Posts
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It is also my personal preference to write articles of a deeply spiritual nature; so, they will be back, very soon! In fact, they will never go away.:) That is what "universal Love" is all about. But we must not allow the real beauties of the spiritual to lead us down the path of denial. Our world contains many factors and views that are relevant , even if peripheral, to spirituality. Indeed, there is not a moment, or tiny event, of your life, of our lives, that is untouched by deep spirituality.
Some of our sisters and brothers emphasize points of view, and life-areas, that might be different from our own. Life tends to make us all "specialists," to some extent. So, meanwhile, it can be our "test" to accept, and even to understand, perspectives that are different from our own. This is an exercise in non-egoic existence, and increases both our wisdom and our knowledge, as well as humility.
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Showing posts with label humility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label humility. Show all posts
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
"Sin" and "Repentance"
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Our heavenly Father/Mother is Love, purest Love. She/He delights in forgiving us. Unlike the grumpy old Jehovah, the "Father of the All" is eager to forgive. He can hardly wait to forgive!
So, we need not grovel before Him, and we need not "repent" in sackcloth and ashes, as the ancients did with their god.
But, to keep our karmic record as clear and stainless as it is possible for a human being to do, "repentance" is a good idea.
Repentance is an attitude, a way of viewing your "sins." Most sins are indeliberate, but even though these create zero karma, we still want to feel sincerely sorry for any way in which we have ever hurt ourselves or anyone else. This takes an attitude of humility and realistic assessment.
We also must be completely honest. If we ignore, try to hide, our sins, or pretend that they simply do not exist, we are committing an even worse
error-- lying, to ourselves, and perhaps, to others.
Still, let us recognize that "sin" is not a commitment to "evil." It is more like a "processing error" in cybertech. The ancient Greek word used in the Christian Scriptures verifies this. It is a word from archery, and means "missing the target." Archers do not miss a target because they are "bad" or "evil," but because of imperfection; they are truly trying to hit the bull's eye. So, "sin" is error or mistake, not voluntary rebellion against the good. When a computer or other cyberdevice makes an error, we do not sledge-hammer it into bits and then toss it away! No, instead, we use reason and patience, and seek to repair it; computers are worth a lot!
You are worth a zillion times as much as any cyberdevice. God treasures you infinitely. That is why it is His pleasure and delight to forgive.
There is no sin greater than the Power of God's grace to forgive; to suggest that there is, is simple and sheer blasphemy! We see this unlimited forgiveness all the time in the ministry of Jesus. While the selfrighteous and religious people looked down snobbishly on "sinners," Jesus ate and drank with them on a regular enough basis that it became a scandal. And he often forgave a person on the spot! One woman whom he forgave instantly was even caught in the act of fornication! Now, as sins go, this is quite a serious one, and it has always received special attention and consideration from the old men who judged. (They needed to get lives!:)
Jesus' attitude was one of infinite and unlimited forgiveness. He told us to imitate God, and to forgive our brother "seventy times seven"-- a number that, numerologically, represents the unlimited state of infinity.
Our forgiveness should have no limits. For, he warned, we are forgiven only as we forgive others. (Mt. 6:12) He prophesied, in fact, that all sins, no matter how serious, would be forgiven. (Mk. 3:28).
So, if we are repentant, the Lord of Love joyfully releases us from the terrible bondage to sin. "Sin" is any action that deliberately harms any living creature, including yourself. The only attitude of a kind, good, just person is "repentance," or sorrowful regret and remorse for any sin.
Free and enlightened people do not believe in guilt, which is simple selftorment, a selfcreated hellstate. It is the service of fear, Love's conceptual opposite; so it is the service to the lower nature. But we do believe in the wisdom of repentance. (If the repentance is genuine, it will include not only remorse, but recompense; we must do all that we can to "undo" whatever damage that we have done.)
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Our heavenly Father/Mother is Love, purest Love. She/He delights in forgiving us. Unlike the grumpy old Jehovah, the "Father of the All" is eager to forgive. He can hardly wait to forgive!
So, we need not grovel before Him, and we need not "repent" in sackcloth and ashes, as the ancients did with their god.
But, to keep our karmic record as clear and stainless as it is possible for a human being to do, "repentance" is a good idea.
