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An Expanded Sense of Self
Any new identity that you find on your life’s journey is going to morph into another identity as you continue along. All these identities can be healthy, yet it’s undeniable that to grow from one identity to the next involves destruction. The habits of the old self must give way to the habits of the new.
Nature manages this act of destruction with as little pain as possible. If we can imagine what happens as a two-year-old turns into a 3-year-old, we will be looking at the most natural and painless way of transformation. What does nature do? Think back to yourself as a growing child. The process is so subtle that hardly anyone notices.
Nature let you be who you are. It didn’t burden you with projecting prematurely into the future. It didn’t hold you back in the past. It gave you new desires. These new desires led you in the right direction.
If you can evolve spiritually in just this way, you have found the truest path, regardless of the teacher or belief system you choose.
As parents we stand back and marvel at this metamorphosis, yet we don’t apply it to ourselves. Instead we concoct a scheme for forced change, motivated by hating the ugly parts of ourselves, feeling insecure and inadequate, wanting anything but whatever is right before us.
Your true identity has remained untouched. You have never sinned against it or affected it in any way except to lose touch with it. The prevailing problem for each person is separation and nothing else.
So any path that wants you to change yourself must keep in mind that there is no self to change. There are only masks that we wear for a moment and then discard. If you can cherish yourself even as you discard your current favorite mask, you are living perfectly in the way of peace.
Adapted from Peace Is the Way, by Deepak Chopra (Harmony Books, 2005).
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19 comments
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Thanks for the information.
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Elphaba, and Lars , that makes sense because if you took away the mediation what do you have? You are either christian or some form of religion that believes in Jesus or not and if not then the teaching of Jesus should not be taught by a non christian or non believer. It does not sound like he is qualified to teach on the subject.
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I can only say to Dr. Chopra: I need to remember and apply this growth to every moment, second, hour, day, month, and always to my life. However, I am just human and forget that the "Everloving Knowing" always has me covered.
Thank you Dr. Chopra, you are the "greatest".
Jeanne D.
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DEFINING THE INNATE FEARS FOUND IN OUR LACKS OF SERVITUDE
OWED TO OUR CREATOR
AND OUR OWN MORTAL DEMISE
In simplicity how does OUR GOD THE LORD JESUS CHRIST SEE MANKIND TODAY?
First: Those folks who do right things according to their good and moral conscience they have the rights to life in the world to come in lieu of being JUDGED by HIM in the future. They do not defy their mortal demise. They die as just a mortal human or soul and that is that. They do not come back again until in the mind of GOD they are recalled or resurrected from the dead.
The JEWISH RABBIS called those folks GOOD NOAHCIDES. JESUS called those folks HIS sheep that was lost and needed the real gospel of HIS BAPTIZIM TO COME TO THEM. So that they could be a part of HIM BUILDING HIS KINGDOM now and not having to die a physical death but live on with HIM.
Second: There are those that have sought out to be just one more ANTI-CHRIST to seek to accomplish the creeds to satisfy their need for greed that has no end to the lust of the flesh to commit all kinds of horrors on their fellow man. And for those you can read HIS words in Matthew Chapter 25.
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DEFINING THE INNATE FEARS FOUND IN OUR LACKS OF SERVITUDE OWED TO OUR CREATOR AND OUR OWN MORTAL DEMISE #2
Third: For the many that have followed HIM into becoming a SECOND ADAM after HIS likeness that HE proved in his life-seemed mortal death, burial and resurrection then for us that has forsaken all the religions created by man and the many tenets or laws required to follow that are out of bounds with our LORDS words, will and ways ----- HE has a plan for each one of us --that is needed in building HIS KINGDOM on this HIS EARTH for all of mankind HIS SHEEP. Then when it is time for our seemed mortal demise ----HE IS THERE to welcome us as we are man woman boy or girl to go with HIM and work some more in HIS GLORIOUS place I call Heaven.
So folks those are the choices we must choose from and that is just that no more. JESUS CHRIST SAID--- Choose this day who you will serve.
Now some reading might say Dwight you got weird ideas and ways ---- OK I might have to you but my words are the truth with facts galore and in this forum of thought I am led by HIM to do and obey HIS words----- IF ANY MAN DENY ME BEFORE MANKIND I WILL ALIKE DENY HIM BEFORE MY FATHER.
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Lars, it's possible that I'm missing something here but I don't recall Deepak claiming to be a Christian. If you profess to be a Christian then you should'nt feel the need to wave your own flag or toot your own horn very loud to bring attention to yourself or your faith. If you are a true Christian God knows because he knows everything. One thing to keep in mind is that Jesus Christ taught that we should never pass judgement on anyone. You seem very judgemental.
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It appears to be true about whoever is loudest & most abusive. But that is only because we don't fight back! I just refuse to listen to the maniacs. Be still & know.
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Deepak has written a well thought article, Thank you. In part I enjoy Deepak's teaching but I do not like it based on I find no religious belief in his teaching. So I take part of what he teaches and choose not to loose sight of God and Jesus to my understanding, by reading the Bible. No different then having a Basketball team in a church you can have both. Do one and believe another, in fact Deepak says "you have found the truest path, regardless of the teacher or belief system you choose." God is with you through all that you to do, Basketball, meditation, etc.He never dismisses hisself ..............................................As far as this mask thing, I dont feel we will ever get past all masks because we do make mistakes and we will always be changing through our experiences, some are hard lessons in life some easy . I am not sure of this definition of being good is but I feel we all try to be the best we can be, perfect will never happen. I see no need for a mask if you except people for who they are and except that we as people do make mistakes and bad choices, letting your guilty feelings go, is to me the hardest. Guilt on how you treat some one, guilt on what you said, guilt because of blame. These are heavy loads to carry and through Prayer and forgiveness or meditation and forgiveness we learn to let go, of fear, guilt, and so forth. It does say in the Bible to sober the mind and to meditate on the Word of God. True love casts out all fear.
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What's the matter Lars? Are you afraid of what you might find if you look inside yourself? Tear away your delusions and search for real truth and freedom. That is what Jesus taught, that is what Buddha taught, and that is what Mohammed taught. True freedom can only be found from within, and once there, you will be able to see that God already exists in everyone and everything. Break away from the heard and be free.
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