March 14, 2009

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Contents


Opening Words & Reflections (5 min) 

 Psalm 25: 4 - 6

(4) Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.

(5) Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all day.

(6) Remember, O Lord thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses; for they have been ever of old.


Check In (10 min)

Topic (20 min)

Just about every religion or spiritual path has some example of: "Not I, but God (or Spirit) within me does this."

Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, as well as indiginous cultures and societies.

1. What does "Not I, but God within me?" mean to you? How is it significant in your life? Or if it is not significant, how does it appear from the outside?

2. If it is "useful," how is it useful? Are there any negatives to this principle, and if so, what are they?


Homework and Next Call (10 min)

Potential Topics

  • How to create conversations (practicalities of convening people)
  • How to mobilize into group action

Closing Words (5 min)

Reference

What kinds of explanations do people give about the "esoterics of doership," or "karmaless action," or "desireless action," or "egoless action," ..?

Here are four broad categories, to help make the many explanations more sensible:

  • ethics -- a way of training ethical living
    • slay pride ("lest ye be proud, attribute your acts to God")
    • identify with others, either in word or in thought
  • expression -- expressing self to others
    • "Why yes, I AM the unique son of God" ("badging")
    • "Why yes, I AM on God's own team" ("badging")
    • "I'm not in control! It's God doing it!"
  • truth -- communicating ideas about reality
    • We are consciousness only, not our minds.
    • The universe is deterministic.
    • I am "authorized."
    • Love is Grace, not earned.
    • There is a mysterious presence at work in the universe.
  • technique -- a means of developing internal/mental/supernatural technical mastery
    • If I don't identify as the mind/doer, then I will observe it from afar, and in observing, will become wise, and think, speak, and act carefully.
    • If I affirm God, then I will harmonize with God, and manifest godly powers.
    • If I look over the many voices speaking within, I can identify the stream that is God's, and amplify it, putting it in charge of my actions.
    • If it is God that acts, then I am not swayed by pleasure or pain, because it is God that reaps the results. ("divine indifference" or "karma without attachment")
    • Clarity that we can change, and go beyond what we imagined ourselves to be.


Are there negatives to the esoterics of doership?

  • blame shifting; irresponsibility -- "I didn't put my hand in the cookie jar; God did it!"
  • callousness -- "God makes all things happen, so why would I worry what happens to you?"
  • selective "enforcement" -- "That's not for you to do -- only God should do that kind of thing!"
  • conformity enforcement -- "Don't attempt anything ambitious: That's a clear sign that it's your ego at work, and not God. God makes people do ordinary things that stand within social norms of ordinary upright citizenship."
  • lack of direction -- "Don't intend anything, anything at all. Just go with the flow of what everyone else does."
  • self-righteousness -- "Didn't you know, I am an agent of The Lord? I do everything in God's name!"
  • complacency -- "Whoah there buddy; Why not just let God do it? You relax."
  • being controlled by our images of God


References:

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