Spring is in the air, yet the biting pre-dawn winter winds of man's ceaseless destructive tendencies, continue to howl in steadfast opposition to humanity's emergence into the springtime of our potential.
The truism 'It is always darkest before dawn.' is somewhat comforting in it's suggestive glimmer of hope for our collective long-awaited springtime, yet it also portends of worlds in violent collision during the darkest hour of pre-dawn's unrelinquishing eclipse.
May we face the wind together in good ways and may we know the peace that is to be realized, even ... in the midst of great turmoil.
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Monday, 25 April 2011
Life-honouring way
The linear line represents the limitations of worldly practices and interpretations. The all-encompassing circle represents truth that is not defiled by the limitations of worldly practices and interpretations.
The two figures represent faithkeepers sheltered by the faith of their respective beliefs who recognize that there is a greater truth or great mystery that is life-affirming; that there are no beliefs that justify destruction in the face of the natural way represented by the all-encompassing circle to which they both belong; that the rights of others to their beliefs are to be respected, and ... that beliefs are not to be imposed upon others.
Life-honouring way means to be committed to life-ways rather than to methods that are anti-life and destructive. This includes our relationship/s to all life/all beings.
Saturday, 23 April 2011
Faith beyond form
Faith is as a portal to worlds beyond form. When there is sincerity in your heart, faith will open doorways to places no doctrine, religion or belief ever will. Many unfold upon paths and bond to the forms they follow, however, the Way isn't the form; it isn't the sect, cult or religion, and it isn't the messenger. Too bad, when preachers rely upon followers as the measure of their own professed beliefs. Teachers don't form religions ... they show a Way. Religion can become a hindrance, a conflict of interest and an attachment to be relied upon and to war-over by all who abuse the intent of expressions that have turned into institutions replete with abuses of power and broken sacred-trusts. Form is merely a snapshot of the Way that is to be lived; it (form) is not the Way.
Thursday, 7 April 2011
Into the silence
When you are ready, you will understand what is meant by the common refrain: When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. You may have heard it over and over again: Look within. But maybe you have this thirst to devour all books in your path, to read it all in like a sponge to water. And before you know it, many perspectives are coloring your worldview, and sooner or later, you have to undo much of what you've learned and begin to step-into the great Quest for self-realization. Not an easy task at the best of times, the Quest has become even more elusive in today's world.
The problem: Noise (distractions). Unlike natural sounds and practices which are healing and beneficial, noises take on many unnatural forms that distract and prevent or inhibit you from knowing who you are. The noises I'm referring to here, are distractions such as the stresses of survival, the scream of machinery, pollution, forced and aggressive sales pitches, popular notions of fame and success, and other common attachments that many world traditions voice the need to banish, such as anger, greed, ambition, selfishness, violence and unhealthy desires, to name a few.
The result of noise: A diminished ability to listen and a diminished interest in listening. People who are caught-up in all of the distractions and seductions of a fast-paced world, become, in a sense, the product of their desires (or attachments). Being creatures of habit,[1] over time, there is a very real danger that the cycle of non-listening becomes more ingrained and our life is lost (more bound) to a world of mundane existence.
To be continued.
1. I am often astounded by the persistence of habit. It's been years since I've stopped wearing eye-glasses, yet, from time to time, I catch myself in the process of beginning to raise-up my non-existent eye-glasses to a more comfortable position.
The problem: Noise (distractions). Unlike natural sounds and practices which are healing and beneficial, noises take on many unnatural forms that distract and prevent or inhibit you from knowing who you are. The noises I'm referring to here, are distractions such as the stresses of survival, the scream of machinery, pollution, forced and aggressive sales pitches, popular notions of fame and success, and other common attachments that many world traditions voice the need to banish, such as anger, greed, ambition, selfishness, violence and unhealthy desires, to name a few.
The result of noise: A diminished ability to listen and a diminished interest in listening. People who are caught-up in all of the distractions and seductions of a fast-paced world, become, in a sense, the product of their desires (or attachments). Being creatures of habit,[1] over time, there is a very real danger that the cycle of non-listening becomes more ingrained and our life is lost (more bound) to a world of mundane existence.
To be continued.
1. I am often astounded by the persistence of habit. It's been years since I've stopped wearing eye-glasses, yet, from time to time, I catch myself in the process of beginning to raise-up my non-existent eye-glasses to a more comfortable position.
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