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An essential
thing to understand about people who
practice New Thought teachings is that a
high ethical conduct is of foremost
interest with them. |
It is
because they believe that the integrity and
accomplishments of great avatars, especially
Jesus, are the standards of behavior which are
possible for every person. The beliefs generally
reflect that Jesus' example was given us because
it is the potentiality of anyone who desires to
emulate it. But for the very reason that such a
high precedent exists, there should be little
interest in trying to copy the example of the
morality of any group which urges others to fit
their standards.
This includes the
setting aside of "trying to be perfect"
too. Opening up to guidance from a deep place
within the Spirit-Self allows a high integrity to
evolve each person. It is believed that all of us
are on our way toward expressing high ethics in
all we do; but wherever we are at present in
achieving it is all right, even if we are not
close to these high though possible standards.
Therefore all pressure should be taken off
individuals to try to be good. Emphasis is on
allowing Divine Mind to transform the self into a
high excellence of character. In New Thought,
guilt and self-rejection are de-emphasized.
The bottom line is
this: Divine Mind has made us so that we will
manifest perfect lives. It is an experience of
being evolved by Spirit; our responsibility is to
cooperate with our spiritual nature, and then we
will over time (lifetimes) fully manifest God's
design for us.
Inasmuch as the New
Thought philosophy promises to liberate people
from false thinking and unauthentic experiences,
its real followers have no interest in being
immoral or unethical. However, they make it
similarly important not to avoid uncustomary
behavior simply because someone else says they
must do this. Their reasoning is that they desire
to comply with their individual nature rather
than conform to other people's opinions.
It is not natural or
normal to be unvirtuous. Living virtuously is the
most natural thing to do. Then why do many people
find it difficult? In New Thought, we say that it
is because most people generally pursue virtue to
conform to what others say they should do.
Insofar as we choose to be virtuous because we
desire to be true to ourselves, we do so easily.
When it seems hard, it is because it is done out
of duty and through having become conformists.
To conform to others
is to become false to the self. This is because
the only place we can truly meet God is in our
own thoughts. And if we conform to the thinking
of others, no matter who they are, we cannot be
transformed enough through our own thinking to
very well express the individuality inherent in
the persons we were made to be.
It is just as
important for each person to feel good about the
self as it is to live virtuously. Finally, it
becomes clear that to feel good about the self
and to live with virtue is the same thing. It is
simply the natural thing to do.
We need not continue
in anxiety for long even if we have seemingly
uncontrollable urges. The answer lies within our
natural goodness. When we feel upset, guilty,
judgmental or disturbed, it is because we are
trying to act like others want us to or because
we are thinking that no truth exists. We need
liberation, and we can have it. When it comes to
us, we actually feel good about doing what is
right for everyone and ourselves.
But what about
people who have sexual preferences that are
clearly different from the traditional manner?
Should we think about them with judgment because
they may be bisexually active or homosexually
inclined? And how should they feel about
themselves? There is one clear answer to all of
this. It is to be a
conformist to no one and wholly true to the self. When this becomes
our confidence and we believe this, we will
eventually become true to ourselves. Remember
that all of us need correction. For all of us,
better morality results simply as we cease being
judges of others. Also, for all of us, our
greatest difficulty stems from judging ourselves.
We need to decide
that our deepest innermost idea, of how to give
ourselves to life's causes, is our foremost
interest now. We need to do this because our
procrastinating this desire any longer, is
building in us neurotic behavior which
increasingly is making our "gifts of
life" more hidden to our awarenesses. We can
be "transformed by the renewing of our
minds" and "prove that good" right
now!
New Thought wants
you to know that your innermost urges toward
self-expression are your awareness of Divine
Mind's Oneness with you. Relax, and allow
yourself continually to give Its presence your
attention. Any immorality will naturally fall
away. The truth of who you are will take its
place. Neurotic complexes and conflicts will
subside. You only need to have the idea that you
are Good just as you are, and that whatever
further goodness you need to express will emerge
from within you, as you let yourself simply be
who you are. And who are you? You are first and
foremost God's child. You are DIVINE!
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