Dreams Serve us Well

A spirit teacher shares His understanding of timeless wisdom.

He tells me that dreams serve us well, even if we can’t remember
them, upon awakening.

They’re designed to help us see symbolic meaning between
situations and personalities, whether human, animal, or
imaginary creatures, within the dream and similar situations,
events, and characters within our everyday non-sleeping world
of illusion.

Situations and stories play out in dreams, He tells me, and
then, usually, end suddenly. We wake up to a different world;
one of more easily understood situations and characters.

Perhaps we have just become accustomed to the events, and
actors in our waking world?

Yes, and familiarity can easily breed deceit.

In what way?

There have always been some unethical advertisers, politicians, false prophets, etc. who use a pretense of authority and truth
to persuade or pressure trusting minds.

But, in a dream I witnessed a crow doing what crows couldn’t
likely do.

Were you aware of this during the dream?

I seem to remember being confused and in awe.

But, you accepted the situation as being valid?

Yes.

Why didn’t you question something that didn’t seem to make
sense?

Because I was witnessing the event. It was only in my mind
that it didn’t make sense.

You read fictitious stories without expecting them to be real.

Yes, of course but, surely, real life is not a fictitious story.

Then, why don’t you question events and situations in your
so-called waking life that don’t seem to make sense, and
people who claim to be be what you suspect the’re not.

Perhaps they have a hidden agenda?

Yes.

But, I’m only one person. What possible useful purpose
would it serve for me to …

So, you adopt a more socially acceptable position of
pretending not to know?

I guess. But, if whatever untruth is generally accepted
then surely some others must also know the truth and, like me,
pretend not to.

Why?

It’s easier, and possibly safer.

Yes.

To Know Requires Faith

A spirit teacher shares His understanding of timeless wisdom.
He tells me that knowing is not a matter of faith, and yet
there can be no knowing without faith.

What has faith to do with knowing?

How do we learn?

Through experience.

Yes, but not through experience alone.

We reflect on past experiences and use what we
have learned from them as foundations for future …

Future what?

To guide us in our responses to future challenges.

And if what experience has taught you differs from
what others would claim to be the way to live?

This is developing beyond intellectual concepts.

Yes.

Then please explain.

Knowing is awareness.

Awareness of what?

Awareness of what seems to be true, for us, if for
no other.

Where does faith come in?

We each, in time, develop faith in our own knowing,
or awareness; of our own truth.

Crossing the Bridge from Ego to Awareness

Where are you? Spirit asks me.

You know where I am.

Yes, but do you?

Somewhere along The Way.

Then He tells me that I’m crossing a bridge
from Ego to Awareness.

Have I reached midway?

There is no midway.

Then, how could I possible know where I am?

You could glance back.

How far back?

As far as you can, or as far as you care to.

I’ve come a long way I confidently tell Him.

Relative to what?

Or to whom?

No.

Why not?

We can never know exactly where anyone else is
along The Way.

Wouldn’t it show?

In what way?

Behaviour-wise. Surely their actions would express
where they were.

How can anyone know why anyone else does what she
or he does or seems to be doing?

Then, how could I choose whom to travel with?

Would you choose by actions that please or
displease you?

How else?

You might choose your companion by what they say.

How could I ever know that they were saying
what they believed was so?

Actions and words as possibly being for effect?

Yes.

Yes.

Then, how can I know?

How can you relate to me?

Our energies seem to harmonize, more or less.

Yes.

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We Share Our Life

Spirit tells me that we each share our life
with all who know us, to the depth that
they know us.

Or think they do?

No.

Please explain.

Much of what we think we know is no more
than programming from sources outside of
our own mind.

But, at least some of what we learn
from outside sources, such as teachers …

And so-called news reporters and
advertising?

Surely, nobody believes everything
she hears.

Is believing the same as knowing?

How can we know anything that we
don’t believe?

How can we believe anything that we
don’t know?

Then, believing is not knowing?

Yes. Knowing does not require believing.

But, believing requires thinking
that we know?

No.

Then, what?

We believe what we know that we do
not know, but trust that it is so.

We trust our outside source of information?

Yes.

But, information is not necessarily
knowledge?

Yes.

But, surely we must believe before we can
know.

Why?

It’s easier than simply accepting that
we do not know, yet.

Yes.

So, what*s the answer?

To what;?

The problem of not possibly knowing
everything and yet needing to believe
that we do know something.

Acceptance and intention.

Acceptance that we don’t know what we
don’t know but intention to learn
what we can and care to?

Yes.

We Can Only Teach What We Know

Spirit asks me if I know who He is.

You are my teacher; my guru.

And who is my teacher? My guru?

My guru’s guru?

Yes.

Do you have one?

No.

Then, you have more than one?

Yes and no.

In that each teacher has studied under
other teachers in order to learn and then
to share what she or he has learned?

Why do we care to share?

Because we must?

Yes, but why?

Perhaps it’s in our nature to …

You included yourself …

Not as a teacher.

Then, as what?

I don’t know.

We each teach and learn from everyone
in our life. It is unavoidable.

