Category: J Douglas Bottorff

What Are You?

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We’ve all heard and probably used the phrase, “This is just the tip of the iceberg.” We mean that there is a lot more to a thing than meets the eye. The iceberg is, in fact, an appropriate graphic to use when we consider the nature of our being.

The iceberg exists in two worlds simultaneously. Scientists tell us that the proverbial tip that is above the ocean surface represents about 10% of the entire mass. The part that is submerged in the world of water represents about 90%. We can say the same about ourselves. Our surface, including our body and personality, only makes up 10% of who we are. The remaining 90% is our soul. It is powerful to visualize and meditate on this concept.

It’s probably fair to say that most people spend 90% of their time and energy thinking about the 10%, and 10% of their time and energy thinking about the 90%. Did we get this from our biblical teachings on tithing, where 10% goes to God? What would happen if we gave 100% of our attention to the 90%? I’m not suggesting we spend all our time in meditation. I’m suggesting we get in the habit of empowering ourselves with the image that we are a vast expression of God, poking our head into this three-dimensional world. What does it mean to be a spiritual being momentarily inhabiting this physical form? Armed with this awareness, what different choices can we make? What does this mean to the person I am in this moment?

What are you? You are a spiritual being manifesting through a physical body. The day will come when you will drop the body, but you will continue your experience. The “you” that you are will never cease to exist. This truth is an invitation to stop focusing on what you think is wrong with the 10%, stop trying to fix it, and affirm that 90% that lives beneath the surface of the material realm is what you are. And it’s doing just fine.

It is easy to understand how we mis-identify ourselves. That 10% sure looks real. Most NDE’rs come back telling us that the realm they momentarily plunge into is the real, that this 10% is but a shadow of what we are. Our true home is the infinite ocean that is God, and at this moment, the largest aspect of our being is fully alive and well in its incredible home.

From the Inside Out

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In Unity, we talk a lot about the inner presence, the inner kingdom, inner peace, and so on. It’s easy to let a concept like this become such a cliche that it loses its power of meaning.

Eric Butterworth, one of Unity’s more prolific authors, suggested that we stop praying to God and start praying from the consciousness of God. Ideally, this would mean we have had enough of a spiritual awakening to know God as our center of power. If we have not yet had such an awakening, then our center of power is our faith that it is so. Our prayer is based on the expectation that God, unfolding through us, is now bringing about the highest and best solution to our situation. We assume that the power to change things is with us now and doing its perfect work.

In contrast, the outside in approach assumes God is somewhere separate from us and when we ask for help, we hope God will overlook our shortcomings and give us what we ask. We treat God as a super-capable person who responds to our request at his discretion.

See yourself as a fountain bubbling forth the life, love, power, and intelligence of God. Imagine this divine energy flooding into whatever concerns you, dissolving all fear, all doubt, all feelings of uncertainty about what you are to do.

The grapevine does not look to the outside for the fruit it bears. It does not ask to be given that which naturally come from within the vine. And so it is with us. Taking the inside out approach, we think of ourselves as the grapevine from which the grapes, our solutions, come. This does not mean that if you need more money, it will somehow appear from within you. It means that you’ll be inspired with an idea, or you will see some opportunity to generate the money you need. Be alert and be expectant that the answer you seek is bubbling forth through you at this very moment.

To shift to this inside out mode, take a moment to close your eyes, take a refreshing breath, and know your greater good is unfolding through you right now.        

Forbidden Fruit

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Religious tradition tells us that our struggle with sin began with the first couple, Adam and Eve. Despite being explicitly told not to eat the fruit of a certain tree, Adam and Eve still did it, leaving the rest of us to struggle with the consequences. Though people often portray this forbidden fruit as an apple, Genesis names it as “… the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Gen 2:17).  

This ancient writer is not talking about gardens, trees, or any of the fruit we might find in a bowl on the dining room table. He’s answering this question: Why is life such a struggle? His answer is this: Life is a struggle because, from the beginning, man has disobeyed the commandments of God.

