Posts
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The path of truth in spirituality begins with the discovery of interior Love. So, try to find someone or something that needs your Love. (Our little planet is starving for Love, so this should be relatively easy.)
Every creature-- every dog, cat, llama, camel, elephant, horse, and every human being-- needs Love. Love is where the Journey to the interior Spirit always finds its beginning, and Its end.
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Showing posts with label spirituality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spirituality. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Passion
We are still having Pneumarium-gatherings every two weeks, where we celebrate together our shared spiritual passion, and you enjoy a continuous invitation that does not expire. Our next sweet gathering of the family will be on March 1, then March 15, and then, every two weeks after.:) We also have over four hundred tapes from the radioprogram "Heartmind" if you are interested; they are all listed on our website, loveministries.org
Re passion: Passion can, of course, rise from the ego. But it can also arise from the Soul, or even the Spirit-- very deep areas of Mind indeed.
The word "passion" itself has no intrinsic connection with sexuality, although that is one of many uses of the word.
Passion is the joyful enthusiasm that makes life worth living, and anything worth doing. A life without passion is not fully alive. A person must commit her life to something greater than herself, and this is, by definition, a "passion." It might be her work, her art, her feelings, intellect, career, or spirituality. Most lives do not have the capacity to include more than one great passion, so we should carefully choose our passions.
But it is not always a matter of egochoice. Some of the greatest and most passionate people of history said that their passion chose them, rather than the other way around. The spirituality of Jesus or of Francis are two examples of great passions.
A passion is a concern that over-rides all other concerns. It is always Number One. It is first to make use of our time-- the "gold" of the cosmos.
Passion is positive, healthy "obsession"-- a great, consuming, demanding call from deep within. It becomes the very Center and nucleus of our lives.
And blessed are you if your passion is Love-spirituality, for there is none better or richer.:)
Many do not know what their passion is, or should be. The interior "voice" of the deepest Mind has grown weak and feeble, and can barely be heard.
To discover your passion, you need to ask yourself, "What do I really, really like?" Through positive spiritual will (desire), we can be magnetically drawn to our passion. But we must approach the subject fully and completely ready to give all our timenergy to its pursuit; half-measures, or part-time pursuits, will never qualify as a true "passion."
Art, writing, religion, and politics are common passions. But spirituality is the best investment of timenergy, for it lasts forever and has huge "dividends."
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Re passion: Passion can, of course, rise from the ego. But it can also arise from the Soul, or even the Spirit-- very deep areas of Mind indeed.
The word "passion" itself has no intrinsic connection with sexuality, although that is one of many uses of the word.
Passion is the joyful enthusiasm that makes life worth living, and anything worth doing. A life without passion is not fully alive. A person must commit her life to something greater than herself, and this is, by definition, a "passion." It might be her work, her art, her feelings, intellect, career, or spirituality. Most lives do not have the capacity to include more than one great passion, so we should carefully choose our passions.
But it is not always a matter of egochoice. Some of the greatest and most passionate people of history said that their passion chose them, rather than the other way around. The spirituality of Jesus or of Francis are two examples of great passions.
A passion is a concern that over-rides all other concerns. It is always Number One. It is first to make use of our time-- the "gold" of the cosmos.
Passion is positive, healthy "obsession"-- a great, consuming, demanding call from deep within. It becomes the very Center and nucleus of our lives.
And blessed are you if your passion is Love-spirituality, for there is none better or richer.:)
Many do not know what their passion is, or should be. The interior "voice" of the deepest Mind has grown weak and feeble, and can barely be heard.
To discover your passion, you need to ask yourself, "What do I really, really like?" Through positive spiritual will (desire), we can be magnetically drawn to our passion. But we must approach the subject fully and completely ready to give all our timenergy to its pursuit; half-measures, or part-time pursuits, will never qualify as a true "passion."
Art, writing, religion, and politics are common passions. But spirituality is the best investment of timenergy, for it lasts forever and has huge "dividends."
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Sunday, January 11, 2009
Exchange of Political Views
Thanks to Pat Fields and to Adamaria Francis:
Dear loving Friends of the Heart,
In a recent issue, Boone Posey wrote about some minority political feelings. We feel that we owe it to our readers to give both sides of a controversial issue; but we also owe them a response to every serious inquiry, or any serious challenge.
Thus, we have written the following letter to you, our peace-loving
friends:
[NOTE:] We will place the original letter in quotation marks, and our responses will be outside the marks:
Yes, we do work hard and consistently to keep the uld ["Universal Love Digest"] spiritually relevant. Spirituality implies positivity, but our real world is not some "Pollyannish" dream without negativity. Exposing negativity is a part of the positive path.
The areas that appear political, on first glance, are really not about mere politics at all, but about spiritual principles. We know that the shame and greed of foolish leaders is against not only our country, but crimes against ecology and humanity. They are truly spiritual concerns.
They need to be exposed. And spiritually educated people need to be introduced to these lies, crimes, and acts of horrible violence. Exposing lies and liars has always been a part of truth-teaching. [Jesus set a good example in Matthew 23.]
We have tried hard to "cut down" the number of articles that we share with you, our beloved efamily, with the public, and with other friends. We have had much to say about the interfaces between politics and compassion-- especially when the never-elected administration has broken all the rules of decency, resulting in the deaths of four thousand American girls and boys, and perhaps, a million others, including women and children.
You say that "too many things" have been considered in the ezine. But, actually, in the tens of millions of books written about politics and morality, we have considered only one subject: The failure of the present administration, which claims to be "Christian," to live up to simple and clear guidelines of compassion, and to serve greed. That is not many, but only one subject!
For us to keep silent about these issues would make us appear as apathetic, or even supportive of evil-- which we will never be!
He might well be your president, but he is not mine. I have had no president since the year twenty-hundred.
And those sound and solid, fact-based criticisms were elicited by his behavior. Very few have turned against bush because they simply don't like the man. Instead, he has become the primary representative of greed, of corporation-rule (a definition of "fascism"), division, murder, and general hatred. His policies have made America the most feared country in the world, according to 71% of Europeans. The Europeans and other foreign people have come to hate America, once the "light upon a hill" to the world. For the U.S., under bush, has actually invaded a third-world country, and a very poor one, to steal its oil for a few rich bush-cronies. Do gallons of oil really cost gallons of blood?
It is good as a reality-test that you can at least create some agreement in your heart about this. Jimmy Carter expressed the shared thought of tens of millions of Americans when he said that bush was "the worst president in history."
From the beginning, he was a man unfit for leadership. He has proved beyond the shadow of any reasonable doubt that he is incompetent, inept, and woefully ignorant.
Until this monstrous administration began to ruin the environment, give corporate welfare to giant corporations, and to murder American children for oil, I would have agreed one hundred percent with you.
This is a common, and tired, old argument: "If you don't respect the man, at least respect the office." But this is a very fine, and often impossible, distinction. For, during any administration, the officer is the office, for all practical terms. As I was growing up, I went to a public school; in that school, we were drilled thoroughly to be patriotic, to love and respect our country. We were taught to honor the office of president above all. And I did greatly honor it, until it was
revealed that a rich daddy could buy the office for mere bucks, and then, lie it in the lap of an uneducated, ignorant, and foolish son. Any office that can be "bought" does not deserve our respect-- much less, the profound respect that virtually everyone used to share for this high office. And when the office becomes the source of policies and laws that are anti-ecological, anti-economic, and anti-middle class, it is no longer possible to respect that office.
Well, then, once again, we are in agreement. But can you not see that by supporting a "war-president," you are in fact supporting all the blood, agony, and torture, rape, and starvation that inevitably comes with any war?
