Archive for November, 2016
A lesson in ripples …
A student came to his teacher very perplexed. Life had become unbearable and the only person he knew who could help him was his teacher.
His teacher received him warmly and listened as her pupil poured his heart out, tears just behind his words but not yet managing to fall.
When his words could no longer adequately describe his anguish, and the room was silent, the teacher rose and motioned for her student to follow.
They walked outside where raindrops were lightly sprinkling all around and the teacher sat on a bench near a pool. The student sat next to her and watched as she simply stared at the pool. He grew restless.
Finally his teacher said, “Do you see the droplets of water falling on the surface of the pool?”
“Sure, of course I do.” the student answered quickly.
“Good,” his teacher said, “now see if you can guess where you think the next droplet of water will fall.”
The student studied the pool for a few seconds and said impatiently, “I cannot.”
“Okay. Now I want you to focus with ALL your might, use the techniques I have taught you, and try to stop the droplets from hitting the water.”
The student was stunned at this daunting request, but did not want to disappoint his teacher so he did as he was instructed. He went through all of the techniques his teacher had taught him and when he was ready he focused his will with every ounce of concentration he could must. He created a sphere of energy and moved it over the pool to prevent the droplets from landing.
Still the water droplets landed on the surface of the pool.
The student’s shoulders slumped, “I cannot do it.” he said softly. His failure only adding to his woes.
“That is correct.” his teacher acknowledged, “No matter how hard you try you cannot stop the water from falling into this pool. Such are the events that take place in this world. Just as you cannot predict where the next droplet will fall, so too can you not predict the next event that will occur in your life.”
The student was relieved that he had not failed this test, but still seemed perplexed.
“You are looking at life as if you can predict what will happen and control it … but you cannot. To try and do so takes a tremendous amount of energy and concentration … and you will never be successful.”
His teacher paused and looked out over the pond again, “Now try and look at the surface and appreciate the beauty that each droplet of water creates.”
The student did so and after a few minutes a sigh escaped his lips. The ripples of each droplet intersected with each other over and over creating a hypnotically beautiful piece of evolving art.
“The difference between how you perceive the droplets of water hitting the pool before and now is all a matter of perspective. So it is with life … change your perspective on how you view the events unfolding around you and they will no longer trouble you. If you can surrender to the flow of Life without fighting or trying to impose your will on it, then you will be on the path to contentment and happiness and even possibly … enlightenment.”
Religion4All is an idea: that every human being (no matter their race, religion, sexuality, social status, lifestyle, or any other possible factor) is LOVED by God; just … as … they are.
We all are loved by God, and NO religion or person has a monopoly on it. Every single person on this planet is loved equally by God … SO many are cut off from God because they are told they don’t belong. God loves everyone … we ALL are beautiful creations … we don’t need to cringe when we hear the words “God”, or “religion”, or their judgments … God LOVES us all!
There is no requirement to change in order to be LOVED by God, or to LOVE God. God is LOVE, and LOVE is God … period. There is no one who God loves more than anyone else … there are only those who choose to LOVE more … to love God more, and consequently then to love each other more. In doing so, we grow closer to God … and know God.
By opening our hearts, and minds to God (free of boundaries like religion, or social trends); by LOVING God … we are exactly where we are meant to be. If we maintain that openness, never allowing any person or event to make us close our hearts, we will be guided by God to be who we are meant to be.
In that space of openness we can then live a life of LOVE, and be guided to where we are meant to be … forever in LOVE.
Southern California, Northern California, Mission Viejo, Irvine, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Marin, San Jose, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Palm Springs, Long Beach
Greatest Fears or Golden Opportunities
This seemed like a much needed re-post given the times we are living in. I know I found it a helpful reminder:
Sometimes it takes the biggest challenges in life to force us to evolve into the Beings we are meant to become.
When we’re down and out; feelings like we are going to collapse from exhaustion already. Suddenly something else comes from out of the blue … something so dire that it jolts us out of our weariness. It pushes us beyond what we are capable and before we know it … we’re there … we’ve arrived at where God intended us to be all along.
However, we MUST vigilantly be open … vulnerable … in order to perceive God’s guidance. In my meditations today (on my prior post, “Willful Exposure“) I reflect on what it is necessary to be vulnerable. Sometimes we master one aspect of it; say we’ve learned how to not cling to the things we desire … we’ve learned how to let go. Then something else comes along and shows us yet another facet that we have been missing all along; someone berates you and you harden yourself … you push away.
In truth, the state of vulnerability requires a sort of spiritual stasis … one in which we are neither clinging, or pushing away. We don’t react to the inner longings that push us to grasp for what our heart aches for. Nor do we react to the machinations of the outer world … which is full of people desperately trying to cling to what they want.
