Creating a Better Life

Subjective Reality Revisited

A belief is only a thought that we’ve had over and over and over again. They become our models of the world and how it works, and therefore affect the way we act, react, and interact with what’s around us.

Sometimes we take those repetitive thoughts, invest in them, repeat them to ourselves even more - and they become a rock solid fortress which we will defend to the death, even if we are faced with evidence that they may not be as absolute as we once thought.

One of the models of our world that I’ve taken on in the past is the idea of Subjective Reality - the belief that everything that happens to us on the outside comes from our insides. The most recent place that I heard it was in the James Ray video that I posted a couple of days ago.

At times in my life, this model of reality really worked well for me. It gave me a sense of power, a sense that I can do something - I’m not a victim in a random world.

Rick at Shards of Consciousness has a great episode of his weekly podcast that brought some new light to the subject for me, called Subjective Reality, False Reality

In it, Rick talks about how our maps are not the territory - just because we perceive something to be true, doesn’t make it so.

A podcast that has a great exploration of Subjective Reality from the other side of the fence comes from Steve Pavlina, which he calls The True Nature of Reality, in which Steve argues for the idea that there is only one consciousness - and it’s yours.

So who’s right?

They both are - depending on your current perspective.

In his podcast, Rick does say that if you are looking at things from the perspective of Source - then yes, everything comes from one consciousness.

But in the physical, 3 dimensional world that we spend most, if not all, of our time in, our consciousness is not that of Source. It’s of ego - the wave that appears on the ocean of that Source.

Maybe if you are Jesus or Buddha, all of your experience can be subjective.

But I’m neither. I’m Lyman.

So what’s a poor soul striving for enlightenment to do?

Enter Mark Joyer’s “Utilitarian Model Flexibility”, from his Simpleology book - the idea that we can adopt various models of reality much like we use the software that runs our computers.

Use whatever model works best for you - where you are - right now.

And to not get so caught up in one particular model that you become unable to let in any new information, especially when that model becomes useless (at best), or dangerous (at worst).

We may be spiritual beings having a human experience… but we are having a human experience.

It’s time we stopped fighting that.

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Discuss this post at Personal Development Partners

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The Universal Law Behind the Golden Rule by Tony Mase

The following article was written by Tony Mase, producer of my personal favorite pdf version of The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles. I’m posting it here because I’d mentioned it in a previous article, but the blog that it was on no longer exists, and I wanted to share it with you. I hope you get as much out of it as I did.

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The Universal Law Behind the Golden Rule

- by Tony Mase

© Tony Mase - All Rights Reserved
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In Chapter 7 of the book of Matthew, Jesus is quoted as saying:

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.”

When Jesus made this statement, he wasn’t just teaching his followers a religious rule…

He was teaching his followers the *practical* application of a Universal law.

This Universal law is known by many names:

The law of cause and effect…

The law of karma…

And…

The law of sowing and reaping…

Are just a few of them.

In his writings, Wallace D. Wattles, best known for his classic masterpiece “The Science of Getting Rich”, frequently refers to it as the law of action and reaction…

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Odds are you’ve heard this Universal law expressed in many different ways:

Energy always returns to the source of its origination…

What goes around comes around…

What you do comes back to you…

You reap what you sow…

And…

My personal favorite:

It always comes back to bite you in the…

Well…

You know the rest.

Regardless of how this Universal law is expressed…

The bottom line is…

Whatever you put out into the Universe comes back to you.

And…

More importantly…

Because it’s a law…

Whatever you put out into the Universe *always* comes back to you.

This is the way the Universe works.

When you look at it this way, it puts Jesus’ words in a whole new light, doesn’t it?

Practicing the Golden Rule, as it’s come to be known as, isn’t just the moral thing to do, or the right thing to do…

It’s the *smart* thing to do!

Why?

Simple…

Because it’s the law…

If you cheat others, you *will* be cheated.

If you hate others, you *will* be hated.

If you hurt others, you *will* be hurt.

