Thank you, Ric. The Red Book quote and your insights are beneficial material for contemplating today as I tend the gardens and put up more food for the winter. I hope to respond more thoughtfully later. I especially resonate with the comment, "..in its origin Evil is not bad..."
Morning practice that seems appropriate for the question posed.
7/28/13
As I wander out to take in the dawning day, I breathe deep, conscious breaths and notice the air is not as moisture laden as yesterday. It feels healing somehow; passing into my chest, surrounding my heart and down in my belly, then back out again. Walking slowly, I breathe this way for several minutes in the quiet, still morning, under the light of a waning moon, half visible, shining beautifully. The sky is mostly clear with only an occasional wispy cloud passing in front of the moon. I’m too late to see a star-filled heaven, though I spot Jupiter in the NE and a star in the north, both diming as the night rolls away and the edge of day happens. I enter the labyrinth, the moon nearly directly overhead, bat one mosquito that has found me, and continue this morning ritual that grounds my day and connects me to something I need connecting to, call it what you wish. This day, I call it the spirit of the land and I am grateful to experience it. Making my way around the labyrinth paths, sounds start to reach my ears, a cardinal seems to be the first riser among the song birds that make Shinbone Valley home. Then, I hear a faint sound that makes me stop and listen closer. Screech owl, I whisper to myself, the first one I’ve heard this summer season. It’s an eerie, haunting kind of a sound, and I have always loved it. It moves me into the mystery of the dark, the considering of secrets held in nature, things I long to know, yet must be content to appreciate from a distance, to observe through my human filters, to experience as fully as I can and allow my human heart to feel how I am changed by so doing.
i wonder if experience of the sacred has to be earth shattering or a peak experience in order to be real or realized every day. sometimes for me,on rarer occasions synchronicity exposes the I-Thou moments and i am forced to stop in awe, respect and humility. it is like the call to take off your shoes and come no closer because the burning bush is so profound. but most of the time, i experience the sacred in morning tears of longing within my heart for Her, or in daytime sweat and breath in efforts to dance with Her in the art of creativity at work, and in evening rest in order to allow Her to uphold me after a day well or poorly done. these are more mundane but daily experiences of an I-Thou relationship. like any relationship it has its tides of intensity and tides of routine ebb and flow. but all of it causes me to fill with gratitude for the effort of the sacred and the human to unite. .
I like to spend time in the redwood forests and I especially like to honor the sacred by meditating beside flowing streams and creeks in these forests. I also like to garden and grow food. of course, I feed my friends with this food! I try to do something to honor the sacred every single day even if it is a simple prayer of gratitude.
I could write this comment anywhere in this discussion, but since I'm inspired by the comment above, I'll do it here.
Considering that poll, about 60 percent of us willing to vote reconnect with Self and the Sacred on a daily basis. What does that mean? Does such a person experience an earth-shattering revelation/nirvana/satori/peak experience EVERY day? In my case, not really. I analyze and contemplate the previous day no matter how it might be similar on the surface to the day(s) before. This fact doesn't make me spiritually superior or inferior to anyone else. I just feel comfortable to have such a routine and that's it.
To answer your question, I guess I was feeling a bit humorous. Bonnie has raised this question of how we "find the sacred in everyday life" and what we do in the time we daily set apart as "intentionally dedicated" to "honoring the sacred."
In terms of what may be done to honor the sacred, Rumi is quoted speaking of playing an instrument as one of "hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground."
And here David has added to this question of practice the question of a hierarchy of accomplishments in such practice, of people of high spiritual achievement, as his friend is described as "beyond the Buddha in achievements."
It struck me as humorous, as somehow so "true to life" in, I guess, a spiritual sense, that these people engaged in advanced spiritual practice in order to transform themselves (as Bonnie speaks of with the Chod) so often transform into people who can't be bothered to write stuff down and thereby, maintain a mystery around the thing that less developed seekers seek.
I wake every morning, record and amplify my dreams. The brilliance with which Dream-maker talks with me in resonant images beyond anything my simple awareness could know has convinced me of Something beyond, wise, and interactive. I also have been meditating regularly for a number of years now and have experienced a deepening and expansion of my consciousness. India is a constant source of inspiration for me, now streaming via Internet on my TV. A surprisingly intelligent guru gives readings and explanations daily in English from the Bhagavad Gita on living a spiritual life. Also a mythological TV series M-F that dramatizes the ancient myths of Shiva helps me connect with the rich spiritual folklore and stories of my Indo-European heritage that are still very much alive and valued in other parts of the world. The gorgeous men in loincloths and beautiful women bedecked in saris and shining jewelry are works of art and inspiration in themselves.
Replies
The beauty and sweetness of my son.
The reflection of the snow on the winter grass.
The taste of peanuts, spice and curry.
So grateful for warmth and toastiness during our seasonal storm.
Thank you, Ric. The Red Book quote and your insights are beneficial material for contemplating today as I tend the gardens and put up more food for the winter. I hope to respond more thoughtfully later. I especially resonate with the comment, "..in its origin Evil is not bad..."