When you are calm, and still … the cords of reaction that bind you simply slip away and you are then free to ACT. You are free to make decisions based on where you feel God is leading you. When you are in that place you are actually able to hear, and sense, where God is leading you. You also see how completely lost you were for so long before.
But … in order to arrive at that place … you have to be vulnerable in the face of your greatest fears. If you let the opportunity pass you by … you will just be lost in the never ending maze that is Reaction.
Religion4All is an idea: that every human being (no matter their race, religion, sexuality, social status, lifestyle, or any other possible factor) is LOVED by God; just … as … they are.
We all are loved by God, and NO religion or person has a monopoly on it. Every single person on this planet is loved equally by God … SO many are cut off from God because they are told they don’t belong. God loves everyone … we ALL are beautiful creations … we don’t need to cringe when we hear the words “God”, or “religion”, or their judgments … God LOVES us all!
There is no requirement to change in order to be LOVED by God, or to LOVE God. God is LOVE, and LOVE is God … period. There is no one who God loves more than anyone else … there are only those who choose to LOVE more … to love God more, and consequently then to love each other more. In doing so, we grow closer to God … and know God.
By opening our hearts, and minds to God (free of boundaries like religion, or social trends); by LOVING God … we are exactly where we are meant to be. If we maintain that openness, never allowing any person or event to make us close our hearts, we will be guided by God to be who we are meant to be.
In that space of openness we can then live a life of LOVE, and be guided to where we are meant to be … forever in LOVE.
Southern California, Northern California, Mission Viejo, Irvine, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Marin, San Jose, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Palm Springs, Long Beach
Why American Republicans are so angry
I don’t normally get involved in politics in this page, but I have found it impossible not to ruminate on the topic leading up to election day. There has been so much more anger and hostility than I have ever seen in an American election that has given me pause to wonder.
I remember my brother, a staunchly right wing voter, said to me after Barack Obama won his first term,
“This isn’t really a reflection of the majority of America, it is just a reaction to the Bush administration. Next election he will be gone.”
Then, when Obama won a second term, he didn’t make such bold prognostications … but he was still adamant that what Obama represented did NOT represent the majority of Americans. In his view what Republicans really needed to win was a “true conservative”.
I would not put Trump into the category of “true conservative”, however he has whipped up the ultra conservative base like no other candidate I have seen. So, while I don’t think Trump is a “true conservative”, he has motivated the base in a way that I believe was what my brother wanted … someone who motivated the “real majority” to get out and go out and vote.
So here is, in my opinion, why Republicans are spitting mad this year and talking revolt. They are finally starting to realize that they are no longer the majority. They have been the majority for a very long time and it feels like something is being taken from them that they have cherished.
I get that, I can relate with that.
I am a member of one of the minority groups in this country. I can attest that it does not feel good to be disrespected. I acknowledge that it makes the blood boil when you feel like other people are trying to MAKE you fit into a mold that they have cast … when you don’t fit into that mold.
The majority is becoming the minority … and the minorities have largely banded together to make it so.
As much as one side might like to take it out on the other … to have them know what it feels like to be treated in such a manner. This is a mistake … and it is not the behavior of someone with an open heart who is connected to God.
I hope that when this day ends we can actually “go high”, instead of just using it as a catchphrase. I hope that this country can focus on Love, compassion, understanding and, yes, compromise.
It is no easy thing for them … just as it has been no easy thing for those of us who have been minorities all along. We all still will be living together.
God is Love … measure all of your actions against that measuring stick … is how you are conducting yourself the embodiment of Love? Surrender, let go of the ego … and Love.
That is how I plan to move forward.
Peace and Love.
Religion4All is an idea: that every human being (no matter their race, religion, sexuality, social status, lifestyle, or any other possible factor) is LOVED by God; just … as … they are.
We all are loved by God, and NO religion or person has a monopoly on it. Every single person on this planet is loved equally by God … SO many are cut off from God because they are told they don’t belong. God loves everyone … we ALL are beautiful creations … we don’t need to cringe when we hear the words “God”, or “religion”, or their judgments … God LOVES us all!
There is no requirement to change in order to be LOVED by God, or to LOVE God. God is LOVE, and LOVE is God … period. There is no one who God loves more than anyone else … there are only those who choose to LOVE more … to love God more, and consequently then to love each other more. In doing so, we grow closer to God … and know God.
By opening our hearts, and minds to God (free of boundaries like religion, or social trends); by LOVING God … we are exactly where we are meant to be. If we maintain that openness, never allowing any person or event to make us close our hearts, we will be guided by God to be who we are meant to be.
In that space of openness we can then live a life of LOVE, and be guided to where we are meant to be … forever in LOVE.
Southern California, Northern California, Mission Viejo, Irvine, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Marin, San Jose, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Palm Springs, Long Beach
Religion4All 