Substance Abuse

Most of us are well aware, either personally or professionally, of the unfortunate type of substance abuse that is so prevalent in our current world. This article has nothing to do with that issue, but the title is still appropriate. The Substance to which the title refers is Consciousness. It (aka God) is the foundation of our Being. Without Substance we literally could not be. The abuse of Consciousness occurs every time we use God’s name in vain, or benefit from God’s goodness without expressing our gratitude. Substance is our very breath; every inhalation and exhalation is a gift. I’m aware that this may be a seemingly impossible case to build in a short article; but I’m up to the challenge. So, let’s begin….

The cropped photo attached to this article is from a book by Neville Goddard. He was a modern-day mystic (born in the Barbados) who lectured widely throughout the United States in the early to middle twentieth century. Some of his other books include The Power of Awareness, Faith is Your Fortune, and Feeling Is The Secret. That “Consciousness is the Only Reality” will be easier to comprehend if we answer the following questions: “Have you ever had an experience in the absence of Consciousness? Could such be possible? Could you ever know a sensation, image, feeling, thought, or object without Consciousness? No, of course we couldn’t. Here, we at least acknowledge that consciousness is integral to our life.

To someone unfamiliar with the Law of Attraction, the claims that “what we think about, we bring about” may seem patently absurd. We’ve been conditioned to believe that we are separate selves and the physical doers of actions. We’ve also assumed (due to long-standing ignorance) that events happen by chance. All that it takes to debunk this myth is to take a look at nature. How often does spring follow winter? Occasionally…or always? What type of plant might we expect to manifest if we planted a corn seed? A sunflower…or a corn plant? What of the tides? Do they only ebb…or do they also flow? As has been expressed many times, we live in an orderly Cosmos (not chaos) that functions by spiritual law.

The comedian Steve Harvey made a statement that adds credence to this article. From what I know of Mr. Harvey, he endured some very challenging years before becoming a successful comedian and television host. During an audience warm-up prior to the taping of one of his television shows, he made the following (paraphrased) statement: “You don’t get yourself up in the morning; God gets you up!” Most persons would proclaim, “Baloney, I get myself up! What if, however, our assumption that there is a little “i” in the head is erroneous? What if we realized, contrary to common belief, that we do not have volition as persons? To awaken to our true Self is to awaken to power.

That which is termed “reality” by the majority of persons is actually the waking state. Although similar to the dream state, it is more clearly defined and has a continual plot. Beings who’ve deeply investigated their essential nature are aware that they are not the doers of our actions. This is echoed in books such as Ramakrishna on Non-Doership by Gautam Sachdeva. Mind is the power that moves our bodies, despite the persistent illusion that we move ourselves. Such is directly states in John 14:10, through the following words attributed to Jesus:

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?

The words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself; but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.

John 14:10

Does that help to build the case that we are not the doers? Consciousness (God) is the Doer. Let’s add a little more evidence through another verse; this time from Acts 17:28:

“For in him we live, and move, and have our being.”

Acts 17:28

When we realize that Consciousness is the only reality, the quality of life we experience can change dramatically. Such is dependent on our level of understanding and degree of faith. If we dream our desire with feeling, God can make it apparently real. That’s the deal. That’s also the reason that the Bible contains verses that relate this understanding, such as the following from Matthew 17:20: “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

You’re not the doers, folks; neither am I. This article appears in Consciousness because Spirit (what I truly Am) desired to share an inspirational article that had the potential to elevate your life. I know that it definitely feels as though we’re the doers; but that’s the very nature of dreams–to feel real. You know, like the ones in which you wake up in a sweat? For us to be the doers, there would have to be a “someone” within the body-mind, and such is not the case. Science has deemed the search for that little rascal (the ego) as “the hard problem of consciousness.” Science will never find it because it’s a fictional character. God (Consciousness) is the only Knower. Our true Self is Spirit, dreaming a human life. This is the truth that lies beneath Henry Ford’s famous quote: “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” Mr. Ford realized that through God all things are truly possible.

An effective way to attract the good that we seek, is to stop the Substance abuse by giving thanks to God each and every day…even for the supposedly little things. Gratitude is the polar opposite to ingratitude; and according to spiritual law, it must attract circumstances that are in harmony with it. Just ask Mr. Harvey. Note: For those who are curious to learn more about the mysterious nature of this “reality,” press here for a link to a twenty-minute presentation about quantum physics.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2021 – R. Arthur Russell

P.S. Please share this article if you enjoyed it. If you’d like to view my latest book (This Taste of Flesh and Bones–released September 8, 2020), press here. May it help you in your spiritual journey. 

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

https://think2wice.me/2021/04/08/substance-abuse/