soma

Great insight. When we give the test half the school doesn't come to school and since we do this for a week and give 3 different standardized test, our students miss 3 weeks of school. Our High Schools are modeling the Texas school scam. To have a student drop out is a bad mark so the principals have the students transfer to another H.S. in the district, but they never show up so our not recorded as drop outs. I get students who are in this country for only 3 days and I have to give them these standardized test. It takes me an hour just to get them to fill our the information on the front of the test correctly just so they can take the test so I put in the information myself because it is easier. They can't read, understand English yet, but that doesn't matter we test them anyway.

Christian Mysticism is inspirational and intellectually explains the interconnectedness of us all while dismantling the thoughts and fears that separate. It opens Christian minds that are closed by belief. http://thinkunity.com

I am also a teacher. I have three degrees, one in Biology . I have taken many math classes for science. I took the test and passed so I am Highly Qualified in English and Math besides Science, but thanks to Bush and his fuzzy education mandates I can't give English or Math credit in English or Math to ESL students because I am Highly Qualified, but not competent because I didn't take enough credits or the right credits in Math ect. Now, a elementary teacher who takes the same test and received far lower scores than I can give credit because her degree is k to 8 while I have k-12 ESL and 7-12 for science. I have taken more and higher math than this other teacher, but I can't give credit because of my secondary degree. I taught at university level in Korea and at an airforce base, but can't give credit to a 7 th grader. I don't think the president has a clue what he is doing.

Thank you, I am going to try to find that book. I like books that answers questions about the mind so I can have a spiritual experience beyond the mind. The book "Evolution of Consciousness" the site has been upgraded. http://thinkunity.com/

"Evolution of Consciousness" is not an institutional Unity book, but each chapter ends in unity in One God. It takes one on a journey through the layers of the mind, the parts of the mind, the Trinity, evolution and creation to rest in the consciousness of an omnipresent God.

I teach ESL and at risk students in 7th and 8th. I love it if I get a good nights sleep because I can be tested and have fun without sleep. I see the dance and the humor without sleep and meditation, it is a different story. They have taught me many of my weakness so for that I am gratefull. The funny thing is I know where they are coming from because I was kicked out of a Catholic High School.

Congratulations, The students are lucky and so are you. Kibran says that children are the teachers because they are fresh from the other side.

The book "Evolution of Consciousness" is not only inspirational, but it answers many questions intellectually about the Trinity, Evolution and other Christian mysteries. Here is the website for it: http://thinkunity.com/

A book that describes the layers of the mind and the journey through them to God. You can read more at the website below. http://thinkunity.com/

To add to your discussion if we identify with the source, our ego is inwardly replaced with pure consciousness, and God becomes outwardly man. Christ said, "Whoever sees me sees the Father." The mind with pure consciousness is a channel for refinement because Christ consciousness has a mission in life and for the world. This mission is to remind the fallen men and women of their original nature and to show them the way through which it may once more be lived or actualized. This awareness or Christ consciousness is the merging of the microcosm with the macrocosm or the unit mind merging with the cosmic mind. So many ways to say the same thing. Peace

Thanks again that was beautiful. I can relate to living and dead body. I use to think I was a body with a soul, but am realizing that I am a soul with a body.

Thank you that is a great site.

I read them found them with insight and inspiration. I think Yoganganda was one of the writers that started me on a path of introspection.

A Revolutionary, Christian Progressive Book I love. Here is the Web site go to all the links if interesting. http://geocities.com/trinitypublishing2004/

I like the idea that Jesus was the man and Christ was the consciousness. He said " I and the Father are One." His consciousness united with the collective consciousness we call God. God is everything. "One God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all." Ephesians 4:6 BBE

I am working on this as a magazine article, but I think it might apply here where Des you and I are saying the same thing. The Hidden Garden of Ecstasy The hidden garden of ecstasy is not in any particular country,book, church or in some private cottage away from civilization. It lies within each one of us so we just have to find the keys to open the gates. The keys are hidden in our minds, experiences, agonies, and ecstasies. Listening with thought to the inner voice instructs one to properly understand what do do because the river of life is in the garden skipping down to the sea. Every obstacle causes the water to dance every waterfall roars with excitement and every bend brings new enjoyments. The garden's puprpose is to show the totality of life and the aim is to merge with the ocean. To protect the status quo the gates to Ectasy have been closed with the fury of Hell. Minds open with wonder to seek the truth are being closed to science with beliefs opposed to doubt. Marching outside the gates shadows are cast blinding people with imaginary evils, frenzied outbursts and emotional quotes. The tranquil, steady dedication of love inside tthe pearly whites doesn't stop at the gates or at any border. Narrow mindness doesn't dwarf love by shutting out the truth. to be continued......

