[Note: The same preface precedes all the blogs on grievances. It provides the personal context regarding the relationship of each piece to my quest to restore my eyesight since I've exhausted all that Western medicine can do to repair the damage done by my advanced case of glaucoma. Therefore, if you've read it before, you may want to refresh your memory or skip to the new section below on replacing grievances with miracles.]
On New Year's Day, I began the 365-day journey through the dailly lessons in the workbook section of A Course in Miracles. Given all the amazing synchronicities (meaningful coincidences) I've had since completing The Space Between Stars, I am certain that the course holds the key to restoring my impaired vision, which currently fits the definition of being legally blind both in terms of severely restricted visual angles and visual acuity. The last line before the epilogue of the book ends with the words of the man born blind who is healed by Jesus, ". . . I was blind but now I see." This is the title of the book I am currently writing. The subtitle is: "A Miracle of Restored Vision Redefines Reality." The book chronicles my quest for rstoring my vision that began with events leading up to my first and second trips to see the healer/medium John of God in Abadiania, Brazil. What I been led to considier is quite remarkable. I have always seen the healing of my vision as a twofold process. First, I have done what medical science can do for glaucoma, namely, the reduction of the elevated intraocular pressures which have damaged the optic nerves in both of my eyes. Until encountering the redefining of reality in A Course in Miracles, The Disappearance of the Universe, a spin off of the course,, as well as on my trips to Brazil, I have always seen the second phase for healing my vision as regenerating my optic nerves. I have used the following metaphor to describe the damage: If a healthy optic nerve could be seen as a tree in summer with all its green leaves, my optic nerves are like a tree in late November with a few brown leaves left on their branches.
John of God speaks Brazilian Portuguese. So before going before him, you have to tell a translator 3 things you would like to have healed. Your requests are written on a small piece of paper which is read to John of God. I asked my guide if I should ask for the regeneration of my optic nerves. He instructed me not to ask for that but for restored vision. He recommended this because a woman who had "severed optic nerves" had her vision restored, and when doctors examined her optic nerve, they expected to see her nerve reconnected. But, to their astonishment, it was still severed.
Later, as the plane took off from Brasilia, my friend Rod was reading a book containing case studies of individuals healed by John of 'God. With a trace of excitement in his voice, he read aloud to me the case of another woman with completely "nonfunctional optic nerves." Her vision was restored, and guess what?
When doctors examined her, her optic nerves were still nonfunctional. Both of these had several trips to Brazil to see John of God before their sight returned. This got my attention. A Course in Miracles and The Disappearance of the Universe, as well as some sacred spiritual tradtions claim vision involves more than the "body's eyes." It is in this sprit that will offer a daily lesson from A Course in Miracles for your consideration and for your spiritual growth and "resotred vision" to what it was before you emerged from the womb.
[Note: The headings and words in brackets as well as female-gender based words are my additions.]
Lesson 78 "Let miracles replace all grievances."
Perhaps it is not quite clear to you that each decision you make is between a grievance and a miracle. Each grievance stands like a dark shield of hate before the miracle it would conceal. And as you raise it up before your eyes you will not see the miracle beyond. Yet all the while it waits for you in light but you behold your grievances instead.
Today we go beyond the grievances to look upon the miracle instead. We will reverse the way you see by not allowing sight to stopbefore it sees. We will not wait before the shield of hate but lay it down and gently lift our eyes in silence to behold the son/daughter of God [refers to each one of us when we seek to see the good within each other]. He/she waits for you behind your grievances and as you lay them down, he/she will appear in shining light where each one stood before.
For every grievance is a block to sight and as it ligts you see the son/daughter of God where he/she has always been. He/she stands in light but you were in the dark. Each grievance made the darkness deeper and you could not see. Today, we will attempt to see God's son/daughter. We will not let ourselves be blind to him/her. We will not look upon our grievances.
So is the seeing of the world reversed as we look out toward truth away from fear. We will select one person you have used as a target for your grievances and lay the grievances aside and look at him/her: someone, perhaps, you fear and even hate, someone you think you love who angered you, someone you call a friend but whom you see as difficult at times or hard to please, demanding, irritating, or untrue to the ideal he/she should accept as his/hers acccording to the role you set for him/her. You know the one to choose. His/her name hs crossed your mind already. He/she will be the one we ask God's son/daughter be shown to you. Through seeing him/her behind the grievances you have held against him/her, you will learn that what lay hidden while you saw him not is there in everyone and can be seen. He/she who is enemy is more than friend when he/she is free to take the holy role the Holy Spirit has assigned to him/her. Let him/her be savior unto you today. Such is his/heer role in God, your Father's plan.
