18 posts tagged “spirit”

I've been thinking all morning, and probably last night in my dreams as well, about Sacredness, and Mundanity, and how they apply to human concepts of love and sex, relationship and intimacy.  My own views are pretty liberal.  And I have a habit of looking at issues objectively, rather than personally.  This, combined with a late night phone call keeping me up well past my bedtime (when I had woken up that morning at 4am to go to work) and a sense of purpose and freedom in speaking my real thoughts rather than laying low and letting others' assumptions comfort them, made for a lot of thought provocation!

The body, to me, is both sacred and mundane. Meaning, sacred in its beauty and (im)perfections*, but mundane in its grounding in physical reality.  I respect those that have a healthy sense of body sacredness and physical mundanity.  Nakedness can be beautiful or not, arousing or not, but never dirty. And nakedness doesn't imply intimacy, though it does imply vulnerability.

*imperfections, to me, are as beauitufl as perfections. Personality quirks, unusual habits, those individualizations are perfect for each indivdual. That's why I find them sacred.

Sex can be either, or, sacred and mundane.  Sacred when every sense is alive, when joy and passion unite with spirit, and two people are on the same wavelength and sucked in together.  When time disappears and suddenly hours have gone by and you didn't notice.    Mundane in the physical act, full of silliness and fumbling and anything but smooth. 

I'm stuck seeing both the sacred and the mundane. It is such an intangible difference between the two, made up intimacy, trust, respect, the totality of relationship.  Explaining this late last night on the phone was extremely difficult, and for the most part I'm pretty sure I failed to do a very good job.  Which blocks understanding and communication.  But what can I expect when it was the last day of the retrograde for Mercury.

So, the Progressive Faith Blog Convention is this weekend, and it seems to have been the key to the lock I had imposed upon my spiritual senses due to the focus on school and the constraints of time and place. I'm still not ready to dedicate a cycle of the seasons to my spirituality but getting closer every minute and second.

So, reading the blogs of those who are attending the Con have gotten me thinking. Specifically, Velveteen Rabbi's post on the 'Muslim Worship' experience held today. I am pluralist in thought, but I could not be pluralist in experience at this time.

I do not think I would be comfortable worshipping Deity in the Muslim fashion.

Sidenote: is 'Muslim Worship' the correct way to say it, or should it be 'Islamic Worship'? Or is it merely a play to get away from the word 'Islamic' which the right has turned into a synonym with 'terrorism'?

Maybe its because I don't recognize deity as demanding my prostration physically or psychically/emotionally/spiritually, or maybe I'm so put off by the thought of putting myself through those motions, of thinking the thoughts that accompany them, even if directed at Deity which would include mine and not necessarily mean Allah a male dominant patriarchal figure... 

I just know I had a gut reaction to reading Velveteen Rabbi's post and it was't pretty. I need to study some esoteric Islam that is less wrapped up in these trappings of the physical world, to help me heal this.

If you want to know the past, to know what has caused you, look at yourself in the present, for that is the past’s effect. If you want to know your future, then look at yourself in the present, for that is the cause of the future.

-Majjhima Nikaya

From "The Pocket Buddha Reader," edited by Anne Bancroft, 2000. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.

Thanks you, BeliefNet Daily Buddhist Quotes.

Don't associate with lowly qualities.
Don't consort with heedlessness.
Don't associate with wrong views.
Don't busy yourself with the world.

Get up! Don't be heedless.
Live the Dhamma well.
One who lives the Dhamma
sleeps with ease
in this world & the next.

-Dhammapada, 13, translation by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

In order to learn the nature of the myriad things, you must know that although they may look round or square, the other features of oceans and mountains are infinite in variety; whole worlds are there. It is so not only around you, but also directly beneath your feet, or in a drop of water.

-Genjo Koan

In reply to the question, 'What is the best that people can possess, what brings them truest happiness, what is the sweetest of the sweet, and what is the pleasantest life to live?' the Buddha answered:

'Trust is the best that people can possess; following the way brings happiness; truth is the sweetest of the sweet; and the practice of insight is the pleasantest way to live.'

-Sutta Nipata

From "The Pocket Buddha Reader," edited by Anne Bancroft, 2000. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.

In my own experience, the period of greatest gain in knowledge and experience is the most difficult period in one's life. ...Through a difficult period, you can learn, you can develop inner strength, determination, and courage to face the problem. Who gives you this chance? Your enemy.

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

From "The Pocket Dalai Lama," edited by Mary Craig, 2002. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.

Develop the mind of equilibrium. You will always be getting praise and blame, but do not let either affect the poise of the mind: follow the calmness, the absence of pride.

-Sutta Nipata

From "365 Buddha: Daily Meditations," edited by Jeff Schmidt. Reprinted by arrangement with Tarcher/Putnam, a division of Penguin Putnam Inc.

Attentiveness is the path to true life;
Indifference is the path to death.
The attentive do not die;
The indifferent are as if they are dead already.