Morning practice that seems appropriate for the question posed.
7/28/13
As I wander out to take in the dawning day, I breathe deep, conscious breaths and notice the air is not as moisture laden as yesterday. It feels healing somehow; passing into my chest, surrounding my heart and down in my belly, then back out again. Walking slowly, I breathe this way for several minutes in the quiet, still morning, under the light of a waning moon, half visible, shining beautifully. The sky is mostly clear with only an occasional wispy cloud passing in front of the moon. I’m too late to see a star-filled heaven, though I spot Jupiter in the NE and a star in the north, both diming as the night rolls away and the edge of day happens. I enter the labyrinth, the moon nearly directly overhead, bat one mosquito that has found me, and continue this morning ritual that grounds my day and connects me to something I need connecting to, call it what you wish. This day, I call it the spirit of the land and I am grateful to experience it. Making my way around the labyrinth paths, sounds start to reach my ears, a cardinal seems to be the first riser among the song birds that make Shinbone Valley home. Then, I hear a faint sound that makes me stop and listen closer. Screech owl, I whisper to myself, the first one I’ve heard this summer season. It’s an eerie, haunting kind of a sound, and I have always loved it. It moves me into the mystery of the dark, the considering of secrets held in nature, things I long to know, yet must be content to appreciate from a distance, to observe through my human filters, to experience as fully as I can and allow my human heart to feel how I am changed by so doing.
i wonder if experience of the sacred has to be earth shattering or a peak experience in order to be real or realized every day. sometimes for me,on rarer occasions synchronicity exposes the I-Thou moments and i am forced to stop in awe, respect and humility. it is like the call to take off your shoes and come no closer because the burning bush is so profound. but most of the time, i experience the sacred in morning tears of longing within my heart for Her, or in daytime sweat and breath in efforts to dance with Her in the art of creativity at work, and in evening rest in order to allow Her to uphold me after a day well or poorly done. these are more mundane but daily experiences of an I-Thou relationship. like any relationship it has its tides of intensity and tides of routine ebb and flow. but all of it causes me to fill with gratitude for the effort of the sacred and the human to unite. .
I like to spend time in the redwood forests and I especially like to honor the sacred by meditating beside flowing streams and creeks in these forests. I also like to garden and grow food. of course, I feed my friends with this food! I try to do something to honor the sacred every single day even if it is a simple prayer of gratitude.
I could write this comment anywhere in this discussion, but since I'm inspired by the comment above, I'll do it here.
Considering that poll, about 60 percent of us willing to vote reconnect with Self and the Sacred on a daily basis. What does that mean? Does such a person experience an earth-shattering revelation/nirvana/satori/peak experience EVERY day? In my case, not really. I analyze and contemplate the previous day no matter how it might be similar on the surface to the day(s) before. This fact doesn't make me spiritually superior or inferior to anyone else. I just feel comfortable to have such a routine and that's it.
Many, many thanks.
I enjoyed this comment:
We deify those whose example we do not wish to follow, to give ourselves an excuse not to try!
I feel so much more can be said here but need to sit with it awhile.
The friend in #2 reminds me of the highest order of charity: not knowing how much is given, nor who it is given to, nor asking for any recognition.
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." If so, we can designate &/or create beautiful things/events/spaces every day.
Just need to keep an eye out for beauty, expect it around every corner. Same could be said about the sacred.
Hi Ed,
Good to see your name in here!
To answer your question, I guess I was feeling a bit humorous. Bonnie has raised this question of how we "find the sacred in everyday life" and what we do in the time we daily set apart as "intentionally dedicated" to "honoring the sacred."
In terms of what may be done to honor the sacred, Rumi is quoted speaking of playing an instrument as one of "hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground."
And here David has added to this question of practice the question of a hierarchy of accomplishments in such practice, of people of high spiritual achievement, as his friend is described as "beyond the Buddha in achievements."
It struck me as humorous, as somehow so "true to life" in, I guess, a spiritual sense, that these people engaged in advanced spiritual practice in order to transform themselves (as Bonnie speaks of with the Chod) so often transform into people who can't be bothered to write stuff down and thereby, maintain a mystery around the thing that less developed seekers seek.
I wake every morning, record and amplify my dreams. The brilliance with which Dream-maker talks with me in resonant images beyond anything my simple awareness could know has convinced me of Something beyond, wise, and interactive. I also have been meditating regularly for a number of years now and have experienced a deepening and expansion of my consciousness. India is a constant source of inspiration for me, now streaming via Internet on my TV. A surprisingly intelligent guru gives readings and explanations daily in English from the Bhagavad Gita on living a spiritual life. Also a mythological TV series M-F that dramatizes the ancient myths of Shiva helps me connect with the rich spiritual folklore and stories of my Indo-European heritage that are still very much alive and valued in other parts of the world. The gorgeous men in loincloths and beautiful women bedecked in saris and shining jewelry are works of art and inspiration in themselves.
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