Posts
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The meaning of "dualism" in mystical metaphysics is the illusion of a world that exists apart, or separate from, the One or one Mind (Creator or Dreamer of the worlds). In this illusion or dream, "evil" seemed just as real as the good. But in Genesis, when God creates this world, he declares everything, several times, to be "very good." But the human mind, in ignorance, disagrees. It claims that "evil" also exists, and, in our imperfect dream, it does; it is created by the inevitable force of karma. Falling into this illusion, in the allegory of Genesis, human nature )"Adam and Eve") ate from the "forbidden fruit." That is how the human mind was "expelled" from "Eden" (a word that means "pleasure").
Together with this illusion, the human mind also came under the baleful dominance of the Jehovah-myth, for it was "Jehovah," not God (elohim) that expelled the human mind ("Adam and Eve") from "Eden," the perfect state of Union or Unity with nature and with God (Love).
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Thursday, February 28, 2008
Jesus' Death Not a Sacrifice!
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The whole idea of "sacrifice" arises from almost every ancient religion.
The ancients saw their gods in very anthropomorphic forms. This long word simply means that they had a wide spectrum of human qualities. God as pure Love would have soared right over their heads like a distant jet!
In fact, ancient faiths such as Judaism and Islam did not really have much to say about the relationship of human Love with the divine.
To please the primitive gods, you had to give them gifts. And some of them, including Jehovah, were carnivores, like the primitive tribes that served him. They actually wanted and needed meat!
This need for "sacrifice" proves just how primitive, backwards, and spiritually arrested were the savages of earlier times.
Jesus knew, and taught, that God was Love. His was a much more advanced and sophisticated view of God. His God was not in the sky, but in the heart. His God commanded Love, but needed nothing from human beings.
It was not long after his death, however, that his followers abandoned his essentially mystical faith, and backslid, or reverted, to the ancient and arrested god of the early Jewish tradition. They assumed that this god still needed sacrifices; sacrifices erased sin; and so, they interpreted the death of Jesus in an arrested "Old Testament" pattern--- as "sacrifice."
Jesus knew that this world, and this life, were not Reality; he taught that the world and physical body were, to quote Docetist Christians, "phantoms." He did not really "live" on earth as his home; in fact, he was a bit uncomfortable with this world. He said of his followers, "They will be no part of this world, as I am no part of this world." For him, dying was like a change of clothing, as it reminds us in "The Celestial Song," a great mystical classic.
So, he wanted to use even death to symbolize just how important is Love.
By his voluntary and terrible death, he volunteered to carry upon his back the karma of many, even of the whole world! So, he prayed that his death would create karmic payment for "sins" (errors) that he had not committed, but that others had.
His death, then, was a supreme act of Love. It is the greatest act of Love imaginable. For he said, "No one has greater Love than he who gives his life for his friends." We can fulfill this every day by using most of the time in our lives to serve others, thus "giving our lives" to our "friends."
But don't let the reversed, regressive, and primitive thinking of so many "Christian" churches deceive you: Jesus' death had absolutely nothing to do with the primitive, disgusting idea of "sacrifice"!
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The whole idea of "sacrifice" arises from almost every ancient religion.
The ancients saw their gods in very anthropomorphic forms. This long word simply means that they had a wide spectrum of human qualities. God as pure Love would have soared right over their heads like a distant jet!
In fact, ancient faiths such as Judaism and Islam did not really have much to say about the relationship of human Love with the divine.
To please the primitive gods, you had to give them gifts. And some of them, including Jehovah, were carnivores, like the primitive tribes that served him. They actually wanted and needed meat!
This need for "sacrifice" proves just how primitive, backwards, and spiritually arrested were the savages of earlier times.
Jesus knew, and taught, that God was Love. His was a much more advanced and sophisticated view of God. His God was not in the sky, but in the heart. His God commanded Love, but needed nothing from human beings.
It was not long after his death, however, that his followers abandoned his essentially mystical faith, and backslid, or reverted, to the ancient and arrested god of the early Jewish tradition. They assumed that this god still needed sacrifices; sacrifices erased sin; and so, they interpreted the death of Jesus in an arrested "Old Testament" pattern--- as "sacrifice."
Jesus knew that this world, and this life, were not Reality; he taught that the world and physical body were, to quote Docetist Christians, "phantoms." He did not really "live" on earth as his home; in fact, he was a bit uncomfortable with this world. He said of his followers, "They will be no part of this world, as I am no part of this world." For him, dying was like a change of clothing, as it reminds us in "The Celestial Song," a great mystical classic.
So, he wanted to use even death to symbolize just how important is Love.
By his voluntary and terrible death, he volunteered to carry upon his back the karma of many, even of the whole world! So, he prayed that his death would create karmic payment for "sins" (errors) that he had not committed, but that others had.
His death, then, was a supreme act of Love. It is the greatest act of Love imaginable. For he said, "No one has greater Love than he who gives his life for his friends." We can fulfill this every day by using most of the time in our lives to serve others, thus "giving our lives" to our "friends."
But don't let the reversed, regressive, and primitive thinking of so many "Christian" churches deceive you: Jesus' death had absolutely nothing to do with the primitive, disgusting idea of "sacrifice"!
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Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The Transfiguration
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The famous Transfiguration of Jesus is one of the most wellknown, and spectacular, accounts of "visionary," not mystical, events in history.
We must begin by the caveat that it might not have been a literal event, but a symbolic one.
For example, "Moses" and "Elijah" were very ancient members of the Jewish religion. They often appeared in the experiences of visionaries. As human beings, of course, they were dead, and had been so for centuries.
But, as parts of visions, they were "alive and well" in the visions of dozens of Jewish visionaries. (A "visionary" sees visions, and is not the same as a "mystic," who might never see a vision.)
But as archetypes (symbols of mind), they represented two facets of Jewish religion: legalism and the belief in the extraordinary (miraculous) powers of God. (Many miracles were ascribed, in the ancient tales, to Elijah.)
Moses, historically, had been recognized as the writer of the Pentateuch or Torah, the first five books of the Bible-- Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Jews were the original "people of the Book." In other words, their original faith was not ennucleated around a principle such as Love or goodness, but used as its core the written Scriptures, which grew finally to include the thirty-nine small books of the Hebrew Scriptures, known to most Christians as the "Old Testament."
These archetypes arose, during the vision, from the collective (shared) Unconscious. This vision was of a very rare type, for it, at least, in the later tellings, was shared by Jesus and his disciples, unless the entire account is an allegory (symbolic tale).
During the vision, the entire place was flooded with light, a perfect and picturesque symbol of the actions of Love. For Love is Light; for "God is Light." (1 Jn. 1:5)
This could not have been Jesus' first realization of the Christ of Light within him, for he was already the Christ. The account was recorded as further evidence that he was the Christ, especially to convince the doubting. Such stories as this, whether apocryphal or not, are commonly told of deeply spiritual people. In a short time, they become legend. And later, many of them are mistaken for actual "history."
Just a brief note on the word "Christ." This word, among Christian gnostics (most early Christians) was a term of immense respect and great awe. The Greek word Khristos was not just a translation of the Hebrew masshiah ("messiah"). This is a very common mistake made even by ministers and some scholars.
But early Christians never claimed that Jesus was the Jewish "Messiah," and he was not. For the Messiah, said the legends and "prophecies," was to be a great and bloody general who would raise an army of thousands, slaughtering thousands of Romans and other "enemies" of Israel, and freeing the Jewish people from foreign domination.
The real and truest, most reliable experts on the "Messiah" are the Jews. They formulated the concept, and they have studied it quite profoundly for centuries. So, when you want to learn about a strictly Jewish teaching, it does not make sense to ask a Christian-- a person of another faith. And when you ask Jewish scholars whether Jesus was their Messiah, they will answer, to a person, "No."
So, Jesus was not the "Messiah," and never taught that he was. There is one verse in Mark where he appears to have claimed that he was, but the texts of the original Christian Scriptures passed through many hands, and were emended several times to say what the scribe wanted them to say.
So, they are a fairly unreliable document when it comes to technical details of "truth" (Reality). That is why the person of Love follows her Love-trained conscience rather than ancient texts.
So, the magnificent Transfiguration probably was, originally, an account of a solitary vision seen by Jesus on the Mount. Through decades of embellishment, and retelling, it grew into the dramatic, overblown, fantastic, spectacular tale that we now have in our Bibles.
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The famous Transfiguration of Jesus is one of the most wellknown, and spectacular, accounts of "visionary," not mystical, events in history.
We must begin by the caveat that it might not have been a literal event, but a symbolic one.
For example, "Moses" and "Elijah" were very ancient members of the Jewish religion. They often appeared in the experiences of visionaries. As human beings, of course, they were dead, and had been so for centuries.
But, as parts of visions, they were "alive and well" in the visions of dozens of Jewish visionaries. (A "visionary" sees visions, and is not the same as a "mystic," who might never see a vision.)
But as archetypes (symbols of mind), they represented two facets of Jewish religion: legalism and the belief in the extraordinary (miraculous) powers of God. (Many miracles were ascribed, in the ancient tales, to Elijah.)
Moses, historically, had been recognized as the writer of the Pentateuch or Torah, the first five books of the Bible-- Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Jews were the original "people of the Book." In other words, their original faith was not ennucleated around a principle such as Love or goodness, but used as its core the written Scriptures, which grew finally to include the thirty-nine small books of the Hebrew Scriptures, known to most Christians as the "Old Testament."
These archetypes arose, during the vision, from the collective (shared) Unconscious. This vision was of a very rare type, for it, at least, in the later tellings, was shared by Jesus and his disciples, unless the entire account is an allegory (symbolic tale).
During the vision, the entire place was flooded with light, a perfect and picturesque symbol of the actions of Love. For Love is Light; for "God is Light." (1 Jn. 1:5)
This could not have been Jesus' first realization of the Christ of Light within him, for he was already the Christ. The account was recorded as further evidence that he was the Christ, especially to convince the doubting. Such stories as this, whether apocryphal or not, are commonly told of deeply spiritual people. In a short time, they become legend. And later, many of them are mistaken for actual "history."
Just a brief note on the word "Christ." This word, among Christian gnostics (most early Christians) was a term of immense respect and great awe. The Greek word Khristos was not just a translation of the Hebrew masshiah ("messiah"). This is a very common mistake made even by ministers and some scholars.
But early Christians never claimed that Jesus was the Jewish "Messiah," and he was not. For the Messiah, said the legends and "prophecies," was to be a great and bloody general who would raise an army of thousands, slaughtering thousands of Romans and other "enemies" of Israel, and freeing the Jewish people from foreign domination.
The real and truest, most reliable experts on the "Messiah" are the Jews. They formulated the concept, and they have studied it quite profoundly for centuries. So, when you want to learn about a strictly Jewish teaching, it does not make sense to ask a Christian-- a person of another faith. And when you ask Jewish scholars whether Jesus was their Messiah, they will answer, to a person, "No."
So, Jesus was not the "Messiah," and never taught that he was. There is one verse in Mark where he appears to have claimed that he was, but the texts of the original Christian Scriptures passed through many hands, and were emended several times to say what the scribe wanted them to say.
So, they are a fairly unreliable document when it comes to technical details of "truth" (Reality). That is why the person of Love follows her Love-trained conscience rather than ancient texts.
So, the magnificent Transfiguration probably was, originally, an account of a solitary vision seen by Jesus on the Mount. Through decades of embellishment, and retelling, it grew into the dramatic, overblown, fantastic, spectacular tale that we now have in our Bibles.
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Overwork and Burnout
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Many aspects of our lives are optional. In lifedesign, we can choose to include some factors, and exclude others.
But what is about to be said here is not optional. It is mandatory.
You, like so many loving, good, service-oriented people, are about to break and ignore the core-law that guides the people of Love. This can create some disastrous karma, for it is chosen willingly.
For you are ignoring selflove. Selflove is the nucleus of Love.
Selflove is the very Love of God reflected upon the self or Self. This is not a factor that can be safely, reasonably, sanely, or lovingly ignored.
Selflove is inignorable and indispensable. To follow Jesus' "love your neighbor as yourself" contains the implicit guideline that we should be loving ourselves. Historically, even some of the people of Love thought that they could ignore this vital principle. But their lives proved them disastrously wrong!
Your life, and your body, are not "your own." They both "belong," in real ways, to the Goddess, to lovers, to friends, and, to some extent, to the world, to our species and to others.
So, from a spiritual perspective, it is illogical, and antiagapic
(counter-Love) selfishly to claim that "It is my body, and I can do whatever I want with it."
For it is as serious, and deeply karmic, an error ("sin") to abuse your body as it would be to harm the body of any other living creature. Now, I know that you would never practice torture, or harm bodily anyone who came to you for help.
Now, your own mind has called, repeatedly, for your help. But you have responded with abuse-- by driving it. I once was in your boat: I thought that it was okay, just fine, to abuse your body, if you did it for God (Love), that is, to help others.
But I killed the body. In fact, it died twice. And it was revealed to me, in the afterlife state, that voluntarily pushing your body to extremes, beyond its moderate limits, is an act of torture that can grow into an act of murder!
So, no matter what else you have to do, no matter what rules you must break, no matter whom you must disappoint or let down, no matter if you must change occupations, you must cut back your hours. The Goddess is never unreasonable: She asks us to do our very best, all the time. But especially the energy of scorpio will try to drive us to go beyond our best!
This is, by definition, impossible. So, Love never asks this of us. It is never selfishness to make the body Priority One. Yes, it is more important, when it is suffering, than the very real needs of others. For if it fails, you cannot give aid or assistance to anyone!
So, no matter what the cost or inconvenience, you have been pushed into making this decision: Decide for your body, not against it. For the body makes a wonderful friend, but a nightmarish and terrible "enemy." Make friends with it; it can be your best friend if you do not continue to abuse it.
Schedule regular periods of rest, relaxation, meditation, listening to quiet music, reading-- to be Priority One events. Everything else must come second. Insist, and do not give up, on cutting back on your cases.
(You will serve each client so much better.:)
These are not simply healthy suggestions. They are the results of personal intuition that tells me that your biophysical system is near the shattering-point. If this selfabuse continues, you will reap a nightmare whirlwind of karma. Some biological disasters can severely cripple you, and these are often irreversible or incurable. It is said that, if you do not listen to the gentle teacher, the harsh teacher stands just around the next corner; he holds a wooden four-by-four in this hands, and he is ready to smack you, hard, like a batter hitting a ball! But, right now, you can avoid much of the agony (and it is severe and unforgiving) of the harsh teacher by listening to the gentle teacher.
Trust. Have faith. You are not "indispensable." The cosmos continued just fine without your present form, for billions of years. After you leave the earth, it will continue for billions more. Do not follow the ego here, for it will lie and say to you, "You must keep doing all your work, for no one else can do it." Foolishness! Thousands of others can do it! And, in the short term, the cosmos is teaching you to delegate responsibility. For, ultimately, you are responsible for the spiritual success and growth into Love of one person only: And that is you. And you are failing the test!
*******
Many aspects of our lives are optional. In lifedesign, we can choose to include some factors, and exclude others.
But what is about to be said here is not optional. It is mandatory.
You, like so many loving, good, service-oriented people, are about to break and ignore the core-law that guides the people of Love. This can create some disastrous karma, for it is chosen willingly.
For you are ignoring selflove. Selflove is the nucleus of Love.
