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Annotated Table of Contents
Invitation: Introducing...Ourself
Introduces the word Ourself, establishes a relationship with the reader,
and invites the reader to proceed slowly with both the reading and the
experiential "Reflection" contained in each chapter so that the reader
can deeply feel and explore the reality of Being Ourself.
Chapter One: Getting to Know Ourself
Investigates the ways in which our mind's capacity to identify and label
the different aspects of reality leaves us with an illusory sensation of
innate separateness as individuals-- the "me, myself, and I" experience.
Chapter Two: Being Ourself
Becoming conscious that we are all inescapably being Ourself all the
time allows us to experience the vast inspiration and guidance of the
great wholeness that we are part of. Furthering our consciousness of
this wholeness requires us to develop the ability to be aware of our
thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surroundings as the
movement of one whole.
Chapter Three: Finding Ourselves in Ourself
As we discover ourselves within the holistic scenario of everything we
experience profound clarification and insight into our unique qualities
and talents as distinct aspects of Ourself. Rather than losing our
individuality through the realization that our fundamental identity is
reality as a whole, we instead come to recognize the significance of our
individuality with new vigor and inspiration when we comprehend that
we are each indispensable threads in the tapestry of Ourself.
Chapter Four: Manifesting Ourself
Having realized our unique purposes within Ourself, we now begin the
exciting process of developing these gifts and sharing them with
others. Along the way we find that the rich learning process involved in
the development has as much significance and meaning as the sharing
of the results. We also are often forced to let go of any rigid
expectations we may have had of the outcomes of our efforts, and to
embrace the unexpected as we move forward with our real lives in the
willy-nilly way of Ourself.
Chapter Five: Exalting in Ourself
Perhaps the most significant dimension of being Ourself is the blissful
and freeing process of exalting in Ourself. Exalting in Ourself is
allowing the timeless cosmic motion of Ourself to move you from the
inside out in an effortless, improvisational, and expressive meditation
that has no rules or structure other than authentically being true to
your unique nature. In the process one experiences a profound
flowering of grace and gratitude throughout one's feelings that
releases an ongoing flow of inspiration and insight in one's life.
Chapter Six: Ourself in Relationship With Ourself
This chapter investigates the ways in which being aware of ourselves
and others as aspects of the same whole, Ourself, helps us to
experience more profound and natural intimacy in our relationships
than is possible from the narrow orientation of inherent separateness
that we have been conditioned in throughout our lives. It also provides
us with a much needed understanding of why it can be impossible to
have sustainable relationships with individuals who in their desperate
attachment to the artificial identity of the self as separate from the
wholeness of Ourself become unpredictable and destructive. In
addition to protecting ourselves from being harmed by such people, we
all share a sacred obligation to protect others from abuse and
oppression by such people.
Chapter Seven: Forgiving Ourself
Recognizing ourselves and others as Ourself opens us up to a more
authentic kind of forgiveness that is both freeing and healing.
Ultimately, this holistic forgiveness is the necessary precursor to true
personal, communal, and international peace.
Epilogue: Every Breath's Death
In each breath's exhalation we experience the motion of letting go
which provides us with the ongoing opportunity to relax into the loving
wholeness of Ourself. As we become accustomed to this kind of letting
go, we are practicing for the great letting go that life requires of us as
we face the unavoidable realities of loss and death. When we approach
death from the stable and eternal identity of Ourself we can see past
our culture's limited view of death as dark or grim, and instead are
permitted the opportunity to view death as the changing of one's
costume in the ongoing celebratory masquerade of life.
Introduces the word Ourself, establishes a relationship with the reader,
and invites the reader to proceed slowly with both the reading and the
experiential "Reflection" contained in each chapter so that the reader
can deeply feel and explore the reality of Being Ourself.
Chapter One: Getting to Know Ourself
Investigates the ways in which our mind's capacity to identify and label
the different aspects of reality leaves us with an illusory sensation of
innate separateness as individuals-- the "me, myself, and I" experience.
Chapter Two: Being Ourself
Becoming conscious that we are all inescapably being Ourself all the
time allows us to experience the vast inspiration and guidance of the
great wholeness that we are part of. Furthering our consciousness of
this wholeness requires us to develop the ability to be aware of our
thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surroundings as the
movement of one whole.
Chapter Three: Finding Ourselves in Ourself
As we discover ourselves within the holistic scenario of everything we
experience profound clarification and insight into our unique qualities
and talents as distinct aspects of Ourself. Rather than losing our
individuality through the realization that our fundamental identity is
reality as a whole, we instead come to recognize the significance of our
individuality with new vigor and inspiration when we comprehend that
we are each indispensable threads in the tapestry of Ourself.
Chapter Four: Manifesting Ourself
Having realized our unique purposes within Ourself, we now begin the
exciting process of developing these gifts and sharing them with
others. Along the way we find that the rich learning process involved in
the development has as much significance and meaning as the sharing
of the results. We also are often forced to let go of any rigid
expectations we may have had of the outcomes of our efforts, and to
embrace the unexpected as we move forward with our real lives in the
willy-nilly way of Ourself.
Chapter Five: Exalting in Ourself
Perhaps the most significant dimension of being Ourself is the blissful
and freeing process of exalting in Ourself. Exalting in Ourself is
allowing the timeless cosmic motion of Ourself to move you from the
inside out in an effortless, improvisational, and expressive meditation
that has no rules or structure other than authentically being true to
your unique nature. In the process one experiences a profound
flowering of grace and gratitude throughout one's feelings that
releases an ongoing flow of inspiration and insight in one's life.
Chapter Six: Ourself in Relationship With Ourself
This chapter investigates the ways in which being aware of ourselves
and others as aspects of the same whole, Ourself, helps us to
experience more profound and natural intimacy in our relationships
than is possible from the narrow orientation of inherent separateness
that we have been conditioned in throughout our lives. It also provides
us with a much needed understanding of why it can be impossible to
have sustainable relationships with individuals who in their desperate
attachment to the artificial identity of the self as separate from the
wholeness of Ourself become unpredictable and destructive. In
addition to protecting ourselves from being harmed by such people, we
all share a sacred obligation to protect others from abuse and
oppression by such people.
Chapter Seven: Forgiving Ourself
Recognizing ourselves and others as Ourself opens us up to a more
authentic kind of forgiveness that is both freeing and healing.
Ultimately, this holistic forgiveness is the necessary precursor to true
personal, communal, and international peace.
Epilogue: Every Breath's Death
In each breath's exhalation we experience the motion of letting go
which provides us with the ongoing opportunity to relax into the loving
wholeness of Ourself. As we become accustomed to this kind of letting
go, we are practicing for the great letting go that life requires of us as
we face the unavoidable realities of loss and death. When we approach
death from the stable and eternal identity of Ourself we can see past
our culture's limited view of death as dark or grim, and instead are
permitted the opportunity to view death as the changing of one's
costume in the ongoing celebratory masquerade of life.