Tag Archives: contemplation

Jan 12 2018
Consciousness, Contemplation, Prayer

Try This For Your Best Year Yet

new-year-prayer

Move Beyond Resolutions For Your Best Year Ever

Did you make any resolutions for the new year? Why? What are you hoping to accomplish? A better you? A better life? Please answer these questions.

Everyone would like for this so-called new year to be popping with success. People are craving a new and improved life. Most are hoping that this is the year that all their dreams come true. But, reader, you know that as high as these hopes are at the beginning of the year, things usually don’t work out that way. For a lot of folk, the new year ends up a dead ringer for the old year.

In this post, I’m offering you a suggestion that, if followed, will yield greater benefits than all of your resolutions – even if stuck to.

Here is the suggestion.

Take your prayerful attention off of your problems – completely. Stop trying to use Truth (God) to fix the seeming broken places of your life. When you pray, (contemplate, or whatever name you call it,) stop trying to heal your body, repair your relationship, get something, or get rid of something. This includes even the hope that something good will result from your praying.

Instead, let your prayers be for the joy of knowing and experiencing God.

I don’t usually use the word “metaphysical” in these posts, but for the moment the word serves my purpose. Because it is above (meta) all so-called physical phenomena, the suggestion above is the most metaphysical practice there is. It is the only true spiritual practice.

Putting It Into Practice

You may be asking, “How do I put this into practice?” The simple answer is to examine your motive. Whenever you “pray,” ask yourself, “Why am I doing this?” If it is to fix, heal, or get, know that your prayer is off track. Then, ask yourself this question: “Am I willing to do this just for the joy of knowing, experiencing and contemplating the nature of God?” If your answer is an unqualified “Yes,” then proceed with your praying.

If, however, your answer is “No,” ask yourself one more question: “Am I willing to do this just for the joy of knowing, experiencing and contemplating the nature of God?” Willing is the magic word. If you answer “Yes” to this question, proceed with your praying.

Dealing With That Pesky Little Voice

As you read this are you thinking, “Allen, I get it, but when I sit down to pray that way, this little voice says ‘You’re lying. You really want to get healed. You really want to change this situation. You are not really interested in God.’”

Continue with your praying. Don’t fight this “voice.” It really is nothing. Let it “speak” and proceed with your praying. Soon, two things will happen. First, that “voice” will no longer even whisper to you. Second, you will find joy, even ecstasy, in praying just for the joy of knowing, experiencing and considering the nature of God. Now, you are on track and “cooking with gas.”

Reader, enjoy the Infinite Goodness of God’s Presence as your very life and being. In the next post, I will explain why this works.

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Jul 28 2017
Consciousness, Contemplation, Mind, Revelation

Try This Contemplation For 7 Days

bt-contemplation

The Main Idea

There is one infinite, indivisible Presence, and I am It.

For the next seven days, I am suggesting that you use the above statement as a springboard for your daily contemplation.  So that there is no confusion about the “how” of this contemplation, I am writing it out exactly the way I am suggesting that you contemplate it.  As follows:

There is one infinite, indivisible Presence, and I am It.
There is one infinite, indivisible Presence, and I am It.
There is one infinite, indivisible Presence, and I am It.
There is one infinite, indivisible Presence, and I am It.
There is one infinite, indivisible Presence, and I am It.
There is one infinite, indivisible Presence, and I am It.
There is one infinite, indivisible Presence, and I am It.

Seeing The Main Idea From All Angles

Imagine going to a museum and gazing at a life-sized sculpture.  To take in the full beauty of the sculpture, you have to move around and look at it from many angles.  Similarly, this contemplation takes one spiritual idea that you consider from many “angles.” Instead of moving around a physical sculpture, you view the idea in many ways by emphasizing key words.

Note that all but two words are bolded. Each of your contemplation periods will consist of the main idea repeated slowly seven (7) times. On each repetition let your consciousness savor the bolded word.  You may be inspired to linger on that word a while. You may be inspired to rest in a moment of silence, after saying the word.

On some bolded words, you may linger even longer.  That’s okay. Although you are dealing only with one spiritual idea, each word that you dwell on is sure to reveal something new.

Give Up The Control

Once you’ve completed the seven (7) repetitions, be still and let Revelations flow within Consciousness.  Although I have given the above suggestions, the contemplation will start to have its own life.  When this happens, don’t try to control it.  It’s possible that you may not make it through the seven repetitions in one sitting.

