I was back in class, and everyone was standing.

“Remember to stay close together and keep connected with a buddy. Pair up now.” The class scattered around the room to find a partner. Elyse walked directly to me.

“How about you and me?”

“Sure, Elyse. That would be nice.”

“You know how it's done, everyone. Hold each other's hands.” The teacher waited until all pairs were connected. “Okay, class. Scott needs some new ideas to rework his belief system. We will help him, just as we did with each of you.”

The teacher snapped his fingers, and we were in deep space, all of us, just floating around holding hands. There were bright stars everywhere. It was truly a spectacle to behold. It was the blue-haired boy who began my orientation.

“A belief system is something either you create or, if you do not, is created for you. It is influenced by every experience you have had, but you can change it in an instant. Going back to the computer analogy, your beliefs create the program that runs on your operating system. That program is your life. In order to re-create that program, you can simply choose a new program, anything you would like, one small rewrite at a time.”

Elyse took over. “Anything at all. With one stipulation. If you want that belief system to work for you and bring you happiness, all of your beliefs will have to be checked and measured against one simple principle. This principle needs to be first, above all others. It needs to be a principle that is associated with a high level of consciousness, something that resonates closely with Truth. Without it, chaos ensues, and you will continue to struggle. Have you figured out what that principle is yet?”

“It is the belief that whatever I choose to think, feel, or do,” I replied, “must include loving-kindness to everything and everyone, including me.”

“That's it!” said the teacher. “If you keep loving-kindness as a guide, it will help you release suffering and move you closer to your True Nature. That's because loving-kindness is closer to your True Nature.”

“Yes, I can see how that can be.”

I continued to enjoy the beauty of the stars. They began to pulse in and out—they were all there one second and then they were all gone. Then suddenly, after one of the pulses, they remained invisible, replaced by a vast darkness, a pitch-black void, except for one tiny point of light, almost imperceptible to my eyes. The energy was intensifying. I'd never felt anything that powerful before. This seemed like the big bang, but different from what I'd learned about it because I could feel a vibration of energy all around me, even in the darkened void. I always thought the big bang was the thing that actually created energy.

Then it happened. From that tiny point came an explosion that was louder and hotter than anything I could have ever imagined. It produced a brilliant light that lit up the entire universe in all directions, for as far as I could see.

The teacher's voice interrupted my awestruck observation, asking “What are you choosing to believe about that event?”

“I felt energy around us increasing before the explosion, and it must have come from somewhere. I think maybe God. I don't know. But I'd love to know the truth.”

“Scott,” said the teacher, “you have beliefs about everything. Some work for you, and those are the ones you want to cultivate. Some beliefs work against you, and those are the kind you want to change. And some beliefs simply do not matter. You need to learn the differences between them all. That way, you can focus your energy on the things that do matter to you. There are so many thoughts that can distract you. Focusing on the ones that really matter will improve your life experience more quickly. We started here in space because you hold the belief that the big bang created the universe. This is the type of belief that does not matter. As long as you are comfortable with it, you can just accept it and leave it be.”

“Why doesn't the truth about the origin of the universe matter?” I asked.

“It does not matter because even if you knew the truth about it, it would not change your life. You will dramatically change your life if you remember who you really are, why you are here, and how to live a happy, fully engaged existence. It is not necessary to know the answer to every question. It is a fine and healthy quality to be curious, but needing to know is the ego wanting to exert a sense of control over everything. The ego's need depletes your energy and focus. Sometimes it is enlightening to just embrace some of the mysteries of life.

“If you are happy with your beliefs that the big bang created the universe and that perhaps it was God who caused the big bang to happen, and if believing those things does no harm to anyone, then believe them. One thing that is very important that I should mention here is that your belief system belongs to you. There's no harm in sharing it with people who are interested, but it is not lovingly kind to force your ideas onto those who may not be interested. People who force their beliefs onto others do so to try to control them. This usually stems from a weak sense of self and a lack of faith in their own beliefs.”

I considered that and realized how often I got into arguments when people tried to push their ideas on me. I thought about what the nurse had taught me in the second portal about conflict; that it derives from a feeling of being separate. The thought then came to me that it takes two separate people to create a conflict and that I didn't need to be one of them.

I looked around the classroom, and a strange but appropriate idea popped into my head. “You know, it occurs to me that the nature of conflict really comes down to shoes, or more specifically, people's reluctance to try on any pair besides their own. That's what happens when people fight over religion or politics. So, speaking of religion, what should I have faith in with regard to that path?”

“Very appropriate choice of words, as there are many paths to take, all leading to the same place,” said the teacher.

With that, one of the smallest students, a child prodigy I imagined, a cute girl with pigtails, spoke out for the first time. “Like bowling with bumpers on!” she exclaimed. Everyone laughed along with her.