Today's Practice Periods
Our longer practice periods will see him/her in this role. You will attempt to hold him/her in your mind first as you now consider him/her.You will review his/her faults, the difficulties you have had with him/her, the pain h/she caused you, his/her neglect and all the little and the larger hurts he/she gave. You will regard his/her body with its flaws and better points as well, and you will think of his/her mistakes and even of his/her sins. Then let us ask of Him [Holy Spirit] who knows this son/daughter of God in his/her reality and truth that we may look on him/her a different way and see our savior shining in the light of true forgiveness give unto us. We ask Him in the Holy name of God and of His son/daughter as holy as Himself. "Let me behold my savior in this one You [God] have appointed as the one for me to ask to lead me to the Holy Light in which he/she stands that I may join with him/her." [Note: this is similar to the idea that our tormentor is our greatest mentor which I first heard attributed to the shaman Don Juan in Carlos Casteneda's books].
The body's eyes are closed and as you think about him/her who grieved you, let your mind be shown the light in him/her beyond your grievances. What you have asked for cannot be denied. Your savior has been wwaiting long for this. He/she would be free and make your freedom yours. The Holy Spirit leans from him/her to you seeing no separation in God's son/daughter. And what you see through him/her will free you both. Be very quiet now, and look upon your shining savior. No dark grievances obscure the sight of him/her. You have allowed the Holy Spirit to express through him/her the role God gave him/her that you might be saved. God thanks you for these quiet times today in which you laid your images aside and looked upon the miracle of love the Holy Spirit showed you in their place. The world and heaven join in thanking you. For not one thought of God but must rejoice as you are saved and all the world with you. We will remember this throughout the day and take the role assigned to us as part of God's salvation plan and not our own.
Temptation falls away when we allow each one we meet to save us and refuse to hide his/her light behind our grievances. To everyone you meet and to the ones you think of or remember from the past, allow the role of savior to be given that you may share it with him/her. For you both and all the sightless ones as well, we pray, "Let miracles replace all grievances."
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Giving up Grievances for Lent
On New Year's Day, I began the 365-day journey through the dailly lessons in the workbook section of A Course in Miracles. Given all the amazing synchronicities (meaningful coincidences) I've had since completing The Space Between Stars, I am certain that the course holds the key to restoring my impaired vision, which currently fits the definition of being legally blind both in terms of severely restricted visual angles and visual acuity. The last line before the epilogue of the book ends with the words of the man born blind who is healed by Jesus, ". . . I was blind but now I see." This is the title of the book I am currently writing. The subtitle is: "A Miracle of Restored Vision Redefines Reality." The book chronicles my quest for rstoring my vision that began with events leading up to my first and second trips to see the healer/medium John of God in Abadiania, Brazil. What I been led to considier is quite remarkable. I have always seen the healing of my vision as a twofold process. First, I have done what medical science can do for glaucoma, namely, the reduction of the elevated intraocular pressures which have damaged the optic nerves in both of my eyes. Until encountering the redefining of reality in A Course in Miracles, The Disappearance of the Universe, a spin off of the course,, as well as on my trips to Brazil, I have always seen the second phase for healing my vision as regenerating my optic nerves. I have used the following metaphor to describe the damage: If a healthy optic nerve could be seen as a tree in summer with all its green leaves, my optic nerves are like a tree in late November with a few brown leaves left on their branches.
John of God speaks Brazilian Portuguese. So before going before him, you have to tell a translator 3 things you would like to have healed. Your requests are written on a small piece of paper which is read to John of God. I asked my guide if I should ask for the regeneration of my optic nerves. He instructed me not to ask for that but for restored vision. He recommended this because a woman who had "severed optic nerves" had her vision restored, and when doctors examined her optic nerve, they expected to see her nerve reconnected. But, to their astonishment, it was still severed.
Later, as the plane took off from Brasilia, my friend Rod was reading a book containing case studies of individuals healed by John of 'God. With a trace of excitement in his voice, he read aloud to me the case of another woman with completely "nonfunctional optic nerves." Her vision was restored, and guess what?
