KALEIDOSCOPE
In the same way as the colors and shapes in a kaleidoscope change, so do our surroundings – physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual. The parts that make up life in general and our lives in particular remain the same. How they are arranged and the results of the changing arrangement define our life situation ultimately resulting in what is “right” today not necessarily being “right” tomorrow. Instead, it may be “wrong” or neutral. This is particularly true since so many of our ideas of what is “right” or “wrong” are based in social customs, personally held beliefs, and lore. Thus, Joseph Campbell’s comment that at any given moment we cannot know what is “right” or “wrong”, the best we can ever do is to lean to the light. Followed to its final conclusion, this line of thought results in the idea that each of our lives is simply a perspective. Therefore, the only remaining guideline in this land of shifting shapes and shadows is the body of teachings of Jesus and the other great teachers such as Buddha, Mohammad, Gandhi, The Dalai Lama, etc. Our situation, then, is not unlike the one where science teaches that there is not really any “thing” that is “solid”, but that all things are made of up atoms and our idea of solidity is simply a convenient recognition of how closely packed those atoms happen to be. The reaction to this information is intellectual, it having no real effect on how we go about living our lives – we still walk on the ground, breathe the air, eat food, sit on chairs, etc. The reaction to the realization that our life is merely a perspective must not be merely intellectual. Once we realize that our life is merely a perspective and that we as individuals are not living or teaching some “eternal truth”, we can get down to the nitty gritty of life for the purpose for which it is intended. We need to learn how to implement the great teachings in our life. Begin with the “thou experience” and branch out from there. Probably the greatest lesson any of us will ever learn is how to live life properly – to learn and grow in our spirit which is then reflected in the way we live our physical life. Obviously, at the end of our individual life, we leave our bodies behind and move on to the next realm, plane, world, existence, etc. Therefore, spiritual training and growth must be given precedence over the physical since the latter is merely temporary, while the former continues on. For instance, the Dalai Lama has said that the purpose of our lives is to be happy. Please note that he did not say get whatever you want whenever you want it. “Happy” is that part of the spectrum from happy to sad which lies between “happy” and the center of the spectrum which we can consider “contentment”. The great teachings are there to show us how to live balanced and, therefore, contented lives in a way which not only does no harm to others, but actually has the potential to improve the lives of others should they so choose.* A life lived in this manner will add to the positive energy in the field of energy in which we live our lives, thereby improving our life situation, in general. Since we live life in the dimension of the pairs of opposites, there will always be negativity in this realm. We can all do our part to keep the positive side strong and nurturing to ourselves and the rest of humankind.
THOUGHTS FROM TIL
FLOOR PRINT?
The symbol of Yang Yin –
Might that be the floor print of humanity?
If so, were all as well as black and as white!?
Extremes, but bound to build the circle.
When “white” is entering our daily life –
the doors are opened widely!
“Black” however . . .!
We hate it and try to escape!
But Fate is putting it on our plate in quantities so big –
we often break down.
Why do we judge?
Why do we label?
Resistance is in vain!
Why not accept and grow to be a spectator?!
Letting things go. . .*
Then the extremes will solve into the circle.
Then, only then, we’ll be free!
We’re longing for that moment urgently.
What is holding us back??? *
ONE MINUTE ONLY
Stop – gluing tags on everything around you!
Life does not allow it to be divided into cubicles.
Review that childish caboodle!.
Years you’ve wasted time with classing.
By the dynamic of one minute only –
all becomes unsettled;
Shakes the waxen figures from their socklets.
Stupid human! You think to master Life!
It squarely laughs at you.
Surges, flows and streams, -
According to the wishes to the minute
Try to be a tumbler. December 29, 2019
*The Thomas Gospel says that Jesus told us to “become passers-by”.
DROP IN THE BUCKET
In his relatively short but superb book The Inner Reaches of Outer Space Joseph Campbell notes that when one can realize that the Universe is composed of thousands of nuclear furnaces speeding away from each other, that we are each only a speck of dust (or for our purposes today a drop in a bucket) on a minor planet revolving around a small nuclear furnace and yet, also recognize that each of us is an integral part of all of that, one is ready to begin one’s spiritual journey. Proceeding on this premise, the next step is where things become more complicated, and, therefore, more interesting. Obviously, when one gathers enough drops in the bucket, the bucket becomes full, and, therefore, more noticeable and more influential. When one has a filled bucket, one can do many things, for instance, quench a fire, quench many thirsts, water crops for food, water animals, etc. One can also use filled buckets for lesser purposes like water-boarding a captive, drowning another person or an animal, drowning out plants, creating barriers, etc. Clearly, the filled bucket can be positive or negative. It is, therefore, incumbent on each of us drops to decide whether we want to be in a positive or negative bucket. Deciding is not that difficult, the uphill battle comes when trying to implement the decision. The journey into the correct bucket, assuming one selects a positive bucket, can best begin with our old friend the “thou experience”. When one recognizes one’s Creator in all elements of Creation, including not only other people but also plants, animals, rocks, etc. then one can have more respect for all aspects of Creation and this, of course, is the beginning of living in harmony with Nature, which contributes to inner peace. This inner peace can then be applied to one’s daily experiences which can have a positive effect on those around us, which then comes back to us and so goes round and round, up and up in a spiral of growth. As a practical matter, one must recognize that there are those in our world who either prefer the negative or are noncommittal, simply taking what is, at the moment, the easy path. Practicing kindness and consideration with these people is usually nonproductive and frequently dangerous physically, psychologically, or, even both. When it becomes clear that the preferred path of positivity is not appropriate, one can only stand one’s ground in the physical world. However, those with a realization of their spiritual selves can supplement this action. By going into our personal closet and connecting through one’s personal choice of methods (prayer, meditation, fasting, etc.) one can send positive spiritual energy to the world, as a whole, thereby having a positive effect on the overall balance of energy in the world, which is currently extremely out of balance toward the negative. This, of course, makes any positive energies stronger (rather like a matching funds charitable contribution) because the natural tendency of Nature is toward balance. Being positive in the physical plane is limited, while being spiritually positive with specific direction and intent is limitless.
THOUGHTS FROM TIL
WAYS
“Energy”,
You created darkness and light.
You created fire and water.
You created life and death.
You are One.
Whatever You created, is in pairs of two.
Opposed to each other always.
The arena, where the collision takes place is called “earth”.
Also “vale of tears” or “madhouse”.
Conscious or not –
The way from “two to One”,
Every one is chasing for.
According as we recognize You inside “two” –
We are finding ways to “One”.
RIVERS
As a door to the Ocean,
rivers need freedom to stream.
Barriers are causing trouble.
Energy of water means to move.
The banks are setting the limits.
Only, when the “unformed” water
sufficiently will have been “formed” –
The streams can be united in the Oceans.
Isn’t it exactly alike while compared with humans?
First – life is teaching them their limits.
After time-less times –
having gained the proper insight–
They will be united in the Ocean of Life.
October 27, 2019
Who? What? Where? Words
Words are our primary source of communication. They are even translated from one family of languages to another to enable us to communicate with people from different lands and backgrounds. They are supplemented with tone of voice, emphasis, facial expressions, and hand gestures, just to name a few. Beyond that, we “consider the source”. Who is the person speaking? If we have personal knowledge of the person, it can give more depth to our understanding of what they are really saying. We can know with more assuredness whether the words are being spoken with sincerity, humor or sarcasm. What is the subject of that person’s words? Is that person one who knows about that subject as an expert, a student or just in passing? The answer to that question lets us know how much weight to give to that person’s words. Words, of course, cannot always be believed. The old saying is that when words and actions differ, the truth is in the actions. For instance, if a person says he is not a criminal but is shown to have been part of a criminal activity, his words are not true. That person may be trying to “cover up” his involvement in the crime to escape punishment as in the Watergate investigation, or keep his “good” name, or it may go much deeper. Hypothetically, if a person says he is not a racist but his words and deeds are those of a racist, what are we to think? While that person may be a liar, there is another alternative. If that person’s ego is sufficiently enlarged, that person may not any more be able to conceive of someone who is different from him or her having any rights, powers or privileges as guaranteed by our Constitution than allowing dogs to vote. That person does not see themselves as a racist, the only ones seeing that are those who are watching – as in the Emperor has no clothes. Where is the speaker coming from? To understand what is going on we must know that. What is his or her personal basis? Is the speaker capable of practicing our old friend “the thou experience”? It is obvious that words must be put in context as to subject, intention, and perspective of the speaker before they can do their job of helping us to communicate. It would seem that communicating with words is very challenging. Fortunately, words are not our only resource. As Joseph Campbell once observed – all words are limitations. They have definitions. As any student of documents knows, those definitions often change over time – either completely or in inference. So to get past words, in our most important communications, those with Our Creator, we have the “true” language of feelings. With our propensity to define things, we have also called those feelings intuition or inspiration. On our end of the communication, we try our best to be open and “true”. After all, if one believes that Our Creator knows all, not only is there no point in obfuscation, it could be spiritually dangerous. Given the dangers inherent in the use of words, it would seem that our best form of communication with Our Creator is an open heart and a willingness to listen to our instincts and intuition. No translation required.
THOUGHTS FROM TIL
WRITING
Sometimes a handful of silk letters is waiting
to be pleated flexible into senses.
But words like to play as well hide and seek.
They can shape themselves as needles in a haystack.
Putting on their hood, jumping into the grey mass –
it’s better to stop the search for a while.
The most difficult it becomes, when they use concrete.
You feel, the word, you’re looking for, is in there!
And then the hewing, chiseling, slaving starts!