I think this is one difference between fundamentalism and mysticism. Those who blend Christ into their lives have no need to preach the word of the Bible because they are living the word. A person of this temperament will follow the letter and the spirit of the word as a matter of principle and not as policy. This person is moral for the sake of eternal value and not because there is a human law, book or hell imposing a punishment to keep him honest. This portrayal of the way of Christ demands intelligence because this theory can't be turned into a mechanical system, a book of rules and crammed into unimaginative minds because it is a spiritual awareness in the here and now.

Theo I was just supporting what you said. I like the word you used consciousness. I like to talk about Christ consciousness and pure cconsciousness., when taling about mysticism.

I feel when mytics experience Jesus Christ and his pure consciousness they feel a part of life and notice that it does not matter if something is good or bad because everything makes a difference in life. Therefore, acceptance is practiced by observing life without judgment, living in the present moment, not attached to memories of the past nor attached to schemes for the future. Acceptance does not punish or reward a man because it is simply to help people live with happiness, health, success, sorrow, disease and failure. It helps us live in harmony with Nature's Laws, observing the law of cause and effect in perfect harmony with one's individual demands; therefore, mysticism is a way to change our condition in life to change our mind about life. Cheerful, constructive thoughts set in motion vibrations that bring us good results such as happiness, kindness and love. They propel us forward and upward, physically, mentally and spiritually because thoughts, feelings, and attitudes provide the cause for the effects that the mind experiences in the outer world. "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 KJV Heaven and Hell are in your mind. Think divine thoughts and you are in heaven. Think thoughts of harm and destruction and you are in hell. “Reap what you sow” The perfect justice and learning tool to learn to think good thoughts.

Good post can I stradle the line and say Jesus is the man! Christ is the consciousness that is one with the Father. The microcosm cannot grasp the macrocosm because it is too vast. The image that our unit minds can grasp is another unit being who serves as a model for spiritual life. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Jesus is pointing the way to the macrocosmic mind and is the tangential point between the macrocosm and the microcosm. By using Jesus as a personal model and a focal point, we can attain Christ consciousness. It is the perfect consciousness for the human model because it has attained all of the possibilities in the human state. In it all potential is actualized on this earthly plane so it becomes the prototype of being for the Christ conscious mind. It admits and supports the idea that there are varied upward paths to pure consciousness, and the diversity in different world faiths diminishes as one approaches Christ consciousness. Evolution and all spiritual paths lead to pure consciousness. In Christ consciousness the human ego with which most of us identify is nothing but a tool to do service with on this earthly plane, the external reality. The inward reality is linked with the inward reality of the whole universe. In Christ consciousness there is a place in the mind that merges with the Mind of God and draws strength and inspiration from it. Therefore, Christ said, "I and the Father are one." The words, "I and the Father are one" can be interpreted to mean that I, the individual ego does not exist. The Father is everything so nothing has existence except pure consciousness; God is all there is; and I am a nonentity. Christ consciousness is not identified with the ego; therefore, Christ is the image of the true self that is developed. He is a model for us to imitate, an ideal that exists in our hearts and is a tangential point between the microcosm and the macrocosm. Jesus is pointing to God, the Father so we should not mistake his fingers as the goal and run over his hand, but see Jesus as the way. When we come closer to our spiritual role models, we come closer to all, and vice a versa; when we come closer to all, we come closer to our role models. Thus, we should work on expanding our minds and seeing the all-pervading consciousness working in life.

I went to that site and it looks great, a retreat center. Another thing to consider is a schedule of workshops so a list would be interesting of who would be willing to give a workshop and on what subject.

I think a conference would be great. I also think inviting guest speakers to the church would spark interest. The people who post here are so articulate I am sure some are authors or public speakers.

Thank you for this thread, Mysticism is so important because the mind is tender and is easily harassed in the noisy confusion of life so we need to discipline our minds to keep peace with our soul. In this way we can continue to wonder and see beauty in the world even with its fraud, strife and broken dreams. The person who does not recognize his soul, who does not commune spiritually is but a pair of glasses without an eye, a person with an intellect who is not aware of spirituality knows all the prices, but not the value of life.

Great question about Jesus. I feel Jesus worshiped God in everything because God is everything. The realization of God is in the soul, this Christ consciousness is what gave Jesus his miraculous power. He saw pure consciousness in man so was able to balance the personal and the impersonal aspects of God by serving man. He took the time and the troubles to detect the deceiving projections of the mind and dealt with them to become individually turned to the One Pure Consciousness of God. He placed God at the center of his own being and obeyed His will. Jesus controlled his thought processes and brought them into line with pure consciousness so he did not see the universe divided against itself with difference, dissension and division, but as one in harmony with itself. This gave Jesus an approving mind that was stable and positive, and above all else a unity with everyone and everything in Christ consciousness.

Some people see God as a person or diety that they can love and cherish and some see God as abstract which takes more of the intellect. Others want to serve God by serving humanity and all is good. I think it is best to know oneself. Then the type of God one chooses is more suitable and will make that person a better person. God is all encompassing so there are different ways to communicate. Aletheia your questions are great. It looks like your path is knowledge. Your questions will lead you and others to the prize.