When doctors examined her, her optic nerves were still nonfunctional. Both of these had several trips to Brazil to see John of God before their sight returned. This got my attention. A Course in Miracles and The Disappearance of the Universe, as well as some sacred spiritual tradtions claim vision involves more than the "body's eyes." It is in this sprit that will offer a daily lesson from A Course in Miracles for your consideration and for your spiritual growth and "resotred vision" to what it was before you emerged from the womb.
I found this an especially significant lesson to be falling on Ash Wednesday. It gave me an idea of what to give up: grievances. In anothr blog entry I will present lesson 69 which contiues the theme of giving up grievances and the clouds doing so clear from our vision.
[Note: The headings and words in brackets as well as female-gender based words are my additions.]
Lesson 68 "Love holds no grievances."
Background/Explanation
You who are created by love like Itself can hold no grievances and know yourself. To hold a grievance is to forget who you are. To hold a grievance is to see yourself as a body. To hold a grievance is to let the ego rule your mind and to condemn the body to death.
Perhaps you do not yet fully realize just what holding grievances does to your mind. It seems to split you off from your Source and make you unlike Him. It makes you believe that He is like what you think you have become. for no one can conceive of His Creator as unlike Himself. Shut off from yourself [true self or part of your mind governed by the Holy Spirit] which remains aware of its likeness to its Creator, your [true] self seems to sleep while the part of your mind that weaves illusions [your ego or little body-based sense of self] in its sleep appears to be awake.
Can all this arise from holding grievances? Oh yes! For he/she who holds greiveances denies he/she was created by love and his/her Creator has become fearful to him/her in his/her dream of hate. Who can dream of hatred and not fear God? It is as sure that those who hold grievances will redefine God in their own image as it is certain that God created them like Himself and deined them as part of Him. It is as sure that those who hold grievances will suffer guilt as it is certain that those who forgive will find peace. It is as sure that those who hold grievances will forget who they are as it is certain that those who forgive will remember.
Would you not be willing to relinquish your grievances if you believed all this were so? Perhaps you do not think you can let your grievances go. That, however, is simply a mater of motivation.
Today's Practice
Today we will try to find out how you would feel without grievances. If you succeed by ever so little there will never be a problem in motivation ever again Begin today's extended practice period by searching your mind for those against whom you hold what you regard as major grievances. Some of these will be quite easy to find. Then think of the seemingly minor grievances you hold against those you like and even think you love. For it will quickly become apparent that there is no one against whom you do not cherish grievances of some sort.
This has left you alone [feeling alone] n all the universe in your perception of yourself. Determine now to see all these people as friends. Silently say to them all, thinking of each one in turn as you do so, "I would see you as my friend that I may remember you are part of me and come to know myself." Spend the remainder of the practice period trying to think of yourself as completely at peace with everyone and everything, safe in a world that protects you and loves you and that you love in return. Try to feel saftey surrounding you, hovering over you and holding you up. Try to believe, however briefly, that nothing can harm you in any way. At the end of the practice period tell yourself, "Love holds no grievances. When I let all my grievances go, I will know I am perfectly safe."
The short practice periods should include quick application of today's idea in this form whenever any thought of grievance arises against anyone, "Love holds no grievances. Let me not betray myself." In addition, repeat the idea several times an hour in this form, "Love holds no grievances. I would wake [awake] to myself [true self] by laying all my grievances aside and wakening [awakening] in Him."
John of God speaks Brazilian Portuguese. So before going before him, you have to tell a translator 3 things you would like to have healed. Your requests are written on a small piece of paper which is read to John of God. I asked my guide if I should ask for the regeneration of my optic nerves. He instructed me not to ask for that but for restored vision. He recommended this because a woman who had "severed optic nerves" had her vision restored, and when doctors examined her optic nerve, they expected to see her nerve reconnected. But, to their astonishment, it was still severed.
Later, as the plane took off from Brasilia, my friend Rod was reading a book containing case studies of individuals healed by John of 'God. With a trace of excitement in his voice, he read aloud to me the case of another woman with completely "nonfunctional optic nerves." Her vision was restored, and guess what?
When doctors examined her, her optic nerves were still nonfunctional. Both of these had several trips to Brazil to see John of God before their sight returned. This got my attention. A Course in Miracles and The Disappearance of the Universe, as well as some sacred spiritual tradtions claim vision involves more than the "body's eyes." It is in this sprit that will offer a daily lesson from A Course in Miracles for your consideration and for your spiritual growth and "resotred vision" to what it was before you emerged from the womb.
