Freedom to Not Change a Thing, Including Traditions

Further Notes, speaks to other aspects of freedom of choice. Just as one who is inwardly free has freedom of choice to live life in non-traditional ways, that person also has the choice to continue living in traditional ways. Inwardly, freedom is entirely free. In order to best reflect that inner freedom, any path of outward choices and behavior is available. There is no "should do this" or "shouldn't do that" involved. However, the more open one is to awareness of reality, which awareness actually "is" freedom, the more likely it is that one will live their life according to influence from that freedom. That does not necessarily mean they will live in non-traditional ways however; for influence guides according to that which is good outside a context of "good and evil", and for a given person in a given situation in the world, living in traditional ways might be best for them and those people they are in relationships with. Freedom need not unnecessarily jeopardize people or cause extremes of discomfort or pain in order to express.

From that one who seems lowest to that one who seems highest...
All Together are One Peace
THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS

Freedom is in that WE ALWAYS ARE the Reality of Peace
Even When Behaviors Suggest Otherwise
Together, We Must Open Up and Allow
Remembrance of Love Arising from Peace in ALL our Interactions
and Remember that the Peace We Are Can and Will Guide Us

---

Why? Because Remembrance Influences Our Attitude
and Rather than our Behaviors Determining Tomorrow
Our Attitude is a Projector...Projecting What We Wish to See Tomorrow!
Do Unto Others Must Start with "Love One Another" and Include Everyone
and Must Arise from Peace Rather than Judgment...
Calling to That Peace in Each One and Inviting it to Resurface

Another aspect of freedom is found in the behavioral paths of people considered to be dark or criminal in how they live, sometimes being extremely cruel and controlling. While it is believed that these people are less worthy of love, and are people to be feared and avoided, the opposite is true. Everyone, including these people, need to...and need others to...love one another, needing also to open up to trusting one another. This is the key to dissolving the harsh negativity in the world. The more people punish and avoid, the more they ensure that the very things and people they are resisting and avoiding will continue to be generated by those same judgments, requesting them to come along in their world. What we focus on and what we vehemently resist is reinforced, remembered in memory in ways which are more readily recalled and connected with emotional locking triggers. If you would like your own self to improve (in your view), open to awareness and discover loving yourself. If you would like those around you to improve, do the same.

To see Peace, Rediscover that Peace is What We Together Are.

Peace comes to the world in absolutely no other way, for it is impossible for peace to arise from striving and from that which seems to be other than peace. You cannot plan peace, teach peace, or make your doing to become peace. It is already present, just beyond perception's view.

Relax  •  Allow  •  Trust  •  Await the Appearance of the Best

We can choose to strive to overcome what our eyes tell us of the fatal attraction we have to "good and evil" and our pride in our beliefs and judgments. Or we can relax our determination, open our hearts and know the truth that makes glad. Righteousness is not required. Love is however, as it leads us directly to its source. There is no conflict to be resolved. There is only the love we share...or withhold. The entire world suffers because we've made a single choice to diverge from the love that arises from peace. We need not choose differently, but simply need to relinquish our grasp upon the falsehood which that choice offers us.

The problems we face do not arise before us because we adore this world,
but because we close our eyes and hearts to readily available
and ongoing perfect creation and governance of our world.

Religions are Not Paths to Peace, and Yet...I Walk with the Lord — How is this?

When everything in my life had become dark and painful, and when I'd given up on myself...there, at that very moment I began to notice a distinct presence simply showing me interesting things. No belief or doctrinal "pushy" stuff, just things to consider. It is for that reason that many subjects discussed on this site are referred to as "Things to Consider". I was incarcerated at the time, and there were periods when fearful things were going on and it looked like I might not make it. Because this presence was there, and seemed to always be with me, I held onto it, thinking of it as the God of my religious beliefs from my childhood. And yet, I couldn't understand why this God would be there for me when my life was in such turmoil (which I had caused). It would be many years before it became clear that this presence was actually my own reality...and the reality of all people everywhere.

I could still call it God, but the beliefs about that term in no way match this wonder I found within. After quite some time, I began to realize that it was 100% unconditional in its offering of both comforting presence and insightful guidance. With no condemnation or sense of urgency, it gently nudged me along from being someone who truly hated myself, being frequently confused and hurting others, to being someone who loved himself and others and had an amazing sense of clarity growing within me. This new self-image and confidence proved able to change my entire life and outlook, and eventually began to bless others around me, even though I still found myself freely engaging in non-traditional ways.

