Learning Real Love-Taoism through Suffering

Learning Real Love-Taoism through Suffering
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Happy April!:) A touch early, but it arrives tomorrow!:)

I am so delighted that this world, with its donkeygifts, has "driven" you towards two directions at once-- greater compassion, and total reliance on [the Goddess of Love,] Aphrodite. For these are the two best gifts in the universe. And there is no better way to teach them than to put the donkey in "danger," or, as you imply, in serious uncertainty.

Any kind of suffering, although we would rather see our friends avoid this aspect of life, teaches and increases compassion. She who suffers little often loves little, not because she is unkind, but because she is unaware, almost oblivious. There is no finer teacher than personal suffering. If we take it "to heart," and carefully examine it, suffering gives us many positive gifts-- but none better than these two (releasing control and loving others more deeply), without which we cannot become
"spiritual adults."

That is why good people have always suffered, often for others, often for the karma of the whole world. (This is a major theme, and cannot be overlooked, in the life of Jesus, as well as of Francis and many other saintmystics and sages.)

This is the universe's way of saying, "Welcome to the human race." It is a real initiation into deeper, and much brighter, spirituality. It aids us to practice Love-Taoism-- the real thing, not just words. For no one follows Tao more, or more sincerely, than she who has given up, abandoned, all desires to "control, all hopes of control." She has truly turned her life over to the higher Power of Love, trusting that Love can and will move in her without her interference. We do not, she finally realizes, make Love happen; we can only permit It.
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Leaders and Compassion

Today is the first day of forever! And we, as a country, for a welcome change, are getting off to a good start with Barack. So, let's push compassion to the limit, and demand it in our leaders-- all of them!:)

Notes on Indian History: the Ruler Ashoka

It is awesome that the Indus Valley civilization can be traced all the way back to c. 2900 BC, while ancient Hebrew tradition, by contrast, goes back to only about 2000 BC. I learned a little about the cities of Mohenjo-Daro and Patina. I also learned about the ruler Chandra-Gupta.

I was very positively impressed by the historical records of Ashoka, a later ruler, a man from whom our current American government could learn several invaluable lessons in compassion. He was a very brilliant supporter and defender of nonviolence; he had learned very much from the terrible and bloody war of Kalinga. He established an entire beautiful political order founded on nonviolence and compassion. He wrote a famous document which became the fore-runner to the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights. All human beings, he wisely said, were one family.

He established the first Animal Rights legislation in history, cared for the poor and elderly, and the sick and ill. (India still has one of the oldest animal hospitals in the world.) For the sake of animal-compassion, he officially promoted vegetarianism. He realized that people reveal their true selves with animals, who cannot report them, and cannot seek vengeance. His reign united the known world in
peace, like Solomon the great mystic had done in his own time (c. 1000 BC). He also worked to create peace among many religions. His goal, he said, was to pursue and manifest dharma, the law of all life. (The "Wheel of Ashoka" is the symbol on the modern Indian flag.) He managed to allow to survive the rhino and the porpoise, among many other species.

Tragically, later, in the Middle Ages in India, Buddhism was allowed to die, in the land of its birth.
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A Moderate and Centrist Position

In the modern political struggle, it is easy to fall prey to the idea that we must be either "left" or "right" in our political choices. But Love commands that we listen to all, consider all, before making the choices that support compassion, service, and even spending, for others.

There are many paths open to us who live in a free society. And we should all thank Love for this freedom-- hard-won, over centuries, by countless thousands who gave their lives so that we might celebrate freedom. Those who died for us also walked the Way of Love, even though they might not have spoken about It, and might not have even called It the "Way of Love."

To choose a political position can be a task rife with hidden perils. For if we go too far to the left, we can end up identified with neoretrohippy environmentalists, and even Communists; and if we go too far to the right, we can end up identified with the destructive neo-nazis or "Identity Christianity," which would be equally tragic.