Intentionally or not?

Yes.

What we learn may not be what we
were being taught.

Exactly. We teach what we are, simply
by being what we are, and we learn
to recognize discrepancies, if they exist,
and they usually do, between what others
would express through their actions and
their words.

Saying it doesn’t make it so?

Yes.

But, what if we want to teach or share
ideal attitudes, even though we have not
yet mastered them ourselves?

Exactly.

What does that mean?

We can only teach what we know, but, if
we are aware of and accept our limitations,
we can encourage those who would learn
from us to reach beyond our grasp.

The lesson?

Don’t wait until you have all the answers
before you share the ones you now possess.

Caring for Community and Relationships is Personal

Spirit asks me if I practice caring for my home.

I don’t need to practice. I know how to do that.

Do you do it?

Yes.

How well do you do it?

As well as I can, all things considered.

What things?

The time available, my energy level, and
my interest in doing so at any particular
time.

So, caring for your home is a job?

Not as a paid job. It is a duty.

A duty to whom?

To myself.

Why?

I enjoy living in a clean and well
cared for home.

Yes.

Where is this line of questioning going?

To your community and to your relationships.

Caring wise or duty wise?

Yes.

As with my home, I do what I can.

All things considered?

Yes.

What things?

Is this a second verse or round two?

No.

Then, what?

With personal possessions we have
a personal interest to care for them.

Surely we also have a personal interest
to care for our community and
relationships.

Yes.

I walked into that one.

Yes.

All Paths are One Path

Spirit tells me that if we believe in ourselves
then half of the struggle is over.

As in, well begun is half done?

Yes.

But, how can I know if I believe in myself
or whether I’m only pretending?

We can never know.

But, we do know if we have begun
to do whatever?

Yes.

But, if we seem to be working alone …

Alone is the only way we can work.

It can feel very lonely.

Then, your mind has wandered from the work
you set out to do.

Then, fight the good fight?

Yes, and trust that there are others,
many more others than you could possibly
be aware of, who are also fighting
your fight, on your side.

I wish I knew what it was all about.

Enlightenment, and clearing the path
that others might follow.

What if they prefer to clear their own path?

All paths are one path.

Transcendence as Sacred, or Is It?

Spirit tells me that when we intend
to learn more about life, or anything
else, as if there were anything
unrelated to life, then we intend
to transcend what we now know,
or think we know.

Or now believe?

No. Belief is an end point.

Until we doubt?

Yes.

Back to transcendence.

Transcendence doesn’t go back.

I thought the term transcendence
was spiritual.

It is, but not exclusively.

Isn’t there a danger in …

Using a word to express what it
was designed to express?

Then, to rise above could refer
to moving up a material ladder
from a lower to a higher level?

Yes, or to intentionally integrate
thoughts and emotions, and then
to transcend that integration
by physically or mentally
acting on the outcome.

Then, action, any action, is
an intentional expression of
a blend of thought and emotion?

Yes.

Regardless of the quality of the
blend or the resulting action?

Yes.

Then, where is the beauty and
magnificence that transcendence
suggests, more than suggests; it
seems to inspire awe and devotion.

A word can do that?

For me, yes. At least it did
until you …

Until I what?

You removed the shine and reflection
of a higher light.

Did I remove the light?

No.

Then, what?

I was using the word to replace
the light?

Yes.

Idol worship?

Yes.

We Each Know Everyone Else

Spirit tells me that there have always been
dedicated teachers of wisdom in every culture
since time began, who have shared their
understanding and awareness of how life
can be lived for the benefit of all.

But, there are surely many more ways than
one to live a life that benefits all,
if it was possible to know how the life
we live could harm anyone.

Awareness would teach you.

How to become aware?

Experience.

Experience of what?

Being harmed as a result of how others
live their lives.

It isn’t possible to know how all others
live their lives.

Why?

I don’t know all others.

Do you know yourself?

Yes, I think so.

Then you know everyone else.

Whatever works

Spirit shares timeless wisdom.

But, there are times when He seems to be
just too much.

Too much what?

Too much authority.

Too much for whom?

For me.

Such as when or how?

You seem to tell me that I must learn to walk
my talk, and yet I find myself walking your talk.

Is there a difference?

Yes, or at least in degrees of adherence to
simplicity. You don’t seem to understand
that physical life is different than life in
Spirit, alone.

In what way?

There is so much to enjoy in my world.

And, in mine?

God only knows what exists in Your world.

I know.

We’ve wandered from the topic.

One of us has.

Then, to get back on track, why do I find
myself trying to walk your talk when my
very instincts assure me that pleasure is
designed for earthly enjoyment.

It is.

Then, why do I find myself trying to live
a much more simple lifestyle than I find
comfortable, just to please you.

Do your efforts in this regard seem
to please me?

No.

Then why do you do it?

I don’t know.

Then, let me remind you that you choose
to accept the conditions I require of you.

Yes, I choose to accept, but, something
in me still resists.

What?

What is it within we that resists
or what is it that I resist?

Are you directing my style of questioning
towards me?

Whatever works.

Yes.