As the seasons change and we move into that introspective time of year, I can't help but notice the movement of my mind. Amidst all the festivities and the seeming chaos of the holidays, when my mind is at rest, established in a cheerful intention, everything gets done without my mental exhaustion. I've come to the conclusion that our mind is what burns out. It's not how much we do, but the way that we do it.
The Science of Mind requires of us to notice the workings of our mind and then to consciously reprogram the way we think. You and I can live prosperous, exciting meaningful lives that resemble more a "masterpiece of joy" than a "melodrama of stress". Once you become aware of who's minding the store in your head you can then choose your PMA (prevailing mental attitude).
It is like the guest who knocks on our door seeking admittance. If we know that we are saying welcome to the old grouch or the frantic worrier or our stressed -little ego we can expect to reap the consequences of their company. It's our responsibility as to whom we bring into our consciousness and who we let run the show.
Shakespeare likened our world to a stage, and you and I as the players who strut about making the drama of life. But you and I are not merely the players, we are also the author of the script (we put the words in our mouth) and the director, producer, set designer, yadda, yadda, yadda. What happens in the performance of our life hinges on who we think we are, what we say and what we do.
In all the roles we play we get to choose one of two mental attitudes. One is what Buddhists call the ordinary mind. This mind grasps or rejects the world out there. It feels separate and gets caught up in thoughts, desires, plots and plans. Endlessly minding other peoples business. Like a monkey in a tree, it leaps from branch to branch restlessly manipulating things, or it can be like a slug, smug and stone-like in its inertia of ingrained habits. It loves to judge things as good and bad and has its own endless mind chatter to keep it company. Imagine the scenes you could play out with the ordinary mind as the star.
Then there is what Buddhists call "the very nature of mind", its innermost essence, which is empty like the sky once the wind has blown away the clouds. The sun shines in this wide open spacious mind. In this mind there is a simple awareness that is both intelligent, radiant and always awake. It is the knower beyond our ego self. It is our Christ-self, our Buddha-nature, the Atman the Sacred-Self. When we are in this mind, life becomes a precious opportunity to evolve and realize it. We are free to be here now.
You get to welcome the mind you choose. You get to play out the masterpiece of your life any way you desire. If you want more abundance this year, remember you are also the producer. As such, you get to discover where is the source of your supply.
Who are you going to be? Who are you going to take into the new year? What is the next great masterpiece of your life going to look like. Just imagine!

Be the Christ that you are this holiday season.

Namasté

David