Practical Mysticism: The Infinite Way

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Practical Mysticism 10: Dominion Over the World of Images Through Grace

Dominion Operating System: Grace

This post is part of a three-part series on the topic of dominion. I think it is safe to say that we all want to experience a sense of power and to have dominion over our experience. The posts in this three-part series are geared toward offering what I humorously call an operating system update named DOS Dominion Operating System. This operating system is meant to replace the outdated operating system that had been programmed into our minds by those who did not have a proper understanding of metaphysical truths. The outdated operating system which has heretofore dominated our thinking and behavior has proven to be a faulty and unreliable means of dominion over our experience. The main features of this outdated operating system were addressed in the previous posts: Practical Mysticism 8: Dominion Over the World of Images Part 1, and Practical Mysticism 9: Dominion Over the World of Images Part 2 Releasing Projections. If you haven’t already read those posts, or listened to them on my Video page or on YouTube, I recommend that you do so before proceeding with this post. Some key foundational ideas were set forth in those previous posts and this present post is meant to build on those.

In the previous posts, we focused on the three main strategies for dominion offered by the outdated operating system:

Outside seeking
Fixing effects
Employing defenses

This is helpful because we need to know what beliefs, behaviors and strategies to let go of in order to free our mind, to live as and from our True Nature, and to experience True Dominion.

In Part 2 of this three part series, we discussed one aspect of the Dominion Operating System update: identifying oneself and others as Infinite Spirit through understanding and releasing projections. In this post, we will look in more detail at what else the Dominion Operating System upgrade entails.

I’d like to start out by saying that the Dominion Operating System is synonymous with the Grace Operating System. Operating from Grace gives rise to effortless, harmonious, inspiring experience. In a state of Grace the mind is still, and Joy, Gratitude, and Generosity shine forth from within. All bodily needs are met, the crooked places are made straight, and Life is a flowing ever-present-moment experience. The state of Grace is attained through right identification of Self as Spirit, and the releasing of all erroneous beliefs, concepts and assumptions. Mystical practice is a two-sided coin of choosing the True and releasing the false.

In order to fully experience a state of Grace, this choosing and releasing must be uncompromising. In the final analysis, there can be no compromise with Truth.

In order to attain Dominion over the world of images, or to live from a state of Grace, one must have proper understanding of the nature of Self, the nature of God or Source, and the nature of the world/mind. Furthermore, Dominion over the world of images results from Dominion over the dualistic mind.

Outdated operating system erroneous beliefs about self, Source, mind, world:

Erroneous beliefs and assumptions about the world

The outdated operating system strategies for dominion are based on erroneous beliefs about the world. The outdated operating system assumes that the world, or universe, has its own objective existence apart from mind. It assumes further that this objective world is made of solid matter, and that it has no relationship to the self. In other words, the outdated operating system purports an objectively existing self of matter and an objectively existing world of matter in subject-object relationship with each other. This is an erroneous and mistaken assumption.

Erroneous beliefs and assumptions about the self and the mind

The outdated operating system also holds erroneous beliefs about the true nature of the self, purporting identity as a combination of the body, thoughts and beliefs, personality, and outside associations such as “net worth,” skills, culture, etc. So it could be said that the basic structure of the false identity which the outdated operating system is based on is body/mind/personality/associations. Furthermore, this mind, or these thoughts and beliefs, are dualistic. In other words, this is a mind of belief in opposites, a polarized mind. So more accurately, it could be said that the basic structure of false identity which the outdated operating system is based on is body/dualistic mind/personality/associations. Since all personality traits and associations fall on the spectrum of opposites, the core false identity could be further reduced to body/dualistic mind. So the body/dualistic mind identity is really just an assumed concept of the self. Furthermore, all these components of the fabricated self-concept share the trait of changeability, which contrasts completely with the Changelessness of our True Self. Bodies change, thoughts and beliefs change, personalities change, and associations change. It could be said that this basic characteristic of changeability is what makes this self-concept identity false.