I found this an especially significant lesson to be falling on Ash Wednesday. It gave me an idea of what to give up: grievances. In anothr blog entry I will present lesson 69 which contiues the theme of giving up grievances and the clouds doing so clear from our vision.
[Note: The headings and words in brackets as well as female-gender based words are my additions.]
Lesson 68 "Love holds no grievances."
Background/Explanation
You who are created by love like Itself can hold no grievances and know yourself. To hold a grievance is to forget who you are. To hold a grievance is to see yourself as a body. To hold a grievance is to let the ego rule your mind and to condemn the body to death.
Perhaps you do not yet fully realize just what holding grievances does to your mind. It seems to split you off from your Source and make you unlike Him. It makes you believe that He is like what you think you have become. for no one can conceive of His Creator as unlike Himself. Shut off from yourself [true self or part of your mind governed by the Holy Spirit] which remains aware of its likeness to its Creator, your [true] self seems to sleep while the part of your mind that weaves illusions [your ego or little body-based sense of self] in its sleep appears to be awake.
Can all this arise from holding grievances? Oh yes! For he/she who holds greiveances denies he/she was created by love and his/her Creator has become fearful to him/her in his/her dream of hate. Who can dream of hatred and not fear God? It is as sure that those who hold grievances will redefine God in their own image as it is certain that God created them like Himself and deined them as part of Him. It is as sure that those who hold grievances will suffer guilt as it is certain that those who forgive will find peace. It is as sure that those who hold grievances will forget who they are as it is certain that those who forgive will remember.
Would you not be willing to relinquish your grievances if you believed all this were so? Perhaps you do not think you can let your grievances go. That, however, is simply a mater of motivation.
Today's Practice
Today we will try to find out how you would feel without grievances. If you succeed by ever so little there will never be a problem in motivation ever again Begin today's extended practice period by searching your mind for those against whom you hold what you regard as major grievances. Some of these will be quite easy to find. Then think of the seemingly minor grievances you hold against those you like and even think you love. For it will quickly become apparent that there is no one against whom you do not cherish grievances of some sort.
This has left you alone [feeling alone] n all the universe in your perception of yourself. Determine now to see all these people as friends. Silently say to them all, thinking of each one in turn as you do so, "I would see you as my friend that I may remember you are part of me and come to know myself." Spend the remainder of the practice period trying to think of yourself as completely at peace with everyone and everything, safe in a world that protects you and loves you and that you love in return. Try to feel saftey surrounding you, hovering over you and holding you up. Try to believe, however briefly, that nothing can harm you in any way. At the end of the practice period tell yourself, "Love holds no grievances. When I let all my grievances go, I will know I am perfectly safe."
The short practice periods should include quick application of today's idea in this form whenever any thought of grievance arises against anyone, "Love holds no grievances. Let me not betray myself." In addition, repeat the idea several times an hour in this form, "Love holds no grievances. I would wake [awake] to myself [true self] by laying all my grievances aside and wakening [awakening] in Him."
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Calming Outer Turbulence: 2011 & 111
I received an email that was really thought provoking. Perhaps you have received it, too. However, I reflected on its possible meaning and came up with the explanation below the following instructions contained in the email. As you may already know, in this year of 2011 there are 4 unusual dates . . .
1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, 11/11/11.
NOW check this out. The mind-blowing thing is that it works for everybody born in the 20th century.
Take the last 2 digits of the year you were born plus the age you will be this year, e.g., born in 47+ will be 64= 111 or born in 54 + will be 57= 111.
I asked myself, "What might this mean in some ultimate, spiritual sense?" Then, it occurred to me that the Spiritual Gift of this might be a preparation for the Great Shift in consciousness predicted by the Mayans I studied with in at sacred sites set in the jungles and on the coast of Central America.
My guess: it points to the interconnectedness of us all no matter what our race, religion, creed or culture. It points to the Oneness beyond the apparent duality of self and other. This accords with the teachings of two sacred systems I have studied this past year: the Template & A Course in Miracles. Both point us to the truth underlying the world as it appears with various forms. Eckhart Tolle discusses this oneness with all of life very articulately in The Power of Now and A New Earth. The final point—there is no separation from each other and from God (the Trinity of 3 Gods in One, 111). This includes the trinity of the being of each one of us: body, mind (soul), and spirit. In other words, there is no separation from love as God is love and love is who we all really are in the core of our being.