What a false and manufactured argument! Bush has grandiosely reminded us, more than once, that he is "the decider." You are, for some reason, trying to clear the record of this man, who is more criminal and thief than president. He himself brags continuously about how he personally made all the important decisions. He sees some of his most horrible mistakes as a "legacy," about which he is very concerned. And he should be! Although he is parading around the country, blowing his own trumpet, boasting of what a "great president" he was, no one is really taking this blow-hard seriously. He has worked hard to cultivate the worst record in history; every time that he could have made a major error, by making the wrong decision, he did make that wrong decision.
Yes, this is part of the bush legacy. He has made it clear that he would be doing just fine if we entered a third war, in Iran. The man is psychopathic. (He does not have a conscience.) When five hundred thousand women, children, and innocent men die agonizing deaths, they are just numbers on a report to george. His anti-ecology proves that he has no respect for life, and his eagerness for war proves that he does not know the value of human life either!
Maybe. But the bin Laden family had close economic arrangements interwoven with bush's own bank account. One of bush's companies even made fire-arms, making war profitable for both him and Cheney (big-buck connections with Halliburton). War was a delightful win-win! Except for all those inconvenient dead bodies. But they really didn't matter; they were "only" bad guys, "only" Muslims.
So, bush, for money, refused to attack the Middle Eastern country responsible for 9-11, which was Saudi Arabia. No, too many bucks from bush and company's personal bank accounts. But to appear "tough," he attacked a pitifully puny country with a rag-tag "army" whose "soldiers" were sometimes twelve-year-olds!
When george was told, by a reporter, that Al Queda (Al Chaida) was not even in the entire country of Iraq until the U.S. Invasion, do you know what he nefariously said? He said, "So what?"
This is a tired and wearisome argument, but it says absolutely nothing about bush's competence or incompetence. It is a medal to be pinned, not on george's chest, but on all the hundreds of thousands of women and men in law-enforcement and national protection-- people who carefully did their jobs, often while george slept, or went on another of his interminable vacations to Crawford, TX.
You seem to be missing the entire point that people are willing to sacrifice their rights in order to feel safe. But, in sacrificing their human rights, they also sacrifice mine. Ben Franklin said that if one were willing to give up her freedom in order to be "safe," then she deserved neither safety nor freedom. Bush has voluntarily and deliberately trashed even the most sacred political document in our
history, the Constitution, only because it was convenient. His profile is one of a dictator, not an elected president. He got away with an administration polluted and corrupted with scandal, bribery, dishonesty of many kinds, and a general attitude that the common person did not even matter. All who mattered were his "crony-buddies," the oil-billionaires, plus the billion--dollar corporations. In all of his legislative history, bush never once stood up for the common man, but did so
repeatedly for the corporations. Far from being "a man of the people," he was the perfect "corporation man."
First of all, you have no proof that Obama is adopting, or considering, any legislation, or any action, that will make the common person less secure. If Obama can raise our level of respect as Americans, if he can open diplomatic relations with Middle Eastern countries, then Americans will be safer than ever-- on their own soil, and around the world! For bush has made it clear that he hates all Middle Eastern peoples, and all Muslims, and so they naturally despise him. A president whose middle name is "Hussein" might do wonders for American International politics. The texture of the geopolitical map is going to change; and it is so pitiably ugly, destructive, anti-human, and irrational that it almost has to get better!
Not everybody agrees that the FBI was in worse shape when Clinton was in the White House; many say that it became worse, and weaker, under the lawless attitudes of bush and co. At any rate, when it comes to appointments, let's please keep in mind two principles: 1) Almost never is it possible to "hook up the perfect person wit the perfect job." Everyone is imperfect; everyone lacks education and/or experience in some areas. And 2) You can never please all the people all the time. Even the very best of presidents will, from time to time, have less than ideal people working for her. This is where the art of forgiveness interfaces with politics. In time, we all must learn to forgive even george.
We are in fullest agreement here, my friend. Obama has been left a huge pile of unsolved problems; the stacks of paper are ten feet tall!
His history in working with Congress is very promising.
Congress is notoriously difficult to please, as it should be, in a polycultural society. But Obama has a fine way with words, and has even written a couple of books. If you have not read them, they do come highly recommended!
No doubt; every new cabinet in history has stirred controversy-- often, not surprisingly, from the losing party. There has never existed a "perfect president," "perfect Congress," or "perfect cabinet." But Obama is, so far, surrounding himself with people largely of wisdom, well-educated, and with shining reputations for integrity. There are no perfect people on this planet, so let us be careful not to demand perfection! But when an honest cabinet replaces the likes of Cheney and Rice, that very honesty can lift our country together into a new feeling
of hope and optimism.
Yes, your lean to the right is a part of your pattern of selfexpression. But beware the tendency of rightwingers to see only themselves as right, and to paint all disagreement as "unpatriotic or even "evil."
Unfortunately, and a bit amusingly, John McCAin stole the theme of "change" from Obama. Johnny, you will remember, first ran on a ticket of "experience," until the inexperienced and comical Palin got on board!
I think that this is a healthy and rational decision.
I am certain that Obama shares this concern, as do the hundreds of thousands trained in emergency-management, law-enforcement, military strategy-- in other words, the large ocean of people who will still be carefully guarding Americans against fanatics and crooks.
Yes, that would be true; but, at the moment, this is nothing but science-fiction. So, let's keep our heads, and not panic! Terrorists have their reasons for attacking America; but so far, the reasons not to attack have been stronger and more valid. (This has almost nothing to do with who is president, btw.)
Of course we have. We are not idiots! My friends, if anything, are more intelligent, educated, and observant of the world-situation than are average people.
Yes, but let's always remember that it has not happened. It is the negative illusion, the favorite scare-tactic, of some rightwingers-- nothing more.
This is another matrix-threat of the right. They have an almost "armageddonish" approach to the future, bathed in blood and horror. In this scenario, everyone grabs as many dried bananas as she can, and shoots with her handy little machine-gun anyone who threatens her bananas. And there are always "hordes" of mobs trying to get her bananas! It's all just bad science-fiction.
I, and most of my friends, might surprise you when we agree with you. We also love America. The right has no monopoly on this, whatever they tell you about those "evil liberals who hate our country." This is sheerest nonsense, and anyone who is a "liberal" or who has "liberal" friends will deny this false accusation. In fact, it can be strongly argued that we progressives care more for our country than those who care only for dollars. For those on the right, anything can be justified-- war and ecological ruin, for example-- if it brings in enough dollars. This utter consumption by materialism and bucks is a major disease that severely infects the Republican Party. Until they relax a little, and loosen up, they will continue to drive away the young, and anyone else with a conscience. (Did you notice that almost everyone in the McCain/Palin crowds were white and old? There's a reason for this!:)
Anyway, we progressives are not from another planet. We share the strongest values with most Americans. We believe in the sacredness of life; kids should not be murdered out of greed for gold, nor should others.
We are delighted with the great blessings of this country; in fact, the way that we celebrate that freedom is by speaking our minds. Those who celebrate freedom, and yet, would like for the progressive side to shut up and sit down are mere hypocrites. For the founding fathers and mothers of our country were often "radical liberals," from the vantage point of the Crown. And, at any rate, they lived-- and died-- so that all voices could be heard.
We love and treasure our country so much that we work every day to preserve laws that guarantee liberty. We also work to save our country-- its ecology, clean air, and pure water. There are no better ways to love one's country.
Joy and Peace,
the staff of the uld
Dear loving Friends of the Heart,
In a recent issue, Boone Posey wrote about some minority political feelings. We feel that we owe it to our readers to give both sides of a controversial issue; but we also owe them a response to every serious inquiry, or any serious challenge.