Let us then, together, embrace a position near the middle of the spectrum, mirroring the "middle Way" recommended by the Buddha. We are then free to lean as far to the left, or as far to the right, as we want to, with individual issues. We can declare that the only things that are important to us are honesty, compassion, transparency, accountability, oversight, and other matters of common sense. This keeps us from being caught in the swift rapids of currents that pull too far to the right or the left. The path of Centrist Compassion calls to us all. May we all have the brains and the hearts to respond.

Twenty-oh-eight Store Closings

The notorious materialism of this country and culture has finally caught up with us. Greed can be limitless, but resources on planet earth are not. So, let us use these limited resources with wisdom. Let us stop being so wasteful. Let us stop pretending that Mother Earth can support lives of boundless greed. Let us give up greed and embrace compassion. Let us do more than talk: Let us vow to simplify our lives and give our excess excess to the poor.

Thanks to Mark Franzen.

Love and War

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We are also fervently praying that the God of Love will guide our nation, the U.S., from its present path of foolishness, greed, and violence towards the Way of compassion. As the people of Love, God has told us how foolish is the way of war, and how stupidly incompetent are leaders who lead their countries into war. Unlike our leaders, most of our people are not foolish, but do believe in the Power of Love.
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Healing Love

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The best way to help a paranoid schizophrenic is by supplying her with plenty of unconditional Love. Like all other persons, the person troubled with this serious psychological disorder responds to agapology-- expressions of unconditional Love.

Paranoid schizophrenia is a very serious mental disorder. It cannot always be healed completely, even by Love, but Love does improve those who suffer from this terrible disorder.

Love is always the right response, the right thing to do, in any situation and every situation. It always helps to improve the individual who gives and the one who receives. In time, it has the effect of healing the entire planet, and the entire galaxy.

So, let us continue, in Love, to pray for all who are ill. Let us pray, specifically, that healing Love fill every heart with the healing Light of Love. And let us pray relentlessly and incessantly, never giving up; for this is the only Way that Love will ever overcome fear. For all the cosmos is involved in the conflict, opposition, or disparity between Love and fear; it involves each and every heart. So, let us declare our solidarity with Love, and against fear. Then, let us follow up our declaration with actual activities of compassion, charity, generosity,
and kindness. For every act of Love is an act of healing.

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The Buddha

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"The Buddha" is not a name; it is, like "Christ," a title. It refers historically to a man named Siddhartha Gautama, who found enlightenment by sitting still and going inward, into his own mind. God always works through the mind and heart, and this is the Buddha's great discovery. He also founded a system of spiritual psychology; since his time, it has been called "Buddhism." Many say that Buddhism is a philosophy of life; it is not a "religion." For it has little to say about God, angels, other spiritual beings, or any other "religious" issues. So, it does not meet the criteria of a religion; instead, it is a Way of life. It does include Love (in Sanskrit, it is maitri) and compassion (Sanskrit, karuna). So, it is a reliable pattern of living that can be used by any good Christian. In fact, it is probable that Jesus studied Buddhism. (It was four hundred years old when Jesus was born.)
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God and Healing

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God can heal any person of any condition at any time. Absolutely anything is possible with God, as Jesus said.

Why does God (Love) not perfectly heal everyone, giving the great gift of a perfect bodymind to all His/Her children?

This is possible, but God allows the inconvenience and even suffering of illness in order for us to learn compassion through empathy. A person who has never suffered would feel no compassion towards others who suffer. But she who suffers much, loves much.

Imperfect health is the essence of our spiritual training in Love.
Illness also makes us humble, realizing that we cannot control everything with the conscious mind. The tendency towards "magical thinking' is so attractive, so tempting, that God often allows us to experience illness in order that we can realize our full and complete dependence on Love (God).

Added to the above is our karmic heritage. If ever, in our long history, we have harmed another with deliberate intention, our body might reflect the same or similar condition. But even if this might be so, it does nothing to neutralize or dilute our real need to show compassionate Love towards all. Also, some suffering is the result of voluntary or elective karma; it was chosen by a Soul to accelerate spiritual development.
Also, remember that illness is not "totally bad," for it can provide us with opportunities for exits from these bodies.

