose to change your mind (content) about the world." T-21.In.1:7

Jesus through out the course never asked us to pay attention to other egos and seek guidance through them, He simply asks us over and over and over and over again in many different forms the same thing, "If you are willing to renounce the role of guardian of your thought system and open it to me, I will correct it very gently and lead you back to God." T-4.I.4:7

So Jesus the man was not enlightened because Jesus the man never existed. But the Christ in you is enlightened and all he is trying to do is to teach you how to be like him, "If you want to be like me I will help you, knowing that we are alike. If you want to be different, I will wait until you change your mind." T-8.IV.6:3-4

The question is, ¿who do you want to listen to, the Christ in you or your illusions?

"I can teach you, but only you can choose to listen to my teaching." T-8.IV.6:5

When Someone Bully You...

A friend of mine whose in the middle of a family challenge, who also practices A Course in Miracles shared with me about a former partner who has been sending her very negative emials, and how difficult has been for her to deal with the experience.

Although because of her forgiveness process she is being able to experience more peace, that being said, every once in a while she finds herself reacting to her former partner comments and replying to his email.

I was having the same challenge with someone whom I was also involved in a relationship with, and another friend, whom I truly trust with my affairs responded with the following email:

“My feeling is that when I have received an email of this sort (attacking), my lesson/test is to delete it without response and simply focus on my love for the "attacker". ANY response is a sacrifice of power and a distraction. I Love You Nick and we will talk but give this no attention because it needs none. All temptations are nothing more than that.“

That helped me so much, that I shared it with my friend. Then she emailed me the following comment:

“If I allow him to bully me, he will keep bullying me. I can be kind and still stand up and have a voice. A kind, firm, Christ-like voice!”

Below is what I felt moved to share with her, which as always, is really an opportunity for me to remember what I have to learn, or practice:

“Dear friend, With practice, the time comes when he can bully you, without you been affected. That being said, yes, if you need to speak your truth, you simply speak it. This is not about being oppressed, it is about recognizing BOTH of your innocence without judgment, always remembering to bring in the Holy Spirit first!

Because in any situation, when we invite the Holy Spirit, we respond to the situation, ‘if’ a response is needed. But when we bring in the ego, we ‘react’ to the situation.

The thing is, if we try to convince someone of our point of view, is like trying to convince a rattlesnake to stop biting, when that is their nature (yes, it is our projection, but follow me on this thought). The best thing with a rattlesnake would be to instead of trying to negotiate with it, to simply get out of its way, and go on with our life (to not respond to their emails, unless it is absolutely necessary, and again, with the Holy Spirit).

So if you still need to deal with him because of kids, or other responsibilities, the answer is still always the same: bring in the Holy Spirit, and just be present. As long as he is not picking up a chair and try to throw it at you, if it's just words, to let them slide.

Like the old saying, "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never kill me."

I did not say it was easy, but again, with practice, you’ll experience that inner transformation, which is nothing but the recognition that love is all that there is, no matter what it look like on the outside.

However, because of your situation, as you have already learned, and continue to do so, you are experiencing healing on a much deeper level, and becoming more loving as a result of that. Specially since he is an outward representation of an inward condition. He, who is really ‘your own’ projection, is giving you an opportunity for you to heal your mind. Don’ you love him? :o)”

So congratulation!!! Continue doing the amazing work that you do, and know that Love Is!”

I hope you enjoyed this post, and, have I told you lately that I love you? :=)

Remember to order a copy of Nick's book What Happens When You Let God at: www.TruthAndMiracles.com or www.WhatHappensWhenYouLetGod.com
And to hire Nick to speak at your church, college or corporate event, simply visit: www.NickArandesPomo.com

Do Not Make This Mistake, Otherwise...

Recently I received a wonderful article by Hugh Prather written back in 1999 entitled: What is the Course? Will it exist in the 21st Century? Although was very extensive, one of the paragraphs that caught my attention was:

"Does this mean those who lecture or write about the Course have turned down a dark side road? Certainly not. Does it mean that anyone who loves discussing metaphysical ideas has lost his or her way? Certainly not. But it does mean that those who coat themselves in spiritual concepts run the risk of thinking that they are the concepts. It's not hard to notice that the people in our culture who are conspicuously devout and talk continuously about God usually begin to take on an all-knowing, all-seeing attitude. In other words, in their own minds they have become the God they profess."

That's why I keep asking myself, why is it that I find myself writing books, and speaking, even when I am still facing my own darkness? Shouldn't I have it altogether before I can teach? And the answers I keep getting is that I am doing it to remind myself of what "I" need to learn.

