Posts by JamesThomas

68

Dearest JamesThomas...

by AGuest in

the one that is called the holy one of israel, my lord, jaheshua mischajah: christ, of course!

by means of him, all creation came into being.

thus, they "arise" in christ.

JamesThomas

What I am trying to share with you, however, dear James, is not much different that what you are sharing with me.

Yes, I agree, there are many beautiful similarities.

But I am truthful when I say that one of reasons you're having the difficulty you are, is because you are not being honest. Again, you know it and I know it. You wanted to "silence" me with your wisdom and, unfortunately, that did not occur.

As I explained before, the questions are designed to silence the mind, that consciousness may see past the conceptual mind to it's -- and everything's -- unending Source. If you have come to identify your "self" as limited to that of the chatter in your mind, then yes, it was "you" that was meant to be silenced. But not with "my" wisdom, rather that innate within your being.

James, may I ask you: why do you capitalize "Wholeness" and "Presence"? How about "Reality" and "Truth," and "Truth of Life"?

When I capitalize certain words it is reference to the unconditional and foundational living actuality (which can not be grasp by the mind) of what the word points to. For example Life, is the reality of our being. We are not a person who is alive, or who takes part in a life, as the limited mind interprets it; we are the indescribable completeness of Life/Actuality/Reality/Being/God/Truth itself.

What perturbs my about your posts, Shelby, is the language --which you do so beautifully and sweet -- which reduces our wholeness and truth, to a separate deity. It is this type of language which paints a reality that people have accepted as real and true. Perceptions which motivate people to unquestionably believe that the foundational Wholeness (holiness) and significance of Being is separate from what they really are. This mistake, is the root cause of all suffering.

The peace, and wholeness, the indefinable truth and purity we naturally and innately desire and seek, looks out the eyes reading this right now...it is closer than close. It is simply our tenacious belief in all the words, language and mental imagery of separation and isolation that the mind continually weaves which blinds consciousness and creates feelings of a broken individual cut off from Wholeness. We can not know our natural Wholeness and Identity as things are know by the mind, because it is too alive and vast; but it can be lived, since it is what we truly are.

Shelby, you say I'm dishonest, and you're absolutely right. You win. All that I ever put into words is a lie. Total bull shit; in that it is not the actual truth; which you are. Which everyone and everything ultimately and foundationally IS.

j

31

Just read 'Jehovah Unmasked'. Here's what i think of it!

by lowden in

when i first joined the forum a short while ago the aforesaid book was recommended to me after i ranted about the disgusting, genocidal machinations of jehovah.

nathaniel merritt, although i don't concur with all he says, is a very brave and bright guy.

his abhorence of the nightmarish evil perpetrated by this god mirrored the thoughts that i've been having for a few years now.

JamesThomas

I applaud anyone who lets go of Jehovah.

I was raised as a Witness, and as a young stupid person (some would say the stupid condition hasn't changed) I tried very hard to believe that the god presented in the Bible was the creator of this wondrous universe. But as I matured and gazed through microscopes and telescopes and read of the amazing things of life, the more obvious it became how a tribal war god was indescribably too limited and moronic to have anything to do with anything real.

That people like SoJ continue to think it honors the Source of this universe to champion the god of the Bible, is, ummm, interesting.

j

17

Why do "Ultra Christian" people, sound so fake?

by free2beme in

jw
friends

now before i offend everyone who labels themselves christian.

well, in my time as a christian.

a fake christian!

JamesThomas

Perhaps when we become "Ultra" anything we become counterfeit; in that we have come to identify with religious, political, or other phantasmic mental constructs.

I have found when I am the most genuine and alive, there is no mental shenanigans or story being identified with, and instead there is just the indescribable raw wonder and beauty of life in and around.

It's like the more there is identity with thought, the less real we are; and the more there is just being with what is, the more real we are. Does that make any sense?

j

68

Dearest JamesThomas...

by AGuest in

the one that is called the holy one of israel, my lord, jaheshua mischajah: christ, of course!

by means of him, all creation came into being.

thus, they "arise" in christ.

JamesThomas

Dear Shelby:

we are not yet in agreement regarding "surrender" to what. Or, rather, WHOM.

