Theme for June 2020: Mindfulness for Mavericks:FEATURE #1: “The Highest Attitude of Mind”By Ernest

FEATURE #1: “The Highest Attitude of Mind”

By Ernest Holmes pg 70

This article is from Holmes first book called “The Creative Mind” published in 1919.

Introduction pg 71

Holmes explains in the second paragraph, -“If it awakens within the consciousness of one single individual the realization that the mind of the universe (which is the only mind that there is) is his own mind, that the creative power of his mind is his also, that the manifestation of this mind is within himself, it will not have been written in vain.”

(Q1) Have any of you ever read any books by Holmes? Which one was your first book? Have you ever read “Creative Mind?” Do you think you understand what he is trying to teach us about the one Mind and that Mind is our Mind…? same creativity and yet we are individuated. Do you understand this?

The Highest Attitude of Mind pg 71

Holmes explains and defines this highest attitude of mind as being of perfect calm and having absolute trust in Spirit.

Holmes clarifies, “The one who can with perfect confidence look into the future and with perfect ease of mind rest in the present and who never looks backward but who has learned to be still in his own soul and wait upon the Spirit, he is the one who will the most completely demonstrate the supremacy of spiritual thought over all so-called material resistance.”

Now we as students of SOM (Science of Mind), our intention should be to have a demonstration just as Holmes describes. This is the attitude we must(hope) to have to attain.

(Q2) What do you think about this description Holmes calls “the highest attitude of mind?” Knowing this can you now have a complete trust in the future…with no fear? Are you at peace right now? If not why? Can you live in the present and not fear or regret the past? This is the highest attitude of mind.

Non-Resistance pg 71

Holmes writes, “When we resist, we make a mental image of the thing we are fighting and that tends to create it for us. When we learn to look only at what we want and never at what we do not want, we will no longer resist anything. This is a law Holmes tells us.

You can look at this several ways. Holmes writes, “Resist not evil and it will flee from you.” This idea can also say, “That which you resist, persists. Of course, SOM certainly reflects this belief.

(Q3) SOM promises us that we have the ability to participate in the demonstration of healing and the transformation of conditions: Why is knowing that non-resistance is important? Can it actually cause suffering in its many forms? Is it possible to practice non-resistance (or acceptance)? Impt: Are you able to turn your focus to the level of cause and know that God “has this”?

“You need not try to change the world,” Let it alone; all people are doing the best they can.” He suggests that the only person one needs to save is Oneself.

“Get over the holier-than-thou attitude,” says Holmes. This idea of superiority or thinking one knows better, is common among religious-or spiritually oriented-people.

(Q4) When we look at history, we see activism in the process of change: How does this figure into this equation? Can you be a spiritual activist-care deeply about all beings-and be active at the level of cause? Can you immerse yourself in spiritual practice and prayer for yourself and for others, knowing you are operating at the level of cause for all of us?

Holmes instructs us, “the world is all right, it is not going to Hell. It is on the way to Heaven…A great change is taking place and on the surface the results are as yet a little mixed. But underneath, the power is at work destroying all unlike itself.”

To really understand what Holmes is saying, we must really understand that there is no death, but one Infinite Life in God. This is a lofty view he shares with us.

(Q5) Now carefully ask yourself…can I look at literally any situation in my life today and see what Holmes describes? Can you say, “This situation is in the process of change in which Divine Activity is even now in the expression of Perfection?" Do you know within yourself that there is a release of the body, but there is no death, but only Infinite Life?

Be Happy pg 72

Holmes ask, “How can we hope to make the world see the right way unless we overflow with joy?”

Surely, we would be in joy were we to carry and live by the “highest attitude of mind” as Holmes teaches us. We are reminded that depression is something we see everywhere and may be experiencing ourselves.

To this he also says, “This was alright when we thought everything was all wrong, but now we know ‘all is well with the world', we must get over this depression, which robs us of the power of attraction of the good things of life and enter in.”

Remember we are learning and training ourselves to understand SOM teachings and elevating our thoughts to Truth in order to support this process with a practical application. He asks us, “Find fault with no one and, more than this, find no fault with yourself. Get over the thought of condemning people and things. People and things are all right. Let them alone and enjoy life. Your very atmosphere will cheer and uplift the people who contact you and a new life will enter into them. Overflow….”

(Q6) Now think about it. Holmes has asked us to be joyful. Can you see that his instruction is really asking us to look at being joy as a spiritual responsibility even in the face of life circumstances? Do you know anyone like this? This way of being… having the highest attitude of mind would assist and elevate others and the world?

Live In the Present pg 72

Holmes instructs, "Life is for us today. There will be no changing tomorrow unless we do the changing today.” He charges us to live today as we wish tomorrow to be and to be today who we wish to be tomorrow.

(Q7) This is living in the now or in today. How do you explain that and could you to a friend or person who is oriented toward the future?

Excitement, energy, and exuberant joy are the expectations of one who lives fully, today. Holmes describes, “The soul that learns to live in the great gladness of today will never weary of life but will find that he is living in an eternal here and now. Now, all good is his. Now, all life truth and love are his. Now, he has entered in and the good things of life are his today. No more waiting, no more longing, no more weary roads to travel. He has arrived. The goal is won and peace has come at last. Today.”

(Q8) What do you love to do? What makes you happy? Do you experience this all the time or sometimes? This may seem trivial but it is important that you recognize what makes you feel good. When you recognize them, know it and take great value to it. Also be in appreciation of all the many things you get to experience that feels good and makes you happy. More GOOD!

See the Good in All Things pg 73

The key point is given to us by Holmes: “Learn to see God in all manifestation, in all people, through all events.” He tells us that the awakened soul sees the world differently: “He sees in all things the Divine Mind at work, molding out into expression what it feels itself to be of life, of color, of form and beauty.”

(Q9) Do you see as Holmes is asking us to see life as? Do the most beautiful sights seem of God, to you…. the ugliest sights, too? Can you see the perfection of God in situations where God seems absent?

Holmes submits, “When we learn to convert human passion into Divine love, to transmute the lower into the higher, we shall have with us a power of attraction against which nothing can stand.”

Holmes says it is ours to learn to see…to see God in all and to see the Divine qualities in all. “…See God in everything you look upon, the God of everywhere.”

Expanding Our Thought pg74

Holmes' suggestion is to use our thought, but he asks us to expand our thought, knowing that the law of life is growth-it is expansion. And of course, he reminds us that when we do a new thing, we need a new thought and a bigger thought. We must know infinite possibility-particularly in the terms of the fulfillment of our dreams.

Holmes also teaches, “Get over the old idea of limitation. Overcome all precedents and set yourself in the new order of things.”

(Q10) Ok, let’s look at what you are thinking and how your life is going. Do you see unlimited possibility for yourself? Do you have limits because of …

1. Age

2. Resources

3. Knowledge

4. Personal history

5. Looks

6. ………

You see where I am going with this. You are the one that defines you and your thoughts will be the one that defines you. YOU! Let’s discuss you and your thoughts of defining YOU.

Holmes charges us, “God has created you a glorious future. Dare to fling out into mind the greater assurances.” Holmes asks us to see the huge possibility and know the truth of it!

This was a terrific read wasn’t it? Next week our feature we will read and talk about is “Spirituality, Wellness and Networks in your brain by Mark Waldman. He writes a column each month in the SOM magazine, too. Enjoy your time with your spiritual self. Feed it like you feed your body. See you on our new day on Tuesday the 9th at 6:00 p.m.

Love, Light, and Laughter,

Rev Lyssa