But this is by no means the most common explanation. A fourth reason for illness is that it teaches us precisely what we need to learn. Most of the great and lovely saintmystics and mastersages of history have suffered from some biological shortcomings. These could turn their attention away from the glittering baubles of the external world, turning their gaze inward.

At any rate, we know that illness is not the result of a "curse" by God, but is instead an evidence of His special blessing. St. Paul had eye-trouble, about which he prayed many times. God apparently did not heal him, but told him, "My strength shall be complete in thy weakness."

These "weaknesses" remind us continually not to depend upon the ego, but upon only infinite Love (God). They slam the interior brakes on ultraegotism and egocentricity. For only when humbled from the illusion of selfimportance does a heart turn towards Love.
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Love and Selflove

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You can do only so much for friends. If you push yourself beyond that limit, then you might help friends but harm yourself. So, the Way of compassion tells us to give all that we can to others, but not to give so much that it "hurts." Give and give and give; this is the Way of generosity, an important kind of Love. But always ask yourself, "Is this hurting me or my kids?" If the answer is yes, then you are likely giving too much. The equation set up by Jesus applies here: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you love your neighbor less, then you have broken the promise of Love; but if you love your neighbor more, you have also broken the selfcovenant of Love. All truth is found in balance, in the Middle Way.
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The "Solution" to Life

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The answer is Love expressed through service and friendship. (For those are the two most common forms of Lovexpression on our planet.)

But if Love is the answer, what is the question? A fascinating conundrum. The question must be something like this: "How should I spend the next few seconds of my time?" "Few seconds" is mentioned because life is better taken in "small bites," and you cannot solve the vast and massive "problem of life," but can solve only the problem (challenge) of how to use the next few seconds of your time. As the wise Lao Tzu writes, "Handle small problems, and you will never have great ones." So, if we can take care of the seconds, the hours, days, and years "take care of themselves."

Jesus recommended the taoistic pattern of life of the birds and the flowers. This is the avoidance of too much analysis. Perhaps even this note violates the intention of this life of utter simplicity.

So, perhaps I had better simply shut up! Many words can create clarity or confusion. Better to stop before entanglement occurs. Again, Lao Tzu writes, "Oversharpen a blade, and it will soon grow dull." He, like his disciple Chuang Tzu, advocates a limited usefulness. As long as every word and effort arise from a sense of true Love (compassion), we cannot go wrong.:):)

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Occupational Therapy

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Depression is the most common challenge in our very unspiritual society.
"Occupational therapy" can be most effective. It really helps, in this life, if you have a passion that is greater than yourself!:) Depression is not solved by thinking about it, figuring it out, obsessing about it.

It is solved by only compassion or Love-- losing yourself in the challenges of another, where her problems become more important than your own. This is true agapology (Love-psychology) in action!:)

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Learning, Intellect, and Love

Learning, Intellect, and Love
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God (Love) does not command us to "understand" everything. She/He does not even direct us to understand everything about Christianity! Most people are quite limited, and cannot understand, or even read, all the complexities involved, for example, in Scriptural studies. To know them all, in fact, you would have to read tens of thousands of books.

God is Love, not intellect. So, God commands us to love, and not to become "walking encyclopedias." It is not what you know, or what you believe, that moves you into "salvation." It is the Love (grace) of God, acting in and through your heart.

Ministers, in order to minister effectively, do have to learn a great deal. And there is so very much to learn! But whether you are studying early history, ancient manuscripts, the books of the Bible, or various explanations of spirituality and religion, this "study" is all worthless if you do not add compassion, empathy, goodness, and kindness-- all Lovexpressions-- to your life.

A person who loves once is a thousand times as "valuable" to God, and a thousand times more enlightened, than anyone who knows a billion facts.
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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!
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Compassion is Worship

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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.:)
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The Politics of Compassion

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Thank you for your patriotic and political message.

It is just a little too "black and white," and too far to the right (extreme conservatism) for our taste. Our political philosophy has room for compassion.