Repentance is an attitude, a way of viewing your "sins." Most sins are indeliberate, but even though these create zero karma, we still want to feel sincerely sorry for any way in which we have ever hurt ourselves or anyone else. This takes an attitude of humility and realistic assessment.
We also must be completely honest. If we ignore, try to hide, our sins, or pretend that they simply do not exist, we are committing an even worse
error-- lying, to ourselves, and perhaps, to others.
Still, let us recognize that "sin" is not a commitment to "evil." It is more like a "processing error" in cybertech. The ancient Greek word used in the Christian Scriptures verifies this. It is a word from archery, and means "missing the target." Archers do not miss a target because they are "bad" or "evil," but because of imperfection; they are truly trying to hit the bull's eye. So, "sin" is error or mistake, not voluntary rebellion against the good. When a computer or other cyberdevice makes an error, we do not sledge-hammer it into bits and then toss it away! No, instead, we use reason and patience, and seek to repair it; computers are worth a lot!
You are worth a zillion times as much as any cyberdevice. God treasures you infinitely. That is why it is His pleasure and delight to forgive.
There is no sin greater than the Power of God's grace to forgive; to suggest that there is, is simple and sheer blasphemy! We see this unlimited forgiveness all the time in the ministry of Jesus. While the selfrighteous and religious people looked down snobbishly on "sinners," Jesus ate and drank with them on a regular enough basis that it became a scandal. And he often forgave a person on the spot! One woman whom he forgave instantly was even caught in the act of fornication! Now, as sins go, this is quite a serious one, and it has always received special attention and consideration from the old men who judged. (They needed to get lives!:)
Jesus' attitude was one of infinite and unlimited forgiveness. He told us to imitate God, and to forgive our brother "seventy times seven"-- a number that, numerologically, represents the unlimited state of infinity.
Our forgiveness should have no limits. For, he warned, we are forgiven only as we forgive others. (Mt. 6:12) He prophesied, in fact, that all sins, no matter how serious, would be forgiven. (Mk. 3:28).
So, if we are repentant, the Lord of Love joyfully releases us from the terrible bondage to sin. "Sin" is any action that deliberately harms any living creature, including yourself. The only attitude of a kind, good, just person is "repentance," or sorrowful regret and remorse for any sin.
Free and enlightened people do not believe in guilt, which is simple selftorment, a selfcreated hellstate. It is the service of fear, Love's conceptual opposite; so it is the service to the lower nature. But we do believe in the wisdom of repentance. (If the repentance is genuine, it will include not only remorse, but recompense; we must do all that we can to "undo" whatever damage that we have done.)
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Thursday, February 07, 2008
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.
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The Sermon on the Mount, Part XVII of XL
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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.
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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
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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.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Religion and the People of Love
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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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Sunday, June 24, 2007
Repentance
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Repentance-- remorse and recompense for errors-- is a part of the whole "package" of Love. Love includes repentance, and so, it is not a separate pursuit.
We have all made many mistakes. Earth is a place designed to make errors. That is one of the most effective ways to grow and to learn. Just as when you are teaching a person math or a foreign language, she makes many mistakes. But we do not become outraged, we do not beat her over the head with a ballbat. Instead, we gently correct her, and patiently remind her of the correct answers.
God is a billion times more loving, patient, and reasonable than any of us. So, God does not murder people, or torture people, for having made mistakes. Jesus' attitude towards sin was scandalous to the "righteous" and "religious" leaders of his day, because he was so tender, so kind, so loving. He lived and acted as if souls were more important than errors. He forgave instantly, on the spot. He even dared say, "All your sins are forgiven.".
He was right: The Soul is more important than any mistake a person might make. Very religious people often get this wrong, and the mistake, the "sin," becomes more important than compassion. They want punishment for the sinner, not learning or growth for her. This is an evil and unloving attitude.
Why do we here equate "sin" with error? Is not "sin" a deliberate rebellion against God? No, it is not. The Greek word used for "sin" in the Christian Scriptures was a term borrowed from archery, and meant "missing the mark." When an archer aims at a target, and misses, she does not do this deliberately. She is honestly doing her best to hit the bull's eye, but she misses because she is imperfect. This is error, not deliberate evil.