This presence is the Lord of my life and never leaves my side, even when I ignore it. Religions speak of such a wonder, and yet teach things that lead people further and further away from its discovery. I find that this saddens me, and yet I know that my being sad is uncalled for...because the freedom that this presence and reality is in each one, is and must be entirely free for that person to discover. It cannot be taught. Still, I speak of it in hopes that here and there, someone will read between the lines, open their hearts and quietly look for that presence which is not a belief, but instead is their living reality. Everyone is its messenger and more poignantly so as they relax their traditional, prideful and often fearful beliefs, and allow their heart to be shown the truth of our oneness with that presence.

R E P E N T A N C E
FAITH vs WORKS

Most of my life, I heard about repentance. It started when my parents made a joint decision to "get saved". To them...and to me as well...getting saved meant "saved from our sins", and no small thing, "saved from the fires of hell". This was pounded out from the pulpit from time to time, and spoken of in quieter tones at times, when someone in the church was up close and personal, trying to convince someone to get on board the Christianity train. Getting saved and being Christian were spoken of as being synonymous.

Once in a great while, the subject of the "unpardonable sin" was expounded upon. It sounded pretty simple and it was unclear why such a thing would be unpardonable. But then, I was just a kid, right? How would I know the deep complexities of the will of God as expressed over the pulpit. Best for me to just keep my little mouth shut and go with the flow. When as an adolescent, I thought I had committed this act, it still seemed a pretty small thing. And it would have been except the memory of that judgment against myself followed me throughout much of my life, impacting how I felt about myself and affecting my behavior over time. I set my life into a downward spiral, eventually hitting rock bottom and being incarcerated. That was a painful time in my life and one in which I experienced the intensification of the burden of guilt I was carrying about my behavior. I had no idea that this small act was playing a part.

Shortening this story (as some of it is told elsewhere), the unlikely experience of being guided came along in my life. At the time, it made no sense to me that a demanding, wrathful God would take note of me at all, nevertheless assist me. I continued with listening to this guidance, despite remembrance of early training which said to not lean to one's own understanding. Be a sheep...simple...anyone can do it. However, my inner guidance came to be better than my early training, and much easier to understand. Why? Because this inner guidance "is" understanding (not the insights received, but the living presence within, which I'm calling guidance).

Understanding about repentance comes from inner guidance...for me, and for anyone who waits there and listens long enough to notice its presence.

Along with teachings about repentance and the unpardonable sin, I heard about faith versus works. Salvation was said to come from faith, and not from works. People would mouth this teaching, but otherwise talk about and sincerely live their lives as though doing the works of behavioral changes deemed to be "not sinful" was the critical key to salvation. At times, their rhetoric about it would recite that salvation was actually about faith, and yet their actions said that their belief was more focused on works. A favorite phrase was "I show my faith by my works." Somehow, this seems a bit self-deceptive. If faith is shown by works in the sense that doing the works specifically means one has faith, then the teaching about faith leading to salvation and not works becomes moot.

A lot was said over the years about turning to God. However, the Christian meaning for that was "say the magic repentance for salvation phrases", "turn from your (behaviors of) sins", "believe in Jesus Christ as your savior", and "do the good works as prescribed and avoid the evil works of sin as proscribed (in Christian teachings, some in the Bible, some not)". So, if one says the right words (a choice as an act of works), changes their behavior (a choice as an act of works), adopts a variable convoluted belief system (a choice as an act of works)...if one does all these chosen acts of works, that is tantamount to having faith, and therefore leads to salvation.

Frankly, those teachings sounded as though the person teaching them was confused, and either didn't really believe that faith led to salvation or perhaps didn't really understand what faith, belief, repentance and salvation are beyond reciting whatever they were taught by someone who was reciting whatever they were taught by someone who was reciting whatever they were taught, ad infinitum.

Breaking this down a little:

