Pointing To The Moon

sunyata is dynamic Movement, an outpouring spiral dance of Love

ah, so many believe that enlightenment would be some sort of lobotomy, that our mind stills into a passive blank sterile state of no-thing. And that the peace that surpasses all understanding would yield a tedious dimension stripped of diversity and contrast, yet that is the furthest from the truth of this Edenic dance and hum of all Life coming to its essential awareness of its full aliveness...

"Bede draws on a quote from a great Zen teacher, Suzuki, in which he said that "Sunyata is not static but dynamic." So even in Buddhism, even in the great emptiness of sunyata, notes Bede, there is a movement, a tendency towards outpouring. "In the void there is a constant urge to differentiate itself. And the whole creation is the differentiation of the void...At the very moment of the differentiation it returns to itself. It is always coming out and returning." The void flows out in differentiation and simultaneously returns to the void. "That is why the Buddhists say that Nirvana and Samsara are the same," says Fr. Bede. "Ultimately they are one."" - Father Bede Griffiths, "Eastern Mysticism and Christian Faith", as recounted by Brian J. Pierce in Trinity, Creation and the Energy of Love

The Purpose is To Awaken

The chief thing that separates us from God is the thought that we are separated from Him. If we get rid of that thought, our troubles will be greatly reduced. We fail to believe that we are always with God and that He is part of every reality. The present moment, every object we see, our inmost nature are all rooted in Him. But we hesitate to believe this until personal experience gives us the confidence to believe in it. [p 44]

... Our awareness, unfortunately, is not awake to that dimension of reality. The purpose of prayer, the sacraments, and spiritual disciplines is to awaken us. [pp 43-44] -- Father Thomas Keating, Open Heart, Open Mind: The Contemplative Dimension of the Gospel (via Labyrinthine Journey)

Be a Spotless Mirror

In this world you can become a spotless mirror, in which the holiness of your Creator shines forth from you to all around you. You can reflect Heaven from here.... Earth can reflect Heaven or hell; God or the ego. You need but  leave the mirror clean and clear of all the images of hidden darkness you have drawn upon it. God will shine upon it himself...

Reflections are seen in light...  Clean but the mirror, and the message that shines forth from what the mirror holds out for everyone to see, no one can fail to understand. - A Course in Miracles, 14:IX:5-7

The Lord is Not in the Earthquake

In the Bible, we read this passage: "And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice." (I Kings 19:11-12)

Instead of looking for God in the earthquake or the tsunami, in the roaring forest fires blazing in the western states, or in the mighty winds of Katrina, it would be best to seek out a quiet place and heed the promptings of God’s still small voice. That voice will inspire us to bring some of God’s goodness to bear in the lives of those who suffer." - "Katrina: Not God's Wrath--or His Will", by Dr. Tony Campolo

Make Room For Truth

All that is asked of you is to make room for truth. You are not asked to make or do what  lies beyond your understanding. All that you are asked to do is let it in; only to stop your interference with what will happen of itself. - A Course in Miracles (Chap 21, II, 7:6-8)

It Is Now the Moment For You to Wake From Sleep

Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. - Romans 13:11-12

Let Nothing Trouble You, St Theresa of Avila

  Let nothing trouble you,
       Let nothing scare you,
  All is fleeting
God alone is unchanging.
        Patience,
       Everything obtains.
     Who possesses God
       Nothing wants.
  God alone suffices.
           - St. Theresa of Avila

Jesus In the Storm

The Bible does not remain silent in regard to storms. As a matter of fact, Jesus took his disciples right into the midst of one, leaving them to weather the storm while He took a nap. Do you ever feel as though the Lord was sleeping while you faced your storms alone?

Jesus' disciples experienced the exact same thing. After a long day of ministering to the crowds, Jesus told the disciples they were going over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. They were obeying Jesus' command when they boarded their ships just as evening was falling. Jesus led his disciples into a storm just as the light was failing. Let us read from the book of Mark exactly what happened:

"That day when evening came, He said to His disciples, 'Let us go over to the other side.' Leaving the crowd behind, they took Him along, just as He was, in the boat. There were also other boats with Him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.(Mark 4:35-38a NIV)

Before they knew it a terrible storm hit and their boat was full of water. We all know what happens to a boat when it gets full of water: it sinks. If you had Jesus in your boat, wouldn't you feel pretty safe even if you were in the middle of a terrible storm, even if it looked as though your boat was going to sink?

Obviously the disciples didn't feel very safe; they became very alarmed and were afraid for their lives. What was Jesus doing through all this? He was asleep in the back of the boat. How could anyone sleep through a storm that was so bad the waves were crashing across the boat, filling it with water, and threatening imminent destruction for all?

Is it possible that Jesus was not concerned because He knew (being the Son of God) that it was not in God's plan for the disciples to all sink in this storm? Is it possible that Jesus (being the Son of God) knew something about the destiny of His chosen ones? Keep this in mind as we continue with the story.

The disciples woke Him and said to Him, 'Teacher, don't you care if we drown?'"(Mark 4:38b)

How many times have we reacted to circumstances in our lives, asking the Lord, "Don't you care that I am suffering so much? Why don't you DO something?" This was exactly how the disciples reacted to their troubles.

Remember: Jesus is right there in the boat with them and they are terrified. How does Jesus react to their fear? Does he comfort them and tell them everything will be okay?

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be Still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. (v. 39)

He said to His disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (v. 40)

Jesus was incredulous. He couldn't believe they were afraid after seeing so many miracles, deliverance, and had walked with Him for so long. He couldn't believe their lack of faith.

[...]

"I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. . . What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do." (Isaiah 46:10-11)

The Lord knows what plans He has for you; he will not be thwarted by any storms. Every child of God has a destiny to fulfill. Know this in the deepest places of your heart, and it will serve you well. You will not be easily dismayed or discouraged when you encounter the storms of life.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

"We are under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead." (1 Cor. 1:8-9)

Excerpted from http://www.christianadhd.com/storm.html

On Taking Leave of Inner Egypt

"In every generation there is a new understanding of leaving Egypt," said Master Isaac of Our. "Egypt is inside us. We all have our own Pharaohs. Indeed, not only in every generation, but also in every person there is a point of freedom--to touch that point is to take leave of an inner Egypt. That point is known only by the person himself." - Live Your Story, Tikkun Magazine