What a joy, when meeting each other!
All and all, it’s a game, that’s called creation.
The soul of it can never be put into words.
STILL MORE
Light and dark are coming and leaving,
following the laws, they are subject to.
Nature settles their rhythm.
Together they’re building the total natural day.
Still there is more.
Eyes cannot see it.
It’s caressing, it’s soft and I’s warming.
It emanates a dazzling brightness.
It is breathing.
It is alive.
It is the Core of what IS.
With many, many names it’s indicated.
Yet it wants to be discovered.
Every being has to search for himself.
Blessed the road to the door of his heart.
SUCH A MOMENT
To understand the sense of life?!
Absolutely doomed to become a failure.
THAT, what’s without borders –
Only can understand “ITSEL”.
Living life, sometimes reveals a miracle.
The miracle of “recognition”.
“The other one is me”.
“And I am the other”.
Such a moment offers a flash of “Borderless Being”. August 25, 2019
YOURS, mine, and Ours
Mankind is the only part of Creation to have received free will. The rest of Creation is simply whatever it was created to be. Oak trees don’t become willows, rabbits don’t become eagles, and whales don’t become sharks. To the best of our knowledge, and contrary to many ancient legends, they simply accept whatever they are, exercise the nature of that being, and do the best they can to live. Members of the human race, having received free will, try to control and manipulate things to suit that individual. This creates endless problems for those individuals and those with whom they interact. Of course, the best thing to do with free will is give it back. The better job we can do living according to our Creator’s Will the better things work for us, both physically and spiritually. Each of us has strengths and weaknesses, areas in which we excel or do not. When we can join together, we compliment each others strengths and weaknesses with our own and things are more complete. Much of our existence is based on this synergy. As a result, when we work in the area of our strengths, we believe that we are contributing and helping ourselves and others to survive and thrive. As time passes and we gain more experience in using our strengths, we develop the idea that we know the best way to do whatever is at hand, as well as a habit of thought and action because “this has always worked in the past”. This would work fine if nothing in the human community ever changed. Since that is certainly not the case, it is in our own best interest to pay closer attention, particularly on the spiritual plane. Our existence is simply part of a much larger plan called Creation. Since we cannot know the substance of that plan, our only part can be to “fit in” where we are most useful. We are of value because we have experience, however, we cannot allow that experience to dictate how any given situation is handled.
There is a very fine line between implementing what we believe to be our Creator’s Will in a given circumstance, and trying to take over the situation and bend it to our will. A horse is of use in pulling a wagon, but if it gets the bit in its teeth, you have a runaway and a very dangerous situation. It isn’t enough to recognize our Creator’s Will, we must also strive to understand how our experience should be implemented to accomplish the maximum positive effect. If we strive to be and do whatever our Creator wishes in the way that our Creator wishes it done, we have a better chance of achieving the spiritual purpose of that situation. Properly done, the result is the accomplishment of the Will of our Creator, handled in the most effective way on the physical plane, joined together for a fortunate outcome, laying the foundation for the next step for humanity and the individual. How?? LISTEN!!
THOUGHTS FROM TIL
LISTEN
“IT”, all what I’m seeing is a facet of You.
The eyes, which are looking also!
Why can’t I find You?!
“Listen, please, listen . . .”
Look at your reflection in the mirror. . .!”
“Be quiet. . .
“Feel . . .
“Feel. . .”
PLENTY OF TIME
If I’d accept, it’s not me who’s doing things –
I could do much more.
“IT”, why do I trust You only partly?
Why do I think, it’s me, doing this or that?
My body simply can’t go on just now.
Cannot be a channel for You.
You’re asking me “to be”,
instead of running around,
meanwhile thinking of doing things.
I feel, “You” grant me plenty of time,
whatever You want to use me for this lifetime.
But . . .I must understand . .
There has to be cooperation with the instrument of my body.
PRAYER
To communicate without words. . .
The most glorious communication!
Almost angelic!
But. . .being humans-
We’ll have to look for words once upon a time.
There may be misunderstanding then!
That’ll hurt!
If so – let us incline our heart to the source of that glorious contact.
June 30, 2019
WHY??
In our daily struggle to focus on our inner selves rather than on the physical world around us, one of the most important considerations is ”why?”. For example: If someone sees an orphan child on the streets, takes them home, feeds, clothes, houses and educates that child has that person done a good thing? WE DON’T KNOW! The reason that we don’t know is that we do not know that person’s motives. Did they do it because it was the right thing to do or did they do it because they wanted someone to take care of them in their old age? Only time will tell because in many cases we do what conventional wisdom says is “right” but we do it for the wrong reason, a condition which we, ourselves, often do not recognize. We know that when one person helps another it must be done with wisdom and discernment. Enabling must be avoided. Any ego trip for “helping” must be avoided. Directing that person down a path which we have chosen for them must be avoided. Shaming and guilt trips must be avoided. Our only goal must be to give that person the self-confidence and tools to become what our Creator has created them to be. In the Thomas Gospel Jesus is reported as having said on several occasions: “become a passer-by”. How does that help us? If one is a passer-by, there exists no emotional investment in the situation. This allows us to avoid pity (a VERY negative emotion), experience empathy, see the dynamics of the situation more clearly, see the path walked to arrive in the situation more clearly, see the strengths and weaknesses of the person more clearly, make a better decision as to whether or not we can or should help that person (remember: their situation may be consequences which are intended to teach them and we must not interfere with our Creator’s lesson for them {he brought it on himself}), formulate any help which we may be able to offer and, finally, implement that program and assistance, all the while guarding against our own negative tendencies in our “helping”. Like aging, helping others is not for the faint of heart. Given all of this, is it really a good idea to try to help others? YES. We are here to help one another, but we have to learn how to help appropriately. Inappropriate “helping” is, in the long run, destructive. To do this we must do our own inner work, reducing our biases and prejudices to a minimum, learning to control our own emotions, not becoming emotionally invested in the situation or the success of the person we are thinking about helping, recognizing that seldom are we to prepare the soil, plant the seed, care for the crop, and reap the harvest (these activities are usually spread among several people together with the experiences our Creator provides that person in order for them to “get it”), be alert for the appropriate time to begin and stop our “helping”, and always listen to our still, small voice for turns in the road and fine tuning of our approach. The good news is that all of this, done appropriately (within our Creator’s Will) brings us, and we hope also the person whom we are trying to help, closer to our Creator - that’s why
THOUGHTS FROM TIL
WHY RUNNING BACK
To remain in the country of illusions
is to be torn to pieces alive.
The illusions seem so true!
You can touch them with your hands!
You can feel them with your body!
How COULD they be unreal!?
Eyes, that see them –
Hands, that touch them –
Ears, that hear them –
They too are illusions.
To become a spectator –
To look at them from the Center –
The Center, that was and is and will stay –
Then, only then we’re aware of what’s really real.
Incomprehensible Greatness –
Trembling I can touch YOU.
YOU, and what I denote as my core – are One!
Why do we run back to illusions again and again?
RIVERS
As a door to the Ocean,
rivers need freedom to stream.
Barriers are causing trouble.
Energy of water means to move.
The banks are setting the limits.
Only, when the “unformed” water
Sufficiently will have been “formed” –
The streams can be united in the Oceans.
Isn’t it exactly alike while compared with humans?
First – life is teaching them their limits.
After time-less times –
having gained the proper insight –
They will be united in the Ocean of Life. April 28, 2019
BACKLASH
Our initial interaction with others should always begin with kindness. However, as with all things in life, it can be carried too far and operate to the detriment of both parties. Like anything else, kindness must be balanced. Without proper attention, kindness can be given to the point it becomes enabling to the other. It can also open the door for the other to develop an attitude of entitlement and place the giver in the position of servitude to the other. Witness: the attempts of the various levels of government to help the needy. Kindness must be given with wisdom and balance. For example, when parents pick up their baby so that it will not cry, it is intended to comfort the child. However, continuously carrying the baby so that it does not cry also results in the baby not learning to crawl which, in turn, results in underdevelopment of the brain and results in problems for the child as an adult. This could well extend itself into a situation where the parents are taking care of the “child” for the rest of its life, which their ”kindness” has, in part, taken away from the child. Balance is always difficult because it is finding a fine line between two extremes. This is another part of life to which we must all pay attention if we are to navigate the territory with safety for ourselves and those with whom we interact. Some years ago there was a popular question floating around. The question was “What would Jesus do?”. As Christians we are taught of Jesus’ kindness to others. So, of course, the question was usually answered by trying to place Jesus in our shoes to see what he might do or say. This misses the point. Jesus always took the same path – he did his Father’s will. From upsetting the tables of the money changers to raising the dead – Jesus always did his Father’s will. Doing a particular act in a kind way may be an option but the act itself must be done if it is our Father’s will. Although a diplomat is someone who can tell you where to do so nicely that you actually look forward to the trip, the communication of information is still there. Our tendency is to see only our side of the equation. All relationships should have two sides, and the better balanced the giving and taking, the better and stronger the relationship. Carried to an extreme, kindness can result in the giving of all resources, particularly emotional, so that there is no longer anything which can be given according to one’s perception of God’s will. Even though we all have hard times and rough spots in our life’s road, we all have much for which we can be grateful, and, in return, we need to do whatever we perceive our individual God wants us to do as best we can do it. Without proper balance in our relationships with other people, we run the risk of expending all of our emotional and spiritual capital. Instead, we must all strive to be not only willing, but able, to do God’s will as we perceive it for our individual lives.
THOUGHTS FROM TIL
SCRAPING OVER
When cultures are scraping over each other, is hurting.