• Sin, rather than being behaviors which are evil or detrimental, is turning from God in one's mind (whether intentional or not). Such turning away leads to behaviors which are painful and detrimental to oneself and to others. But the actual sin is in turning away, the adulterous act of idolatry in which we worship works instead of faith (that which arises from the only faithful one).
  • Turning away from God has to do with refusing the inner guidance which is integral to one's being, the source of all that is truly good. Any other "good" sought out by thoughtful planning, choices of behavior and other acts of works is not true good. In order to be true good, these behaviors must arise from the light of inner guidance. When the mind turns away, or even attempts to, a mental substitute for good is put in place as judgment, or in other words the false knowledge of "good and evil". Choices of behavior within that false knowledge are not faith. Therefore the results of those choices, whether choosing false good or choosing false evil, are variable, inconsistent and unfaithful. That is why we find a world filled with people, most of whom try to do good in most of their life's activities, but who cosign belief systems which rape the entire world of its true goodness, resulting in wars, poverty, sickness and death...all for profit. The ways of works is widely accepted and institutionalized in traditions, religions and governments. It is a broad way that leads to suffering and untimely death. This is why works cannot lead to salvation: It is the widespread practice of reliance upon chosen acts of works for our lives instead of reliance upon faithful inner guidance to evoke right living that we need to be saved from.
• Faith, instead of being strong belief in doctrines provided by authorities or ancient writings, is two things (which when understood, are actually one):
  1. That which is forever faithful. Traditionally, this has been called "God"; however, so many misconstrued concepts have been associated with that term, it's a bit misleading to use it. However, I do use it, but with a little explanation here and there along the way. God is that which is within as your life. It is you. You are it. It, as your own self, is inescapable. Wherever you go, there you are. That "God", referenced within oneself as "I", is everywhere present. It is legitimate to say that you live, move and have being in it, and it is equally legitimate to say that it is in you. No real evil can enter into it, and thus cannot enter into you, for two reasons: 1) It cannot be violated by permeation of evil. 2) There is no real evil...only the appearances of pain, detriment and death in this temporal world which through misunderstanding are deemed to be evil.
  2. Reliance upon that which is forever faithful. Listening to "God" and following "God's" guidance; which translates to listening within (where "God" is reported to be) and following the guidance which arises in mind. The problem with calling this presence that becomes guidance "God" is that this has one listening to their image and belief about "God", rather than to the reality that is actually there within. That emotionally biased mental imagery of "God" is not God, is not a faithful guide or eternally comforting presence.
     • I said earlier that these two things are actually one. That is because that presence within you, is you...it is your own reality, as well as being the shared reality of all. So that which is faithful is you, for you are always there with you, and you are the only salvation you will ever find anywhere. Someone as a messenger about salvation can lead you toward looking toward your own reality's presence within and following its guidance, but it is you who must become willing to open up to notice it and to follow it, trusting it to be the faithful one that it is. No one can do this for you. To move away from "good and evil", back toward true good (God), thus undoing the earlier act of turning away, requires noticing and realizing that you are not evil, are not judged as evil by God, and actually are that true good...for you've found it residing there within you as you. When you stop believing you are evil, your tendency toward behaviors you regard as evil begins to fade away, being replaced by behaviors which agree with the true good you've discovered yourself to be. That is repentance. That is salvation. That is atonement (at-one-ment). That is returning home to the father...the one presiding over the entire kingdom of you, and of your world and all in it.
• It is by this that we begin to realize that we are not separate from God, and never were. We are not subject to "good and evil", completely regardless of our temporal circumstance in this world. Turning away from God in the literal sense was never possible, except in our illusory dreams in which we created and maintained this world (and still do). Turning back toward God is actually overcoming the belief system which says you are evil and lowly...enough to look upon yourself and to realize you are wonderful...so wonderful in fact that there is no one anywhere, including that mental image of "God", who is more wonderful or greater than you are. In the moment of that realization, you can say joyfully and without doubt, "I am that I am." Having overcome in this manner, you know that you are all power...and that power is peace, not dominion over any others. Your power resides in that no one, no power or super power, or devil or God can take this from you. It is what you are forever. We have been taught that such talk is heresy, is blasphemy, is arrogance...and if its factuality were not true, it would be arrogance. However, since it "is" true, it doesn't evoke pride, but instead evokes humility. That humility is expressed in stepping out of the flow of beliefs and behaviors the world adores and calls righteousness through acts of works as judgments...and confessing to oneself and to all...that you see and understand what you see and understand, regardless of the fact it disagrees with the status quo. To know this, and then to go on reciting ancient beliefs as though they were true...THAT would be arrogance by continuing in that which you've realized is an illusory false truth and therefore also a lie (or denial of that one you've discovered within).

The biblical story in the Garden of Eden tells of becoming separated from God by turning away from guidance to partake of "good and evil" (and to believe a lie). The seeming rift between us and God, appearing as separation from God and judgment by God is all simply the result of intentionally turning away. Therefore, whatever solution to this, whatever salvation from this, whatever repentance for this, is and must be turning toward God. As it turns out, God is much closer than any concept or belief in separation could imagine. And we find that we are not disinherited from the joyful benefit of being close to God, for we are actually one with God, just as Jesus prayed for us to realize.

