A Genuine Question

[Seiden]

My question is;

If a spiritual book ask you to give it faith (Believe in what it says sometimes literally) in order to get the benefits, Is it Ok to do it so?

 

The reason of my question is that because I was raised in a Super dogmatic  Crhistian - protestant family, Even though I don't live with them anymore (Left my house 2 years ago, I'm 22 now) Still I'm trying to overcome the  "Believe in the lord Jesus or you'll go to hell" or "If you don't have faith you're doomed" kind of mind set.

These 2 years were hellish to take all the dogma from out of my head but with contemplation and meditation (thanks to Leo) I succeeded.

I'm studying A Course In Miracles now and in the Text it says that If you believe your ego mind you're gonna get deluded, So trust in God's will (I know that it means Infinity and not an anthropomorphic figure).

I really want to get the maximum benefits of the Course (I'm in Lesson 73 today) 

But for a few months now, the idea that maybe if I give all my faith to ACIM thats the same thing that my parents did with the bible and then I'll made myself a dogmatic person just like them.

I'm not making ACIM and idol its just that I want to do as it says at least while I'm practicing it.

Then today watching Leo's "All Understanding Is Metaphoric - Part 2" video it says that "I can't take things literally"

This is the reason of my question, can I take it literally if a book like ACIM sometimes ask me to ?

Thank you very much

@Leo Gura

Edit: Sorry if its a bit hard to read, I'm Japanese.

 

Edited October 8, 2018 by Seiden

[Hellspeed]

No. The only passage of the Bible per example in which you can base your faith is: 1 Kings 19:12, talks about the breath and true ''god''.

I've been in your situation until years passed by, now I quitted reading or learning from outside sources what applies for this reality, psychology, spirituality, and metaphysics. I only read things about material skills. There is no better book for self-actualization than your own breath, feelings, and inner being. 

[Seiden]

@Hellspeed Thank you for the relevant opinion, I get what you’re saying.

 

 

[Shin]

Don't believe in anything, be open to everything.

You just have to practice being conscious again and again, and you will stop the identification with your mind at some point.

Books about spirituality are all about making you more conscious by using direct pointers.

At least that's what good books about spirituality does.

The content and techniques of the book is secondary.

Edited October 9, 2018 by Shin

[Seiden]

@Shin Thank you, very helpful advice.

It’s amazing what serious consiousness work can do.

[Nahm]

@Seiden ACIM is giving you practices to do and find out yourself. Faith isn’t in question, direct experience is. 

[Seiden]

@Nahm Thank you for the good clarification. Yes, Only by doing the workbook I’m having glimpses of awakening.

 

[Forestluv]

@Seiden Imagine that I came to visit Japan from the USA. I don’t know much about Japan, so I got a tour book. The tour book has Information about Japanese culture, temples to visit, and basic Japanese language.

When I arrive to Japan, some of the locals are curious about my behavior and travel plans. I show them the tour book. They seem to think there is a lot of good info in the book, yet it’s just one limited perspective. For example, some of the basic Japanese words the book shows are not actually spoken on the streets and markets. Some of the customs the book describes only tell part of the Japanese history. Plus, the book was written by an American who doesn’t speak Japanese. 

I would realize that the tour book has some good info, but it is limited - Japan is much broader and deeper than the book describes. Realizing this, I would want to meet Japanese locals to take me around and show me what Japan is like from their perspective.

[Nahm]

@Seiden That’s awesome to hear. ❤️

[Seiden]

@Serotoninluv Thank you for teaching me in a very easy to understand metaphor.

“The map is not the territory” came to my mind. I see.

[Seiden]

@Nahm Blessings to you

[Aquarius]

Experiment, see what works for you, don't get lost in your head. Try to follow practical advice, something you can try out. If you remain open, nothing and no one can take your openness away. Don't stress about becoming dogmatic. You just won't. And everything changes anyway so you can reverse the belief if you see it is hurting you (just a thought, not necessarily it will hurt you). Listen to your gut instinct.

[Seiden]

@Aquarius Thank you for the encouragement.

Very helpful.

[Leo Gura]

ACIM is not about believing things. It's about doing practices which ground you in direct experience.

The biggest obstacle to realzing God is beliefs about God.

[Seiden]

@Leo Gura Thank you, I will keep basing everything in my direct experience and not stay stuck in details.

Thank you for your channel by the way, your advices changed my life completely.

I found Actualized.org when I was seriously thinking about commiting suicide because of the guilt I was programmed with by the church.

But now I see light and joy in everything I see thanks to following your advices for 2 years.

[Leo Gura]

4 hours ago, Seiden said:

I found Actualized.org when I was seriously thinking about commiting suicide because of the guilt I was programmed with by the church.

Sorry to hear that.

[Seiden]

@Leo Gura Thank you,

but I am actually grateful for having experienced it because it lead me to finding you and my true-self.