I give you an example: you love your horses, yes? Brushing and grooming them, etc. They are beautiful creatures! But while you love what you see, the beauty of a simple being such as a horse, I have learned to love what is INSIDE that what you see, that which cannot be seen with the physical eye - it's SPIRIT! I am not bounded by the fact that it has a coat, hooves, a body, etc., all of which will, at some point, return to the dust. I am not concerned that it needs to be fed, watered, sheltered, etc. I ask you, who feeds those horses that run free on the plains as they have since the founding of the world? Speak to me of what is WITHIN that vessel… the life that has no limit. Can it be defined? Indeed, it can. In fact, it has a name, as does every living breathing thing. Do we know it? Not necessarily. Sure, we know "Old Ben," or whatever moniker we have given that creature. But do we know its TRUE name? How can we unless we know the TRUE being? Can we? Yes, we can, if we do not allow our flesh to limit us. The worm dying on the path after a spring rain… was a life, dear James. With a name. I may not know it, you may not know it. But my Father knows it. And unlike us, they… know Him.

First Shelby, let me say that you have a great talent with words, and the use of many words seems to be your forte. For me words are like so much smoke which easily distract us from the living reality of the moment. I generally use them only when necessary; and to get me involved in lengthy discussions is kind of like pulling teeth. Most of my posts are short as I like to get to the point. My sense is our entire dialog here is based on what you say above, and we just keep dancing around it.

Much of what you say I am agreement with such as: "I ask you, who feeds those horses that run free on the plains as they have since the founding of the world? Speak to me of what is WITHIN that vessel… the life that has no limit. Can it be defined? "

Dear Shelby, this is all I have been speaking about: "this life that has no limit".

NO LIMIT, means it can not be defined or circumscribed. INFINITY would be as close a title as we could get, but the mind can not comprehend infinity, so there is no way it can manipulate it. Here, we are in total agreement; and then, you go off and contradict your own words and get lost in a drama you have created in your mind: "Can it be defined? Indeed, it can. In fact, it has a name, as does every living breathing thing. "

There you go again, limiting what you earlier said has no limit down to a "THING" (a male thing at that) which you can DEFINE and NAME. Why do you do that? Why create a big mental drama around what is unknowable by the limited carnal mind? Why continually mold and engrave such limited imagery in your mind? Why not just admit that "the life which has no limit" is the Life that gives life to all life; the Existence which give existence to all things; and admit that since it has no limit it is the foundation Reality and Truth of everyone and everything. Is it because you would no longer feel special? No longer be able to announce yourself as a distinguished slave? It can be difficult, yet beautiful to really know that you are no more or less divine than the horse you are grooming or the grass he is eating. There is an unspeakable unifying wholeness in that knowing that leaves you wanting of nothing.

When you go off on your tangent of reductionism and defining, you sound like every other religious fanatic with their tiny little gods which we must bow to and obey or pay the price of punishment. Why go there? Why pock a stick into peoples wounds?

I totally agree with you that the Truth of Life, has no limit; and I would go on to say that the only thing which blinds us and numbs us to the unifying Wholeness and unlimited Presence is the minds continual story telling about how we are a separate little thing; or that our Source is too tiny to be our reality right here, right now. Such mental stories are simply fiction.

j

68

Dearest JamesThomas...

by AGuest in

the one that is called the holy one of israel, my lord, jaheshua mischajah: christ, of course!

by means of him, all creation came into being.

thus, they "arise" in christ.

JamesThomas

Dearest Shelby,

The questions privately sent you were not ask in an atmosphere of dishonesty and deceit as you keep purposing. Yet, I understand why you would think so.

The questions were designed to allow the mind to see it's limits and so stop and shut the hell up; because the questions point to what is infinitely too big for the mind to grasp. They were pointing to the endlessly vast pristine stillness that all words, thoughts and phenomena dance within. They were pointing to the Reality just beneath the counterfeit of the minds fragmented characterizations and drama of things.

It's kind of a zen thing; the best answer to such questions is no answer at all; rather than prattling on forever.

j

68

Dearest JamesThomas...

by AGuest in

the one that is called the holy one of israel, my lord, jaheshua mischajah: christ, of course!

by means of him, all creation came into being.

thus, they "arise" in christ.

JamesThomas

To everyone who bestowed kind words and support I would like to thank you. It was quite a surprise. To dear Shelby, I would like to sincerely apologies for upsetting you. Sometimes the avatar I use is too, too fitting.