It brings sadness and nostalgia.
Where is my home?!
The loneliness, the separation is so heavy.
There is crying inside.
But in that chaos of misery,
something is growing.
Very carefully.
Meticulously almost.
Joltingly.
By the method of trial and error.
With depths that are boundlessly deep.
It’s lifting humans over the border of cultures.
It will rally mankind to what it really is:
A living facet of Borderless Being.
HOW MANY
How many faces does the Devil have?
He may cover his horns with velvet or silk –
The Devil he is!
For instance:
Men, having children of themselves –
Are earning money for their daily living,
By making other children spy on their parents and their friends!
How is it possible, the sun can warm those rotten apples!
Unless one climbs the mountain of time –
And looks at all events from a distance –
You almost can’t go on with breathing!
On the top of that peak you can become aware:
Humans only learn through suffering.
Suffering teaches us to listen.
To listen at the feelings and the heart.
To recognize, Your needs are mine!
We have to go together!!
What a load of suffering humanity still needs!
Keep courage! “I believe in justice and truth, without which
there would be no basis for human hope.”
Justice is the target! His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
February 24, 2019
THE DOOR – Part 2
“Love and compassion are beneficial for you and others. Through your kindness to others your mind and heart will open to peace.” (The Dalai Lama). Or, as discussed in the last issue, the kingdom of the Father upon the Earth. However, as Michiavelli said in The Prince: “There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order or things.”. Our society is tattered, at best. We have the American ideals which, unfortunately, have always required organization of the people involved to bring to fruition. One could say that our society has been hypocritical in that we clung to ideals of human behavior but did not live up to them. Recent history has shown us how close to the surface the dark side of our ideals really is. If we seek the kingdom of the Father upon the Earth, we must bring those ideals into reality, not just for some, but for all. Prohibition taught us that it is not possible to successfully legislate morals, so what shall we do? We, as individuals, must begin the arduous work of instilling these ideals in ourselves and others, being the proverbial pebble in the stream. The stereotypes which are so convenient in our thinking must be eradicated from our attempts to understand situations and those involved in them. We must interact with and seek to understand others as individuals, rather than part of some artificially constructed group such as nationality, gender, religious, regional, racial, etc., by implementing the Thou Experience. We must, by our example, teach others the necessity for the implementation of this way of thinking in the pursuit of the kingdom of the Father upon the Earth. Easy to say, hard to do, particularly since some individuals cling so tenaciously to the “negative” in their thinking and in the way they interact with others. To paraphrase Madeleine Albright: Spirituality and respect for the rights of others are lofty ideals but the fear that breeds prejudice, hatred, envy, and greed is primal. We have been told that the “poor will always be with us”, meaning, of course, the poor in spirit. We live in the dimension of the pairs of opposites so the total eradication of negativity is impossible. We must learn to stand our ground and refuse to be drawn into the stereotypical, negative way of thinking and acting. Everyone involved in charitable work knows that there are those who have an “entitlement” way of thinking and those who truly have a need. We must stand against the former and do our best for the latter, which requires practicing discernment. Mankind has been given all the resources we need to live upon the Earth, but has distributed them incorrectly. As spiritual beings trapped in a physical body, we are not required to do whatever anyone demands of us in order to be thought a “nice person”. Instead, it is our job to be true to our spirituality while resisting the onslaught of negative demands and ideas. Here Jesus’ words from the Thomas Gospel of “Be a passer by” help us remember to take our emotional attachment out of the situation. Practicing the Thou Experience gives us a leg up in spotting this negativity and guarding against it. The more we practice, the better we get, the further we move spiritually, and the sooner we will find the kingdom of the Father upon the Earth, on our way to the kingdom which lies beyond.
THOUGHTS FROM TIL
SUDDENLY TEST
Have had a shower and dressed. How do I get to know my strength?
Put energy into my wallet. If there is never a resistance?
Waiting for events to come.
How will be play start? The pain, the bitterness, the loneliness,
Who’s the owner of the stage? they are attributes of the process.
Are there rules that count?
Will Mr. Mind be the leader? Sometimes a fellow-human is causing
Has Mrs. Feeling fingers in the porridge of today? the event.
Who wrote the play I’m waiting for? is that of any importance, matter of fact?!
Will I be a puppet, or can I decide for myself?
For all those questions there are dozens of answers. The opportunity to try your strength, your trust,
A thought turns up, pushing all of them aside. that’s the point that counts!
“If you look at the play – at the stage – at the players, Human, off’ring me the opportunity to exercise,
Just like a spectator – from a distance I’m in debt with you!
They can go on, but you will be free.
Totally free from your burden with worries.”
TAO
Tao is not to be found in the North.
As less in the South.
I hasn’t a place, where it dwells.
But still . . .
All what we hear . . .
All what we see . . .
All what we smell . . .
All what we touch . . .
THAT is Tao.
Once was said: ”The one who speaks of about Tao, does not know Tao.
The one, who knows Tao, doesn’t speak of It”.
The one who thinks of Tao . . .
discovers, not a thousand thoughts can reach It.
But living one’s days in trust of Tao,
finds himself in the Heart of Tao.
December 23, 2018
THE DOOR – Part I
For the moment set aside all that we have been taught or think we know about “going to Heaven” and consider what Jesus is reported as having said in the Thomas Gospel. When asked “when will the Kingdom come?” Jesus said: “The Kingdom will not come by waiting. It will not come by saying it is here or there. The kingdom of the Father is upon the earth and men do not see it”. Which, of course, is the basis for Joseph Campbell’s statement that “you get it here and now or you do not get it”. In these difficult days, we are not alone. King David said in the 89th Psalm “For what futility you have created all humanity!”. The frustration with man’s inhumanity to man, the lack of consideration and kindness, the frustration with “entitlement thinking”, greed, etc., all these things have been with us at some level since the beginning. It seems that humanity is sinking to the lowest common denominator. It has been said that the only thing new under the sun is the history which you have not read. If the Kingdom is truly upon the earth and we do not see it (not cannot), then it behooves us to bring ourselves to the point of spiritual development that we do see it. The AA Big Book talks about God (our higher power) being within all of us. The Hindus greet each other with praying hands and a bow in recognition of the Atman within the other. Consider our old friend the Thou Experience. If you recognize that the other person has within them a part of their Creator (regardless of what name that Creator is given) you will see them differently because you have changed the psychological experience from the foreign “other” to the familiar “Thou”. These thoughts came about separately, and yet, they all point the same direction. Remember, one of the ways we identify important spiritual information is by spontaneous uprising. Our inner work, which of course, is never done while we are in human form, helps us clear away bias and prejudice so that we may better understand our instinctive and intuitive information. Then, through the on-going practice of the Thou Experience, we can begin our journey into the kingdom as it is here on earth. This, in turn, leads to the kingdom which lies beyond our abilities to experience while on earth. Is not the anti-Christ already among us in the way in which we treat one another? Obviously, given the presence of the anti-Christ here on earth, the implementation of the benefits of the practice of the Thou Experience will not always be smooth sailing. There are those who absolutely will not let you treat them in a reasonable manner. They persist in rudeness and mean actions. We have all learned that anything worth having requires effort. Some things more than others. It is hard to imagine that there is anything more worth having than the Kingdom of the Father as it exists upon the earth. In recognizing that each of us is a child of our Creator, and resolving to implement that knowledge, we have found the door to the Kingdom of the Father which is upon the earth. Stay tuned for the next issue of Sharing which will address some of the difficulties of implementation.
THOUGHTS FROM TIL
EGO AND THE OPPONENT
No mystery is such a provocation as our Ego and his Opponent.
Ego, you are a merciless tyrant.
You want to be number one always!
Your slyness – without a peer!
Your tactics to seduce – unequalled!
And the Opponent?
We call him conscience.
What do we interpret with that?!
It has a voice – indeed!
But the sound is so soft, so faltering.
Yet, it’s penetrating into the deepest depths.
Ego with your manifold of possibilities . . .
Conscience with a Power, from which I cannot take the soundings . .
You’re living in a human body together always.
Do you serve each other as a whetstone?
In the violent struggle that’s proceeding age after age,
Every facet of a human gets polished.
Once . . . once the process will be finished.
How much blood and tears will have to flow before that hour?
IN THE WORLD OF DAILY WORK
In the world of daily work,
The mind is the official leader.
That he’s supervised by Intuition –
Rarely he’s prepared to admit.
Whenever it happens openly –
and the Mind is compelled to listen –
Confusion, shame and fury follow.
Mr. Mind thinks he is threatened,
to lose the ground under his feet.
But Mind and Intuition –
both children of LOVE –
If spontaneously accepting food from their SOURCE –
Might that be the way to experience Peace?
