Author: Theodore Cottingham

A lesson in THE SCHOOL OF ME By Theodore Cottingham recorded May 31, 2024

The following is a computer generated summary of key points and questions to help you interact with this lesson.

Summary of the Lesson: “Keep worshiping God and you’ll never be born again. To be born again you recreate you to be it”

This lesson, delivered by Theodore Cottingham, challenges the conventional practice of worshiping God and suggests that true rebirth and enlightenment come from recognizing oneself as a divine being. Cottingham emphasizes the importance of recreating oneself as a person of light, embodying the teachings of Jesus not through worship but through personal transformation and self-realization. He argues that worship perpetuates separation from divinity and that understanding and accepting oneself as God is key to achieving the Kingdom of God within.

Key Points and Their Importance

1. Worship Perpetuates Separation:
   • Summary: Worshiping God creates a separation between the individual and the divine, reinforcing the belief that one is not inherently divine.
   • Importance: This concept challenges traditional religious practices and calls for a shift in perspective from worship to self-realization, empowering individuals to see themselves as embodiments of divinity.
2. Recreating Oneself:
   • Summary: True rebirth comes from recreating oneself as a divine being, embodying the consciousness and actions of Jesus.
   • Importance: This encourages personal transformation and self-empowerment, moving away from passive worship to active creation of one’s divine self.
3. Living the Teachings of Jesus:
   • Summary: Emphasizing that believers are meant to do greater works than Jesus, not just follow his teachings passively.
   • Importance: This redefines the role of Jesus’ teachings from historical reverence to practical, everyday application in one’s life, fostering a proactive approach to spirituality.
4. The Kingdom of God Within:
   • Summary: The Kingdom of God is within each person, and recognizing oneself as God is essential to accessing this kingdom.
   • Importance: This shifts the focus from external worship to internal exploration and realization, promoting a deeper, more personal connection to divinity.
5. The Role of Humility and Leadership:
   • Summary: True power and leadership come through humility and recognizing oneself as a divine being, leading with the consciousness of Christ.
   • Importance: This underscores the need for personal integrity and humility in spiritual leadership, aligning one’s actions with divine consciousness.

Questions for Deeper Exploration

1. Reflecting on Personal Transformation:
   • Question: In what ways have you begun to recreate yourself as a divine being? What challenges have you faced in this process?
   • Essay Prompt: Write an essay assessing your journey towards self-realization as a person of light. Reflect on your challenges, breakthroughs, and how you have integrated the teachings of Jesus into your daily life.
2. Understanding the Kingdom Within:
   • Question: How do you perceive the Kingdom of God within yourself? What practices help you access this inner kingdom?
   • Essay Prompt: Compose a position paper on the concept of the Kingdom of God within. Discuss how this understanding has changed your spiritual practice and daily living.
3. Leadership and Humility:
   • Question: How do you balance humility and leadership in your spiritual journey? How does recognizing yourself as divine influence your interactions with others?
   • Essay Prompt: Write a self-assessment on your role as a leader in your spiritual community. Explore how humility and divine recognition shape your approach to leadership and service.

Comparative Analysis with Major Religions

• Congruent Aspects:
  • Many religions teach the importance of self-realization and inner transformation.
  • The concept of the divine within is echoed in various mystical traditions, such as Sufism in Islam and certain strands of Hinduism.
  • The emphasis on humility and living a life of integrity aligns with teachings found in Christianity, Buddhism, and other major faiths.
• Divergent Aspects:
  • The rejection of worship as a means to connect with the divine contrasts with the practices of most major religions, which emphasize worship and prayer.
  • The notion that individuals are inherently divine and can create their own reality is more radical compared to the traditional views of a separate, all-powerful God found in mainstream Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
  • The focus on personal transformation over communal rituals and doctrines presents a significant departure from organized religious practices.

Instructions for Applying the Lesson

1. Recognize Your Divinity:
   • Understand that you are inherently divine and capable of recreating yourself as a person of light.
   • Reflect on your life and identify areas where you can embody the consciousness and actions of Jesus.
2. Embrace Personal Transformation:
   • Move beyond worship and focus on personal transformation and self-realization.
   • Engage in practices that help you access the Kingdom of God within, such as meditation, journaling, and self-reflection.
3. Lead with Humility:
   • Practice humility in your daily interactions and recognize the divinity in yourself and others.
   • Lead by example, demonstrating the principles of love, light, and truth in your actions.

Invitation to Join The School of Me

Consider entering The School of Me to further explore these teachings and transform your life. Visit our website at www.TheSchoolofMe.com to learn more about our programs, subscribe to our newsletters, and join our community of like-minded individuals committed to self-realization and personal transformation.