Thus, we have written the following letter to you, our peace-loving
friends:
[NOTE:] We will place the original letter in quotation marks, and our responses will be outside the marks:
"Dear Barbara,
Over the past few months, I have read your contribution to this newsletter, and I have a few comments. I wish that this type of political comment were a part of this newsletter, as it was intended, I believe, to be a forum for positive and more spiritual banter and good information."
Yes, we do work hard and consistently to keep the uld ["Universal Love Digest"] spiritually relevant. Spirituality implies positivity, but our real world is not some "Pollyannish" dream without negativity. Exposing negativity is a part of the positive path.
The areas that appear political, on first glance, are really not about mere politics at all, but about spiritual principles. We know that the shame and greed of foolish leaders is against not only our country, but crimes against ecology and humanity. They are truly spiritual concerns.
They need to be exposed. And spiritually educated people need to be introduced to these lies, crimes, and acts of horrible violence. Exposing lies and liars has always been a part of truth-teaching. [Jesus set a good example in Matthew 23.]
"I believe it has been used as a political 'soap box' for too many things."
We have tried hard to "cut down" the number of articles that we share with you, our beloved efamily, with the public, and with other friends. We have had much to say about the interfaces between politics and compassion-- especially when the never-elected administration has broken all the rules of decency, resulting in the deaths of four thousand American girls and boys, and perhaps, a million others, including women and children.
You say that "too many things" have been considered in the ezine. But, actually, in the tens of millions of books written about politics and morality, we have considered only one subject: The failure of the present administration, which claims to be "Christian," to live up to simple and clear guidelines of compassion, and to serve greed. That is not many, but only one subject!
For us to keep silent about these issues would make us appear as apathetic, or even supportive of evil-- which we will never be!
"And most of these political statements is to trash our President."
He might well be your president, but he is not mine. I have had no president since the year twenty-hundred.
And those sound and solid, fact-based criticisms were elicited by his behavior. Very few have turned against bush because they simply don't like the man. Instead, he has become the primary representative of greed, of corporation-rule (a definition of "fascism"), division, murder, and general hatred. His policies have made America the most feared country in the world, according to 71% of Europeans. The Europeans and other foreign people have come to hate America, once the "light upon a hill" to the world. For the U.S., under bush, has actually invaded a third-world country, and a very poor one, to steal its oil for a few rich bush-cronies. Do gallons of oil really cost gallons of blood?
"I admit that he made some mistakes and is not one of the best leaders we
have had,..."
It is good as a reality-test that you can at least create some agreement in your heart about this. Jimmy Carter expressed the shared thought of tens of millions of Americans when he said that bush was "the worst president in history."
From the beginning, he was a man unfit for leadership. He has proved beyond the shadow of any reasonable doubt that he is incompetent, inept, and woefully ignorant.
"but I think he deserves some respect in the fact that he still is our President and the office alone deserves some consideration and respect."
Until this monstrous administration began to ruin the environment, give corporate welfare to giant corporations, and to murder American children for oil, I would have agreed one hundred percent with you.
This is a common, and tired, old argument: "If you don't respect the man, at least respect the office." But this is a very fine, and often impossible, distinction. For, during any administration, the officer is the office, for all practical terms. As I was growing up, I went to a public school; in that school, we were drilled thoroughly to be patriotic, to love and respect our country. We were taught to honor the office of president above all. And I did greatly honor it, until it was
revealed that a rich daddy could buy the office for mere bucks, and then, lie it in the lap of an uneducated, ignorant, and foolish son. Any office that can be "bought" does not deserve our respect-- much less, the profound respect that virtually everyone used to share for this high office. And when the office becomes the source of policies and laws that are anti-ecological, anti-economic, and anti-middle class, it is no longer possible to respect that office.
"I don't agree with war as a solution to any problem..."
Well, then, once again, we are in agreement. But can you not see that by supporting a "war-president," you are in fact supporting all the blood, agony, and torture, rape, and starvation that inevitably comes with any war?
"...but he did what he did because of the advisors around him,..."
What a false and manufactured argument! Bush has grandiosely reminded us, more than once, that he is "the decider." You are, for some reason, trying to clear the record of this man, who is more criminal and thief than president. He himself brags continuously about how he personally made all the important decisions. He sees some of his most horrible mistakes as a "legacy," about which he is very concerned. And he should be! Although he is parading around the country, blowing his own trumpet, boasting of what a "great president" he was, no one is really taking this blow-hard seriously. He has worked hard to cultivate the worst record in history; every time that he could have made a major error, by making the wrong decision, he did make that wrong decision.
"and so we are into two wars."
Yes, this is part of the bush legacy. He has made it clear that he would be doing just fine if we entered a third war, in Iran. The man is psychopathic. (He does not have a conscience.) When five hundred thousand women, children, and innocent men die agonizing deaths, they are just numbers on a report to george. His anti-ecology proves that he has no respect for life, and his eagerness for war proves that he does not know the value of human life either!
"The original war, with Afghanistan, was to retaliate for the attack on 9-11,..."
Maybe. But the bin Laden family had close economic arrangements interwoven with bush's own bank account. One of bush's companies even made fire-arms, making war profitable for both him and Cheney (big-buck connections with Halliburton). War was a delightful win-win! Except for all those inconvenient dead bodies. But they really didn't matter; they were "only" bad guys, "only" Muslims.
So, bush, for money, refused to attack the Middle Eastern country responsible for 9-11, which was Saudi Arabia. No, too many bucks from bush and company's personal bank accounts. But to appear "tough," he attacked a pitifully puny country with a rag-tag "army" whose "soldiers" were sometimes twelve-year-olds!
"and the Iraq war, was to keep the spread of support for Al-Quaida (sp?)..."
When george was told, by a reporter, that Al Queda (Al Chaida) was not even in the entire country of Iraq until the U.S. Invasion, do you know what he nefariously said? He said, "So what?"
"For all the wrong decisions he made, he still has keep the terrorists on the run, and they have not been able to launch another attack on our soil, since 9-11."
This is a tired and wearisome argument, but it says absolutely nothing about bush's competence or incompetence. It is a medal to be pinned, not on george's chest, but on all the hundreds of thousands of women and men in law-enforcement and national protection-- people who carefully did their jobs, often while george slept, or went on another of his interminable vacations to Crawford, TX.
"Now, the future Obama administration has already said that they will slacken up on the security of this country, by not tapping anyone's phones, or keeping a close eye on suspected terrorists groups in this country."
You seem to be missing the entire point that people are willing to sacrifice their rights in order to feel safe. But, in sacrificing their human rights, they also sacrifice mine. Ben Franklin said that if one were willing to give up her freedom in order to be "safe," then she deserved neither safety nor freedom. Bush has voluntarily and deliberately trashed even the most sacred political document in our
history, the Constitution, only because it was convenient. His profile is one of a dictator, not an elected president. He got away with an administration polluted and corrupted with scandal, bribery, dishonesty of many kinds, and a general attitude that the common person did not even matter. All who mattered were his "crony-buddies," the oil-billionaires, plus the billion--dollar corporations. In all of his legislative history, bush never once stood up for the common man, but did so
repeatedly for the corporations. Far from being "a man of the people," he was the perfect "corporation man."
"He [Obama] will be putting us in more danger by doing this and he doesn't think it is a bad decision."
First of all, you have no proof that Obama is adopting, or considering, any legislation, or any action, that will make the common person less secure. If Obama can raise our level of respect as Americans, if he can open diplomatic relations with Middle Eastern countries, then Americans will be safer than ever-- on their own soil, and around the world! For bush has made it clear that he hates all Middle Eastern peoples, and all Muslims, and so they naturally despise him. A president whose middle name is "Hussein" might do wonders for American International politics. The texture of the geopolitical map is going to change; and it is so pitiably ugly, destructive, anti-human, and irrational that it almost has to get better!