• Today, consider the following. I mentioned this in an early blog posting. I was on a plane to Guatemala to study with the Mayan shamans. The plane started shaking, and a flight attendant announced that we would be flying through turbulence. He estimated that this would last for the next 50 minutes so we should buckle up and stay in our seats. I thought of how I was missing someone I loved. It occurred to me that even when we are physically separated from people we love, we are never separated from the love we feel for them. At that very moment, I felt a lovely feeling of inner peace. Instantly, the outer turbulence stopped. Only a few minutes had passed since the attendant had cautioned us. The rest of the flight was calm and smooth. I came up with an affirmation based on that experience. Breathe in and silently say, "I AM never separated from the expansive energy and peaceful power of love." Breathe out, silently say, "For in the core of my being, I AM the expansive energy and peaceful power of love." Try repeating this during your day, especially when you encounter outer turbulence.
1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, 11/11/11.
NOW check this out. The mind-blowing thing is that it works for everybody born in the 20th century.
Take the last 2 digits of the year you were born plus the age you will be this year, e.g., born in 47+ will be 64= 111 or born in 54 + will be 57= 111.
I asked myself, "What might this mean in some ultimate, spiritual sense?" Then, it occurred to me that the Spiritual Gift of this might be a preparation for the Great Shift in consciousness predicted by the Mayans I studied with in at sacred sites set in the jungles and on the coast of Central America.
My guess: it points to the interconnectedness of us all no matter what our race, religion, creed or culture. It points to the Oneness beyond the apparent duality of self and other. This accords with the teachings of two sacred systems I have studied this past year: the Template & A Course in Miracles. Both point us to the truth underlying the world as it appears with various forms. Eckhart Tolle discusses this oneness with all of life very articulately in The Power of Now and A New Earth. The final point—there is no separation from each other and from God (the Trinity of 3 Gods in One, 111). This includes the trinity of the being of each one of us: body, mind (soul), and spirit. In other words, there is no separation from love as God is love and love is who we all really are in the core of our being.
• Today, consider the following. I mentioned this in an early blog posting. I was on a plane to Guatemala to study with the Mayan shamans. The plane started shaking, and a flight attendant announced that we would be flying through turbulence. He estimated that this would last for the next 50 minutes so we should buckle up and stay in our seats. I thought of how I was missing someone I loved. It occurred to me that even when we are physically separated from people we love, we are never separated from the love we feel for them. At that very moment, I felt a lovely feeling of inner peace. Instantly, the outer turbulence stopped. Only a few minutes had passed since the attendant had cautioned us. The rest of the flight was calm and smooth. I came up with an affirmation based on that experience. Breathe in and silently say, "I AM never separated from the expansive energy and peaceful power of love." Breathe out, silently say, "For in the core of my being, I AM the expansive energy and peaceful power of love." Try repeating this during your day, especially when you encounter outer turbulence.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Relieving Pain with Focused Awareness
Cancer patients who have successfully used meditation to manage physical pain demonstrate just how powerful focusing our awareness can be. When I was in practice as a therapist, I adapted the meditation utilized by Stephen Levine in his work with cancer patients and described in his book, Who Dies. I found it useful with patients I saw suffering from physical pain while they were healing from an injury or surgery. It was especially helpful when their pain medication was not enough to ease their suffering.
By simply bringing their awareness to the area of discomfort and then softening the tense muscles around the pain, cancer patients could find pain relief. They could begin to stop tensing against the pain to block it out. Tensing to stop the pain only tends to increase the discomfort. They would then bring their attention to the area of discomfort as it is, without trying to change anything. By going beyond the concepts of pain and pleasure, the patients could experience the area as what it is, namely a mass of moving sensations. We can all manage pain by focusing on not labeling the area as pain, but instead by labeling it as sensation. The experience of the area changes and the pain either disappears, or decreases considerably. It is as if the concepts of pleasure and pain are like a pane of glass that we shatter. Then we are able to touch the true reality of the tingling sensations of the nerves.
• Today, sit or lie down for a few minutes. Focus on the sensation of the air entering your nostrils. Simply focus on feeling the sensations of the air passing over your nasal membranes. Then, as you exhale, focus on the feeling of the air leaving your body. After a few breaths, bring your awareness to any discomfort. Notice the tendency to tense against the pain or discomfort. Focus on softening the area around the pain. It is as if you are opening a closed fist clenching against the pain so that you open your hand and release the tension. Let the pain float free in the spaciousness of your awareness. You can find some relief as you stop fighting the discomfort, and sometimes the discomfort dissolves. Just as the penetrating rays of the sun melt the ice on the sidewalk, the rays of a relaxed spacious awareness melt the tension around your blood vessels increasing blood flow and bringing warmth to the area of discomfort.
