July 2020 FEATURE #1: Freedom: A Study Course”By Ernest Holmes pg 70

FEATURE #1: Freedom: A Study Course”

By Ernest Holmes pg 70

The first week in each month is devoted to Ernest Holmes teachings. This feature is from “The Extension Study course in the Science of Mind.” It is a 4 volume study and a must have for any student of SOM teachings. The 1938 text page numbers correspond with the articles in the 4 volumes.

Holmes begins, “We might think it strange if someone were to tell us that everything is ours for the asking or taking, that even bondage is the way we are using freedom. And yet if this were not true, we could never be free.

(Q1) For beginners, this is strange I am sure but if you could think about it, what is he saying to us? Do you feel in bondage now? If yes, look at how you are thinking to create this feeling because that is exactly what you are doing. Now that you understand this, what should you always remember when you start thinking this way? What would a new principle or affirmation could you remember, say, and believe? Have you ever had the experience of using your thought to find freedom?

Holmes is clear that we must never pretend that conditions are not unsatisfactory if we are experiencing them as unsatisfactory. We can, however change conditions through the affirmation of spiritual truth and the realization of right conditions by means of this affirmation.

The principle is One Power, One Presence and One Law. Holmes assures us that the realization of this is our assurance. He teaches, "Keep up your practice and you will so completely prove this Principle and your ability to use It that there will never again be a question in your mind as to whether you can change bondage into freedom, fear into faith, sorrow into happiness and lack into abundance.”

(Q2) If you are not at a place of certainty, then you know what you to need to start doing. Do you know that you can transform any unwanted condition? If you didn’t, this is the key of transformation you can use instead of being a victim, challenged, and bound.

Freedom versus Bondage

Holmes begins to explain, “Bondage is an experience. It is not a reality of itself any more than the drawing of a small circle on a blackboard denies the possibility of a larger one. …As an absolute reality, it has no existence. It is, however, a human experience and an individual experience.”

The crux of this matter is, as Holmes instructs, “Until we realize that we have created our own bondage, we shall not understand how we can be made free.”

(Q3) How do you understand bondage as an experience, as opposed to a reality? Would you be able to explain this? Understanding now that we experience unsatisfactory or unwanted results just by your beliefs and thoughts, can you now see the role of your thought and beliefs have created your experience? Do any of you have a question about that?

Holmes amazes us to use care in speaking to others about the unreality of their difficulties. His suggestion as Jesus also did, is to be sure that we ourselves have become spiritually able to free ourselves and another from bondage before we speak of this.

(Q4) Have you been on the receiving end of someone making the mistake of pointing out either the unreality of your difficulty or suggesting that you are the cause of it? Have you accidentally or unknowingly done this with others? SO: Here is the gold…. Your own experience of bondage is not the result of the conditions you see, but of the consciousness behind it?

Holmes clarifies, “Our glossary defines reality as the truth about anything (pg 624), and bondage is the result of an ignorance of Reality. Bondage is the exact opposite of Reality. If we consider that we are living in a spiritual universe governed by mental laws, the way to free ourselves from bondage must be to recognize Reality.”

Holmes makes 3 points with regard to realization. First, he asserts, “This realization is of our oneness with God. It is a sense that for every apparent wrong there is an opposite right.” Second, he informs us, “The act of realization proves that wherever good is recognized, it instantly appears, for good is permanent while evil is temporary.” His third point states, “…Since we comprehend the Infinite only to the degree that It expresses through us, we pass from one degree of bondage to a lesser degree as our sense of Reality increases.”

(Q5) Are you able to sense your oneness with God? Are you able to quickly adjust your thought to awareness of the opposite right when a wrong appears to you? In other words, do you see good quickly when the opposite of good fills your thought? Do you see your spiritual growth and freedom progressing because of your new reality?

Spiritual mind healing is based on the principle that continually evolving life takes new forms as realization grows. Focusing upon the good, new form objectifies or out-pictures with increasing harmony. Spiritual mind healing and meditations are designed to assist one in greater comprehension and therefor, greater realization.

