In this video, “Dr. Bob” a.k.a. Dr. Robert Rosenthal and Bruce Rawles talk about chapter two from Bob’s new book “From Never-Mind to Ever-Mind“. entitled “Believing Is Seeing”. This second chapter from Bob’s recently released book uses stories, examples and metaphors that show how fallible and easily confused and deceived we can become when we rely on personal judgments based on our perceptions and their interpretations. We need a much larger context than our tiny, distorted pinhole view of the cosmos and therefore need to trust an inclusive awareness beyond our limited self-interest. On page 95 Bob shares a favorite cornerstone passage from A Course In Miracles (ACIM) which illuminates this point:
“The aim of our curriculum, unlike the goal of the world’s learning, is the recognition that judgment in the usual sense is impossible. This is not an opinion but a fact. In order to judge anything rightly, one would have to be fully aware of an inconceivably wide range of things; past, present and to come. One would have to recognize in advance all the effects of his judgments on everyone and everything involved in them in any way. And one would have to be certain there is no distortion in his perception, so that his judgment would be wholly fair to everyone on whom it rests now and in the future. Who is in a position to do this? Who except in grandiose fantasies would claim this for himself?” – M-10.3
Here’s a simple (30 second video) example of how a sculpture can look like giraffes from one perspective and an elephant from another equally “valid” but equally limited perspective. Trusting – and defending – our myopically incomplete world view becomes just a silly, forgivable mistake from a more inclusive vantage point.
Bob also introduces the metaphor of computer macros (such as the sort that software like Excel or PhotoShop uses to automate routine tasks) later in Chapter 2. We’ve all become such adepts at using our egos to quickly arrive at inaccurate and self-imprisoning conclusions based on past survival and coping mechanisms to the point that our “knee jerk” reactions often aren’t even questioned, let alone examined for their efficacy or the credibility of their glossed-over premises. The sublime logic encouraged by ACIM – a.ka. trusting Holy Spirit – allows us the opportunity to deconstruct these “macros,” see that they aren’t working for us, and seek and find the “better way” at the heart of the Course‘s curriculum which ultimately involves the ever-more-frequent vigilant practice of gentle, mindful vigilance.
Along with Tamara Morgan – daughter of Judy Whitson, the founder of the Foundation for Inner Peace (FIP) which publishes A Course In Miracles, Dr. Bob is co-president of FIP, as well as the author of From Plagues to Miracles (FPTM) – his prior book about ACIM –which explores the metaphysical metaphors and symbolism of the story of Exodus, available in both paperback and Kindle editions. The book page on his (new) Robert Rosenthal, M.D. website provides an overview of his books, novels and screenplays. Listen to numerous interviews with Dr. Bob here as well on Charlotte Spicer’s BlogTalkRadio channel series.
This video was recorded Feb. 7, 2019.