By simply bringing their awareness to the area of discomfort and then softening the tense muscles around the pain, cancer patients could find pain relief. They could begin to stop tensing against the pain to block it out. Tensing to stop the pain only tends to increase the discomfort. They would then bring their attention to the area of discomfort as it is, without trying to change anything. By going beyond the concepts of pain and pleasure, the patients could experience the area as what it is, namely a mass of moving sensations. We can all manage pain by focusing on not labeling the area as pain, but instead by labeling it as sensation. The experience of the area changes and the pain either disappears, or decreases considerably. It is as if the concepts of pleasure and pain are like a pane of glass that we shatter. Then we are able to touch the true reality of the tingling sensations of the nerves.
• Today, sit or lie down for a few minutes. Focus on the sensation of the air entering your nostrils. Simply focus on feeling the sensations of the air passing over your nasal membranes. Then, as you exhale, focus on the feeling of the air leaving your body. After a few breaths, bring your awareness to any discomfort. Notice the tendency to tense against the pain or discomfort. Focus on softening the area around the pain. It is as if you are opening a closed fist clenching against the pain so that you open your hand and release the tension. Let the pain float free in the spaciousness of your awareness. You can find some relief as you stop fighting the discomfort, and sometimes the discomfort dissolves. Just as the penetrating rays of the sun melt the ice on the sidewalk, the rays of a relaxed spacious awareness melt the tension around your blood vessels increasing blood flow and bringing warmth to the area of discomfort.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Practicing the Intention to Understand
When I was in training at a major psychiatric hospital, the psychology department brought in Dr. Larry Rosenberg to teach us a psychologically oriented meditation called Insight Meditation, also called Mindfulness Meditation. Dr. Rosenberg was a former professor of social psychology from Harvard University. Unlike his contemporary, Dr. Timothy Leary, who used mind-altering drugs to expand his consciousness, Dr. Rosenberg followed the spiritual path of transformation through meditation.
At the time, another of his contemporaries, former clinical psychologist and Harvard professor, Dr. Richard Alpert, who later became known as Ram Dass, also turned to the spiritual step of meditation. Dr. Rosenberg gave us the following quote as an introduction to the essence of meditation. It is also an excellent description of what needs to happen to undo repression and open ourselves to our feelings.
"By watching ourselves in daily life with the intention to understand rather than judge, in full acceptance of whatever may emerge, we encourage the deep to come to the surface and enrich our life and consciousness with its captive energies. This is the great work of awareness and the door to freedom."
Meditation can help us find our power and freedom to truly love and enjoy life. Dr. Rosenberg also indicated that this type of meditation was also referred to as the practice of wholeheartedness. We can learn how to truly savor and enjoy every moment of our lives by being fully present in whatever we are doing. Thus, whatever we are doing, whether it is doing dishes, eating a delicious meal, working, or taking a shower, we do it wholeheartedly with full awareness. Living life this way involves living our lives with heart, spirit and soul. We embrace life and live it to the fullest, instead of living life half-heartedly as though we are half-asleep.
• Today, practice the notion of watching yourself in daily life with the intention to understand rather than judge and notice what happens. Direct this nonjudgmental awareness TWARD OTHERS as well.
At the time, another of his contemporaries, former clinical psychologist and Harvard professor, Dr. Richard Alpert, who later became known as Ram Dass, also turned to the spiritual step of meditation. Dr. Rosenberg gave us the following quote as an introduction to the essence of meditation. It is also an excellent description of what needs to happen to undo repression and open ourselves to our feelings.
"By watching ourselves in daily life with the intention to understand rather than judge, in full acceptance of whatever may emerge, we encourage the deep to come to the surface and enrich our life and consciousness with its captive energies. This is the great work of awareness and the door to freedom."
Meditation can help us find our power and freedom to truly love and enjoy life. Dr. Rosenberg also indicated that this type of meditation was also referred to as the practice of wholeheartedness. We can learn how to truly savor and enjoy every moment of our lives by being fully present in whatever we are doing. Thus, whatever we are doing, whether it is doing dishes, eating a delicious meal, working, or taking a shower, we do it wholeheartedly with full awareness. Living life this way involves living our lives with heart, spirit and soul. We embrace life and live it to the fullest, instead of living life half-heartedly as though we are half-asleep.