It is like someone who was born with the innate desire to surf, and is destined to be a great surfer, but in his mind he does not want to get on the surfboard until he thinks he can master it first. Well, that will never happen. He has to get on that surfboard, fall out of it many times, before he can master it. And yes, at the beginning, he may hit people with the surfboard for not having mastered the right balance and control. He also have to ride all kinds of waves until he gets a better feel for them, and eventually, he will reach his destination, which is becoming the great surfer he was meant to be.

This came to mind because since I have written books, and for some reason speaking is something I enjoy doing, and based on the feedback I have received, I guess I must be getting better at it, what I often remind people of, is that I experience the same challenges everybody else does. I do not claim that I talk to Jesus, or that I have achieve some kind of enlightenment, or that I am guru, or pride myself that I have reached some kind of spiritual level of consciousness, or that I know something, because in reality I don't. I may be working towards it, but I guess that when that happens, people will naturally sense it, and at that point my writings and speaking are just stuff that I do.

I don't know if tomorrow I may feel guided to take my facebook profile down, get rid of my websites, move to a little town, get a job and live a happy life there. I don't know what the future holds for me. I just keep writing, and sharing, and trusting that hopefully, what I am doing is what I am supposed to be doing. And like the surfer, before I get to that place of complete unconditional love, for me, writing about it, and talking about it is one way of getting on that surfboard for the first few thousand times. And along the way, some people may experience my ego and may think, "who the hell is this guy teaching A Course in Miracles?"

But as I keep "practicing" and my love keeps flourishing, some people may say, "this guy really walk his talk." But to get to that place, it requires, first and foremost, willingness to choose again, to choose love, over and over and over and over again and again and again, until I have experience all sorts of waves, just like the surfer. Because even if he can master a particular kind of wave, it does not mean he is able to ride every single wave. But the more he is exposed to different kinds of waves, the better he is equipped to maintain a good sense of balance in all circumstances.

I am very grateful for the journey I am on. But I do have to say, I have had to face a lot of darkness, and still do in many different areas. I am becoming better equipped to handle what comes my way, but I am still practicing, and as long as I am in what appears to be a body, the practice will never stop. My sense of balance may be more steady, but that does not mean I will not be faced with experiences that may rock my boat.

So if you like my writings and my speaking, I thank you, and I hope that in some way I am able to serve you through the use of these particular talents and gifts I seemed to have, But do not make the mistake of putting me on a pedestal, because if you do, you are now turning me into what A Course in Miracles refers to a "false idol."

Trust me when is say that YOU are the guru you have been searching for. And my writings are simply pointing you in the direction where you should always look; within your Self!

I love you!

"i want to thank you for letting me be myself again" -Sly and the Family Stone

Remember to order a copy of Nick's book What Happens When You Let God at: www.TruthAndMiracles.com or www.WhatHappensWhenYouLetGod.com
And to hire Nick to speak at your church, college or corporate event, simply visit: www.NickArandesPomo.com

Does the Course talk about the darkness in the world...

Question: Dear Nick, Does the course talks about the darkness in the world, and how to handle it?

Answer: What the Course reminds us is that the darkness is never in the world but in our mind. That's why it says, "seek not to change the world but to change your mind about the world." When we remove the darkness from our mind, we will see the world differently, thought the eyes of love, and not fear.

So what we do is, instead of judging our experiences, we simply offer them to the Holy Spirit, or whatever you want to call it, to help us see things righteously. That is really all we are asked to do. And then trust that the work is being done, and the way we know the process is working is when we are no longer reacting to the world.

Remember that the world is duality so we will always see opposites, but our true nature is Oneness. And that will reveal itself in due time when our mind is healed from our false sense of separation.

So don't worry so much about the world, just keep offering your thoughts to Spirit, and you'll understand that I mean.

Remember to order a copy of Nick's book What Happens When You Let God at: www.TruthAndMiracles.com or www.WhatHappensWhenYouLetGod.com
And to hire Nick to speak at your church, college or corporate event, simply visit: www.NickArandesPomo.com

Why is The World An Attack on God?

Question: One of the problems I have with the Course's metaphysics as contrasted with its psychology is the teaching that "the world was created as an attack on God" If that view is correct that would make the Course gnostic as seeing matter as evil or pure error.

Answer: The reason I am projecting this world is because I believe I can create a world separate from God. That is what the ego would make us believe. So words such as "an attack on God" is simply symbolic of my own ignorance. That's all. Ignorance because being one with God I have everything, instead I projected this world of duality where I experience lack and limitation. Even if I had a billion dollars, that is still limitation compared to the Kingdom where I have everything!

