Lost Coin Class Notes Meeting Notes for December 26th 2006

ADMINISTRATION

In the future, administration meeting notes will be sent out.

There is a new sub-group, lead by Tawni and Judith, to work on the creative aspects of the administrative group.

There was a suggestion to have some kind of group reminder mid-week. To follow-up on that suggestion, we will pair-off and talk mid-week (Thursday or Friday). We keep the same partners for one month and then switch.

Daniel is willing to make-up classes for those who miss : but you must initiate with Daniel.

Daniel will be in Europe the last two weeks of January. We will probably have a social gathering (including some class elements) at Daniels in February (looking at week of 2/15).

HOMEWORK

Try to remember an essential quality/memory of yourself.

Repeat the exercise of telling yourself the truth (take 10 minutes).

CLASS THEME: ESSENCE/PERSONALITY

This topic can be confusing when reading it in books because different authors use the terms in different ways.

In general, Daniel is asked why 4th Way teachings focus on the negative. His response is that you don't need to develop the positive. If you take away the lies, etc, then the positive is automatically there.

To define the terms:

Personality:  what is learned/false/comes from external considering, social training/ conditioning

Essence:  what is left!  It is what is true about you. The particular light you bring to the world (all lights being equal). 'Temperament' is a psychological word that is similar to essence.

Emptiness: in contrast to personality and essence is emptiness, which is the natural state of the mind. It never changes, has no essential character, is formless. This kind of essence is best looked at through meditation.

To determine your essence : think about when you were too young to think about things (around 2, 3, 4 or 5). What is the essence of your individuality? Reflect on some moment/memory when you were this age, e.g., Brandon remembered a summer day on the slip-and-slide. Picasso had a visual image of his work from a very young age. What are you like when you are not pretending? This is contrast to who others expect you to be. Essence is easier to see in others than yourself.

Essence is naturally benevolent/ kind. If you come close to feelings of true kindness : that is getting close to your true essence. Things, such as art/places also have essence. For example, ancient ruins in Mexico. Even though the personality it has been given by humans (tourist trap) is false, its essence remains (you can still have a sense of its rituals).

You need to disempower personality to empower essence. You have to know yourself to break down the personality.

Note that you can use personality consciously and maintain essence; for example, if in following social norms you stay aware of what you are doing.

Overtime we will need to know the truth : we won't be able to fit into the same mold anymore because it is not true.

EXPLORATIONS

Telling Yourself the Truth

Rebecca noted that her actions were not leading to her goals. So she asked herself if those  really were her goals. She decided they were, but she was being stopped by fear, etc.

Daniel noted that we are in a habit of lying, e.g., we either tell ourselves that we can do anything; or, alternatively, that we can't do anything. The truth is probably that if we try our best we can achieve our goals.

Another example of lying: Daniel doesn't like movies but his son does. Daniel has been telling him likes movies for so long he forgot he doesn't like movies, he really only goes to be with his son.

Sometimes even if we know we are lying, we will go ahead because we don't want to hurt another. If you know the truth, you can choose to be kind.

Spending Time Alone Doing Something Unusual

Debra read instead of watching TV and enjoyed the experience.

Impressions are like food. Every moment you have the opportunity to pick an impression, but often we are on automatic and so don't chose. Books can range from poor to good 'food.' Look at what kind of impressions are coming in. Are you eating cookies or a salad? You feel different depending on your choice.

READINGS -  IN SEARCH

Carriage = the body, we usually have a rickety carriage

Driver = the intellect, usually it is sloppy

Horse = the emotions, usually they are out-of-control

To do well requires tremendous effort, it won't happen by itself; but, it can be enjoyable to see through the personality/deactivate the lies. The process is enlivening. You start to feel that you need to control the carriage, need a master to bring you to your senses.