I was wrong in too strongly pressing my point of view with you and belittling your deities. In the end it is not the form or formlessness we choose to adore, but rather our earnestness and sincerity, which you, dear Shelby, have in spades. Thank you dear, for helping me see that my room for learning has in no way come to an end.

I have a single teacher; a teacher with many faces. One of those faces is a beautiful lady who I used to sit with years ago in her home in Berkeley California. She is what some people call "enlightened", in that she is continually aware of the boundless reality of being. She looks at you with the clear and beautifully expansive eyes of an infant that has not yet been programed and confined into the dualistic paradigm of individual self and other. When she looks at you, there is no wall of separation and defense. In that moment you are her universe in which she is in love. She is truly and beautifully alive.

One day I went to her with something I discovered within meditation that I felt was important. Rather than applaud me as I expected, she pooh-poohed it as if it was nothing. I acted as if I was OK with it and left shortly after thinking she did not notice my anger and hurt. The next time I visited her, she immediately starting laughing saying "Boy were you pissed last time you left here!" So much for my clever cover-up. She went on to say how glad she was that I became angry because it meant we were reaching areas of great significance; and she ask me what it was I was protecting that caused offense. (I no-longer remember what it was).

It's very important, she explained, to honestly and tenaciously investigate into our bag of things that cause psychological defenses to erupt, for it is these cherished objects or fragments which we build our false identity around and so become a big part of what blinds consciousness to the never-ending wholeness and purity of being. When the truth is discovered, it is so all inclusive and huge, she said, that there is nothing left to protect or to cause psychological offence.

It's amazing the little things and beliefs we horde and cherish. Even things we feel are very good. Yet, it is surrender of what is personal and special that opens our eyes to what is without end. Few are willing to let go of what can be held on to. I have had much troubles with it as well. One of the things which I find offensive is when people seem to reduce the Divine down to a thing or personal deity which steals it away from all but some "deserving" ones. It's time I got over it, and allowed the universe of diverse peoples to be . For in truth, none of us are separate or alienated from the boundless Source of all things. Except, for maybe, Unclebruce.

j

49

God shunned all, but Jews and christians with the correct understanding?

by Star Moore in

the bible says that the jews were god's chosen people.

yes, but does that mean that all other people were nothing to him, unless they were associated with the nation of isreal?

a thought: what if god just chose the nation of isreal for the purpose of bringing the messiah to earth and was still with the good people in all the other religions?

JamesThomas

I believe in being here now..but not completely..

Dear Star,

I'm not talking about "believing in being here now", but rather actually and really being openly with the present reality of now. It's important to clearly discern the difference between believing something, and reality itself. One is an activity of the minds imagination, the other is allowing consciousness to look past the minds interpretation, and silently opening and meeting with LIFE. In other words: beliefs and thoughts of a tree, are not a tree. Actually being with a tree, openly feeling and sensing it's majestic presence, smelling it's fragrance, running our hands across the smooth roughness of it's skin, and hearing it's leave sing and dance with the wind is an indescribable and un-thinkable experience infinitely richer and more real than any belief or written commentary about trees.

What you have voiced here: "I believe in being here now..but not completely.. " is the exact reason there is suffering in the world, and the reason why so many find it necessary to hope for some future fulfillment. It's little wonder we feel need of some future place and time when we ignore the Life in and around us now, and fill our present moment with beliefs, concepts and thought. We have ears and can not hear, eyes and do not see. And if we carry this way of existing into some future place, we will remain unfulfilled because we will not be present there either.

There is right here and now a reality and life so endlessly rich and complete that it excludes no one and no thing. it's center is our center; it's being, our being; but we will never know it, never be aware of it, unless we are present with it, now.

The truth and wholeness you seek is what you really are, already. What the word G-O-D points to, is not so lacking or limited as to be restricted to some other place, time or entity; no matter what the Bible says.

j

68

Dearest JamesThomas...

by AGuest in

the one that is called the holy one of israel, my lord, jaheshua mischajah: christ, of course!

by means of him, all creation came into being.

thus, they "arise" in christ.

