I have read that more and more people are believing in reincarnation. If reincarnation plays a part in our existence, and if Pat Robertson’s opinion about Haiti (generations ago, people in Haiti sold their souls to the Devil and are now paying for it) is written in stone for him, we needn’t upset ourselves – too much. I have read that there is a Law in the Universe, and the Law responds to every unkind word or action, just as it does to kindness in word and action. And so, perhaps in a future lifetime Pat Robertson will experience being born in Haiti, thereby giving him first-hand knowledge, along with a sincere understanding. At that time, any opinion he has about Haiti will at least be based on experience, rather than on a loose tongue. Whether it would be that way or not, I imagine that the Law has interesting ways. . . .
jesus
It’s the month of December and I’d like to write about Jesus because, since watching Paul Davids documentary film, JESUS IN INDIA, my thoughts about the life of Jesus have expanded. Once in a while, a movie, a book, a person, an experience comes along, and, after that encounter, things are not quite the same again. That’s the way it was for me and the film. I watch the film every so often now, and am always inspired by the spectacular scenery, the music, the people, the words, and I let it all sink into my heart and mind.
Pete Hammond, Hollywood.com, wrote: “JESUS IN INDIA” IS A FASCINATING AND PROFOUND FILM, A DEEPLY SPIRITUAL JOURNEY CERTAIN TO MAKE YOU THINK AND QUESTION IN WAYS YOU NEVER HAVE BEFORE. And that it does. www.jesus-in-india-the-movie.com
Edward T. Martin was involved in the making of the film, and so I looked for his book, KING OF TRAVELERS, and wasn’t able to find it in Philadelphia. However, I checked at the information counter at Strand Book Store in Manhattan, and was told “One book with that title came in this afternoon.” I looked for it, and there it was. The price was $2.00; I bought it. It’s fascinating that sometimes it’s just that easy.www.strandbooks.com
The film also mentions Elizabeth Clare Prophet’s book, THE LOST YEARS OF JESUS. And in the CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR THE LOST YEARS OF JESUS section, there are a host of seemingly knowledgeable people who’ve written highly about it. I’ll give it a thumbs up too.
It seems to be that when we zero in on something, after a while information about it begins to fall in our lap, so to speak, and the book JESUS LIVED IN INDIA by Holger Kersten was mentioned. I couldn’t find the book until one day I walked by Garland of Letters on South Street in Philadelphia. I backtracked and went inside, and there on a long table displaying an interesting selection of books was one by Holger Kersten, the one I’d been looking for. Where were you a few months ago when I was here? I inquired of the book. At the register the cashier looked at the book, and looked at me, and said, “This book is great. My friends are reading it.” And so it goes. www.yogaunveiled.com
It was at Garland of Letters on South Street in Philadelphia that I picked up Volume 8 – Number 2 of EVOLVE magazine where it’s placed to the left of the entrance door, and read about Paul Davids, and how the seeds of the film, JESUS IN INDIA, were planted in a course he took in Mahayana Buddhism when he was a student at Princeton University.
Always there seems to be controversy with the mention of Jesus. We all have beliefs, some are written in stone, others not, — good to keep an open mind. In the end, our own diligent research and tapping into what the heart tells us, might serve us well.
four websites, a movie, and a book
Four websites:
www.gratidudes.com
A movie:
THE KITE RUNNER –
“Surely one of THE GREATEST FILMS you are ever going to see!” -Jeffrey Lyons
“This is a MAGNIFICENT film!” -Roger Ebert
And a book:
Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda –
“I keep stacks of Autobiography of a Yogi around the house, and I give it out constantly to people. When people need ‘regrooving,’ I say read this, because it cuts to the heart of every religion.” -George Harrison
“This book. . . .inspired me to change my diet, meditate, and pay attention to my spiritual well-being. Autobiography of a Yogi is a modern classic that also happens to be a terrific read-one of my very favorite books.” -Andrew Weil, M.D., author and pioneer in holistic medicine
“This book is a must-read for the budding yogi, the spiritual veteran looking for a deeper understanding, and everyone in between.” -Yogi Times
“A profound introduction to yoga and meditation.” -Odyssey, South Africa
“If we had a man like Paramahansa Yogananda in the United Nations today, probably the world would be a better place than it is.” -Ambasador of India B.R. Sen, in a eulogy at Yogananda’s funeral
osho, st. francis of assisi, and. . .
