05-05-2015, 01:31 AM
(This post was last modified: 05-05-2015, 01:32 AM by Bring4th_Austin.)
Trying to figure out how to contribute to discussion, I realized just how messy this could look. I'll do my best to organize things within my posts, and I will address things in order of topics rather than posters. I know it's not easy or intuitive, but if you guys are able, splitting posts up into different quotes would make things easier - you can do this the old fashioned way by clicking on the "View Source" button (far right on the toolbar in the reply box) and manually copying and pasting and using [quote*][/quote*] tags (without the *). But, the methods you guys are using now work too.
Anyways -
A note about the study group angle of this investigation:
Yeah, it would be a very difficult task to create a study group in the same way that a group might study an academic textbook. It's obvious to me that a study group would have to recognize this aspect of personal interpretation and honor it within the studies. Though there are some boundaries that can be drawn. While there may not be any one correct interpretation of Ra's words, there are many incorrect interpretations (such as, "in order to activate green ray, one must eat an abundant amount of ice cream"...actually, that one might be true), and some of Ra's statements can be weighed against each other to come to a more crystallized understanding.
I do appreciate everyone's feedback, because I would otherwise be wielding just my own fallible thoughts in creating this. This is, in a way, dipping a toe into the study group dynamic, though my intention is to do it live over Skype. The feedback I get here on the forums will inform the set up and curriculum. I understand that as I continue on into all 106 sessions, some steam may be lost with community feedback, but every little bit is helpful in shedding light on different perspectives that I can convey within the study group.
For time's sake, I'll probably not reply to each and every discussion point. I'm not necessarily seeking objective answers to the questions I pose, nor searching for debate, but rather probing for various perspectives and getting my own wheels turning. I will likely not work on a single session exclusively, so I may continue on into later sessions and then return for discussion in previous sessions.
I'm thinking, at this point, that I'd like to have a significant chunk of a "beta test" study group curriculum designed before I launch it, so hopefully once I get through sessions 30-40 I'll go live with the study group.
I hadn't thought about that aspect too. That's quite a significant detail that makes this session unique. There was a different person present named Leonard, who also sat in on another Ra session later in the contact. His own vibration was apparently compatible with the group's to the extent that it allowed Ra to come through, but he didn't contribute to the dynamic like Jim did. Good point!
It's interesting how this is one of the most quoted passages from the material, and yet it inspires such varying thoughts when we start digging deeper on individual levels. I think that maybe digging for Ra's implied meaning within rhetorical statements probably isn't the best way to utilize this passage. What each of you said makes sense to me on some level or another. Thinking about the questions, I was confused for the same reasons isis was confused. But it seems these questions are intended to make us think, not reach for objective or final implications.
There is something to be said about the fact that thoughts can be consciously or unconsciously loving or unloving. And there is also something to be said about our awareness of what it means for something to contain love. Perhaps Ra wanted us to think about which of our thoughts were imbued with our awareness of love in the moment, and which thoughts were missing this awareness?
Anyways -
A note about the study group angle of this investigation:
(05-01-2015, 08:30 AM)Jeremy Wrote: Isn't it fascinating that we all have a vastly different interpretation of just the first session? Who knows how much each other self interprets the rest of the material. This is what's is remarkable about the material but also how difficult a study group will be. It speaks to each seeker in such a personal way, it's difficult to find just one way to understand it.
Yeah, it would be a very difficult task to create a study group in the same way that a group might study an academic textbook. It's obvious to me that a study group would have to recognize this aspect of personal interpretation and honor it within the studies. Though there are some boundaries that can be drawn. While there may not be any one correct interpretation of Ra's words, there are many incorrect interpretations (such as, "in order to activate green ray, one must eat an abundant amount of ice cream"...actually, that one might be true), and some of Ra's statements can be weighed against each other to come to a more crystallized understanding.
I do appreciate everyone's feedback, because I would otherwise be wielding just my own fallible thoughts in creating this. This is, in a way, dipping a toe into the study group dynamic, though my intention is to do it live over Skype. The feedback I get here on the forums will inform the set up and curriculum. I understand that as I continue on into all 106 sessions, some steam may be lost with community feedback, but every little bit is helpful in shedding light on different perspectives that I can convey within the study group.
For time's sake, I'll probably not reply to each and every discussion point. I'm not necessarily seeking objective answers to the questions I pose, nor searching for debate, but rather probing for various perspectives and getting my own wheels turning. I will likely not work on a single session exclusively, so I may continue on into later sessions and then return for discussion in previous sessions.
I'm thinking, at this point, that I'd like to have a significant chunk of a "beta test" study group curriculum designed before I launch it, so hopefully once I get through sessions 30-40 I'll go live with the study group.
Nicholas Wrote:I suspect the most significant detail was that Jim was absent from this session doing grocery shopping.
I hadn't thought about that aspect too. That's quite a significant detail that makes this session unique. There was a different person present named Leonard, who also sat in on another Ra session later in the contact. His own vibration was apparently compatible with the group's to the extent that it allowed Ra to come through, but he didn't contribute to the dynamic like Jim did. Good point!
Quote:What is it, my friends, to take thought? Took you then thought today? What thoughts did you think today? What thoughts were part of the original thought today? In how many of your thoughts did the creation abide? Was love contained? And was service freely given?
Jeremy Wrote:I don't think that love is in all things (thought or said) until the total unity has been actualized. What I mean is that with the veil in place, such actualization of said unity is incredibly difficult thus the ability to think and act upon the Great Original Thought isn't necessarily happening at all times. To have love in all thoughts and actions is the ultimate goal and that which we strive for but to say its automatic would be a miscalculation in my opinion.
Nicholas Wrote:One of my favourite House music tunes has a lyric that states "...Purify your mind..." ( here (3.03 mins)), so my interpretation is thoughts that are absent of moral judgement.
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A simplified version of how things are would be to say something like "God is love". Therefore love is in all things. However we can choose to be loving or unloving while at the same time, be made of love irrespective of whether we are reflecting it.
isis Wrote:Ra states that The Confederation has only one important statement & it's that everything is part of the one original thought...It confused me that after stating that they went on to ask, "What thoughts were part of the original thought today?" but I don't think they meant to imply that some thoughts are not a part of the original thought bc that would contradict what they consider to be their only important statement.
Jade Wrote:I think the original thought is love. I think that what Ra is trying to emphasize is the direct results our thoughts have on our reality. Society doesn't offer us this information, humans' biggest problem is letting others tell them what to do/how to think.
It's interesting how this is one of the most quoted passages from the material, and yet it inspires such varying thoughts when we start digging deeper on individual levels. I think that maybe digging for Ra's implied meaning within rhetorical statements probably isn't the best way to utilize this passage. What each of you said makes sense to me on some level or another. Thinking about the questions, I was confused for the same reasons isis was confused. But it seems these questions are intended to make us think, not reach for objective or final implications.
There is something to be said about the fact that thoughts can be consciously or unconsciously loving or unloving. And there is also something to be said about our awareness of what it means for something to contain love. Perhaps Ra wanted us to think about which of our thoughts were imbued with our awareness of love in the moment, and which thoughts were missing this awareness?
_____________________________
The only frontier that has ever existed is the self.
The only frontier that has ever existed is the self.