"mental illness" is the scariest thing you can experience, isn't it??? not police brutality. not rape. not stalking by an ex lover. not the separation from your darling child because of retarded accusations and uncaring judgments. but, truthfully, if your "family" member is mentally ill, make sure you persecute that person to the fullest extent of the law, because your life is far more important than hers, isn't it??? make sure you avoid having a real conversation with that person as long as possible, so that you don't know her at all (and never did anyway) and then spread rumors and hearsay among law enforcers who are systematically abusing her with all the power they posses. that's the best way to shut down someone you hate. thanks.
24 September 2011
10 June 2011
june 1940 — the filth of desires
One day, Baba called the "five Bangalore boys" and asked each, "What do you want? What do you want to do in life?"
Raju said, "I want to go into business."
Kalappa replied, "I want to deal in cooking oil."
Amdoo said, "I would like to drive a tonga."
Venkoba Rao said, "I want to be a farmer."
Krishna alone replied, "I want you, Baba!"
Baba looked at him, gesturing, "I will give you Baba!"
He then informed Venkoba, "Wait for some time before you become an agriculturist."
Baba kept Krishna and Venkoba Rao in Meherabad. He sent the other three boys back home, after making arrangements for them according to their wishes. Baba smilingly remarked to Krishna, "You have fallen into a ditch! Now you will be in trouble."
Papa Jessawala was assigned to escort the masts Phulwala and Ramshish back to their villages and Kalappa, Amdoo and Raju to their homes.
Baba's remark to Krishna proved to have a literal meaning a few days later. All of the waste material from the masts' toilets was dumped into a large pit. One day it rained heavily, and the pit filled with water. Papa Jessawala told Krishna to empty the water from the pit with buckets. While cleaning it, Krishna slipped and fell into the pit. He shouted to Venkoba Rao, who pulled him out. Baba came by and saw Krishna covered with the filth. "Why were you cleaning the pit?" he asked. Krishna said that Papa Jessawala had told him to do it.
Baba became upset with Papa. "Why did you tell him to clean the pit without my permission?" he asked. Subsequently, Baba ordered Krishna to bathe sixteen times! He handed Krishna sixteen small stones, with which to count, so he would not make a mistake. After doing as Baba instructed, Krishna told Baba that his skin felt very tight. Baba went to the women's room and brought him some oil to apply to his body.
Baba asked Krishna, "Did you feel bad while cleaning the pit?" He replied, "No."
Baba spelled out, "You, yourself, are full of unclean matter. Do you realize that? Why do you live in such filth? Don't you feel dirty? Start feeling unclean because of the filth of the desires that cover you from head to toe, and begin to clean them as you have cleaned the pit today."
Lord Meher, 1st. ed., Bhau Kalchuri, Vol. 7, p. 2566.
The Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust, Ahmednagar, India are the copyright holders of all of Meher Baba's messages, discourses and photographs, unless otherwise stated.
Kalappa replied, "I want to deal in cooking oil."
Amdoo said, "I would like to drive a tonga."
Venkoba Rao said, "I want to be a farmer."
Krishna alone replied, "I want you, Baba!"
Baba looked at him, gesturing, "I will give you Baba!"
He then informed Venkoba, "Wait for some time before you become an agriculturist."
Baba kept Krishna and Venkoba Rao in Meherabad. He sent the other three boys back home, after making arrangements for them according to their wishes. Baba smilingly remarked to Krishna, "You have fallen into a ditch! Now you will be in trouble."
Papa Jessawala was assigned to escort the masts Phulwala and Ramshish back to their villages and Kalappa, Amdoo and Raju to their homes.
Baba's remark to Krishna proved to have a literal meaning a few days later. All of the waste material from the masts' toilets was dumped into a large pit. One day it rained heavily, and the pit filled with water. Papa Jessawala told Krishna to empty the water from the pit with buckets. While cleaning it, Krishna slipped and fell into the pit. He shouted to Venkoba Rao, who pulled him out. Baba came by and saw Krishna covered with the filth. "Why were you cleaning the pit?" he asked. Krishna said that Papa Jessawala had told him to do it.
Baba became upset with Papa. "Why did you tell him to clean the pit without my permission?" he asked. Subsequently, Baba ordered Krishna to bathe sixteen times! He handed Krishna sixteen small stones, with which to count, so he would not make a mistake. After doing as Baba instructed, Krishna told Baba that his skin felt very tight. Baba went to the women's room and brought him some oil to apply to his body.
