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The publisher and author of this material make no medical claims for its use. This material is not intended to treat, diagnose, advise about, or cure any illness. If you need medical attention, please consult with your medical practitioner. The Sedona Method is a trademarked and copyrighted process. Copyright 2009-2012 by Hale Dwoskin. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission of the publisher. Publisher: Sedona Training Associates 2000 Plymouth Road, Suite 300 Minnetonka, Minnesota 55305 Phone (928) 282-3522 Fax (928) 203-0602 www.sedona.com
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There are Two Great Ways to Experience this Teleseminar, Seminar, or Retreat
You can use it as a way to awaken to your true nature and to eliminate suffering while trusting in the power that knows the way. You can also use it as a powerful exploration of your goals. To do this, view each exercise and exploration as way to gain clarity on your goals and to eliminate the illusions that either motivate the goals or are preventing you from achieving them. Warning: If you use this work on your goals, in addition to them becoming more possible, be prepared from them to either change dramatically or simply drop away. Your goals may also be replaced by deeper goals closer to your heart that are not just your personal gain but are for the highest and best good for everyone.
Lester Levenson called one of the main processes we will be exploring The 5th Way
Lester Levenson believed that the end of the search was the answering of the question What am I? The 5th Way of releasing is dedicated to helping you discover that you already are the answer to that question. Long after we coined the term The 5th Way for the exploration that this course is about, Annrika James pointed out to me that Lester Levenson had been referring to this work as the fifth way. She found evidence of this on the very last page of the book called The Verities by Lester Levenson. He had been using this term since at least the 1960s, before there even was a Sedona Method. He used it to describe what he felt was the highest path of Yogas of the East. This fifth way he was referring to in his book is called Jnana Yoga or Wisdom Yoga.
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Deciding to Drop It
Let me explain by asking you to participate in a simple release. Pick up a pen, a pencil, or some small object that you would be willing to drop without giving it a second thought. Now, hold the object in front of you and really grip it tightly. Pretend this is one of your limiting feelings and that your hand represents your gut or your consciousness. If you held the object long enough, this would start to feel uncomfortable yet familiar. Now, open your hand and roll the object around in it. Notice that you are the one holding on to it; it is not attached to your hand. The same is true with your feelings. Your feelings are as attached to you as this object is attached to your hand. We hold on to our feelings and forget that we are holding on to them. Its even in our language. When we feel angry or sad, we dont usually say, I feel angry, or I feel sad. We say, I am angry, or I am sad. Without realizing it, we are misidentifying that we are the feeling. Often, we believe a feeling is holding on to us. This is not true we are always able to let go and just dont know it. Now, let the object go. What happened? You let go of the object, and it dropped to the floor. Was that hard? Of course not. Thats what we mean when we say, Let go or release. You can do the same thing with any emotion: choose to let it go.
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Holistic Releasing
Lastly, as you focus on the object in your hand you will notice that it is defined by opposites. In other words the reason you can perceive the object is because of the space around it. Without space there can be no contents. When it comes to emotionally-based problems and feelings, they are defined or held together by opposites as well. We have good and bad, right and wrong, happy and sad, and love and hate to just name a few. When you welcome both sides of any of these pairs, as opposed to clinging to one and resisting the other, you find that they both dissolve leaving you with the empty space that allows for all experiencing. We call this fourth way of releasing Holistic Releasing. Please keep these four analogies in mind as we go through the releasing process together.
Directly looking through the illusion of separation with The 5th Way
The 5th Way of releasing is not really a way at all. It is an open, spontaneous inquiry into what is naturally present here and now. It is also a seeing through of what appears to be here. And that which appears to be here, for most of us, is merely an interpretation, label or story based on what was. This story includes the assumption that there is actually a me and a you that are somehow independent and separate from each other. The bottom line of what you are is what is actually here and now; as you recognize this, two things become obvious: v First, that the separate me with its story of suffering is not true, and v What is here is simply here. And it is simply the truth of what you are. Allow yourself to explore this without forcing, and do this from your direct experience in this moment, as opposed to from memory, or what you think should be experienced. Also, know that what you are exploring is really not a technique, but directly looking through the illusion of separation to the simple presence that is what you are.
