Spirituality and our Blue Planet

Our Wonderful and Wonder-filled Planet

We have known for decades that our Blue Planet - our home- is in dire peril. This is not a recent problem but one that has slowly arisen and increased sharply over over the past 3 centuries. 

Our 'Age of Enlightenment' has brought many benefits but it has also resulted in our culture developing a  streak of self-centred arrogance and a failure, on our part ( both as individuals and as part of our social and national Groups)  to recognise that we too are part of Planet Earth.

The world's Faith Traditions, and particularly the 3 Western Monotheistic Religions have failed to acknowledge the inter - dependence of all.  Too often,Western Faith Traditions, more than those from the East, have emphasised individual 'salvation' and have placed humanity above nature, the environment and other creatures. Consequently,Planet Earth is in crisis and we are in danger of becoming victims of our selfish disregard for the Planet and perhaps becoming an extinct species !

 There is a beautiful book ( written initially for children ) by Joe Miller and the following picture outlines its Title and main theme.

Joe Miller has composed a wonderful piece of prose which is re-produced as a 'Globe' in the following picture.  It is worthy of some personal reflection.

The following link will take you to  a You Tube video. Share it with friends and particularly with the younger generation, who hopefully will be better stewards of our wonderful Blue Planet 

If the Earth were only   (click on title to left)

Signs of Mindful Moments

A Passion for Life in the Present Moment

Mystical moments regularly occur in life and they are not only experienced by mystics or saintly sages. They are open to all. However, we can often fail to recognise them and to grasp them to ourselves and thus 'digest' these moments of mystery and mysticism..  One of the main reasons for this 'failure' is our tendency to believe that mystical moments are meant for mystics and also we tend to live in the past or the future and not the present moment.

We are all mystics. Every person has the ability to both experience mystical moments and to live life as a mystic. The operative word is ' experience'  . A mystic is one who not only sees and thinks about life but develops their capacity to experience life as it really is. Many cultures refere to this a ' third eye' seeing , which is non-dualistic sliving and refusing to be a captive to the prevalent Either: Or thinking.

 The following quote is a reminder of both God's passion for life and of the many opportunities we can have to experience  'mystical moments' . Can we begin to develop a 'passion' for the ordinary things of life and recognise that the extraordinary exists in the ordinary.

 

Our Growth towards Light

Slowly Maturing

Our journey into maturity, both physically and regarding Spiritual Awareness is a slow maturation with many twists and turns. This is a journey that is  also replicated in nature.  The following is a helpful quote from Sister Ishpriya, that reminds us to keep patiently  focused on our Journey  into spiritual maturity.

 

SIGNPOSTS from Great Spiritual Sages

SIGNPOSTS ON THE JOURNEY

Great Spiritual Lights 

The pathway for Spiritual Seekers can often be both long and, at times, arduous. Fortunately all the great Faith Traditions have examples of Great Saints and Sages, who by their life and example help to 'throw light' on the spiritual pathway.  One such was the great Hindu Master , Swami Chidananda.

Many years ago I visited India  with my wife Angela and  other members of the International Satsang Association. It was a 'pilgrimage' to many of the important sacred places of Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism.  This pilgrimage was  led by Sister Ishpriya. We stayed at the Sivananda Ashram in Rishiskesh . It was from there that we went to Haridwar, where  we were  fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet with this humble and holy man.

What impressed us about Swamiji was his gentle humility and his great wisdom.  He conversed in a simple, straightforward and wise way as he answered our questions about life, Sadhana ( Spiritual Practice) and the importance of  developing a regular and disciplined Sadhana. For Swamiji, it seemed that every moment of every day was an opportunity to meet God. His simple responses to our questions reflected  the lines of the following Hindu Chant

Start the day with God

End the day with God

Live the day with God

That's the way to God

Chidanandaji, was the President of the Divine Life Society, based in Rishikesh. He was a devout  and humble disciple of his Guru , Swami Sivananda, who founded the Divine Life Association.  Chidananda was a quiet, humble and very holy man, whoce very presence illuminated any gathering. Below is a simple teaching of his on living a Fruitful Life that outlines and reflects  the simple 4 line chant above.