Selflove is the very Love of God reflected upon the self or Self. This is not a factor that can be safely, reasonably, sanely, or lovingly ignored.
Selflove is inignorable and indispensable. To follow Jesus' "love your neighbor as yourself" contains the implicit guideline that we should be loving ourselves. Historically, even some of the people of Love thought that they could ignore this vital principle. But their lives proved them disastrously wrong!
Your life, and your body, are not "your own." They both "belong," in real ways, to the Goddess, to lovers, to friends, and, to some extent, to the world, to our species and to others.
So, from a spiritual perspective, it is illogical, and antiagapic
(counter-Love) selfishly to claim that "It is my body, and I can do whatever I want with it."
For it is as serious, and deeply karmic, an error ("sin") to abuse your body as it would be to harm the body of any other living creature. Now, I know that you would never practice torture, or harm bodily anyone who came to you for help.
Now, your own mind has called, repeatedly, for your help. But you have responded with abuse-- by driving it. I once was in your boat: I thought that it was okay, just fine, to abuse your body, if you did it for God (Love), that is, to help others.
But I killed the body. In fact, it died twice. And it was revealed to me, in the afterlife state, that voluntarily pushing your body to extremes, beyond its moderate limits, is an act of torture that can grow into an act of murder!
So, no matter what else you have to do, no matter what rules you must break, no matter whom you must disappoint or let down, no matter if you must change occupations, you must cut back your hours. The Goddess is never unreasonable: She asks us to do our very best, all the time. But especially the energy of scorpio will try to drive us to go beyond our best!
This is, by definition, impossible. So, Love never asks this of us. It is never selfishness to make the body Priority One. Yes, it is more important, when it is suffering, than the very real needs of others. For if it fails, you cannot give aid or assistance to anyone!
So, no matter what the cost or inconvenience, you have been pushed into making this decision: Decide for your body, not against it. For the body makes a wonderful friend, but a nightmarish and terrible "enemy." Make friends with it; it can be your best friend if you do not continue to abuse it.
Schedule regular periods of rest, relaxation, meditation, listening to quiet music, reading-- to be Priority One events. Everything else must come second. Insist, and do not give up, on cutting back on your cases.
(You will serve each client so much better.:)
These are not simply healthy suggestions. They are the results of personal intuition that tells me that your biophysical system is near the shattering-point. If this selfabuse continues, you will reap a nightmare whirlwind of karma. Some biological disasters can severely cripple you, and these are often irreversible or incurable. It is said that, if you do not listen to the gentle teacher, the harsh teacher stands just around the next corner; he holds a wooden four-by-four in this hands, and he is ready to smack you, hard, like a batter hitting a ball! But, right now, you can avoid much of the agony (and it is severe and unforgiving) of the harsh teacher by listening to the gentle teacher.
Trust. Have faith. You are not "indispensable." The cosmos continued just fine without your present form, for billions of years. After you leave the earth, it will continue for billions more. Do not follow the ego here, for it will lie and say to you, "You must keep doing all your work, for no one else can do it." Foolishness! Thousands of others can do it! And, in the short term, the cosmos is teaching you to delegate responsibility. For, ultimately, you are responsible for the spiritual success and growth into Love of one person only: And that is you. And you are failing the test!
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Sunday, February 24, 2008
Love and Life
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The majority of human beings has no experience with Love-- either that of friends or Love-partners.:) This ignorance is astonishing. You, like all the rest of us, are here to unravel the many and complex mysteries of "a crazy little thing called Love.":) Yes, it is hard and grueling work; we feel, at times, that it will drive us nuts! It does drive us-- but not nuts, but into the arms of everlasting Love. For all real human Love is also divine Love. We make these distinctions for convenience alone,
but Love cannot be meaningfully divided from Love. The Lover within you loves the clouds, mountains, and seashore; it is She who loves friends and others as well. We must all learn the difficult lessons of "getting out of Her way," and the art of "casting no shadows" in Her Light.
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The majority of human beings has no experience with Love-- either that of friends or Love-partners.:) This ignorance is astonishing. You, like all the rest of us, are here to unravel the many and complex mysteries of "a crazy little thing called Love.":) Yes, it is hard and grueling work; we feel, at times, that it will drive us nuts! It does drive us-- but not nuts, but into the arms of everlasting Love. For all real human Love is also divine Love. We make these distinctions for convenience alone,
but Love cannot be meaningfully divided from Love. The Lover within you loves the clouds, mountains, and seashore; it is She who loves friends and others as well. We must all learn the difficult lessons of "getting out of Her way," and the art of "casting no shadows" in Her Light.
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Can the English language survive Bush?
Thanks to Mick Gallagher.
Can the English language survive Bush?
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Can the English language survive Bush?
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The following are gems of intellect from the collected wisdom of george bush:
"The vast majority of our imports come from outside the country."
"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure. "
"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any Governor, and that one word is 'to be prepared'." "
"I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future."
"The future will be better tomorrow."
"We're going to have the best educated American people in the world. "
"I stand by all the misstatements that I've made."
"We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a part of NATO. We have a firm commitment to Europe. We are a part of Europe ."
"Public speaking is very easy."
"A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls. "
"We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur. "
"For NASA, space is still a high priority."
"Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children."
" It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it. "
" It's time for the human race to enter the solar system."
The best for last - did you know that gwb could read upside down? (Hint: Note the book in his hand!:)
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The Allembracing Mind and Mystical Experience
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The "bliss, good; no bliss, also good" is the Taoist perspective that is being developed and consciously cultivated here: If, for example, you give permission to use your latest letter, that will be very good, and will help many!:) But if you do not, that will also be good!:) ("Good" comes always in two varieties: Yes and no, black and white, an event occurs or it doesn't.) It is up to each person to figure out how it is "good" when what she does not want happens!
But if, as all mysticsaints and masterteachers agree, the world is formed from a perfect (flawless, stainless) Mind, then it too must reflect a symmetric perfection.
Cultivating the "allembracing" mind, as the Buddha called it, is one of the most challenging tasks of a seeker of enlightenment. For it means embracing lovingly, not only those things that we, and our parents, love, but also those that are despised.
This means that the kitten and puppy are good, as everyone knows, but so is the rattlesnake. The butterfly is beautiful; and so is the tarantula.
Many things that we have been programmed to reject as "bad" or "ugly"
have hidden interior goodness, with concealed beauty.:) This includes, finally, even death.
As a society, we are at last starting to move towards the cusp of the realization that, as early Christians always said, death is good, not bad. For it is as natural as the dewdrop shimmering on the rose in a shining sunrise, as natural as breathing. And it leads to a world far superior to this one-- a world, not of broken bodies, but of minds only-- minds that project "lightbodies" as real as, and far more sensual than, these poor imitations now in use.
For when the current "game" is over, we shall slip from the "sheaths" of these forms, and soar beyond the clouds, into the Milky Way. This is the greatest adventure of any life.
But we are solidly, repeatedly, gruesomely taught to fear death. If we do fear death, a pale is cast over the bright flowers, and warm sunlight, of everyday life. But it is demanded that everyone approach death with sheer terror-- an odd perspective for a "Christian" nation. For the earliest Christians did not fear, but celebrated, their deaths. (In rather unhealthy extremism, this led to the philosophy of martyrdom.)
And the famous mystic Solomon wrote, "The day of one's death is better than the day of her birth."
*******
The "bliss, good; no bliss, also good" is the Taoist perspective that is being developed and consciously cultivated here: If, for example, you give permission to use your latest letter, that will be very good, and will help many!:) But if you do not, that will also be good!:) ("Good" comes always in two varieties: Yes and no, black and white, an event occurs or it doesn't.) It is up to each person to figure out how it is "good" when what she does not want happens!
But if, as all mysticsaints and masterteachers agree, the world is formed from a perfect (flawless, stainless) Mind, then it too must reflect a symmetric perfection.
Cultivating the "allembracing" mind, as the Buddha called it, is one of the most challenging tasks of a seeker of enlightenment. For it means embracing lovingly, not only those things that we, and our parents, love, but also those that are despised.
This means that the kitten and puppy are good, as everyone knows, but so is the rattlesnake. The butterfly is beautiful; and so is the tarantula.
Many things that we have been programmed to reject as "bad" or "ugly"
have hidden interior goodness, with concealed beauty.:) This includes, finally, even death.
As a society, we are at last starting to move towards the cusp of the realization that, as early Christians always said, death is good, not bad. For it is as natural as the dewdrop shimmering on the rose in a shining sunrise, as natural as breathing. And it leads to a world far superior to this one-- a world, not of broken bodies, but of minds only-- minds that project "lightbodies" as real as, and far more sensual than, these poor imitations now in use.
For when the current "game" is over, we shall slip from the "sheaths" of these forms, and soar beyond the clouds, into the Milky Way. This is the greatest adventure of any life.
But we are solidly, repeatedly, gruesomely taught to fear death. If we do fear death, a pale is cast over the bright flowers, and warm sunlight, of everyday life. But it is demanded that everyone approach death with sheer terror-- an odd perspective for a "Christian" nation. For the earliest Christians did not fear, but celebrated, their deaths. (In rather unhealthy extremism, this led to the philosophy of martyrdom.)
And the famous mystic Solomon wrote, "The day of one's death is better than the day of her birth."
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More Healing
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I have a thousand times read books such as those that emphasize "positive thinking," and they promise that the conscious mind can do anything! But I must politely disagree. Nevertheless, some of them have offered most valuable treasures of positivity!:)
Here is the simple truth: With some disorders-- perhaps karmic ones-- it simply does not really matter what you say or think! All the negativity in the world will not harm one if no karmic factors are involved. And this principle also works conversely.
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I have a thousand times read books such as those that emphasize "positive thinking," and they promise that the conscious mind can do anything! But I must politely disagree. Nevertheless, some of them have offered most valuable treasures of positivity!:)
Here is the simple truth: With some disorders-- perhaps karmic ones-- it simply does not really matter what you say or think! All the negativity in the world will not harm one if no karmic factors are involved. And this principle also works conversely.
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Saturday, February 23, 2008
Do We Respect and Love Animals?
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Most spiritual people would answer this inquiry with a clear affirmative!
Yet, we must ask ourselves, and try to be honest in this interior inventory, "Do I really love (and respect) animals?"
The answer might surprise you.
We all hate, and are repelled and revolted, by animaltorture, of course.
But we have all had this issue thrust in our faces due to the notorious, infamous abuse of cows practiced by a slaughterhouse in California. In that hell of a place, cows-- those too sick to move, or to walk-- were impaled by the tongs of forklift trucks; some were drowned by having water from hoses shot into their mouths and noses; others were beaten to death; others were electrocuted, or tortured by electrical prods; others were beaten senseless.
We can imagine our response if we heard of such atrocities occurring to our beloved dogs, or cats. But a cow is also a sentient being, with feelings. If you put a number of them in a field, they will congregate together, for they are quite gregarious. And they also have a kind of "Love" for each other, and especially for their young.
From the view of pure anatomy, the brain/nervousystem of this mammal is fairly high in the ranks of evolution. Compared to lower forms, this mammal has a wide spectrum of emotive responses.
So, she deserves a little respect. We need not go so far as some forms of Hindu tradition, which worship the form of this mammal, but we, as spiritual people, do owe respect to all "sentient" (selfaware) creatures.
We do respect some. We would not tolerate the widespread slaughter, for example, of horses. "That is ridiculous!" one might object. "They're just cows, for Godsake! You are just being silly when you suggest 'respect' for them!"
This is, in fact, the common attitude that dominates our backwards and primitive society. It actually makes the average person laugh, scornfully, to suggest such a "radical" thing as "respect" for cows! On the surface, due to our shared social programming, it does seem absurd!
But it is precisely this attitude-- that living things are not sacred, but are to be regarded, like blocks of wood, as "things," to be used and abused for human convenience, that led the workers at the slaughterhouse to practice animaltorture.
Animaltorture, almost all psychologists agree, is a form of insanity.
Indeed, the practice is regarded as a strong indicator of later sociopathy (absence of a conscience).
By stunning contrast, we, the people of Love, are the people of conscience. We can rely and depend upon our conscience to guide us, telling us the difference between right and wrong. Spiritual adult people do not depend upon holy books to form and direct their lives, but upon a Love-trained conscience.
The truth is, the sociopaths that practiced animaltorture were only a different degree, not a different kind, than the average person.
For the average person is a carnivore. And cows are killed, by the hundreds of thousands, every day, often in nightmarish,hellish ways, to provide the burgers and steaks of carnivores. Some slaughterhouses place electrical prods up the rectums of cows to electrocute them, for it is cheaper than any other way. ("Anything to save a buck.")
But do we not have the "right," as "superior" beings, to kill whatever creatures we want, in order to feed ourselves? Perhaps, if there were no proteinsources outside of meat, if we needed it to survive, this would be a justification.
But to make the situation clear, let us hypothesize that we encountered an alien race from space. Let us further suppose that they were way ahead of us in their evolution. Let us say that they were as far above human beings as we are above cows. And then, let us suppose that they wanted to create "human farms" where human beings could be reared to provide them with meat!
We would hit the roof! Would we not consider this incredibly hideous?
Would we not revolt? At that time, vegetarianism, for the higher life-forms, would no longer be an abstract or academic discussion, but would be a practical-- very highly practical-- issue of survival itself!
Well, I submit to you that it should never be reduced to an academic, abstract idea. The highest compassion should move us all to exercise the compassion on "lower" creatures that we would demand from higher beings!
*****
Most spiritual people would answer this inquiry with a clear affirmative!
Yet, we must ask ourselves, and try to be honest in this interior inventory, "Do I really love (and respect) animals?"
The answer might surprise you.
We all hate, and are repelled and revolted, by animaltorture, of course.
But we have all had this issue thrust in our faces due to the notorious, infamous abuse of cows practiced by a slaughterhouse in California. In that hell of a place, cows-- those too sick to move, or to walk-- were impaled by the tongs of forklift trucks; some were drowned by having water from hoses shot into their mouths and noses; others were beaten to death; others were electrocuted, or tortured by electrical prods; others were beaten senseless.
We can imagine our response if we heard of such atrocities occurring to our beloved dogs, or cats. But a cow is also a sentient being, with feelings. If you put a number of them in a field, they will congregate together, for they are quite gregarious. And they also have a kind of "Love" for each other, and especially for their young.
From the view of pure anatomy, the brain/nervousystem of this mammal is fairly high in the ranks of evolution. Compared to lower forms, this mammal has a wide spectrum of emotive responses.
So, she deserves a little respect. We need not go so far as some forms of Hindu tradition, which worship the form of this mammal, but we, as spiritual people, do owe respect to all "sentient" (selfaware) creatures.
We do respect some. We would not tolerate the widespread slaughter, for example, of horses. "That is ridiculous!" one might object. "They're just cows, for Godsake! You are just being silly when you suggest 'respect' for them!"
This is, in fact, the common attitude that dominates our backwards and primitive society. It actually makes the average person laugh, scornfully, to suggest such a "radical" thing as "respect" for cows! On the surface, due to our shared social programming, it does seem absurd!
But it is precisely this attitude-- that living things are not sacred, but are to be regarded, like blocks of wood, as "things," to be used and abused for human convenience, that led the workers at the slaughterhouse to practice animaltorture.
Animaltorture, almost all psychologists agree, is a form of insanity.
Indeed, the practice is regarded as a strong indicator of later sociopathy (absence of a conscience).
