As I See It

Philosophy for Teachers

A PHILOSOPHY FOR TEACHERS

You can’t not be a teacher and you can’t not be a student. You will either be an excellent teacher and student, a mediocre one or a poor one. It is a matter of personal choice. (Not from ACIM)

SOURCE: A COURSE IN MIRACLES --- The Manual for Teachers

Excerpts from: The Manual for Teachers

PART 1. WHO ARE GOD’S TEACHERS?

Page 3, Par 1 A teacher of God is anyone who chooses to be one. His qualifications consist solely of this….Once he has done that, his road is established….He has entered an agreement with God…

Par 2, They come from all over the world. They come from all religions and from no religion…The Call is universal…. Many hear It, but few will answer….

Par 4, This is a manual for a special curriculum intended for teachers of a special form of the universal course. There are thousands of other forms, all with the same outcome.

PART 2. WHO ARE THE PUPILS?

Page 5, Par 1. Certain pupils have been assigned to each of God’s teachers, and they will begin to look for him as soon as he has answered the Call.

Par 4, The pupil comes at the right time to the right place. This is inevitable because he made the right choice in that ancient instant which he now relives.

Page 6, Par 5. When pupil and teacher come together, a teaching-learning situation begins. For the teacher is not really the one who does the teaching. God’s Teacher [the Holy Spirit] speaks to (and through) any two who join together for learning purposes.

PART 4. What Are the Characteristics of God’s Teachers?

EXCERPTS FROM THE 10 CHARACTERISTICS of A T.O.G.

I Trust

Par. 1 This is the foundation on which their ability to fulfill their function rests….The teachers of God have trust in the world, because they have learned it is not governed by laws the world made up. It is governed by a power that is in them but not of them.

Par. 2 When this power has been experienced, it is impossible to trust one’s own petty strength again.

Par. 6 Yet when he (the teacher) is ready to go on, he goes with mighty companions [Spirit guides and Angels] beside him.

II Honesty

Par. 1 All other traits of God’s teachers rest on trust. Once that has been achieved, the others cannot fail to follow. Only the trusting can afford honesty…. The term actually means consistency…..At no level are they in conflict with themselves. ….it is impossible for them to be in conflict with anyone or anything.

III Tolerance

Par. 1 God’s teachers do not judge. To judge is to be dishonest, for to judge is to assume a position you do not have. No teacher of God can judge and hope to learn.

IV Gentleness

Par. 1 Harm is impossible for God’s teachers…..harm can actually achieve nothing.

Par, 2 Therefore God’s teachers are wholly gentle. They need the strength of gentleness….

V Joy

Par 1. Joy is the result of gentleness. Gentleness means that fear is now impossible…Joy goes with gentleness as surely as grief attends attack.

VI Defenselessness

Par, 1 God’s teachers have learned how to be simple. Their joy comes from understanding Who created them…. No one can become an advanced teacher of God until he understands that defenses are foolish guardians of mad illusions. …it is not danger that comes when defenses are laid down. It is safety. It is peace. It is joy. And it is God.

VII Generosity

Par. 1 …To the teachers of God, it means giving away in order to keep….alien to the thinking of the world.

Par. 2 The teacher of God is generous out of Self interest. …. The teacher of God does not want anything he cannot give away…

VIII Patience

Par, 1 Those who are certain of the outcome can afford to wait, and to wait without anxiety. Patience is natural to the teacher of God. ….All he sees is certain outcome….not in doubt….Patience is natural to those who trust.

IX Faithfulness

Par. 1 ….Faithfulness is the teacher of God’s trust in the Word of God to set all things right; not some, but all.

X Open-Mindedness

Par. 1 Open-mindedness comes with lack of judgment. As judgment shuts the mind against God’s Teacher, so open-mindedness invites Him to come in….Only the open-minded can be at peace….

Par. 2 ….Forgiveness is the final goal of the curriculum.

AN EXERISE FOR THE COMMITTED TEACHER OF GOD

The following chart provides a self-help tool that can help a T O G (teacher of God) become more competent.

“HOW AM I DOING?”