October 28, 2018
LOOK AND SEE
We all know that we live in the dimension of the pairs of opposites. No experience in this dimension is all good or all bad. Remembering this in the time of difficulty may be of substantial help. Because of our five physical senses, we are oriented toward the physical world. Ignore the information from those senses – look the other way – and we begin to see the positive aspects of any given situation. If we are too emotionally invested in the situation, it becomes more difficult to see the entire situation. Which, of course, is why in the Thomas Gospel, Jesus keeps saying “become a passer-by”. Get your emotional investment out of the situation. You will make better decisions, and, if it is a difficult situation, you will function better, making wiser decisions and standing in a more enlightened place. IT IS A CHOICE. We can choose to wallow in the negative aspects of a situation, or we can choose to focus on the positive. If we can focus on the positive, we are more likely to discover our personal lesson, learn it, and move on. Whether others choose to continue to wallow in negativity, we can be our own person, do our spiritual work, grow, and benefit from having been through the situation. This is the wonder of God’s love for us. Even in the negative situations that we encounter in our lives, He seeks to give us the benefit of His love and His guidance. It is always there. We are responsible for listening, learning and implementing. In this view, the consequences of our actions are actually opportunities to learn a particular spiritual lesson. Thinking down this road helps to set aside the Puritan guilt that we are offered by our society, and instead, focus on the situation from the perspective of full analysis and work our way through it, keeping as much joy in our hearts as we can manage under the circumstances. To be sure, some situations are more difficult than others. After all, if they were not difficult, they would not get our attention and we would not learn. While most of us do not actively seek to make our own life difficult, we sometimes stumble into very difficult situations. These events are, in fact, there to make us stop and think, learn, grow, and go on with new wisdom and renewed dedication to living the life which God has given us as decently as possible. The fly in the ointment is Free Will. It has lulled us into actually thinking that we are in charge. Just as when we give our Creator a name like “God” or “Jehovah” instead of recognizing that this is just a convenient reference to a being who transcends this dimension and, so, is totally and completely not understandable by us, we go further and give this being human attributes like loving, kind, judgmental, vengeful, etc. This humanization actually erodes the wonder of our Creator and tries to bring God down to our level. It has also led to the bad habit of blaming God for our difficulties when, in truth, He has actually turned them into opportunities to learn and grow closer to Him, should we so choose. Recognizing that we are not in charge, however, frees us up to get past “fault” and go on to look and see the opportunity presented.
THOUGHTS FROM TIL
TWO SIDES
Light I thank You for my weakness.
I thank You for my doubts.
Thanks for all in my life that-is-not-You,
but on which I still hang the label “genuine”.
I build myself a world of illusions.
As long as I’m feeding that stuff with my breath-
it’ll stay active in multiple of a thousand.
Light, if I shouldn’t be free to create that world-
How could I ever experience YOU!
YOU, Light, Safeness, and Peace!
How could Light without Shadow help humanity to grow?!
“I” AND “IT”
“I” if you want to hear your inner voice,
stop
to make such awful noise.
If you want to see some light,
stop
to throw around your shadows.
If you want to feel some warmth,
stop
to push away the hand, that wishes to caress you.
If you want to go without that enemy called ”Doubt”,
stop
to let the devil enter,
If you want to be in balance,
stop
inviting unrest.
If you want quietness and peace,
stop
the useless fight.
Simply
just
surrender
to “IT”. October 29, 2017
RIPPLES
We all know that no man is an island. Even those who seek isolation must inevitably come in contact with other humans. We also know that we are all students and we are all teachers. By reaching back to the generations behind us, we bring them exposure to thoughts and ways to which they have not previously been exposed and continue the legacy of accumulated wisdom. Spiritually, when we reach back, we encourage the type of thinking that brings others closer to God. If we do it well, those whom we encourage may surpass us and then we can learn from them. Historically, every generation has real doubts about the generation coming along behind. Doubts that they can measure up to the challenge of living an honorable life, running the world, and teaching the generation after them. Human society is based on the existence and recognition by its members of certain basic civilities. Without this basic structure there is chaos. When it appears that these basic civilities are beginning to fray around the edges, what is our proper role? As always, we can best teach (or re-train) by example. When confronted with the generally poor deportment exhibited by someone who never learned the basic civilities and, in addition, thinks their “rules” are what matter, the only course we can reasonably take is one of being an example of the very civilities to which we subscribe. We hope that each such encounter is the beginning of a series of ripples which will make a difference in one or more lives. Hope is a good thing, but, in reality, we may never know whether the ripples we set into motion will have such a result. Additionally, we may be being an example to someone who has absolutely no interest in observing our example or learning from it. We have all thrown rocks into a pool of water and watched the ripples spread out from the place where the rock entered the water. However, we cannot see the effect that our rock has on the environs beneath the water’s surface. Teaching by example is very similar, especially when continued observation of the student is not available. We can turn away from situations like a recluse turns away from society, or we can be that rock which splashes into the water and makes ripples which may make a difference. Certainly, no difference has ever been made by not trying. As ever, none of us can do much to change society as a whole. We can, however, work in our own little corner and hope that others are working in theirs and that one day the ripples will come together. In the world in which we live today, man’s inhumanity to man is rampant. It encompasses a spectrum which reaches from waging war to being unnecessarily rude. We can, however, work in our own little corner and hope that others are working in theirs and that one day the ripples will come together.
THOUGHTS FROM TIL
HOW IT WORKS
A robot wanted to know how it works to be able to feel.
One tried industriously to seek out the proper software.
The steel thing was dressed with human clothes
Unimaginable what he was able to do!
But however refined the chips might be –
The robot neither laughed nor cried spontaneously.
Is it possible only if the juices of life are streaming through a body?
In how many humans feeling is dormant or sleeping still now as well?
SCREAMING
A child is screaming to fulfill his needs.
The needs he doesn’t even understand himself.
That child – still present in so many humans –
Also they pretend to be grown up,
and absolutely independent.
Screaming, kicking everyone who’s coming nearer.
And yet – round every corner looking for support –
crying endless tears within.
“Child”, with eyes, that cannot see –
With ears that cannot hear –
O my dear child, how can I make you clear
That you yourself created all that darkness.
That only you have to discover:
“Light” will kiss you – only – when you let it in.
SOMEWHERE
That longing, that great, very deep longing for Light and Harmony . . .
Somewhere . . . somewhere it must be!
My eyes are seeing darkness only.
Sometimes a spark of Light.
It lasts so short however.
How I try to banish and smother that longing . . .
Fresh shoots are growing again and again.
Longing, are You Yourself that Light? June 25, 2017
INSIDE-OUT
The 57th Psalm reads in salient parts:
He sends from heaven and saves me,
rebuking those who hotly pursue me.
God sends his love and his faithfulness.
Be exalted God above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted God above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.
This Psalm is about the relationship between our earth existence and our spiritual existence. From the language of this Psalm we learn several things. God’s glory is over all the earth. His glory is reflected in the magnificence of Creation. The elegance, simplicity, balance, and continuing existence of Nature. The balance of Nature is dynamic. When there are a lot of mice, the cats increase in number due to the existence of a plentiful food supply. When the mice decrease in number due to predation by the cats, the cats decrease in number due to the lack of plentiful food. There is no perfection in the operation of Nature because the balance is continually in flux. The perfection lies in the design and operation of Creation. Within this design or glory there are what we think of as human characteristics - strength, kindness, consideration of others, work ethic, determination, etc.
God sends from heaven His love and saves us, reaching down (not up) to the heavens (sun, moon, stars, etc.) and His faithfulness reaching down (not up) to the skies (atmosphere). Therefore, the earth (God’s glory) is wrapped in the atmosphere (His faithfulness), which is wrapped in the heavens (His love). This discipline gives a mental image of our part of Creation (the Earth) wrapped in His faithfulness which is His promise to always be with us and seeing to it that the systems of our bodies and the Earth work appropriately as designed within His purpose (excluding our interference and skewing – often referred to as our Free Will) wrapped in His love for us as part of His Creation.
This, however, is, as are so many physical manifestations of spiritual concepts, inside-out.
When we journey toward God we go not into outer space but into our inner space. (Remember, in the preamble to The Lord’s Prayer, Jesus said that when we pray we should go into our closet). We encounter His faithfulness in the operation of our internal systems and eventually come to develop Faith - realization that God is always with us and working in our best interest even though sometimes it feels uncomfortable or painful as we journey through all that we have learned or been taught in search of our reality as a child of God. Once we have Faith, then we can begin our path in search of our purpose within His love – our TRUE place in His Creation as His child and His tool here on Earth.
THOUGHTS FROM TIL
INSTEAD OF . . .
A fellow human taught me a lesson,
so new, so immensely surprising,
I hardly dare to believe it.
But innerly recognizing it,
was so unbelievably strong –
I just have to accept it as true.
The words in which it was expressed?
“To surrender to “IT” is not losing the battle
but winning the game.”
Instead of fighting, fearing,
there is freedom is cooperation with Life.”
TWO SIDES
Light I thank You for my weakness.
I thank You for my doubts.
Thanks for all in my life that-is-not-You,
but on which I still hang the label “genuine”.
I build myself a world of illusions.
As long as I’m feeding that stuff with my breath –
it’ll stay active in multiple of a thousand.
Light, if I shouldn’t be free to create that world –
How could I ever experience YOU!
YOU, Light, Safeness, and Peace!
How could Light without Shadow help humanity to grow?!
April 23, 2017
HOME GROWN
It seems that the more we step back and watch, the more amazing our world is – both positively and negatively. The human race is tearing at the fabric of civilization everywhere you turn. Man’s inhumanity to man seems to know no bounds- murder, war, starving adults and children. Yet, there are many who devote their lives and fortunes to helping others. The question being, are there enough people acting positively to balance out the negative behaviors of others? After considering the human race as a whole, one must then look closer to home. In this country there has always been rivalry (and sometimes, war) between states, and within states, often between cities or portions of states. Look even closer to home and one finds the same dynamics between neighborhoods within towns and cities, colleges, high schools, and finally, within neighborhoods and families. This view begs the question – will we ever stop the fighting on any level? Lao Tsu said in the Tao Te Ching:
Chap. 54 Chap. 51
What is firmly established cannot be All things arise from Tao
uprooted. They are nourished by Virtue.
What is firmly grasped cannot slip away. They are formed from matter.
It will be honored from generation to They are shaped by environment.
generation. Thus the ten thousand things all respect Tao A and honor Virtue.