By stunning contrast, we, the people of Love, are the people of conscience. We can rely and depend upon our conscience to guide us, telling us the difference between right and wrong. Spiritual adult people do not depend upon holy books to form and direct their lives, but upon a Love-trained conscience.
The truth is, the sociopaths that practiced animaltorture were only a different degree, not a different kind, than the average person.
For the average person is a carnivore. And cows are killed, by the hundreds of thousands, every day, often in nightmarish,hellish ways, to provide the burgers and steaks of carnivores. Some slaughterhouses place electrical prods up the rectums of cows to electrocute them, for it is cheaper than any other way. ("Anything to save a buck.")
But do we not have the "right," as "superior" beings, to kill whatever creatures we want, in order to feed ourselves? Perhaps, if there were no proteinsources outside of meat, if we needed it to survive, this would be a justification.
But to make the situation clear, let us hypothesize that we encountered an alien race from space. Let us further suppose that they were way ahead of us in their evolution. Let us say that they were as far above human beings as we are above cows. And then, let us suppose that they wanted to create "human farms" where human beings could be reared to provide them with meat!
We would hit the roof! Would we not consider this incredibly hideous?
Would we not revolt? At that time, vegetarianism, for the higher life-forms, would no longer be an abstract or academic discussion, but would be a practical-- very highly practical-- issue of survival itself!
Well, I submit to you that it should never be reduced to an academic, abstract idea. The highest compassion should move us all to exercise the compassion on "lower" creatures that we would demand from higher beings!
*****
Friday, February 22, 2008
Starting a Pneumarium Group
*******
Life as a lifedesign consultant and psychospiritual advisor-- in short, a spiritual teacher-- has given meaning and purpose to life.
Start a Pneumarium! Remember that it takes only two people to start a regular Pneumarium. If the two of you meet regularly, and do not give up, in time, a third person will come, and then, a fourth.
If you like, you are free to use one of our books as a "guide to suggested ideas.":)
Remember that God treasures each one infinitely. One enlightened or Love-activated heart is equally important as ten thousand! Don't get caught in the "numbers game." God is disgusted with "megachurches" of thousands, because they so often actually help no one! They are much too busy helping, promoting, and supporting themselves. They are nothing but religious corporations and moneycollectors, and their leaders lust after fame and wealth, contrary to the Way of Jesus.
For Jesus met in small, even tiny, groups, and gave personal attention to whomever with whom he happened to speak. So, let us follow the humble Jesus, and treasure infinitely each and every heart. For it is much more important to share the cosmic Love of God with one heart than to share merely intellectual ideas with ten thousand.
*******
Life as a lifedesign consultant and psychospiritual advisor-- in short, a spiritual teacher-- has given meaning and purpose to life.
Start a Pneumarium! Remember that it takes only two people to start a regular Pneumarium. If the two of you meet regularly, and do not give up, in time, a third person will come, and then, a fourth.
If you like, you are free to use one of our books as a "guide to suggested ideas.":)
Remember that God treasures each one infinitely. One enlightened or Love-activated heart is equally important as ten thousand! Don't get caught in the "numbers game." God is disgusted with "megachurches" of thousands, because they so often actually help no one! They are much too busy helping, promoting, and supporting themselves. They are nothing but religious corporations and moneycollectors, and their leaders lust after fame and wealth, contrary to the Way of Jesus.
For Jesus met in small, even tiny, groups, and gave personal attention to whomever with whom he happened to speak. So, let us follow the humble Jesus, and treasure infinitely each and every heart. For it is much more important to share the cosmic Love of God with one heart than to share merely intellectual ideas with ten thousand.
*******
Some Common Dreamsymbols
*******
Birds, because they fly through the heavens, are archetypes of spiritual and fairly small thoughts, rooted in the bionature (they are animals).
"Three" is a symbol of wholeness after having experienced the "two-ness"
of dualism. (Two points lead to a third.) Bright yellow is the third chakra, or use of the intellect. A "cage" represents limitations.
The "left side" is the Unconscious. A hawk is thoughts of a harsher nature. (Hawks are notorious for their cruelty towards prey; they are
carnivores.)
Talking on a phone is a common archetype of communicating with the deeper levels of the Unconscious.
The man in the dream is some "masculine" quality (yang). It is integrating with the feminine (yin) side of your self. This is why the two are "in bed" together. (The "bed" can represent a relaxed state, or healing rest.) But it is in the Unconscious (asleep).
The "woman" is a "stripper." This has something to do with baring or revealing secret or intimate parts of yourself. This part of your mind reveals things inappropriately.
A "bathroom" is interior cleansing or purification. (NOTE: This is "bathroom," but a "restroom" can represent restorative rest.)
Black is the color of the unknown, or of negativity. A "car" is the self in motion or progress. The "show" is the fake world of maya. The "green" is your Love-nature, rescued from a "water animal," or lower-nature mindforce related to cancer, pisces, or scorpio in your chart.
The "egg" is a universal symbol of new mindenergy that has just been discovered, but has not yet grown into any particular quality.
*******
Birds, because they fly through the heavens, are archetypes of spiritual and fairly small thoughts, rooted in the bionature (they are animals).
"Three" is a symbol of wholeness after having experienced the "two-ness"
of dualism. (Two points lead to a third.) Bright yellow is the third chakra, or use of the intellect. A "cage" represents limitations.
The "left side" is the Unconscious. A hawk is thoughts of a harsher nature. (Hawks are notorious for their cruelty towards prey; they are
carnivores.)
Talking on a phone is a common archetype of communicating with the deeper levels of the Unconscious.
The man in the dream is some "masculine" quality (yang). It is integrating with the feminine (yin) side of your self. This is why the two are "in bed" together. (The "bed" can represent a relaxed state, or healing rest.) But it is in the Unconscious (asleep).
The "woman" is a "stripper." This has something to do with baring or revealing secret or intimate parts of yourself. This part of your mind reveals things inappropriately.
A "bathroom" is interior cleansing or purification. (NOTE: This is "bathroom," but a "restroom" can represent restorative rest.)
Black is the color of the unknown, or of negativity. A "car" is the self in motion or progress. The "show" is the fake world of maya. The "green" is your Love-nature, rescued from a "water animal," or lower-nature mindforce related to cancer, pisces, or scorpio in your chart.
The "egg" is a universal symbol of new mindenergy that has just been discovered, but has not yet grown into any particular quality.
*******
Thursday, February 21, 2008
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XXIV and XXV of XL
*******
TEXT Continuing, with Matthew 6:16:
COMMENTARY: Jesus really wanted his listeners seriously to understand and remember his Message, and so, repeats it for emphasis.
The "scary" warning is here yet again repeated: If you receive a "human reward," you cancel any chances of receiving a divine reward. Let her who has ears to hear, hear this crucial warning! For many ministers, preachers, and religious leaders, accepting and welcoming fame, have rejected any chance of being rewarded cosmically! Their huge egos have spoiled everything for them.
TEXT:
COMMENTARY: Again, to underscore and highlight his important Message, Jesus refers to the interior "Father," who watches our lives "in secret." From only the "Father," in His role as "interior Judge," or "Observer," can genuine, lasting karmic rewards arise. For "Him," egotism is a slap in the face, an arrogant rejection. We cannot afford to give in to this low selfesteem, or we will ruin our chances of any "heavenly" reward (in the life to come).
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XXV of XL
*******
TEXT:
COMMENTARY: This is Jesus the simple, recommending a Way of simplicity so great that it is a terror to many in our materialistic culture. Applied literally, in this text, Jesus forbids unnecessary accumulations and luxurious acquisitions. This is the same message of the Buddha, who similarly forbade "clinging," "attachment," "grasping," and "craving" for the enlightened. (He said that the enlightened mind had no interest in these "spiritual diseases" and the baubles that accompany them.) The follower of the Way must drop all materialism. She must live in utter simplicity. Again, to be literal, the person of Love must not "store" material things "on earth."
TEXT:
COMMENTARY: Now, Jesus reveals the mystery as to why materialism is so dangerous: It can conquer the "heart," or emotional nature. People who are too obsessed with business often discover, to their utter heartbreak, that money and the incessant accumulations of materialism actually dull their emotions in relationship, friendship, and depth of feeling generally. For they have sold pieces of their Souls, and their only reward is the stinking "mud" of money. They have traded the "gold" of God, which is Love, for the dirt and mud of materialism.
*******
TEXT Continuing, with Matthew 6:16:
Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
COMMENTARY: Jesus really wanted his listeners seriously to understand and remember his Message, and so, repeats it for emphasis.
The "scary" warning is here yet again repeated: If you receive a "human reward," you cancel any chances of receiving a divine reward. Let her who has ears to hear, hear this crucial warning! For many ministers, preachers, and religious leaders, accepting and welcoming fame, have rejected any chance of being rewarded cosmically! Their huge egos have spoiled everything for them.
TEXT:
17. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
COMMENTARY: Again, to underscore and highlight his important Message, Jesus refers to the interior "Father," who watches our lives "in secret." From only the "Father," in His role as "interior Judge," or "Observer," can genuine, lasting karmic rewards arise. For "Him," egotism is a slap in the face, an arrogant rejection. We cannot afford to give in to this low selfesteem, or we will ruin our chances of any "heavenly" reward (in the life to come).
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XXV of XL
*******
TEXT:
19. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.
COMMENTARY: This is Jesus the simple, recommending a Way of simplicity so great that it is a terror to many in our materialistic culture. Applied literally, in this text, Jesus forbids unnecessary accumulations and luxurious acquisitions. This is the same message of the Buddha, who similarly forbade "clinging," "attachment," "grasping," and "craving" for the enlightened. (He said that the enlightened mind had no interest in these "spiritual diseases" and the baubles that accompany them.) The follower of the Way must drop all materialism. She must live in utter simplicity. Again, to be literal, the person of Love must not "store" material things "on earth."
TEXT:
21. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
COMMENTARY: Now, Jesus reveals the mystery as to why materialism is so dangerous: It can conquer the "heart," or emotional nature. People who are too obsessed with business often discover, to their utter heartbreak, that money and the incessant accumulations of materialism actually dull their emotions in relationship, friendship, and depth of feeling generally. For they have sold pieces of their Souls, and their only reward is the stinking "mud" of money. They have traded the "gold" of God, which is Love, for the dirt and mud of materialism.
*******
The Pneumarium Gatherings: A Clarification
*******
You have decided not to join the "family" in a day of fun, celebration, and spiritual learning. But please think about it: For this is something that we all quite desperately need.:)
You classify our Love-gatherings in the same category as "religious meetings." They are not; in fact, we are careful assiduously to avoid even the word "meeting" lest we be confused with religious types. (We prefer the native American term "gatherings.") Our Pneumarium gatherings are definitively not religious in nature; they are spiritual, based only on Love and joy. We do not teach any dogma or doctrines, but simply consider great spiritual truths from many angles. We also discuss some religious ideas, but those are not the nucleus of our gatherings. We come together because we want to, and we all enjoy it! We have fun!:)
So, please do not simply, carelessly "dismiss" us as a matter of personal "policy." For if you do, you might miss one of the truly happy opportunities of this life. For our gatherings are like "parties," not "meetings." Your characterization, it is realized, arises from your lack of experience, as you have never come over here for one of our group discussions. I would simply supplicate you please to make decisions based on knowledge and actual experience, and not on invalid comparisons with religious or other groups.
Thanks for considering this important message. If you do decide to visit with us in the future, wile other friends are here, that will be great!:)
*******
You have decided not to join the "family" in a day of fun, celebration, and spiritual learning. But please think about it: For this is something that we all quite desperately need.:)
You classify our Love-gatherings in the same category as "religious meetings." They are not; in fact, we are careful assiduously to avoid even the word "meeting" lest we be confused with religious types. (We prefer the native American term "gatherings.") Our Pneumarium gatherings are definitively not religious in nature; they are spiritual, based only on Love and joy. We do not teach any dogma or doctrines, but simply consider great spiritual truths from many angles. We also discuss some religious ideas, but those are not the nucleus of our gatherings. We come together because we want to, and we all enjoy it! We have fun!:)
So, please do not simply, carelessly "dismiss" us as a matter of personal "policy." For if you do, you might miss one of the truly happy opportunities of this life. For our gatherings are like "parties," not "meetings." Your characterization, it is realized, arises from your lack of experience, as you have never come over here for one of our group discussions. I would simply supplicate you please to make decisions based on knowledge and actual experience, and not on invalid comparisons with religious or other groups.
Thanks for considering this important message. If you do decide to visit with us in the future, wile other friends are here, that will be great!:)
*******
The Pneumarium and Other Sacred Activities
*******
The Pneumarium is only one among many ways that we can serve Love.:)
While we feel that it is important, nay, crucial, to invest timenergy in a spiritual education, we realize that worship is actually giving assistance to others-- to family, to friends, and to strangers!:) As we always say at the Pneumarium, "Every act of Love is an act of worship."
And we believe it! So, we wish you well, and send many blessings in your
direction.:)
We will be, fyi, getting together again on March 2. You are also invited then.
*******
The Pneumarium is only one among many ways that we can serve Love.:)
While we feel that it is important, nay, crucial, to invest timenergy in a spiritual education, we realize that worship is actually giving assistance to others-- to family, to friends, and to strangers!:) As we always say at the Pneumarium, "Every act of Love is an act of worship."
And we believe it! So, we wish you well, and send many blessings in your
direction.:)
We will be, fyi, getting together again on March 2. You are also invited then.
*******
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Compassion is Worship
*******
You are doing the one thing that is actually more important than spiritual education: You are living out the way of God (Love) by aiding people. For every act of Love is an act of worship.:)
*******
You are doing the one thing that is actually more important than spiritual education: You are living out the way of God (Love) by aiding people. For every act of Love is an act of worship.:)
*******
What Year is This?
*******
Do you know what year this is?
If you said, "Two thousand eight," you're dead wrong!
For any number containing the word "thousand" is a quantity, not a year. If you have "one thousand nine hundred seventy-five" pennies, you have almost twenty dollars. But "one thousand nine hundred seventy-five" is not a year; it is an amount or quantity. The year is read correctly "nineteen seventy-five."
The same is consistently true of "2008." If you have "two thousand eight" cars on a lot, this tells how many cars that you have; it says nothing about the make or year in which the cars were produced. The only correct or literate way to read the date or year 2008 is "twenty-oh-eight."
Play this game with friends. It is astonishing just how many will get it wrong! Ask, "What year is this?" An amazing number of people will illiterately answer, "Two thousand eight."
But the only correct answer, known to all literate people, is "twenty-oh-eight."
*******
Do you know what year this is?
If you said, "Two thousand eight," you're dead wrong!
For any number containing the word "thousand" is a quantity, not a year. If you have "one thousand nine hundred seventy-five" pennies, you have almost twenty dollars. But "one thousand nine hundred seventy-five" is not a year; it is an amount or quantity. The year is read correctly "nineteen seventy-five."
The same is consistently true of "2008." If you have "two thousand eight" cars on a lot, this tells how many cars that you have; it says nothing about the make or year in which the cars were produced. The only correct or literate way to read the date or year 2008 is "twenty-oh-eight."
Play this game with friends. It is astonishing just how many will get it wrong! Ask, "What year is this?" An amazing number of people will illiterately answer, "Two thousand eight."
But the only correct answer, known to all literate people, is "twenty-oh-eight."