That is why this term was chosen by the ancient Christians. They wanted to give the message that sin was not deliberate evil, but error. Is there really any such thing as deliberate sinfulness? Yes,there is; but most "sin" is simply error: You honestly try to do your best, like the archer, but you miss the target.
Because we all screw up in many ways, many times, the universal Mind of Love (God) is pervaded by an infinite (endless) supply of forgiveness. For it is God's will that everyone find life and happiness, and a person bound to a practice of "sin" has become its slave; she knows no freedom. To be a slave is to be unfree, and Jesus said, "The truth [Reality] will make you free." (Jn.8:32)
Because we all sin, when we begin to love God, self, and other creatures, naturally we encounter sorrow due to these imperfections. This is not pathological, but completely normal and natural. It is natural repentance, and Love and repentance always come as a set, like salt and pepper, or two bookends. For one is incomplete without the other.
A healthy person is not always berating herself for her sins. For, once she has carefully studied them, and learned everything that she can from them, she then practices selforgiveness. It is then time to be gentle, merciful, and compassionate with the self as you try to be with others.
Jesus said to forgive "seventy times seven," a number that, in numerological symbolism, represents infinity. For in the healthy mind, there are no limits to the quantity or quality of genuine forgiveness. God has an unending supply; as we grow closer to Her Mind, we also become infinite in our forgiveness-capacity. When a person does not forgive, the only one who suffers is the one who refuses to forgive.
In summary, repentance is a great quality of the enlightened person. It is a genuine reflection of humility-- the very opposite of pretending to be "perfect" or "flawless"-- a stupid game played by only the foolish and unwise.
*******
Repentance-- remorse and recompense for errors-- is a part of the whole "package" of Love. Love includes repentance, and so, it is not a separate pursuit.
We have all made many mistakes. Earth is a place designed to make errors. That is one of the most effective ways to grow and to learn. Just as when you are teaching a person math or a foreign language, she makes many mistakes. But we do not become outraged, we do not beat her over the head with a ballbat. Instead, we gently correct her, and patiently remind her of the correct answers.
God is a billion times more loving, patient, and reasonable than any of us. So, God does not murder people, or torture people, for having made mistakes. Jesus' attitude towards sin was scandalous to the "righteous" and "religious" leaders of his day, because he was so tender, so kind, so loving. He lived and acted as if souls were more important than errors. He forgave instantly, on the spot. He even dared say, "All your sins are forgiven.".
He was right: The Soul is more important than any mistake a person might make. Very religious people often get this wrong, and the mistake, the "sin," becomes more important than compassion. They want punishment for the sinner, not learning or growth for her. This is an evil and unloving attitude.
Why do we here equate "sin" with error? Is not "sin" a deliberate rebellion against God? No, it is not. The Greek word used for "sin" in the Christian Scriptures was a term borrowed from archery, and meant "missing the mark." When an archer aims at a target, and misses, she does not do this deliberately. She is honestly doing her best to hit the bull's eye, but she misses because she is imperfect. This is error, not deliberate evil.
That is why this term was chosen by the ancient Christians. They wanted to give the message that sin was not deliberate evil, but error. Is there really any such thing as deliberate sinfulness? Yes,there is; but most "sin" is simply error: You honestly try to do your best, like the archer, but you miss the target.
Because we all screw up in many ways, many times, the universal Mind of Love (God) is pervaded by an infinite (endless) supply of forgiveness. For it is God's will that everyone find life and happiness, and a person bound to a practice of "sin" has become its slave; she knows no freedom. To be a slave is to be unfree, and Jesus said, "The truth [Reality] will make you free." (Jn.8:32)
Because we all sin, when we begin to love God, self, and other creatures, naturally we encounter sorrow due to these imperfections. This is not pathological, but completely normal and natural. It is natural repentance, and Love and repentance always come as a set, like salt and pepper, or two bookends. For one is incomplete without the other.
A healthy person is not always berating herself for her sins. For, once she has carefully studied them, and learned everything that she can from them, she then practices selforgiveness. It is then time to be gentle, merciful, and compassionate with the self as you try to be with others.
