Monday, January 30, 2017

Jesus

I have been reading The Gospel According to Jesus, by Stephen Mitchell, a beautiful book, scholarly, spiritual and heartfelt. The book is based on what religious scholars believe were the actual words and thoughts of Jesus. The book transcends religious differences for, as the author says, "when words arise from the deepest kind of spiritual experience, from a heart pure of doctrines and beliefs, they transcend religious boundaries and can speak to all people, male and female, bond and free, Greek and Jew." The teachings and words attributed to Jesus are very simple and do just that.

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Choices

I can look retrospectively at my life and see clearly that I was provided with numerous opportunities to grow and learn in the direction of love, the approach I now use and suggest in my book (Three Simple Questions: Being In the World But Not Of It). In my case it finally took personal pain and discomfort to make the shift. The discomfort was well worth it but could have been avoided . I often think of Williamson’s comment that "We will be given every opportunity to learn through joy, and when we deny ourselves that, we will learn through pain. But we will learn." I suspect we are at a similar crossroad of choice in regards to our current president. It is wonderful to see the loving, inclusive and compassionate response of the populous so far.

Healing

A very close friend of mine has been practicing self-healing with some success - a wonderful event. I have been practicing self-healing and a holistic approach to my health for years, with good success and enjoyment. I find pleasure and fulfillment in love and light. Conrow Coelho describes it well "I think 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."

Friday, January 27, 2017

Being Of Service

I feel and am very aware of the love, light, joy and presence in everything I do and say and my environment in general. It’s a wonderful sense and it’s great to be immersed in that, very fulfilling. At the same time I struggle with what to do with that "knowing". All around me I see some people trying to find meaning in material, meaningless things. Other people are trying to find the sort of spiritual connection I talk about in my book, Three Simple Questions: Being In the World But Not Of It. I try to reach the people but my efforts fall short. I suspect that "way will be shown" - just not yet. Time to meditate.

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Spirituality

While attending a workshop on spiritual development this past weekend it became clear to me that there are certain activities that people consider spiritual (meditating, journaling, contemplating, etc.) and certain things they do not (work, household chores, child-care, etc.). The fact is that all activities are spiritual if the intent is there: "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." (Meister Eckhart). I spent a good part of today sanding a mantle I am refinishing. While sanding I felt grateful, thanked the wood, honored its beauty and imperfections. That was a spiritual approach.

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Humanity

I have a very strong connection to that loving force I call God. Jesus did too and a great deal stronger than my connection - but I’m working on it. He was also human as am I, which certainly complicates things. In my case I can sense and am very much aware of when I switch back and forth from the human to the divine parts of self. The divine is like a clear mountain stream, very loving and without ego desires or attachments. My human side is murky and riddled with ego desires and attachments. When acting and being the divine, the human part does not even exist. Acting out of the divine feeds my soul.

Monday, January 23, 2017

Peace

I feel a strong sense of peace and well-being while also expecting that we are approaching dark, troubling and difficult times. My sense of peace comes from my love of life, faith and trust in the beauty of eternity. I know that things will be just fine. Our president behaves just like a hurt, angry child and like any hurt, angry child he does not need more judgement and criticism. Judgement and criticism will not help anyone. Unconditional love might.

Gratitude

I just took a bath and feel very grateful that I was able to do so and that the other physical necessities, like warm clean water and a tub, were available to me. It strikes me that I could focus on the things I cannot do or have like I cannot take a shower since I am not that coordinated or putting deeper, hotter water in the bath which would be wasteful. Many years ago when I could not stand, unaided, and had been using crutches for a couple of years a person asked me the question "How can you be grateful, you cannot walk!?" and my response was "You cannot fly and it doesn’t bother you". My meaning then and now is that if I accept things the way they are, it is possible to be grateful.

Friday, January 20, 2017

Speaking My Truth

Maria, my wife, and I went to the movie "Hidden Figures" today, an excellent movie about three black women who were very good with numbers and math who worked at NASA during the sixties. These three black women were struggling within a decidedly white male culture that did not believe in them and wanted to hold them back. They were, of course, successful but had to be assertive and hold to their truths along the way, very inspiring. Their struggles spoke directly to me since I am promoting love and spirituality within a materialistic and often reductionistic culture. I also need to be assertive and speak my truth. I love humanity and what I do, very much like them. We shall see if I have an impact.

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Need For Love

When Jesus came and was touched by the force he and I call God he learned and taught of great compassion, love and forgiveness. According to religious scholars, and I agree, religious leaders in the centuries after Jesus then added rules of conduct and some mythology. The additions were quite understandable and even required given the time in history. Today many people such as myself find the additional rules of conduct and mythology to be disturbing, often conflicting with Jesus’ message. Some people tend to reject the whole package, including God and Christ. However, if we as a species are to get through the coming years, we need the great compassion, love and forgiveness.