It’s important to note here that the false dualistic mind is the home of all beliefs, therefore all beliefs are false. All beliefs arise from the core belief in opposites; the belief that Source/Life/Truth can have an opposite. The outdated operating system is based on the erroneous belief that this dualistic, human mind is not only part of our true identity, but that this dualistic mind is what we should rely on for dominion strategies. This outdated operating system is attempting to solve problems by relying on the problem! The dualistic mind is the problem! Actually, it’s not a problem in and of itself, but when it is worshipped as a “god,” and relied upon for guidance and sustenance, and invested with power and truth, that is a problem. Reliance on the dualistic mind for dominion is the only real problem. It is a hopelessly circular process. It is a tragically misplaced faith.

Erroneous beliefs and assumptions about Source/God

The outdated operating system is not only based on erroneous beliefs about the self, the mind, and the world, but it also misses the mark on the true nature of Source, which is commonly known as God. The outdated operating system:

1. Posits the self in subject-object relationship to Source/God—ie me here, God out there somewhere; I am separate from Source

2. Attributes the qualities of the dualistic mind to Source/God—ie God is Love and God punishes; God is both merciful and wrathful, etc.

3. Leaves Source/God out of the picture entirely as in atheism.

The above beliefs and assumptions about self, Source, mind and world comprise the erroneous basis of the outdated operating system which results in unreliable means for dominion over experience.

The truly reliable means of Dominion is summed up in the following quote from A Course in Miracles:

Spirit is in a state of grace forever.

Your reality is only spirit.

Therefore you are in a state of grace forever.

—ACIM, T-1.III.5:4-6

Let’s break this summary down to the foundational understandings that are necessary for experiencing Grace and Dominion:

Foundations of updated Dominion Operating System/Grace Operating System:

Let’s start out by understanding that the triangle metaphor represents the universal, shared mind which is divided in two ways. The top of the triangle is divided from the bottom of the triangle, and the bottom of the triangle itself is divided into opposing corners. The top of the triangle represents the True mind; the mind that is in connection with Source, and the bottom of the triangle represents the dualistic mind which is the home of the belief in opposites. If we recall from previous posts that the seeming world of matter is actually all mind and only mind, it is this dualistic mind that “creates” the world of images. All the opposites we encounter in the world are mental outpicturings of the belief in the pairs of opposites. Even what seems to be so real and fundamental to our universe—namely time and space—are simply mental projections of the concept of opposites: up/down, here/there, past/future, now/later. Everything in the false world, ie the dualistic mental world, is a representation of the pairs of opposites. And what passes for life in the false world is basically slavery to opposites. In attempting to have dominion over their experience, human beings are in a no-escape cycle of constantly trying to swing the pendulum back to good from bad, back to health from sickness, back to full from empty, back to clean from dirty, and on and on and on.

This dualistic fabric of the false mental world is the great trickster, the maya, the illusion. It is a veil of illusion which we perceive in place of the Invisible Infinite Universe. This dualistic world of images becomes the hamster wheel, the matrix, and the prison guard of humanity if it’s given credence and power through belief. Humanity looks out at this illusory mental veil and accepts this limited five sense picture as reality. Furthermore, it draws conclusions based on this veil of opposites, and then attempts to master life using these erroneous conclusions for guidance. Any power that these mental images seem to have is given to them only by your belief. These dualistic mental images have no intrinsic power. They constitute a flimsy, powerless mental veil over the invisible Infinite Universe of Spirit. In contrast to the Changeless Oneness of Spirit, these images are ephemeral and dualistic and thus false. Only that which is Eternal and Infinite is True.

The True Mind, or True Self, is the unconditioned, infinite, whole mind which is beyond the pairs of opposites. This Mind/Self is the “substance” of our True invisible nature, the True invisible nature of Source, and the True invisible nature of the Spiritual Universe. Therefore this mind is One with no opposite. This Mind is beyond rational or dualistic thought and is eternal, ever-present, changeless, and transcendently wise. This Spiritual wisdom knows how to meet needs, ie how to outpicture in the world of images as needs met, without harm to anyone. This Mind knows how to benignly serve the whole with outcomes that are win-win for all. This Mind/Self is the only True Power, and this Mind is accessed through intuition, inspiration, and inner knowing.