• Today, practice the notion of watching yourself in daily life with the intention to understand rather than judge and notice what happens. Direct this nonjudgmental awareness TWARD OTHERS as well.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
A Doable Resolution: Peace in the New Year
Remember: among the other intentions you set for the New Year, resolve to give yourself the gift of peace. And you may recall how it came to me one day that an acronym for PEACE was P-peace E-equals A-acceptance C-compassion E-empathy.
Please repeat the mantra of compassion to the younger you of two seconds ago or years ago regarding situations or actions for which you feel you need to forgive yourself. Visualize or look at a photo of the younger you and say.: "I know in my heart I would have done differently if I could have done differently but at that time I couldn't so I didn't." Remember that, as the former psychoanalyst Alice Miller has said, "guilt implies a power and freedom we didn't have at the time." It's as if we prefer the pain of blaming ourselves rather than accept the fact that no amount of debilitating guilt can undo what was done. Rather than continuing to suffer, we can resolve to do things differently in the future.
Picturing or looking at a photo of the person with whom you are upset, say, "I know in my heart, you would have done differently if youcould have done differently but at that time you couldn't so you didn't."
May You Have True Happiness & Peace in the New Year,
Stephen
Stephen Royal Jackson, Ph.D.
Please repeat the mantra of compassion to the younger you of two seconds ago or years ago regarding situations or actions for which you feel you need to forgive yourself. Visualize or look at a photo of the younger you and say.: "I know in my heart I would have done differently if I could have done differently but at that time I couldn't so I didn't." Remember that, as the former psychoanalyst Alice Miller has said, "guilt implies a power and freedom we didn't have at the time." It's as if we prefer the pain of blaming ourselves rather than accept the fact that no amount of debilitating guilt can undo what was done. Rather than continuing to suffer, we can resolve to do things differently in the future.
Picturing or looking at a photo of the person with whom you are upset, say, "I know in my heart, you would have done differently if youcould have done differently but at that time you couldn't so you didn't."
May You Have True Happiness & Peace in the New Year,
Stephen
Stephen Royal Jackson, Ph.D.
Friday, December 10, 2010
A Christmas Prayer for Every Day of the Year
The Christmas prayer below came to me when I was contemplating the meaning of Christmas. It is in the epilogue of the revised edition of Words Become Flesh.
A Christmas Prayer for Every Day of the Year
Holy Mary Mother of God, thank you for saying yes to God and giving birth to Jesus, Yeshua,. For by saying yes to God, you helped bring forth the incarnation, our redemption, and salvation. Holy Mary Mother of God, please pray for me as I pray: ‘Father God, please help me be as on fire with faith and as fearless as Mary so that I, too, may say yes to You and through the power of Your Holy Spirit give birth to Jesus, Yeshua, in the manger of my heart every moment of this day, and have the love of Christ reign in everything I think, feel, say, and do.’
• Whatever your religious background, reflect on Mother Mary as a beautiful symbol of how we may manifest/incarnate love in our lives, especially on Christmas—The Birthday of Love Itself. For as St. John proclaimed, "God is love; and he [she] that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him [her]" (1 John 4:16).
May you have a Merry Christmas and the Happiest of Holiday Season,
& May God (Love) Bless You,
Stephen
A Christmas Prayer for Every Day of the Year
Holy Mary Mother of God, thank you for saying yes to God and giving birth to Jesus, Yeshua,. For by saying yes to God, you helped bring forth the incarnation, our redemption, and salvation. Holy Mary Mother of God, please pray for me as I pray: ‘Father God, please help me be as on fire with faith and as fearless as Mary so that I, too, may say yes to You and through the power of Your Holy Spirit give birth to Jesus, Yeshua, in the manger of my heart every moment of this day, and have the love of Christ reign in everything I think, feel, say, and do.’
• Whatever your religious background, reflect on Mother Mary as a beautiful symbol of how we may manifest/incarnate love in our lives, especially on Christmas—The Birthday of Love Itself. For as St. John proclaimed, "God is love; and he [she] that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him [her]" (1 John 4:16).
May you have a Merry Christmas and the Happiest of Holiday Season,
& May God (Love) Bless You,
Stephen
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