The teacher continued. “Whether it is through religion, an inner voice, or the guidance of teachers, each of us must find our own path to Knowing, which is the essential understanding of all things. Religion is a vehicle that works for many people, but follow whatever path you feel will help you remember the truth.”

“I want the path that takes me to what I've recently felt. That indescribable experience of bliss. I think that is the truth, but how will I really even know what Truth is?”

Elyse spoke up: “The illusion ends when everything that is not Truth fades from your reality. Have faith in that, too.”

“In the meantime, listen to the voice of loving-kindness,” said the blue-haired boy. “You already know this inner voice; it is your true voice.”

“May I ask, who am I, really?”

“You are not yet ready to let your mind go. Please ask that question when you know you are ready,” remarked the teacher.

“So in the meantime, I suppose I have to just keep questioning everything, kind of a trial-and-error process?”

“Yes, you will continually question and discern between the temporary, limited fantasies that your mind creates and the Knowing that is unlimited and permanent. It is a process of uncovery, that is, uncovering the truth from all that it is not. This is what all awakening people do, and we call it … class?”

They all spoke in unison. “True versus Truth.”

“True is what you think you know; it's what you believe with your limited, finite, and logical mind,” added Elyse. “All things that are true are true for an individual or even a group of them. Those meanderings have no permanence to them. Truth is Knowing—that which does not change. Its permanent nature can be intuitively felt within every soul in the world, but only when we surrender the control of our minds. Truth is beyond limitation, separation, or individuation.

“As another guide to distinguish between true and Truth, remember that any idea that separates you, limits you, or attempts to define you in any way is an idea that moves you further from Truth. The people, places, things, and ideas that unite you are those that move you closer to your True Essence.”

“Good job, class. Yes, to eventually know the truth, you have to learn to distinguish it from what your mind believes is true.” The teacher pointed to the small pigtailed girl. “She had the right idea. Don't try too hard to figure out the truth right now. Instead, just get on a path to recognize what you think might be truth and start there. Just make sure you write down your ideas in pencil instead of pen.”

“And how do I even begin to choose beliefs that will work for me?”

“I am glad you asked, as that is a most important part of this journey. To learn to discern Truth from true, you need to at least have an initial idea, even if it's just a guess, of what the truth is. One way to think about Knowing is to relate it to intuition. Your intuition will help you. Listen carefully to it. Until you can distinguish intuition from self-created thought, you will need to continually test and refine what comes to you. But use whatever current version of what you think is truth as a working definition until you replace it. You might continually replace it all your life, but each time will move you closer to your True Nature.”

“I'm not sure how to listen to my intuition.”

“Intuition comes in many forms. You've been experiencing yours through various forms of chills and feelings. You have also resonated with concepts that just felt correct to you. Additionally, you have just known some things and have questioned how you knew them. You didn't even understand or necessarily agree with what came to you. All of that is your intuition speaking to you. Keep refining yours, as it is your way of providing you with directional signs to Truth.

“Consider what you have experienced in this portal and the others. What has your intuition told you about the nature of Truth, and how do you relate to that information? Remember, your answer should feel like it comes not from your mind but from a place, an intelligence, beyond logic or reason.”

“The thing that has rung most true so far is that there is a conscious universe, creating all I see. With that thought, I can see all that is before me, without my filters, which allows me to experience more of what the world offers. Also, the idea of Consciousness being unconditionally accepting is very peaceful, and my being more accepting of myself will help me rest a little easier, even when I think I screw up a bit. Speaking of which, I believe nonjudgment is the only way Consciousness can be, so that is a goal that will always be a work in progress for me. Loving-kindness is a great sounding board for how to treat myself and others. Besides the obvious, is also means appreciating every person or experience for what it can offer. I also relate to the idea of an intelligent universe, one that I can connect to when I quiet my mind.

“All those ideas resonate within me, perfectly. As you requested, I will continue to question everything with a curious and open mind, but I do believe those things are the truth. I've felt them to be so. That is the same feeling I had when I first met you on the sidewalk.”

It occurred to me that so far, in all his incarnations and even when I referenced our first encounter, the beggar never revealed to me who he really was, though he didn't make any attempt to hide or deny it either.

“That is a wonderful start,” said the teacher. “So while you keep refining those concepts, remember to measure any thoughts, feelings, and actions against those resonating ideas. If anything you think, feel, or do better connects you to those concepts, then you can trust that you are on the right track. If anything pulls you away from those concepts, then you will be moving away from Truth. That path will take you from what you think you know, to pure Knowing.”

“I actually think I've been doing that since I first stumbled upon the dream world.”

“You have. Although I doubt it was a stumble,” said the teacher. “Now just trust that it will take you where you truly yearn to go. Remember that you don't have to try very hard. In fact, you do not have to try at all. If anything, let go of trying, just release. As you release your preconceived notions, the truth will be revealed.”