Baba asked Krishna, "Did you feel bad while cleaning the pit?" He replied, "No."
Baba spelled out, "You, yourself, are full of unclean matter. Do you realize that? Why do you live in such filth? Don't you feel dirty? Start feeling unclean because of the filth of the desires that cover you from head to toe, and begin to clean them as you have cleaned the pit today."
Lord Meher, 1st. ed., Bhau Kalchuri, Vol. 7, p. 2566.
The Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust, Ahmednagar, India are the copyright holders of all of Meher Baba's messages, discourses and photographs, unless otherwise stated.
02 June 2011
running onward toward victory
Conflict follows me relentlessly, it seems!
Today, I am just alarmed by sad times with friends who choose to insult instead of listen, several hours of really scary weather in my state last night—tornadoes which left several people dead, a missing handbag which holds documents I need really dramatically, ongoing troubles with money that leave me without gas for hot water and heat, and my almost constant concern about relocation to Africa as soon as I can clear up this mess a little bit.
In the midst of the whirlwind, while feathers of care and worry whip and whirl around me, while the tornado of opposition continues to howl, while authority figures who continue to demand respect are silently dismissed from my life, while I mourn my empty home and keep quiet vigil over the spirit of my estranged daughter . . . I am still at peace internally. I don't know how it is happening, truthfully . . . it's a shocking development in my life . . . but my mind is at rest within.
I am not frantic. I am not panicking. I am not regretful. I am not afraid. I am not angry. I am not hurried. I am not desperate. I am not lonely. I am not in any kind of terror. I am not on a hunt to rescue any "lost" ones. I am not battling any confused spirits, nor any of my own confusion. Today, I am just here, in a now that is simply moving through time and space with gentleness and steadfastness. Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Avatar Meher Baba ki Jai.
So, as the time passes on, and I simply do the next impossible task on my list and keep plodding forward, I can actually sense that there may be a light at the end of this tunnel. My eternal spring of hopefulness has not run dry!!! It never does. But, today, it bubbles and gurgles with fresh, sweet nectar . . . and I look so forward to that first drink on a shady corridor overlooking the courtyard, at my little desk, with my pens and paper, and some fufu waiting to be made with soup. Pray with me, please, that this simple fantasy is not a pipe dream as I pray continually for your happiness, peace, and transcendence.
Shalom.
Today, I am just alarmed by sad times with friends who choose to insult instead of listen, several hours of really scary weather in my state last night—tornadoes which left several people dead, a missing handbag which holds documents I need really dramatically, ongoing troubles with money that leave me without gas for hot water and heat, and my almost constant concern about relocation to Africa as soon as I can clear up this mess a little bit.
In the midst of the whirlwind, while feathers of care and worry whip and whirl around me, while the tornado of opposition continues to howl, while authority figures who continue to demand respect are silently dismissed from my life, while I mourn my empty home and keep quiet vigil over the spirit of my estranged daughter . . . I am still at peace internally. I don't know how it is happening, truthfully . . . it's a shocking development in my life . . . but my mind is at rest within.
I am not frantic. I am not panicking. I am not regretful. I am not afraid. I am not angry. I am not hurried. I am not desperate. I am not lonely. I am not in any kind of terror. I am not on a hunt to rescue any "lost" ones. I am not battling any confused spirits, nor any of my own confusion. Today, I am just here, in a now that is simply moving through time and space with gentleness and steadfastness. Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Avatar Meher Baba ki Jai.
So, as the time passes on, and I simply do the next impossible task on my list and keep plodding forward, I can actually sense that there may be a light at the end of this tunnel. My eternal spring of hopefulness has not run dry!!! It never does. But, today, it bubbles and gurgles with fresh, sweet nectar . . . and I look so forward to that first drink on a shady corridor overlooking the courtyard, at my little desk, with my pens and paper, and some fufu waiting to be made with soup. Pray with me, please, that this simple fantasy is not a pipe dream as I pray continually for your happiness, peace, and transcendence.
Shalom.