-Dhammapada

 This reminded me of The Harpie Queen's post today about Playgans, and how disgusted she is with many online pagan communities, where only drama happens and little support or actual community takes place among pagans of similar and varying paths.

From "The Pocket Buddha Reader," edited by Anne Bancroft, 2000. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.

Fulfillment of desire is an illusion; desire leads to more desire, not satisfaction.

And in my spiritual life.. it is only when desire has been conquered, when one gives up the desire and becomes accepting, that what had been desired, or what it represented, suddenly enters one's life.

-Kathleen McDonald, "How to Meditate"

Copyright Wisdom Publications 2001. Reprinted from "Daily Wisdom: 365 Buddhist Inspirations," edited by Josh Bartok, with permission of Wisdom Publications, 199 Elm St., Somerville MA 02144 U.S.A, www.wisdompubs.org.

"The Lord is the supreme poet, the first cause, the sovereign ruler, subtler than the tiniest particle, the support of all, inconceivable, bright as the sun, beyond darkness."

The language of Hinduism fascinates me. It's poetry inspires my spirituality, unlike the Christian beliefs/writings. I wonder if its just because I've been exposed to Christianity for so long. I'm sure there are SOME things in the Bible that impress me, but overall the Bhagavad Gita attracts me much more, even though I don't find my path there.
 

The Lord is the supreme poet, the first cause, the sovereign ruler, subtler than the tiniest particle, the support of all, inconceivable, bright as the sun, beyond darkness. Remembering him in this way at the time of death, through devotion and the power of meditation, with your mind completely stilled and your concentration fixed in the center of the spiritual awareness between the eyebrows, you will realize the supreme Lord.

-Bhagavad Gita 8:9-10

In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind there are few.

-Shunryu Suzuki, "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind"

From "365 Buddha: Daily Meditations," edited by Jeff Schmidt. Reprinted by arrangement with Tarcher/Putnam, a division of Penguin Putnam Inc.

All that we are is the result of our thoughts; it is founded on our thoughts and made up of our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world. If you speak or act with a harmful thought, trouble will follow you as the wheel follows the ox that draws the cart.

All that we are is the result of our thoughts; it is founded on our thoughts and made up of our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world. If you speak or act with a harmonious thought, happiness will follow you as your own shadow, never leaving you.

-Dhammapada
From "The Pocket Buddha Reader," edited by Anne Bancroft, 2000. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.

I urge you not to throw away time, for it's swift as an arrow, fast as a stream. Distraction is entirely due to lack of concentration; stupidity and blindness are caused by lack of true knowledge.

-Yung-Ming, "Five Houses of Zen"
From "365 Buddha: Daily Meditations," edited by Jeff Schmidt. Reprinted by arrangement with Tarcher/Putnam, a division of Penguin Putnam Inc.

All beings tremble before violence.
All fear death.
All love life.

See yourself in others.
Then whom can you hurt?
What harm can you do?

-Dhammapada 129-130
From "365 Buddha: Daily Meditations," edited by Jeff Schmidt. Reprinted by arrangement with Tarcher/Putnam, a division of Penguin Putnam Inc.

Anger is the real destroyer of our good human qualities; an enemy with a weapon cannot destroy these qualities, but anger can. Anger is our real enemy.

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama
From "The Pocket Dalai Lama," edited by Mary Craig, 2002. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.

Contrary to what some people might believe, there is nothing wrong with having pleasures and enjoyments. What is wrong is the confused way we grasp onto these pleasures, turning them from a source of happiness into a source of pain and dissatisfaction.

-Lama Thubten Yeshe, "Introduction to Tantra"
Copyright Wisdom Publications 2001. Reprinted from "Daily Wisdom: 365 Buddhist Inspirations," edited by Josh Bartok, with permission of Wisdom Publications, 199 Elm St., Somerville MA 02144 U.S.A, www.wisdompubs.org.

All states that can be returned to external causes are obviously not you, but that which cannot be returned to anywhere, if it is not you, what is it? Therefore, you should know that your mind is fundamentally wonderful, bright, and pure and that because of your involvement with the things of the world you have covered it up and lost it. In this way you are caught on the endless wheel of becoming this or that, sinking and floating in that sea of endless becoming. Awaken yourself now to your own bright mind.

-Surangama Sutra
From "The Pocket Buddha Reader," edited by Anne Bancroft, 2000. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.

And what, monks, is Right View? It is, monks, the knowledge of suffering, the knowledge of the origin of suffering, the knowledge of the cessation of suffering, and the knowledge of the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering. This is called Right View.

-Digha Nikaya
From "365 Buddha: Daily Meditations," edited by Jeff Schmidt. Reprinted by arrangement with Tarcher/Putnam, a division of Penguin Putnam Inc.

Monks, we who look at the whole and not just the part, know that we too are systems of interdependence, of feelings, perceptions, thoughts, and consciousness all interconnected. Investigating in this way, we come to realize that there is no me or mine in any one part, just as a sound does not belong to any one part of the lute.