In Unity, we affirm that there is only one Presence and one power in the universe, God, the good, omnipotent. It is the belief in two powers—good and evil—that establishes the basis for struggle and gets us kicked out of the garden, so to speak. In traditional belief, people depict this dualism as God and Satan, attributing distinct origins to both powers. At the beginning of its account of creation, Genesis mentions light and darkness, but names only light as good. John echoes this when he writes, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

The belief in two powers can take many forms. In the traditional religious context, people consider sin as a power that can condemn the soul to hell. In our alternative approaches to spirituality, negative thinking and the soul that is not spiritually awakened become a destructive power. It matters little how we characterize evil as a power. The consequence of embracing it manifests itself as some form of struggle.   

The importance of this entire issue comes down to how we characterize God and the possibility of a competing power. Though the subtle serpent continuously tempts us with the assurance that there are no consequences of believing in two powers, we should understand that this belief is the basis of all fear and serves as the source of most of our struggles in life.

A Simple Way to Change Your Mind

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We credit Donald Altman, former Buddhist monk and recognized mindfulness expert, with this quote: “If you truly want to change your life, you must first be willing to change your mind.” While most of us respond positively to such a statement, we also know that changing our mind in an impactful way is easier said than done. And yet Moses, in an absolute moment of crisis, offered his people a formula that works every time. He said, “Stand firm, lift up your eyes, and see the salvation of the Lord.”

If you are in a moment of crisis or uncertainty, the first step is to stand firm. What does this mean? You are to make the decision to get off the mental and emotional roller coaster and bring your full attention to your present mind action. If you are going to change your life, the only time you can do it is right now. Stand firm in this understanding. To lift up your eyes is not a command to look to the sky. It’s a command to stop looking at the problem and turn your attention elsewhere. Where do you turn your attention? See the salvation of the Lord. See your present concern resolved. You are on the other side of the Red Sea with your Egyptian hoard no longer in pursuit. Get the distinct feeling that your problem is resolved.

A technique like this is a little like an exercise machine. I have an elliptical machine, and I have to confess that I look at it more often than I actually get on it. I always feel better when I use it. Unfortunately, just looking at it does nothing for the cardiovascular system. The same is true with any spiritual technique. Reading about it is like setting the exercise machine in your room.

Make a firm decision to confront your situation. Pull your attention from the worst case scenario and turn it to the resolution of your issue. You do not need to know how things will work out, but just commit yourself to the feeling that they are. We are not seeking to change our life from this day forward. We are seeking only to change it within this now moment. This simple change of mind can make a profound change in the quality of your life.    

Call to Freedom

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Independence Day is a time when we celebrate our freedom as a nation and as individuals. Although everyone faces the occasional restrictive condition, and life in the land of the free is not without its challenges, it isn’t difficult to find many blessings to count living in a country like ours. The greatest oppression most of us face is the tyranny of our own thinking. Answering the call to freedom involves an examination of the internal dialogue that occupies our mind.

Jesus spoke of the truth that sets us free. He specifically named worry about the future and the fear of lack as two of the most debilitating conditions. The remedy he offered was the assurance that the Father knows our needs even before we pray for help. What does this mean? He was saying we need not live in constant worry and fear about the future or our material needs. We should focus instead on living each day, surrendering our worries and fears to the understanding that a greater good is now unfolding through every aspect of our experience.

The freedom you experience in your morning quiet time may evaporate in a cascade of worry by afternoon. Inner freedom requires presence of mind, a kind of mental and emotional situational awareness. Jesus talked about the foolish virgins who missed the wedding feast because they had no oil for their lamps. This is us, unprepared for an unanticipated challenge triggering a flareup of negative thought and emotion. We all succumb to negative surprises, but, like the ten wise virgins, our oil of mindfulness keeps us prepared. The moment we start our negative response, we catch it, and we say no to it.

We might attempt to achieve a state where we never worry or fear again. This is not realistic. The only time we can deal with the tyranny of our thinking is at this moment. Both the call to freedom and our answer to this call occur simultaneously. Freedom never stops calling and we never stop answering. The key is to be aware of how we are responding to this call.

Jesus The Rabbi

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I believe Jesus envisioned a time when religious authorities would shift from being protectors against the consequences of sin to become instructors devoted to opening the doors to the inner kingdom. As a scholar and teacher, this is the intended role of a rabbi.

A religion that is focused on saving people from sin is based on the need to protect a weakness. Here, the weakness is a distorted understanding of the true nature of God, the individual, and their inseparable oneness with God. Essentially, it is a belief in two powers—good and evil.