SUGGESTION: Rate your behavior periodically.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EXCELLENT TEACHER AND STUDENT

THE 10 “BEs” of an excellent student and teacher

INSTRUCTIONS: RATE YOURSELF PERIODICALLY FOR INCREASED SELF-AWARENESS

Code: ‘-’ Needs Attention; ‘+’Some Progress; ‘++’Satisfactory

Characteristic	Date/Rating	Date/Rating	Date/Rating	Date/Rating
BE Trusting
BE Honest
BE Tolerant
BE Gentle
BE Joyful
BE Defenseless
BE Generous
BE Patient
BE Faithful
BE Open-Minded

Facilitator: Bud Ham

Email – bud.budham@gmail.com

Blog: budhamasiseeit.blogspot.com

THREE GREAT TRUTHS

In song, prose and poetry Seekers have asked the question throughout history, “What is truth?” I cannot say what truth is for you -- it is sometimes difficult and often impossible for me to say what truth is for me. Yet, I do believe that if one earnestly seeks truth, works at it long enough, and is open to guidance, our personal list of truths expands. This process also clarifies another truth – my truth may not be your truth. I share my truths with you not to suggest that they should become yours, only that they might serve you also.

1. You will become what you think.

· If you think fearful thoughts you will become frightened.

· If your thoughts dwell on illness you will become sick.

· If you think peaceful thoughts you will become a serene person.

· If you think loving thoughts you become a warm, loving person.

· If you think mean-spirited thoughts you become a hateful person.

Each of us has pessimistic, ugly or mean-spirited thoughts from time to time -- but we can choose not to entertain them and we can replace them! The level of thought is the only place we have control over our own destiny. Becoming what we think is the Law of Attraction manifested. The law of attraction states that we attract to ourselves that which we love and cherish or that which we fear and hate. The “attractant” is our thought energy – the message is: Don’t put your energy into something you don’t want!

2. Whatever you want in life, give it away.

· If you want respect, give respect.

· If you want cooperation, give cooperation.

· If you want people to listen to you, listen to them.

· If you want more love, give love away.

· If you want more money, take all you can spare and without discrimination give it to someone who needs it more than you do.

If you have something you cannot give away, you don’t own it, it owns you! To give anything away opens the channel for the inflow of more of the same. The ancient pronouncements, “as you sow, so shall you reap” and “cast your bread on the water and it will be returned multiplied,” attest to the law of cause and effect. If we give love at every opportunity we can surely expect it will be returned multiplied. The same principle holds true for mean-spirited acts!

3. We are in control of our own destiny.

If we accept and practice the first two Great Truths we can ignore fate and luck and can accept that where I am today is the result of past thoughts and actions. I am responsible and I am in control of my future.

THE SUB-CONSCIOUS MIND

Perhaps one of Dr. Sigmund Freud’s greatest contributions to our knowledge about how the human mind works was his introduction to the concept of the sub-conscious mind. I cannot recall who introduced me to the following expansion of the concept that makes a lot of sense to me:

The sub-conscious mind, which influences conscious thought, is an “information pool” that does not have a drain - – we can only put information into it and can remove nothing.”

The media (newspapers, radio, television, magazines, etc.) in our present day culture bombard us with fear-based information that is in the very least negative –- more often it is violent, ugly, viscous; even horrendous. This information in written, visual or audio form when we become conscious of it, becomes part of our sub-conscious pool.

Let us now consider the positive/negative “ph” of our pool. It is believed by many that there are far more love-based acts of kindness, compassion, gentleness and generosity, occurring on a regular basis, than there are fear-based ones. However these stories are seldom reported in the media. This imbalance creates a negative “ph” in our sub-conscious mind pool. This imbalance makes daily inspirational reading much more valuable –- it is vital to regain some balance in our thinking. The primary means of control in our lives is our thoughts. “The thought is father of the deed—we become what we think.”

A TRUE, LOVE-BASED INCIDENT TO REDUCE NEGATIVE “PH”

A few days ago at a grocery Supermarket I picked up three items. I decided to use the automated personal checkout kiosk. The total was less than $5.00. I removed my money clip that also contained my personal and corporate credit cards, removed five dollars from the clip and ran it thorough the machine, took my receipt and left the store.

The next morning as I was going to fill my gas tank I discovered I did not have my money clip and credit cards. I returned home and searched all the usual places where I might have left it to no avail. I then began to search my memory for the last time is used the clip. Incidentally, I do have “Senior Moments!!” I immediately drove to the Supermarket, went to the customer service desk and told the attendant that I might have left my money clip and credit cards at the kiosk the previous day. Moments later she handed me the clip and cards. Incidentally the money clip contained a $20.00 bill. Bud Ham

THE RED DRESS

THE PARABLE OF THE RED DRESS

Gloria arose early and began her day by dressing for the most important meeting of her professional career. The advertising company she founded twenty-five years earlier was flourishing. On this much anticipated day she was meeting with the board of directors of a potential client. If she and her assistant were successful in landing a contract it would be, by far, the largest in her career. She was genuinely excited but not fearful.