Cultivate Virtue in your self, N Respect of Tao and honor of Virtue are not
And Virtue will be real. D demanded,
Cultivate it in the family, But they are in the nature of things.
And Virtue will abound.
Cultivate it in the village, Therefore, all things arise from Tao.
And Virtue will grow. By Virtue they are nourished,
Cultivate it in the nation, Developed, cared for,
And Virtue will be abundant Sheltered, comforted,
Cultivate it in the universe, Grown, and protected.
And Virtue will be everywhere. Creating without claiming,
Doing without taking credit,
Guiding without interfering,
This is Primal Virtue.
So, like charity, Virtue begins at home, close to us where we can work on it by creating without claiming, doing without taking credit and guiding without interfering.
THOUGHTS FROM TIL
SOMEWHERE
That longing, that great, very deep longing for Light and Harmony. . .
Somewhere. . .somewhere it must be!
My eyes are seeing darkness only.
Sometimes a spark of Light.
It lasts so short however.
How I try to banish and smother that longing . . .
Fresh shoots are growing again and again.
Longing, are You Yourself that Light?
STORM AT SEA
Form is flying in flakes along the beach.
The sand from the land
Is running in whirling clouds through the air.
A seagull gets stopped in his flight.
Little human,
As long as you jubilantly stand a storm –
It’s you, who is able to quiet the storm in yourself.
SUCH A MOMENT
To understand the sense of life?!
Absolutely doomed to become a failure.
THAT, what’s without borders –
Only can understand “ITSELF”.
Living life, sometimes reveals a miracle.
The miracle of “recognition”.
“The other one is me”.
“And I am the other”.
Such a moment offers a flash of “Borderless Being”.
Hence, a small tribute to the “thou experience” – that realization that we are all part of God, no matter what name we give Him (or Her) and that we are, therefore, all part of each other. Can this stop the fighting on all levels and in all places?
February 19, 2017
BIG AND LITTLE
For the most part we see big and little in absolute terms. An elephant is big and a mouse is little. This view is, of course, is in relation to our size as human beings. Within the classification of “human” there is a spectrum of short, tall, skinny, heavy, etc. So, already we see that our absolute is no such thing. Our tendency to maximize (big) or minimize (little) extends to every facet of our lives. We progress with big steps or little steps. We have big problems or little problems. At this point we have added a personal perception. If something is “big” to us as an individual, we feel that that is truth no matter what someone else may say. We forget that what seems big to one may not seem big to another. This possible flaw in communication is made worse when it comes to things that cannot truly be told by words. Pain is an excellent example. The level of pain one experiences cannot be communicated with words even with similar causes. So much depends on the circumstances and the pain tolerance of the individual. So it is with things of the Spirit. What may come “easily” to one may not be “easy” for another. Thus, our relationship with God must be an individual one where each person is free to pursue his or her relationship with God through whatever means that individual finds appropriate. Verbal communication, in spite of the beauty of our language, does not meet the challenge of conveying the understanding of either feelings or spiritual things from one person to another. Only God can truly and completely understand our feelings. After all, feelings are the true language between a human and God. For the rest of us, we must simply rely on empathy in an effort to understand. If we can spend more quality time with God who does understand us, and less time trying to get other humans to understand us, we are less subject to the passing fads and judgements of this world and we can have a more peaceful existence. For centuries men of the spirit of various paths have gone into seclusion to commune with God. Even Jesus repeatedly went into the garden to talk to his Father. We can all help ourselves in being more peaceful by keeping an emotional “arms-length” from other humans – not judging or allowing ourselves to be judged – and spending more time in the spiritual. The realization that physical life is the ultimate addiction is never more obvious than in our deciding what is “big” and what is “little” in our lives. It is not about what others think or do, it is about us as an individual. So, it seems that big and little are not at all absolute, but simply words which we use to indicate the importance of something to us. We can choose to seek peace and make time with the Spirit a “big” priority or we can relegate spiritual pursuits to something not so “big” – dare we say “little”? It is simply another choice which we must make as we find our way through life, trying to keep a balance and yet – as Joseph Campbell used to say – lean toward the Light.
THOUGHTS FROM TIL
LITTLE MAN
Sometimes Life seems so crumbled.
A piece of this, a piece of that.
Regularity?
A line?
A target?
Who can make a head or tail of it?
All around you there’s the same
The only thing that’s sure
Is:
The day of tomorrow can be totally different.
Possibly more dull, or perhaps a bigger mess.
Often one gets sick and tired from that eternal unsteadiness.
When you creep into the skin of “Little Tumbler”
You’ll laugh up your sleeve about this chaos.
For whatever Life is doing to him-
From his “Center” this little man always lands on his feet.
TEST
How do I get to know my strength,
if there is never a resistance?
The pain, the bitterness, the loneliness . . .
They are attributes of the process.
Sometimes a fellow-human is causing the event.
Is that of any importance, matter of fact?!
The opportunity to try your strength, your trust,
That’s the point, that counts!
Human offering me the possibility to exercise,
I’m in debt with you!
LISTEN
“IT”, all what I’m seeing is a facet of You.
The eyes, which are looking also!
Why can’t I find YOU?!
“Listen, please, listen . . .
“Look at your reflection in the mirror. . .!
“Be quiet . . .
“Feel . . .
“Feel . . .” December 18, 2016
AN INVITATION
Now and then, here and there, phrases or statements “pop up” which tweak our curiosity and invite us to think. Such a statement recently appeared, and it is “physical life is the ultimate addiction”. For those for whom the major portion of their time and effort is put into spiritual pursuits, this statement could be the genesis for an entire tome. For the rest of us, it can offer insight into the way we approach our daily lives. We are, after all, spiritual beings trapped inside physical bodies. Therefore, we must tend to those bodies as well as interact with the world around us. This is basic to being able to do the work which God had laid before us. We are bombarded constantly by information from the physical world. Even in sleep we can be awakened by a loud noise. This information is essential for us to process and work with or through in order to accomplish our spiritual assignments, but we must guard against immersing ourselves in it to the point where we begin to lose our balance between physical and spiritual. It takes discipline such as meditation for us to shut out all the incoming information and be peaceful and quiet, prepared for spiritual interaction.
There have been some observations about this statement. One is the parallel between the constant return from God to the physical world such as idols and self-indulgence (a typical addictive cycle) in which the Children of Israel engaged during the Exodus and the modern day journey of the substance abuser who, unwilling to give up the addiction, cycles time and again between addiction and rehab searching for him or herself. Another observation is that we have been given our five physical senses in order to interact with the world around us, but this is for God’s purpose. We, on the whole, have turned this ability into an addiction which we allow to shut out its Source.
This statement is the first step in “a journey of a thousand miles” worthy of a mind and spirit such as Lao Tsu. (see Tao Te Ching – Chapter 64) Join in the investigation of this statement for it has been said that many spirits joined in a pursuit can yield amazing results. No matter what our current situation, it can (and perhaps should) become more spiritual. Living life is an art form and a common denominator for us all. Understanding this statement can be of great benefit to us and to those whom we love. There is a great deal to be thought, investigated and understood about this apparently simple statement, so surround yourself with the discipline which you use to separate the spiritual and physical and dig deeply.
THOUGHTS FROM TIL
STRAIGHT FORWARD
If I’m walking on and on, straight forward,
I’ll come back at the starting point always.
Thousands and thousands of circles I may choose –
The connection with the earth will be present always.
Earth, you are so huge, so terrifying huge and wide!
And I am so small!
Earth, are you as huge as I think?
And am I really so small?
Although my body is a miracle, it’s still a lump of clay.
Am I the body, or is it my dwelling?
Why don’t I dare to look at the center?
Why do I caress all those fears?
Human, trust your Core,
and mirror the Mystery of Being”.
SUCH A MOMENT
To understand the sense of life?!
Absolutely doomed to become a failure.
THAT, what’s without borders –
only can understand “ITSELF”.
Living life, sometimes reveals a miracle.
The miracle of “recognition”.
“The other one is me”.
“And I am the other”.
Such a moment offers a flash of “Borderless Being”.
THAT WONDERFUL PRESENT
Chained to the body, we’re dreaming of wings.
To be free of heaviness!
Our mind thinks the weight of the earth.
Our mind thinks the freedom of flying!
Our mind can create contradictions.
Is it able to create oneness as well?
Thinking of thinking, what do we do with that wonderful present?
October 16, 2016
LEVELS
It is easy to get so focused on what is in front of our faces that we forget that not only do we operate on many levels, but the universe is composed of innumerable levels, too. The “thou” experience (recognizing that at some level each of us is part of the other) is an implementation of that fact. Our world has become so complex (through generations of human effort) that in some instances it is almost impossible to find the simplicity and interaction. Mankind has used its God-given free will to the detriment of itself and the earth upon which we all live. The earth is an intricate series of ecological systems ranging from the large – like the continental masses - to the tiny - like mites. Of course, all of this is made up of atoms, etc. These systems check and balance one another and, for many centuries, mankind was totally subject to, and in relative harmony with, its environment. The Norse did not try to raise mangos for food, and the Amazon natives did not hunt Polar bears. The inventions of mankind like commerce and industrialization have resulted in the centralization of wealth, and, therefore, power, in the hands of a few whose decisions about how to use that wealth and power all too frequently result in further dislocation for other humans and animals, as well as changes in the environment which are not sustainable without constant intervention by man, for instance irrigation. The invasion of neighboring nations goes back to biblical times – at least. Improvements in the standard of living have resulted in mankind having less susceptibility to disease, which has culminated in an over-populated planet. The problem is contributed to by man’s desire to “have something else”. Our food is shipped over long distances by methods which have a detrimental effect on the environment. Trains, trucks, and boats carry mangos to the Norse and, if they wanted it, bear meat to the Amazon natives. Why? We are like the children of the Exodus who did not want the manna from Heaven – they wanted the foods which were delicacies in Egypt. God gave mankind dominion over all the Earth. Have we used it wisely? Have some used their free will to impose control over others? Our systems are so complex that minor changes often cause huge, unforeseen results. Our environment is the place where this is most easily seen, but other systems, like economic and political, are subject to the same observation. Many events which are local in nature now have global ramifications. We all have twenty-twenty hindsight. It can be used to remind each of us on a daily basis that, living in a temperate zone, we can get along nicely without mangos or Polar bear meat. Our individual footprint on this planet can become less. It is also the case that there is a difference between controlling and teaching, or advising, or helping. Again, walk more softly. Of course, it is abundantly clear that portions of mankind have used wealth and power to impose their beliefs on others – witness the Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition. Perhaps in walking more softly upon the planet, practicing the “thou” experience and letting go and letting God, we can undo some of the less desirable effects the use of free will has had upon the interrelationships of the levels of existence. The best thing to do with free will is surrender it.