I have a DVD called Love And Hate Two Sides of the Same Coin, in which Osho talks about awareness, and of “Never judging anybody by his act.” and to, “Try to find out his awareness. Otherwise, don’t judge at all.” During the entire time of the DVD the camera rests on Osho’s calm face, his steady, clear eyes, and his hands which move slowly and gracefully when he speaks. The DVD was inside of a book I’d bought a few years ago, and read with mild interest. Now with the rereading of it, along with watching and listening to the DVD, I see flashes of The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle in Osho’s words. The power of now, awareness, consciousness – what would the world be like were we all to put them to use?
I didn’t know until this week that the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi was written in his honor during World War I. Did you? The movie, Reluctant Saint – Francis of Assisi, is based on the biography by Donald Spoto, and makes all other movies about St. Francis look like fiction. In an interview, Donald Spoto said that “He’s one of the most misunderstood people in the history of organized religion.” I think he knows what he’s talking about since he says, “I’m a theologian by training. I did a Doctorate in theology with a concentration in New Testament studies, and the primary work as a teacher that I did for many years was as a professor of religious studies of scripture, of Biblical literature and languages, and Christian mysticism.” With this background, it would seem that if anyone can tell the true story of St. Francis it’s Donald Spoto. He’s also written seventeen other books on “the lives of enormously creative and important artists, such as, Alfred Hitchcock, and Tennessee Williams, and great actors like Laurence Olivier and Ingrid Bergman, and a great American woman, Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis.”
Maybe you’re looking for some great books for summer reading? Maybe you’ve found some?
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www.osho.com
www.hitchcock.tv
www.laurenceolivier.com
www.ingridbergman.com
www.tennesseewilliams.net
eknath easwaran
I’ve been thinking and reading about meditation for awhile, and now and then, dabbling. I guess that’s the right word since I’ve not yet become an every day meditator. Then last month, I found a teacher in a thin book squeezed into a very narrow space on a shelf with many larger books overshadowing it. I don’t know why, but whenever I see a small book trying to hold its own with the big ones, I make every effort to release it. As it turned out the little book titled, Your Life Is Your Mesage by Eknath Easwaran is a gem. On the back cover Barbra Streisand wrote, “Your Life Is Your Message is about changing the world by changing ourselves.” And Marvin Hamlisch wrote, “I still can’t believe how much wisdom is packed into these slender pages. This isn’t just a book; it’s a friend.” I think that about sums it up.
Eknath Easwaran founded the Blue Mountain Center of Meditation in Tomales, California. I have the feeling from reading his words, that if anyone can lead another to the path of meditation, he can. I’d never heard of him before rescuing “Your Life Is Your Message” from its tight spot on a book shelf. Then recently, while walking on a clear, cool day, I noticed a used bookshop having a sale. A lot of people were on the sidewalk peering across long tables of books. I joined them, and found The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho, and The Vagabond by Colette for a song and a dance. Then I went inside the shop, and something caught my eye. Yes! -MEDITATION by Eknath Easwaran was calling me. I took it from the shelf; there was no doubt in my mind that it belonged with me. On the back cover Henri Nouwen wrote, “This book has helped me a great deal.” And Huston Smith wrote, “No extravagant claims, no pretentious jargon. Just a clear, insightful exposition of meditation, and an excellent guide to its practice.” I think so, too.
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www.easwaran.org
www.barbrastreisand.com
www.marvinhamlisch.com
www.henrinouwen.org
www.hustonsmith.org
tama kieves
I subscribe to Tama Kieves eletters, and this week under Tama’s Musings she wrote about “Mothering Ourselves: Nurturing Yourself, Your Dreams, and the World.” She writes at her soul level, and she shows no hesitation in sharing the person she was, the person she is, and the person she’s becoming.
I imagine that to be on a cruise with her, and the other spiritual teachers joining her, would be a gift one could call “Mothering Ourselves.”
www.tamakieves.com
happy parenting day
It’s easy to believe that being a loving, caring, happy, and somewhat peaceful parent in the year 2009 has its own worst list of fears, uncertainities, anxieties, perplexities – more so than other decades. I’ve said I wouldn’t want to raise a child in today’s world. On second thought, no matter the decade it’s always been challenging and exciting, and although the techie age has somewhat replaced playing hopscotch, jumping rope, happily eating a fudgicle while doing somersaults, etc., the same value system is always there to be tapped.
There have been a lot of changes since my children went through childhood, but the time-honored way of parenting with love, intuition, common sense, soul searching, innate intelligence, observation, communication, enjoyment, trust, sense of humor, and knowing when to let go, are still alive and kicking.