(Q6) Now that you are aware of how you create your life, are you now aware of the evolution of good in your life (or what you label bad), too and that you are not stuck in your circumstances. If you do have difficulty maintaining your focus on the GOOD, would you consider reaching out to a Practitioner or CSL minister? Did you know that using treatment, meditations, and affirmations suffuse your consciousness with GOOD?

Thy Strength is Sufficient (pg 542)

O Spirit of man and God within me, Thy Power is great, and

Thy Knowledge goes beyond the range of human experience.

Thy Wisdom excels that of all else, and beside Thee there is none other.

In Thy Strength do I daily walk and live;

In Thy Presence do I always rest in peace and joy.

Spirit within me and without, Powerful thou art, and Great;

Wonderful is thy Might and Complete is Thy understanding.

I let Thy Mighty Strength flow through me,

And out into all the paths of my human endeavors.

Life from within expresses through me.

Holmes instructs us in the use of this beautiful meditation: “Say this over and over to yourself. Try to realize its meaning. See if you do not gradually sense a new realization of the Divine Presence and out of the Spiritual Power generated in this realization, speak your word directly for the physical healing of someone whom you seek to help or for some condition you wish to benefit. Have implicit trust and confidence in the power of your word and you will be certain to be rewarded.”

(Q7) When Holmes asks us to repeat these words over and over, it is to suffuse your consciousness with this truth: why do you think so many repetitions are required? Have you accepted the process of re-educating or re-programming your subconscious mind? How many repetitions are required before you know and they become your own?

Fear is another area with which people struggle. Holmes address’s this in the meditation, “As Love Enters, Fear Departs.” (pg 528). Holmes offers a way of using the meditation words: “Let the mind dwell on the idea of love and protection until finally the images of fear dissipate.”

(Q8) Can any of you just Go to a place of Love within your consciousness in order to raise your frequency? Do you transform yourself reading words that feel good to you?

Holmes’ instruction is clear and consistent: “Speak your word directly, believing. When you are giving treatment (powerful affirmative prayer), you must believe that what you say is true.”

The Great Awakening (pg 487)

In the spirit of our theme this month of unchained spirituality, we are reminded that is it our responsibility to free ourselves by waking to the truth. Holmes asks us, “What is it that we are to know?” “That there is but One Power and but One Presence, One Perfect Law, One Divine Destiny, and, as Jesus said, ‘If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

To wake to the Truth is to liberate ourselves, spiritually. In Holmes’ words, “To abide in the Truth means to trust, to have faith and confidence, to believe and, whenever any doubt arises, to reaffirm this Divine assurance.”

(Q9) I want you to think about your level of trust now that you know the truth we are speaking of in the above context. This is the time to train your mind. In school we were told a trained mind it 1 million times more powerful than an untrained one. If you want real results, you will start training your mind on the truth and have faith…. solid faith. We all have doubt. That is what the judgment of the past is. Now you realize that anything you judge can be changed for good and you have the power to do it. Take for instance:

“God, I reacted this way and I believed what was happening was bad. Now I know the truth (da da da) and I let that go and know you are working in my life for good (da da da) and I am excited about it. Thank you Spirit…Ect.

You see the difference you just did with the negation of the first belief and put a more powerful and good pattern of thought (belief) in.

To abide in the Truth is to trust absolutely and unchanging until you see it appear. You must know your unity with God and live in harmony. “This Law is foolproof. The Universe is foolproof. We can count on the Law, absolutely.”

(Q10) Reading the above, you now know the Law (God) is always and completely dependable. Do you now see the second step is your trust? Please realize that as you start developing this trust, you may be confronted. This happens. What you do with this is important. First, you are responsible for your Divine Unity with Spirit. Second, recognize when fear or doubt sets in… change the thought. Third, be aware of what you are creating and how you can transform it. Forth, Watch Spirit do what Spirit can only do and so much greater and be grateful for it when you see it… when you are grateful, more comes to you. If you don’t see it, be grateful. Fifth, if you get tired of waiting, let it go knowing it is all in Divine Timing whatever that looks like. This gives you another platform to begin a new start.

Let us all live-in complete trust and have an unchained spirituality! Freedom is only a thought away.

Next week we will read for our 2nd feature “Let us Walk With Each Other” on page 78. I look forward to seeing you next Tuesday on the7th at 6.

Love, Light, and Laughter;

Rev Lyssa