This message, which seems to be perfect on first glance, we have heard several times before; it contains no room for, does not allow for, compassion, especially for the poor and dislocated of the world. It can be very harsh to insist that very poor people learn a new language and get a job, but both are not always realistic possibilities. So, it is better, we feel, to make allowances for human limitations, and not to demand from the ultrapoor what we might demand from others. They need extra compassion, and a "softer" philosophy, especially when they are newly in transition from one country (or culture) to another. We prefer the Way of gentleness, although we can understand the frustrations of those who take this concrete, unmoving stand against foreign languages and foreign people.
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Love

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What makes people "decent" is the Presence of a Lovemind or Love-nature deep within the (unconscious) mind. So, it is Love that is the root of decent behavior, decency being the flower of Love. Could a hypothetically loveless being-- totally without Love -- behave decently?

I do not think so. For one important consideration, she would lack the motivation, provided by Love.

This, of course, defines "Love" in its broadest and most universal definition, as intrinsic compassion, producing empathy, for the self and for all others. I should clarify that, when referring to "Love" in a conversation such as ours, I mean the Love that is universal, unconditional, and consistent. This is the cosmic Love that is God itself, a very special and widely vast Love that swallows, and includes, many subsystems within it, including decency, kindness, goodness, empathy, sympathy, tolerance, and dozens of other factors.

Deep within the Mind-- at a level so deep that it is collective (shared)-- there exists the Lovemind. This is the "mind of God." Unifying with It is a powerful healing (wholing) experience, and the reason that we were created (emanated) as "separate" Souls.

You may choose, of course, to define "Love" differently, and that is, of course, your right. But if so, then, we are on very different "pages," my friend. For if "Love" is defined as a lesser reality, then it is not the Love that is ultimate, supreme Reality ("truth" or God). And, to be honest, I have little to no interest in discussing this "lesser Love."

The Love to which we refer is the very highest expression of mind and heart. It is very vast and immense, and includes many lesser subsystems.

This is the glory of the human condition; indeed, it is the glory of the cosmos!

A Spiritual View of Death

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The spiritual being is not morbidly or chronically obsessed with death. She does not yearn or long for it. She does not fantasize about it. Nor is she always speaking or thinking of it. But, realistically, neither can it be ignored, nor can anyone successfully flee from it. And she does accept it as a natural part of every life-cycle. It is as natural as the sun-kissed dew upon the dawn rose.

Some are so terrified of death that they lie to themselves. They claim that their physical bodies will never die! Others are fanatics of nutrition and exercise, seeking to prolong biological life. These people are living in sheerest fantasy, rejected by the spiritually enlightened. Instead, she seeks to cultivate an accepting view of death. Although it is clearly an apparent "enemy" to biological creatures, it can be a "friend" to spiritual beings. For it leads to a life, or "afterlife," of beautiful and wonderful freedom, a life without pain, suffering, agony, or frustration.

Birth has always been a guarantee of death. Every creature ever born has died. So, death is not some "unnatural" or "astonishing" tragedy. It is an aspect of natural life, its final "crown" or glory. Those who have actually died have, for the first time in human history, been resuscitated by the thousands by biotechnology. They tell a surprisingly beautiful story of death as a survivable experience.

And those who remember anything at all tell essentially the same story: And all agree that, amazingly and contrary to philosophy and expectations of so many, the mind (consciousness or awareness) does survive after the physical death of the body.

However, spiritual beings are compassionate. We do not laugh at funerals, but cry with those who cry-- for their sakes. We are also partly biological, and we too feel the enormous, immense, vast sense of pain and loss (to our world) when any beautiful living creature leaves our world.

But the accounts of survival, brought back by those who have actually died, are just another verification of what spiritual people have taught for centuries, from Jesus to the Buddha.

So, the spiritually wise seek to embrace death in their "all-embracing" mind. They erase all fear of death, and hatred of death. In embracing God as the "all good," without negativity, they seek to expand even their Love, a gift of God's grace, to encircle even death. In this "Love of death," they can lead more peaceful and trusting lives. Jesus tells his followers to live as the birds, flowers, and nursing infants-- none of whom ever worry about, or fear, personal death.