Next Steps for Prospective Students

1. Explore the Website:
   • Visit www.TheSchoolofMe.com to learn more about the school’s philosophy, courses, and community.
2. Subscribe and Engage:
   • Subscribe to our YouTube channel and newsletters to stay updated on new lessons and resources.
3. Join the Community:
   • Consider becoming a member of The School of Me to access exclusive content, participate in discussions, and connect with others on a similar spiritual journey.

By joining The School of Me, you will embark on a transformative journey to realize your divine potential and create a new reality of light, love, and truth.

Thank you for being part of The School of Me with Theodore Cottingham.

A lesson in THE SCHOOL OF ME By Theodore Cottingham recorded May 30, 2024

The following is a computer generated summary of key points to help you interact with this lesson.

Summary of Key Points and Their Importance

1. Immortal Spirit and Self-Construction
   • Key Point: Belief in one’s immortal spirit and the construction of one’s new self.
   • Importance: Emphasizes the individual’s power to create their own path and identity, fostering self-reliance and spiritual growth.
2. End of Sorrow and Conflict
   • Key Point: Ending sorrow, wars, and brutalization.
   • Importance: Encourages peace and healing, highlighting the importance of compassion and unity in personal and communal transformation.
3. Christ Consciousness
   • Key Point: Embracing Christ consciousness within oneself.
   • Importance: Shifts the focus from worshiping a historical figure to embodying Christ-like qualities, promoting personal divinity and inner power.
4. Personal Revelation and Freedom
   • Key Point: Rejecting external authority in spiritual matters.
   • Importance: Advocates for personal revelation and freedom from traditional religious constraints, fostering individuality in spiritual practice.
5. Light as Fertilization
   • Key Point: Light as the fertilizing force for spiritual growth.
   • Importance: Positions light (knowledge and truth) as the essential element for personal and spiritual development.
6. Birthing the Covenant
   • Key Point: Writing and birthing one’s own covenant with God.
   • Importance: Encourages personal responsibility and active participation in one’s spiritual journey, emphasizing a direct relationship with the divine.
7. Rejecting Orthodox Christianity
   • Key Point: Moving away from traditional religious doctrines.
   • Importance: Challenges the constraints of orthodox Christianity, promoting a more personal and liberated approach to spirituality.
8. Self-Judgment and Personal Divinity
   • Key Point: Judging oneself as Christ and embracing personal divinity.
   • Importance: Encourages self-acceptance and recognition of one’s inherent divinity, empowering individuals to live authentically.
9. Living as Light
   • Key Point: Living and operating in the light of one’s true self.
   • Importance: Promotes living in alignment with one’s true nature, fostering inner peace and external harmony.

Contrast with Orthodox Christianity

• Personal Divinity vs. Historical Worship: Orthodox Christianity often emphasizes the worship of Jesus as a separate divine entity, while this lesson focuses on the individual embodying Christ consciousness.
• Self-Construction vs. External Salvation: Traditional Christianity teaches salvation through Jesus, whereas this lesson advocates for self-construction and personal revelation.
• Light and Energy vs. Doctrine and Ritual: Orthodox practices involve established rituals and doctrines, while this lesson highlights light and energy as central to spiritual growth.
• Direct Revelation vs. Clerical Mediation: Orthodox Christianity typically involves clergy as mediators, whereas this lesson promotes direct personal revelation without intermediaries.

Significant Instructions to Each Person

1. Believe in Your Immortal Spirit: Recognize and cultivate your inner divinity.
2. End Sorrow and Conflict: Strive for peace and healing in yourself and others.
3. Embrace Christ Consciousness: See yourself as embodying Christ-like qualities.
4. Seek Personal Revelation: Trust your inner guidance over external authorities.
5. Nurture with Light: Use knowledge and truth to grow spiritually.
6. Create Your Covenant: Actively participate in your spiritual journey by defining your relationship with the divine.
7. Reject Traditional Constraints: Move beyond orthodox doctrines to find your unique spiritual path.
8. Judge Yourself as Divine: Accept and live as your true, divine self.
9. Live as Light: Align your actions with your highest truth and light.

Ramifications of Studying Each Lesson

• Personal Empowerment: Students will gain a sense of personal empowerment and self-determination.
• Spiritual Freedom: Embracing a liberated approach to spirituality, free from traditional constraints.
• Inner Peace and Healing: Fostering inner peace and the ability to heal oneself and others.
• Enhanced Awareness: Increased awareness of one’s divinity and interconnectedness with all life.
• Transformation: Profound personal and spiritual transformation through direct engagement with the teachings.