*******
Illness and Healing
*******
Things are much simpler when viewed through the divine Mind (the "eyes"
of Love). Nevertheless, it is impossible, without denying discovered reality, to deny that the cell is as complex as New York City! At any moment, hundreds of thousands of complex biochemical reactions are occurring among the million million cells of the physical body. Each involves dozens to thousands of steps. So, no matter how highly we might regard simplicity-- and mystics treasure it greatly-- there is very little simplicity in the universe of cytology (cell-study) or biochemistry in general.
Positive thinking can be a great asset in healing. But we must be very careful to circumscribe it within its own valid limits. If we keep it within reasonable perimeters, positive thinking, and visualization, can be among our most valuable tools.
The "interior wounded child" can exacerbate, and even cause, some psychophysical disorders. And even though "psychosomatic," these disorders can be very real.
There is very much in every life, the "crap" that clings to us along the way, from which we must cleanse the heartmind. Transforming the entire mind into Love is no easy or quick task! That is why we cannot make it happen, but can only permit the deep Love-nature (God within) to take over the mind. And letting go of past trauma is like letting go of acid; it burns us only as long as we cling to it!
But the rose of Love does not grow without the "fertilizer" of the "negative" events of our lives.
In perhaps thirty to a hundred years, the medical profession will be forced to recognize the invisible currents of force, and the energyfields, that affect bodily health. But current medicine is very primitive! For there is so much more that we do not know than that which we do know.
*******
Things are much simpler when viewed through the divine Mind (the "eyes"
of Love). Nevertheless, it is impossible, without denying discovered reality, to deny that the cell is as complex as New York City! At any moment, hundreds of thousands of complex biochemical reactions are occurring among the million million cells of the physical body. Each involves dozens to thousands of steps. So, no matter how highly we might regard simplicity-- and mystics treasure it greatly-- there is very little simplicity in the universe of cytology (cell-study) or biochemistry in general.
Positive thinking can be a great asset in healing. But we must be very careful to circumscribe it within its own valid limits. If we keep it within reasonable perimeters, positive thinking, and visualization, can be among our most valuable tools.
The "interior wounded child" can exacerbate, and even cause, some psychophysical disorders. And even though "psychosomatic," these disorders can be very real.
There is very much in every life, the "crap" that clings to us along the way, from which we must cleanse the heartmind. Transforming the entire mind into Love is no easy or quick task! That is why we cannot make it happen, but can only permit the deep Love-nature (God within) to take over the mind. And letting go of past trauma is like letting go of acid; it burns us only as long as we cling to it!
But the rose of Love does not grow without the "fertilizer" of the "negative" events of our lives.
In perhaps thirty to a hundred years, the medical profession will be forced to recognize the invisible currents of force, and the energyfields, that affect bodily health. But current medicine is very primitive! For there is so much more that we do not know than that which we do know.
*******
Monday, February 18, 2008
Pneumarium 2h
*******
When writing about the exciting Pneumarium gathering on February 17, Jim and Maureen Dwyer were inadvertently left out of the list of our dear friends who came. Glad that you were there, too, dear friends; and we enjoyed soaring to the galaxies together after the Pneumarium!
*******
When writing about the exciting Pneumarium gathering on February 17, Jim and Maureen Dwyer were inadvertently left out of the list of our dear friends who came. Glad that you were there, too, dear friends; and we enjoyed soaring to the galaxies together after the Pneumarium!
*******
An Almost Springlike Day: The Latest Pneumarium Report
*******
Our latest Pneumarium-gathering was a megablast! We had more fun than humanly possible! We shared much laughter, conversation, good food,
and-- most importantly, "spiritual food" as great conversation! The conversation was electrically alive with enthusiasm, yet remained very friendly! It really took off!:):) We discussed the goodness, or lack of it, in some sociopolitical circles, among other topics.
We saw some friends that we have not seen for a long time! Among those attending were (in alphabetical order): Albert Bollinger, Pat Fields, Adamaria Francis, Mick Gallagher, Ronda Lambert, Carol and Steve Lawson, Cheryl and Dennis Spencer, and Pam Townsend.
It was almost springlike outside, one of those days when you just want to inhale deeply, and thank Love for the temperate conditions! A beautiful day for February!
*******
Our latest Pneumarium-gathering was a megablast! We had more fun than humanly possible! We shared much laughter, conversation, good food,
and-- most importantly, "spiritual food" as great conversation! The conversation was electrically alive with enthusiasm, yet remained very friendly! It really took off!:):) We discussed the goodness, or lack of it, in some sociopolitical circles, among other topics.
We saw some friends that we have not seen for a long time! Among those attending were (in alphabetical order): Albert Bollinger, Pat Fields, Adamaria Francis, Mick Gallagher, Ronda Lambert, Carol and Steve Lawson, Cheryl and Dennis Spencer, and Pam Townsend.
It was almost springlike outside, one of those days when you just want to inhale deeply, and thank Love for the temperate conditions! A beautiful day for February!
*******
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Docs and Donks
*******
Life can be beautiful, like the snow, if viewed from a "totally safe" position. This is to be enfolded by, surrounded by, the invincible quality of Love!:)
Re health: Each of us must take personal responsibility, not for our health, for we do not consciously control that, but for doing our best to love these donkeys (bodies)!:) Loving them truly takes away much pressure, and guarantees that you will make the right decisions!:)
Re docs: They often arrogantly forget that they are the employees, and we, the employers! We must not let them forget! We need not be arrogant, harsh, or cruel. But with kindness and gentleness, we can make it clear that they work for us, and if they do not do their job, they are otd (out the door)!
*******
Life can be beautiful, like the snow, if viewed from a "totally safe" position. This is to be enfolded by, surrounded by, the invincible quality of Love!:)
Re health: Each of us must take personal responsibility, not for our health, for we do not consciously control that, but for doing our best to love these donkeys (bodies)!:) Loving them truly takes away much pressure, and guarantees that you will make the right decisions!:)
Re docs: They often arrogantly forget that they are the employees, and we, the employers! We must not let them forget! We need not be arrogant, harsh, or cruel. But with kindness and gentleness, we can make it clear that they work for us, and if they do not do their job, they are otd (out the door)!
*******
The "Allgood" World, and Practical Taoism
*******
Some churches, like schools, are "nests" for the replication of bacteria and viruses.:( So is any public place where people gather. Some schoolkids can be rather efficient germ-incubators, where the microcritters can grow and flourish!
The same principle applies, but far less, to adults. This is yet another sound reason not to "drag yourself to church, even if you feel like you are dying," which is what the church-fanatics demand!:)
It is great to be able to "look at" snow and ice everywhere, and to say, honestly, "This, too, is great weather!" But if we can stop the "judgment" that is almost automatic for most of us, then the entire world can be transformed into the "good." For one, if she tries, can usually discern the "good" in even the "worst" situations.
This is the perspective of ancient Taoism, or Taoist mysticism: "Yes" is good, "no" is good; "black" is beautiful; "white" is beautiful. If anything happens, that is great; but if it does not, that is also "great"-- just in a different way!:)
So, on a snowy day, we can take it as a "good" day, and use it wisely.
Or, we can waste mountains of timenergy bitching about the weather, and accomplish nothing! (That simply does not work; it just puts us in a bad mood!:)
*******
Some churches, like schools, are "nests" for the replication of bacteria and viruses.:( So is any public place where people gather. Some schoolkids can be rather efficient germ-incubators, where the microcritters can grow and flourish!
The same principle applies, but far less, to adults. This is yet another sound reason not to "drag yourself to church, even if you feel like you are dying," which is what the church-fanatics demand!:)
It is great to be able to "look at" snow and ice everywhere, and to say, honestly, "This, too, is great weather!" But if we can stop the "judgment" that is almost automatic for most of us, then the entire world can be transformed into the "good." For one, if she tries, can usually discern the "good" in even the "worst" situations.
This is the perspective of ancient Taoism, or Taoist mysticism: "Yes" is good, "no" is good; "black" is beautiful; "white" is beautiful. If anything happens, that is great; but if it does not, that is also "great"-- just in a different way!:)
So, on a snowy day, we can take it as a "good" day, and use it wisely.
Or, we can waste mountains of timenergy bitching about the weather, and accomplish nothing! (That simply does not work; it just puts us in a bad mood!:)
*******
Friday, February 15, 2008
World Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
World Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
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February 12, 2008
Dear Friend:
Welcome to WSPA! Allow me to be the first to thank you for signing the Animals Matter petition, which urges the United Nations to adopt a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW). You have joined the over 1 million people who have already signed the petition to let the world know that animals matter to them.
This campaign has already had a significant impact around the world. The Philippines enacted an ordinance on animal welfare inspired by UDAW, and Costa Rica has included the concept of a Universal Declaration in its "Peace for Nature" initiative.
How can you become more involved?
Spread the word - ask your family, friends, colleagues, and anyone else you know who cares about animals to sign the Animals Matter petition.
Visit our website - check out WSPA's website to get the latest breaking animal welfare news and to learn more about WSPA's campaigns and how you can get involved.
Take action for animals - find out how you can help animals around you.
Visit WSPA's 10 Ways to Make the World a Better Place for Animals.
Find out more - visit our online Supporter pages for frequently asked questions about WSPA and animal welfare and contact information for our offices worldwide. If you have any other questions, please fill in our online inquiry form.
Make a donation to improve the lives of animals around the world.
Thank you again for your support and welcome to the WSPA family! I look forward to working together to save the lives of even more animals around the world.
On behalf of the animals,
Allan E. Kornberg, M.D.
Executive Director
WSPA USA
WSPA
Lincoln Plaza
89 South Street, Suite 201
Boston, MA 02111
Phone: 800-883-9772
Fax: 617-737-4404
E-Mail: wspa@wspausa.com
Web: wspa-usa.org
©2004 The World Society for the Protection of Animals | Developed by Synthenet Corporation
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Virus Warning
Thanks to Teresa Ramsey.
Subject: FW: Please read: Virus warning
I checked this one out and its worse than what this even says. Go to snopes.com and look in the left panel for the "postcard" choice. Only open postcard messages from people you know!!!
Teresa
Virus warning
I checked with Norton Anti-Virus, and they are gearing up for this virus!
I checked snopes.com, and it is for real!!
http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/postcard.asp
Get this E-mail message sent around to your contacts ASAP.
PLEASE FORWARD THIS WARNING AMONG FRIENDS, FAMILY AND CONTACTS!
Subject: FW: Please read: Virus warning
I checked this one out and its worse than what this even says. Go to snopes.com and look in the left panel for the "postcard" choice. Only open postcard messages from people you know!!!
Teresa
Virus warning
I checked with Norton Anti-Virus, and they are gearing up for this virus!
I checked snopes.com, and it is for real!!
http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/postcard.asp
Get this E-mail message sent around to your contacts ASAP.
PLEASE FORWARD THIS WARNING AMONG FRIENDS, FAMILY AND CONTACTS!
Virus: You've Received a Postcard from a Family Member!
Status: Real virus.
Examples: [Collected via e-mail, June 2007]
Subject: You've received a postcard from a family member!
Good day. Your family member has sent you an ecard from xxx
Send free ecards from xxx with your choice of colors, words and music.
Your ecard will be available with us for the next 30 days. If you wish to keep the ecard longer, you may save it on your computer or take a print. To view your ecard, choose from any of the following options:
--------
OPTION 1
--------
Click on the following Internet address or copy & paste it into your browser's address box.
--------
OPTION 2
--------
Copy & paste the ecard number in the "View Your Card" box at xxx
Your ecard number is 6e47840d8e117868911e6c3
Best wishes,
Postmaster,
*If you would like to send someone an ecard, you can do so at xxx
Variations: Other subject lines used with this message include the following:
- You've recieved a Hallmark E-Card!
- You've received a greeting card from a school-mate!
- You've received a greeting ecard from a class mate!
- You've received a greeting ecard from a neighbour!
- You've received a greeting postcard from a partner!
- You've received a greeting postcard from a worshipper!
- You've received a postcard from a family member!
- You've received a postcard from a neighbour!
- You've received a postcard from a worshipper!
- You've received an ecard from a colleague!
- Class-mate sent you an ecard from vintagepostcards.com!
- Colleague sent you a greeting ecard from postcardsfrom.com!
- School mate sent you a greeting ecard from greetingcard.org!
- Family member sent you a postcard from dgreetings.com!
- Neighbour sent you a greeting ecard from NetFunCards.com!
- School-mate sent you an ecard from mypostcards.com!
- Worshipper sent you an ecard from greetingcard.org!
- Colleague sent you a postcard from egreetings.com!
- Neighbour sent you a greeting ecard from all-yours.net!
- School friend sent you an ecard from postcards.org!
- Holiday e-card
- Movie-quality e-card
- Love postcard
- Birthday e-card
- Thank you card
- Musical postcard
- Funny postcard
Origins: Many web sites offer a service that allows a user to send a customized "greeting card" (or "postcard") to a relative, friend, or acquaintance, delivered as an e-mail message containing a hyperlink which the recipient follows to visit the originating site and view the card. Sending out phony e-card notifications is therefore an effective method of camouflaging viruses and inducing unwitting recipients into clicking on links that install malicious programs onto their computers.
A wave of malicious messages (like the one reproduced above) sent out in June 2007 employed that very technique, arriving in inboxes bearing subject lines such as "You've received a postcard from a family member!" The messages contain URLs that recipients are supposed to visit to retrieve their e-cards, but those URLs actually point to servers hosting a variety of malware (including a variant of the Storm Trojan, "an aggressive piece of malware that has been hijacking computers to serve as attacker bots" since early 2007) that is furtively installed onto victims' PCs. (Generally, only unpatched Windows-based systems are vulnerable.)
The underlying worm is the same one that has appeared in messages with subject lines as "Sending You All My Love," the "Laughing Kitty," the "Dancing Skeleton," as well as several game and music download offers.
The storm network is large enough to cut off internet access from any institution its operators choose to attack via a "distributed denial of service attack," in which hundreds or thousands of computers request files from a server simultaneously. The entire country of Estonia was brought down that way last year. The network is actually available for rent for anyone who wishes to use it to send spam, host illegal websites, or stage denial of service attacks.
Storm is a serious threat for several reasons. It communicates "peer-to-peer" instead of via a "command and control" network. For that reason, you can't just disable a few computers that are feeding instructions to the others. The virus download is encrypted, so it is difficult for antivirus programs to recognize, and infected computers are updated by the peer network on a daily basis to keep antivirus programs
from recognizing it once they are updated to recognize previous editions of the virus. The number of infections worldwide is massive, and a quarter of them are on major networks in the US like SBC, Comcast, and Roadrunner. That means that a bank or other business under denial of service attack can't simply block all traffic from certain segments of the internet, because it would be blocking its own users that are sharing those same internet addresses with storm infected computers as they log in and out of the internet. It is believed that Storm's operators are located in St. Petersburg, Russia, are known to the Russian government, and enjoy its protection.
Since antivirus programs will not protect your computer, the most important thing is for people to be extremely suspicious about where they go and what they click on. Never click on any link in an email from someone you don't know. Never click on a link in an advertisement on the internet — if you want to visit that site, look up the address yourself.
Since many of these malicious messages imitate notifications from legitimate e-card sites, recipients should get into the habit of never clicking on links contained within e-card notification e-mails. Instead, go directly to the web site of the card company, find the card pickup page within that site, and enter the ID code included in the e-mail. (If the message was a fake, the worst that will happen is that you won't get a card.)