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Presence can also be called knowingness because it is the cognizing emptiness that allows for all experiencing. This knowingness that we are, is closely associated with thinking. Thinking, when colored by the belief in the false reference point of me, is limited, but as that dissolves, what is revealed is the direct knowingness that is always here and now. Thinking also gets quieter and more aligned with our natural knowingness, which then shines through the mind as clear reason and intuitive knowing, and infuses the body with a sense of energy and aliveness. It is also helpful to add, If there is no me in this moment, is it possible that there has never been one? And, What is actually here now? Here is how you can explore this in relationship to your feelings and problems: When you appear to be lost in a feeling or a story from the past, or you simply would like to support yourself in seeing through the illusion of me, ask yourself, Whose feeling or story is this? If you are identified with the false center, the answer will be mine. If you are not identified with the false sense of me, which may happen at any time, there may be an experience of no one and no thing taking delivery or claiming ownership of what is being experienced. If this happens, just allow yourself to rest as that and know that further questioning is not required. If the answer is mine, then ask yourself, In this moment, if you do not go into memory, can you actually find this me? You can also ask: Does this feeling or story actually belong to anyone? This question will often cut through any illusion of the personal and allow you to notice that what you are is not bound by, or even in relationship with any thought, feeling or story no matter how compelling. When there is not identification, you can also follow it up with, If there is no me in this moment, is it possible that there has never been one? Could I allow myself to rest as that?
Triple Welcoming
This process is used throughout the course to address the spins of limitation. This can be used any time you would like to go from being lost in a story or a belief in an old identity to resting as the presence, love and joy that you are. What also can be doneor may simply happen spontaneouslyis that these habit patterns from the past can be welcomed fully as one vortex of energy spinning in or on the presence of awareness that you are. This naturally causes them to dissolve.
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Triple Welcoming is a three-step process that may happen spontaneously or with our apparent help. You can use the following process for any issue, problem, belief or feeling that you would like to release: Step One Allow yourself to welcome the pictures, sensations and sounds that arise in or as this pattern. Welcome as well the labels, sto ries, judgments, and conclusionsconcepts that arise with or as this spin of energy. Step Two Allow yourself to welcome any desire to do anything with this spin or issue, including wanting get rid of it or change it or want ing to hold onto it or make it real, as well as any attachment or aversion to the issue. You may even recognize that wanting to do something is simply part and parcel of more of the same spin. Step Three Allow yourself to welcome any sense that this whole spin or issue is personal is about you or who you are any sense of me or mine, them or theirs. When we welcome all three aspects of the spin, it feels as though it breaks free inside and often we actually experience a spinning sensation as it naturally and effortlessly spins itself out of existence. We are simply noticing the spin that was always there. It is as if we suddenly felt the spin of the earth. The earth spins at over 1,000 miles an hour at the equator and is spinning around the sun at 60,000 miles an hour, yet we do not feel this because we feel attached to the earth as we have felt attached to or part of these internal spins. Simply allow the whole spin to have its own momentum. As this happens, the spin stops being fed by you, and it dissolves on its own accord. At any moment, you may notice that this whole spin has no center or is about no one. I highly encourage you to explore this for yourself without expectation of any result as best you can. Everyone who has explored this application of The 5th Way has been amazed by its power.
General Assignments
Love Yourself as You Are
Often when we explore spirituality or self-help we fall into the trap of allowing our aversions to our body/minds to co-op our explorations. We use whatever we are doing to reject what we are experiencing right now. Just simple loving kindness towards yourself is a great place to start, continue and even end your explorations. So throughout this course remember to love yourself as you are.
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Just Stop!
One of the more powerful breakthroughs I experienced in the mid 90s as I started discovering the truth of what I am is that if I simply stopped in this moment the presence awareness that I am would be more self-obvious to itself. What we are usually doing every moment is rushing through this moment in order to get to the next. We are busy seeking, striving, pushing, pulling, trying to fix or change, or simply just looking away from the truth of what we are. One of the simplest and most direct ways of interrupting this pattern is to simply stop. Thats right just stop. If you stop even for an instant you relax and open inside naturally and the truth of what you are comes shinning through.
Participate Fully
The more you put into this seminar or retreat the more you will get out of it. So allow yourself to participate fully both during the sessions and on your own.
Be Easy On Yourself
You will not get more from this seminar or retreat if you force yourself. Allow the seminar and retreat to unfold easily and naturally and be kind to yourself through the experience. Allow this to be a fun and joyous experience.
