Many years ago, Linda received this understanding regarding our visit upon Earth:
Life on Earth is about a Light-Hearted Play in the Father Way that leads to Source... Our responsibility is to see that we don't wither on the tree. That we have a Joyful, Light-Hearted Journey / Walk / Visit with the Father in His Garden as we walk to the Gate where we enter Source's Garden.
A few days ago, I was using the tried and true method Linda's described in her Dreams and Days Book (and that I have used so many times in this blog) to untangle myself from another false teaching.
In this exploration I came across a word that derives from a Greek word which means "to wither." This immediately connected to the above understanding and helped me expand my awareness of what Linda was seeking to convey.
Which word is this you may ask?
The word I was looking at was: austere.
austere:
- severe, grave, or stern, as in aspect or conduct
- morally strict
- sour and astringent
- abstemious: eating and drinking sparingly
- severely simple, unadorned
- [< Greek < harsh, bitter < to dry, wither]
See the connection?
Apply the above definition to what Linda was saying and you are in for a spin into unhealthy territory unless you have a major key understanding... so let's find out how I got to the word 'austere.' I ended up at this word by looking at the word 'ascetic.'
ascetic:
- in the early church, one who renounced social life and comfort for solitude, self mortification, and religious devotion
- hermit, recluse
- one who leads a very austere and self denying life
- [Greek < exercised, industrious, athletic < one who practices (self denial), a monk < to exercise]
It is interesting to see the development of the Greek words.
The original word meaning 'exercise' led to the word 'monk' which is associated with the notion of practicing (self denial). From this concept came the Greek word which translates into industrious and athletic and eventually into ascetic. I find that amazing.
It would have never occurred to me that being industrious and athletic is actually a way of practicing asceticism or engaging in self mortifying, self denying ways. And to think that for the longest time I considered the notion of being athletic and industrious / hard working a good thing... silly me...
No matter where you look at, whether religion or the world, you end up falling for the ascetic way of life of self denial and self mortification. Religion teaches asceticism by extolling the spirituality of poverty. The world teaches asceticism by extolling hard work and an industrial life. Curiously enough, both support austerity (of the working class that is). Ever heard of 'economic austerity' plans? They never apply to those in control...
In reality, both religion and the world are two sides of the same coin of delusion and deception. After all, deception depends on the illusion of free will and choice: Look! You do have a choice. You can either mortify and deny yourself through religion or through the world. Which one do you choose? Both? Very well, go ahead... is your life after all...
Fortunately there is a real alternative:
Life on Earth is about a Light-Hearted Play in the Father Way that leads to Source... Our responsibility is to see that we don't wither on the tree. That we have a Joyful, Light-Hearted Journey / Walk / Visit with the Father in His Garden as we walk to the Gate where we enter Source's Garden.