Peace 2

A large part of the reason that I feel a sense of peace over the political decisions being made is that I realize that they are none of my business, while I am also doing what I can with the actions that are my business. Putting it in terms of the second of the three questions that are the focus of my book (Would I do this in front of God [or whatever you call the power or force behind the Universe]; Is my name really on it [or is it really my responsibility]; Will this increase the integrity of the universe [or is this action motivated by love, rather than fear, acting out of love always increases the integrity of the universe]), those decisions are not my responsibility. I simply continue to act out of love.

Peace

Recently I have listened to the news and read the paper some and I have to say that I do not like what is going on politically and will do everything I can to change it, like my book and this blog, but I am also at peace with it. There have been decisions on immigration, health matters and, most recently, pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement that are counter to the ideas I present in my book and this blog. Those decisions are also beyond my control.  "When one is anchored deeply in the divine solution to all problems, outer turmoil cannot disturb the inner tranquility. It is a peace that surpasses all understanding."

Inner Silence

I was recently asked why I get up in the middle of the night to pray and meditate and I responded that it is then that I connect best with God. I really like the comment by Seeger that "From everywhere, it seems, we are bombarded with the idea that our nature is innately violent, that our chief preoccupation is with our sexuality, and that our main purpose in life is the acquirement of ever more nifty possessions.......Indeed, if is only through the practice of inner silence that we can begin to disentangle ourselves from our culture and its illusions." It is in the middle of the night that I focus best and feel more loving and less "bombarded". It is then that I better achieve inner silence.

Gratitude

Today I performed some simple tasks like shopping, exercise, weeding gardens, bed repair, cooking and other household tasks. For me, being disabled, these activities were very difficult, time consuming and I felt extremely grateful that I could do them at all. I also did some reading of spiritual literature and meditating to maintain my "conscious contact" for which I am also grateful. In the words of Meister Eckhart "A man should receive God in all things and train his mind to keep God ever present in his mind, in his aims and in his love. Note how you regard God: keep the same attitude that you have in church or in your cell, and carry it with you in the crowd and in unrest and inequality.....In your acts you should have an equal mind and equal faith and equal love for your God.....If you were equal-minded in this way, then no man could keep you from having God ever present."

Life

Today was Memorial day and Maria and I attended a cookout gathering of Friends. Once again I was reminded of how different I am. As I commented yesterday, most people prefer their "nifty possessions, technology and other distractions I tend to stay away from." Most of the talk was about those distractions. As they talked I felt fondness and love for the human condition. Living, being alive, is a wonderful and beautiful adventure - so is getting old and dying.

Spiritual Life

There are a goodly number of people in the world that are moving away from the sort of spiritual life I suggest in my book in favor of nifty possessions, technology and other distractions I tend to stay away from. There is also a growing group of people who are moving away from material possessions in favor of love, inclusiveness and relationships. I continue to do everything I can to support the latter. In the words of Patricia Loring "We can cultivate an environment among us which will foster one another’s spiritual growth by directing and redirecting intention and attention to God; by discouraging what draws us away; by loving support for each other in the vicissitudes of our utterly human lives; by respecting and cherishing the uniqueness of each life."

Meditation and Contemplation

Several hours of meditation and contemplation are a major part of my daily practice. It is through those practices that I listen for guidance and where I find peace, joy and contentment. I arrive at a place of inner silence regardless of the chaos that surrounds me in the world at large. I generally begin by focusing on the peace and presence of my own breathing and then allow my thoughts to wander to life’s events, peace, love and gratitude. "It [inner silence] is to establish an inner peace, an inner harmony, which will allow us authentically to contribute to the establishment of an outer peace and an outer harmony in the world at large." (Seeger)

Meditation

Over the last couple of days I have realized that within me there is still some sort of emotional and spiritual connection with the spirits of Gettysburg. It is quite clear to me that my work there is not over but I do not know any detail beyond that. The feeling is one of responsibility and a job not done. I am committed to doing what I can to be of service to them and the world in general. It is time to ask for guidance, meditate and listen. I will clear myself of worldly concerns and do that.

Spirits

Maria and I just returned from our mission to Gettysburg, PA and I feel spiritually depleted. While there I worked, therapeutically, with numerous troubled and traumatized spirits, exhilarating, exhausting and very weird. I realize that some people do not believe in spirits and I questioned the belief until I had numerous very striking experiences of spirits during my sweat lodge days in AZ. Many of them are just as emotionally stuck as living people, who I have also been privileged to work with. As with my living clients, I listened, expressed compassion and understanding, made suggestions and beamed love at them. Because of my own near-death-experience I can, and do, show them what Godly Love feels like, an experience beyond words. My hope is that by helping the spirits I will also help the living who they impact and influence.

Discernment

Many years ago I prayed for discernment, the ability to detect whether a message or action was from Spirit/God or from some aspect of self, some form of self interest not the general welfare. I have since been granted that gift, if I have the clarity to listen. On those occasions that I cannot achieve that clarity, I check with others that I trust. If I get a message, what a Quaker would call a leading, that intuitively feels like a clear, joyful mountain spring, I generally go ahead. Such messages are almost always other directed and sometimes at the expense of self. If, on the other hand, the message feels like a turbid, sluggish lake, I know to take no action. I also make use of the three questions that are the central focus of my book (would I do this in front of God, or whatever you call that power/force?; is my name really on it or is it really my responsibility?; will this increase the integrity of the universe, or is this loving?).