The unpardonable sin then, is actually the only sin...turning away from God. And it is unpardonable because one cannot be turned away from God into mental darkness and still wholly realize they are not separated from God, but are one with God. However, although turning away is unpardonable, in the literal sense, it is also impossible. So we "could" call it the "impossible sin", which never really took place, and yet which seemed to bring such pain, woe and death. When we turn our attention toward our reality within, and rediscover the truth about our reality, that realization erases that only sin, effectively undoing it and all the woe which it brought.

Once this discovery is made, and we're bound by sin no more, we find that we are still here in this world where woe abounds on every hand. No harp-playing angels, no cessation of death. Nevertheless, inwardly we are free. Briefly, there are reasons for that.

• Not all have come to that realization.
• Outside of the bondage of the temporal world(s), or in the eternity of reality, nothing is happening, nothing has definition, color, beauty, etc. The temporal world's existing is the only purpose reality has. In order for these things to exist in any form whatsoever, requires turning away from the whole vision and understanding available in reality, effectively seeming to split vision into defined dimensions and objects as opposites pairs. This becomes the creation, from moment to moment. We are safe from harm because we are one invulnerable reality together. But we can seem to be unsafe and harmed when we do not regularly keep ourselves in remembrance of our birthright, that whole vision and reality we've mentally descended from and which is our home. We can dream this denial of wholeness and experience wonderful things, and yet our dreaming brings both sides of the mental split into opposites pairs, or in other words brings "good and evil". Since evil is not real, it is also not to be feared. But even though this is so, it behooves us to keep it in its place and proper perspective. When we remain aware of guidance within (or our reality and oneness), we automatically guide ourselves as we journey the many paths of this world. The so-called "evil", instead of being exacerbated to high levels of pain and woe, is experienced as shadows of definition, color and diversity, in which our judgments are simple and benign. Look around you and notice that the entire world of people are here in the world...so it doesn't look like it is an accident, or some evil-doing. When we create this world each moment, bringing wonderful sights and sounds, and the endings called death, and when we do so mindfully in remembrance of that which we actually are outside our dream world, death need not be a painful loss, but simply the ending of a particular cycle of denial entered upon. Such cycles can be and are overlapping, so that which appears to us as death need not be part of our experience of this world. A cycle can end with others continually beginning and taking the place of the cycle(s) which are ending...basically world without end, even though each cycle of denial within the world is necessarily temporary and illusory in nature.
• It is necessary in terms of the continuance of a wonderful world (which currently doesn't seem so wonderful), that the "evil" of "good and evil" is brought into appearance for each cycle of denial-creation invoked by us. However, this "evil" (likened to the negative pole of a battery by which it operates in conjunction with the positive pole and all that sustains both) need not be exacerbated like we see now, but can be reined in and put in its place. So if one still sees woe in the world, it must be remedied. Its remedy comes from influencing people to seek out and rediscover their reality of oneness...and the guidance in this world which comes from this. In the day in which this work becomes complete, the world will no longer embrace the ways which bring woe, and our repentance will have brought heaven back down to earth, salvation indeed, and available unconditionally to all. People cannot be forced or coerced to seek this out, so effectively influencing the entire world takes understanding coupled with time and patience. As each one realizes they "are" the solution, and openly confesses this truth, it will spread across the entire world.

"  And "I", if "I" be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto "me".  "

John 12:32

The earth is the created world. We seem to be immersed in it and subject to it. However, we are not of this apparent world, but are reality itself. As we realize this, our mind is lifted up from its darkened state in order to see clearly and to govern our created world according to built-in dynamic guidance...instead of prideful planning and choosing.

The common story is that Jesus' being lifted up has to do with his being crucified...for the sins of the world. That story is part of the rhetoric about sacrifice which the world uses as justification and authority to go to war...for the RIGHT (which actually is never, ever right).

This belief and rhetoric results in people revering and worshipping Jesus as their hero, and similarly worshipping their war veterans as heroes (unless they're on the opposing side...then they're evil villains or terrorists). It is the rationalization for setting aside "Thou shalt not kill."...which gets reinterpreted to mean "Thou shalt not murder", "Thou shalt only kill when I say so", "Thou shalt only kill to preserve life or to bring 'peace'" (the mother of all oxymorons). Rather sad in the extreme, over and over, and yet people follow it all their lives, to their dying breath, passing it along to their children and their children's children. We need to save ourselves from this global fear-based behavior pattern.

It is interesting to note that if all men will be drawn unto him (i.e.-that one), then all will also be saved. This is contrary to Christian doctrine, and yet the passage above says what it says. Guidance within shows that salvation through the atonement of returning, is available to all. Christianity speaks of a grand plan of God for salvation, and yet their teachings are that much of the world is and will be eternally lost...despite the fact that their own scriptures in more than one place say otherwise, as does inner guidance if they become willing to set aside their beliefs long enough to be shown that which supersedes them.

