Love and Peace 2

I am struck by the fact that most people are not very interested in the sort of spiritual love-based life I propose. It’s too much work and there is virtually no "instant gratification". In my case and with most people, life has to become pretty unpleasant before turning to the spiritual life I suggest. In the words of Fuchs "He [Jesus] stood before me. He stands before mankind, asking us all, asking the nations and the leaders of nations, the statesmen and the simple people, whether they will destroy themselves or whether they will give themselves to the grip of his power and thereby a new life in which love, not greed or lust for power, is the new dynamic. It sounds simple -----It is not.

Love and Peace

Today I have been reading an essay by Emil Fuchs, who wrote very eloquently of a position very similar to the one I find myself in. He wrote "Nothing which is of imagination can bring out of that revulsion peace: the overpowering awareness of an eternal love whose ways you do not understand, whose will you have to accept without comprehension, but whose reality you know." I experience that revulsion because of the political and militaristic situation I find myself in but also the overwhelming "love, healing, peace, power and presence" I spoke of yesterday. He spoke of Jesus as the originator, I know that the love, power and presence of origin is egoless and does not care about its name.

Silence

I have been reading a Quaker essay on the value of silence and reflecting on silence versus the clamoring of my intellect during my own meditation. During meditation I experience fleeting seconds of silence, mixed with mind wandering, and I have grown comfortable with that. Those fleeting seconds are enough for me to experience love, healing, peace, power and presence. I have enjoyed one of the comments by Walsch; "In the stillness, you will find your true being. In the silence you will hear the breathing of your soul ---- and of God. I have told you many times, and I tell you here again: You will find Me in the stillness."  Time to meditate!

Spiritual Path

Today, and frequently, I feel that my life is a glorious statement of what it is to be human. When I am tired or depressed, my life feels heavy. I have used the analogy many times, but I feel like the cabin boy on a ship that I own. The ship is a beautiful three masted sailing vessel out on the open ocean of life. Someone ( God, as I conceive him/her) else is steering so I have no idea where we are going or what we are up to. I am reminded of the apt comments by Thomas H. Green, S.J., "But for those blessed souls who are able to let go, to float free, a new and mysterious world is revealed. It is a world more mysterious, more exotic and, initially, more threatening than the new world Columbus and Magellan stumbled upon. Those who "stay home" will only know of it by hearsay, and will scarcely believe what they hear. The few whom grace and their own generosity launch on the uncharted sea — they alone will ever really know whether the explorers’ tales are true."

Love and Connection

During the recovery meeting today I met a woman who is dealing with her M.S., particularly the associated speech difficulties. We made a good connection and I was able to make her more comfortable and less self-conscious with her difficulties, for which she thanked me. I beamed love at her and everyone else at the meeting. I also reassured her during the meeting that if they understood me, they would have no trouble understanding her. The feeling of love and connection was very strong and it was great to be part of that. Being human is a struggle by itself and when a disability is added the struggle is more intense.

Near Death Experience

I have been reading about the views of Nikos Kazantzakis. He viewed life, very passionately, as a "luminous interval" between birth and death, focusing on the "ascension" and struggles of a life well and thoroughly lived - which I agree with. He also viewed the periods before and after life as an "abyss". In my case and having had a "near death experience" during which I experienced the feeling of extreme godly love and was told "this is what death feel like", I disagree with his comments about an abyss. I like his approach to life - "Lord, who are you? You loom before me like a centaur, his hands stretched toward the sky, his feet transfixed in mud." [God] "I am he who eternally ascends"

Mystical Experience

Maria, my wife, set up and we performed the Columbia, MD version of a sweat lodge ceremony, a mystical experience. I say "Columbia, MD version" since our H.O.A. does not allow open fires so no fire, hot stones or the steam they generate - all electric. Still a mystical experience involving prayer and meditation. In the words of Dubay, S.M. "A mystical touch is a deep, intimate contact-union-experience of God in one of His attributes such as power, light, goodness, beauty, or joy." I particularly asked to be "relieved of the bondage of self" since, on the one hand, I feel unworthy of the honor of such a ceremony and, on the other hand, know that has nothing to do with it. He goes on to say "Speaking of touches ‘The delights they engender more than compensate for all the trials suffered in life, even though innumerable’".

Daily Practice

My day is full of contrasting ups and downs as I switch back and forth from focusing on the Absolute or God place and my physical/emotional condition. I begin each day shortly after midnight with three or four hours of focus on the God place, an exercise of spirit when my physical/emotional condition has no reality or impact. I then sleep until about seven and arise with an awareness of pain, stiffness and planning for the day. Typically this is the low point of my day which I get over with exercise, stretching and meditation, by the end of which I feel pretty good. During the rest of the day I feel mostly the love and peace of the Absolute with brief periods of pain or being aware of my disability.

Daily Practice

I do several hours of combined prayer, meditation, contemplation, reading and writing every day. I often do my contemplation during less demanding activities like exercising, weeding or cooking. I enjoy experiencing the God place or what Jesus called the Kingdom of God, which makes my disability or chronic pain tolerable. When in the God place my disability and pain either do not exist or have no significance. I recall the wise words of Thomas Kelly when he said "Life is meant to be lived from a Center, a divine Center ---- a life of unhurried peace and power. It is simple. It is serene. It takes no time, but it occupies all our time."

Peace

I did not find out about last night’s bombing of Syria until this morning. When I found out about it I was immediately disturbed since violence generally leads to more violence, not peace. A short time later I meditated, got into that loving God place and quickly realized that in an eternal/Godly sense, everything was just fine. During the day I have been reflecting on the word of Dubay, S.M. when he wrote "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."