Ramana Maharshi
I enjoyed this writing and found it moving with the metaphor of: “trying to cover the whole world with leather to avoid the pain of walking on stones and thorns. It is much simpler to wear shoes.” This is the perfect example how when faced with a difficult decision; it is usually the more painful decision, the one that is the hardest that would be the best. It is simple to run from problems (wear shoes) and walk away, as opposed to going deep and find the root of the problem (covering the earth) to make one’s path less difficult to travel.
The last two paragraphs of this writing was my favorite. Since silence is everlasting and appears every day over and over again until we interrupt that silence with our words. Silence is pure just as that energy running through the wire until it meets contact of another flow. The very last part of this writing; “someone standing neck-deep in water and yet crying for water” captured my attention to the old saying: people want what they already have! Yet they are standing inside the box and unable to see the very thing they long for. That is when God or a close friend can bring one’s attention, you have what you are longing for.
I did agree with this author especially the one sentence that stands alone on page 194: “Only mature minds can grasp the simple truth in all its nakedness.” Which brings me back to the beginning of this writing about avoiding walking on stones and thorns. Enduring pain and discomfort brings about maturity which gives us the tools to know when wear our shoes (the simple idea) or when to walk the uncomfortable paths of stones and thorns and become more mature to invest in others who might need a living example.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Padmasambhava
Padmasambhava
I really enjoyed this reading because the writing is dedicated to the mind. Reading that your mind is pure and empty as the sky reminded me that as soon as a person decides to burn brush that have altered the definition of the sky. When powerful search lights strike upward into the sky representing a new place of business that also alters the sky. Therefore just has the sky is changed by what is put into the sky; our mind is no different and what we put into our mind can change and/or alter our minds. The author continued to challenge one to: “look inside your own mind” something I believe is not given too much attention too in today’s busy world. There is so much to do and so little time that the quiet moments of really seeking what goes in our mind is obviously going to come out of our being.
I truly agreed with this author as the statement was repeated: “there are no two such things…” then would go on and compare two different words regarding the same subject. For example; two people seeing the same movie or reading a book will likely come away with two different visions. Similar to those who read the bible today and hear one thing and others who see something totally different in the exact same reading.
I found this writing very moving because what goes into our mind does alter our moods, attitude, body language, and even our actions. Just like the writer refer to the sky is empty until it is filled with stuff. The word “Practice” kept jumping out to me because everyone must practice something and we get to choose what it is we practice. This opened my mind to ask myself: “What are you practicing in your mind?”
I really enjoyed this reading because the writing is dedicated to the mind. Reading that your mind is pure and empty as the sky reminded me that as soon as a person decides to burn brush that have altered the definition of the sky. When powerful search lights strike upward into the sky representing a new place of business that also alters the sky. Therefore just has the sky is changed by what is put into the sky; our mind is no different and what we put into our mind can change and/or alter our minds. The author continued to challenge one to: “look inside your own mind” something I believe is not given too much attention too in today’s busy world. There is so much to do and so little time that the quiet moments of really seeking what goes in our mind is obviously going to come out of our being.
I truly agreed with this author as the statement was repeated: “there are no two such things…” then would go on and compare two different words regarding the same subject. For example; two people seeing the same movie or reading a book will likely come away with two different visions. Similar to those who read the bible today and hear one thing and others who see something totally different in the exact same reading.
I found this writing very moving because what goes into our mind does alter our moods, attitude, body language, and even our actions. Just like the writer refer to the sky is empty until it is filled with stuff. The word “Practice” kept jumping out to me because everyone must practice something and we get to choose what it is we practice. This opened my mind to ask myself: “What are you practicing in your mind?”