THOUGHTS FROM TIL
ASTONISHMENT
Life,
Wondering, I’m looking at you.
You can use every crumb of material.
You’re making and breaking and rebuilding again!
Whenever you beat a human to pieces,
Which like a worm, each becomes another form –
Or . . .
Lay rotting beside the road,
Sometimes open, sometimes covered by some sand –
It leaves you cold.
Human,
Do not try to put in irons
What forever will be streaming.
Dare to be a drop of the sea!
Without form, you’re forming ages.
BARS
Furiously we’re pulling the bars of the cage.
The cage in which we imagine to be prisoners.
But iron can’t be bent by hands!
A vague idea of wings is often floating through us.
Wings . . .
Flying . . .
To be there, where borders are unknown. . .
Little human, you’re dreaming of space,
but you’re afraid of the width inside yourself!
To go there without restrictions . . .
THAT is freedom!
It’s that terrible fear that keeps us encaged.
August 14, 2016
IN THE BEGINNING
It seems that the most difficult part of any task is getting started. We have “notions” and “ideas” about something and then start to lay out the plans to accomplish whatever it may be. All too often our plans lie dormant for a period of time before we pick them back up again, dust them off, and re-plan. Sometimes even that never happens. Our ideas were outpaced by new technology, other higher priority items got in the way, or we simply lost interest. This is the part of “getting things done” that has given rise to the saying that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. This is pretty basic to all people from inventors and builders to living life in general. It helps a great deal if we can get far enough along the road that the process of accomplishment has some momentum that keeps us moving through the dry spells. Another thing that helps keep things moving is the power of the inspiration that moved us in the first place. If we find the task interesting and appealing we are more likely to move through to the completion of the task. This is the case when God inspires us to move. At the opposite end of that spectrum are the mundane daily routines like taking out the trash. When God gives us a task to do, it is usually challenging, interesting, and speaks to a purpose. The discreet task has a beginning, but its true origin is clouded by time. Things we are asked to do today are the furtherance of things that were begun some time ago. Due to our limitations as people, we cannot conceive of the totality so God breaks things down for us into manageable portions. God has given us time, energy and gifts. We all try to use these wisely as He wishes. Not being able to see the totality, this can be challenging. Also, not being able to see the totality, it can sometimes appear that the task is not all that important. That judgment is ours and, therefore, within God’s plan, and not necessarily valid. As we all learned as children “for want of a nail . . . .the battle was lost”. Sages throughout time have spoken of the necessity for getting off to a good start, getting off on the right foot, beginning at the beginning, keeping one’s eyes on the prize, etc. Then, of course, there’s that old chestnut of “anything worth doing is worth doing well”. So much of what we have been taught during our formative years deals with the undertaking and completion of tasks. That instruction was usually aimed at the completion of tasks which we are assigned as children – take out the trash, do your homework. As we mature into adults, should not our focus go beyond the applications we learned as children to those things which God has given us to do? As we go through our daily lives with all of the interests and challenges thereof, prioritizing the use of our time and energy, should the first items on the list not be those which have been entrusted to us by our Creator? We must not only proceed, but we must do so carefully lest we miss a turn in the road. Each day we must set our priorities with an eye toward the beginning of our ongoing tasks.
THOUGHTS FROM TIL
THE RED THREAD
That little piece of coloured rope,
Combining all with all,
Is laying in your hands but loosely.
Do you let it go, then you’re spinning on earth,
Looking for some hold desperately.
Ariadne didn’t roll out a red carpet for us.
What she gave was just that ball of rope.
On the way there is so much to be seen. . .
So much to experience. . .!
So much, that’s threatening and fearful. . .!
A single time you can enjoy some rays of sun!
The attention isn’t directed on the cord always.
By inattention it can be slipping out of your fingers.
When the hours of the day are finished . . .Ai. .!
Where is my thread!?
Have you found it at last,
Quietness returns.
Darkness is not dark any more.
Bravely you’re going on,
Trusting that wonderful thread.
THE TUMBLER MR. LITTLE BLUEMAN
When you blow your breath on him,
He’s moving to and fro.
He can even loose his balance!
But
He’ll never, never lie for ever there.
Having discovered his center-
He stands on his feet.
Flexible but sturdy.
April 24, 2016
THE POINT
We all know that life is a cycle just as is everything else in Creation. It’s easy to tell when we have hit the top or the bottom of a cycle. Things are either going well, or not. In either case, we are usually occupied with the process of making our own personal life go as we want it to go. The truth is that all any of us can fix is ourselves and that having an easy or a hard time is often a matter of perspective. A lesson which God has provided for us may seem difficult at the time even though we know that in the long run, (assuming we learn the lesson) it is beneficial and may even be very beneficial. But what about the larger picture, the bigger view? As we cycle between this plane and the next, if we are doing it right, we are learning lessons which are spiritually important. So, as we go through not just this life but our many lives, how are we doing? As the line from the movie Ghost goes, when we leave we get to take the love with us. We get to make part of ourselves the positive lessons which we have learned. Just like our current life where we can grow and develop, so in our spiritual existence we can grow and develop through taking to ourselves the positive lessons from each of our lives. Is there a way we can know how we are doing – overall? Ask yourself how you stack up against others. On one hand, there is the Dalai Lama. His actions have been those of love even in the face of being exiled from his own country by the invasion of the Chinese. Joseph Campbell once pointed out that the Dalai Lama had not spoken one word of recrimination in the face of that action. “Along with love, compassion is the face of altruism. It is a feeling from deep in the heart that you cannot bear others’ suffering without acting to relieve it.” This from a man driven from his homeland. At the other end of the scale is someone like Hitler who set loose unimaginable suffering and hatred all to establish his own beliefs. Each of us can decide where we fit on that scale. Do we see God in the other person, or do we only see someone who is different from us – a possible threat? Do we have a solid ethic? Do we taking responsibility for ourselves and our actions or do we give that responsibility to a doctor, a preacher, a politician, a parent, etc. so that we can be “blameless”? Do we try to live lives of peace and goodwill or do we delight in drama and chaos? Of course it is easier to dwell on and in our current physical life, but there needs to be some time spent focusing on the totality of our individual existence as it is made up of our many physical lives. At the foundation of it all, God created us in His image. This does not mean our bodies, but our spirits. We have the capability to express His love, His compassion, His willingness to help, His wisdom in the way we help and who we help. The whole point of our existence and our lessons and our many lives is to grow closer to being like Our Father and less like the dust from which He created us. Time spent on this effort is the best expenditure of time possible.
THOUGHTS FROM TIL
PRAYER
To communicate without words . . .
The most glorious communication!
Almost angelic!
But. . .being humans-
We’ll have to look for words once upon a time.
There may be misunderstanding then!
That’ll hurt!
If so – let us incline our heart to the source of that glorious contact.
PYRAMID
On the base there is a swarming of all and everything that can be thought of.
The law of the jungle counts only.
The rest are serving as food.
On the flanks things are changing.
Flashes of consciousness are rising.
Has all this some sense???
What is the target???
Some moments flashes are visible.
As quick as they come, they’re slipping away.
But clambering on – they’re coming back!
Searching inside the depths of yourself –
You see them growing, becoming more clear.
The wrestling to the top offers a precious present at last.
Inside is “the country that’s promised” –
THERE the sun is shining with an all-embracing Love.
February 28, 2016
I
SERENDIPITY?
As we navigate our way through life, we are often faced with circumstances which force us to think, stretch and grow. We frequently designate these experiences as “negative”. In his book The World of Serendipity, Marcus Bach, uncle of Richard Bach (Jonathan Livingston Seagull), wrote about the legend of the Princes of Serendip (the old name of Ceylon). The children of a King, they traveled the world in search of truth and found treasures to live by along the way. So much so that the brothers came to realize that “The goals you find on the way to the goal you want may be more precious than the goal you seek”. Marcus Bach talks about people who he had met by chance who fit into the pattern of his life and work. Moreover, he talked about the people who unexpectedly influenced and improved the direction of his destiny. He goes further down this path by giving examples of persons from our immediate history. Mark Twain influenced by Henry Ward Beecher, Mahatma Gandhi influenced by Tolstoyians, William Penn influenced by a Quaker named Lee, and the list goes on. He speaks of Abraham, unexpectedly entertaining angels; Saul meeting Samuel while looking for his father’s asses, and the Pharoah’s daughter coming down to bathe where Moses lay in his ark in the bullrushes.