19 May 2011
selfless devotion
THE HEART SHOULD BE LINKED WITH GODMeher BabaAn easier way to progress on the path and ultimately attain eternal bliss is bhakti yoga. It is an easy method in comparison with karma yoga, but it requires firm determination. There should be only one firm resolve: to attain God, to realize God. Devotions offered with that firm determination will be fruitful. Devotion is not gained by crying out with some selfish motive: "Oh God, give me a wife, give me a son, give me wealth — let honors flow to me!" Such devotion is insipid and dry, and quite empty. Devotion should be offered with the intense desire to see God — to be one with God. This one-pointed devotion should completely absorb the devotee's mind. During such devotional practice, there should be no thought of one's surroundings, one's relatives or the world at all. Devotion does not consist in reading holy books all day long or chanting God's name for hours on end. That is not devotion; it is sheer deceit, a show. The heart should be linked with God. Even five minute of real devotion without any other thought, with concentration only on God, is the real thing. This sincere devotion gradually creates the thirst to love God, and eventually it results in merging in the Ocean of love divine. The more deeply you concentrate, the more intense will be your devotion and the speedier the result. Bhakti yoga especially requires aloofness on the part of the aspirant; it will come naturally in the course of time. As the mind becomes more absorbed in devotion, the more detached it will become from the world and its affairs. This is not the case in karma yoga, where the connection with the world is maintained. If both bhakti and karma yogas are practiced together, all the better. But it should be in the way which I have described. These two yogas need wholehearted intense longing and selfless devotion to realize God. LORD MEHER, 1st ed, Vol. 4, p. 1172, Bhau Kalchuri 1989 © Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust |
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17 May 2011
09 May 2011
in a past life
A long time ago, I used to work in the publishing industry. As a writer and scholar, and a really bad college student, I had a lot of trouble choosing a career. My other English major friends went into teaching on the college level. I didn't like school enough to continue on for a Master's degree or PhD so that I could be a professor. I didn't like the nasty competitiveness for tenure and I didn't know if I liked teaching all that much, especially to overgrown, overly spoiled punks who spent all their time partying. So, I skipped out of Graduate school and went to work in business. It took a while to figure out that I still loved education, still loved books, and still wanted to be an author myself. Why not "publishing" as a career??
After 10 years in book publishing, I had a baby and ditched that, too. Oh well.
After 10 years in book publishing, I had a baby and ditched that, too. Oh well.
24 April 2011
Miracles and REAL Healing
On April 25th, (1952) Baba answered questions, explaining various things, among them miracles:
"Why should we produce petty imitation illusions in the already created mighty infinite illusion? Unless absolutely necessary for the spiritual purpose of a general collective drawing of mankind toward Self-Realization, miracles performed unnaturally or supernaturally can interfere with God's ordained evolutionary process."
"What about healing?" someone asked.
"Real healing is spiritual healing, whereby the soul, becoming free from desires, doubts and hallucinations, enjoys the eternal bliss of God. Untimely physical healing might retard the spiritual healing. If borne willingly, physical and mental suffering can make one worthy of receiving spiritual healing. Consider mental and physical suffering as gifts from God, which, if accepted gracefully, lead to everlasting happiness."
Someone else inquired, "Will you break your silence during this trip to the West, Baba?"
Baba replied, "God has been everlastingly working in silence, unobserved, unheard, except by those who experience His Infinite Silence. If my silence cannot speak, of what avail would be speeches made by the tongue? The very moment when He thinks my speaking would be heard universally, God will make me break my silence.
"Most persons suffer because of their karma. A few suffer for others. Masters suffer for the whole universe."
The Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust, Ahmednagar, India are the copyright holders of all of Meher Baba's messages, discourses and photographs, unless otherwise stated.
"Why should we produce petty imitation illusions in the already created mighty infinite illusion? Unless absolutely necessary for the spiritual purpose of a general collective drawing of mankind toward Self-Realization, miracles performed unnaturally or supernaturally can interfere with God's ordained evolutionary process."
"What about healing?" someone asked.
"Real healing is spiritual healing, whereby the soul, becoming free from desires, doubts and hallucinations, enjoys the eternal bliss of God. Untimely physical healing might retard the spiritual healing. If borne willingly, physical and mental suffering can make one worthy of receiving spiritual healing. Consider mental and physical suffering as gifts from God, which, if accepted gracefully, lead to everlasting happiness."
Someone else inquired, "Will you break your silence during this trip to the West, Baba?"
Baba replied, "God has been everlastingly working in silence, unobserved, unheard, except by those who experience His Infinite Silence. If my silence cannot speak, of what avail would be speeches made by the tongue? The very moment when He thinks my speaking would be heard universally, God will make me break my silence.
"Most persons suffer because of their karma. A few suffer for others. Masters suffer for the whole universe."