NOTE: Readers should take particular care not to confuse the real postcard/greeting card virus with the "Virtual Card for You" hoax that has been circulating for several years. Some of the "Postcard" warnings contribute to this confusion by including within them a link to our article about the "Virtual Card for You" hoax. They're not the same thing, despite some e-mail warnings that erroneously present them as such.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XXII and XXIII of XL
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XXII of XL
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TEXT: Continuing with Matthew 6:
COMMENTARY: As in the previous commentary, Jesus tells us what is acceptable to the deepest spiritual Mind of God, deep within our own minds (Unconscious). He shows that prayer should never be about what you want. Instead, a good prayer should be about God (Love): "Our Father… hallowed be Thy name." In ancient writings, "name" often meant identity.
Since to "hallow" is to "make holy," we should begin our prayers with the wish that God (Love) be the holy Center of our thoughts, actions, and words. His identity is more important than yours or mine; and the way that we can best "hallow" the divine identity is by joining it, in mystical Union: We want to become the very incarnations of Love, so that we can say, with Jesus, as his younger siblings, "The Father and I are one." (Jn. 10:30).
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XXIII of XL
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TEXT:
COMMENTARY: The symmetry of the Law of karma is here clearly stated. Why does this symmetricity even exist? Because it is the same mind that forgives both the self and others. So, if you forgive others, the same "interior Judge" will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive, you cannot and will not receive forgiveness. This is another one of those "scary" warnings about karma: You cannot escape it! You can only work to transform bad or painful karma into good and rewarding karma! This is a key to liberation.
*******
*******
TEXT: Continuing with Matthew 6:
9. Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread; 12 And forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors; 13 And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.
COMMENTARY: As in the previous commentary, Jesus tells us what is acceptable to the deepest spiritual Mind of God, deep within our own minds (Unconscious). He shows that prayer should never be about what you want. Instead, a good prayer should be about God (Love): "Our Father… hallowed be Thy name." In ancient writings, "name" often meant identity.
Since to "hallow" is to "make holy," we should begin our prayers with the wish that God (Love) be the holy Center of our thoughts, actions, and words. His identity is more important than yours or mine; and the way that we can best "hallow" the divine identity is by joining it, in mystical Union: We want to become the very incarnations of Love, so that we can say, with Jesus, as his younger siblings, "The Father and I are one." (Jn. 10:30).
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XXIII of XL
***
TEXT:
14. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
COMMENTARY: The symmetry of the Law of karma is here clearly stated. Why does this symmetricity even exist? Because it is the same mind that forgives both the self and others. So, if you forgive others, the same "interior Judge" will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive, you cannot and will not receive forgiveness. This is another one of those "scary" warnings about karma: You cannot escape it! You can only work to transform bad or painful karma into good and rewarding karma! This is a key to liberation.
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Personal Desire and the Way of Liberation
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Clearly, there is nothing "wrong" with positive thinking.:) It is so much better than negative!:)
Positive thinking can contribute to a happier, more productive life. It can also aid in the bodymind healing process. All in all, it has very much to recommend it.
But a major problem occurs when positive thinking grows into an attempt to control the universe by thinking positive. For those who advocate this are trying to pretend that the conscious mind (a very tiny part of Mind) is God. They are acting to "defend" themselves from the unknown, from a deep place filled with fear. This tiny slice of mind finds and creates much fear, and can never become God! For God is fear's opposite, Love; God dwells at a much deeper part of the Unconscious, a depth so profound that it is shared (collective). So, fear is no way to serve Love!
What is their foundation for this radical assumption that their conscious mind is "God"? It seems to be nothing more than a combination of vague superstition and wishful thinking.
They say, "I know what God wants, because it is precisely and always the same thing that I want." This is where they often make their first big mistake. For simply because the conscious mind might selfishly want a thing or condition does not by any means imply that God wants exactly the same thing! It is possible for us consciously to want one thing or condition, while Lovemind might want something completely different!
Most of these "new-age faddists" want wealth, fame, or some other egobased situation. Many of the more desperate want perfect health. But if the desires of the conscious mind resist the desires of karma, created by the powerful and unconscious Soul, the weak conscious mind does not have a chance of controlling events!
This is where the Taoist perspective of the mystical Way enters the picture. For, in most conditions, we must learn to "flogo," or go with the Flow of events. For often, we cannot change or control them. This forces a stubborn and often unwilling mind to cooperate with the will of God, even though she might not like that will!
Jesus said it best when he taught, in the Sermon on the Mount, that we do not have the power, in the conscious mind, to change the color of a single hair on our own heads. So, when people start to tell you that "they can do absolutely anything" with the "power of mind," challenge them to change the color of a specific hair on their own heads! For, as Jesus said, they will not be able to do it!
The function of the conscious mind was never to be able "magically" to change the world. Many "positive thinkers" suffer from a condition that psychology calls "magical thinking." The normal adult outgrows this by about age six.
Yet some still cling to this mild pathology, well into adulthood, by allowing their "interior child" to make decisions. An example of magical thinking is when a little girl's aunt suddenly grows sick, and even dies, and the little one feels somehow responsible. You can se why this is regarded as an unhealthy condition.
Instead, the only function of the conscious mind is to interact with, and try to understand, the "material" world. We can use the conscious mind to train our behavior, creating karma, or using Love to erase negative karma.
It is mystically true that all the world is only Mind. But this does not imply that the world is our personal conscious mind. Instead, the world is dreamed into being by very deep levels of the Unconscious, including the Soul, and the Coremind (Lovemind or Godmind).
When we have a list of things that we "want," we work hard to cultivate a personal will. (To "will" is to "want.") This is the opposite path of the Enlightenment Tradition, which encourages strongly the lessening and decrease of personal wants. We, as students of the mystical Way, want to reduce our personal desires to as close to zero as possible, so that we might discern, and actively pursue, the will of God (Love). This simplification of the mind requires selflessness, but it is the only Way to enlightenment.
*******
Clearly, there is nothing "wrong" with positive thinking.:) It is so much better than negative!:)
Positive thinking can contribute to a happier, more productive life. It can also aid in the bodymind healing process. All in all, it has very much to recommend it.
But a major problem occurs when positive thinking grows into an attempt to control the universe by thinking positive. For those who advocate this are trying to pretend that the conscious mind (a very tiny part of Mind) is God. They are acting to "defend" themselves from the unknown, from a deep place filled with fear. This tiny slice of mind finds and creates much fear, and can never become God! For God is fear's opposite, Love; God dwells at a much deeper part of the Unconscious, a depth so profound that it is shared (collective). So, fear is no way to serve Love!
What is their foundation for this radical assumption that their conscious mind is "God"? It seems to be nothing more than a combination of vague superstition and wishful thinking.
They say, "I know what God wants, because it is precisely and always the same thing that I want." This is where they often make their first big mistake. For simply because the conscious mind might selfishly want a thing or condition does not by any means imply that God wants exactly the same thing! It is possible for us consciously to want one thing or condition, while Lovemind might want something completely different!
Most of these "new-age faddists" want wealth, fame, or some other egobased situation. Many of the more desperate want perfect health. But if the desires of the conscious mind resist the desires of karma, created by the powerful and unconscious Soul, the weak conscious mind does not have a chance of controlling events!
This is where the Taoist perspective of the mystical Way enters the picture. For, in most conditions, we must learn to "flogo," or go with the Flow of events. For often, we cannot change or control them. This forces a stubborn and often unwilling mind to cooperate with the will of God, even though she might not like that will!
Jesus said it best when he taught, in the Sermon on the Mount, that we do not have the power, in the conscious mind, to change the color of a single hair on our own heads. So, when people start to tell you that "they can do absolutely anything" with the "power of mind," challenge them to change the color of a specific hair on their own heads! For, as Jesus said, they will not be able to do it!
The function of the conscious mind was never to be able "magically" to change the world. Many "positive thinkers" suffer from a condition that psychology calls "magical thinking." The normal adult outgrows this by about age six.
Yet some still cling to this mild pathology, well into adulthood, by allowing their "interior child" to make decisions. An example of magical thinking is when a little girl's aunt suddenly grows sick, and even dies, and the little one feels somehow responsible. You can se why this is regarded as an unhealthy condition.
Instead, the only function of the conscious mind is to interact with, and try to understand, the "material" world. We can use the conscious mind to train our behavior, creating karma, or using Love to erase negative karma.
It is mystically true that all the world is only Mind. But this does not imply that the world is our personal conscious mind. Instead, the world is dreamed into being by very deep levels of the Unconscious, including the Soul, and the Coremind (Lovemind or Godmind).
When we have a list of things that we "want," we work hard to cultivate a personal will. (To "will" is to "want.") This is the opposite path of the Enlightenment Tradition, which encourages strongly the lessening and decrease of personal wants. We, as students of the mystical Way, want to reduce our personal desires to as close to zero as possible, so that we might discern, and actively pursue, the will of God (Love). This simplification of the mind requires selflessness, but it is the only Way to enlightenment.
*******
Illness
*******
After three decades of careful and scrupulous, detailed study of many "mind only" systems of healing, I have been forced to the conclusion that illness-- whether it be physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual-- is a very complex issue. Illness has no single cause that applies to all cases, in all people, all the time. Therefore, although many do not want to hear this, there is no simple "cure" that will cure all the people, in all cases, all the time! But it is up to each one of us to learn to Love and care for her body, by avoiding dietary abuse (too much junkfood), laziness (absence of exercise), and toxins (such as tobacco or too much alcohol). So, if we do the best that we can always to love our bodies, we are doing the very best possible. And God (Love) never requests the impossible or miraculous from anyone; God asks for only our best!
If illness could be caused by conscious thought, the hypochondriac who has been obsessed with a disease for forty years would surely, each and every time, manifest that disease! Yet many severely handicapped hypochondriacs, extremely convinced of the presence of disease, and thinking, even meditating, on its presence, for forty years, have been found to have a perfectly clean bill of health!
Of course, everyone loves to believe in "fairy tales." They are easy and comfortable, and appeal powerfully to the interior child (that part of your brain that stopped growing at age six). But Jesus told the real truth when he said, "You cannot change a single hair from white to black."
People, especially those who are what psychologists call "fantasy-prone personalities," hate to hear this. But if it is a decision between Jesus and a bunch of hopeful (or gullible) and desperate "positive thinkers"-- and it is-- there is no contest!
*******
After three decades of careful and scrupulous, detailed study of many "mind only" systems of healing, I have been forced to the conclusion that illness-- whether it be physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual-- is a very complex issue. Illness has no single cause that applies to all cases, in all people, all the time. Therefore, although many do not want to hear this, there is no simple "cure" that will cure all the people, in all cases, all the time! But it is up to each one of us to learn to Love and care for her body, by avoiding dietary abuse (too much junkfood), laziness (absence of exercise), and toxins (such as tobacco or too much alcohol). So, if we do the best that we can always to love our bodies, we are doing the very best possible. And God (Love) never requests the impossible or miraculous from anyone; God asks for only our best!
If illness could be caused by conscious thought, the hypochondriac who has been obsessed with a disease for forty years would surely, each and every time, manifest that disease! Yet many severely handicapped hypochondriacs, extremely convinced of the presence of disease, and thinking, even meditating, on its presence, for forty years, have been found to have a perfectly clean bill of health!
Of course, everyone loves to believe in "fairy tales." They are easy and comfortable, and appeal powerfully to the interior child (that part of your brain that stopped growing at age six). But Jesus told the real truth when he said, "You cannot change a single hair from white to black."
People, especially those who are what psychologists call "fantasy-prone personalities," hate to hear this. But if it is a decision between Jesus and a bunch of hopeful (or gullible) and desperate "positive thinkers"-- and it is-- there is no contest!
*******
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XX and XXI of XL
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XX of XL
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TEXT: Continuing with Matthew 6:
COMMENTARY: Again, the "Father" is watching "in secret," from the interior depths of deepest Mind (the Unconscious). It is He/She, and She/He alone Who gives true rewards, as good karma. In that, the spiritual can and do rejoice. So, a spiritual person should exercise great caution never to pray in public!
For this "public prayer" betrays a deeply uncertain person, not sure of God, not trusting God in faith. For Jesus says that all real prayer is private and "in secret." Any act of public prayer displays a lack or absence of true spirituality or enlightenment.
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XXI of XL
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TEXT:
COMMENTARY: We have all, at one time or another, been the "victims"
of hyperverbal prayers that pretend, rather ignorantly and shamefully, to "educate" God. This kind of embarrassing "prayer" is a sermon in disguise. It is not accepted by God (deepest Mind) as "prayer" at all, but is a hollow, superficial, artificial excuse for selfdisplay-- unacceptable to Jesus, and thus, to God.
TEXT:
COMMENTARY: If this is true-- and it is-- then, we have no real need for the "prayers of request," or supplication. We do not need shamefully to beg God to love us, or to act on our behalf. To ask God for special favors displays a real lack of faith, for God already knows what we need. This revelation by Jesus revises and alters the very definition of prayer!
The true prayer is about God ("Our father,… hallowed be thy name."), not all about the self. It also concerns the welfare of the world ("Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven"), and never selfabsorbed. We can ask for necessities, but need not "inform" God of what is happening ("Give us this day our daily bread").
And, most of the time, the very best prayer is silence. For in that profound state, we can immerse ourselves selflessly in the ocean, the galaxy, of Lovemind-- the most profound intent of the deepest prayer or meditation.
*******
TEXT: Continuing with Matthew 6:
6. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
COMMENTARY: Again, the "Father" is watching "in secret," from the interior depths of deepest Mind (the Unconscious). It is He/She, and She/He alone Who gives true rewards, as good karma. In that, the spiritual can and do rejoice. So, a spiritual person should exercise great caution never to pray in public!
For this "public prayer" betrays a deeply uncertain person, not sure of God, not trusting God in faith. For Jesus says that all real prayer is private and "in secret." Any act of public prayer displays a lack or absence of true spirituality or enlightenment.
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XXI of XL
*******
TEXT:
7. "And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
COMMENTARY: We have all, at one time or another, been the "victims"
of hyperverbal prayers that pretend, rather ignorantly and shamefully, to "educate" God. This kind of embarrassing "prayer" is a sermon in disguise. It is not accepted by God (deepest Mind) as "prayer" at all, but is a hollow, superficial, artificial excuse for selfdisplay-- unacceptable to Jesus, and thus, to God.
TEXT:
8. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
COMMENTARY: If this is true-- and it is-- then, we have no real need for the "prayers of request," or supplication. We do not need shamefully to beg God to love us, or to act on our behalf. To ask God for special favors displays a real lack of faith, for God already knows what we need. This revelation by Jesus revises and alters the very definition of prayer!
The true prayer is about God ("Our father,… hallowed be thy name."), not all about the self. It also concerns the welfare of the world ("Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven"), and never selfabsorbed. We can ask for necessities, but need not "inform" God of what is happening ("Give us this day our daily bread").
And, most of the time, the very best prayer is silence. For in that profound state, we can immerse ourselves selflessly in the ocean, the galaxy, of Lovemind-- the most profound intent of the deepest prayer or meditation.
Monday, February 11, 2008
In What Can We Believe?
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Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and other childish myths are being joined, in the minds of hundreds of thousands of serious, spiritually wise, people by the silly childish myth of "Jehovah." This violent, bigoted, murderous godimage is presented in the older part of the Bible-- the Hebrew Scriptures, or so-called "Old Testament."