Spiritually, as Jesus demonstrated, death is the release from this current highly imperfect, often terribly painful, life. With it, the mind soars into immeasurable freedom-- free from worry, anxiety, tension, guilt, fear, and the many assorted agonies caused by biological bodies. That deep subconscious aspect of the Mind that lived before this life, and that survives afterward, is called the "Soul," "Soul-level," or "Soulmind." Non-biological, It lives in a world of pure Mind-- of much greater beauty, balance, tranquility, bliss, and ecstasy. When we leave this world, our real life has just only begun!
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Christianity and Buddhism

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Buddhism and Christianity both have great value for the student of religion, or of spiritual psychology.

But a direct comparison between the two is a bit like a comparison of apples and oranges, or tulips and roses. Each system of philosophy, each pattern of behavior, has its place in the enlightened life.

Christianity's great strength is that it emphasizes Love. It super-emphasizes It, for it says, "God is Love." No higher complement to any ideal could ever be made.

Buddhism also highlights maitri ("Love) and karuna ("compassion") as supreme values.

Christianity says that we all contain a Mind of enormous spiritual Power, Love, and wisdom. It is called the "indwelling Holy Spirit," and this is an equivalent term with "Christ," equal to "God."

While Buddhism says nothing about an "outer, anthropomorphic (human-like) God, it does recognize the inner Spirit. This is called your "Buddha-nature." It is our purpose as human beings to cultivate this higher nature of Love, compassion, kindness, and goodness. A famous Buddhist leader said, "Kindness is my religion."

Anyone who sincerely tries to cultivate and express the Christ-spirit or Buddha-nature will become a much improved person.

Buddhism has nothing to say about the "end of the world." But, in the original Bible (the best ancient Greek manuscripts), this phrase is not found even a single time, not even in Revelation.

Buddhism, with its clear teaching of reincarnation, agrees with Christianity that the Soul (mind) survives death. Historians recognize that early Christians also accepted this "controversial" view of the Soul. For example, John the Baptizer was Elijah, and the common people believed that Jesus was "Isaiah or one of the other prophets."

The wise student works hard to remain open to new ideas, to growth and development. She is careful not to let her mind become "set in concrete." (This would make her a "blockhead"!:) Remaining open to wisdom from every and any source, we can study Buddhism and Christianity in tandem, letting them together mutually support and reinforce each other. And they can both sustain a deeper spirituality. For these great systems are not in conflict.

Btw, Buddhists do not "worship" statues of the Buddha. These statues exist only to remind us of our interior nature of gentleness, tenderness, mercy, and forgiveness. If a Buddhist "worships" formally at all, she worships the interior Holy Spirit, Christ-spirit, or Buddha-nature.
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Praying for Peace on Earth

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The One, the Mind of purest Love, is in no way limited by our ideas of time, nor is She limited by our concepts of "cooperation." When it comes to the sweet Goddess, Her will is always done, no matter what we do or do not do. I must object to those who believe that, and act as if, the divine will depends upon our actions and our prayers. This is definitely putting the cart before the donkey!:):) The Goddess loves and welcomes our prayers, and our silent internal communications. But much damage has
been created by the simple words, "Prayer changes things." For prayer is designed to change the heart, softening it for Love, but is not a form of "magic" that is designed to alter the world. For the deepest, and truest, "prayer" is any thought of Love for any living being.

Still, human cooperation in Love is a beautiful thing.:) It is also wonderful when human beings cooperate, in Love and in prayer. And praying for peace is also beautiful. But, to be a genuine expression of divine and universal Love, we must not "take sides" in any earthly conflict, for there are no "good guys" on the bloody battle-fields; to think otherwise is simple bigotry and naivete. So, yes, my dear friend, you can count on the fact that all people of peace will continue, every day and every night, to ppray that human beings finally find common sense, compassion, balance, and peace.
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