| We train in recognizing our uptightness. We train in seeing that others are not so different from ourselves. We train in opening our hearts and minds in increasingly difficult situations. ~ Pema Chodron The Message of today is Balance. ~ Hazrat Inayat Khan Dear Soul Friends, The above wisdom from a Buddhist teacher and a Sufi teacher are core to the present condition of the world in a time of profound passage. To these, I would add holding your center and knowing where to find refuge. As I have mentioned countless times, both the Dalai Lama and Pir Vilayat speak of being continuously aware that sustaining a spiritual attunement can be your most important contribution to the state of Humanity. In Buddhism there are three profound sources of Refuge: The Buddha, The Dharma and The Sangha. As Reb Zalman pointed out to me, these three are foundational to any authentic tradition. The Buddha is the archetype of the teacher. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche asks the essential question, “Who are you going to call out to when you are dying?” Then he wisely suggests, do not wait to die to call out to that being. Find refuge in the archetype of the teacher that you most trust through the difficult times in life. If some of the environmental predictions become a reality, this practice is a profound gift that will sustain one and help you to hold the center. A core relationship with God, The Goddess, Christ, Buddha, Quan Yin, Mary, Hazrat Inayat Khan, or other archetypical teachers gives one a place to turn for refuge. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche defines the Dharma as “that which holds.” What teachings and practices can carry you through disorienting experiences in your inner and outer life. The fear and uncertainty with the current virus moving throughout the world is an example. The continuous flooding by some of the media with such fears is unique to our time. The significance of the Sangha or Spiritual Community is accented in all the great traditions. We do not stand alone. Rather we hold each other in mutual support on our spiritual journeys. The initial calling to create the Spiritual Guidance Wisdom School conveyed that it would be a community of mature spiritual seekers, serving together the emergence of Planetary Consciousness. The present situation of the virus holds the possibility of our awakening to the reality that we are one human family, sharing the journey of the spiritual evolution of our Planet Earth. |
Mysticism and Spirituality Circle
A site to share inspirational poetry, readings, and practices to support our sangha of spiritual seekers on their paths.