“Like the statue whose true nature is uncovered only when the outer layers are removed,” said the pigtailed girl, which earned her a few hugs from the others.

The teacher jumped in: “Yes, chip away at your statue, Scott.”

“In the meantime,” said Elyse, “why not use your mind in the way it's designed? The mind's purpose—and it achieves it wonderfully—is to allow you to experience life in your own unique way. Tap into the creative genius of yours and manifest the world you want to experience. That way, you can turn your dreams into reality.”

“We live in the world of possibility,” said Sammy. That struck a chord, as I remembered Karine using similar words. “Choose and create your experience. That's where your power lies, in the ability to choose your reality. Once you truly understand this power, you are more likely to understand your nature as both creation and Creator.”

“Wait a minute,” I said, curiously, challenging not them as much as my past beliefs. “How can I be sure that the idea of creating my own reality isn't just an act of self-deception? I mean, what about the real world, filled with pain and suffering, and the restrictions imposed on people by genetics or by other people, based on race, color, or physical limitations? How do I bridge the gap between the world I see and the reality I have now felt?”

With that, a loud whistle, along with the unmistakable sound of an approaching diesel engine, turned our heads in the direction of the oncoming train. Though it had sounded much bigger, when it pulled up, I saw that it was just a single locomotive train car. It slowed to a stop, and we all boarded.

“Why don't we just project ourselves to where we want to go?” I asked.

“In anticipation of the destination, it is more often than not that our journeys are not appreciated. We could all use a little more enjoyment of the ride,” said the teacher. I sat back, trying to enjoy that one.

I felt the train slowing as we reached a small town. We stopped, and when we got off, many small children ran past us. Several adults behind them were walking more slowly in the same direction.

The pigtailed girl and the blue-haired boy each held one of my hands and began pulling me to follow all the others. And there were many others. When we arrived at our destination, I was surprised to see what was most likely the entire population of the town staring at the front porch of a small log cabin. On it, a white-haired woman dressed in a pretty pink dress and a matching bonnet on her head rocked back and forth and appeared to be knitting, though I was too far away to tell for sure. People sat very quietly all around the porch and yard surrounding the cabin, watching the woman.

“Who is she?” I asked.

“Shhhhh,” replied the blue-haired boy.

The woman briefly looked up. I eagerly waited to hear what I expected to be wisdom of the ages. I waited and continued waiting. She looked very content and peaceful but said nothing for what seemed like forever. I looked around to see if others lost focus, but none appeared to. They all looked enchanted with the woman.

The day turned into night and nothing changed. Not a peep from the crowd nor a word from the woman. I finally closed my eyes, and when I did, I began to feel something. Something beautiful. I felt solid on the ground and at the same time like I was floating. It seemed like my entire body was vibrating, rapidly. Only a few distracting thoughts popped in here and there, but even those quickly faded. Everything made sense.

It must have been the middle of the night when the woman stood from her rocking chair, grabbed whatever she was working on, turned around, and walked into the log cabin. Everyone then arose and began walking away from the cabin. When I looked more closely, I could tell that everyone, including me, had a slight glow to them, similar to the one I saw on the first portal before it lit up in full force.

“What do you know?” asked the teacher as we walked back toward the train.

“I don't know what to think.”

“Yes, don't think,” he said. “Thinking is like trying to feel with your mind. Know with your Essence instead. You were doing that before in front of the cabin. Your intuition was speaking. You were listening without your mind and hearing without attaching any labels, judgments, or thoughts onto what you heard. You already know the answer to my question. You know all answers. Now, what do you know?”

The pigtailed girl put a flower in my hand, and I felt a comforting chill and a sense of being grounded and free that resonated though my entire body, the same things I'd felt with my eyes closed by the cabin and on the sidewalk in New York. I was not trying to know; I just knew. In that mindless moment, I understood that Knowing was something to which I always had access and that the voice that spoke to me is the same voice that speaks to all humans, animals, plants—everything. I recognized then that the voice had always been there, but I'd been so busy thinking that I hadn't heard it.

“I don't have to figure out, understand, or even agree with what happens in the world, as none of that changes the reality of what is, a reality that I'm just beginning to see.” I took my usual deep cleansing breath. “I am Knowing; that is all there is to know,” I said.

“Why do you believe the woman remained silent?”

“She shared her wisdom by sharing her Essence. By being. There was nothing that needed to be said. Knowing is not of the mind and cannot be understood through the spoken word. It is a shared sense of Truth that resonates within each of us, within all of us.”

“Yes, we came here because you asked about the reality of living in your world, Scott,” said the teacher. “You doubted the idea that you can create a world of your choosing by altering your belief system, because you thought that some part of you was at the effect of the cruelties of the world. What do you think of those doubts now?”