But the Lord of Love, recognized by spiritually sophisticated and educated people, bears no resemblance at all to this very ancient, very archaic, godimage. There is a good reason for this: The Lord of universal, unconditional Love has nothing to do with the ancient wargod of the Hebrews.
Until a spiritual student gets this one fact straight, if she is from a fundamentalist or even traditional background, further spiritual growth is paralyzed and petrified. For the Jehovah-myth is the curare of spiritual development: It leaves you paralyzed; and in time, it will be possibly lethal to real spirituality. We must all find ways to break through the glass-ceiling of the Jehovah-myth!
Most of us grew up with this nightmarish myth. Our "god" was guilty of mass-slaughters, mass-murders, bigotry (against all the "nations" outside of the "chosen" people). Our childhood "god" was regularly angry; thousands died in his temper-tantrums.
He was always male. He was a soldier. He insisted that his "chosen people" go to war, and further was careful to insist that they murder the women and children of the tribes which they invaded. These are the actions of a psychopath; we can recognize this in politics, but not often in religion.
Worse, by far, Jehovah is a psychotic, and a dangerous, murderous one.
We must lift ourselves beyond and above this pervasive infection of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. We must reject and renounce this god of the old texts, and declare with our whole hearts that we are the people of Love; we worship Love!
Love is not the often dangerous, unreliable romantic, sexual relationship often mislabeled as "love." No, this Love is a cosmic force, a Mindpower that can transform selfimage, and can and does radically improve our relationships with others.
Love is what you feel when compassion rises in the heart. It is a desire to aid and help others. It is a desire to improve our little world. It includes a desire to have no personal or greedy desires.
So, you can see that this "Love" is unique. It requires timenergy to cultivate it, and an entire lifetime to cleanse the heart with It. For It is also forgiveness-- holding absolutely nothing against anyone!
Since we have all been hurt-- often seriously and very painfully-- by our Journey of learning on earth, forgiveness can be a real challenge!
But it might help to know two facts: 1) When a person does not forgive, she harms only herself; and 2) When you do not forgive, you are allowing your enemy to control your thoughts and feelings! So, you cannot and will not taste the sweet delight of freedom unless and until you forgive universally!
So, let us not just think about, and talk about, Love. Those are both good and therapeutic actions; but Love in us is dead unless It becomes action. This action can take many forms, depending onyour gifts: A medical doctor or health-worker loves when she is a good healer, and not just a pill-dispenser. A teacher loves when she truly cares for her
students-- their future, their hearts, and their minds. Even an accountant, or factory-worker, or housekeeper, can transform her work into Love by acting out of a motive of Love for people!
So, examine your heartmind, and discover your own gifts. Then, surrender to Love, and allow Love to use those gifts in the aid and assistance of other living creatures!
*******
Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and other childish myths are being joined, in the minds of hundreds of thousands of serious, spiritually wise, people by the silly childish myth of "Jehovah." This violent, bigoted, murderous godimage is presented in the older part of the Bible-- the Hebrew Scriptures, or so-called "Old Testament."
But the Lord of Love, recognized by spiritually sophisticated and educated people, bears no resemblance at all to this very ancient, very archaic, godimage. There is a good reason for this: The Lord of universal, unconditional Love has nothing to do with the ancient wargod of the Hebrews.
Until a spiritual student gets this one fact straight, if she is from a fundamentalist or even traditional background, further spiritual growth is paralyzed and petrified. For the Jehovah-myth is the curare of spiritual development: It leaves you paralyzed; and in time, it will be possibly lethal to real spirituality. We must all find ways to break through the glass-ceiling of the Jehovah-myth!
Most of us grew up with this nightmarish myth. Our "god" was guilty of mass-slaughters, mass-murders, bigotry (against all the "nations" outside of the "chosen" people). Our childhood "god" was regularly angry; thousands died in his temper-tantrums.
He was always male. He was a soldier. He insisted that his "chosen people" go to war, and further was careful to insist that they murder the women and children of the tribes which they invaded. These are the actions of a psychopath; we can recognize this in politics, but not often in religion.
Worse, by far, Jehovah is a psychotic, and a dangerous, murderous one.
We must lift ourselves beyond and above this pervasive infection of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. We must reject and renounce this god of the old texts, and declare with our whole hearts that we are the people of Love; we worship Love!
Love is not the often dangerous, unreliable romantic, sexual relationship often mislabeled as "love." No, this Love is a cosmic force, a Mindpower that can transform selfimage, and can and does radically improve our relationships with others.
Love is what you feel when compassion rises in the heart. It is a desire to aid and help others. It is a desire to improve our little world. It includes a desire to have no personal or greedy desires.
So, you can see that this "Love" is unique. It requires timenergy to cultivate it, and an entire lifetime to cleanse the heart with It. For It is also forgiveness-- holding absolutely nothing against anyone!
Since we have all been hurt-- often seriously and very painfully-- by our Journey of learning on earth, forgiveness can be a real challenge!
But it might help to know two facts: 1) When a person does not forgive, she harms only herself; and 2) When you do not forgive, you are allowing your enemy to control your thoughts and feelings! So, you cannot and will not taste the sweet delight of freedom unless and until you forgive universally!
So, let us not just think about, and talk about, Love. Those are both good and therapeutic actions; but Love in us is dead unless It becomes action. This action can take many forms, depending onyour gifts: A medical doctor or health-worker loves when she is a good healer, and not just a pill-dispenser. A teacher loves when she truly cares for her
students-- their future, their hearts, and their minds. Even an accountant, or factory-worker, or housekeeper, can transform her work into Love by acting out of a motive of Love for people!
So, examine your heartmind, and discover your own gifts. Then, surrender to Love, and allow Love to use those gifts in the aid and assistance of other living creatures!
*******
Sunday, February 10, 2008
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XVIII and XIX of XL
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XVIII of XL
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TEXT: Continuing with Matthew
COMMENTARY: This text is, or should be, quite scary! For if the attention of people is their full reward-- and Jesus says that it is-- conceited, selfdisplaying people have no reward in "heaven," or the afterlife. These are so pathetic as to have received the "mud" of human attention, and exchanged that "dirt" for the "gold" of God's rewards for humility. Humility is very rare, almost nonexistent, among religious leaders, even as it was in the time of Jesus. But its scarcity makes it the "platinum" of real spirituality. Without humility, any claim to be "spiritual" or "enlightened" is a farcical lie! For it is one of the fruits of true wisdom.
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XIX of XL
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TEXT:
COMMENTARY: The "Father" is always watching your life through your own eyes and mind ("in secret"). This is certainly not to increase your selfconsciousness, but in order to evaluate your actions on earth. For there is a part of your Unconscious called the "interior Judge," or "Observer" that continuously records all actions, words, and thoughts.
It is impossible to "lie" to this part of your Self, or to hide from It.
And all future destiny arises from what the Observer sees you doing in this world.
TEXT:
COMMENTARY: Jesus here recognizes that ego stands against spirituality; egocentricity is a very real and perilous spiritual disease. In this teaching, Jesus confirms intercultural mysticism, which always teaches this as a matrixteaching. This is another fairly "scary" warning! For Jesus again repeats that those who pray in public have already received their "reward" from human beings-- again, exchanging "mud" for "gold." Jesus is, in effect, banning and prohibiting public prayer. So, this command of Jesus is being regularly disobeyed, in almost every church, almost every week! Prayer is never to be a spectacle, to be observed by other human beings.
Instead, prayer should be more like making Love, which no modest person would do in public. It is not shameful, but simply very private.
It is not to be shared with the "crowd." Those who misuse sacred prayer as an "opportunity" for selfdisplay are not only wrong, but they are deeply spiritually ill.
*****
*******
TEXT: Continuing with Matthew
6: Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
COMMENTARY: This text is, or should be, quite scary! For if the attention of people is their full reward-- and Jesus says that it is-- conceited, selfdisplaying people have no reward in "heaven," or the afterlife. These are so pathetic as to have received the "mud" of human attention, and exchanged that "dirt" for the "gold" of God's rewards for humility. Humility is very rare, almost nonexistent, among religious leaders, even as it was in the time of Jesus. But its scarcity makes it the "platinum" of real spirituality. Without humility, any claim to be "spiritual" or "enlightened" is a farcical lie! For it is one of the fruits of true wisdom.
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XIX of XL
*******
TEXT:
3. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
COMMENTARY: The "Father" is always watching your life through your own eyes and mind ("in secret"). This is certainly not to increase your selfconsciousness, but in order to evaluate your actions on earth. For there is a part of your Unconscious called the "interior Judge," or "Observer" that continuously records all actions, words, and thoughts.
It is impossible to "lie" to this part of your Self, or to hide from It.
And all future destiny arises from what the Observer sees you doing in this world.
TEXT:
5. "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
COMMENTARY: Jesus here recognizes that ego stands against spirituality; egocentricity is a very real and perilous spiritual disease. In this teaching, Jesus confirms intercultural mysticism, which always teaches this as a matrixteaching. This is another fairly "scary" warning! For Jesus again repeats that those who pray in public have already received their "reward" from human beings-- again, exchanging "mud" for "gold." Jesus is, in effect, banning and prohibiting public prayer. So, this command of Jesus is being regularly disobeyed, in almost every church, almost every week! Prayer is never to be a spectacle, to be observed by other human beings.
Instead, prayer should be more like making Love, which no modest person would do in public. It is not shameful, but simply very private.
It is not to be shared with the "crowd." Those who misuse sacred prayer as an "opportunity" for selfdisplay are not only wrong, but they are deeply spiritually ill.
*****
Thursday, February 07, 2008
A Note Re Obama
Thanks to Sandra Grubb
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From my brother, its a link to The Nation's webpage and it states that Obama has signed the pledge to support the basic principles of the Constitution, such as not to torture, illegally tap into people's conversations, or imprison without due process.
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?pid=239574
i think this should make the rounds.
A Valentine's Day Message: The Love of Your Life
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A person, especially if she is a being of Love, might, and probably should, have many friends!:) For friendship is the essence of practical, realistic Love on this tiny planet. Together with service, friendship is the most common, and beautiful, expression of Love.
The being of Love will have friends of both sexes. Some will be admired, some adored, and all, deeply appreciated, treasured, and beloved. But, among all these friends and acquaintances, only one can and will reach the zenith of her very best Love. And that is the monogamous, exclusive Lovepartner, the Soulcompanion of this life.
The Lovepartner or Lovecompanion remains at the center of the heart as a receiver of a magnificent, wonderful, blissful Love.
Among all, this Love is special, unique, and exquisite. For, unlike all other Loves, this one enjoys a deep sexual sharing. Sex is one of the many ways that the being of Love celebrates the Power of Love in her life.
But, to be the best that it can be, sexual Love requires a special and exclusive vow to share sexually with only one's Lovepartner. Unlike the terrible conditions of primitive and ancient cultures (David, Moses, and even the great Solomon married more than one person, practicing polygamy), the conditions of the modern world permit a deeper, more lasting, more exclusive Love. One of the many reasons that this Love is the "diamond" of Love is its exclusivity. This prevents its degeneration into commonality, and its becoming "ordinary," or even boring.
As we age, sexual drives and appetites lesson somewhat, but they are energized and enormously enriched by a greater Love as we grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The lover becomes the "local" Lovexpression of God or Goddess. For more, and better, Love is invested in her heart than in any other in the world. And if we are very lucky, the Lovecompanion is a being of loyalty, intelligence, humor, wisdom, spirituality, and related jewels. This has been the case in this life, and, on Valentine's Day-- as well as on every other-- these facts are celebrated!
So, although we do not worship our Lovepartners, we can and do worship through our Love for them. So, let us vow deep within the heart to renew our Love, to make it new and bright, during this special season. Let us forgive and forget imperfections. For, if we wish ever to be forgiven, we must forgive.
Let's rediscover our "young hearts" and love with the entire heart and mind. Let us create peace, tranquility, and bliss-- all of which arise from only Love. Let us gift our beloved with the deepest, surest, brightest, and warmest Love of a clean, Loveinspired heartmind! Let us remember Love, in every moment, never daring to forget that It is Life Itself. Let us dig deeply within the heart to retrieve a joy that is beyond this world, that is supernatural-- the bliss of Love!
*******
A person, especially if she is a being of Love, might, and probably should, have many friends!:) For friendship is the essence of practical, realistic Love on this tiny planet. Together with service, friendship is the most common, and beautiful, expression of Love.
The being of Love will have friends of both sexes. Some will be admired, some adored, and all, deeply appreciated, treasured, and beloved. But, among all these friends and acquaintances, only one can and will reach the zenith of her very best Love. And that is the monogamous, exclusive Lovepartner, the Soulcompanion of this life.
The Lovepartner or Lovecompanion remains at the center of the heart as a receiver of a magnificent, wonderful, blissful Love.
Among all, this Love is special, unique, and exquisite. For, unlike all other Loves, this one enjoys a deep sexual sharing. Sex is one of the many ways that the being of Love celebrates the Power of Love in her life.
But, to be the best that it can be, sexual Love requires a special and exclusive vow to share sexually with only one's Lovepartner. Unlike the terrible conditions of primitive and ancient cultures (David, Moses, and even the great Solomon married more than one person, practicing polygamy), the conditions of the modern world permit a deeper, more lasting, more exclusive Love. One of the many reasons that this Love is the "diamond" of Love is its exclusivity. This prevents its degeneration into commonality, and its becoming "ordinary," or even boring.
As we age, sexual drives and appetites lesson somewhat, but they are energized and enormously enriched by a greater Love as we grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The lover becomes the "local" Lovexpression of God or Goddess. For more, and better, Love is invested in her heart than in any other in the world. And if we are very lucky, the Lovecompanion is a being of loyalty, intelligence, humor, wisdom, spirituality, and related jewels. This has been the case in this life, and, on Valentine's Day-- as well as on every other-- these facts are celebrated!
So, although we do not worship our Lovepartners, we can and do worship through our Love for them. So, let us vow deep within the heart to renew our Love, to make it new and bright, during this special season. Let us forgive and forget imperfections. For, if we wish ever to be forgiven, we must forgive.
Let's rediscover our "young hearts" and love with the entire heart and mind. Let us create peace, tranquility, and bliss-- all of which arise from only Love. Let us gift our beloved with the deepest, surest, brightest, and warmest Love of a clean, Loveinspired heartmind! Let us remember Love, in every moment, never daring to forget that It is Life Itself. Let us dig deeply within the heart to retrieve a joy that is beyond this world, that is supernatural-- the bliss of Love!
*******
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XVI and XVII of XL
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XVI of XL
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TEXT: Continuing with Matthew 5:
COMMENTARY: There is only one Way to be "perfect." That is to move out of the Way and let the Supermind, the Lovemind, live in and through us! For we cannot "gain" perfection under our own limited human power.
Instead, we must clear our minds, moving into the clarity of "interior emptiness," allowing the Spirit, first, to communicate with us, then, allowing Her to "take over" and "possess" us! This reflection of "perfection" is the longterm goal of the mystic in every spiritual tradition. So, the more that one studies the Sermon on the Mount, the more it appears as a mystical document.
*****
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XVII of XL
*******
Chapter 6.
TEXT: Continuing with Matthew 6:
COMMENTARY: The person of Love rejects, refuses, and renounces fame. Jesus, the most famous man who ever lived, did not want personal publicity. But he did want to spread his Message of Love as widely as possible. Jesus here, in effect, prohibits his true followers from seeking personal fame. The follower of the Way never wants her name to be the subject of attention; she diverts all attention to Love, and to the Lord of Love.