Remember to order a copy of Nick's book What Happens When You Let God at: www.TruthAndMiracles.com or www.WhatHappensWhenYouLetGod.com
And to hire Nick to speak at your church, college or corporate event, simply visit: www.NickArandesPomo.com

Why Is It That People Attack? And what NOT to do?

The only reason people attack is NOT because they are bad, but because on a much deeper level they feel hurt (fear). When we feel hurt, the automatic response seems to be attack (blame) because we have forgotten that the seeming attacker is in our own mind.

Now, what is an attack? It is either a call for love, or an opportunity to extend love. How does it work? Simple! When someone "seems" to be attacking us, and we react, who is the one calling for love? WE are. We just projected our own guilt outward so that we can react and pretend that we have been done wrong. However, when someone "seems" to attack us, and we do not react, we are now in a position to extend our love. But who are we extending the love to? Ourselves! Because there is no one out there. It is all happening in our mind.

That's why A Course in Miracles is so uncompromising with its teaching. It rattles people's cages by reminding us:

"The secret of salvation is but this: that you are doing this unto yourself. 2 No matter what the form of the attack, this still is true. 3 Whoever takes the role of enemy and of attacker, still is this the truth. 4 Whatever seems to be the cause of any pain and suffering you feel, this is still true. 5 For you would not react at all to figures in a dream you knew that you were dreaming. 6 Let them be as hateful and as vicious as they may, they could have no effect on you unless you failed to recognize it is your dream." T-27.VIII.10:1-6

Now the ego, who's existence is threatened by our new level or understanding, tries to disguise itself as a spiritual teacher and says, "oh, that person is really attacking you, so you need to be compassionate." I know this sounds very spiritual and wonderful. But the issue is not the compassion, the issue here is that we believe that there is someone out there that needs our compassion, and in that sense, the separation is perpetuated. That does not mean we are going to be mean or ignore anyone's plea for help. It simply means that in EVERY decision that we make, we choose to put the Holy Spirit before us FIRST, to ensure that our act of kindness is coming from Truth and not guilt (fear). Otherwise the illusion will manipulate us emotionally and what appears to be kindness, it is really more guilt in disguise.

This is not an easy thing to do, specially when we are dealing with loved one, or if we are just very caring people who wants to give change to every beggar on the street. It takes practice to relinquish our thoughts to the Holy Spirit to ensure that our actions are motivated by love and not fear. Love does not perpetuate fear by judging the behavior of a loved one who seems to be hurting us, or by feeling sorry for the seeming homeless, it simply allows us to recognize the Truth in every situation, regardless of the form it may seem to take.

We are better of seen the Christ in a beggar while offering a smile than seeing them as destitute and offer them some money. In judging them as less than perfect, even if we gave them money we have already crucified them because we unconsciously agreed with the way they see themselves. "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." [Matthew 18:20]

In that same way, back to the "seeming" attacker, we are better of NOT resisting the behavior of others by attempting to defend ourselves, but by asking the Holy Spirit to enter into our mind while the seeming attack takes place. From that place we will know what to do, and we are now giving ourselves an opportunity to truly heal the attacker, maybe not in form, but in Truth, because the attacker is really in our own mind. Same with the beggar. It is all in our imagination.

"This is how all illusions came about. 7 The one who makes them does not see himself as making them, and their reality does not depend on him. 8 Whatever cause they have is something quite apart from him, and what he sees is separate from his mind. 9 He cannot doubt his dreams' reality, because he does not see the part he plays in making them and making them seem real." T-27.VII.7:1-6

Although we know it is all an illusion, we still do not have the power to transform them, however we do have the power to choose with Whom we want to see that illusion so that our mind can be transformed:

"When you have been caught in the world of perception you are caught in a dream. You cannot escape without help, because everything your senses show merely witnesses to the reality of the dream. God has provided the Answer, the only Way out, the true Helper. It is the function of His Voice, His Holy Spirit, to mediate between the two worlds. He can do this because, while on the one hand He knows the truth, on the other He also recognises our illusions, but without believing in them. It is the Holy Spirit's goal to help us escape from the dream world by teaching us how to reverse our thinking and unlearn our mistakes. Forgiveness is the Holy Spirit's great learning aid in bringing this thought reversal about. However, the Course has its own definition of what forgiveness really is just as it defines the world in its own way." Preface

Remember, no one is attacking anyone. It is all happening in our imagination!

Remember to order a copy of Nick's book What Happens When You Let God at: www.TruthAndMiracles.com or www.WhatHappensWhenYouLetGod.com
And to hire Nick to speak at your church, college or corporate event, simply visit: www.NickArandesPomo.com

We Don't Have Free will? Not to Take Spirituality Seriously?