“’Pious folk,” says the Interpreter’s Bible, “have always hailed chance as the personal pleasure ground of the God of Law, where He is free from official legality and can at time waive such principles as those of cause and effect and act with arbitrary kindliness and favor. However God operates by laws we have not been able to analyze and at the utmost bounds of human effort when we have done all we can to attain the desire end.’”
and
“To see ourselves as part of a universal plan, to sense an involvement, to catch on to an expanding openness with the world, to realize that there are dimensions beyond the commonly seen and experiences beyond the ordinarily felt, these are enriching qualities. Everything about life points to the fact that we are not alone, that our faith is not static or fixed, that our position in the nature of things is not limited by any sense of restriction,. There is something beyond the commonplace. There are ways beyond our knowing. There is abiding proof that the unseen is as important and as instrumental in our destiny as are the forces we presume to govern and control.
Instead of judging your situation, walk through the door that God has opened for you. In the words of the “secret whisper” of the Princes of Serendip, “Surprise Yourself”!
THOUGHTS FROM TIL
The Old Stale Word
Even our respiration demonstrates the twofold.
Whatever we think of – everything does have another side.
Yet, there’s something on earth, not subdued to what we call duality
The word, by which it’s mentioned is so old and stale.
Daily it gets bruised, damaged, ridiculed and denied.
“Love, Universal Love”.
Love neither asks for good or for bad.
She recognizes the need of others as being Her’s
To experience Her, even only for some seconds,
is an incredible event.
Negative and positive have grown into a circle.
“Little I” is gone, it doesn’t exist anymore!
Ah, “IT”, that I can touch you off and on!
That’s enriching my life!
The Ruler
When “little me” is ruling –
there is “here” and “there”.
The pain of separation bites.
When “The Self” is ruling –
There is peace and oneness,
in whatever place the other may be.
For “The Self” there is no time –
There is no distance.
Only Oneness in a multiple of “forms”.
The freedom of choosing the ruler,
is a present of life.
Humans do not value it always.
Sometimes they throw it in a cupboard and forget it.
December 20. 2015
BEING WATCHFUL
Since everything is cyclical, as we move through life, we all have our ups and downs. Working diligently, one can usually eliminate the extremes in life’s cycles. Learning how to maintain balance is an art form in and of itself. (See Sharing Vol. 21 No. 2) Obviously, however, it is not possible to completely eliminate ups and downs as long as we live on this earth, surrounded by other people. Even if one manages to adjust one’s attitude to recognize that “good” and “bad” days are a matter of perspective and that all days are filled with blessings, it still seems that some days are better than others. Recognizing that even an experience we find unpleasant has a purpose and, in the long run, may be for the best, we still have to find our way through it. Most of us revert to such things as a favorite movie or some comfort food or time in an activity or with people we particularly enjoy. Sometimes the tried and true things we use to uplift us either don’t work or don’t last as long as the experience. In this case, as we grope our way through our experience, we lose sight of the totality and tend to focus on the details. Choices and alternatives present themselves willy-nilly and we begin to wonder. The fact is we are lost in our own personal forest, able to only see the trees. It may feel a little like the forest sequence in Alice in Wonderland, and we have lost sight of the white rabbit. Clearly, we cannot stop. We must keep moving, even if we have to move in small steps and ever so carefully.
The advantage of moving in small steps and with care is that we are slowed down so that we can take the time to see things and situations more clearly and in greater depth. The scenery is no longer just a blur on our way to somewhere else. This approach allows us to consider what we see and feel with more thought about its relationship to not only our immediate surroundings but to the whole and to our spirituality. This broadens and deepens our “data base” so that we will be able to function with more wisdom in the future. Is this not a major point of having experiences? Moving slowly, however has a downside – of course. Without momentum it is easier to lose sense of direction and find it harder to make those choices as we slowly work our way along. At this point, it is important to become watchful. For what? For the serendipity of Marcus Bach. For making happy and unexpected discoveries by accident. (more about this in December) For our purposes at this point, it is having enough awareness of one’s surroundings that (1) we recognize a fortunate detail; and (2) we realize its place in our experience. Perhaps that book that has eluded us suddenly appears, and at a reasonable price or as a gift. A small thing, to be sure, however, it indicates a correct path as surely as an arrow carved into a tree trunk. In this society, that sort of happening is usually called “good luck”. In fact, it is a small but effective (if we see it) sign that this is the right path – go on. So when we watch for God’s “signs and wonders”, we soon come to realize that God did not bring us this far just to turn His back on us, and He is helping us move forward on the path He has laid out for us. The proper way to give thanks for this guidance and help is, rather than thinking “good luck”, to give credit where credit is due.
THGOUHTS FROM TIL
GOOSE LAND
The barrack building and the little street
are separated by Goose land.
An oasis of rest.
The cross-section of the mini island is at most some fifteen meters.
A couple of trees, a collar of reed,
some grass and some weed.
Four beautiful geese built their nest there.
Sitting on eggs by now.
One can see them for a moment sometimes.
Exactly like a year ago.
The difference?
The mamma-goose were still living inside their eggshell.
Were carefully brooded.
Everything will be repeated.
The ups and downs as well.
Three geese are standing on the piece of grassland.
Looking at their island
Their bodies directed to their nests.
One paw pulled up.
Their head towards the passing public.
One eye is gazing at us.
Without words you hear them say:
“Life is repeating itself endlessly.
The forms only are new every time.”
INSTEAD OF . . .
A fellow human taught me a lesson,
so new, so immensely surprising,
I hardly dare to believe it.
But innerly recognizing it,
was so unbelievably strong –
I just have to accept it as true.
The words in which it was expressed?
“To surrender to “IT” is not losing the battle
but winning the game.”
Instead of fighting, fearing,
There is freedom in cooperation with Life.” October 25, 2015
THE BOTTOM LINE
Throughout history people have sought to organize and then control the things and people around them. In pre-history it was for survival. With the establishment of families, it was to ensure the survival of the family as well as its continuance. In early communities it was for safety within the group and from threats from without. Since the Industrial Revolution, companies have been organized to control their direction, make them efficient, make them profitable, and ensure their continued existence. In organized religion, organization has been used to create a cohesive body of belief and ensure its furtherance and dissemination. Citing just these few examples, it would seem that there has been enough practice to at least start to get it right. Unfortunately, such is not the case. There are many, many “systems” that fall far short of accomplishing their goal. As long as these attempts are made by finite minds, there will be shortcomings, flaws, and failures. Yet, we continue to put our faith in these systems and in our ability to create systems which work properly. When a system does not work, we patch it until it appears to work. In times of abject failure, we start anew as if we think we can do any better. Entire societies are built and, for a while, sustained on these systems. We, as individuals living in such a society, are carried along by these systems, for better or worse. We assume that when a system is flawed, someone will fix it. We as individuals also assume that in the event of abject failure of a system that we will be “okay”. We rise every morning thinking that the law is appropriate to our ethical code, that the legal system is at least just, that the commercial enterprises around us are basically ethical and not harmful to us, and that, overall, our way of life will continue uninterrupted, on the whole. We do this despite a history which includes such things as Robber Barons, slavery, starvation, torture of others (all the way back to the Spanish Inquisition and more), crime, wars, and all the other vagaries of human existence. From the foregoing, it should be clear that people have an incredible capacity for faith in others, even though those others cannot be perfect nor create anything which is perfect. Yet, we seem to have difficulty in having faith in our Creator. After all, the sun does come up every morning and set every evening. That’s a much better record, all by itself, than any person has at creating continuity and reliability. How much better would it be to regard all of our organization and systems as convenient tools for day to day things and rely on our Creator for our physical sustenance and spiritual well-being. Of course, it is easier to see and hear in the physical world and, therefore, primarily do “our business” there. But, the bottom line is, it is better to have our primary focus on our spiritual well-being and only secondarily on that which surrounds us in the physical world. Look at Psalm 91 and see what is in store for those who do!
THOUGHTS FROM TIL
COMPLAINTS
If you have chosen suffering pain –
This is the way, you’ve to go.
How else would you ever be able
To reach, which you feel, is your target?
Brains of today cannot understand, we’ve chosen to suffer.
Chosen the hell we are in.
“IT”, how can humans survive, enduring the lessons, You sent along?
It’s told we are looking like You.
Do we prepare all the pain ourselves by ignoring that “knowledge”?
I beseech you to free to ones I love.
It cannot be true they’ve chosen disaster.
And still . . . that “knowing” is so strong?
Do I hear from a distance: “Trust and go on?”!
GENERAL HABIT
Energy, You have so many faces.
They’re labeled with thousands and thousands of names,
Depending on the ones, who are looking.
A general habit considers them solid and real.
Is that, because You hardly ever lift Your masks?
Are our eyes not built to see You pure?
To know, that so called “facts” are not, what they look like,
Is a discovery of great importance.
Then – may be vaguely – thoughts are rising of a Centre, a Source.
The quest of the search begins.
The direction is not known!
It certainly is far from here!
While years are passing by –
Sometimes . . . in a heavy blow of daily life –
Sometimes . . . via the scent of a flower –
Sometimes . . .out of the blue –
The Target is heard, either felt, often seen . . .
Inside our Self.