If people took Jesus seriously, and believed in his Message, we would be forever free of selfconscious, strutting, "pea-cocking," selfdisplaying religious types. These showoffs love to be seen, and admired, by people; for, deep down, they suffer from selfloathing and a profound sense of inadequacy and incompetence. They love to see their egonames in newspapers, and for people to talk about them. Those who brag, boast, and strut have no place in the kingdom of Love, of "the Father." For arrogance is fear, and fear the opposite of Love.
TEXT:
COMMENTARY: We all tend to be so uncertain of ourselves, so untrusting of the Love of God, that we almost always, at least, in our immature ("spiritual embryo" or "toddler") phase, tend to want to gravitate to continuous and haunting uncertainty. Then, in stupidity, ignorance, and arrogance, we lust after the praises and notice of human beings. This is evidence that a person is no longer on a spiritual path. For the truly spiritual direct all praises to the interior Father of Love. They are selfnegating, never the selfabsorbed. This is, in fact, the very meaning of that most rare of spiritual jewels-- humility.
Arrogant ministers, priests, and preachers prove themselves deeply and spiritually flawed when seeking the attention of the press, for example.
For this is anti-Christian.
*******
TEXT: Continuing with Matthew 5:
48. You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
COMMENTARY: There is only one Way to be "perfect." That is to move out of the Way and let the Supermind, the Lovemind, live in and through us! For we cannot "gain" perfection under our own limited human power.
Instead, we must clear our minds, moving into the clarity of "interior emptiness," allowing the Spirit, first, to communicate with us, then, allowing Her to "take over" and "possess" us! This reflection of "perfection" is the longterm goal of the mystic in every spiritual tradition. So, the more that one studies the Sermon on the Mount, the more it appears as a mystical document.
*****
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XVII of XL
*******
Chapter 6.
TEXT: Continuing with Matthew 6:
1. "Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
COMMENTARY: The person of Love rejects, refuses, and renounces fame. Jesus, the most famous man who ever lived, did not want personal publicity. But he did want to spread his Message of Love as widely as possible. Jesus here, in effect, prohibits his true followers from seeking personal fame. The follower of the Way never wants her name to be the subject of attention; she diverts all attention to Love, and to the Lord of Love.
If people took Jesus seriously, and believed in his Message, we would be forever free of selfconscious, strutting, "pea-cocking," selfdisplaying religious types. These showoffs love to be seen, and admired, by people; for, deep down, they suffer from selfloathing and a profound sense of inadequacy and incompetence. They love to see their egonames in newspapers, and for people to talk about them. Those who brag, boast, and strut have no place in the kingdom of Love, of "the Father." For arrogance is fear, and fear the opposite of Love.
TEXT:
2. "Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men.
COMMENTARY: We all tend to be so uncertain of ourselves, so untrusting of the Love of God, that we almost always, at least, in our immature ("spiritual embryo" or "toddler") phase, tend to want to gravitate to continuous and haunting uncertainty. Then, in stupidity, ignorance, and arrogance, we lust after the praises and notice of human beings. This is evidence that a person is no longer on a spiritual path. For the truly spiritual direct all praises to the interior Father of Love. They are selfnegating, never the selfabsorbed. This is, in fact, the very meaning of that most rare of spiritual jewels-- humility.
Arrogant ministers, priests, and preachers prove themselves deeply and spiritually flawed when seeking the attention of the press, for example.
For this is anti-Christian.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
The Sermon on the Mount, Parts XIV and XV of XL
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XIV of XL
*******
TEXT: Continuing with Matthew 5:
COMMENTARY: This is arguably the most Taoist of any Christian teaching. It is all about yielding, flowing, accommodating, accepting, non-resistance, and adaptation.
These verses are also terrifying! For they command a Way of life that is clearly, obviously, impractical, unthinkable, and far too idealistic! Further, if good people lived this Way, the evil would take over in a minute!
But this is not a literal rejection of self-defense. Instead, it is an encouragement to kindness and generosity. We are to be generous towards all, always "going the extra mile," even for "enemies."
Some translations say even, "Give to everyone asking you." Only the poorest of the poor, who were among Jesus' regular followers, could ever "afford" to follow this advice. For the rich quake with terror when reading these words, which show absolutely no concern for material things. In effect, our entire culture and society have rejected Jesus' teachings.
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XV of XL
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TEXT:
COMMENTARY: This is one of the most challenging directions ever given by the Christ through Jesus. To love people, anyone, is difficult enough. But to "love your enemies" is a superchallenge! Human beings are simply incapable of this feat. So, they must step out of the Way, and let Love simply love through them! This is the essence of the Way.
*****
*******
TEXT: Continuing with Matthew 5:
37. Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil.
38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; 40 and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; 41 and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
42 Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you.
COMMENTARY: This is arguably the most Taoist of any Christian teaching. It is all about yielding, flowing, accommodating, accepting, non-resistance, and adaptation.
These verses are also terrifying! For they command a Way of life that is clearly, obviously, impractical, unthinkable, and far too idealistic! Further, if good people lived this Way, the evil would take over in a minute!
But this is not a literal rejection of self-defense. Instead, it is an encouragement to kindness and generosity. We are to be generous towards all, always "going the extra mile," even for "enemies."
Some translations say even, "Give to everyone asking you." Only the poorest of the poor, who were among Jesus' regular followers, could ever "afford" to follow this advice. For the rich quake with terror when reading these words, which show absolutely no concern for material things. In effect, our entire culture and society have rejected Jesus' teachings.
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XV of XL
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TEXT:
43. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you can be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
COMMENTARY: This is one of the most challenging directions ever given by the Christ through Jesus. To love people, anyone, is difficult enough. But to "love your enemies" is a superchallenge! Human beings are simply incapable of this feat. So, they must step out of the Way, and let Love simply love through them! This is the essence of the Way.
*****
Healing the Soul
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We were secure in the facts that, when it was the will of Love, you would again contact us, and the universal Mind of Love did not disappoint! In our new Taoist perspective, if you did, that would be wonderful, fabulous! But if you did not, that would also be wonderful, fabulous! As in all things, the will of the One be done!:)
You have had a remarkable spiritual journey, not dissimilar to the one taken through this donkey (physical body)! We learn so much through our donkeys (bodies) that it is selfevident why we have to "wear these costumes" here on earth!:) Biochemistry and neurochemistry are so gigantically and enormously complex that no one has ever understood them in all their many intricacies: The body remains a deep mystery despite real and major advances in biochemical and medical research. Despite some arrogance in the medical community, we are still at the level of "medicine men" shaking primitive bone-rattles and doing incantations.
Today, our "demons" have names such as mesothilioma, but they are "demons" nonetheless, and must include spiritual as well as medical cures. Otherwise, they, and we, remain incomplete, uncured, ill.
Jesus and Lao Tzu are both fine "doctors of the Soul," necessary for complete healing. And, happily, there are many other luminaries throughout history! The Sermon on the Mount and the "Book of the Great Mind and Its Expression" are both classics of spiritual and mystical literature. Btw, Love Ministries has recently produced an original rendition of Lao Tzu's great, refreshingly simple, and spiritually liberating work, the Tao Te Ching. If you would like a copy, we would love to gift you with one.
I'd also love to send you the story of this life, an "abiography" (the life-story of a mystic) called Soaring On Sunshine: An Abiography of a Mystic. So, could you please send along your snailmail address? As you know so well from your experience with the SoM (Sermon on the Mount), good reading can transform life! We always highly recommend it as therapy for all people, all the time!
Simply living on earth requires all the positive therapies that we can possibly uncover, both within our own minds and within the world. For both are God, and Her will is always our healing in Love.:)
*******
We were secure in the facts that, when it was the will of Love, you would again contact us, and the universal Mind of Love did not disappoint! In our new Taoist perspective, if you did, that would be wonderful, fabulous! But if you did not, that would also be wonderful, fabulous! As in all things, the will of the One be done!:)
You have had a remarkable spiritual journey, not dissimilar to the one taken through this donkey (physical body)! We learn so much through our donkeys (bodies) that it is selfevident why we have to "wear these costumes" here on earth!:) Biochemistry and neurochemistry are so gigantically and enormously complex that no one has ever understood them in all their many intricacies: The body remains a deep mystery despite real and major advances in biochemical and medical research. Despite some arrogance in the medical community, we are still at the level of "medicine men" shaking primitive bone-rattles and doing incantations.
Today, our "demons" have names such as mesothilioma, but they are "demons" nonetheless, and must include spiritual as well as medical cures. Otherwise, they, and we, remain incomplete, uncured, ill.
Jesus and Lao Tzu are both fine "doctors of the Soul," necessary for complete healing. And, happily, there are many other luminaries throughout history! The Sermon on the Mount and the "Book of the Great Mind and Its Expression" are both classics of spiritual and mystical literature. Btw, Love Ministries has recently produced an original rendition of Lao Tzu's great, refreshingly simple, and spiritually liberating work, the Tao Te Ching. If you would like a copy, we would love to gift you with one.
I'd also love to send you the story of this life, an "abiography" (the life-story of a mystic) called Soaring On Sunshine: An Abiography of a Mystic. So, could you please send along your snailmail address? As you know so well from your experience with the SoM (Sermon on the Mount), good reading can transform life! We always highly recommend it as therapy for all people, all the time!
Simply living on earth requires all the positive therapies that we can possibly uncover, both within our own minds and within the world. For both are God, and Her will is always our healing in Love.:)
*******
This Earthplay and our Costumes
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It is good that you recognize and know that any selfconsciousness represents something that needs examination. I look forward to millions of billions of communications in our shared, infinite, timeless, unlimited and unbounded, future! For we are both timeless, birthless, and deathless beings just "wearing human costumes" during the
"earthplay.":)
*******
It is good that you recognize and know that any selfconsciousness represents something that needs examination. I look forward to millions of billions of communications in our shared, infinite, timeless, unlimited and unbounded, future! For we are both timeless, birthless, and deathless beings just "wearing human costumes" during the
"earthplay.":)
*******
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Selforgiveness
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All genuine selforgiveness begins with the deep realization that we, as individual egos, are not "important" enough, in this vast universe, for our "sins" to matter tremendously, except to the design of our future karma. If the ego is not "that important," neither can any of its errors be.
This is why God, through Jesus, comes across as eager to forgive, and He does so quite easily. He forgives, on the spot, even "very serious" sins. It is, in fact, blasphemy even to suggest that there can exist any "sin" greater than God's Love, Her ability to forgive. Realizing that God forgives us universally, and wanting to imitate God in our poor humanway, demands selforgiveness.
*******
All genuine selforgiveness begins with the deep realization that we, as individual egos, are not "important" enough, in this vast universe, for our "sins" to matter tremendously, except to the design of our future karma. If the ego is not "that important," neither can any of its errors be.
This is why God, through Jesus, comes across as eager to forgive, and He does so quite easily. He forgives, on the spot, even "very serious" sins. It is, in fact, blasphemy even to suggest that there can exist any "sin" greater than God's Love, Her ability to forgive. Realizing that God forgives us universally, and wanting to imitate God in our poor humanway, demands selforgiveness.
*******
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XIII of XL
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TEXT:
COMMENTARY: Here, Jesus forced the selfcentered, egocentric men, who considered themselves, to use the old Hebrew term, the "husbandly owners" of their wives, to stop and think. For again,as above, he accused men who saw themselves as studies in sterling virtue of serious errors or "sins." He unmasked them in public, and accused the selfrighteous of being in trouble with God (Love). Jesus was daring here, several times, to contradict the ancient laws of Jehovah, and even to correct them! This was regarded as blasphemy!
He taught that men were to respect, as well as to love, women, and not abusively to take them for granted. Those who "went through" many wives he called "adulterers"-- serious sinners! He exposed these insensitive arrogant liars!
TEXT:
COMMENTARY: Here, Jesus flatly contradicts, in his final words, the "positive thinkers" who believe that the conscious mind can do anything, without limit! For, in reality, it cannot change a single hair on your head! These verses are also a powerful recommendation for sheer honesty.
For if a person is truly, consistently honest, there is simply no need for swearing! Our society and culture need to learn to live by these ideals.
TEXT:
32. But I say to you that every one who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
COMMENTARY: Here, Jesus forced the selfcentered, egocentric men, who considered themselves, to use the old Hebrew term, the "husbandly owners" of their wives, to stop and think. For again,as above, he accused men who saw themselves as studies in sterling virtue of serious errors or "sins." He unmasked them in public, and accused the selfrighteous of being in trouble with God (Love). Jesus was daring here, several times, to contradict the ancient laws of Jehovah, and even to correct them! This was regarded as blasphemy!
He taught that men were to respect, as well as to love, women, and not abusively to take them for granted. Those who "went through" many wives he called "adulterers"-- serious sinners! He exposed these insensitive arrogant liars!
TEXT:
33. "Again you have heard that it was said to the men of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.' 34 But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
COMMENTARY: Here, Jesus flatly contradicts, in his final words, the "positive thinkers" who believe that the conscious mind can do anything, without limit! For, in reality, it cannot change a single hair on your head! These verses are also a powerful recommendation for sheer honesty.
For if a person is truly, consistently honest, there is simply no need for swearing! Our society and culture need to learn to live by these ideals.
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XII of XL
*******
TEXT: Continuing with Matthew 5:
COMMENTARY: This is simply a restatement: Spirituality is more important, valuable, and precious than a hand!
TEXT:
COMMENTARY: Marriage, in ancient cultures, was designed solely for the convenience of men. A good Jewish man could divorce his wife if he did not like his soup, or if he saw a more attractive woman, simply by giving her a written document of divorce. Women were, predictably, regularly abused, ruined, raped, beaten, and abandoned by worthless and selfcentered men.
TEXT: Continuing with Matthew 5:
30. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
COMMENTARY: This is simply a restatement: Spirituality is more important, valuable, and precious than a hand!
TEXT:
31. "It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'
COMMENTARY: Marriage, in ancient cultures, was designed solely for the convenience of men. A good Jewish man could divorce his wife if he did not like his soup, or if he saw a more attractive woman, simply by giving her a written document of divorce. Women were, predictably, regularly abused, ruined, raped, beaten, and abandoned by worthless and selfcentered men.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Pneumarium Report
*******
We had a joy-filled, joyful, wonderful hypermegasuperblast at the Pneumarium today! Barb and Dave Reaman and John and Patty Vidmar came, and so did Linda, Albert, and Pat! We had not seen these dear friends for quite some time! We laughed and laughed! Everyone got "high"!:):) We did have brief periods of more serious talk, but they did not last long!:):) It was a beautiful day outside, but we were all thrilled and overjoyed to be inside, sipping our warm coffee and tea! Wish you could have been here! You missed a beautiful, energizing, healing afternoon full of fun! We had more fun than a barrel of elephants!:):)
*******
We had a joy-filled, joyful, wonderful hypermegasuperblast at the Pneumarium today! Barb and Dave Reaman and John and Patty Vidmar came, and so did Linda, Albert, and Pat! We had not seen these dear friends for quite some time! We laughed and laughed! Everyone got "high"!:):) We did have brief periods of more serious talk, but they did not last long!:):) It was a beautiful day outside, but we were all thrilled and overjoyed to be inside, sipping our warm coffee and tea! Wish you could have been here! You missed a beautiful, energizing, healing afternoon full of fun! We had more fun than a barrel of elephants!:):)
*******
Sunday, February 03, 2008
How Democracy Produced a Monster
(Thanks to Mick Gallagher)
This has been the worry among many historians over the last several years. Well written, and well-- you be the judge.