Reader, after the seven days are over, please let me know how this went for you.  I look forward to hearing from you. In the next post, we will take this out of the seats and into the streets.

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Sep 22 2016
Consciousness, Contemplation

Another I AM Contemplation

still

The Power of the Presence is the I that I AM.  The Presence of the Power is the I that I AM.  I am the indivisible, indwelling, all-dwelling, omnipotent Omnipresence.  I am the Love that is inseparable Oneness.  I am the Love that is Perfection, Peace, Joy and complete Harmony.  The Love that I AM is the Light that I AM.  The Light that I AM is the Love that I AM.  Omnipresent, omnipotent, omniactive Love is the I that I AM.

I know that I am All, complete within and as my infinite Self.  Being constantly, eternally complete, I am the Supply for every seeming need.  No matter whether this Supply is evidenced as the Presence of Love, Health, Home, Money or whatever, I AM AWARE OF BEING THE EVER PRESENT SUPPLY FOR ANY SEEMING NEED.   I know what I AM.  My perception of the complete Truth that I am this moment is the manifestation I know.  I am the evidence of the Truth I know.  The Presence of the I that I AM, knowing the Truth that I AM, is the manifestation of the Mind that I AM, knowing what I AM.

Beyond creed, beyond all limitations and restriction, I AM.  Beyond human motherhood, fatherhood, all relationship, I AM.  Beyond the pangs of birth and the pains of death, I AM.  Beyond grief, trouble, change, age, or deterioration, I AM.  Beyond all pain or suffering, I AM.  Beyond all the simulated distortions of an illusory world, I AM.  Beyond the human intellect with all of its delusions, I AM.  Beyond all conditions, or qualifications, I AM.  Beyond sorrow, doubt, frustration, fear of failure, I AM. All of this I AM for I AM THAT I AM. (by Marie Watts)

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Jul 30 2016
Consciousness, Prayer

The Joys Of Contemplation

bt-contemplation

Someone recently asked me, “Allen, how do you contemplate?” Ultimately, reader, you will have to find your own way, but below are the three ways I contemplate.

1

My favorite way is to sit in silence for a few moments. Slowly, I repeat the words “I Am.” After two or three repetitions, Consciousness usually stops on the word “I” revealing that “I” is boundless, universal, and impersonal.

Effortlessly and without planning, I find myself contemplating a spiritual Truth. At this point, rather than a sense of doing something, my experience is one of being the contemplation.

This way is easy, relaxed, and totally effortless.

2

Since 1998, I’ve kept a “Spiritual Journal.” I have five of them, and scribbled on their pages are many of the revelations I “heard” in silent prayer.

Sometimes, I pick up one of the journals and flip to a page. Then, I contemplate the revelations on that page. The joy of this approach is that I am contemplating Truths that have already been revealed.

Contemplating Truths that have already been revealed always opens the door to fuller knowledge and experience of that Truth. It is wonderful.

3

Another way I contemplate involves the Bible or some other spiritual literature. Reader, has this happened to you? While reading a book of Truth, does a word or sentence pop out as if it is demanding more of your attention?

When this happens, I don’t keep reading. I stop and contemplate that word or sentence. Sometimes I ask Consciousness, “What is it I am to perceive here?” I may have to do this more than once, but when the answer is revealed, I feel like I’m going to explode with joy.

Reader, here is what I don’t do. I never contemplate with the idea that this contemplation is going to fix something. Furthermore, I realize that Truth is always true whether I am contemplating it or not.

Many people have questions about the why’s of contemplation and prayer. Those questions are answered in The Prayer Project.  Just a click away.

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Aug 13 2015
Consciousness, Prayer

You May Need To Flip It — Here’s How

back_flip

Do You Begin Your Contemplations Like Dorinda?

Every morning, and most evenings, Dorinda picks a book from the “spiritual” section of her bookcase. She opens the book to a random page and starts reading. She reads until she reaches a passage that stirs something in her. Dorinda reads this passage over and over, savoring every idea in it. Then, she closes her eyes and contemplates.

Dorinda says that the reading inspires her prayers and contemplations. She says the books anchor her prayers in spiritual principle, and keeps her mind from wandering aimlessly through a maze of insane thoughts. “But,” Dorinda says, “I don’t always reach for a book. Sometimes I listen to a tape or some audio file stored on my computer.”