So in order to be set free and to experience a state of Grace we must:

see beyond the veil of images to the underlying “code,” ie the dualistic, binary concept of opposites which forms the images,

withdraw all credence and power from the images and their underlying concepts,

and put all our trust in the only True Power, the Invisible Infinite Nature of our True Self and Source.

Only then we are moving towards True Dominion over the world of images.

In order to further integrate the foundational understandings that are necessary for experiencing Grace and Dominion, let’s contrast the erroneous beliefs about the nature of Self, Source, and world/mind that were given above with the Truth about the nature of Self, Source, and world/mind:

Updated Dominion Operating System understandings about Self, Source, mind, world:

Nature of world/dualistic mind (false)

As already stated, the so-called world is actually mind. More specifically, it is the outpicturing of the dualistic mind. The world is not solid matter but is a veil of mental images whose source is the concept of opposites. The foundational split into conceived polarity is the idea of separation; that there could be something outside of or other than Infinity/Oneness, thereby “creating” a primary duality, leading to the belief that Whole Complete Immortal Oneness could have an opposite in death, lack, changeability, and limitation. This foundational judgment that Truth could have an opposite forms the basis of all opposites. These opposites are then “projected” as a five-sense world of opposites. The five-sense images of opposites have no objective existence apart from the dualistic mind, but are more akin to the fabric of a dream. Furthermore, because these images are transitory and dualistic they are categorized as false. The finite, dualistic, changeable mind which produced them is also false. The false dualistic mind/world has no intrinsic power and need not be given any credence, and certainly should not be feared.

Nature of Source/God & Universe (True)

The True Nature of Source/God is Invisible, Infinite, Self-Sustaining, Eternal, Whole, Changeless, Ever-present, Spirit. The True Nature of the Universe is Invisible, Infinite, Self-Sustaining, Eternal, Whole, Changeless, Ever-present Spirit. Source/God and It’s Universe are One. Spirit begets Spirit, like begets like. Note that the use of the terms “Universe” and “world” are contrasted and not equated in this presentation. Being Eternal, Whole, and One, Source and It’s Universe are categorized as True.

Nature of Self (True)

Like Source and It’s Universe, the Nature of Self is Invisible, Infinite, Self-Sustaining, Eternal, Whole, Changeless, Ever-present, Spirit. Spirit begets Spirit, like begets like.

I and my Father are One. I am made in the likeness of Source. The nature of Self being Eternal, Whole, and One, It is categorized as True.

The terms Self, True Self, True Nature, True Mind and Spirit are used interchangeably in this presentation. The word “self” seems to conjure up the idea of something tangible and specific, so it could be helpful to identify oneself as Mind or Spirit, which tends to have a feeling of abstraction. While our True Nature is beyond all words, ideas, and concepts, stepping stone ideas about identity could be helpful.

The key to the Dominion Operating System is to “reside” at the level of the True Mind, which is the gateway to re-Union with Source. This implies and includes withdrawing “residence” from the false mind. For full efficacy, you can’t have a foot in both camps. What does it really mean to withdraw from living at the level of the false, dualistic mind? What does this really entail?

At its most uncompromising extent, withdrawing from operating at the level of the false mind means withdrawing all trust in its in its beliefs and concepts, and in its

ways, means and “laws.” This means all beliefs and judgments are dropped since all beliefs and judgments reside on the spectrum of opposites. This means that all erroneous strategies and cause-and-effect relationships are dropped. This means that the concept of “getting” is dropped. In effect, this false mind is no longer given any credence or power, nor is ratiocination nor logical or linear thinking used to solve problems. The circular hamster wheel ride of constantly working to swing the pendulum of opposites back to the “good” side is dropped. In other words all false assumptions and all strategies based on false assumptions are dropped! Then the mind is still.

Now, what I’ve described is more like the end of the journey; the final resting place of Spiritual Enlightenment. Mostly this letting go of the false happens gradually. Once the proper understanding is there, then the application begins and usually there is a lot of wavering back and forth between the two levels of mind. The reason this transition to living fully from the True Mind usually takes so long is due to fear of the unknown. Living from the True Mind is unknown and we tend to cling to the known because it feels very scary to let go of everything we’ve ever been taught, everything we’ve ever believed in, every strategy we’ve ever employed. This journey to Freedom, Grace, and Dominion requires a lot of trust…in Spirit. This journey to living as and from your True Nature is really a journey of letting go rather than attaining. Your True Mind/Self/Nature “IS”—-it doesn’t have to be attained. But the reliance on the false mind and all of its false assumptions about the world, self, and Source must be let go, revealing the ever-present Free Self.

