trying to figure out Raj
Carrie
talk that some seem to get so much about and say is so wonderful. After a
short time, I feel like... huh? What is he saying, what is the point and how
does it relate to ACIM? But, it might be good for discussion, which we
could probably use here. Not about Raj, etc. but about what he (who claims
to be author of ACIM) says, and how or if it fits with what (I think) ACIM
says.
http://www.nwffacim.org/tgp/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=28699&mid=139598#M139598
I notice it now has a copyright notice on it, but at one time they all
used to say "you are free to pass it around and share it".
One part:
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"We read: "Attempt to teach Him not. You are the learner;" See. You- You've
got to realize Your position, Your function, Your role. "You are the
learner; He, the Teacher." . .
Right there, that's insulting. . . You grew up. . You finished school. .
You went out into the world, and You've succeeded to one degree or another.
And now . You're to be the learner and . the Holy Spirit is to be the
Teacher? And because it's the Holy Spirit, it some Ultimate Teacher that
You might think twice about disregarding?
How insulting! That's a backward step. That's losing Your independence
that You worked so hard to . achieve.
"You are the learner;" - nevertheless - "He the Teacher. Do not confuse
Your role with His, for this will never bring Peace to Anyone. . . Offer
Your empathy to Him," - Let the Holy Spirit's Perspective be- mean more to
You than Your present perspective."
-----------------------------------
Apparently this is based on a quote from the "sparkly book"(Raj uses) but
I am thinking of all the places the course says the role of teaching and
learning is reversed and to teach is to learn, etc.
I haven't looked anything up, just going by memory and how I understand
it. Not tht the Holy Spirit would be learning from "me".
Raj also says we are to ask HS about everything, even vacuuming the
floor and loading the dishwasher. But, to me this makes doing "in the world
stuff" REAL.
I would think we'd start the day (and times we feel we've slipped)
with a feeling of Connection and then just go from there, not giving thought
to what we're actually doing. Like every little thing.
There's a part in the course I have read that says this? To start
each day feeling Connected to Him and if we're aware we have slipped to stop
and remember it again. Set the day up FROM THE START and then just flow and
don't think ABOUT it. This, to me doesn't say stop and ask HS about
everything I do. If I were to do that, I'd probably never get anything done.
I bet HS would tell me "you don't have to bother washing the dishes or
sweeping the floor" (LOL)
I also notice Raj assumes everyone doesn't do it right, and he is
needed to correct them.
---------------------------------------------------------
"I won't ask how Every One did on Christmas Day, . . in terms of . joining
with Me. . . But I wi- I do want to address the practical fact that . You
all forget . to maintain the contact."
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Someone once asked Raj when his birthday really was (is it really Dec
25th?) and he gave some vague answer about how it didn't matter, that was
"form" and not important.
Yet he seems to make form and what one DOES in their day important here.
Maybe I'm just not getting it the way it's meant.
Carrie
ready for such lack of structuring on their own part. What must they do to
learn to give the day to God? There are some general rules which do apply,
although each one must use them as best he can in his own way. Routines as
such are dangerous, because they easily become gods in their own right,
threatening the very goals for which they were set up. Broadly speaking,
then, it can be said that it is well to start the day right. It is always
possible to begin again, should the day begin with error. Yet there are
obvious advantages in terms of saving time if the need for this can be
avoided.
I think this may be what I was thinking of (I can't always find something
in SEARCH because I'm not sure of the exact words)
-----------------------------------
Rules for Decision
Decisions are continuous. You do not always know when you are making them.
But with a little practice with the ones you recognize, a set begins to form
which sees you through the rest. It is not wise to let yourself become
preoccupied with every step you take. The proper set, adopted consciously
each time you wake, will put you well ahead. And if you find resistance
strong and dedication weak, you are not ready. DO NOT FIGHT YOURSELF. But
think about the kind of day you want, and tell yourself there IS a way in
which this very day can happen just like that. Then try again to have the
day you want.
1. The outlook starts with this:
"Today I will make no decision by myself."
This means that you are choosing not to be the judge of what to do. But it
must also mean you will not judge the situations where you will be called
upon to make response. For if you judge them, you have set the rules for how
you should react to them. And then another answer cannot but produce
confusion and uncertainty and fear.
This is your major problem now. You still make up your mind, and THEN decide
to ask what you should do. And what you hear may not resolve the problem as
YOU saw it first. This leads to fear because it contradicts what you
perceive, and so you feel attacked. And therefore angry. There are rules by
which this will not happen. But it does occur at first, while you are
learning how to hear.
2. Throughout the day, at any time you think of it, and have a quiet moment
for reflection, tell yourself again the kind of day you want; the feelings
you would have, the things you want to happen to you, and the things you
would experience, and say,
"If I make no decision by myself,
This is the kind of day that will be GIVEN me."
-----------------------------------------------
" It is not wise to let yourself become preoccupied with every step you
take. The proper set, adopted consciously each time you wake, will put you
well ahead. And if you find resistance strong and dedication weak, you are
not ready. DO NOT FIGHT YOURSELF. But think about the kind of day you want,
and tell yourself there IS a way in which this very day can happen just like
that. Then try again to have the day you want."
This doesn't seem to go with asking HS about everything (at the time) like
before vacuuming the floor or washing the dishes. That seems to BE
preoccupied with every step.
This is what I was thinking of, the idea of setting the tone of the day
first and then just letting it flow.
Maybe asking HS at some point, if this comes to my attention. Like I'm
sitting here thinking "what should I do now?"
I can't imagine going through every day asking permission from HS before I
put on my socks, or make the bed.
Mike
You are trying to make sense of nonsense.
Carrie
Yup
And in a way that's the way to MAKE sense of it.
I thought we might get a discussion about it going. But, it seems like
only the Raj followers can make sense of or get something from Raj's version
of ACIM. And he said he's the author of it.
It's almost like the Emporer's New Clothes. People who want to belong
(in that group) have to say "how wonderful, what a great talk, it's such a
help to have JESUS running our group and speaking to us and helping us
understand and live ACIM!" And those in the group don't want to say "but
it's nonesense, and isn't even what the course books say!" and be seen as
not able to understand or get something from Jesus!