Rest
What you are is naturally unmoving or always at rest. You can end your releasing sessions or individual series of inquiries or releases or simply take a break any time by giving yourself a moment to rest as that which you are. You can use this simple question of: Can you allow yourself to rest as that? or simply be what you are in silence.
Definitions of Resistance
Resistance feels like trying to move forward with the brakes on.
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Any time you feel like you have to, must, or should do anything, youre probably feeling at least some resistance. Any time you are saying always or never to yourself or anyone else you are generating resistance. Rejecting the now by wanting to change the past and wanting to control the future is resistance. Resistance is opposition to force, real or imagined. Resistance is pushing against the world so that it will push back. Any time we have a feeling or thought I cant that is the feeling of resistance. Resistance is just another program or belief that we have manufactured to protect our other programs and beliefs. Resistance is when you havent yet decided whether or not to do something, but you do it anyway, and its difficult. To make it easy to do, all you need to do is decide to do it and do itor decide not to do it and dont do it.
Explorations:
1 of 4 -Welcoming Acceptance and the Flow The opposite of resistance is an open flowing energy and a complete acceptance of what is as it is. Since this is already right here right now right beyond what we are experiencing as resistance we can simply welcome that right here right now in any situation. By welcoming the opposite you help the mind see through the illusion of resistance. When you are experiencing any resistance you can ask yourself: Could I welcome acceptance and the flow? Yes, it is really that simple! You can also simply welcome acceptance and the flow any time you simply want to open more to that energy.
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Explorations:
1 of 7 - Reasoning from the truth Lester Levenson used to recommend that we use our clear reason and intuitive knowingness to reason from the truth, yet, most of do the exact opposite to this. We assume that what we believe to be true is true and never check to see if it actually is true. Our feelings, beliefs and ideas from the past are treated as though they are facts and then we reason from these imagined facts and find that we are not actually dealing with what is. This can be challenged in several ways: When we see a pattern that has been reoccurring in our consciousness we can check to see if it is actually true or if it is just a belief based on what was not an actual perception of what is. We can ask ourselves: Is this really true or is this a lie or a belief our mind is telling us to distract us from what is? This question can simply cut right through. Another thing we can do when we are caught in a lie the mind is selling us as the truth is to look at the pattern and then notice what would be here if that pattern was not here. This in and of itself is a release. Next assume or pretend that the opposite is actually more accurate and then allow yourself to look for evidence that supports this assumption in your direct experience. Hint: There is always some!
Explorations:
3 of 3 - Is There Actually Anyone Here to Want? We cannot maintain the artificial sense of lack that is wanting without someone to want. So a powerful way to see through these illusions is to check to see if you can actually find the one who is wanting? You can use questions like these:
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If you are feeling wanting to control or wanting to be controlled in addition to using the basic releasing questions, you can ask: Can you find the one who wants to control or be controlled? If all is well and unfolding as it should, what need is there for wanting control? Is there actually anyone in control or out of control here? Does the thought me actually have any control? If you are feeling wanting approval (love) or wanting to approve (love), in addition to asking the basic releasing questions, you can ask: Can you find the one who wants love or wants to love? Is there actually anyone here separate from the love that you are? Can the thought me actually gain or lose approval (love)? If you are wanting survival or wanting to die, in addition to asking the basic releasing questions, you can ask: Can you find the one who wants survival or wants to die? Is there actually anyone here who can live or die? Can the thought me actually live or die? If you are feeling wanting separation or wanting to be one, in addition to asking the basic releasing questions, you can ask: Can you find the one who wants to be separate or wants to be one? Is there actually anyone here who can be separate or one? Can the thought me actually be separate from or one with the presence of awareness that you are?
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Explorations:
1 of 3 - Be Compassion and Loving Kindness One of the characteristics of love in action is compassion and loving kindness. Many of us try to act more compassionately and with more loving kindness and I would recommend that you continue with acting that way as part of this assignment. Then take it a step deeper. Since you are love and compassion and loving kindness are expressions of the love that you are allow yourself to be compassion and loving kindness. This opens the flow of love much more deeply. It may look something like this. You are in a situation and are not sure how to act or be in that situation. You can ask yourself: How is the compassion and loving kindness that I am wanting to express in this situation? You can also simply surrender to the loving compassion and kindness that you are moment to moment throughout the day.