Finally, if we recall the three main strategies for dominion set forth by the outdated operating system that were detailed in previous posts, we can conclude that the Dominion Operating System upgrade must have its counterparts to these obsolete strategies that were based on erroneous assumptions.

Outdated operating system:

Outside seeking
Fixing effects
Employing defenses

Dominion Operating System:

Seeking (and finding) within
Living from Cause (beyond opposites)
Living defenselessly

With the Dominion Operating System, rather than attempting to have dominion over experience by seeking outside ourselves, we seek and find our Infinite, Whole, Complete, Self-Sustaining True Self within, and it is in this True Self—created in the likeness of our Infinite Source—that we put all our dependence and trust.

With the Dominion Operating System, rather than attempting to have dominion over experience by fixing effects, we live from Cause with a capital “C,” which is our own True Infinite Self, which is reflected in the effects of experiences as inner guidance and inspiration, and as all needs met.

With the Dominion Operating System, rather than attempting to have dominion over experience by employing defenses, we live defenselessly. We withdraw all defensive behaviors—which actually cause the very thing we’re defending against—and replace those defensive behaviors with complete dependence on, and trust in, our Infinite, Whole, Self-Sustaining True Self.

I’d like to end with a quote which I feel is wonderfully relevant. It’s a quote by Joel Goldsmith, revelator of the Infinite Way teachings, and this excerpt is from the collection of letters called Man Was Not Born to Cry:

“Acquiring some knowledge of truth is the raft on which we travel to “My kingdom” where all receive freedom, peace, and immortality. There is a story from the Chinese to the effect that when a person travels and comes to a deep stream, he builds a raft and crosses the stream on it, but once he is on land again he drops the raft and leaves it behind lest it become a burden to him. So do we use the letter of truth as a raft to carry us across the river of our ignorance. Then, upon reaching “My kingdom,” we drop the letter of truth and clothe ourselves with the Spirit, thus attaining freedom.”

And so, in these posts, we have used the raft of the letter of Truth—the principles and practices of Practical Mysticism—to carry us across the river of ignorance to the Kingdom of Freedom and Dominion; the Kingdom of Grace.

If you’d like one-to-one assistance with the D.O.S. Dominion Operating System upgrade, please reach out to me using the contact form on the left sidebar. May the Peace, Joy, Freedom, and Inspiration of Grace be your ever-present experience.

The audio presentation of this blog post, including images and diagrams, can be found below and on the Practical Mysticism YouTube channel:

Practical Mysticism 6: Understanding, Acceptance, Application—Part 1 Focus on Application

Hi there, and welcome once again to the Practical Mysticism blog. In the previous post in this series—Practical Mysticism 5, Understanding, Acceptance, Application—it was suggested that there are three components to spiritual awakening on the path of mysticism. In post number 5, the component of “understanding” was the focus. If you haven’t already read post number 5 (or watched the audio presentation on YouTube), or if you’re in need of a refresher, I would suggest that first you either read the previous post or watch the video before proceeding on with the current post. The video version is embedded in the post which can be found in the May 2021 archives, labeled Practical Mysticism 5.

The second component mentioned was “acceptance,” or more specifically, the acceptance of the metaphysics and principles put forth in blog post/video number 5, and in other previous posts. Acceptance of the principles and metaphysics is essential for correct application. If you’re able to accept the principles and metaphysics without any inner conflict, then that’s all that’s needed. If the radical nature of the principles and metaphysics causes some resistance to accepting them, I would suggest provisionally accepting them, sort of like a scientist accepting a hypothesis, and then applying them in the spirit of an experiment so you can discern for yourself their validity.

At this juncture, I won’t say anything more about the component of “acceptance,” as acceptance is up to the individual mind. Today’s video will focus on application, but first, let’s have a very concise review of some foundational metaphysics and principles we need to have both understanding and acceptance of:

1. Understanding the seeming world of matter as a dreamlike world of unreal appearances. Understanding that what appears to be a physical world is only a series of mental images which are not outside the mind. The apparent world is all mind and only mind.

