Sunday, March 17, 2013

The "Sacrifice" of Oneness


Landsong fire circle, Krishan Bralley
The world you see is based on "sacrifice" of oneness. It is a picture of complete disunity and total lack of joining. Around each entity is built a wall so seeming solid that it looks as if what is inside can never reach without, and what is out can never reach and join with what is locked away within the wall. Each part must sacrifice the other part, to keep itself complete. For if they joined each one would lose its own identity, and by their separation are their selves maintained.
ACIM, Chapter 26

So here were more words that went straight into my heart.  Sometimes it is good for your heart to break.  Only then do I become open and defenseless and ready to receive the influx of love I’ve been resisting.  For a moment, these words made it imperative for me to see the world in a new way, to see the Oneness.  Perhaps they’ll resonate with you too.

A Course in Miracles states as its goal, in many ways, a shift in perception, a different way of seeing. The Course calls this different perception by various names -- the eyes of Christ, spiritual vision, salvation, Atonement, true perception, and forgiveness. The entire goal of A Course in Miracles is but this. For example, the introduction to the Workbook of the Course states unequivocally, "The purpose of the workbook is to train your mind in a systematic way to a different perception of everyone and everything in the world."…
All of our experience is tied to our perception and perception is not a fact but an interpretation.
Daan Dehn, commentary on ACIM

Perception is not a fact, but an interpretation! 
That is not simply ACIM or non-dual philosophy but also physiology and hard science.
And where does all this take me? 
I scan the ACIM texts and from time to time come across a phrase that churns me, evokes some deep response that I cannot really understand and turn away from in discomfort.
I find many of them have to do with healing and highlight my resistance to something obviously of beneficial.

Is Healing Certain?
Healing is always certain. It is impossible to let illusions be brought to truth and keep the illusions. Truth demonstrates illusions have no value…
Yet what if the patient uses sickness as a way of life, believing healing is the way to death? When this is so, a sudden healing might precipitate intense depression, and a sense of loss so deep that the patient might even try to destroy himself…
Healing will always stand aside when it would be seen as threat. The instant it is welcome it is there.
Manual for Teachers, Section 6

I recall a comment on BATGAP that anyone who meditates diligently for years and has not awakened is harboring some uninvestigated ambivalence – in short, they don’t want to wake up.
I think of Adyashanti explaining how many people awake and go through a loss of all will power.
And I think of Evie and others working their hearts out to heal their cancers.

5 comments:

Freud Jr. said...

Hello Dr. Bralley, I stumbled upon your blog by accident while on the yahoo search result page for Buddha at the Gas Pump. I've read a couple of your blog postings and viewed some of your artwork. Thanks for sharing. I am sending you a web address for a Daoism related video that I hope you will find time to view. It is in 12 segments(watch at your leisure) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW77NOwZK8I. It is both a historical account of Daoism and a travelogue to the Wudang Mountains. Enjoy. Namaste! Freud Jr.

Pat Bralley said...

Hello Freud, thanks for taking the time to drop by and comment. I watched several Wudang youtube videos in the past and have always enjoyed. I'll check out your link.
Pat

Anonymous said...

Hi Pat

It's worth noting that the "sacrifice of Oneness" is also a perception. Under the experience of separation, oneness remains intact and whole, undisturbed by surface perception.

This becomes clear with more healing and the gradual dissolution of separation.

Pat Bralley said...

Yes. But, if one is to speak from ones own experience... if I am to speak from my own experience, then I must say it's sacrificed. Perhaps, this staying true to perception is what's needed to crack the heart open... ha! in that cracking that is healing not breaking. Ha, Ha - made me smile... and perhaps that smile is what intellectual understanding of wholeness is meant to give UNTIL perception actually sees.

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Right - staying true to what is real for us now. But recognizing that our truth is based on perception and will thus evolve as we do.

Saw a talk recently where they suggested that there is no lessons or karma. Just apparent events arising to bring growth - be that by cracking us open or by revealing a deeper truth.

;-) a true smile shows an acceptance of it which allows it to unfold.