Friday, January 23, 2009
SA-GO-YE-WAT-HA
Right up front SA-GO-YE-WAT-HA starts off with giving thanks for the divine appointment on such a fine day. Even thanking the sun for shinning upon them. He clearly acknowledges how the Great Spirit has given favor to those. No credit to himself or his people but all the greatness directed to his Great Spirit. Willing and ready to hear with open ears and see with clear eyes. What a wonderful way to begin a gathering among different people. I love how SA-GO-YE-WAT-HA begins with all they have been given; land, animals, water, clothing and such is shared with the white men who come to them. The red man has great compassion to the white men and shares everything he has been given to then feel the effects of the poison brought into the red man's world. Almost like tricksters!
SA-GO-YE-WAT-HA is so right on about the sincere heart and not the way one worships. Destroying or removing ones religion is not going to bring one to your religion. Your faith and God's spirit is what should draw people to you and they would question what it is that makes you who you are. Perfect example in the end of this writing he basically says; "we will wait and see the fruit from those who you have preached too before us".
Between red and white people their are great differences; God has made us to be different just has Baskin Robbins has made 31 different flavors for all the different taste. When you find a flavor that grows you spiritually and in a healthy way continue with it and let it shine out from all your broken cracks which will draw people to want to get to know you and your Abba Father.
SA-GO-YE-WAT-HA is so right on about the sincere heart and not the way one worships. Destroying or removing ones religion is not going to bring one to your religion. Your faith and God's spirit is what should draw people to you and they would question what it is that makes you who you are. Perfect example in the end of this writing he basically says; "we will wait and see the fruit from those who you have preached too before us".
Between red and white people their are great differences; God has made us to be different just has Baskin Robbins has made 31 different flavors for all the different taste. When you find a flavor that grows you spiritually and in a healthy way continue with it and let it shine out from all your broken cracks which will draw people to want to get to know you and your Abba Father.
Chief Seattle
I love how Chief Seattle shares the blame among the white man and his own people. So often one party will put all the blame on the other. Chief Seattle clearly acknowledges his people's responsibility of their part in harden hearts and faces wearing war paint to go to war against the white man. Chief Seattle is very wise as he shares: "We would have everything to lose and nothing to gain" in regards to going to war.
Chief Seattle compares how separate the two races are and must remain that way as he speaks of the light and dark being separated, the graves of their fathers respect being so separate, the faith of each race separate from angry writing on stones to the gentle writing on the red man's heart, and the love of the earth from the red man and how quickly white man forget his surroundings. Then he finishes with a strong sense that even when his people are gone they will still be around because the dead have power too. The Chiefs people are so much more in touch with their earth ground then the white men, that only want to take all of its control of land from the red man.
It's heartbreaking when Chief feels his people are orphans and there has been no help to them. At that important moment the white man could of used his faith and shared how God can provide for them as well as he has for the white. I would not want anyone to leave my conversation feeling as if they are a orphan to God. That is when God's spirit is to be shared with those who are less fortunate and have crossed your path for a divine reason of God's love.
Chief Seattle continues to give his graditude to every hillside,valley,wood, shores, and even the unspeaking stones as he reminds us; "the earth is rich with the lives of our kin."
Chief Seattle compares how separate the two races are and must remain that way as he speaks of the light and dark being separated, the graves of their fathers respect being so separate, the faith of each race separate from angry writing on stones to the gentle writing on the red man's heart, and the love of the earth from the red man and how quickly white man forget his surroundings. Then he finishes with a strong sense that even when his people are gone they will still be around because the dead have power too. The Chiefs people are so much more in touch with their earth ground then the white men, that only want to take all of its control of land from the red man.
It's heartbreaking when Chief feels his people are orphans and there has been no help to them. At that important moment the white man could of used his faith and shared how God can provide for them as well as he has for the white. I would not want anyone to leave my conversation feeling as if they are a orphan to God. That is when God's spirit is to be shared with those who are less fortunate and have crossed your path for a divine reason of God's love.
Chief Seattle continues to give his graditude to every hillside,valley,wood, shores, and even the unspeaking stones as he reminds us; "the earth is rich with the lives of our kin."
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