"He has also chosen a man to head up the CIA that has no experience in this type of responsibility, and would probably mess it up worse than it was when the Clintons were in the White House."
Not everybody agrees that the FBI was in worse shape when Clinton was in the White House; many say that it became worse, and weaker, under the lawless attitudes of bush and co. At any rate, when it comes to appointments, let's please keep in mind two principles: 1) Almost never is it possible to "hook up the perfect person wit the perfect job." Everyone is imperfect; everyone lacks education and/or experience in some areas. And 2) You can never please all the people all the time. Even the very best of presidents will, from time to time, have less than ideal people working for her. This is where the art of forgiveness interfaces with politics. In time, we all must learn to forgive even george.
"I hope and pray that the new President will succeed in leading this country on a peaceful path, and show great leadership in solving our economic crisis."
We are in fullest agreement here, my friend. Obama has been left a huge pile of unsolved problems; the stacks of paper are ten feet tall!
"I want him to have every success and hope he governs like he said he would in his campaign, by reaching across the aisle to show cooperation with both parties in Congress."
His history in working with Congress is very promising.
"But, I think he has already made some bad decisions in his choices for his cabinet, and this has shown that he may be in for some long and hard confirmations from the Congress."
Congress is notoriously difficult to please, as it should be, in a polycultural society. But Obama has a fine way with words, and has even written a couple of books. If you have not read them, they do come highly recommended!
"I could be wrong about this, but I think there will be some controversy about the new cabinet and how well they can perform their duties."
No doubt; every new cabinet in history has stirred controversy-- often, not surprisingly, from the losing party. There has never existed a "perfect president," "perfect Congress," or "perfect cabinet." But Obama is, so far, surrounding himself with people largely of wisdom, well-educated, and with shining reputations for integrity. There are no perfect people on this planet, so let us be careful not to demand perfection! But when an honest cabinet replaces the likes of Cheney and Rice, that very honesty can lift our country together into a new feeling
of hope and optimism.
"As you can probably tell from all I have said, I lean toward the republican side of the political spectrum."
Yes, your lean to the right is a part of your pattern of selfexpression. But beware the tendency of rightwingers to see only themselves as right, and to paint all disagreement as "unpatriotic or even "evil."
"I did vote for McCain/Palin, as I thought they had a better chance of achieving the change in Washington that we needed."
Unfortunately, and a bit amusingly, John McCAin stole the theme of "change" from Obama. Johnny, you will remember, first ran on a ticket of "experience," until the inexperienced and comical Palin got on board!
"I hope that Obama will do a good job, as I have said before, and I will support him in his efforts where I can."
I think that this is a healthy and rational decision.
"I also hope that any decisions made about our national security will be made with the utmost of care and that we don't end up fighting the terrorists on our soil and possibly having a major conflict right here in our own back yard."
I am certain that Obama shares this concern, as do the hundreds of thousands trained in emergency-management, law-enforcement, military strategy-- in other words, the large ocean of people who will still be carefully guarding Americans against fanatics and crooks.
"A lot more Americans will be in danger and we will suffer more losses than we ever did on 9-11."
Yes, that would be true; but, at the moment, this is nothing but science-fiction. So, let's keep our heads, and not panic! Terrorists have their reasons for attacking America; but so far, the reasons not to attack have been stronger and more valid. (This has almost nothing to do with who is president, btw.)
"I hope you and your supporters have given this some thought."
Of course we have. We are not idiots! My friends, if anything, are more intelligent, educated, and observant of the world-situation than are average people.
"Fighting on our own soil will change the whole picture of this 'war on terror'"
Yes, but let's always remember that it has not happened. It is the negative illusion, the favorite scare-tactic, of some rightwingers-- nothing more.
"I just hope that the liberals won't do away with gun ownership before this happens."
This is another matrix-threat of the right. They have an almost "armageddonish" approach to the future, bathed in blood and horror. In this scenario, everyone grabs as many dried bananas as she can, and shoots with her handy little machine-gun anyone who threatens her bananas. And there are always "hordes" of mobs trying to get her bananas! It's all just bad science-fiction.
"I have carried on long enough, but wanted to reply to your comments, both the recent ones and the past ones. I feel this country is one of the best in the
world to live in."
I, and most of my friends, might surprise you when we agree with you. We also love America. The right has no monopoly on this, whatever they tell you about those "evil liberals who hate our country." This is sheerest nonsense, and anyone who is a "liberal" or who has "liberal" friends will deny this false accusation. In fact, it can be strongly argued that we progressives care more for our country than those who care only for dollars. For those on the right, anything can be justified-- war and ecological ruin, for example-- if it brings in enough dollars. This utter consumption by materialism and bucks is a major disease that severely infects the Republican Party. Until they relax a little, and loosen up, they will continue to drive away the young, and anyone else with a conscience. (Did you notice that almost everyone in the McCain/Palin crowds were white and old? There's a reason for this!:)
Anyway, we progressives are not from another planet. We share the strongest values with most Americans. We believe in the sacredness of life; kids should not be murdered out of greed for gold, nor should others.
We are delighted with the great blessings of this country; in fact, the way that we celebrate that freedom is by speaking our minds. Those who celebrate freedom, and yet, would like for the progressive side to shut up and sit down are mere hypocrites. For the founding fathers and mothers of our country were often "radical liberals," from the vantage point of the Crown. And, at any rate, they lived-- and died-- so that all voices could be heard.
We love and treasure our country so much that we work every day to preserve laws that guarantee liberty. We also work to save our country-- its ecology, clean air, and pure water. There are no better ways to love one's country.
Joy and Peace,
the staff of the uld
Friday, January 09, 2009
Religion and Mysticism
I am in fullest agreement with what [your friend] has to say. I am a bit notorious for my statement, oft repeated, that "religion is the worst idea in the history of the world, but spirituality is the best." Your friend sadly, but understandably, misuses the word "mysticism," as a counterpoint to "reality." But Reality is precisely the very subject around which pure mysticism ennucleates! (Older writers called "reality" simply "truth.") [Your friend] is a man of refreshing passion. But when it comes to mysticism-- a subject that I have carefully studied for well over thirty years, and about which I have written more than twenty books-- he is a little confused. For true "mysticism" is, more often than not, the nemesis of religion-- especially in its orthodox forms. There is a galaxy of difference, as you know, between spirituality and
religion. And mysticism is squarely and consistently on the side of spirituality, even when it (as it often does) must speak against divisive religions.
*******
religion. And mysticism is squarely and consistently on the side of spirituality, even when it (as it often does) must speak against divisive religions.
*******
Love Ministries Support
Thank you for staying "spot on" with the uld, and especially for your awareness of the needs of Love Ministries. We do want our friends to be alerted to our real needs in this materialistic world; but we must make absolutely certain that we do not become materialistic (greedy or money-hungry) during this task. We have seen this tragedy occur to several ministries, and "ministers" or "spiritual teachers." It is so very common, in fact, that the Ministry which does not devolve into a money-grubbing, endless request for funds is the shining exception! So, we almost never mention money; everyone knows that publishing is very expensive, don't they? (If they are relatively educated, they should!:) Postage is also a major expense.
The Ministries radically consume time, which is given freely. I do not believe that a true servant of the people should be "paid" for spiritual work; let her/him earn money from other sources. We are highly distressed by the tendency for ministries and ministers to try to turn spiritual education into a mere "market commodity," like potatoes or beans. For pure spirituality should ideally be a gift, heart-to-heart, not one of the "things bought at the market today."