If you judge others, you *will* be judged.

If you steal from others, you *will* be stolen from.

If you take advantage of others, you *will* be taken advantage of.

If you treat others rudely, you *will* be treated rudely.

On the other hand…

If you forgive others, you *will* be forgiven.

If you help others, you *will* be helped.

If you love others, you *will* be loved.

If you treat others fairly, you *will* be treated fairly.

If you treat others honestly, you *will* be treated honestly.

If you treat others kindly, you *will* be treated kindly.

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction…

Whatever you put out into the Universe always comes back to you…

You can’t escape it…

It’s the law!

Now…

One thing that’s *very* important to understand…

When Jesus said:

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.”

He was *not* saying this because others, themselves, will “do unto you” what you have done unto them.

Jesus was saying this because the Universe, God or whatever you prefer to call the “Universal Power” behind all things, will “do unto you” what you have done unto others!

For example…

If you steal something from someone, it doesn’t necessarily mean that particular person will steal something from you.

However…

You *will* be stolen from.

It’s not a matter of “if”…

It’s just a matter of when and how!

On the other hand…

If you treat someone honestly, it doesn’t necessarily mean that particular person will treat you honestly.

However…

You *will* be treated honestly.

Again…

It’s not a matter of “if”…

It’s just a matter of when and how!

Why?

Because it’s the law…

It’s the way the Universe works.

So…

The next time you’re about to do something…

Anything…

That involves other people…

Ask yourself this very simple question:

Would I want someone else doing this to me?

If your answer is yes…

Do it.

If your answer is no…

Don’t.

It’s that simple.

Remember…

Practicing the Golden Rule…

Doing unto others as you’d have them do unto you…

Or…

Treating others as you’d like to be treated…

Isn’t just the moral thing to do, or the right thing to do…

It’s the *smart* thing to do!

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Tony Mase is a serious student of the works of Wallace D.
Wattles and the publisher of the “Jesus: The Man and His
Work” ebook by Wallace D. Wattles…

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“Jesus: The Man and His Work” by Wallace D. Wattles
Long lost lecture by Wallace D. Wattles, author of “The
Science of Getting Rich”, reveals the shocking truth about
Jesus of Nazareth.
Click Here => http://creatingabetterlife.net/recommends/jesusthemanandhiswork
==========================================================

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One final note - this article does contain affiliate links for Wattles’ “Jesus: The Man and His Work”. I own a copy of the ebook, and while I normally don’t go for the whole “shock and awe” style of marketing, I was surprised by some of the claims made. It’s another side of Jesus that isn’t broadcast much - and has an interesting definition of the “Kingdom of Heaven”. Definitely a thought provoking read.

Keep the Power Flowing

“There is a Power greater than yourself in the universe, and you can use it.”

I first read those words on the cover of a tape set version of Ernest Holmes’ “The Science of Mind.”

I was struck by the similarities to the second step of Alcoholics Anonymous:

“Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”

Many spiritual and religious traditions have this thread of an idea running through them - that there is a power in the universe that we are a part of, but that doesn’t originate with us.

That Power is unlimited.

Jesus himself said “It isn’t me, but my Father in me who does the works.” (John 14:10)

We don’t generate the power that we have. We take the power and convert it to use as we please. It’s like your computer: if it isn’t connected to a power source, it’s just an expensive paper weight. It can only function if the power is flowing to it, and it’s in good working order.

Three things need to be in place for your computer to work.

1.) There has to be a power source.
2.) There has to be a connection between the source and the computer.
3.) The computer has to be working properly. It needs to be able to take that power and convert it to useful action.

When it comes to your own personal power, all you need to be concerned about is #3. The power source is there. The connection is there. You just need to be sure that you are in good working order, accept the power, and convert it into useful action.

One of the biggest mistakes that we make when it comes to our personal development and spiritual growth is when we decide that WE are the source of our own power. Our ego’s are strong things, so strong that quite often they decide that they exist in a vacuum, are the center of the universe, and are able to both produce and use the power at will. While the connection is never broken, it can be blocked.