2. Understanding the entire world of images as one unified tapestry of illusion because it is one unified dream in the mind, much like a nighttime dream. Understanding that this world of images is a counterfeit world; a temporary veil of images attempting to block our awareness of God’s Infinite Spiritual Kingdom of Reality.

3. Understanding that though invisible to the senses, but here now, is God’s Infinite Spiritual Kingdom of Reality. Understanding that God’s Infinite Spiritual Kingdom of Reality is All That Truly Is, and that the mental world of illusion has no beingness, no substance, no existence, and no reality whatsoever.

4. Understanding that God’s Being is this Infinite Spiritual Reality, and because we are one with God, this Infinite Spiritual Universe of Reality is our identity as well! Understanding that our identity is not a body or a person, but is the invisible Infinite Eternal Spiritual Universe of Reality and Oneness! I and my Father are One!

I find it helpful to view the application of the metaphysics and principles as a two-sided coin: one side of the coin is choosing Truth, and the other side is releasing illusion or falsity. We choose the Truth of the nature of God and of ourselves as abstract, incorporeal, Infinite, Eternal, Boundless Spirit which is Reality here now, and we release the falsehood of a human identity apart from God, and the falsehood of a world of mental images. The releasing of falsity also includes letting go of all thoughts, beliefs and concepts associated with humanhood and the false world.

Using the triangle as a metaphor for the split mind, choosing Truth and releasing illusion entails rising from a consciousness of duality, separation, and false beliefs, to a consciousness of Oneness and Truth. To repeat and reinforce what the practice of this choice entails: We choose the Truth of the nature of God and of ourselves as abstract, incorporeal, Infinite, Eternal, Boundless Spirit which is Reality here now, and we release the falsehood of a human identity apart from God, and the falsehood of a world of mental images. The releasing of falsity also includes letting go of all thoughts, beliefs and concepts associated with humanhood and the false world.

Let’s look in more detail at what that looks like in application.

Concisely put, defenselessness and trust are the two basic practices: Thinking, feeling, and behaving defenselessly, and putting complete trust in The One Infinite Spiritual Reality or God, which is also trusting in our own True Identity. Defenselessness and trust go hand in hand. I repeat: Defenselessness and trust go hand in hand. In order to release all defensive human thinking and behavior, we must trust in Spirit. The defensive behaviors are replaced with trust in Spirit. The practices of defenselessness and trust are predicated on the choice for Truth; the choice for True Identity as One with God, as The Boundless Eternal Whole Complete Incorporeal Reality of Oneness. This is the nature of God and of our Self because I and my Father are One. In This we trust.

Let’s continue our journey of looking deeper into the details of applying the principles and metaphysics. Please note that all practices and applications require both an awareness of thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and behaviors, and a commitment to choosing Truth over and over again, until a consciousness imbued with Truth becomes the natural state:

Let’s return to five areas of application of principles and metaphysics that were touched upon in the previous post/video number 5 in this series. I’ll first read through all five in their entirety, then today in part one, we’ll look at three of the five areas of application in more detail, as well as in the context of defenselessness and trust.

Giving no credence or power to any evidence of the 5 senses. Giving no power to any so-called person, place or thing. Seeing the world of images as one neutral tapestry of illusion and therefore not reacting to anything.

No longer seeking outside for safety, supply, love, or for anything at all.

Observing behavior in order to bring to awareness the motivation for the behavior, and no longer engaging in behaviors motivated by fear, lack, or littleness.

Raising to awareness all beliefs, thoughts, and concepts associated with humanhood and the false world, and letting them go.

Trusting in the ever present Infinite Invisible Spiritual Reality of Oneness. Stated alternatively as trusting in God, and/or trusting in the True Nature of Yourself, that nature being Wholeness and Completion, being Self Sustaining and Self Maintaining, being Infinite, Eternal, and Joyful.