So, we refuse to follow others in endlessly, repeatedly "begging" for donations. To keep you informed, we do publish, in the uld, regular reports for the Love Ministries Federation, and, of course, you can always donate through this. But a ministry should exist to teach and to share; if it starts to exist only to gather funds, it is already corrupted with greed, which our Eastern sisters and brothers identify as a "gateway to hell.":)
Other teachers sometimes complain bitterly because we have always done all our spiritual work for Love-donations alone; we do not ever charge fees. We have no record that Jesus or the Buddha ever set up a toll-booth.:)
So, let's always work to stay as far from that as life will permit us!
Thanks for your continuing interest in, and support of, Love Ministries as we strive to teach the Message of Love.
*******
The Ministries radically consume time, which is given freely. I do not believe that a true servant of the people should be "paid" for spiritual work; let her/him earn money from other sources. We are highly distressed by the tendency for ministries and ministers to try to turn spiritual education into a mere "market commodity," like potatoes or beans. For pure spirituality should ideally be a gift, heart-to-heart, not one of the "things bought at the market today."
So, we refuse to follow others in endlessly, repeatedly "begging" for donations. To keep you informed, we do publish, in the uld, regular reports for the Love Ministries Federation, and, of course, you can always donate through this. But a ministry should exist to teach and to share; if it starts to exist only to gather funds, it is already corrupted with greed, which our Eastern sisters and brothers identify as a "gateway to hell.":)
Other teachers sometimes complain bitterly because we have always done all our spiritual work for Love-donations alone; we do not ever charge fees. We have no record that Jesus or the Buddha ever set up a toll-booth.:)
So, let's always work to stay as far from that as life will permit us!
Thanks for your continuing interest in, and support of, Love Ministries as we strive to teach the Message of Love.
*******
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Priority is Everything
It does sound as if the "material" world is rushing upon you, and perhaps cornering you, from all sides. God does indeed give us infinite time, endless, but not on earth. So, we are constantly being challenge to prioritize. If we do this successfully, spirituality will be Number One, at the top of the list.:)
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Monday, August 18, 2008
Finding Time for Reading
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We truly understand what it feels like not to have had a break since the second grade!:) Btdt-- been there, did that!:) But please never forget that one can just "burn up" or "kill" time, or one can invest it. Reading a good spiritual book (and they are far fewer than most people assume) is this kind of beautiful selfinvestment; so, sometimes, we might have to "make" the time, as it does not simply fall "out of the sky into our laps," although we might often wish that it could, or would!:) If
you can devote only a couple of minutes to reading a paragraph or two a day, this would add up in time.:):)
*******
What is Spirituality?, by a franciscan taoist
Spirituality can assault us with an onslaught that seems like being washed away in Niagara Falls! There is simply so much of it! "Spiritual" writing seems to know no end, and it can be overwhelming! It can swamp and lose the mind.
So, let us try to be as simple as possible, following the "K.I.S.S." principle-- "keep it super-simple." Spirituality is not, in its core-definition, thousands of gurus, ministers, Scriptures, books, ideas, concepts, and explanations contained in thousands of libraries and bookstores. As you might suspect, it is simpler. (Many great mastersages emphasize simplicity.)
Spirituality is Love--the complex choreography of balancing Love for yourself with Love for others. The Christ mentioned this as the principle, "Love your neighbor as yourself." So, if we love our neighbor less than ourselves, we have introduced imbalance into the equation. But if we love our neighbors more than ourselves, we have also made a significant error.
The ancient mystics wrote," God is Love." So, they also solved the great mystery of "God," and made even this most complex universal Mystery simple. For if we exercise compassion, kindness, goodness, and other forms of Love-- if indeed, we worship Love as God-- we will make no significant karmic errors, and will be able to avoid all negative karmic repercussions.
For the Buddha taught that all karma arises from intention. Do we have to be "perfect" in order to create a future life completely free from all negative karma? No, we do not. The good news is that, if we act with good and pure intention, we can be karmafree. For we cannot control what will become of our words once they have gone forth into the world; but we can control our intentions. And, in a just and fair universe, we should be held responsible for only that which we can control.
So, begin right now: Do an act of Love for yourself or for another living creature. Work to make this a life-pattern, a positive habit, and you will never regret your wise decision.
*******
We truly understand what it feels like not to have had a break since the second grade!:) Btdt-- been there, did that!:) But please never forget that one can just "burn up" or "kill" time, or one can invest it. Reading a good spiritual book (and they are far fewer than most people assume) is this kind of beautiful selfinvestment; so, sometimes, we might have to "make" the time, as it does not simply fall "out of the sky into our laps," although we might often wish that it could, or would!:) If
you can devote only a couple of minutes to reading a paragraph or two a day, this would add up in time.:):)
*******
What is Spirituality?, by a franciscan taoist
Spirituality can assault us with an onslaught that seems like being washed away in Niagara Falls! There is simply so much of it! "Spiritual" writing seems to know no end, and it can be overwhelming! It can swamp and lose the mind.
So, let us try to be as simple as possible, following the "K.I.S.S." principle-- "keep it super-simple." Spirituality is not, in its core-definition, thousands of gurus, ministers, Scriptures, books, ideas, concepts, and explanations contained in thousands of libraries and bookstores. As you might suspect, it is simpler. (Many great mastersages emphasize simplicity.)
Spirituality is Love--the complex choreography of balancing Love for yourself with Love for others. The Christ mentioned this as the principle, "Love your neighbor as yourself." So, if we love our neighbor less than ourselves, we have introduced imbalance into the equation. But if we love our neighbors more than ourselves, we have also made a significant error.
The ancient mystics wrote," God is Love." So, they also solved the great mystery of "God," and made even this most complex universal Mystery simple. For if we exercise compassion, kindness, goodness, and other forms of Love-- if indeed, we worship Love as God-- we will make no significant karmic errors, and will be able to avoid all negative karmic repercussions.
For the Buddha taught that all karma arises from intention. Do we have to be "perfect" in order to create a future life completely free from all negative karma? No, we do not. The good news is that, if we act with good and pure intention, we can be karmafree. For we cannot control what will become of our words once they have gone forth into the world; but we can control our intentions. And, in a just and fair universe, we should be held responsible for only that which we can control.
So, begin right now: Do an act of Love for yourself or for another living creature. Work to make this a life-pattern, a positive habit, and you will never regret your wise decision.
*******
Thursday, February 21, 2008
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!:)
*******
Sunday, February 03, 2008
The Sermon on the Mount, Part XI of XL
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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!
*****
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Religion and Spirituality
*******
Religion and spirituality are a galaxy apart. The former was originally designed to be the handmaiden of the latter, but it has almost never worked out that way! Religion has regularly, throughout all history, shamefully supported war, bigotry, and innumerable divisions within the human community. Love (spirituality) never has!
It all comes back to definition: Religion is all the stuff outside [churches, most books, Bible-study, ritual, ceremony, candles, public prayer (a contradiction in terms), etc., while the much-higher spirituality is an "inside" job; it is Love.]
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Religion and spirituality are a galaxy apart. The former was originally designed to be the handmaiden of the latter, but it has almost never worked out that way! Religion has regularly, throughout all history, shamefully supported war, bigotry, and innumerable divisions within the human community. Love (spirituality) never has!
It all comes back to definition: Religion is all the stuff outside [churches, most books, Bible-study, ritual, ceremony, candles, public prayer (a contradiction in terms), etc., while the much-higher spirituality is an "inside" job; it is Love.]
*******
Saturday, December 01, 2007
What Really Matters
*******
Under the worst conditions, and even on the worst planet (and it can, at times, seem to be earth), you have been tempered by life to a solid, non-wimpish state of courage, Love, strength, wisdom, and active service.
