"Medicine's part of the Second Degree in Mrs. Eddy's translation of mortal mind.

"Probably, but wouldn't a Christian Science treatment be there too? I mean it's a human action. The result may be spiritual realization, but the appearance is two people talking and praying."

"Well my Teacher said several times we should never leave any healing, medical or metaphysical, in matter. It's always a spiritual healing, which means there was never anything to heal."

"Sure. Both medical people and Christian Scientists are in the business of bringing out our perfection."

"A doctor starts from the problem, diagnoses and then heals it. Christian Scientists work out from perfection to deny the problem—or really, even someone who's a patient."

"Once I was waiting to help a friend home after what was billed as a painful and disorienting diagnostic session with his doctor. The test was ordered after my friend reported an alarming symptom. Instead of twiddling my thumbs in the waiting room, I decided to open to the Truth. A made-up word came to me: 'monagnosis'! In other words, divine knowledge knowing itself as all — patient, doctor, nurse, me, the universe. Minutes later my friend came out with a clean bill of health."

"We should always examine ourselves and others from the standpoint of perfection. Take this statement from Science and Health: 'We should examine ourselves and learn what is the affection and purpose of the heart, for in this way only can we learn what we honestly are' (S&H 8: 28-30). At the deepest level it's God seeing who He truly is — what the affection and purpose of His heart is."

"In either medical or metaphysical practice it's a good idea to get right on the case. That's why we have 911 and emergency rooms on the belief level."

"Okay — but I've found I can keep myself locked in a problem when I think it's gone on too long and my so-called thought is immersed in it and so on. Really I can see through that as just another false belief that needs correcting. We don't know how long the Prodigal Son was out there."

"If we decide to have medical intervention, it might be a good idea to have the prayerful support of a Christian Science practitioner to promote divine guidance and prevent bad side-effects from any drugs we're asked to take."

"Good point. When I broke a knee and needed medical help I asked my Christian Science teacher for support. One x-ray sent one of the doctors into a panic: ' It isn't healing!' I called my teacher right away and we worked in Science. Two weeks later another x-ray showed everything normal and the doctor remarked ' I don't know what the heck happened.'. "

"How do people survive the medical rollercoaster without Science? I'd say frankly no one should ever step into a medical situation without someone — a practitioner or other third party — knowing the Truth."

"I'm sitting here thinking about all the times I watch those ghastly drug ads on TV and just laugh at the outlandish side-effects — many times death! It's sheer sloth and malpractice on my part to leave it there instead of working in Science to dispel the side-effects for the benefit of mankind."

"Don't you suppose they sometimes pull together a chemical compound and then invent a disease to be treated with it?"

"Oh sure, but for us that's another invitation to dispel the madness. We should be doing nothing to retard a patient's — what does she say? — 'spiritual power to resuscitate himself.'

"Mrs. Eddy says we're never completely healed until we overcome the liability to disease. Here's the quote: 'We think that we are healed when a disease disappears, though it is liable to reappear; but we are never thoroughly healed until the liability to be ill is removed' (S&H 230: 27-30). Apparently we'd have to get clear and keep clear that we're immortal and not mortal. It's a tall order."

"Yes but if something foul comes up we just see that we've slipped off course and need to get back on."

"Sickness is a kind of prayer. It's crying out to God for help—but then we must listen as the non-dualistic answer unfolds. Keep mortal mind at bay!"

"Do we have any experiences or demonstrations to relate?"

"Well, talking about keeping mortal mind at bay, the book discussion group I go to is reading the latest Tolle book. He's got a technique on page 52 where you feel the so-called inner body which is really Spirit. That reminds me of Mrs. Eddy's statement: 'Let us feel the divine energy of Spirit, bringing us into newness of life and recognizing no mortal nor material power as able to destroy' (S&H 249: 6-8). Tolle says we need to keep our dualistic thoughts suspended and feel the perfection of being. I can't think of a better way to practice Christian Science — even extending the feeling to the entire universe."

"I had something come up with a blind date. He didn't show at the appointed time, or even at the un-appointed time. So I called the friend who linked us up and he said he was sorry things hadn't gone well but added ' It gives you an chance to work your issues.' Uh, well yes it did — you know abandonment, betrayal, promises not kept. So I worked to feel and then to be quiet. Eventually the sour feelings melted before the onrush of divine facts. It's like that other statement on page 249: 'Let us rejoice that we are subject to the divine "powers that be"' (S&H 249: 8-9).

"Lent started yesterday and I'm reading daily inspirational lessons..."

"Are they Episcopal or Catholic?"

"I've got both. Lent's all about spending 40 days praying, giving alms and fasting. These are certainly applicable to Christian Scientists. Alms giving can be giving to the poor or loving thy neighbor as thyself."

"Which needs at its base this kind of vision: 'Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals' (S&H 476: 32-2)."

"Right, good. Fasting is not accepting what mortal mind is saying — holding it at bay as you said."

"We need to close. Does anyone have an idea for a topic?"

"Self-Indulgence."

"That was quick!"

"It's a biggie in the Lenten writings."

"It's a bit negative but maybe I could use some introspection there."

"I'll bring in some of the Lenten writings next week. I'm not sure... Mrs. Eddy had anything using that word, but with a dictionary we should be able to get some synonyms working."

"Okay. If there's no objection... then it's Self-Indulgence for two weeks."