Conspiracy of Cordiality….

What we call “church”
is too often a gathering of strangers who see the church as yet another “helping institution” to gratify further their individual desires. One of the reasons [...]

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On Writing

“We transition from the clean page to the dizzying rush of word upon word to the saying said and the calm point that comes after the spirit has manifested itself in language. The paper holds the words; they are secure and steady there. We become steady as well. For the time being, mystery has unveiled [...]

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Women Who Run With The Wolves

(This wonderful passage was given to me by a dear friend who perhaps herself also runs with the wolves)
By way of this metaphor of innocent sleep, the fisherman trusts the life/Death/Life nature enough to rest and to revivify in her presence. He is entering into a transition that will take him to a deeper understanding, [...]

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separation….

In Christian circles we say that sin separates us from God.
The concept of sin is, at its root, the forgetting of who you really are.
When you remember that you are indeed, one with God
and of necessity everyone else, then you do not do those things
that we love to categorize with terms such as ‘sin’.
Our forgetfulness [...]

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One hand clapping….

This in response to a discussion about the extinction of species while sitting in meditation this morning:
Classic query: What is the sound of one hand clapping?
My response: There is no hand, there is no clapping,
there is no sound.
Query: What is the sound of one species demise?
It is the thunderous sound of one tear
crashing to the [...]

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A Walk….

A Walk

My eyes already touch the sunny hill,
going far ahead of the road I have begun.
So we are grasped by what we cannot grasp;
it has its inner light, even from a distance—-
and changes us, even if we do not reach it,
into something else, which, hardly sensing it, we already are;
a gesture waves us on, answering [...]

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Hear Me Calling….

 
On the night when you cross the street
from your shop and your house
to the cemetery,
you’ll hear me calling you from inside
the open grave, and you’ll realize
how we’ve always been together.
I am the clear consciousness-core
of your being, the same in
ecstasy as in self-hating fatigue.
That night, when you escape the fear of snakebite
and all irritation with the [...]

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The Great River….

We have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour.
Now you must go back and tell the people that this is The Hour.
And there are things to be considered. Where are you living? What are
you doing? What are your relationships? Are you in the right relation?
Where is your water? Know your garden.
It is [...]

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How to Teach….

The Ancient Masters
didn’t try to educate the people,
but kindly taught them to not-know.
When they think that they know the answers,
people are difficult to guide.
When they know that they don’t know,
people can find their own way.
The Tao Te Ching, 65
Stephen Mitchell

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Biography of an Abuser….

Chapter I
He carried his anger like a trophy
raining words like shooting stars
stinging
then stretching like and old cat
in the mid-afternoon sun.
He could turn buckets of sunshine
into sleepy question marks of regret.
Hate bubbling up from the drama
that hid in the carpet of fear
that bound his chest.
I saw the fear as another star
falling, driven like crystal shards
deep [...]

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Another gem from Hafiz –

Pouring Light
God
pours light
into every cup,
quenching darkness.

 
The proudly pious
stuff their cups with parchment
and critique the taste of ink

 
while God pours light
 
and the trees lift their limbs
without worry of redemption,
every blossom a chalice.

 
Hafiz, seduce those withered souls
with words that wet their parched lips

 
as light
pours like rain
into every empty cup
set adrift on the Infinite Ocean.

~ Hafiz ~

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The boat I travel in is called Surrender….

The boat I travel in is called Surrender.
My two oars are instant forgiveness and gratitude
— complete gratitude for the gift of life.
I am thankful for the experience of this life,
for the opportunity to dance.
I get angry, I get mad,
but as soon as I remind myself
to put my oars in the water,
I forgive.
I serve.
I do the [...]

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Fairies in fields….

Three little Fairies sat in the fields eating breakfast;
each among the leaves of her favorite flower, Daisy, Primrose,
and Violet, were happy as Elves need be.
The morning wind gently rocked them to and fro, and the sun
shone warmly down upon the dewy grass, where butterflies spread
their gay wings, and bees with their deep voices sung
among the [...]

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Happy?….

“Why aren’t you happy?
It’s because ninety-nine percent
of everything you do,
and think,
and say,
is for yourself
and there isn’t one.”
– Wu Wei Wu
Quotes SpiritQuotes Spirit

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Remember….

This, spontaneous recalling during meditation group tonight:
Remember who you really are and be that!
Remember the vast, radiant emptiness
from which you came
and from which all things arise.
Remember, you are that.
Not that you are one with all….
you are all.
Remember the sun that shines from
your eyes.
You are that.
Remember the moon that
gives you your dreams.
You are that.
Remember the love,
the [...]

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A Teaching Story…

An old Rabbi once asked his pupils how they could tell when the night had ended and the day had begun.
“Could it be,” asked one of the students, “when you can see an animal in the distance and tell whether it’s a sheep or a dog?”
“No,” answered the Rabbi.
Another asked, “Is it when you can [...]

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Another gem from John Squadra….

 
If someone says, “To be enlightened you must
fast and pray all night.”
Have dinner and go to bed.
If you see a sign, “This way to salvation,”
run the other way.
If someone says,”This Book is the truth,
you can buy it from me.”
Take your money and buy grapes and roses.
If someone says, “He’s talking tonight,
thousands will be saved.”
Go for [...]

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Legalism reigns….

 Here's another example of biblical literalism run amok where Phariseeism (legalism) raises it’s ugly head once again. This is not a slam on the Catholic Church. It is the principle of ‘the norms’ (law) overriding the Spirit which is prevalent throughout the Church of whatever denomination or even most other major traditions around the world. [...]

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Alan Watts on faith….

Faith is a state of openness or trust. To have faith is to trust yourself to the water. When you swim you don’t grab hold of the water, because if you do you will sink and drown. Instead you relax, and float. And the attitude of faith is the very opposite of clinging to belief, [...]

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Star Connections….

“I think we would be able to live in this world more peaceably if our spirituality were to come from looking not just into infinity but very closely at the world around us — and appreciating its depth and divinity.�?
– Thomas Moore
“I would rather live in a world where my life is surrounded by mystery [...]

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