There is a pop-phrase that comes to mind: "That which does not kill me, makes me stronger." Agreed, but I would expand it to: "Even that which kills me will make me stronger." For death is an incredibly empowering experience!:)
The storms of life are so great at highlighting the things that really, truly matter in life. And you know what? There aren't a whole lot of things that truly count. There are Love, friendship, giving, relationship, spirituality, and a few other things. Beyond these, as the great mystic Solomon said, "All is vanity."
*****
Under the worst conditions, and even on the worst planet (and it can, at times, seem to be earth), you have been tempered by life to a solid, non-wimpish state of courage, Love, strength, wisdom, and active service.
There is a pop-phrase that comes to mind: "That which does not kill me, makes me stronger." Agreed, but I would expand it to: "Even that which kills me will make me stronger." For death is an incredibly empowering experience!:)
The storms of life are so great at highlighting the things that really, truly matter in life. And you know what? There aren't a whole lot of things that truly count. There are Love, friendship, giving, relationship, spirituality, and a few other things. Beyond these, as the great mystic Solomon said, "All is vanity."
*****
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
"Lovelight" magazine
*******
We truly, deeply appreciate any ideas for our monthly Lovelight magazine. However, it is a magazine of high spirituality. That is, it is not a magazine of religion. (The same is true of the uld, this present infosheet, the "Universal Love Digest." This is its "sister magazine" online.) We are very interested in the presentation of great truths. But we are not at all interested in the doctrines (dogma) of any
particular church or denomination.
Thus, we use, and are open to, texts from the Bible. But, if these are too numerous, they start to get a bit overwhelming; worse, they start to look like religion (dogma and doctrine) rather than purest spirituality-- which is the practice of universal, unconditional, and consistent Love.
So, please feel free to send in anything, any time, if the piece feels more spiritual than religious.
*******
We truly, deeply appreciate any ideas for our monthly Lovelight magazine. However, it is a magazine of high spirituality. That is, it is not a magazine of religion. (The same is true of the uld, this present infosheet, the "Universal Love Digest." This is its "sister magazine" online.) We are very interested in the presentation of great truths. But we are not at all interested in the doctrines (dogma) of any
particular church or denomination.
Thus, we use, and are open to, texts from the Bible. But, if these are too numerous, they start to get a bit overwhelming; worse, they start to look like religion (dogma and doctrine) rather than purest spirituality-- which is the practice of universal, unconditional, and consistent Love.
So, please feel free to send in anything, any time, if the piece feels more spiritual than religious.
*******
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Ministry and Bucks
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It is an obscenity with what facility greed can manifest even among
"spiritual" pursuits. Many "ministries," and "teachers," are "in the
biz" of spirituality for the sake of greed and fame.
These are invalid reasons, and no one should ever present herself as a
loving, selfless being who has a "service" or "ministry" whose true goal
is money. Spirituality is holy, and is not a mere "commodity," to be
sold like beans or oranges.
Spirituality is priceless. No price can ever be set on a good teaching.
The truly great masters of history, Jesus and the Buddha, never charged,
in any historical record, for any of their sermons.
This does not imply that a modern spiritual teacher cannot receive
Love-donations. But it does imply that any attempt to put a price on, or
to sell, spiritual wisdom is immoral. Spiritual teachers, if they are
the real thing, must and should always be willing to give freely of their
time and energy. Time is a gift from the cosmos, and to try to "profit"
on selling time is a simple absurdity. So-called "spiritual teachers"
who charge for their time are trying to rip off people-- often, those in
most need.
Some "spiritual teachers" are angry because Love Ministries does not
charge anything for its educational work. All lectures, seminars, and
personal consultations of Love Ministries are always given freely, or for
a Love-donation. Other ministries might not like this, because they feel
"criticized" by this policy. Indeed, some of them are operating out of
greed.
But it is not our intent to criticize. It is our intent simply to follow
the best examples possible-- Jesus and the Buddha, and other great
spiritual giants, who did not charge for their spiritual work. We must
follow their lead wherever it takes us, no matter what other "spiritual
teachers" say or do!
*******
It is an obscenity with what facility greed can manifest even among
"spiritual" pursuits. Many "ministries," and "teachers," are "in the
biz" of spirituality for the sake of greed and fame.
These are invalid reasons, and no one should ever present herself as a
loving, selfless being who has a "service" or "ministry" whose true goal
is money. Spirituality is holy, and is not a mere "commodity," to be
sold like beans or oranges.
Spirituality is priceless. No price can ever be set on a good teaching.
The truly great masters of history, Jesus and the Buddha, never charged,
in any historical record, for any of their sermons.
This does not imply that a modern spiritual teacher cannot receive
Love-donations. But it does imply that any attempt to put a price on, or
to sell, spiritual wisdom is immoral. Spiritual teachers, if they are
the real thing, must and should always be willing to give freely of their
time and energy. Time is a gift from the cosmos, and to try to "profit"
on selling time is a simple absurdity. So-called "spiritual teachers"
who charge for their time are trying to rip off people-- often, those in
most need.
Some "spiritual teachers" are angry because Love Ministries does not
charge anything for its educational work. All lectures, seminars, and
personal consultations of Love Ministries are always given freely, or for
a Love-donation. Other ministries might not like this, because they feel
"criticized" by this policy. Indeed, some of them are operating out of
greed.
But it is not our intent to criticize. It is our intent simply to follow
the best examples possible-- Jesus and the Buddha, and other great
spiritual giants, who did not charge for their spiritual work. We must
follow their lead wherever it takes us, no matter what other "spiritual
teachers" say or do!
*******
Saturday, September 08, 2007
What Jesus Asks
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Jesus does not call us to be perfect. He calls each of us to do only her personal best. No matter who you are-- no matter how weak, wounded, uneducated, or challenged-- every person can always do her personal best.
Jesus says that his load is easy and his burden light. He does not call upon anyone to wrestle with monsters or to accomplish supernatural feats. Instead, he calls us to do what we most deeply and truly want to do-- love ourselves and each other.
He recommends forgiveness, which might not be something that we do as much as it is many things that we stop doing! He does call upon us to love even our enemies, which is tough, but, again, this Love is the most natural part of human psychology. And, technically, it is not something that "you do." It is allowing the Holy Spirit of Love to move through you. Deep down, everyone really wants to be loved, and everyone realizes that the only Way to be loved is to love.
Love and forgive. That is all that Jesus asks of us, and he asks us kindly, tenderly, and gently, as a very loving older brother. He has no complex doctrines, complicated teachings, or involved rituals. He demands no great intellectual accomplishment. His sweet and very simple teachings are understood by the simplest farmer, and the most illiterate person. (It is the Church that has made many libraries of these simple teachings, turning them into something intricate, convoluted, and ugly.)
To love is to follow Jesus. To love yourself and others is his Way. There is nothing more-- nothing that really matters. Jesus does not "belong to," or recommend, any modern church or religion. How could he? They did not even exist during his time.
Jesus does not command religion, but the much easier, more refreshing and inspiring, spirituality.
*******
Jesus does not call us to be perfect. He calls each of us to do only her personal best. No matter who you are-- no matter how weak, wounded, uneducated, or challenged-- every person can always do her personal best.
Jesus says that his load is easy and his burden light. He does not call upon anyone to wrestle with monsters or to accomplish supernatural feats. Instead, he calls us to do what we most deeply and truly want to do-- love ourselves and each other.
He recommends forgiveness, which might not be something that we do as much as it is many things that we stop doing! He does call upon us to love even our enemies, which is tough, but, again, this Love is the most natural part of human psychology. And, technically, it is not something that "you do." It is allowing the Holy Spirit of Love to move through you. Deep down, everyone really wants to be loved, and everyone realizes that the only Way to be loved is to love.
