And for me most importantly of all, it was during the early months of this year when I became fully inspired by Jesus Christ, specifically his teachings as found in the Bible’s New Testament (the NRSV translation — which I read & re-read dozens of times while “residing” in that bookstore). In truth what a Joy it was to realize that the words of Christ had nothing at all to do with the much darker teachings of the Christian church (a dogma invented by the obviously deluded faux-apostle Paul), and what an even greater Joy it was to realize that the teachings of Jesus were so more than a mere moral philosophy; that they actually functioned for Peace whenever they were put boldly into practice! For this soon became the crux of my “Experiment” – to test the limits of the teachings of Jesus; to apply them all ever more recklessly and ever more “dangerously” to find out where (if at all) they ceased to bear Good Fruit. Of course, as any heartfelt practitioner of The Selfless Way knows all too well, there are no such boundaries – for the more selflessly we Care for others (i.e. the more we are openly Kind to strangers and openly Forgiving towards enemies – especially in those moments we are least inclined to do so), the greater Bliss and the greater empowerment flow back upon us as an inadvertent result …

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. And yet I say, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. For in that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in Heaven. For He gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and unjust alike.” ~ Jesus (Matthew 5:43-45)

Filed under: My Life in Pictures by Scaughdt