She removed two of her favorite dresses from her closet –- a green one and a red one. Both dresses were designed for a professional woman and she found them equally attractive.

She stood in front of a full length mirror as she held up each dress to help in decision making she asked the question, “Which one feels better?” Very quickly she became aware that the green one felt better.

Gloria had no way of knowing that the president of the board of directors had a strong negative bias about any woman who wore red.

During the meeting Gloria and her assistant were treated with attention, dignity and respect. The president and the board were very pleased with the presentation and unanimously agreed to a lucrative, long term contract.

During the next several months Gloria and her employees met frequently with representatives of the new client. The respect and admiration for Gloria and her team reflected the quality and effectiveness of their advertising campaign. Six months into the contract the president was so impressed with the results that he scheduled a formal dinner to honor Gloria and her team.

On that fateful evening as Gloria dressed for the occasion the red dress felt better. She wore it. The bias the president had against women wearing red was changed forever.

Peace,

Bud

A Course in Miracles --- Workbook for Students

Lesson 49 -- God’s voice speaks to me throughout the day. It is quite possible to listen to God’s voice witho

TESTING SPIRITUALITY

The Process:

It is most helpful if the experimenter accepts The Law of Attraction advanced by wise men and philosophers for centuries:

"The thought is father of the deed."

· If I dwell on thoughts of sickness I shall become ill. Psychosomatic illness has been scientifically proven.

· If I dwell on fearful thoughts I shall become a frightened person.

· If I dwell on love based thoughts I shall become a happy serene, person.

Every morning for 14 days: after you are fully awake but before you begin your day, write the date on a slip of paper and list three things you would like to have happen this day. Put it in a safe place and do not refer it until day 14. MAKE THE COMMITMENT THAT TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY YOU ARE ONLY GOING TO MAKE LOVE BASED DECISIONS THIS DAY,

At the end of 14 days evaluate. Did you have more ideal days?

Peace,

Bud

SPIRITUAL SIMPLICITY

“If spiritual teaching is complicated it is not from me.” Jeshua Ben Joseph (Jesus)

“Complexity is born of the world, and not from the mind of God.” The Way of Mastery, Page 143

· There are only two basic human emotions, Love and Fear. i.e., The emotions of hate, anger, greed, vengeance, jealousy, guilt, distrust and self-pity are derivatives of fear. The emotions of tolerance, generosity, kindness, patience, trust, and self-respect are derivatives of love.

· Love and Fear are opposites and co-variables. They are opposites because you cannot be fearful and loving at the same time and if love increases fear decreases.

· I have full responsibility regarding the amount of love or fear I have: If I make more love based decisions I live with more love and vice-versa.

· The only control I have in life is my thoughts. When I have fear based thoughts I can choose again!

Peace,

Bud

Desire Clarification, Part II

STEP TWO – INTENTION

Now set action objectives. (More specific than goals)

· Objectives are:

o Attainable

o Very specific

o Measurable

o Start and completion dated

STEP THREE –- ALLOW

· If one of your objectives doesn’t work it is not a FAILURE. It is a stepping stone toward what will work. (Remember Edison’s search for a light bulb filament.) Begin again.

STEP FOUR – SURRENDER

· This step is for those who have Spiritual belief and choose to use their Greater Power --- ask for guidance.

Experience Resume - Partial

Bud's current involvement is as a platform speaker, consultant to private businesses and public institutions, author, and executive coach on the topics of management, leadership, and trust-based relationships. He also sponsors personal and spiritual growth groups and wilderness adventure seminars for business and health professionals.

Mr. Ham has served as consultant, confidante and counselor for more than thirty-five years to executives and professional people. He has lectured in Great Britain, Mexico, throughout Canada, and in 49 states. He was a member of a teaching delegation of health professionals, sponsored by the China-U.S. Exchange, who visited six hospitals in the Peoples Republic of China. He refers to himself not as one with answers, but one who can help his client friends identify their alternatives and maximally utilize all of their resources, including spiritual resources, in their professional and personal lives. These factors uniquely qualify him to make meaningful contributions to organizational effectiveness. He is a devoted family man, a hunter, an avid fly-fisherman, a gardner, a horseman, an author and a poet.