New York Times
OPINION | February 3, 2008
Op-Ed Contributor: How Democracy Produced a Monster By IAN KERSHAW
Read the rest
This has been the worry among many historians over the last several years. Well written, and well-- you be the judge.
New York Times
OPINION | February 3, 2008
Op-Ed Contributor: How Democracy Produced a Monster By IAN KERSHAW
COULD something like it happen again? That is invariably the first question that comes to mind when recalling that Hitler was given power in Germany 75 years ago last week. With the world now facing such great tensions and instability, the question seems more obvious than ever.
Hitler came to power in a democracy with a highly liberal Constitution, and in part by using democratic freedoms to undermine and then destroy democracy itself. That democracy, established in 1919, was a product of defeat in world war and revolution and was never accepted by most of the German elites, notably the military, large landholders and big industry.
...
What happened in Germany in 1933 reminds us of the need for cooperation to restrain potential "mad dogs" in world politics before they are dangerous enough to bite.
Read the rest
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XI of XL
*******
TEXT: Continuing with Matthew 5:
COMMENTARY: Again, Jesus uses the very dramatic metaphor of "hell"
to describe a horrific state of mind or being. He knew that karma could create many kinds of hell. He was not speaking literally, for he spoke of a "body" going to hell. (The traditional hell is a place for souls only, not for bodies.) But human bodies are deeply intertwined with karma.
Very few disciples ever plucked out an eye because they did not like what they saw! And Jesus, being a gentle moderate, would never encourage such extremist fanaticism. But Jesus wanted to be dramatic, even unforgettable! And this verse does imply strongly that spirituality, with its karma, is much more important than even an eye!
And that is pretty precious! We should all value our spirituality as much as we value our eyes! And we need to prove that we do by investing our time in spiritual learning and action!
*****
TEXT: Continuing with Matthew 5:
29. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.
COMMENTARY: Again, Jesus uses the very dramatic metaphor of "hell"
to describe a horrific state of mind or being. He knew that karma could create many kinds of hell. He was not speaking literally, for he spoke of a "body" going to hell. (The traditional hell is a place for souls only, not for bodies.) But human bodies are deeply intertwined with karma.
Very few disciples ever plucked out an eye because they did not like what they saw! And Jesus, being a gentle moderate, would never encourage such extremist fanaticism. But Jesus wanted to be dramatic, even unforgettable! And this verse does imply strongly that spirituality, with its karma, is much more important than even an eye!
And that is pretty precious! We should all value our spirituality as much as we value our eyes! And we need to prove that we do by investing our time in spiritual learning and action!
*****
The Sermon on the Mount, Part X of XL
*******
TEXT: Continuing with Matthew 5:
COMMENTARY: This is one of the most repeatedly, radically misunderstood texts in the history of Christianity. For every human being has a biological body. And no human being can regulate or control every bioresponse of that body. Is, then, the situation completely hopeless? Is the Christ of Love damning all of us?
That is not tenable. To understand this verse, we must look at the context, especially the audience to whom Jesus was likely speaking. He was talking to super-selfrighteous people, to ultrareligious people radically infected with spiritual pride. The religious leaders of the time felt themselves immensely superior to the "rabble," or the "crowd," the common person. They smugly felt themselves spiritually superior, largely because they were convinced that they had never, in all their lives, broken any of the "laws of Jehovah." But they despised the common person, whom they dismissed as "sinners," and so, fairly hopeless, especially when compared to their "righteous" selves!
Jesus wanted to show these hypocrites that they were just as sinful as the "common" person! He wanted to rip off their masks of smug superiority, if not to expose them in public. So, he taught that sin was a state or condition of mind rather than a mere bodily act. Further, those who saw themselves as so ultrapure he exposed as "unclean," just like all others. For an imperfect mind was the great equalizer among people. It placed them all on a level playing-field!
So, Jesus was not, very atypically, condemning biology, or the body, or its urges and feelings. That would be to damn everyone! This is the opposite of Love! Instead, his intent was to expose the ultraright, selfrighteous, superioristic religious leaders to parts of themselves that they could not deny. For they had long acted in denial of their own lower (humanimal) nature, setting themselves up as superhuman beings, loftily above the crowd. Jesus' friends, sinners all, were severely hurt by their attitudes of condemnation and sneering dismissal.
TEXT: Continuing with Matthew 5:
27. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
COMMENTARY: This is one of the most repeatedly, radically misunderstood texts in the history of Christianity. For every human being has a biological body. And no human being can regulate or control every bioresponse of that body. Is, then, the situation completely hopeless? Is the Christ of Love damning all of us?
That is not tenable. To understand this verse, we must look at the context, especially the audience to whom Jesus was likely speaking. He was talking to super-selfrighteous people, to ultrareligious people radically infected with spiritual pride. The religious leaders of the time felt themselves immensely superior to the "rabble," or the "crowd," the common person. They smugly felt themselves spiritually superior, largely because they were convinced that they had never, in all their lives, broken any of the "laws of Jehovah." But they despised the common person, whom they dismissed as "sinners," and so, fairly hopeless, especially when compared to their "righteous" selves!
Jesus wanted to show these hypocrites that they were just as sinful as the "common" person! He wanted to rip off their masks of smug superiority, if not to expose them in public. So, he taught that sin was a state or condition of mind rather than a mere bodily act. Further, those who saw themselves as so ultrapure he exposed as "unclean," just like all others. For an imperfect mind was the great equalizer among people. It placed them all on a level playing-field!
So, Jesus was not, very atypically, condemning biology, or the body, or its urges and feelings. That would be to damn everyone! This is the opposite of Love! Instead, his intent was to expose the ultraright, selfrighteous, superioristic religious leaders to parts of themselves that they could not deny. For they had long acted in denial of their own lower (humanimal) nature, setting themselves up as superhuman beings, loftily above the crowd. Jesus' friends, sinners all, were severely hurt by their attitudes of condemnation and sneering dismissal.
The Sermon on the Mount, Part IX of XL
*******
TEXT:
COMMENTARY: Jesus recommends that we "make friends" with even our enemies ("accuser"). For the universe of everyday life is just like a court. And if we deliberately misbehave, breaking the law of Love, we shall experience a heavy karmic penalty, symbolized by earthlife interpreted, as some mystics have, as a "prison."
TEXT:
COMMENTARY: Karma is extremely accurate. When we deliberately harm another, precisely and exactly the same pain, for exactly the same time-period, will surely come back upon us. It will not be just a close approximation, but very specifically the same pain that we have voluntarily brought upon others ("last penny"). This, for those who "have ears to hear," is a very specific karmic warning!
*****
TEXT:
25. Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison;
COMMENTARY: Jesus recommends that we "make friends" with even our enemies ("accuser"). For the universe of everyday life is just like a court. And if we deliberately misbehave, breaking the law of Love, we shall experience a heavy karmic penalty, symbolized by earthlife interpreted, as some mystics have, as a "prison."
TEXT:
26. truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny.
COMMENTARY: Karma is extremely accurate. When we deliberately harm another, precisely and exactly the same pain, for exactly the same time-period, will surely come back upon us. It will not be just a close approximation, but very specifically the same pain that we have voluntarily brought upon others ("last penny"). This, for those who "have ears to hear," is a very specific karmic warning!
*****
The Sermon on the Mount, Part VIII of XL
*******
TEXT: Continuing with Matthew 5: 21.
COMMENTARY: This is yet another, rather dramatic, reference to
karma-- this time, in its more hellish forms. Insulting others, creating personal scandal or libel, is a very serious error ("sin"). It leads to some heavy-duty karma. Jesus says that it is analogous to even murder!
Instead, we are supposed to forgive each other of errors and mistakes.
This means to behave as if they never happened! This frees us from some scary karma!
TEXT:
COMMENTARY: Worship ("altar") is ineffective if we are not at peace with other human beings. Performing ceremonies of worship is unacceptable as long as we do not have peace with other human beings.
Worship is sullied, contaminated, and polluted by this absence of peace.
*****
TEXT: Continuing with Matthew 5: 21.
"You have heard that it was said to the men of old, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.' 22 But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of fire.
COMMENTARY: This is yet another, rather dramatic, reference to
karma-- this time, in its more hellish forms. Insulting others, creating personal scandal or libel, is a very serious error ("sin"). It leads to some heavy-duty karma. Jesus says that it is analogous to even murder!
Instead, we are supposed to forgive each other of errors and mistakes.
This means to behave as if they never happened! This frees us from some scary karma!
TEXT:
23. So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
COMMENTARY: Worship ("altar") is ineffective if we are not at peace with other human beings. Performing ceremonies of worship is unacceptable as long as we do not have peace with other human beings.
Worship is sullied, contaminated, and polluted by this absence of peace.
*****
Friday, February 01, 2008
The Sermon on the Mount, Part VII of XL
*******
TEXT: Continuing with Mt. 5:
COMMENTARY: Jesus wanted his audience-- all religious traditionalists-- to open their hearts to his message of Love. So he made concession to their fanatical Biblicism by noting that the ancient documents did contain some truth. But the fanatics lived scrupulously by the minutest adherence to these "laws of Jehovah," and Jesus obviously rejected this extremism, for it is nowhere found among later Christians. He did not reject everything in Judaism, and wanted his audience to know this. But he did reject their Jehovah, and a large number of "His" laws.
TEXT:
COMMENTARY: The ideas behind much in Judaism, and Jewish Law, were good. They had a civilizing effect on the desert-nomads and barbarian-tribes to whom they were given. The Ten Commandments is a good example. Most of them would have a civilizing effect on any person, not just the Jewish culture. Jesus did not want to "throw out the baby with the bath-water." He wanted his disciples to respect the Scriptures of all faiths, but not necessarily scrupulously to arrange their lives around them.
TEXT:
COMMENTARY: The "scribes and Pharisees" were the ministers, preachers, and religious leaders of that time. So, Jesus used them as a bad example; while fanatical about "obedience to the laws of Jehovah," they lacked essential goodness. They turned deeper spirituality into mere religion, and transformed that religion into mere legalism.
Obedience to laws does not create goodness. It does not lead to enlightenment or "salvation." This legalism is useless in the face of ignorance.
Instead, the people of Love always obey Love as their living, interior Master. Early Christians were notorious for ignoring the ancient texts of the Jewish Bible, and obeying their Lovetrained conscience instead.
TEXT: Continuing with Mt. 5:
18. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.
COMMENTARY: Jesus wanted his audience-- all religious traditionalists-- to open their hearts to his message of Love. So he made concession to their fanatical Biblicism by noting that the ancient documents did contain some truth. But the fanatics lived scrupulously by the minutest adherence to these "laws of Jehovah," and Jesus obviously rejected this extremism, for it is nowhere found among later Christians. He did not reject everything in Judaism, and wanted his audience to know this. But he did reject their Jehovah, and a large number of "His" laws.
TEXT:
19. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
COMMENTARY: The ideas behind much in Judaism, and Jewish Law, were good. They had a civilizing effect on the desert-nomads and barbarian-tribes to whom they were given. The Ten Commandments is a good example. Most of them would have a civilizing effect on any person, not just the Jewish culture. Jesus did not want to "throw out the baby with the bath-water." He wanted his disciples to respect the Scriptures of all faiths, but not necessarily scrupulously to arrange their lives around them.
TEXT:
20. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
COMMENTARY: The "scribes and Pharisees" were the ministers, preachers, and religious leaders of that time. So, Jesus used them as a bad example; while fanatical about "obedience to the laws of Jehovah," they lacked essential goodness. They turned deeper spirituality into mere religion, and transformed that religion into mere legalism.
Obedience to laws does not create goodness. It does not lead to enlightenment or "salvation." This legalism is useless in the face of ignorance.
Instead, the people of Love always obey Love as their living, interior Master. Early Christians were notorious for ignoring the ancient texts of the Jewish Bible, and obeying their Lovetrained conscience instead.
Religion and the People of Love
*******
Most people assume that religion and spirituality are the same thing!
But, in reality (truth), the two are a galaxy apart.
Why? One reason is that spirituality is Love, plus nothing.
Spirituality is what you do on the inside, but religion is merely what you do on the outside. Religion has a history, and is solidly founded in history. History means nothing in spirituality. Religion insists on reverence for certain sacred books, the acceptance of certain ideas, and the following of certain human beings. Spirituality is free from all these factors.
The spiritual person might respect, and even use, certain Scriptural texts. We use them here in the uld, for example. She might also have respect for religions that have earned it. She might even admire religions that aid the poor and challenged, for example. For a religion such as that is more than mere religion only; it is also spiritual. But the truly spiritual person respects the sacred texts of all truly spiritual (Lovebased) paths.
The truly spiritual person respects the rights of anyone to say anything, to offer any idea, concept, or hypothesis in the name of understanding.
But the spiritual person insists always on her fullest independence. For spiritual people do not follow other people as "leaders," but the Master within the heart. (This is the Christspirit or Buddhanature.)
So, spiritual people are never cruelly closedminded or dogmatic, shut off from new ideas or perspectives. They are always open to new concepts.
This does not gain them favor with cement-like traditionalists. Indeed, historically, the people of Light and compassion have always been resisted, often ferociously, by traditionalists or the orthodox religions. Religion and spirituality have "squared off" in opposite positions several thousand times in the history of religion.
So, when modern people are seeking guidance, very often, they cannot trust the leaders of traditional, conventional, popular religion. These are often egotists, hungry for money or worldly power. They often love their reputations, and grab the spotlight at every opportunity. In short, they are quite the opposite of the ideal of humility to which Jesus and other great masters call us!
*******
Most people assume that religion and spirituality are the same thing!
But, in reality (truth), the two are a galaxy apart.
Why? One reason is that spirituality is Love, plus nothing.
Spirituality is what you do on the inside, but religion is merely what you do on the outside. Religion has a history, and is solidly founded in history. History means nothing in spirituality. Religion insists on reverence for certain sacred books, the acceptance of certain ideas, and the following of certain human beings. Spirituality is free from all these factors.
The spiritual person might respect, and even use, certain Scriptural texts. We use them here in the uld, for example. She might also have respect for religions that have earned it. She might even admire religions that aid the poor and challenged, for example. For a religion such as that is more than mere religion only; it is also spiritual. But the truly spiritual person respects the sacred texts of all truly spiritual (Lovebased) paths.
The truly spiritual person respects the rights of anyone to say anything, to offer any idea, concept, or hypothesis in the name of understanding.
But the spiritual person insists always on her fullest independence. For spiritual people do not follow other people as "leaders," but the Master within the heart. (This is the Christspirit or Buddhanature.)
So, spiritual people are never cruelly closedminded or dogmatic, shut off from new ideas or perspectives. They are always open to new concepts.
This does not gain them favor with cement-like traditionalists. Indeed, historically, the people of Light and compassion have always been resisted, often ferociously, by traditionalists or the orthodox religions. Religion and spirituality have "squared off" in opposite positions several thousand times in the history of religion.
So, when modern people are seeking guidance, very often, they cannot trust the leaders of traditional, conventional, popular religion. These are often egotists, hungry for money or worldly power. They often love their reputations, and grab the spotlight at every opportunity. In short, they are quite the opposite of the ideal of humility to which Jesus and other great masters call us!
*******
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