Saturday, December 9, 2017

Love

I truly believe and have experienced what the Buddha teaches in the Dhammapada, that in this world hate never dispels hate. Only love dispels hate. The belief seems obvious to me, and yet we continue to fight wars, show aggression and make threats which generally do not produce favorable results. Yes, we have some aggressive tendencies, but we also each have the Love/God seed, which I describe in my book. I also suggest ways to nourish and grow that seed. Perhaps then we can stop the hate.

Friday, December 8, 2017

Connection

The quotation which stands out to me tonight is from Gilbert Kilpack, that "Man is separated from God, but secretly united to God; that is the prime fact of life, and all things in all creation speak of this separation, this incompleteness which has infected all." And, as I describe in my book, it is my understanding that we humans each have a God or Love "seed" within us, the part that is "secretly united to God", what is often called that small quiet voice. He goes on to comment that "And though ideas such as these may seem unimportant in our bustling world, the testimony of seekers after life in all ages is that nothing is so important as the completion of our half-lives, the God-filling of our void." I have been very much a part of the bustle of this world, and also felt the void. Now, with effort and focus I have developed my connection to God/Love and have a fulfilling life.

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Both, And

In my reading and general explorations of life I keep running into two seemingly different points of view, the reductionist and the metaphysical or spiritual. The reductionist view is summarized nicely by the words of physicist, Sean Carroll; "Almost all of human experience is accounted for by a very small number of ingredients. The various atomic nuclei that we find in elements of the periodic table; the electrons that swirl around them; and two long-range forces through which they all interact, gravity and electromagnatism. If you want to describe what goes on in rocks and puddles, pineapples and armadillos ------ that’s all you need. On the other hand the spiritual leader, Rufus Jones made comments that encompass the more spiritual view; "So long as we are satisfied to confine our attention to exact description of what is, and to study of antecedent causes, the dramatic features of the universe will necessarily escape us, and we shall get no intimation of an Intelligence operative throughout the unfolding drama." If a person holds either view, exclusively, it will have no impact on the reality of the situation and I find it intriguing that both views are valid and "right". They are finally coming together in quantum physics. I prefer both. I enjoy each view. Life is a wonder!

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Thoughts

In my reading today and often in the past, I encounter comments about the obvious, destructive and frequently tragic "evil" events in this world of ours. There is usually some sort of comment about how these events are not Loving and cannot possibly come from God. I lived the negative or evil parts of myself for several years, not all the time, but at times being harmful and destructive to myself and others. These events were unquestionably harmful but also eventually, later in my life, contributed to my understanding, love and empathy for others. In my view the apparent destructive events were, in fact, loving. In the words of Irene Claremont deCastillejo; "That accident whose cause was so apparent may have had an inner meaning we cannot see. That sudden death which we think could have been so easily avoided with greater consciousness may not have been the tragedy it appears. The man who died may have been needed elsewhere. We simply do not know. Scientists discover and theologians affirm; but faced with the mystery of life and death we know almost nothing."

Monday, December 4, 2017

Choice

Due largely to the motivation provided by my disability and its related pain I have searched for and found the necessary discipline and effort to develop my connection with Love and Spirit and now serve as an inspiration to others. As a result of my efforts I have a wonderful life with a strong connection to Spirit. Those others do not need to endure the physical problems I have endured — They can watch me. However, they also lack the motivation I have had so they are more able to choose a path which involves less effort, and less reward. The process involved in that choice is part of the joy, frustration and reality of being human. As Kilpack writes "We want to be spiritually alive, but also to be comfortable; to be prayerful, but not to rise early in the morning to pray; to possess power to lead, but not to undergo the discipline that it takes to control the power."

Sunday, December 3, 2017

Hard Times

Today we had our Friend’s meeting for worship, an hour of meditative prayer and silence, interspersed with people speaking occasionally when they felt a calling to do so. For some reason, during my meditation, I kept reflecting on, what I see as, dark, hard or troubled times coming in our future and also the words of George Fox when he said "I saw the infinite love of God. I saw that there was an ocean of darkness and death, but an infinite ocean of light and love which flowed over the ocean of darkness. In that also I saw the infinite love of God; and I had great openings" I too have sensed that "infinite ocean of light and love" and know that it will prevail, regardless. I also know that I will do my part — though I have no idea what that will be! Understanding is not required.