QUESTION ABOUT ANGER AND FORGIVENESS

Let me ask you a very serious question. This is not rhetorical, I really am asking.

If someone attacks you verbally (in some playful but disrespectful way) or annoys you a lot
do you, Kemp, attack them back and forgive them later, or do you just not defend yourself
and forgive them as the thing is happening?

Let me know. I am curious. Not testing you, I am just wondering how to deal with such things
myself. (I used to argue with people but trying to be more harmonious and peaceful
within now, after studying the Abraham teachings.) (There is a little guy who is friendly to me
but likes to start political arguments, says he's a Bush fan, etc. I get really irritated at him and I try to avoid him but he approaches me and is friendly, but wants to talk politics.

There was also another incident when I got angry at a guy I know and yelled at him,
I wondered about that later, how better I might have dealt with that.)

thanks buddy

WISE FISHERMAN

"J said, A wise fisherman cast his net into the sea. When he drew it up it was full of little fish. Among them he discovered a large, fine fish. He threw all the little fish back into the sea, and he chose the large fish. Anyone here with two good ears should listen."

The odds are good that this saying is not about telapia. Jesus is a wise fisherman and teaches with the intent that the disciples become more like him ... rich in wisdom. So in this saying he is reaching out to each of us. He is explaining a crucial portion of the path of wisdom. Jesus was familiar with Jewish teachings and in the deeper temple lessons, a fish corresponds to the imaginative intelligence.

In speaking about fishing Jesus awakens the imaginative faculty of the listener (they can each imagine themselves fishing, it was a common activity on the Sea of Galilee) and enlightens them about an aspect of how their mind works.

Jesus is explaining what happens when we observe ourselves. We can take time to be self-aware, observant of the ebb and flow of our thoughts. Every thought is either born of love or born of something else e.g. fear guilt.

When we observe the flow of our thoughts for awhile we may see an abundance of thoughts of the "something else" variety .... these are like the little fish. Amidst these will be one of our true thoughts, one whose genesis is love, like a gift from the Mind of God ... this is the big fish.

To toss the little fish back means Jesus is saying that all we need are the God thoughts, and we can ignore all the other thoughts, just toss them away. These something else thoughts are deceptive and may lead us astray for awhile .... away from peace.

The last sentence of the saying is colloquial, a phrase that means "this is important", or "pay attention", etc.

The wise fisherman is ever alert to the way he is thinking, and seeks always to think with God, so that more often, his thoughts are born of love.

Through our growing understanding of these sayings Jesus helps us become wise fishermen too. This saying does not mention why there are so few big fish and so many small fish, that is likely covered in another saying.

David

AN UNCOMMON PERSPECTIVE ON INVESTING

This is an uncommon perspective on investing. Its about using ego dynamics to reveal patterns of economic activity, and earning $ along the way. It is an evolving interest of mine and so far,

• investing in Sin trumps investing in Fear and Guilt by over 1%.
• Investing in either trumps the performance of decent benchmarks over the last 5 years.

You can see more detail at Investing in Hell (http://investinginhell.blogspot.com/).

I am willing to speak about this with small groups or individuals, by appointment (we need to be patient about this, I do have a waiting list). People familiar with ACIM will get the logic of this methodology more quickly than the average human.

Namaste',
David

ALL LOVE IS HOLY AND UNCONDITIONAL

Maybe it helps to think about how quite literally all of our actions and drama stem from the same Source of power.

Whether we’re displaying rage, or joyous laughter and sharing in a relationship, the POWER feeding the “reaching” to the brother is the same. The Source of all is God, as we live in the Mind of God, so if we think about it, what else could the “power plant” for all of our drama be?

However, we confuse the will.. We allow ourselves to believe in the existence of an alternative will capable of dueling with God. This is clearly an illusion, as what is all Truth (God) has no opposite. So, by softening how we see, and realizing that within our fear is actually a seeking of union with our brothers, can we recognize that therein lies the One Will (Love) all along?

I’m reminded of Billy Joel’s song that says, “We didn’t start the fire.. It was always burning since the world’s been turning.” : ) So, I suppose the key is for us to look past dream appearances to the light within – to that Light within our brothers as well as ourselves – to remember that the Light which fuels is that of God. When we can remember to do this, we truly can see all love as holy and unconditional, and Who we really are as eternally loved and well.

Amy

LOVE IS UNCONDITIONAL

I believe that love is unconditional. All of it, all the time.

Our ego whitewashes over it sometimes in an attempt to blot it out when someone doesn't do what we want them to do---or worse, when they do what we don't want them to do. I reckon it's just part of keeping us seemingly separate when we begin to realize we're one.

But, underneath all that ego smoke, that unconditional love is still shining bright. And always will be.

Kemp

WHAT IS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE?

As part of an idea for a new art project, I wondered if you could help me by sending your thoughts on the subject of "unconditional love"...I'd love to hear your opinions--a few words, a few sentences, or write or refer me to a whole book!  the sky's the limit...and feel free to ask other's what they think, and send me that too...everyone's input is needed, and much appreciated!  

I hope to see you all in the near future.  Happy, happy new year.

Love to you all,
Mary Scott

LOOK GUILT IN THE EYE

ACIM teaches that "all anger is an attempt to make someone else feel guilty".

If this is true, to be "angry at myself" first requires that I regard myself as "someone else"!? Several places in the course suggest that we project a "self" that is an image we have chosen for some purpose, but not our true Self which is of course, God-given and immutable. What could possibly be the purpose of projecting a "self" which I choose to see as guilty? Could it be that I prefer that self be guilty rather than accept guilt into my preferred "self"?
   
It all begins to sound like some kind of avoidance "con" game. How many "selves" do I think I have? Possibly a lot! I might just generate them as needed to hide from any kind of responsibility!?
   
Rather than attempting to shuffle guilt off onto some projected self, why not just "look directly at the seeming source" of guilt. If one chooses to do this, accompanied by Jesus, all sources of "guilt" can be seen in the light and will simply vanish in Jesus' loving acceptance. Then, one has escaped guilt, not by projecting but by re-interpretation a far better cure than attempting to blame other "selves".
   
The Course is unique in my experience in proposing this approach to problem-solving. Rather than denying error, or cathecting error (release through catharsis - discharge of tension) it simply offers the total love-encompassment that Jesus provides and helps us re-understand the error, rather than struggle with the guilt induced by attempts to hide or overcome it. In other words, "don't fight it -- release it!" This leaves one with a loving appreciation of oneself rather than angry attack.

Kellie Love, a Miracles student