-Samyutta Nikaya
From "The Pocket Buddha Reader," edited by Anne Bancroft, 2000. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.

Meditate on that which is beyond words and symbols. Forsake the demands of the self. By such forsaking you will live serenely.

-Sutta Nipata
From "The Pocket Buddha Reader," edited by Anne Bancroft, 2000. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.

"But what makes these 'experts' preach their opinion and call it truth?" asked the inquirer. "Is it an inheritance of humankind to do this, or is it merely something they gain satisfaction from?"

"Apart from consciousness," answered the Buddha, "no absolute truths exist. False reasoning declares one view to be true and another view wrong. It is delight in their dearly held opinions that makes them assert that anyone who disagrees is bound to come to a bad end. But no true seeker becomes embroiled in all this. Pass by peacefully and go a stainless way, free from theories, lusts and dogmas."

-Majjhima Nikaya
From "Buddha Speaks," edited by Anne Bancroft, 2000. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.

The more you practice the three trainings of ethics, meditation, and wisdom, the more difficult it will become for you to act in a way that is contrary to an ethical, compassionate attitude. Ethics arise naturally out of contemplating the three trainings.

-Martine Batchelor, "Meditation for Life"
Copyright Wisdom Publications 2001. Reprinted from "Daily Wisdom: 365 Buddhist Inspirations," edited by Josh Bartok, with permission of Wisdom Publications, 199 Elm St., Somerville MA 02144 U.S.A, www.wisdompubs.org.

Cultivate modesty in the midst of good fortune,
But in times of adversity preserve your dignity.

-Tirukkural 97:963

Disparaging words pain a man even when uttered in jest.
Therefore, those who know human nature are courteous even to their enemies.

-Tirukkural 100:995

Keep read for a few more too.. I don't save all the Daily Hindu Wisdom emails I get from Beliefnet.com, but some I do. They inspire me. The history of India's great civilizations, and its mythology, fascinate me somewhat. Example: I've never heard of the 'book' Tirukkural. So I pulled out my On Common Ground: World Religions in America 2nd ed. cd from my Religions class a few semesters ago.

The continuous and unbroken awareness of the indwelling presence, the inner light of consciousness, is the supreme meditation and devotion.

-Maharamayana

They live in freedom who have gone beyond the dualities of life. Competing with no one, they are alike in success and failure and content with whatever comes to them. They are free, without selfish attachments; their minds are fixed in knowledge. They perform all work in the spirit of service, and their karma is dissolved.

-Bhagavad Gita 4:22-23

O mighty Arjuna, even if you believe the Self to be subject to birth and death, you should not grieve. Death is inevitable for the living; birth is inevitable for the dead. Since these are unavoidable, you should not sorrow. Every creature is unmanifested at first and then attains manifestation. When its end has come, it once again becomes unmanifested. What is there to lament in this?

-Bhagavad Gita 2:26-28

Destiny's last days may surge with oceanic change,
Yet men deemed perfectly good remain, like the shore, unchanged.

-Tirukkural 99:988

He is formless, and can never be seen
With these two eyes. But he reveals himself
In the heart made pure through meditation
And sense-restraint. Realizing him one is released
From the cycle of birth and death.

-Katha Upanishad

O mighty Arjuna, even if you believe the Self to be subject to birth and death, you should not grieve. Death is inevitable for the living; birth is inevitable for the dead. Since these are unavoidable, you should not sorrow. Every creature is unmanifested at first and then attains manifestation. When its end has come, it once again becomes unmanifested. What is there to lament in this?

-Bhagavad Gita 2:26-28

Destiny's last days may surge with oceanic change,
Yet men deemed perfectly good remain, like the shore, unchanged.

-Tirukkural 99:988

He is formless, and can never be seen
With these two eyes. But he reveals himself
In the heart made pure through meditation
And sense-restraint. Realizing him one is released
From the cycle of birth and death.

-Katha Upanishad

Sources for the above quotes:

Excerpted from The Upanishads, translated by Eknath Easwaran, copyright 1987. Reprinted with permission from Nilgiri Press, www.nilgiri.org. To order the book, please call 1-800-475-2369

Excerpted from the Tirukkural, translated by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami. Copyright Himalayan Academy Publications, www.himalayanacademy.com.

Reprinted with permission from "The Wisdom of the Hindu Gurus," edited by Timothy Freke, published by Godsfield Press. The book can be purchased online through Amazon.

Excerpted from The Bhagavad Gita, translated by Eknath Easwaran, copyright 1985. Reprinted with permission from Nilgiri Press, www.nilgiri.org. To order the book, please call 1-800-475-2369.

Because we all share this planet earth, we have to learn to live in harmony and peace with each other and with nature. That is not just a dream, but a necessity. We are dependent on each other in so many ways that we can no longer live in isolated communities and ignore what is happening outside those communities.

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

From "The Pocket Dalai Lama," edited by Mary Craig, 2002. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.

Courtesy of my daily email: Daily Buddhist Quotes, from beliefnet.com