Love and forgive. That is all that Jesus asks of us, and he asks us kindly, tenderly, and gently, as a very loving older brother. He has no complex doctrines, complicated teachings, or involved rituals. He demands no great intellectual accomplishment. His sweet and very simple teachings are understood by the simplest farmer, and the most illiterate person. (It is the Church that has made many libraries of these simple teachings, turning them into something intricate, convoluted, and ugly.)
To love is to follow Jesus. To love yourself and others is his Way. There is nothing more-- nothing that really matters. Jesus does not "belong to," or recommend, any modern church or religion. How could he? They did not even exist during his time.
Jesus does not command religion, but the much easier, more refreshing and inspiring, spirituality.
*******
Monday, August 06, 2007
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.
*******
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.
*******
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Masculine and Feminine Love
*******
I by far, by many lightyears, prefer the Goddess over the God. Both are necessary, and good. But I've been saturated with a negative Godimage since way back, and I've had it up to here with the ridiculous "monstergod," as I call him. I long for, and need, the tender side; I love the Love of men, but need much more the Love of women. Not sexual, you understand. But a woman's Love has a completely distinct and different "flavor" than Love between males. Both can be real, but the gentle flower of feminine hearts has a sweetness and delightful fragrance lacking in the harder, more logical, Love of males. The soft receptivity in the Goddess is very welcome and welcoming. To sink deeply into that yielding heart, filled with warm Love, is to taste of spiritual ecstasy.
I have always preferred even the company of women-- partly because of the terrible ways in which males are socialized in our society. You know, the old "sex, sports, tools" mindset. Women, by contrast, are fascinating, compelling, powerfully attractive, and profound. They exhibit the spiritual variety of butterflies or roses, and the same glowing beauty. They are not terrified of their emotions, however deep these feelings might be.
In visions and visualizations (call them "spiritual fantasies"), I also prefer vastly the mindpicture of the Goddess over the God. This is only a tiny bit sexual -- due to the attractive physical form of the Goddess. The greatest percentage, by far, is psychospiritual. A woman usually forms a deeper and truer friendship, with more understanding, forgiveness, and loyalty. This is based, in part, on earth-friendships.
But it also arises from deeper spiritual principles.
The very touch of a Goddess -- in the form of a human woman, or in the form of a visualized supernormal Goddess -- is healing. And, again, there is a very special and unique form of Love that blossoms -- non-sexually-- between a man and a woman in friendship. It is one of the great joys of this life.
*******
I by far, by many lightyears, prefer the Goddess over the God. Both are necessary, and good. But I've been saturated with a negative Godimage since way back, and I've had it up to here with the ridiculous "monstergod," as I call him. I long for, and need, the tender side; I love the Love of men, but need much more the Love of women. Not sexual, you understand. But a woman's Love has a completely distinct and different "flavor" than Love between males. Both can be real, but the gentle flower of feminine hearts has a sweetness and delightful fragrance lacking in the harder, more logical, Love of males. The soft receptivity in the Goddess is very welcome and welcoming. To sink deeply into that yielding heart, filled with warm Love, is to taste of spiritual ecstasy.
I have always preferred even the company of women-- partly because of the terrible ways in which males are socialized in our society. You know, the old "sex, sports, tools" mindset. Women, by contrast, are fascinating, compelling, powerfully attractive, and profound. They exhibit the spiritual variety of butterflies or roses, and the same glowing beauty. They are not terrified of their emotions, however deep these feelings might be.
In visions and visualizations (call them "spiritual fantasies"), I also prefer vastly the mindpicture of the Goddess over the God. This is only a tiny bit sexual -- due to the attractive physical form of the Goddess. The greatest percentage, by far, is psychospiritual. A woman usually forms a deeper and truer friendship, with more understanding, forgiveness, and loyalty. This is based, in part, on earth-friendships.
But it also arises from deeper spiritual principles.
The very touch of a Goddess -- in the form of a human woman, or in the form of a visualized supernormal Goddess -- is healing. And, again, there is a very special and unique form of Love that blossoms -- non-sexually-- between a man and a woman in friendship. It is one of the great joys of this life.
*******
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Salvation and Love
*******
We all always need to be "saved"-- from ignorance and arrogance, as early gnostic Christians pointed out, and from the falsehoods and dangers of the lower nature (the humanimal mind and the animal mind).
The "quickest and easiest" Way to salvation is through Love-- through Love-immersion. This means that we think almost continuously about Love and its many flowers or "fruits," such as kindness, reason, goodness, generosity, and wisdom. We must never forget the poor and the disadvantaged among us. When we can afford it, we even give money to those who need it. We can do this through recognized charities, but, since a high percentage of their funds often goes for administration, often, we are better off just giving to a person whom we know to be in need.
Love is also expressed as tolerance and patience. Recognizing that we do have forever, the humanitarian Lover is not always rushing around, or rushing others. She is a being of patience. Because of her Love, she tolerates diversity-- in lifestyle, sexual preferences, politics, and religion. This does not imply that the person of Love must be indecisive, a wishy-washy type who says that nothing really matters. That is not deep spirituality, but one of its opposites-- apathy or complacency.
The spiritual being might know with solid and total firmness what she believes, and might even share it. But she will do so only educationally; the spiritual being does not make "converts." For God is continually "converting" the heart from within, and conversion is Her job, not that of the human being.
Love, in this kind of world, must be not only relentless, but continuous. We must often try to love the being (Soul) beneath the person (mask). The person might be ignorant, arrogant, and even repulsive. But it is up to the enlightened to see beneath the surface, to see that tiny "spark" of the "sun of God" that dwells within every person. Thus, we can never "damn" anyone, which is the "judgment" prohibited by the Master. (Mt. 7:1)
To love endlessly, tirelessly, universally, consistently, and unconditionally is the Way to salvation. This includes the three subpaths of real spirituality: 1) love everyone, 2) serve everyone, and 3) forgive everyone.
No amount of "Bible-study," no giving of sermons, no Bible-thumping, no "gift of the Spirit" is worth anything without accompanying Love. So, if you had all of these, without Love, they would all be worthless. Joining any particular church or religion is also useless, if it does not create or stimulate Love in the heart. Joining any group that damns others is sin. But if you have Love alone, without any of these, you are blessed beyond imagining. (Compare the "Canticle of Love," in First Corinthians,
chapter 13.)
Some preachers and ministers do not know this, and so, they emphasize the wrong things-- actions that eclipse Love in the heart. We must be careful never to become followers of incompetent and ignorant human beings. Why should we? For we have the Master of Love, living entirely in each and every heart.
*******
We all always need to be "saved"-- from ignorance and arrogance, as early gnostic Christians pointed out, and from the falsehoods and dangers of the lower nature (the humanimal mind and the animal mind).
The "quickest and easiest" Way to salvation is through Love-- through Love-immersion. This means that we think almost continuously about Love and its many flowers or "fruits," such as kindness, reason, goodness, generosity, and wisdom. We must never forget the poor and the disadvantaged among us. When we can afford it, we even give money to those who need it. We can do this through recognized charities, but, since a high percentage of their funds often goes for administration, often, we are better off just giving to a person whom we know to be in need.
Love is also expressed as tolerance and patience. Recognizing that we do have forever, the humanitarian Lover is not always rushing around, or rushing others. She is a being of patience. Because of her Love, she tolerates diversity-- in lifestyle, sexual preferences, politics, and religion. This does not imply that the person of Love must be indecisive, a wishy-washy type who says that nothing really matters. That is not deep spirituality, but one of its opposites-- apathy or complacency.
The spiritual being might know with solid and total firmness what she believes, and might even share it. But she will do so only educationally; the spiritual being does not make "converts." For God is continually "converting" the heart from within, and conversion is Her job, not that of the human being.