August 30, 2015
FOR THE MOMENT
It seems that Life has become an exercise in frantic. Everyone wants everything instantly even though it is not possible. Perhaps this attitude was taught us by our electronics. Perhaps it is an outflow of the instant gratification as practiced by our children – and, of course, their children. Perhaps it is part of a futile desire for perfection. Or, maybe we are just passing on to others the pressure which we ourselves feel. For those attempting to live a life which has a spiritual component, Life must be lived as is appropriate to the situation. That is, sometimes with energy and sometimes more slowly and carefully. You may have a message to deliver to someone, but that does not mean right this minute. The timing is as important as the message itself. Too soon – it may get lost in the chaos; too late – it may be ignored as no longer relevant. The implementation of the assignment is always important. Feeling the need to say something or do something, implementing too soon may result in delivering the first part of a message before it is completely received. Refinements which may make the message more understandable or acceptable are then lost. The real question then becomes “how is this best done?”. The frantic nature of Life simply adds to the quandary.
The answer to this situation lies in the realization that spirituality is the core of our existence and must be recognized as such. Our five physical senses are constantly bombarding us with information from the physical world. That stream of information must be interrupted in order to become quiet and receive our spiritual guidance. Recognizing that the physical world and all that belongs to it is, collectively, of lesser importance than spiritual well-being is the first step in the journey inward. For hundreds of years mankind has sought inner balance and peace through a great variety of activities or lack of activity. The mechanism is not as important as the result, so everyone’s method may be different, but the result which is sought after remains the same. No matter what mechanism is used, it needs to be practiced frequently in order to grow as strong, or stronger, than the stream of information coming through the five physical senses. Letting go of the physical world is also helpful. Recognizing that, truly, there is little or nothing we can really influence is a big help. Most of us do very little that is truly earth shaking. While we may feel responsible for a great deal of what goes on around us, recognizing that doing one’s best is all that can be done and being at peace with that is also helpful. Realizing that even though we may feel responsibility – even spiritual responsibility - God is in charge and it is His timing that matters, frees us up to relax and let God lead us through whatever He has given us to do. So, in the final analysis, it becomes important to work on our ability to withdraw from the frantic world, focus on our spiritual incoming and, for the moment, focus totally and completely on God.
THOUGHTS FROM TIL
THE SHOCK
There’s no action.
Life is dull.
It is empty
What is it all for!?
I stumble
My body feels a shock.
Suddenly it is a temple.
For time-less time,
And Godlike Fullness of Emptiness.
TIME
This has to be done!
That has to be done!
Everything stands in a row, waiting to be worked out.
And now . .?
Just to be lazy. . .
Nothing special to do . . .
Playing with time as though it is sand.
Sand, that’s slipping through your fingers.
When a ship of clouds is beckoning me –
I go on board for a trip.
When a bird is whirling – I enjoy it.
When a dog in the street likes to greet me –
I stop and change a hello.
There is time for looking around. Listening at. For being.
Time, how many dimensions have you?
TO BE QUIET
To listen to what never reached the ear . . .
The unknown, experienced never before . . .
The unknown, that was always and will be forever . . .
When we touch It sometimes, it feels trustful and caressing,
But unspeakable great and sacred as well.
No name can interpret it.
Still it feels nearer than our breath.
Might it be the core of our being? June 28, 2015
BALANCING ACT
All of life is a balancing act, if one is doing it correctly. The extremes are just that , and we are to find our place somewhere in the middle. We live in the dimension of the pairs of opposites. Right and wrong are not necessarily black and white. As Joseph Campbell once said: “At any given time we cannot know what is right – so the best thing we can do is lean toward the light.”. Or, as Jacob Needleman says in his commentary to the Tao Te Ching, addressing Chapter 2:
It is wisdom to see that everything in this world has its opposite. . .Distortion and illusion
come from not understanding this, from affirming the “good”, for example, and ignoring
or naively seeking to destroy that which opposes the good. . .Moral teachings that attempt
to break the complementary relationship of “good” and “evil” are doomed to failure, and
breed violence to others and to one’s self.
Having addressed the need for spiritual balance, what about the balance of everything on Earth, and even the Earth itself? In Psalm 74 King David talks about God’s actions in balancing things here on Earth. Speaking of God, King David said:
It was you who opened up springs and streams; you dried up the ever flowing rivers.
The day is yours and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon. It was
you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.
So, the Earth was once balanced by God and, if we look around, we see that the actions of mankind, over the millennia, have caused imbalance. Remember the lady who was concerned about the starving children all over the world. She prayed frequently and earnestly about the problem. One day, as she meditated, she realized that God had given us everything we need, and we have messed up the distribution. Since the tsunami which changed the tilt of the Earth’s axis by a full degree, everything seems unsettled. Most notably, the weather patterns. At least some of the lore which mankind has developed to allow him to adjust to the “normal” weather and climate patterns may be invalid. If God is re-balancing the Earth, it is well to remember that that’s all it is and that when the process is complete, we will begin the process of learning to live on the Earth as it has become. In the meantime, we can continue to give thanks for those things in life which are truly important and always give God our best.
THOUGHTS FROM TIL
MUDPOOL
Within the second of Now –
The wheel of life is turning round and round.
Humans stand ready to label the facts.
They are right - they are wrong – one of the other.
Nowhere a spot, to find out, what they mean.
Nowhere a spot to digest them.
Struggling for some breath.
Little human,
That attitude is causing your blockades.
The structure of Life is flowing, flowing.
You are calling It a mudpool.
But your label slush is causing the woes.
THE WHEEL (TAROT CARD 10)
Immobile Her Hands are turning the Wheel.
Because that is the Task, allotted to Fate.
The results of Her Work?
Crushing to pieces what’s built –
Breaking what is weak –
Pulverizing hope –
Either . . .
Squandering money, properties and luck,
as if they are gingernuts!
Turning the Wheel is Her Task.
That Wheel is as big as the earth.
Are you hanging on the rim –
Your life is never safe there!
Getting hold of a spoke –
You’ve somewhere to hang on!
The nearer to the nave –
A wonderful peace is inside you.
You’re look ng at what’s struggling on the spokes and on the rim –
Seeing yourself as one of them.
And yet. . .that wonderful peace . . .
The events of the days are coming and leaving, just like before.
But being a spectator – you’re feeling safe around the nave.
April 19, 2015
JUDGING
King David in Psalm 144 talked about those who went against him and their deceit. Under most circumstances we would say that such a statement was judging. However, when one is as spiritually evolved as King David, one is able to see the motives of the other person. David was not judging, he was merely stating facts. We, in human form, talk about those who go against us as being wrong. We cannot, from our perspective, say that others are wrong, only that they are apparently working against what we are doing which we BELIEVE to be right. We cannot see reality because we are too immersed in it. If we, on our “straight path” waiver, we must be “set straight” in order for us to continue as God intends. This is not only spiritually necessary in general as we are a part of the fabric of Creation, but it is for our own benefit in particular. We then grow and come closer to God, and through spiritual evolution may come to be able to perceive the motives of others. This is a skill we CAN develop since we are capable of mentally separating individuals from their behaviors – one of which we may love and the other of which we may reject. Of course, learning this at the one-on-one level is only the beginning. Having learned how to separate others from and, thus, accept them without accepting their behavior, we must continue the process. Next is learning to accept individuals who are part of a group even though what their group stands for may not be acceptable. For instance we can accept cannibals as other humans and children of God even though we can’t accept cannibalism. This moves us into the acceptance of individuals regardless of their race, creed, religion or national origin. The next step is learning to accept oneself and still maintain the broken and contrite heart (lack of ego) as spoken of in the 51st Psalm. While on this Earth in human form, we cannot be perfect. Striving for perfection is a form of self-delusion. All any of us can do is our best. Some days one’s best is not as good as other days. This is acceptable. Not always doing one’s best, as it is that day, is unacceptable. Now we come to the biggest step of all. We must learn to accept our lives as they are as an appropriate part of the fabric of Creation as it is being woven by God from moment to moment. Yes, we may still notice that we are physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually uncomfortable but must still accept it without complaint or meddling. We must recognize that everything and everyone is exactly as needed for God’s plan. We do not have the wisdom to understand God’s plan so we must use what wisdom we do have to simply trust God and accept what is as what it needs to be. One must adopt Lao Tsu’s position of no-thinking and non-action, by which he meant becoming a conduit for God’s will without allowing one’s free will to interfere. At this point one can apply the knowledge that “helping” is often enabling and one needs to be certain that “helping” is appropriate within God’s will for the person one is attempting to help. And, last but not least, one comes to the position that the present moment is all that is, the rest being history which cannot be changed, or future, which is up to God.
THOUGHTS FROM TIL
THE PEARL HEN
Mr. Cat and Mrs. Pearl Hen –
Just some unimportants from this earth.
Usually do cats and hens have none whatever interest for each other
Not so, the two, just mentioned!
Mrs. Pearl Hens’ sisters and their mutual husband, all were devoured by a fox
Now she often feels so lonely.
God invented something to console her.
When the car comes out of the garage,
the sun makes mirrors of the shiny bumpers.
Up and down walks Mrs. Pearl Hen,
busily chattering to her “sisters”.
When the people drive away –
the “sisters” run and fly to “heaven”.
Our chicken starts running behind them.
But of course, she always is the loser.
Mr. Cat saw many repetitions of this scene.
When she sadly returns, he meows: “Dear friend, come on!
Surely our lady left some sweeties in the food bowl”.
With a wing Mrs. Hen wipes the tears from her cheeks
and together they go to the kitchen.
Are these “unimportants”, matter of fact, VERY important?
Due to their nature, they’re passing on what love and compassion can give.
THE PATTERN
The patterns of our emotions. . .
It’s either too large or too small –
Too long or too short –
Too heated, or too tepid –
Too open or too reserved –
These wailings can go on and on!
They’re eating heaps of energy!
It makes me crazy!
I want things simple!
That’s possible – if you are staying in the midst.
February 22, 2015