“Even though only a few times and just very briefly, I've tasted reality in very sacred and heavenly moments. In those moments, I am everywhere and there is only Knowing. I guess the purpose of this trip is to remind myself that no matter what beliefs I have about the world, it is still just the mind's dream, and that when I am Knowing, all the human drama fades and nothing is unknown.”

“You guess that?” asked Elyse.

“I know it,” I said, “but I'm still unsure about what to do in my waking state. If what I think isn't real, why has all the suffering I've experienced been so devastatingly painful?”

“The human mind thinks it is real,” Elyse replied. “It believes it is an entity unto itself, which is why it is also referred to as the ‘self.’ Because your individual mind does not remember its connection to the One Mind, you believe you live in a world of isolation, separation, and limitation, an illusion which causes you to suffer. People get confused by the word illusion,” Elyse went on. “It simply means that we do not see the world as it actually is but instead see it with the filters of the mind. Just because something is an illusion it doesn't mean you should ignore it. Whether something actually exists or not is irrelevant, because you are having a real experience with it. So yes, until there is no longer suffering and drama, you do need to learn how to handle it. Raise your consciousness not only by remembering that you're connected to the One Mind, but by knowing that you are the One Mind. Feel it as your Essence. Know it as Truth. Do this and you will never again suffer.”

That reminded me of what the nurse and I had discussed about pain and acceptance. Not sure if I was completely getting the concept, I asked, “You mean I can get to the point where things ‘just are,’ and I won't feel the need to change anything?”

With that, the teacher snapped his fingers, and we were once again on the train. “One more stop for you,” he said.

We stopped in a desert-like area in which I could only see a single tent. There were a few people holding open the flap at the tent's entryway. By the way they were dressed, I figured that we were somewhere in India.

A heavily robed man slowly walked toward the tent, his elbows supported by the guiding hands of two young men. I'd gotten pretty good at sensing other's experiences since I'd first tried it with the gull and crab, so I cleared my mind and imagined I was him. Within seconds, I felt a pain that was almost too much for me to bear. I watched as he entered the tent, took off his robe, and sat down and closed his eyes. Almost immediately, the pain was gone, leaving only peace. I relaxed and continued to feel a sense of peace as I watched him meditate. When he was finished, he put the robe, along with the pain, back on. At that point, his agony was unbearable, and I stepped outside, coming back into my own body.

I stopped him as he walked out of the tent. “I'm very sorry to intrude, but would you mind if I asked you a question?”

“I am here for you,” was his response.

“You have the amazing ability to remove your pain when you choose to, so why take it back on and suffer?”

“There is pain, but there is no suffering,” he said.

I stood for a few moments, watching him hobble away as I absorbed his words. If I could truly believe the lesson I'd just learned and figure out how to incorporate it in my life, I was sure that my entire experience of the world would be forever changed.

I blinked, and we were back in the classroom.

“I think we all had a great trip, right?” asked the teacher.

The students agreed.

“Scott learned a lot about belief systems, and I believe we learned from him as well.”

“Thank you,” they all said.

“Thank you for visiting us today, Scott. Remember, in whatever you experience, decipher true from Truth by separating your ego from the experience. Ask yourself “What does my intuition tell me is Truth, and what has my mind conceived that is only true?” Keep challenging yourself. Your intuition can be trusted only if you do not have an attachment to any particular outcome. Just be curious and inquisitive, desiring only Truth, nothing else.”

Elyse stood up and walked toward my desk in the back of the room.

“Here is your next key,” she said. “I've been saving this for you. It's a pair of blue jeans from your youth to remind you that you are still learning and growing.”

“Thank you, Elyse.” I turned to face the teacher. “I'd like to ask one more question, if that would be okay.”

“Of course. Go ahead.”

“Why can't I manifest things in my waking life as I can in my dreams?”

“You can. In fact, that is all you ever do. They are just more easily visible to you here. You think of this as a nonreal world. In here, you are not restricted by your limitations or your belief in the laws of nature. Think of what might happen if, in your waking life, you believed that you were unlimited.”

“I can't even imagine that.”

“When you can imagine it, you will create your own miracles. I know that your mind wants irrefutable proof and that having that proof will help you to quiet its questions. You've learned the concepts, but I understand that nothing replaces the value of personal experience. You can consciously choose which world you see, but you must believe it to be so to be able to truly see it.”

The pigtailed girl then jumped in: “Believing is seeing!” she said.

6:59

When I woke up, I took out my journal and wrote line 3:

Uncovering the Truth

1. Portal 1—Aware is what we can be. Awareness is the way of Being.
2. Portal 2—Accepting is how we can act. Acceptance is the open arms of the Universe.
3. Portal 3—Belief is what we think we know to be true. Knowing is our Truth.