July 2010
This Month's Contents: Spiritual Care Plan by Heather Saunders | Nobody Knows It But Me by Patrick O'Leary | The Answer: Redux — An Image | The Best Gift by Dave Weimer | Video: The Boy Who Sees Without Eyes | Humor
Editor's Note
by Shawn Nevins
A quest, a plan, determination, a fear and a longing. What better basket of ingredients could you have for an amazing adventure of a life? "Strive on!" exhorted the Zen Master Hui Hai. Indeed.
Spiritual Care Plan
by Heather Saunders
Problem: A longing in the chest, a feeling of dissatisfaction or incompletion.
Diagnosis: A faulty belief in an individual, separate, conscious self, that prevents the Seeing/Being/Knowing of God/Truth.
Goal: To erode faulty beliefs. To become Truth. To find God.
Interventions:
1. Pray — for whatever feels relevant at the time ie. pray for Truth, clarity, guidance, focus, energy, intuition, teachers, help.
2. Meditate — a daily practice of meditation i.e. effortless 20 mins twice daily.
3. Self-Inquiry — asking questions about who you really are, what is Real, what is true, what is Aware, where do thoughts come from etc. Art Ticknor's book Solid Ground of Being is full of fodder for self-inquiry.
4. Wu Wei — spend time alone, doing nothing. Allow the nervous system to deeply relax and drop defenses.
5. Keep the goal in mind — always question what you are doing and why. Is it going to help reach the goal or not? If yes, keep doing it. If not, stop.
6. Stay open and receptive — who and what you really are is already here. You are already That.
7. Focus Energy — find out where your energy leaks are and remove them. Redirect that energy towards the goal.
Click here to .
Nobody Knows It But Me
by Patrick O'Leary
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There's a place that I travel |
Originally written for a Chevrolet commercial, this poem's nostalgic eternality of the present moment caught people's attention. For more about Patrick O'Leary, read the Locus Magazine interview. The photo, "Big Sky Pond," is by Bob Fergeson. Visit NostalgiaWest for more of his photography.
The Answer: Redux
The Best Gift
by Dave Weimer
The best gift life can give me, in my opinion, is a pure quest—something to go after. Something self-evident and worth it. I’d prefer a quest, instead of having to react automatically to the bead-like chain of crises and challenges delivered regularly like the mail, dropped right at my feet. The gift I’m talking about is one that at first seems as far off as that barely-starting breeze over there. Not felt yet, but somehow noticed. The far away trees sway a little. Then it comes in close, like a gradual thaw. The feeling of coolness on my heated cheeks and forehead in the summer, sweating or working in the sun. Or a heat-sucking frigid wind blowing snow over a frozen pond. Here, it tells me. It’s always something I hadn’t considered before, that seems like it’s worth going after. It’s a quest for understanding. A goal. I climbed that mountain. I did it. All the while, I’m imagining. Yes. That’s what I want.
Excerpted from The One and Only Observer.
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Video: The Boy Who Sees Without Eyes
If you don't see a video clip above, then go directly to Snotr.com.
Humor....1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone. 2. It’s always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it. 3. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted. 4. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else. 5. Never test the depth of the water with both feet. excerpted from "The Zen of Sarcasm" list |
Did you enjoy the Forum? Then buy the book!
Beyond Mind, Beyond Death