Baba ended by spelling out, "God is not to be learned or studied or discussed or argued about. He is to be contemplated, felt, loved and lived.
Lord Meher, 1st. ed., Bhau Kalchuri, Vol. 11, pp. 3782 - 3783.
The Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust, Ahmednagar, India are the copyright holders of all of Meher Baba's messages, discourses and photographs, unless otherwise stated.
20 April 2011
one coffee awakening
I've had the strangest experiences lately. It seems like, all of a sudden, I have a real life back!! Friends with whom I have lost touch, for what feels like centuries, have come back in contact, and I even had a "girl's weekend" with a long lost friend who found me out of the blue.
When I say "out of the blue" . . . boy am I serious. Since the holidays, I have never been more depressed in my life . . . and that is really something to say if you are chronically depressed like me. But, like I have said in a couple of earlier posts, life truly is getting better, and that's not just "singing in prison." I feel like a little kid, again, in a lot of ways . . . and I'm so happy for the future. FINALLY!!!
In usual fashion, I intend to toast this essay with a cup of coffee. It's my beverage of choice, usually, and for lack of anything stronger to put in it, I will add my usual dollop of cream and say, salud!! My intentions this evening are to bring the world along into greater awareness and awakening, and to keep the happiness rolling in my own life. Thanks, friends . . . and cheers!!!
When I say "out of the blue" . . . boy am I serious. Since the holidays, I have never been more depressed in my life . . . and that is really something to say if you are chronically depressed like me. But, like I have said in a couple of earlier posts, life truly is getting better, and that's not just "singing in prison." I feel like a little kid, again, in a lot of ways . . . and I'm so happy for the future. FINALLY!!!
In usual fashion, I intend to toast this essay with a cup of coffee. It's my beverage of choice, usually, and for lack of anything stronger to put in it, I will add my usual dollop of cream and say, salud!! My intentions this evening are to bring the world along into greater awareness and awakening, and to keep the happiness rolling in my own life. Thanks, friends . . . and cheers!!!
14 April 2011
just an opinion, i suppose
THE SOUL IS NOT THE BRAINMeher Baba Excerpt from Baba's interview with James Douglas published in the Sunday Express, April 10, 1932 Douglas: Is there a future life? Baba: Yes. The soul does not die. It goes on from life to life till it is merged in God. Douglas: Nirvana? Baba: Yes. But not loss of the self. Douglas: Does the self survive? Baba: Yes. But it is merged in God. The soul is not the brain. It functions the brain. The brain is its instrument. THE PERFECT MASTER, pp. 163-164, C. B. Purdom 1976 © Sheriar Press |
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10 April 2011
the most amazing teacher, friend, and father — Twig Terwilleger
This was my life in 1999 when a man like this walked in and taught me how to punch.
Sorry everybody. And, thanks, Twig.
May you rest in peace but NEVER stop talking. lol!!!
02 April 2011
Spring re-*newal* or re-*fusal*????
No more discussions of holidays. It's so freaking depressing that I just can't stand it. In a previous life, I would be picking up pink and green and blue treasures made of sugar and chocolate, and planning more kid surprises, and I just can't think about that right now. So, bye bye holiday that sounds like the name of a Greek goddess and has mostly to do with a good boiled rabbit over the heath.
This weekend, it will be about a simple Sunday dinner in the crock pot . . . a turkey or chicken or soup made of lentils. Avoid candy as much as possible until further notice. I will put the idea of "resurrection" back where it belongs . . . in Baba's hands . . . and imagine what HE might say about a weird *springish* season in New England that just survived another snowfall and has very little blooming right now.
In true Christian fashion, I will praise Jesus and thank Him for the voluntary bloodletting. Considering how sick I have felt lately, I am so grateful for the infusion of something substantial and pure in this world, no matter how long ago it happened. Baba is no fraidy cat, either, and allowed His blood to be shed in car accidents on two continents, as well as enduring a horrible life ending that included blood transfusions and all kinds of painful indignities to His body. This on top of mental suffering and never ending work for the upliftment of humanity . . . men of dignity and honor, love and service, no matter how you want to decorate your scripture book. Thank you, darlings, and accept my eternal gratitude, praise, and prayers that I am worthy of a place in Your world in any way.
