15 May, 2017

Creation & Aborigine Wisdom - Our Common Responsibility

The 'Voice' of the First Day

We live on a small and beautiful planet drifting in the vast sea of the Cosmos . It is our home and we have a solemn and sacred duty and responsibility to care for it. Our modern world, cultures and societies can learn much from the ancient wisdom of the ancestors and particularly the aboriginal peoples. The following is a lovely quote from the Aboriginal Peoples of Australia. It is part of their 'Creation Story'

 
 

03 May, 2017

Seek Mystery and not the Household 'God'




SEEKING MYSTERY

Don’t just stick with the Household God

SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS ON THE MYSTERY



‘The Household God you have created is no more than that…..   The God you have made to satisfy your needs is not the Ultimate Reality’  ‘Sr Ishpriya

'The Tao that can be named is not the Tao'      Taoist Sacred Text

Over many years I have been reflecting on the challenges facing both myself and many people of faith as they question some of the stock answers given by the orthodox and mainstream teachings of their particular Faith Tradition. Many of these can seem to fly in the face of our growing knowledge and understanding of our world, our cosmos and evolution. These ‘old’ repeated dogmas are increasingly seen as irrelevant both by younger, inquisitive and searching minds and serious mature seekers.

Those who question are often challenged by a choice that is often presented to them in a dualistic manner. This is a ‘false choice’ between the concept of the   ‘Unknowable God or Mystery’ and that of the ‘Personal God’. This is presented starkly as an Either: Or choice. Even worse, those who seek Mystery are often accused of being ‘New Age’. This is designed as a simple put down that avoids respectful dialogue. However, for many the reality can be a Both: And choice, one that involves   a 3rd ‘Something that is Mystery.  But first let me put these ideas in their proper context.

 

Mystery -& The Big Bang

Over millennium, people have struggled with the concept of an Ultimate Reality, a God by whatever name we may call it, him or her.  This ’Creator’ of the cosmos is ultimately a Mystery and yet the Source of all. Over time, many of the Faith Traditions have recorded in Scripture and rituals their ideas and experiences of this Mystery. Some of the Traditions believe that this God – this Unknowable, Ultimate Reality, has taken on a human form in order to make itself known to humanity.
  
Christianity & Buddhism

Certainly the Christian Tradition believes that God became man in the person and divinity of Jesus who was the Christ.  Hindus have a trinity of Gods, one of whom is Vishnu and he has 10 ‘incarnations’ or avatars.  It is important to remember that for Hindus these are merely the many faces or aspects of the Ultimate Reality. They are not the Ultimate Reality. Hindus believe in only one source of Ultimate Reality whom they call Brahman.

In Buddhism, although not a Religion, there is also the concept that a person, such as Gautama the Buddha, can become fully realised. Then as a fully realised person, through the example of their life and teachings, they can help us all to gain a better insight into our own self and our spiritual journey. But these Incarnations become visible in human form and are seen by us, who are human beings. Therefore, we can but see an imperfect vision of the Ultimate Reality or Mystery.



02 May, 2017

Living in the :Present Moment - Wonderful Moment

A PAST THAT IS GONE AND AN UNKNOWN FUTURE

One of our greatest habitual negatives is our tendency to spend too much time in either the Past which cannot be changed or the Future which is unknown.  Consequently, we can so often miss the gift of the Present Moment. Essentially, this is the only moment we have !

Much of our struggle with the pandemic of modern Mental Health issues , can be  rooted in this our , a natural, human tendency to 'permit' our mind to relish its habitual Time Travelling.

However, it is not a new or modern phenomena.  The sages and wisdom elders of all; cultures and times have warned us about the need to learn how to 'discipline' the min. The following 5th Century reflection from a Hindu Mystic illustrates this.


It reminds us of the vital importance of greeting EACH new day and an opportunity to remain in the Present which, as the famous Buddhist Master  ( Thich Nhat Hanh) reminds us is a ' Wonderful Moment. 

Pause after reading this and relax as you breathe  IN 'present moment'  OUT , wonderful moment.