You Are Already As Enlightened As Christ Jesus

This is how many people begin their contemplations, and I will not criticize. For many years I did the same thing. Reader, if you begin your contemplations like Dorinda, do you ever ask yourself, “When am I going to be as enlightened as the authors I am reading?” Do you feel like you are creeping closer to enlightenment, but never getting there?

The Truth is you are already as enlightened as any author you have ever read – even as enlightened as Christ Jesus. But, to experience this Fact, I am suggesting one simple and powerful act: Flip It. (I’ll explain later.)

Your Consciousness Is Enough

Stop thinking that you have to reach outside of yourself for inspiration to start your contemplations. Your Consciousness is enough. No, you don’t have a personal Consciousness separate from the One Infinite Consciousness, but the Consciousness you have and ARE is enough. Trust it to be.

Reader, you don’t need to pick up a book from the night stand or turn on a tape to jumpstart Consciousness. Your Consciousness is not a car battery. It is Infinite, Constant Awareness. Start relying on your Self completely. Prove to your Self that It is ALL SUPPLYING FULFILLMENT. Prove to your Self that It is the inspiration you seem to need. Prove to your Self that your Consciousness is all the motivation you seem to need.

You know, like I know, that one day we have to stop reaching outside of ourselves for any kind of “help”. Why wait for that day? The help you seem to need is in you as ever-present fulfillment.

Here’s How To Flip It

Earlier, I suggested that you Flip It. Here’s how. You simply contemplate first, and read last – if you still feel the need to read. At first this may seem awkward. You close your eyes and it feels like you’re watching a blank screen waiting for a movie that never starts. You wait, and wait. Nothing happens. A thought may flash across your mind like, “Allen is crazy.” Then you reach for the nearest book. STOP! Put the book down. Give your Self a chance!

Close your eyes again (if closing eyes is what you do) and reason this way, “Since there is only one Mind, one Consciousness, one Awareness, then the Awareness of the author and my Awareness IS one. The Truth that’s in the book is already present as my Awareness.”

Now settle back into your contemplation and watch how Truth effortlessly flows like a gurgling brook. Try this for two weeks. Even if you seem to have a rough start, most likely you’ll never go back to reading first. And you will see that “your” Consciousness is more than enough.

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Jul 14 2015
Consciousness, Contemplation, Mind, Prayer

Contemplation Matters For These Reasons

viewing-art-museum-of-modern-art

Contemplating At The Museum

Someone asked me, “Allen, what is contemplation?”

The sibling question is “Why contemplate?” If the reason for contemplation isn’t fully understood, the what’s and how’s don’t matter. Spiritual contemplation is a calm inner looking at the Allness of God. It is Mind (God) beholding Itself. Contemplation is similar to the quiet, often uplifting, viewing of a great piece of museum artwork.

You’ve, no doubt, been to a museum and gazed at a piece of artwork. You observed the sweep of the curves, the colors, and the shading. As you continued gazing at the picture, you thought about the images in the picture. You noticed things. Without any conscious effort, thought followed thought. You saw new things you didn’t see moments before. More thoughts flowed. This is contemplation.

Take note. You were not trying to get anything out of this contemplation. You were not using it for anything. Not once did you think, “When I’m through looking at this, I hope my life gets better.”

You didn’t try to control the experience, did you? Most likely, wherever your eyes landed on the canvas, you simply basked in the beauty. You did not try to control the experience. And you certainly didn’t try to change the artwork. You merely observed and enjoyed.

Contemplation’s River Of Ideas

This leads to the first point. Spiritual contemplation is a joy-filled experience. Spiritual contemplation is just “observing” the facts of God’s Allness – or some aspect of it. For example, you may find yourself contemplating the fact that, “I and the Father are one, and not two.”

As you “observe” this Truth, Consciousness reveals that there is no separation of time and space between you and God. The flow of ideas further reveals that there is no God and you. Ideas will continue to flow leading to the awareness that there is just I Am – no you, and no God. Somewhere in your “observation”, you will see that you are not a seeker of Truth, but Truth Itself. There is no such thing as what you should see in contemplation. There are no should’s in this observation. Ultimately, this experience is Mind beholding Itself, and its activity is Self-directed. It will always lead to a place of silence where there is knowing without the unnecessary weight of words.

