This meeting was less solemn than other sessions since the collapse of the Twin Towers. Was it Science demonstrated or "living in denial"? Probably a bit of both, but we couldn't deny the ardor of work in Science undertaken by members, as shown in a couple of experiences.

1) Over lunch a couple of members took note of their "survivors' guilt" and feelings of "if only I had done — or could do — more." They also owned the anger they felt towards the terrorists, the government, the media and indeed themselves. There was some wallowing but eventually they saw that this kind of pointless mentation was destructive. They could let the energy short-circuited in this manner be used instead to propel thought to "matter's opposite, the strength and permanency of Spirit" (see Science and Health, p. 293: 21-31).

2) A member found himself fantasizing about what he would have done if he had been aboard one of the hijacked airliners. So unrestrained was the imagery, that he soon became overwhelmed by murderous anger. He was walking along Fifth Avenue at the time and came upon a large crowd trying to enter St. Patrick's cathedral. Mayor Giuliani was speaking and his image and voice were conveyed to the street on a huge TV screen.

Suddenly our member's mental distress was lifted and he was filled with the most exquisitely sacred and loving feelings he says he has ever felt. One member said he thought Catholics call this type of experience"infused contemplation" while in the East it might be termed "satori".

Our member found a number of passages in Science and Health in which to anchor his healing. He mentioned the answer to the question, "What is error?" on page 472 of the Textbook. It includes, "Error is neither Mind nor one of Mind's faculties."

Our topic "Being" got little overt attention in discussion, but informed the readings and quietly underlay the sharing. One member likes this quote from Christian Science Re-Explored,by Margaret Laird: "Being and Christian Science practice are one and the same." (p. 150)

Last week at the end of the meeting a member handed out copies of some writings on tarot cards. Those who knew little of the tarot thought it was about fortune-telling, an activity most Christian Scientists do not consciously engage in. These writings however explored some areas that resonated well with our topic. For instance, locating one's very own sins or errors in others. This reminded one member of a Jungian psychologist's remark that about 90% of what riles us in another is about ourselves. Would a student of Christian Science up that to nearer 100%? Jesus advised dealing with our own beams before offering to help with the motes of others. (Matt. 7:3) Mrs. Eddy says this: "Know thyself, and God will supply the wisdom and the occasion for a victory over evil." (Science and Health, p. 571: 16-18)

The tarot paper also included a warning against what might be called one-sided expectations from any form of human action. For instance, getting an alcoholic to give up drinking without properly addressing the underlying strains could induce a psychotic break. And here's something to ponder: all the simplistic advice now floating around about how to rid the world of terrorism. Has anyone in the history of the world ever contacted his/her own inner terrorist to see what's afoot? And then let its non-dualistic reality bear fruit?

Here are a couple of relationship healings still to some extent in process. Our mood and that of our city in the aftermath of the tragedy is such that attempts at meaningful interaction with others are perhaps more valued than they were before the events.

1) A member was drawn into victim mode in discussions with other tenants in his apartment building over the lack of heating. He left an unpleasant message on the Super's answering machine. The super returned the call, saying the tenants never thanked him for the many good things he did. This alerted our member to some really bratty tendencies in his own thinking; indeed his father had introduced him to Christian Science years ago to help him let go of these tendencies — and here they were still! He prayed over the situation and was led to send a thank-you card to the super, taking note of his many good works and qualities.

2) A relative of another member deposited anonymous homophobic remarks in an Internet chat room and these found their way to him. Since these individuals had been out of touch for years he naturally felt it was an opportunity to repair the relationship. Initial phone contact was summarily rebuffed. Friends advised him leave it right there but he is persisting, feeling there's still some enlightenment to be brought into the situation.

An interesting quote from one of Mrs. Laird's tapes (Evanston, 1966) came up: "Duality (a.k.a. matter) starts when I say anyone or anything is not I." This sparked some reinterpretations of popular thought.

1) Should I be willing to give up my life for a cause? Certainly not for some half-baked dualistic pressure group. But, yes in terms of seeing myself and others as effects of the one Cause, divine Life. Whatever remains of the personal ego is then increasingly controlled by divinity.

2) New Yorkers, and maybe others, have been advised to have on hand an evacuation kit containing water, passport, flashlight and medications. This may be reasonable in the circumstances and we expended no energy at that level of functioning; but what of the metaphysics of survival (i.e., literally, living above)? Evacuation comes unsurprisingly from a root meaning "empty". We can be empty now of dualistic concepts, and reflect divine purity, identity, enlightenment and medicine — i.e., Mind ("The medicine of Science is divine Mind," Science and Health, p. 104:19).

We'll look at War next week. One member mentioned this quote from Miscellaneous Writings, p. 118: 25, "...the warfare with one's self is grand."