An educationally focused religious system will dedicate itself to developing strength. It acknowledges that God is the only power, and oneness with God is the ultimate truth. Translating this understanding into practical applications that have a positive impact on everyday life is the goal. This type of system explains the existence of evil, not as a power, but as a blockage of light, a misperception of the true nature of underlying reality. Instead of addressing the shadow, it seeks to bring light to the blockage that causes it. For instance, the practice of denial is not simply saying, “There is no shadow.” We acknowledge the shadow, but we see it as the effect of something that is obstructing the light. Denial is a deliberate act of withholding the power we give to this obstruction.

When people addressed Jesus as a rabbi, they acknowledged him as a scholar and teacher who had a unique grasp on the letter of Mosaic law. His special talent, however, lay in his capacity to shed light on the unity between man and God, and the transformative power this awareness brings to one’s life.

While religious tradition has always devoted itself to convincing people it could protect them from the consequence of their named list of sins, Jesus devoted his ministry to saving them from the greatest sin of all—spiritual ignorance. He pointed out that it is not the type of food that goes into the mouth that corrupts, but the words and actions that stem from a corrupt understanding of one’s relationship to God. Teaching this truth, I believe, was the sole purpose of his ministry.

I believe Jesus envisioned a time when religious authorities would shift from being protectors against the consequences of sin to become instructors devoted to opening the doors to the inner kingdom. As a scholar and teacher, this is the intended role of a rabbi.

A religion focused on saving people from sin is based on the need to protect a weakness. Here, the weakness is a distorted understanding of the true nature of God, the individual, and their inseparable oneness with God. Essentially, it is a belief in two powers—good and evil. I hope you can join us in Sunday’s exploration of Jesus The Rabbi, whose revolutionary approach went beyond teaching religious rules to teaching spiritual principles that could change lives. 

The Natural Prayer

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During my talk last Sunday, I discussed the topic of prayer and its perceived failures. After the service, a friend raised an interesting question regarding the purpose of prayer altogether. Raising such a question can help us reach a better understanding of prayer. If we treat it simply as a formula intended to invoke spiritual forces that we hope will influence outcomes in our favor, we miss the fuller scope of our involvement. We are, in fact, constantly in a state of what we might call a natural prayer, with our overall mindset as the primary influence. While we may use the tools of affirmations and denials to bring about change, it is ultimately our state of mind that determines the course and overall condition of our life.

The two main faculties we employ in natural prayer are faith and imagination. Here, faith is synonymous with expectation. The influence of expectation runs in our mind like a background program on our computer. It’s always working, but we don’t see it. What we see at the mental and emotional level are the images our faith generates through the faculty of imagination.

In his novel, The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho makes this observation:

“When each day is the same as the next, it’s because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises.”

This attitude is the mindset that we want to pay attention to. When we expect each day to be the same as the next, we are training the creative power of our imagination to match our level of expectation. All things considered; this may seem reasonable. And, if we are content with the monotony of each day being the same as the next, why bother investing effort in fixing something that isn’t broken? If we are restless and dissatisfied with our life, it will be advantageous to recognize the good things that present themselves and raise our expectation and appreciation for these gifts that each new day brings.

Natural prayer does not center on a single aspect but encompasses our overall quality of life. It directs our awareness to each present moment, every individual we encounter, and any circumstance that calls for a creative resolution. We naturally raise our own expectations and the imaginative visions that these inspire.

When Prayer Fails

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Most of us can recall times when we prayed for something, and our desired answer came about quickly and in a way that worked out well for everyone involved. Other times, it seems our prayer goes unanswered. Are we doing it right sometimes, and wrong others? Or is there some other reason our answers are not consistent?

You may remember Jesus in Gethsemane, where he prayed three times for a different outcome, to no avail. James says our prayers go unanswered because we pray amiss. As a teacher of the art of affirmative prayer, it would not seem likely that Jesus prayed amiss.

The Gospel accounts tell us that Jesus’ prayer went unanswered because God had bigger plans for him. Does this mean God wants me to endure this pain because there is a bigger plan? Is this financial setback thrust upon me to force me to open my eyes to greater possibilities? Did this relationship crumble because God doesn’t want me to be with that person?