We are the only one’s who do the blocking.

Our job is to keep keep that power flowing, to keep ourselves from being blocked from it by our own decision to “go it alone”, and to keep our computers in good working order.

Physical, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual - these are all important aspects of you, the greatest computer system ever created.

Keep the switch turned on, and stop trying to be the one who generates the power. It’s there… you just need to learn how to use it.

Start by getting out of it’s way.

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This article was inspired by the birthday celebration of Live the Power. Happy Birthday!

Expanding On “It’s OK To Want Stuff”

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a post that mentioned the fact that “It’s OK To Want Stuff.”

I realized that this could be confusing to some people. Some might look at that statement and say “Well, Duh! Of course it is!”

But for those who are focused on a spiritual path, or who were brought up in a traditional Christian religious household, or both, it may not seem so cut and dried.

Slapped by Wattles

I’ll never forget the first time I read the following from “The Science of Getting Rich” by Wallace Wattles:

Whatever may be said in praise of poverty, the fact remains that it is not possible to live a really complete or successful life unless one is rich. No man can rise to his greatest possible height in talent or soul development unless he has plenty of money; for to unfold the soul and to develop talent he must have many things to use, and he cannot have these things unless he has money to buy them with.

That hit me hard; it actually offended me! Here I was, reading a book on getting rich, and I was insulted by the author’s statement that we had to get rich in order to live a full life.

Talk about being of two minds. While I had this natural desire for a better life, I’d been fed such a steady diet of “selflessness” and putting others first that I couldn’t comprehend the connection between my own acquisition of money and living a spiritual life.

Thank god I continued to read the book, and didn’t just toss it to the side.

Roots of Not Wanting

While it’s not my intention to attack any organized religion (they all have their place), if you take a look at the history of Christianity, a major part of it shows a pattern of acquisition on the part of those in power, while those who weren’t on the “inside” went without.

It seems like the Bible was used as a tool to control the masses and keep the wealth and power for themselves, rather than as a collection of spiritual writings aimed at empowering those who needed it most.

Combine this with translation problems, changes that were probably made to the original text, and taking passages out of context, and you end up with some quotes that can easily be used to encourage lack, such as:

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew 20:16

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” 1 Timothy 6:10

“Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:24

Each of these quotes are part of a larger context, each of which points more to the problem of attachment and putting things before your own spiritual growth rather than a direct condemnation of money and riches.

Consider the following:

Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

John 12:1-8 (New International Version)

No matter what Judas’ motivations were, it seems to me that Jesus didn’t mind a little pampering now and then. A “year’s wages” for a bottle of perfume; that better be some sweet smelling stuff!

No More Guilt

Money isn’t the end all and be all of life. But it’s a useful tool, and the most flexible tool that modern society has at it’s disposal.

So stop feeling guilty for wanting stuff, even money. Don’t let the people in the media tell you that your desire for money boils down to greed while they run their billion dollar corporations. Don’t let the religions of the world tell you that you have to pay them a set amount of your income while you are struggling to pay your bills. Don’t let the Hollywood celebrities convince you that because you haven’t given X amount of your dollars to their pet cause that you are selfish and stupid.

Follow your own heart. Your desires are born of God, and are therefore good.

It’s what we do with those desires that make all of the difference.

[This article has been included in the premier edition of the Abundance Thinking Blog Carnival]

I won’t be asked why I wasn’t Jesus

There’s a story in the book The Spirituality of Imperfection: Storytelling and the Search for Meaning about a rabbi who said that when the final judgment comes, he won’t be asked why he wasn’t Moses… he’ll be asked why he wasn’t himself.

We are created in the image of God, but we aren’t made to be carbon copy cutouts of one another. Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad, Moses… they all had their purpose, their mission.

But it doesn’t have to be ours.

So be who you are… whoever you want that to be.

But for god’s sake, don’t beat on yourself because you aren’t someone else.