When you gaze at a masterpiece, contemplating its beauty, what you see at one viewing will not be the same thing you see at another viewing. That’s how it is when you contemplate Truth. There’s always something new to see (perceive).

Spiritual Contemplation Brings Your Attention Back To What Is

Why contemplate? As mentioned in the “Prayer Project”, all day long you and I seem to see and sense things that are NOT the Allness of God. You may seem to see a fight in the workplace. You may seem to see a sick person, a homeless person, animal abuse. If you are a news watcher, there’s no telling what hellacious pictures you’ll see.

When we see these things we tend to think about them over and over again. This, too, is contemplation, but how does it make you feel to continually think – contemplate – these lies about the Allness of God? This kind of contemplation is the illusory activity of a mind that seems to exist but doesn’t.

Spiritual contemplation brings our attention back to what IS. It has to. It is ISNESS beholding Itself. When contemplation of God’s Allness is just a quiet consideration of Truth, your very soul smiles. You feel good.

Look Again – Things Aren’t What They Appear To Be

Contemplation is not an escape hatch from the seeming ugliness and messiness or daily living. And it’s a mistake to think that contemplation is impractical. Contemplation is the most practical thing you can do. Here are the benefits of contemplation:

  • Contemplation is effortless.
  • Contemplation is a hands-off affair.
  • Contemplation does not require mental or physical labor to be effective.

Right now you might be saying to yourself, “How is contemplation practical?” Do you remember when stereograms had their heyday? These are large pictures that look like small, misshapen blocks of color. At first glance, you think “Boring!” But the directions tell you to continue staring at the picture, and when you do, your eyes widen and your jaw drops. Now you see a beautiful landscape that rivals a masterpiece.

At first you only saw random chunks of color. You kept looking, and then you saw a magnificent landscape. The landscape was there all along, but you had to keep looking. No effort, no labor, and no planning were required of you to make that landscape. You just had to keep looking.

That’s how contemplation works. It’s all a matter of looking and seeing. Contemplation is Mind’s way of looking (seeing/perceiving) the world (Itself). Where the first glance seems to show a picture of lack and limitation, contemplation reveals a new picture of abundance and plenty.

Perhaps your Body seems to show a picture of weakness and disease. Contemplation of God’s Allness sharpens your view. Now you see (and experience) a Body brimming with health and vitality.

And no work was done. No getting in there to fix and repair. Thus we have a contemplative consideration of God’s Allness as All, revealing (showing forth) God to BE ALL.

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Dec 11 2014
Evidence

The Proof Of God’s Allness In Your Life

proof

Oops! That’s What I’ve Been Doing

Hoping and waiting for the evidence of God’s Allness are the culprits that seem to hide the experience of Truth’s evidence. Hoping, wishing, and waiting for the evidence of Truth to appear is a flat-out denial that God Is All. How subtle this is!

Many sincere “students” of Truth are unknowingly investing their attention in the denial of the established fact that God Is All. Every time the truth of God’s Allness is contemplated with the hope and wish for its evidence, the Fact is at once denied.

It is a self-defeating practice to contemplate the fact of God’s Allness, and at the same time hope for health, a windfall, or a change of some appearance for the better. Simply put, most people lack the experience of the evidence of Truth because they, in their hopes and wishes for such evidence, are actually denying its presence as an already established fact.

I’ll Try This Instead

… Beloved, no change is needed in your life at all. Your Life is the evidence of God – pure, holy and perfect in every way. Simply stay with the Fact that God is the only Evidence evidenced. Nothing needs to be added to or removed from your Life.

Excerpt from Sounds Of The Trumpet-The Evidence

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Jul 29 2014
Consciousness, Prayer

I AM Contemplation

This post has already been sent out to God Is All E-Course Subscribers. It was so well received that I decided to post on Absolutely Yours. BACKSTORY: One evening in silent listening, these words announced themselves. Since then, these words have been the launching pad for many contemplations.

There is no God giving or withholding Health.
There is just I AM
and I AM That I AM.

There is no God giving or withholding Wealth.
There is just I AM
and I AM That I AM

There is no God giving or withholding Enlightenment.
There is Just I AM
and I AM That I AM

There is no giving and withholding God.
There is just I AM
and I AM That I AM.

There is none to give to,
and there is none to receive
There is just I AM
and I AM That I AM

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