The secret of a fruitful life

The secret of a progressive and fruitful life is to be inwardly ever linked with God, linked with the Cosmic Being.When there is no connection, when you cut yourself off from the source of your being, then your life will be full of pain and suffering, misery and fear, negativity will prevail.

If you want to put an end to this, the only way is to link yourself with God, who is your source, your origin. Keep that connection either through inquiry and discrimination, or through constant unbroken remembrance of God and devotion, or through meditation and continuously thinking about Brahman, or through worship-fully dedicating all activities to Him. Then, day by day your spirit will begin to unfold. It will grow, develop, progress, expand and you will attain divine experience.
 

So remember that separation from God is the root  cause of all human miseries. Put an end to this; seriously strive after that supreme state of being constantly in a state of oneness, attunement with the Supreme and overcome the sorrows of samsara.

May God bless you.  Swami Chidananda

Mindful Practice

Helpful Hints on Mindful Practice

Mindfulness is  the 'new black' . There is growing evidence of its effectiveness in improving mental and physical health and well being. It is also, for many, a Spiritual Practice or Sadhana.

The paradox of mindful practice is this ; while it is essentially a simple concept it is extremely difficult to practice. Our mind is like a 'chattering monkey' or even  a 'hungry tiger' . The following is a useful and helpful  quote from the teachings of Sister Ishpriya. 

 

Time is like an Arrow

The Wisdom of Mindful Living

 Modern neuro-science  and growing evidence from research,  advise us on the benefits of living in the Present Moment. However, this is NOT new NEWS, it is ancient wisdom. The following is a quote from a revered  Zen Buddhist Master, Master Guishan ( 771 - 854 c.e.) 

Our Daily Choice !

THE CHOICE IS OURS

We are all unique beings born with a great and often , to us, unknown potential. The following quote from Robert Carkhuff emphasises the importance of choosing wisely

 

Beware of Possessions

BEING POSSESSED BY POSSESSIONS

The Mystics of all the world's wisdom traditions have strongly advised us about the dangers of over focusing on possessions.  Modern Neuroscience also advises that simple mindful practises can help to develop and strengthen neural pathways involved with both inhibition and choice.
  
Practicing 'choice' and resisting our tendency to 'grasp' for possessions and immediate gratification can both assist develop better mental health and ., more importantly, form the basis of a very effective Sadhana or Spiritual Practice. The quote below summarises thje value of practicing non-attachment.
 

Just Being - a formidable challenge

THE CHALLENGE OF " Just Being "

We live in a world that is addicted to performance, achievement and financial success. Most people spend the 1st half of life climbing up the ladder of success only to discover that it is resting against the wrong wall!. The challenge of Just Being and finding our true self in the persistent clamour of money, greed and achievement is not easy.

The following reflection by Sister Ishpriya could provide a useful start to personal reflection on the vital importance of finding the True Self

 

A Disturbing and Subversive Prophet

JESUS - The Disturbing Prophet

We live in a world full of inequality, where half of our human family go to bed hungry each night and most of us who live in the Wealthier  West eat and consume far too much. In many ways this has been the perennial truth for most of the past 8 thousand years. Those who hold power are mostly invested in keeping power and only 'share' whenever it is expedient.

I was reflecting on this  and the consequential slow march of progress for the majority. I came across some notes I made whilst attending an event with Diarmuid O Murchu  late last year. He had mentioned a South African Theologian , Albert Nolan OP , a Dominican Priest . Nolan , has written many books about Jesus and has focused on the similarities between 1st Century Palestine and late 20th Century South Africa.  He sets Jesus in a context before Christianity  and calls Jesus ' The Subversive Prophet ' As a Christian , I found the following quote from Nolan very powerful and compelling.  

The Disturbing & Subversive Prophet 

' It would have been impossible for the people of Jesus' time to have thought of him as an eminently religious man who steered clear of political action. They would have seen him as a blasphemously irreligious man who, under the cloak of religion, was undermining all the values upon which religion, politics , economics and society were based.   He was a dangerous and subtly subversive revolutionary'  Albert Nolan OP

 It seems  ironic and , to me, sad that the followers of Jesus could so readily become part of the Establishment and fail to both remember and live out his teachings on Social Justice, particularly for the poor, the stranger and the marginalised.

Seeking Together - Helping to Create - A Planetary Vision and a Universal Heart of Compassion