We are spending two days with Lesson 47, because it represents an important shift. It represents a shift from trusting in ‘me’ to trusting in a mystery that the mind cannot begin to fathom.
Last week I wrote about some of the aspects of reality: life, awareness, intelligence, and love (unconditional-allowance). Another important aspect of reality is mystery; reality can never be fully understood.
There’s a story in the Bible about a rich man who wanted the kingdom of heaven, but was not willing to give up his riches for it. After Jesus’ encounter with the rich man, Jesus told the disciples, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
The disciples became very concerned, because this particular rich man was known to be very pious. They asked, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus responded, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
The rich man’s perception of money as security can be likened to us trusting our own strength, individual knowledge, values, etc. We must be willing to leave these ‘riches’ behind and shift our trust from them to mystery. It is mystery that guides us to awakening. It is mystery that makes all things possible.
Last night one friend said she doesn’t understand awareness-watching-awareness meditation. I asked her to have the intention to realize awareness-watching-awareness and continue to try each day. One day the awareness of awareness will come on its own. This is an example of trusting mystery, trusting that the awareness of awareness will come. Our part is the willingness, and practice is the action-quality of willingness. The results come through mystery