Spirit Person

According to Borg I am a spirit person, meaning that I have "an experiential awareness of the reality of God." I am not sure how it happened but I am aware of God/love in everything I do and say, an indescribable feeling. One fact that I have come to understand is that it makes no difference what name you use or no name at all - the love is still there. I have a deep understanding of another of his comments, that "Finally, the image of Jesus as a spirit person has implications for how we think of the Christian life. It shifts the focus of the Christian life from believing in Jesus or believing in God to being in relationship to the same spirit that Jesus knew. It is the claim that I emphasized at the end of chapter 1 and that will emerge yet again in this book: that the Christian life moves beyond believing in God to being in relationship to God."

Healing

I have commented before that I conduct my daily activities within a "bubble of love". I also rely on daily on the healing powers of the plenum or loving force of God, which seems to have a very positive impact on my health. I believe very strongly that "Without the healing power of the numinous realm, our wounded psychological patterns will prevail." (Conrow Coelho). Meaning for me that I would not be doing nearly as well as I am.

Numinosity

Quantum field theory seems to be where modern reductive science and spirituality meet. Love can be considered as a force within that field that then has an influence on the particles of everyday life. Mary Conrow Coelho refers to that field or space between particles as the "plenum" and then comments that "it might be proposed, in addition, that the plenum has powers and modes of influence within the manifest world, influences that are experienced in subjective ways that are not the subject of science. These various attributes may include what we, subjectively, recognize as numinosity, an alluring quality often experienced as love and powers of healing and centering (through the ordering of the Self/Soul) as well as creativity ---- qualities of experience some religious thinkers have attributed to God." I have certainly seen evidence of this influence in the physical healing I and others near me have experienced. I make use of this numinosity on a daily basis.

Listening

Today I momentarily forgot the words of Sogyal Rinpoche when he wrote "Listening is a far more difficult process than most people imagine; really to listen in the way that is meant by the masters is to let go utterly of ourselves, to let go of all the information, all of the concepts, all the ideas and all the prejudices that our heads are stuffed with." My ego wants me and my ideas to be right, in spite of the fact that they are wrong. That part of me makes it hard to listen. Fortunately I did not speak or take action, but the thoughts were there. Now it’s time to quietly contemplate.

Acceptance

I began the day by making several calls to service providers in order to change their record of my address. This was a difficult and challenging process, especially interacting with computers and my speech impediment. I do pretty well as long as I place my speaking difficulties right up front and simply accept the challenge whether talking to a person or computer. It was also important that I knew when to quit and begin the simplicity of yard work. A difficult day but successful.

Power of Love

The magic of publicly responding to fear and violence with Love and prayer has been quite evident recently. The most obvious are some of the responses to racist or terrorist attacks, some responses to the rhetoric of the president-elect and possible changes in the route of the Dakota pipeline. I have also seen the power of Love in my own life - my life depends on it. As Sri Nisargadata said "Love says ‘I am everything.’ Wisdom says, ‘I am nothing.’" Living in Light and Love feels right and true. It’s a joy to be alive.

Self 2

In my opinion, acting according to the Love and peace of the true Self that I have spoken about for the last couple of days is the best way to defuse or calm virtually any life situation. This includes situations like are going on at Standing Rock or potential problems coming from the decisions of our president-elect. Behaving in that way requires strength and focus but responding to fear and violence with love can change things, is magical. Living within that Love has changed me and it can change the world.

Self

As I commented yesterday "The true Self, the "I am" within me and every person has power strength and wisdom." The Self is eternal and rooted in the Absolute of Love, not the drama, fear and anxiety of everyday life. It is the part of each of us that is connected to the Source, Love or God. I find it possible to reach that part of me through meditation and then I can live that part during the day if I keep my focus there.  If I do that I go through my life with a sense of love, peace and enjoyment.

I Am

As Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj says "Get to know that "I am" without words which arises in the morning. Knowing the Self, abiding in the Self-knowledge, is not a mere intellectual knowing. You must be that, and you should not move away from it. Remain firm." The true Self, the "I am" within me and every person has power strength and wisdom. It started out with me as "that small quiet voice", which I usually ignored. That voice got louder the more I listened to it, usually through meditation. At the present time I know that Self but still find it easy to become lost in one of the many distractions (T.V., internet, the drama of life, etc.) provided every day.

Light or Love

I lead a life based on love or light, which comes from a source I call God. It seems important to know that the love or light does not come from me. That love or light is a force which can change the world, as it has changed me. This reality is summarized very nicely in the words of Dillard: "I cannot cause light [love]; the most I can do is try to put myself in the path of its beam. It is possible, in deep space, to sail on solar wind. Light [Love], be it particle or wave, has force: you rig a giant sail and go. The secret of seeing is to sail on solar wind. Hone and spread your spirit till you yourself are a sail, whetted, translucent, broadside to the merest puff."