JamesThomas

Dear Shelby,

I work a small farm with horses and chickens and many things which require my care and attention. During my work my mind is generally still. There is no mental story or drama. I am open to the animals, plants and environment that I may be receptive to their gentle lessons on being present in the moment. In this quiet mood I spent a moment on my computer and read your personal message asking if it was alright for you to respond publicly. Honestly at that moment I didn't know what to answer, so I went on to other things that needed attention with intent of getting back to you a little later. When I did return you had already made this post. It's not a problem.

Life and nature weave no drama. It simply is what it is. All the story, judgments and commentary happen in the mind; and we often come to believe that these abstract images and interpretations are what is real; and they are not. The mind has useful practical uses, but the reality of Life is way too vast for it to grasp.

I privately messaged you those questions simply because it felt the proper way to do it at the moment. There was no ulterior motive, agenda or deceit for doing so privately.

Many on this forum will attest to the fact that there is much pain and suffering due to belief in gods separate from us that require worship and acts of devotion. What I try to bring to the table are the seeds that hint of what is not separate; but rather is the uniting principle and true Identity of what we, one and all, really are. Questions that the mind can not really answer are often useful in quieting the mind enough that consciousness may see past all words and thoughts to our silent and real identity.

There are horses waiting to be brushed and have their hooves cleaned.

j

49

God shunned all, but Jews and christians with the correct understanding?

by Star Moore in

the bible says that the jews were god's chosen people.

yes, but does that mean that all other people were nothing to him, unless they were associated with the nation of isreal?

a thought: what if god just chose the nation of isreal for the purpose of bringing the messiah to earth and was still with the good people in all the other religions?

JamesThomas

the bible gives us Hope for the future

When baking a cake it's useful to have a little vision for the future that we remove our desert at the appropriate time. But when it comes to truth, have you ever experienced reality other than the present moment?

Just because billions of people unquestionably remove and shrink divine-truth to some other place and time, should we then? Why would our true Source and Sustenance (God, if you like) be limited to some other place and time? If anything the Source of this wondrous universe should be the one thing that is NOT LIMITED! Why do we postpone seeking truth where we stand right here and now, when all the truth we have ever experienced is right now? Because a book written by some desert tribesmen says to look elsewhere? Because an ancient goat herder uttered it?

Perhaps what we need to do is go deeper into the only time and place we ever are, right here and now, look past all our mental fabricated beliefs, concepts and definitions of self and universe, and see if there is a Reality that is not, nor ever has been, too limited and tiny to be absent.

j

68

Dearest JamesThomas...

by AGuest in

the one that is called the holy one of israel, my lord, jaheshua mischajah: christ, of course!

by means of him, all creation came into being.

thus, they "arise" in christ.

JamesThomas

Dear Shelby,

Putting my sense of things into words is, at the very best of times, difficult for me. Sometimes words around a particular subject, or request in this case, do not coalesce right away, so I say nothing for a time to allow things to fall into place. Please know I was not earlier ignoring you.

My questions for you were attempting to point to what can not be defined as a nameable thing, spirit or otherwise. For to name something implies a limited thing -- for example -- this over hear is Jah; and this over here is not Jah. Does that make sense? To name is to limit and define or outline and circumscribe.

What I was attempting to touch upon is That which has absolutely no beginning and no end, is limitless and so can not be talked about as an objective thing outside of us or separate from us -- like a JAHESHUA MISCHAJAH, or a JAH, -- can be talked about. (which you do beautifully and lovingly, I might add).

When we reduce or confine the divine to a nameable deity we open the way to belonging to it (finding ourselves within it's circle), or not belong to it (finding ourselves outside it's circle), which feeds mans inhumanity to man. What I am feebly attempting to point to everyone and everything belongs to unconditionally, no matter the outward circumstance.

In your story there are these two bright spots, two extra-holy spots, which are labeled with the names of your Gods. What I am referring to has no spots, no place or time that is any less or more holy than any other, because it has no limits or boundaries. It is what everyone and everything foundationally and ultimately IS, and when consciously realized it instantly dissolves all walls and sense of other.....because there is no other. It's all there really IS.

When all the stories, drama, definitions, separations, deities, beliefs and mental commentary are silent, what remains? What all the grand drama unfolded IN remains. What is THAT? How wide and deep does it go? Does it move, speak, or ever change? Find this, and you find an unspeakable and bottomless purity that is far, far too beautiful and pristine for the grossness of words or names......and is so close as to be your own true being.

j