The Brown Book Commentaries

―To be Care-full, avoid being careful.‖ ~ anonymous
Caring for others and caring for self cannot co-exist in any given moment … Indeed, the way human
consciousness functions means that these two highly divergent foci remain ever mutually exclusive. If
we are going to be truly aware – with sound intention and focused motive, then we can only do so by
focusing on one target for that moment‘s choice; either ourselves or another (or sometimes a single
collective of others). As such, if we wish to be truly Care-full with others, it is indeed impossible to be
―careful‖ while we do so – for every single thought related to danger to self (or risk analysis, or costbenefit
ratios, or balance of give & take outcomes) completely prevents any real Care from blossoming.
As such, while we must never Love recklessly (i.e. without forethought), once selfless Love is chosen we
must always Love without any care to self – without worrying about possible negative consequences
thereof, and without pining for potential positive rewards thereby..
“When one turns to the Lord, all veils are removed.” ~ Paul (2 Corinthians 3:16)
First & foremost, realize that there are number of ―veils‖ that keep us from witnessing to the ―Glory of
the Lord‖ (i.e. cherishing the Life we have been given by choosing to serve those in need – see Matthew
22:37-40). There are veils of fear for personal safety, and there are veils of desire for personal pleasure;
there are veils of political allegiance, and there are veils of religious subservience; there are veils of
arrogant judgment, and there are veils of submission to tragedy & despair … Indeed Life is filled with
―veils‖ that keep us from witnessing the wonders of living and that keep us from witnessing the
opportunities to Care. How wonderful it is that The Way of Christ removes all of these mirages from our
midst! How wonderful it is that radical acts of selfless love are all we need to See clearly again! … Of
course, for some – like the ―apostle‖ Paul – removing Life‘s veils isn‘t that simple. For Paul ―turns to the
Lord‖ by looking ―up‖ to Jesus Christ, which becomes a veil in & of itself … Indeed, Jesus himself does
not want us to turn to him at all (see Mark 10:18, John 5:41, John 7:16, John 8:50-54, John 12:44 et al)
but would much rather have us ―turn to the Lord‖ instead -- allowing the Christ Essence within us (see
John 14:20) to imbue our deeds & choices with a Love that is pure and unconditional and willingly selfsacrificial
… For Paul, the Lord was a spiritual tyrant; a celestial judge & jury who condemned those who
didn‘t profess the proper subservience (see Romans 2:16 + Romans 9:27 + Romans 12:19, Romans 11:32,
Romans 11:21-22, Romans 14:10-12, 1 Corinthians 4:4, 1 Corinthians 5:13a, 1 Corinthians 10:5, 1
Corinthians 11:32, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 1 Thessalonians 4:6 et al) … For Jesus the Father was perfectly
Loving (Matthew 5:43-48), perfectly Merciful (Luke 6:36) and perfectly Forgiving (Matthew 18:21-22) –
a Divine Essence who could by Its very nature never condemn any sentient being for any trespass
whatsoever (see John 5:22 + Matthew 5:48 + 1 John 4:18 + John 6:45 + John 8:15 et al) … Yes, it is
indeed true that whenever we choose not to Love, we are in effect keeping ourselves from the presence of
the Father – but this is not a punishment inflicted by the Divine, but rather a chosen consequence we have
ladled upon ourselves; a consequence that is just & fully proportionate: a consequence that never carries
with it any negative effects in excess to the wrong committed. Otherwise God would have constructed a
Life ruled by capriciousness & injustice, and would not be worth worshiping at all.
―Every flaw seen in another is actually a reflection of one's own flawed affections.‖ ~ anonymous
Projection is a potent prison when unconsciously applied, and a powerful tool of liberation when
consciously utilized – Consider: Every flaw in another might indeed be there where it is witnessed – and
yet the only place the perceived flaw is certain to be found is within the one doing that witnessing; either
in how he or she currently is, in how he or she recently was, or in how he or she could very easily become
… Similarly, every nobility seen in another plays out similarly – more accurately illuminating the Good
in the perceiver than the Good in the one so perceived. … Villains tend to exude the characteristics of
manipulation, greed, negativity, callousness, dishonesty, arrogance, superficiality & zealotry – the same
core ―sins‖ present in every human‘s ego-self … Saints & Heroes exude the characteristics of Gentleness,
Generosity, Gratitude, Compassion, Integrity, Humility, Wonderment & Kindness – the same Core
Virtues in every Human‘s Heart … As such, what we are is not ―who we are‖ – for we are innately
compilations of both of these extremes. No, who we truly Are in any given moment is which of the two
we decide to enliven and set free.
491