Notably, fear of punishment for being wrong prevents moving past their doctrines for the majority. This will change, for the will of God always breaks through the toughest resistance to show each one the truth, each in their own time, when they personally are ready to become willing. And the will of God is loving one another, even as we are loved in peace continually, throughout what seems to our perception to be a long journey, but which in reality is not even the twinkling of an eye. Therein lies the peace of God, as does our own eternal innocence, for the things of this world and its alleged history of woe are not so.

"...ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss..."
James 4:2-3

As I grew up in a family strongly believing in Christianity's message and doctrines, I heard this passage from time to time. Because of the way it is worded and is focused on lust for the things of this world, it seemed that it meant asking for the right things, or only for things you need. Not a bad way to look at it, and yet I find it goes much deeper than this.

Although the writers of the books in the Bible were concerned about people's behaviors and choices, as I listened within over several decades to the influence of the presence of reality, the following emerged as the more important meaning...not to their writings as an interpretation, but in terms of what is true about asking and receiving, and what "asking amiss" actually is.

The presence within does not judge us about our behavior. Instead, it gently nudges us toward relaxing our judgmental beliefs, that we might more easily see our path to truth with clarity. Spirit, or this presence, coaxes toward that which one needs to discover. So "ye have not" this needed discovery, "because ye ask not" for this. Instead, "Ye ask, and receive [it] not, because ye ask amiss".

Spirit is what you are. When you pause and look within, without your judgments (or beliefs) in tow, you discover that you are one with that presence...the ultimate truth being that you actually "are" that presence. It is your reality. That is why it is said that you are in God and God is in you. That being the case, despite the needs and lack you perceive in the world, the truth shows that in your reality, you lack nothing. So "asking" is not thinking about what your perceived needs are, then mentally or verbally putting those thoughts forward, calling that a prayer, and waiting for God to fulfill your wish list.

People do that, and some have occurrences in their lives which to them indicate that God answered their prayers...sometimes very dramatically, such as healing of a major injury or disease. Because of this, it is very understandable that people believe this is what is going on, and that this is a miracle. And yet, a miracle can only be miraculous to the extent that it moves your mind and heart into open communion with this presence...not because of an occurrence that appears to be miraculously meeting needs. When people do this and believe in this way, they ignore or overlook the fact that huge numbers of people pray to have their perceived needs met every single day, and receive nothing. In BOTH cases, these people are praying amiss, that they might consume it upon their lusts. Lusts refers to the things of this world, its perceived needs, etc.

Just how to ask and not ask amiss eludes us for a very simple reason. When we ask, we ask in terms of our perceived views about what is lacking. And yet, our reality...or that which we've come to call God, is not lacking at all...and neither are we. If we understood this, we would not need to ask to have lack or needs fulfilled. One might then wonder just what is asking without asking amiss.

Other than continuing as before, perhaps the better question to ask is, "If in reality I have everything, why am I asking at all?" But when one perceives need all around, that doesn't exactly cut it. The answer however is simple. As one turns within, not to ask about a doctrine, not to ask about a perceived need, not to ask about something one is confused about, not even to "get closer to God"...but instead with empty hands, or a mind (at least momentarily) emptied of beliefs and things needing to be answered...then the mind is ready to receive that which is actually offered. Relax into the presence that is freely and quietly there. Do this regularly, and as you go within often, you begin to recognize that this presence is actually there, and is not just a figment of a hopeful imagination. You do not need to "ask" anything of it, but simply need to go there and be attentive, thereby facilitating discovery of the presence of your reality. As you do this, you become more aware of it, and as that awareness increases, it influences your thoughts, feelings and perceptions in the world around you. As time goes on, you may well notice that needs seem to get met more and more automatically, and that perception of needs occurs in mind less and less. Sitting quietly and being attentive within to that presence which is there...which is God...which is you...IS ASKING WITHOUT ASKING AMISS. It is not actually "asking" per se, for you gradually arrive at that place within yourself where that kind of asking is not necessary. Simply remaining in remembrance of your reality and putting that remembrance first in your life, replaces asking.

Then prayer is less about asking for things to get better, and is more about trusting in that presence you notice. It meets the only need you've ever had...that of (re-)discovering the presence of your reality. And as this awareness arises, it also influences everything about you and your perceived world...and any perceived needs. It does not literally ask you to come unto it, because you are already there. And yet, as one reimmerses oneself in that presence (a baptism), the experience of what seems like a reentering, feels as though it is welcoming you home. And indeed you "are" welcome, and you "are" home, and ever shall be.