We’ve already discussed number 5, the topic of trust. But let’s start here and go a little deeper. What are we trusting in Spirit for? Everything! Trusting in Spirit is the replacement for all former activities geared toward the survival and defense of the body, and for all things we formerly sought for outside of ourselves such as supply, safety, and health. Trust in the Completion and Wholeness of Spirit, it’s Self-sustaining and Self-maintaining nature, replaces all seeking, and all fear-and-lack-based behaviors.

Now, going back to number one, it reads as:

1.Giving no credence or power to any evidence of the 5 senses. Giving no power to any so-called person, place or thing. Seeing the world of images as one neutral tapestry of illusion and therefore not reacting to anything.

This practice is based on the fact that only God is Power. Stated alternatively, we cease from believing in two powers; from believing that both God is a power and that the images of the world are a power. This practice is a training of the mind. When we are tempted to assign power to anything in the world of images, we must catch ourselves and withdraw that assigned power. The world of images has no intrinsic power, only the power we invest it with by our belief. If we do not assign any power to any of the images, then there is no need to defend against them. This is where defenselessness is practiced. If I assign power to any images, I am inadvertently proclaiming them as real. Furthermore, if I defend against anything in the world of images, I am also proclaiming them as real. Let’s remember that the world of images is all mind and only mind, so what we perceive outside is really within as a belief or a concept. What we formerly believed was a world of matter is actually a world of ideas, beliefs, concepts only in the mind. Threat is a belief or concept, fear is a belief or concept, so are sickness and attack, and on and on and on. Since all beliefs and concepts are in the mind, the practice includes dropping these beliefs and concepts from where they actually reside. In mind.

If I defend against any of the images, I am actually keeping the belief in the mind, reinforcing the belief in the mind, and perpetuating the appearance of its complementary image in my experience. Why is this so? If I defend against something, say sickness for example, I am proclaiming sickness as real; but sickness is just a concept or belief in the mind. So I am then reinforcing the belief in sickness in the mind; actually holding the belief in place, which will then outpicture as sickness in the world of images. Defenses are very costly! They reinforce erroneous beliefs that are not in alignment with the Wholeness of Spirit, keeping the mind trapped in darkness. “Defenses do what they would defend.” Can you catch the meaning of that quote from A Course in Miracles?

In addition to giving no credence or power to any of the images, or to any erroneous beliefs and concepts in the mind and thereby living defenselessly, we also train our mind to see the world of images as one neutral, unified tapestry of illusion. This helps us to be non reactive and defenseless. We replace our former defensive behaviors with trust in the only Power, which is Spirit.

Moving onto number two:

2.No longer seeking outside for safety, supply, love, or for anything at all.

If we are trusting in the Allness of Spirit, and we have accepted that there is no world outside the mind, then we cease seeking in the world of images for safety, supply, or for anything. The practice is the cessation of seeking in what we formerly believed to be an external world. This is a form of defenselessness. If I am seeking outside for supply or money for example, then I am defending against lack, thereby making lack real in the mind, and perpetuating lack in experience. If I am seeking outside for health for example, then I am defending against limitation and lack, thereby making limitation and lack real in the mind, reinforcing it in mind, and perpetuating it in experience. We replace seeking outside with trust in, and dependence on, the Self-Sustaining, Self-Maintaining nature of Spirit.

So today in part one of discussing the application of principles and metaphysics, we looked at numbers 1, 2, and 5 from above. In part two, we’ll look more deeply into numbers 3 and 4. Here are all five areas of application presented once again in order for brief review:

2.No longer seeking outside for safety, supply, love, or for anything at all.

3.Observing behavior in order to bring to awareness the motivation for the behavior, and no longer engaging in behaviors motivated by fear, lack, or littleness.

4.Raising to awareness all beliefs, thoughts, and concepts associated with humanhood and the false world, and letting them go.

5.Trusting in the ever present Infinite Invisible Spiritual Reality of Oneness. Stated alternatively as trusting in God, and/or trusting in the True Nature of Yourself, that nature being Wholeness and Completion, being Self Sustaining and Self Maintaining, being Infinite, Eternal, and Joyful.

The final words for today will be a super brief reminder to choose Truth and to release falsehood….

And to practice defenselessness, and trust in Spirit.

If you have any questions regarding the material presented on the Practical Mysticism blog, please ask them in the comment section. Thank you. May Grace be your only experience.