In
Truth, you don't need to study with another teacher
or attend another seminar. However, based on your
present level of awareness, the Holy Spirit will
meet you wherever you think you are in order to get
you out of your illusion. So if you feel inspired
to attend a particular seminar then do so. If you
feel moved to read a particular book or study with
a particular teacher, then do so. There is really
no right or wrong. Besides, whatever it is that you
are going to do you are going to do it anyway
because the story has already being told, unless
your practice your forgiveness process where you
are being presented with the opportunity of
collapsing time, therefore exchanging one
experience for another. That's how your nightmares
are replaced by happy dreams. It is all done, not
by you, but by the Holy Spirit.
I like to add something to what I just shared.
After being a student under the guidance of many
false idols, I was taught that the key to continue
growing is to keep educating myself. In other
words, once you are drawn to a particular teacher,
if he/she offers more programs under his/her
curriculum, always check with the Holy Spirit
first, meaning bringing yourself to peace first,
before making a new decision. Because teachers,
although well-meaning, who believe their students
are their source and supply, will do whatever it
takes to manipulate you, or should I say, persuade
you, into attending every course they are putting
out. What you most remember is that the purpose of
A Course In Miracles or any teaching that is
leading people to spiritual awakening, is not to
encourage their students to continue learning but
to help them unlearn everything they think they
know. In other words, to assist their students in
removing every block they have placed between their
True Self and their false sense of self (ego),
remembering that the student nor the teacher have
the power to do so, only the Holy Spirit does. All
a student can do is surrender their will to God's
otherwise they'll be an easy pray to the ego.
So just be aware as to whether you feel inspired
to take another one of their courses or whether you
feel persuaded, pressured through fear to take
advantage of whatever it is they have to offer.
That's the difference between teachers that are
grounded in Truth, knowing that God is their real
Source and Supply and teachers grounded in illusion
(fear) needing to persuade others in order to
receive their good. So if you happen to be a
teacher, yes, let the world know about what you do,
go ahead and advertise, network, and do whatever
you feel guided to do. Before doing so however, a
question you may want to ask yourself always is;
where am I coming from? That's tells you whether
you are grounded on illusion (fear, ego) or Truth
(Spirit).
In regards to hiring a coach in order to help
you get what you want, you may want to ask
yourself, once again; "where am I coming from?"
Speaking for myself, if I am coming from fear
trying to change something in this world of
illusion, thinking is going to bring me happiness
or comfort, all I'm doing is replacing God for my
illusions. But if I come from peace and I feel
guided to hire a coach in a particular area, let's
say business for example, not because I am attached
to the business but because there is information
about running the business I feel a coach could
assists me with, then that's a different story. The
same applies to any area of our lives where
assistance may be needed. Because remember,
illusion or not, we are experiencing ourselves as
bodies. So this is not about denial of the human
experience but to practice non-attachment to the
idea that we are our bodies. That way the Holy
Spirit can do the appointed work. Remember that at
our present state of awareness the Holy Spirit
bring it to us whatever we need in a form we can
relate. In many cases, a coach can take that form,
or a book, or a seminar, or just an old friend you
haven't spoke with in years, or the seeming
homeless crossing the street, who with a mere
exchange in words provided you with what you
needed. Never underestimate the form in which the
Holy Spirit's guidance may appear.
Aside from the fact that no illusion can get me
to truth, I always ask, why hire an illusion when
the Holy Spirit is available? The way I choose with
the Holy Spirit is by choosing peace above all
else. A Course In Miracles reminds me: "This quite
center, in which you do nothing, will remain with
you, giving you rest in the midst of every busy
doing on which you are sent. For from this center
will you be directed how to use the body
sinlessly." What the Course refers as to how to use
the body sinlessly, means that the choice is not a
self initiate plan which may be used to further
prolong your awakening but a choice that will lead
you closer to it. So by choosing the Holy Spirit as
your guide, if you are in need of a coach, out of
the million coaches, gurus and teachers out there,
you'll be led to one that is perfect for you,
therefore saving you time, money and lots of
disappointments.
A word of caution: There are lots of teachers
who considered themselves to be enlightened or
advanced teachers. Some because they say they have
studied with other so called advanced teachers,
some because they claim to have spent years in a
monastery, meditating in caves, or because they
attribute their expertise based on having extensive
years of study and so on. When you look at someone
like Jesus for example or Buddha, they were not
teachers but students of what they taught.
I like to share an excerpt from an article
written by Liz Cronkhite mentor for students
of A Course in Miracles at
www.acimmentor.com titled
The Teaching Teacher where she shares;
"In
A Course in Miracles you are told that you are
always teaching, and that you are always teaching
only yourself. What you are teaching yourself is
what you believe that you are. Come from ego and
you teach yourself that you are ego. Come from
Spirit and you teach yourself that you are Spirit -
you are being what the Course calls a "teacher of
God". This is occurring within you every moment.
You never really learn from others; you learn from
the teacher within you that you choose at any given
moment. Read a book, or listen to someone speak,
and you will read and hear what you have chosen to
learn about yourself."
So
if you are not doing the work yourself, you are
more likely to be fooled by teachers who will
reflect back at you your fears. In other words, a
coach that is not grounded in Truth will simply
teach you that you are your ego and will be happy
to assists you in helping you get what you want,
therefore reinforcing the illusion of a physical
world. Not only so, many self-proclaimed spiritual
teachers try to spiritualize the world of illusion
therefore confusing their students even more. These
are the ones involved in teaching how to attract
what you want and get the things you want from this
world by means of spiritual tools. Remember, this
world is all about separation and there is nothing
spiritual about it. How can you possible give
spiritual attributes to something that is not real?
Only God is real, everything else is an illusion.
So if you want Truth, then choose with the Holy
Spirit. You want separation? Then choose with the
ego and be willing to accept the consequences of
choosing anything less than your True Self;
anything less than the Kingdom.
Nick Arandes was part of the
self-help movement for close to 20 years. Published
4 books, produced CDs and DVDs, wrote countless
articles and touched the lives of many people
worldwide
before becoming homeless, broke
and diagnosed with a thyroid tumor. Then something
happened that forever changed his life! A
miraculous turn of events led him to the teachings
of
A Course in Miracles. As a result of
putting the principles of The Course into practice,
and experiencing a powerful inner transformation,
he published
What Happens When You Let
God. To find out more about Nick's work, or
to order your copy of the book, simply log on to:
www.TruthAndMiracles.com