Question: "I just watched your conference video at ft. lauderdale Florida, and I've noticed that you talked about not taking spirituality seriously, but just to instead laugh at it. You also talk abou how the choices that we've made up until this point in our lives, we couldn't do it any differently. What do you mean by this, don't we have a choice? Towards the end of this conference, you talked about us not really having free will. Growing up, I was always taught that free will was a gift, from our Creator. What's your take on this?"

Nick's thoughts: This is something that A Course in Miracles helped me understand. I could not figure out how come most of the choices I made did not leave me to where I wanted. And I did not understand how could it possibly be that things would fall apart in my life at times when I needed them the most. And the reason being was, this world is not of my Creators' for if that was the case, how come God that is love would create a world filled with hatred and anger, in other words, separation?

A Course helped me understand that the world I seem to be living in was my own projection so that I can make myself believe that I could create another world beside God's. In this world I projected, I also projected the script. In other words, if I could create the world I really want, there would be no reason for me to want to return to the Real world, also known as the Kingdom.

So in the divine scheme of things, not being able to have what we want in this world, sooner or later is going to lead us to questioning everything. In that questioning is where we begin to turn within and realize that if we keep choosing the ego as our guide, we will project a world of duality, which sooner or later is going to hurt us. But if we choose the Holy Spirit as our guide, in other words, the voice within us, we can then live a more peaceful life before we can experience the Kingdom, which is "not of this world."

That's why the Course then reminds me:

4 An imprisoned will engenders a situation which, in the extreme, becomes altogether intolerable. 5 Tolerance for pain may be high, but it is not without limit. 6 Eventually everyone begins to recognize, however dimly, that there must be a better way. 7 As this recognition becomes more firmly established, it becomes a turning point. 8 This ultimately reawakens spiritual vision, simultaneously weakening the investment in physical sight. 9 The alternating investment in the two levels of perception is usually experienced as conflict, which can become very acute. 10 But the outcome is as certain as God. T-2.III.3:4-10

So the choice is, do we want to suffer or do we want to be free? If we choose the ego, we will end up suffering no matter what. If we choose the Holy Spirit we will live a more peaceful life, AND, we get to eventually experience the Kingdom, which once again, "it is NOT of this world."

So really, if one choice leads to suffering and the other one to freedom, do we really have a choice? In the end, no. Because nobody wants to suffer. And sooner or later, we are all going to turn within. In regards to free will, A Course in Miracles reminds me:

"The acceptance of the Atonement (meaning our oneness with God) by everyone is only a matter of time. 2 This may appear to contradict free will because of the inevitability of the final decision, but this is not so. 3 You can temporize and you are capable of enormous procrastination, but you cannot depart entirely from your Creator, Who set the limits on your ability to miscreate." T-2.III.3:1-3

In other words, you can project, which seem as if you are making choices. However, if your choices lead you more and more to separation, there are limits to which you will not be able to continue projecting. And that is why we don't have the free will to make all the choices that we want. And sooner or later our frustrations will lead to let go and let God.

Finally, not taking spirituality seriously, is because who we are is pure joy! This world is hell! And the reason why we experience hell in this world is because we are looking at it, and believing in it. How can you take something serious that does not exist? Well, I will be very honest with you, that has, and still is, one of my biggest lessons. However, only practicing offering my thoughts to the Holy Spirit can assists me in seeing Truth instead of illusions. Once we learn to look at the world with vision, not eyesight, we can then laugh it all away!

"In gentle laughter does the Holy Spirit perceive the cause (the mind), and looks not to effects (the world that we see). 2 How else could He correct your error, who have overlooked the cause entirely? 3 He bids you bring each terrible effect to Him that you may look together on its foolish cause and laugh with Him a while. 4 You judge effects, but He has judged their cause. 5 And by His judgment are effects removed." T-27.VIII.9:1-5

Don't expect to make sense or intellectualize what you've just read. When you are ready to let go and let God, it will all make sense, not because you have found an answer but because you have had the direct experience.

"The ego will demand many answers that this course does not give. 2 It does not recognize as questions the mere form of a question to which an answer is impossible. 3 The ego may ask, "How did the impossible occur?", "To what did the impossible happen?", and may ask this in many forms. 4 Yet there is no answer; only an experience. 5 Seek only this, and do not let theology delay you." C-in.4:1-5

Remember to order a copy of Nick's book What Happens When You Let God at: www.TruthAndMiracles.com or www.WhatHappensWhenYouLetGod.com
And to hire Nick to speak at your church, college or corporate event, simply visit: www.NickArandesPomo.com