“Thinking the physical world is all that matters is like shutting oneself up in a small closet and imagining there is nothing beyond it.”—Eben Alexander
One of the great joys in my life is knowing the universe is so much bigger than anything I can conceive, in knowing that miracles (or what we call miracles) reside right on the other side of the veil I’ve imposed with my very limited brain.
As cool as the brain is, a veritable network of millions of neural pathways, it actually puts up a tremendous barrier to Truth. It limits, it takes all the available input and boils it down to what I call “Cliff Notes for Dummies.”
Sadly, our Cliff Notes are restricted to what we’ve decide to let in, to what we’ve erroneously pick up from our culture, our family upbringing and the six o’clock news.
As the Course in Miracles reminds us, we would be astounded, literally blown away, if we had even the slightest idea how many limits we have placed on Reality.
While we’re here, living on this physical plane, we put the brain’s two pounds of wrinkled mass on a pedestal. We believe everything it tells us, listen to its crazy promptings, its tendency to focus on the past and worry about the future. I amaze myself with how much time I sometimes waste thinking about some person who “did me wrong” or about some financial dilemma. Not a good expenditure of my valuable time.
The brain is so NOT reliable that, I believe, our very highest calling is to distract it as often as possible. That’s why meditation is so important, why I proclaim gratitude for everything that happens. These practices put an end (or will eventually) to the crazy person blathering in the brain. Once the brain gets out of the way, Truth can’t help but rise up.
I really hate to knock my brain. It has accomplished a lot in my life, but from here on out, I’d like to officially appoint it as secretary of my neurology, digestive system and other things it’s proficient at and leave the rest to Source, to Truth, to the Reality of Pure Bliss.
Pam Grout is the author of 19 books including E-Squared, E-Cubed, Thank & Grow Rich and her latest book, Art & Soul,Reloaded: A Year-Long Apprenticeship to Summon the Muses and Ignite Your Daring, Audacious, Creative Side.
12 Responses
Wow wow wow.. Pam. The words have seemlessly flown from source rather than from your brain. This is exactly what Sages of India have told us thousands of years ago, is in’t amusing to know that these Sages had much better spirtual knowledge than today’s generation. Pramahamasa Yogananda literatures reinforces this. Thank you Pam for reminding us about these eternal truths
Secretary of my neurology 😉 Love this..working through my first year of the course and love the healing of my perceptions. I am now awaiting true letting go and allowing spirit to work through me easily and effortlessly. Thank you Pam for your cyberspace companionship 🌟
Love this viewpoint. Always felt the brain is a door that allows us to create and experience this illusory world of idea construction for our purposes.while it takes care of multiple functions like a processor, a transmitter, freeing us to function freely.
Thanks for your enlightening thoughts, they certainly trigger wonderful ideas.
You are really inspiring, Pam. And (in my case) at the right time. Thank you so much…
As my school semester starts, I love your reference to Cliff’s Notes.
I love your books and newsletter.
Thank you x a godzillian ❤️
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I wonder what this means when someones electroencephalogram is flat in a hospital bed ? Medical staff says the person is dead, but who knows ? When the brain is dead, the soul is still alive because souls cannot die, ever. I’ve certainly been watching too many episodes of Grey’s Anatomy lately…
Ah Pam, you’ve done it again. Brilliant! Totally love that you’re appointing your brain as the secretary of your neurology, digestive system etc and trusting the rest to Source, The Dude, Truth and the Reality of Pure Bliss. Amen! Can I copy you please?! 😁👍🏻⭐️💖🌸
The brain has it’s job to do as we all know but I’ve watched it take me places I didn’t want to go too often. Like a misguided GPS with bad information. This was a brilliant explanation of how little we should trust it. Thank you so much. Hope you are having a great time wherever you are. 😉
Hey Pam, still playing pickleball? I am playing skads and am now a instructor for beginners.
She would love to play with you sometime.
Thanks for your words of wisdom about these brains of ours.
Laurel Hageseth
so on target!
Very true.