Love, in this kind of world, must be not only relentless, but continuous. We must often try to love the being (Soul) beneath the person (mask). The person might be ignorant, arrogant, and even repulsive. But it is up to the enlightened to see beneath the surface, to see that tiny "spark" of the "sun of God" that dwells within every person. Thus, we can never "damn" anyone, which is the "judgment" prohibited by the Master. (Mt. 7:1)
To love endlessly, tirelessly, universally, consistently, and unconditionally is the Way to salvation. This includes the three subpaths of real spirituality: 1) love everyone, 2) serve everyone, and 3) forgive everyone.
No amount of "Bible-study," no giving of sermons, no Bible-thumping, no "gift of the Spirit" is worth anything without accompanying Love. So, if you had all of these, without Love, they would all be worthless. Joining any particular church or religion is also useless, if it does not create or stimulate Love in the heart. Joining any group that damns others is sin. But if you have Love alone, without any of these, you are blessed beyond imagining. (Compare the "Canticle of Love," in First Corinthians,
chapter 13.)
Some preachers and ministers do not know this, and so, they emphasize the wrong things-- actions that eclipse Love in the heart. We must be careful never to become followers of incompetent and ignorant human beings. Why should we? For we have the Master of Love, living entirely in each and every heart.
*******
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Caution: Tabloid Metaphysics
*******
Metaphysics, like its relative, spirituality, can be great fun! It is not all serious, humorless facts and figures, dull and boring. For true spirituality, at its best, includes a sense of play and fun.
Still, , we must distinguish metaphysics from the deeper, and much more important, spirituality. And because metaphysics is, at its best, related to spirituality, it must have a certain serious quality. It is much more than "fun and games."
We must use discrimination and discernment-- both spiritual gifts-- to select those metaphysical activities that will truly aid in spiritual development and growth. And there is, happily, very much in metaphysics which supports, motivates, and creates spiritual effects. An example is the study of crystals, that of color, or sound-music. For the fields of chromotology and chromovisualization can be very spiritually valuable, as can the field of audiosonics, used in both healing and meditation.
But there is another field of metaphysics of which the careful student must beware. It is the facile, shallow area called "tabloid" metaphysics. This analogy implies that there are forms of metaphysics that have a relationship with spirituality aanalogous to the relationship of "yellow" or "tabloid" journalism's relationship to true news.
As you cannot get much reliable scientific news or details of current events from ragsheets, so you cannot derive anything of real spiritual value from tabloid metaphysics. It is spiritually worthless, yet can cost a fortune to indulge.
What marks this tabloid metaphysics? It is similar in contents to the contents of ragsheet-journalism. Some metaphysicists (not all are spiritual) claim to have a special relationship with a dead (former) movie-star or tv-star. Others claim to "channel" such famous persons as Princess Di. Using these to improve spirituality would be similar to getting all your news from the Weekly World News.
These tabloid pretenders charge a lot of money for their "services." But they offer nothing of real value. They cannot aid clients to live better lives. Often, they do not even pretend to offer anything spiritual, for they are spiritually bankrupt.
Tabloid metaphysics will not only waste your time and energy, but also your funds. It is quite expensive-- another sign that the ego is in charge. Instead of using money to support frauds and phonies, you need to think about giving funds to reliable charities, or directly to poor people, challenged persons, or the generally suffering inhabitants of our poor little planet.
*******
Metaphysics, like its relative, spirituality, can be great fun! It is not all serious, humorless facts and figures, dull and boring. For true spirituality, at its best, includes a sense of play and fun.
Still, , we must distinguish metaphysics from the deeper, and much more important, spirituality. And because metaphysics is, at its best, related to spirituality, it must have a certain serious quality. It is much more than "fun and games."
We must use discrimination and discernment-- both spiritual gifts-- to select those metaphysical activities that will truly aid in spiritual development and growth. And there is, happily, very much in metaphysics which supports, motivates, and creates spiritual effects. An example is the study of crystals, that of color, or sound-music. For the fields of chromotology and chromovisualization can be very spiritually valuable, as can the field of audiosonics, used in both healing and meditation.
But there is another field of metaphysics of which the careful student must beware. It is the facile, shallow area called "tabloid" metaphysics. This analogy implies that there are forms of metaphysics that have a relationship with spirituality aanalogous to the relationship of "yellow" or "tabloid" journalism's relationship to true news.
As you cannot get much reliable scientific news or details of current events from ragsheets, so you cannot derive anything of real spiritual value from tabloid metaphysics. It is spiritually worthless, yet can cost a fortune to indulge.
What marks this tabloid metaphysics? It is similar in contents to the contents of ragsheet-journalism. Some metaphysicists (not all are spiritual) claim to have a special relationship with a dead (former) movie-star or tv-star. Others claim to "channel" such famous persons as Princess Di. Using these to improve spirituality would be similar to getting all your news from the Weekly World News.
These tabloid pretenders charge a lot of money for their "services." But they offer nothing of real value. They cannot aid clients to live better lives. Often, they do not even pretend to offer anything spiritual, for they are spiritually bankrupt.
Tabloid metaphysics will not only waste your time and energy, but also your funds. It is quite expensive-- another sign that the ego is in charge. Instead of using money to support frauds and phonies, you need to think about giving funds to reliable charities, or directly to poor people, challenged persons, or the generally suffering inhabitants of our poor little planet.
*******
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Illusions
*******
Nothing real exists outside of Love, or the Mind of the Creator. But some illusions, such as hatred, ignorance, bigotry, dishonesty, falsehood, lies, and similar patches of darkness lack the Light of God.
In illusions is fear created, and so, all fear-- all "devils" and "demons"-- are fear, a part of the unreality that "exists" in mind only, but has no real existence in the real mind. These things exist with the same reality as dream-images in our night-dreams. If we ask whether a dream exists, the answer is yes. But if we ask whether the objects and characters of the dream really exist, the answer is no. It is the same way with our everyday world. God allows us to dream up various illusions, such as fear, in order to put our spiritual qualities to the test. But a big and important part of enlightenment is seeing the fog-critters and phantasms as nothing more than realistic illusions.
Upon close examination, they are all "paper tigers," made of smoke and mirrors.
*******
Nothing real exists outside of Love, or the Mind of the Creator. But some illusions, such as hatred, ignorance, bigotry, dishonesty, falsehood, lies, and similar patches of darkness lack the Light of God.
In illusions is fear created, and so, all fear-- all "devils" and "demons"-- are fear, a part of the unreality that "exists" in mind only, but has no real existence in the real mind. These things exist with the same reality as dream-images in our night-dreams. If we ask whether a dream exists, the answer is yes. But if we ask whether the objects and characters of the dream really exist, the answer is no. It is the same way with our everyday world. God allows us to dream up various illusions, such as fear, in order to put our spiritual qualities to the test. But a big and important part of enlightenment is seeing the fog-critters and phantasms as nothing more than realistic illusions.
Upon close examination, they are all "paper tigers," made of smoke and mirrors.
*******
Sunday, March 18, 2007
High Spirits Radio Shows
Did you miss any episodes of the radio show High Spirits?
Now you can hear them!
24/7 access
The purpose of Love Ministries, Inc. is to provide practical applications of the vision of the Spiritual World, that can be used in realistic ways in ordinary, everyday life. Far too often, the down-to-earth implementation of Spiritual principles has been ignored, so that the idea comes across as something weird, abstract, indefinable, inscrutable.
Now you can hear them!
24/7 access
The purpose of Love Ministries, Inc. is to provide practical applications of the vision of the Spiritual World, that can be used in realistic ways in ordinary, everyday life. Far too often, the down-to-earth implementation of Spiritual principles has been ignored, so that the idea comes across as something weird, abstract, indefinable, inscrutable.
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