Going Deeper
The proceeding segments are the 4 main categories we start to explore in the teleseminar. There are seven more covered in the retreat and the 4 main categories are covered in much greater depth in the weekend seminars. The following are a few examples of the explorations from the seminar and retreat. I would highly recommend that you experiment with these too as you explore this teleseminar.
Explorations
2 of 3 - Look for the Abundance that Is Already Here When we are caught on the endless treadmill of wanting we miss the abundance that is already here now. By allow ourselves to pauseeven for an instantto notice and appreciate what you already have right now you step off the wheel and can start to enjoy your abundance now. You can explore this by becoming aware of the abundance that you already have in this moment. Look around to where you already have enough, at least for right now, and acknowledge that to yourself. You can take this a step further if you would like by allowing yourself to be truly grateful for what is here now. You can ask yourself: Could you allow yourself to be grateful for_____________? You fill in the blank. The more you acknowledge abundance the feeling of enough that is here now, the more you can enjoy the richness that is already here now.
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Explorations:
3 of 4 - Welcome Non Attachment Non Aversion There are many things that simply appear in our lives, hang out for a while then move on. There are even things that used to have attachment and aversion tied to them that no longer do. Allow yourself to review your life and welcome where there is already the absence of attachment and aversion. Simply look for where there is already flow without push and pull in your life.
Explorations:
2 of 5 - Welcome the illusion It is all about me. Sometimes before we can let something go we need to see it clearly first. In this exploration have fun exaggerating how much you feel the world revolves around you. The more you exaggerate it and the more ridiculous you make this perception the more you will be able to start seeing right through it. As you see the tendency to believe it is all about you simply welcome it as fully as you can and simply keep going with the exploration. So remember to have fun as you do this and to be open to what you discover as you do.
8-Stopping Time
Time is an illusion that traps us into believing that there is not enough of it to go around and that we are bound by this scarce resource. If you look at your own direct experience you will discover that time already seems to expand and contract depending on your state of mind. In this section of the retreat you will discover what is beyond the illusion of time and at the same time you will discover a feeling of timelessness or that you have all the time in the world.
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Explorations:
1 of 4 - Notice the Elasticity of Time Time is not as solid as we assume. If we look at our direct experience we will notice that sometimes we feel like time is moving very slowly and other times time seems to expand. This is even reflected in the results we create in life. Sometimes we create a lot in a short period of time and other times even with lots of time we cannot seem to get even a few things done. A great way to explore the elasticity of time is to simply play with it by allowing it to appear to move quickly and slowly and notice how differently you feel and perceive. This does not need to make sense but it will help you to loosen times apparent grip on you.
Explorations:
1 of 3 - Discovering the absence of boundaries We live in a world that our mind has compartmentalized and then believed that all the little compartments are actually real and true. If you actually look for the boundaries between these little boxes you discover that there are not boxes at all except in your mind. A great way to explore this is to ask yourself these two incredibly simple questions: Say you believe you are separate from awareness. The way to check if this is true is to see if you can actually find the boundary between you and awareness. You would ask a question like: Can you find where you end and awareness begins? Can you find where awareness ends and you begin? You can substitute any concept and watch it dissolve. Please note: Obviously there appear to be physical boundaries if you take the world to be real so for now focus on the boxes that you know are made up. As you do that you will begin to discover that even the boundaries in the physical world are not as solid as they seem.
Before you dissolve the I am the body illusion I would highly recommend that you love the body as it is and then release your attachments and aversions to the body. Then I would delve into that which you are which is beyond the body.
Explorations:
1 of 5 - Becoming Aware of What the body Is Appearing In or On We believe we are the body and that the body is real, solid and true. Yet if we explore this directly we can discover that what we perceive as the body is constantly changing and is not as real and solid as it appears. A great way to explore this is to simply start to notice the space or Isness on or in which the body is appearing. The more you welcome the sensations that make up the physical body and the more you welcome the space or emptiness on or in which these sensations appear the more the space comes to the foreground and the more you will feel spaciousness and light that you actually are.
Explorations:
1 of 4 - Embracing All as One Since there is only one, everything that is experienced is simply a reflection of the one. A great way to explore this for yourself is to simply welcome or embrace everything that is experience as the One. As you go throughout your day, from time to time, simply welcome whatever you are experiencing and then welcome it as the One.
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