Jesus said to forgive "seventy times seven," a number that, in numerological symbolism, represents infinity. For in the healthy mind, there are no limits to the quantity or quality of genuine forgiveness. God has an unending supply; as we grow closer to Her Mind, we also become infinite in our forgiveness-capacity. When a person does not forgive, the only one who suffers is the one who refuses to forgive.
In summary, repentance is a great quality of the enlightened person. It is a genuine reflection of humility-- the very opposite of pretending to be "perfect" or "flawless"-- a stupid game played by only the foolish and unwise.
*******
Saturday, March 10, 2007
The True Master
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When anyone calls another "Lord" or "master," the one being addressed is being acknowledged to have a Self of Love within. It is not the body of the person being addressed, and not her ego-identity, and not even the higher Self (soul), but the highest Self (Spirit).
When Jesus was called "Lord," it was not the man Jesus who was being addressed, but the Spirit indwelling his mind at the Core or Center. This was an address to the Spirit of pure Love that indwelled him. Jesus had erased his ego-self and "disappeared" (by absorption) into the infinite Mind of Love deep within him. As evidence of this change, he early changed his name from "Immanuel" to "Jesus."
People who say that they want to be "like" Jesus are always saying "Jesus... this" and "Jesus.... that," but Jesus himself never once used the name "Jesus" in his public teaching all during his life. So, people who are really being like Jesus are not your average "Jesus-people."
To be "like" Jesus is to draw all attention to the "Father," as the Master Himself did. It is to talk about the Infinite Immeasurable Reality at the Center of all Mind and all the cosmos. It is to speak about the One, the Ineffable, God.
Everyone is, deep within, this same "Lord" and "Master," as we manifest that deep interior Spirit. But a true master will never, under any conditions, refer to herself as a "master." This is one of the marks, in fact,of a fake, fraud, or phony. For this would divert attention away from the invisible Spirit and redirect it to ego, and to ego-praise. This is to miss completely and entirely the place of humility in the Way.
For deep humility, even silence, marks the true master. And a real master is never the "master" of others, or of people. A real master is she who has mastered the self, with its lower energies, weaknesses, and imperfections. A true Master has tamed her "lower nature" or "animal nature." She has under control her appetites, for food, sleep,sex, and other biodrives. She turns all energies heavenward, or heartward, towards the indwelling Godmind.
She never brags, boasts, or selfdisplays. She has no interest at all in "impressing" anyone, and does not even try. Instead, she finds peace and deep tranquility in silence and service. A mystic will teach if she is called to teaching. But outside of that talking, she will find great comfort in silence. A master avoids all extremes, and need not be silent at all times, but neither can she talk all the time, hogging conversation and grabbing the spotlight. she sows the seeds of Light and truth, but is never worried when people ignore her, as that is also part of their path to growth.
A true master will exercise gentle but firm control over her speech and actions. She will practice courtesy, friendliness, openness, kindness, goodness, and compassion. She will try not to eat too much or too little, sleep too much or too little, sexually engage neither too much nor too little. she will strive to find the moderate Way of balance in all bio-activities,and in all other areas of her life. She will not obsess about her self, or her career, or her accomplishments. Indeed, the true master will usually refrain from speaking about herself at all (unless she is directly questioned, and the answer can aid a student).
*******
When anyone calls another "Lord" or "master," the one being addressed is being acknowledged to have a Self of Love within. It is not the body of the person being addressed, and not her ego-identity, and not even the higher Self (soul), but the highest Self (Spirit).
When Jesus was called "Lord," it was not the man Jesus who was being addressed, but the Spirit indwelling his mind at the Core or Center. This was an address to the Spirit of pure Love that indwelled him. Jesus had erased his ego-self and "disappeared" (by absorption) into the infinite Mind of Love deep within him. As evidence of this change, he early changed his name from "Immanuel" to "Jesus."
People who say that they want to be "like" Jesus are always saying "Jesus... this" and "Jesus.... that," but Jesus himself never once used the name "Jesus" in his public teaching all during his life. So, people who are really being like Jesus are not your average "Jesus-people."
To be "like" Jesus is to draw all attention to the "Father," as the Master Himself did. It is to talk about the Infinite Immeasurable Reality at the Center of all Mind and all the cosmos. It is to speak about the One, the Ineffable, God.
