Sunday, October 2,2011 - Welcome to Toltec Wisdom
~ Rev. William M. Heller
For our Fall program this year, we'll be studying the Wisdom of the Toltecs, as brought to us through Don Miguel Ruiz, and his son, Don Jose Ruiz, in their book, The Fifth Agreement. This is a wonderful enhancement to their first writing, " The Four Agreements ", as it expands on those initial teachings and springboards us into " The Fifth Agreement ", to awaken and consciously focus on progressing towards our highest state of existence.
Within these teachings I see a link between the Toltec Wisdom, and much of contemporary consciousness and spirituality today. Here, I found the reference to our living in the world as we see it, and a deeper truth of who we are; part of an eternal link to all, to God. Their teachings point to a set of beliefs, or "knowledge" as they refer to it that has put together the world that we see, and believe in, day to day. Our beliefs then keep the world this way, or at least, so we think.
I see roots in Unity, in the Twelve step programs, and more recently contemporary teachings that are pointing us towards a Universal truth. Unity, Eckhart Tolle, ACIM, Ruiz's are directing us to see the world we have made, and the consciousness we applied to making it as we have. More importantly, they are each teaching us that while we hold these beliefs, and live in this world as we do, we are coming up short; we are not accessing the DIVINE MIND that is within us as God's Creation. We can be using this consciousness to see the world in a manner that brings a difference in our lives; one of wholeness, of love, of compassion, and of healing. AFTER ALL, ALL PATHS LEAD TO GOD .
We'll now be exploring the Toltec methods, and their applicability in our lives. Through any of these channels I've mentioned, my guess is you'll find the right one that speaks to you. For you are on your path of awakening to your divinity, your truth, that you are aware of deep within you, that you want to access more; many tools are presenting you what you need to wake up.
Envision, if you will us having been created with all the potential God would Will us to have. We are created that way; in our teachings we associate this with our Spiritual selves. The Toltec wisdom points out that this exists within our DNA, our link to the physical. That DNA represents pure potential; the potential to modify to shape us, and more importantly to form our outlook within life in the physical. We are created completely innocent, pure and completely loving.
And our programming begins. We are taught, we are trained, and we are conditioned into the manner we'll live our lives. Our parents, our community, our culture is providing the knowledge that corresponds to that programming. For the most part, this programming is provided such that we have a full life; most likely an improved lot from our family, our ancestors.
To accommodate our life, we develop symbols; beliefs we hold and use to define life. They are derived from our "Knowledge" (beliefs), and we're continuously listening to what that knowledge says. Ruiz calls this the voice of knowledge because knowledge is talking in our heads.. THE VOICE ISN'T REAL, IT'S OUR CREATION . We give it power through our faith (hope), which means we believe without questioning what the voice is telling us. Others may speak to us in a manner these symbols take on even greater meaning. Our authors describe this as follows:
.Before domestication, we don't care what we are or what we look like. After domestication we try to be good enough for everybody else, but we are no longer good enough for ourselves- we can never live up to our model of perfection. Page 13
.We're still searching for perfection because now we agree with the rest of the humans that "nobody's perfect." Page 14.
The Ruizs' bring in the analogy of Gods Creation, Adam. What Adam Perceives is existence at such a realm. Adam's subsequent interpretation of that perception becomes the point of view. The real truth is life's creation, and it's the absolute truth for everyone. It cannot be changed. Our interpretation becomes what we think of as knowledge; it's true only by agreement. This is a virtual reality. It is not the absolute.
We find this message within Unity when we discuss the distinction between Absolute Reality, and relative consciousness; within A Course in Miracles, Our Oneness with God and our illusion of our reality.
The Toltecs like to refer to each of us as an artist, with the capability, or actually in the process of, creating a painting, a picture of our lives. Through the use of their tools and teachings, they are confident we can attain mastery over our mind, and attainment of life through True Wisdom.
. Self-mastery is all about awareness, and it begins with self-awareness. First to be aware of what is real . With this awareness, we know that we can change what is virtual by changing what we believe. What is real we cannot change, and it doesn't matter what we believe. (page 26)
We'll start our inquiry into the First agreement now:
Be impeccable with your word
Does this mean keep your word? That's a fine start. Remember however, this material is geared towards our pursuing self-mastery. Note the word impeccable: I see this to mean attain mastery, or high impeccability towards what you are saying (to yourself as well as to others). Our role is to express ourselves fully, and beyond the symbols or agreements we're used to relying on. Impeccability is the invitation being extended here.
The Statement ends with "word."" They are speaking beyond the symbolic use of words. To make their point, the Ruiz's refer to the Gospel of John, 1:1-5:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, And the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. (NRSV)
Word refers to Will, and in turn, creation. You are God's Creation, you are God's extension. You were created to create, to extend your Word to further creation. With impeccability, you, as God's Creation are asked to extend to create, through extending your Word.
I invite you to say the First Agreement to yourself out loud, and open your mind to your potential, your ability.
There will be more of this next week. Thank you.
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