My children were raised in Manhattan, and it was there that I noticed the many hair-raising ways people have of bringing up their children. Some didn’t believe in any discipline – not even a slight reprimand when it was called for, – kicking, hitting, and screaming at mom and dad were accepted; others gave their children credit cards to do whatever, to buy whatever, before their children understood the basics of life; one couple bought an apartment next door for their two children who were below high school age so that their before-children lifestyle could be continued; children were left with sitters who watched tv all day long, or regularly socialized with friends instead of being attentive to the children; there were children having easy access to their parents’ “adult toys”; parents vacationing and leaving children with less than the best; it’s a long and interesting list, and is exciting reading in a novel, but leaves food for thought in real life. I noticed also that people are remarkably resilient, and come into the world with their own strengths and talents which have the potential to take them beyond earlier misadventures.
And there were awesome parents who – most of the time – had huge amounts of enthusiasm, fun, and wisdom, and taught their children, other children, and other parents, by their example.
Being a parent means different things to different people. I guess it will always be this way. The world’s parents are not cut from the same cloth. And why would we want it any other way? Perhaps that’s what makes it all challenging, exciting, and having to stretch mind, body, and spirit.
This posting has somehow become about parents, so that’s what it will be – HAPPY PARENTNG DAY TO WOMEN AND MEN WITH CHILDREN IN THEIR CARE. Wherever you are, have a beautiful day.
* * * * *
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you.
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. – Khalil Gibran
nine gates mystery school
From time to time, I hear about the Nine Gates Mystery School in Loomis, Ca. Gay Luce is the founder, and I am not clear about Jean Houston’s role, only that she is connected with the school. Through the years every indication suggests that these two women-both personally and professionally-know what they are doing.
So, I sent for a brochure. The brochure doesn’t beat around the bush; it says a great deal, is easy to understand, and after reading it all questions are answered. After that I received an email from a graduate, and an email came asking whether I’d like a DVD sent to me. I said yes, that would be helpful. Information which truly informs is a good thing. The program is not inexpensive. However, I’d bet my last dollar that it’s worth the price.
I could tell you more; it wouldn’t come from experience though, and I’m at a loss as to exactly which parts of the brochure would best describe the Nine Gates Mystery School. Suffice it to say that it’s a “spiritual adventure,” and it touches every area of the graduate’s life. The program is in two parts; Part 1 in the Fall, Part 2 in the Spring, both for nine days. The DVD states that there is a deep committment to the student from the beginning, and from the beginning the students naturally form a close community. There are no books, no doctrines, no rules to learn. The learning is internal prompted by nine master teachers.
A youth program is offered. If I had a teenager in my life who needed help in dealing with the challenges of the teenage years, I would not hesitate to register her/him as I’ve read that parents say their children return to them transformed. www.ninegates.org
Oh, yes.
acceptance
Acceptance is a good word, and a soothing word; it’s a word that’s effective when used verbally or silently. When applying acceptance to a particular situation, we’re inclined to wonder whether we’ve done enough, and whether it’s time to stop guessing, thinking, worrying, trying. Yes, stop so that the mind is free of the energy we’ve created around a situation or person, and free of blockages – hands off; it’s time to trust.
Becoming comfortable with acceptance allows the mind arguments and blockages to eventually disapper. Practicing acceptance will lead us to intuitively know what’s best in a situation. Then we trust. Acceptance and trust go hand in hand. We know that things are not okay at the moment, and we trust the tide will turn. Trust.
octuplets, children of the mountains, the smile train
Watching the unfolding drama of the octuplets recently born to a woman who doesn’t seem to understand what she’s done is difficult. She appears to need protection from herself. I wish we lived in a society where people who are compassionate, well-connected, wise in the ways of the world, and capable of righting a situation that, without intervention, will only get worse could step in. It’s apparent that the tiny babies are in need of help, and lots of love and care is a good start. This country has so many who have much to give. How will the babies thrive without their help? I know this can be said about many babies in the world.
I felt the same way last week when I watched the Diane Sawyer Special: A Hidden America, Children of the Mountains. It’s about families who live deep in the Appalachia Mountains – about their lack of nurturing, lack of education, lack of community, lack of hope, lack of parental guidance, lack of nutritious foods. Most of the parents of these children are addicted to alcohol or prescription drugs. Jobs are few, and most men work in the coal mines. Nothing changes there; it’s been this way for many generations. Their homes are surrounded by garbage. A doctor from India said it’s worse deep in Appalachia country than in some of the poorest places of India.
Some doctors and nurses are changing the lives of many children in a huge way. The movie SMILE PINKI www.thesmiletrain.org tells of kind-hearted doctors who instinctively know how to help others. In India where every year 35,000 children are born with clefts, they’re out searching for these children whose parents are poor and unable to help their children who are generally ostracized from their communities. The Smile Train is there to change all that, and that’s something to smile about. Wouldn’t it be a different world if every child born could be swaddled in love and care. Yes, what if.
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