Everyone is, deep within, this same "Lord" and "Master," as we manifest that deep interior Spirit. But a true master will never, under any conditions, refer to herself as a "master." This is one of the marks, in fact,of a fake, fraud, or phony. For this would divert attention away from the invisible Spirit and redirect it to ego, and to ego-praise. This is to miss completely and entirely the place of humility in the Way.
For deep humility, even silence, marks the true master. And a real master is never the "master" of others, or of people. A real master is she who has mastered the self, with its lower energies, weaknesses, and imperfections. A true Master has tamed her "lower nature" or "animal nature." She has under control her appetites, for food, sleep,sex, and other biodrives. She turns all energies heavenward, or heartward, towards the indwelling Godmind.
She never brags, boasts, or selfdisplays. She has no interest at all in "impressing" anyone, and does not even try. Instead, she finds peace and deep tranquility in silence and service. A mystic will teach if she is called to teaching. But outside of that talking, she will find great comfort in silence. A master avoids all extremes, and need not be silent at all times, but neither can she talk all the time, hogging conversation and grabbing the spotlight. she sows the seeds of Light and truth, but is never worried when people ignore her, as that is also part of their path to growth.
A true master will exercise gentle but firm control over her speech and actions. She will practice courtesy, friendliness, openness, kindness, goodness, and compassion. She will try not to eat too much or too little, sleep too much or too little, sexually engage neither too much nor too little. she will strive to find the moderate Way of balance in all bio-activities,and in all other areas of her life. She will not obsess about her self, or her career, or her accomplishments. Indeed, the true master will usually refrain from speaking about herself at all (unless she is directly questioned, and the answer can aid a student).
*******
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Sharing the Message of Love
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Obviously, everyone is not ready to hear the mystic's position regarding life and the cosmos. The best way to present the Way to a person who is closed down, as so many "Christians" are, to new ideas is simply, over and over, to emphasize Love.
In the continuous and relentless emphasis on Love, you will be "on the same page" as Jesus, although some "Christians" might disagree.
We must keep always in mind that we are not assigned any life but our own. Another person's heartmind is not within the scope of our mission or assignment. We must cultivate a Love for others, but to change them is up to God; that is His mission, not ours.
But because we do love them, we would like nothing better than to have them taste of the wonderful, limitless Love of the Father. But we must let go and let God. We must never try to change another's point of view. Mystics are not proseletyzers; we do not make "converts"to the Way. But we do want to "be there" for anyone who is ready to change, to support and help to educate others. For this is the work of Love.
So, talk of Love. Speak always of God as Love, and of Love as truth. In time, with the help of the Holy Spirit, this great and delightful message can penetrate even the thickest skull, the most closed mind. By grace, and given time, this message can finally "sink into" any heartmind.
But we can, most importantly, "teach without speaking." We can make our lives models of tolerance, compassion, patience, and other virtues. Exercising humility, we can refuse to bring attention to ourselves. We can make our lives a living message. And this is, in the end, far more important than anything that we can say.
*******
Obviously, everyone is not ready to hear the mystic's position regarding life and the cosmos. The best way to present the Way to a person who is closed down, as so many "Christians" are, to new ideas is simply, over and over, to emphasize Love.
In the continuous and relentless emphasis on Love, you will be "on the same page" as Jesus, although some "Christians" might disagree.
We must keep always in mind that we are not assigned any life but our own. Another person's heartmind is not within the scope of our mission or assignment. We must cultivate a Love for others, but to change them is up to God; that is His mission, not ours.
But because we do love them, we would like nothing better than to have them taste of the wonderful, limitless Love of the Father. But we must let go and let God. We must never try to change another's point of view. Mystics are not proseletyzers; we do not make "converts"to the Way. But we do want to "be there" for anyone who is ready to change, to support and help to educate others. For this is the work of Love.
So, talk of Love. Speak always of God as Love, and of Love as truth. In time, with the help of the Holy Spirit, this great and delightful message can penetrate even the thickest skull, the most closed mind. By grace, and given time, this message can finally "sink into" any heartmind.
But we can, most importantly, "teach without speaking." We can make our lives models of tolerance, compassion, patience, and other virtues. Exercising humility, we can refuse to bring attention to ourselves. We can make our lives a living message. And this is, in the end, far more important than anything that we can say.
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