Instructions to Prospective Students

To begin your journey with THE SCHOOL OF ME:

1. Visit the Website: Explore www.TheSchoolofMe.com to learn more about the school’s philosophy and offerings.
2. Subscribe: Subscribe to the YouTube channel and the website to receive updates and new lessons.
3. Engage with the Content: Start with the introductory materials and recordings provided by Theodore Cottingham.
4. Write Your Covenant: Begin drafting your personal covenant as a commitment to your spiritual journey.
5. Participate Actively: Engage in the community and participate in discussions to deepen your understanding and application of the teachings.
6. Embrace the Light: Practice the principles of light and love in your daily life to embody the teachings of THE SCHOOL OF ME.

By following these steps, you will embark on a transformative journey towards self-discovery and spiritual empowerment. Welcome to THE SCHOOL OF ME!

Now let’s go deeper into the material presented.
Please begin to respond to the following questions.

Key Point 1: Immortal Spirit and Self-Construction

Questions:

1. Essay Topic: Reflect on your understanding of your immortal spirit. How do you perceive the concept of immortality within yourself, and how does this belief influence your daily actions and decisions? Provide specific examples from your life.
2. Position Paper Topic: Assess your current stage in the process of constructing your new self. What steps have you taken to align your life with the belief in your immortal spirit? Identify any challenges you have faced and how you plan to overcome them.

Key Point 2: End of Sorrow and Conflict

Questions:

1. Essay Topic: Discuss the impact of sorrow and conflict in your life. How have you addressed these issues, and what strategies have you employed to promote peace and healing within yourself and others?
2. Position Paper Topic: Evaluate your role in ending personal and communal conflicts. What actions can you take to contribute to a more harmonious environment? How do you plan to implement these actions in your daily life?

Key Point 3: Christ Consciousness

Questions:

1. Essay Topic: Describe your journey towards embracing Christ consciousness. How do you define Christ consciousness, and in what ways have you begun to embody these qualities in your interactions with others?
2. Position Paper Topic: Analyze the challenges and benefits of adopting Christ consciousness in your life. What internal and external obstacles have you encountered, and how have you addressed them?

Key Point 4: Personal Revelation and Freedom

Questions:

1. Essay Topic: Explore the concept of personal revelation in your spiritual journey. How have you experienced personal revelations, and what impact have they had on your beliefs and actions?
2. Position Paper Topic: Assess the level of freedom you have achieved in your spiritual practice. How have you moved away from external authorities, and what steps have you taken to cultivate your inner guidance?

Key Point 5: Light as Fertilization

Questions:

1. Essay Topic: Discuss the role of light in your spiritual growth. How do you understand the concept of light as a fertilizing force, and how have you integrated this understanding into your daily practices?
2. Position Paper Topic: Evaluate the effectiveness of using light and truth as tools for personal development. What methods have you found most beneficial, and how do you plan to continue nurturing your spiritual growth through light?

Key Point 6: Birthing the Covenant

Questions:

1. Essay Topic: Reflect on the process of writing and birthing your own covenant with God. How have you approached this task, and what insights have you gained about your spiritual path and purpose?
2. Position Paper Topic: Analyze the significance of creating a personal covenant. What are the key elements of your covenant, and how do they guide your actions and decisions?

Key Point 7: Rejecting Orthodox Christianity

Questions:

1. Essay Topic: Examine your relationship with traditional religious doctrines. How have you navigated the transition away from orthodox Christianity, and what new beliefs have you embraced as a result?
2. Position Paper Topic: Assess the impact of rejecting orthodox Christianity on your spiritual journey. What benefits and challenges have you encountered, and how have you addressed them?

Key Point 8: Self-Judgment and Personal Divinity

Questions:

1. Essay Topic: Reflect on the concept of self-judgment as Christ. How do you judge yourself, and in what ways have you begun to recognize and embody your personal divinity?
2. Position Paper Topic: Evaluate the process of accepting your divinity. What steps have you taken to embrace your true self, and how has this acceptance transformed your life?

Key Point 9: Living as Light

Questions:

1. Essay Topic: Discuss your experience of living as light. How do you understand this concept, and in what ways have you incorporated it into your daily life?
2. Position Paper Topic: Assess your progress in aligning your actions with your highest truth and light. What challenges have you faced, and what strategies have you employed to overcome them?

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Instructions for the Student

As you delve into these questions, take the time to reflect deeply on your experiences and beliefs. Write your essays and position papers with honesty and clarity, assessing where you are in the process of creating The Christ within you. These reflections will help you understand your journey better and identify areas for growth and development. Embrace this opportunity to explore your spirituality and share your insights with others in THE SCHOOL OF ME community.