The most productive response we can have to apparently failed prayer is to take a hard look at how we think prayer works. Are we attempting to get God to act, or are we doing everything possible to align our thoughts, our expectations, and our actions with the outcome we desire? There is no single answer to this question. However, if you believe in the power of prayer, you will take it upon yourself to find your answer. If you’ve had no success implementing all the prayer techniques given to you through books and teachers, then it may be time to let go of these and embark on your own quest to understand this important practice. Jesus had his character sell all his possessions to buy the treasure-bearing field. We know what others teach about prayer. What do we say it is, and how do we successfully employ it in our situation?

The way is not always apparent, but this does not mean that the answer we seek is unavailable. Ask, seek, knock until the door opens. If you say I did these things and still nothing, then ask, seek, and knock again, and as many times as it takes to see the door open. Either you believe your answer is possible, or you do not. If you believe it is possible, then stay with it until it becomes your reality.

What if God was One of Us?

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To the Jewish mind of Jesus’ day, claiming oneness with God was a crime punishable by stoning. That the foundation of his message was oneness with God probably contributed to his conviction in the Jewish court.

With her 90s hit song, “One of Us,” Joan Osborne met with similar resistance from mainstream Christian groups. While the song takes a rather anthropomorphic view of God, it has the effect of bringing the abstract notion of God into the human experience. This is what we want to do. Many people picture God as having an existence somewhere in a distant realm. We want to think of God as the creative life force, the vital essence of every living thing. Most importantly, we want to think of God as centered at the core of our being.

If God was one of us, that would again put us in a place of separation. If God becomes a stranger on the bus, and I’m not on that bus, then I’m here and God is not. However, the purpose of engaging in such reflections is not to run aground in problems with literal interpretations. I consider the idea of God being present in my life at this moment, actively involved right on my level. How would I think of my life if this were true?

One near-death experiencer said he met a being of light whose telepathically transmitted voice he instantly recognized as the intuitive voice he’d heard all his life. What if we acknowledged the countless ways through which we are connected to God’s guidance and inspiration? Might we not pay a little closer attention to that stranger on the bus? This thought is a powerful point of contemplation: I am in God, and the full light of God shines through me and through all people and things in my life.

I did not ride with strangers on a bus this week, but I sat with some in a waiting room at the Social Security office. It occurred to me that each one had a unique story to tell, a journey that had brought them to that moment. As I waited for my number to be called, I thought how interesting it would be to have everyone share their story. While I refrained from suggesting this idea to the group, I silently offered each person a blessing, wishing them peace and success in their ongoing journeys. I will never know if this simple prayer had any impact. What I know is that the exercise prompted me to ponder a different question: What if God was all of us?

The Power of Righteous Judgment

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According to Jesus, our judgment is measured by the level of judgment we give. Using judgment in a righteous manner means being aware of our own biases, prejudices, and emotional reactions. It requires us to pause and reflect before making a judgment, ensuring that our perceptions are not clouded by external factors. Instead of reacting impulsively or with negativity, we strive to respond with compassion, understanding, and fairness. This involves considering the bigger picture and recognizing that everyone is on their own unique journey with their own challenges and circumstances.

We have all experienced someone’s anger directed at us, not because of anything we did, but because their attention was elsewhere. When we snap at others, we lose our power. Our judgment is influenced by the perceptions we project onto our present experience, shaping our reaction and diminishing our quality of life. 

Jesus recognized the significance of exercising judgment. He compared it to fishermen gathering different types of fish in their nets and separating the valuable ones from the undesired ones. If they don’t make a decision, they will be burdened with unnecessary fish.

Instead of fish, we are working with ideas. Do our thoughts and emotions enhance or diminish our quality of life? Our choice is not dependent on another, or on external situations. Our self-perception plays a crucial role in our decisions. A negative reaction shows vulnerability or defensiveness, indicating that we have moved from our center of power.

As we discussed last week, judging righteously means finding and returning to the steady state of our soul. We become upset because we have moved from our center of power. Instead of criticizing ourselves for making unfair judgments, we actively work towards returning to our stable core. By aligning our judgments with spiritual principles such as love, forgiveness, and empathy, we can contribute to a more harmonious and compassionate world. It is an ongoing practice that requires self-awareness, self-reflection, and a commitment to personal growth. Ultimately, by using our judgment in a righteous manner, we can cultivate a sense of inner peace and contribute to the greater good of ourselves and others.