For me, life continues as I hope for a new future with some good times to come. Bloodshed aside, I've shed enough tears to qualify for at least a little poetry writing perhaps, if not scripture. Africa awaits, always, and if I don't "make it in Massachusetts" this time, there is a nice game preserve in Kenya that looks like it has some hungry lions. Hey, the Christians in Rome weren't afraid to face the toothy King of the Pride . . . it's always an option if I am feeling historically accurate to my spiritual path. Keep an open mind for me, though, because I don't have the money for airfare right now.
Ok, then, There's a happy "spring" thought full of sardonic good nature. Mazel tov.
This weekend, it will be about a simple Sunday dinner in the crock pot . . . a turkey or chicken or soup made of lentils. Avoid candy as much as possible until further notice. I will put the idea of "resurrection" back where it belongs . . . in Baba's hands . . . and imagine what HE might say about a weird *springish* season in New England that just survived another snowfall and has very little blooming right now.
In true Christian fashion, I will praise Jesus and thank Him for the voluntary bloodletting. Considering how sick I have felt lately, I am so grateful for the infusion of something substantial and pure in this world, no matter how long ago it happened. Baba is no fraidy cat, either, and allowed His blood to be shed in car accidents on two continents, as well as enduring a horrible life ending that included blood transfusions and all kinds of painful indignities to His body. This on top of mental suffering and never ending work for the upliftment of humanity . . . men of dignity and honor, love and service, no matter how you want to decorate your scripture book. Thank you, darlings, and accept my eternal gratitude, praise, and prayers that I am worthy of a place in Your world in any way.
For me, life continues as I hope for a new future with some good times to come. Bloodshed aside, I've shed enough tears to qualify for at least a little poetry writing perhaps, if not scripture. Africa awaits, always, and if I don't "make it in Massachusetts" this time, there is a nice game preserve in Kenya that looks like it has some hungry lions. Hey, the Christians in Rome weren't afraid to face the toothy King of the Pride . . . it's always an option if I am feeling historically accurate to my spiritual path. Keep an open mind for me, though, because I don't have the money for airfare right now.
Ok, then, There's a happy "spring" thought full of sardonic good nature. Mazel tov.
18 February 2011
transformations
Finally, the inner peace has arrived. It has been slowly creeping in since the holidays . . . and it has taken the efforts of a herculean giant to hold onto . . . but day after day it continues.
Baba Ran is a regular runaway, for those unaware. The tenor of my life has been so intolerable at times that I simply close the door on certain things and escape when needed. Baba always brings me back to clean up the messes I try and leave behind . . . and this time is no different. This time, the disasters are so enormous in my life that all I can do is laugh. As of today, I face financial difficulties like never before, problems with the law, a never ending dispute over the care of my daughter that just gets more outrageous by the minute, a mishandled divorce, a mishandled romance to be . . . on and on and on. Last night I found myself briefly in a jail cell singing "swing low, sweet chariot" and "don't worry be happy." What else can you do at a time like that?
Strangely, though, the peace of mind continues despite the challenges. I said to myself yesterday that I was starting at such a deficit at this point, but for the first time in years I actually have a future plan that feels wonderful and exciting. How odd to be at my worst possible state ever, as far as society goes, and to be looking so forward into the future with hope. I set myself the challenge of "how high can I get from this low starting line?" There's nothing here but shoe polish, really, but I'm singing a good song. That is the craziness of the "faithful," I guess. When there really is NOTHING left but God . . . He finally starts smiling upon you. How grateful I am for that, today, considering that I was sobbing continually about a month ago.
New ideas for the future include a decision to actually seek a publisher for my novel. I am inspired to complete it in Africa . . . and as part of that decision, I would like to begin anew in my old career as a desktop publisher, graphic designer, and publishing coordinator. I have met so many wonderful writers along the way . . . and if I can sell my novel & poetry along with a series of "unknown world artists" from Africa and beyond, I will be so happy. I'm in negotiations with a gorgeously handsome literary agent from Nairobi . . . so we will see what happens. :-)
Sing a song for me, if you can. Show tunes especially appreciated.
Baba Ran is a regular runaway, for those unaware. The tenor of my life has been so intolerable at times that I simply close the door on certain things and escape when needed. Baba always brings me back to clean up the messes I try and leave behind . . . and this time is no different. This time, the disasters are so enormous in my life that all I can do is laugh. As of today, I face financial difficulties like never before, problems with the law, a never ending dispute over the care of my daughter that just gets more outrageous by the minute, a mishandled divorce, a mishandled romance to be . . . on and on and on. Last night I found myself briefly in a jail cell singing "swing low, sweet chariot" and "don't worry be happy." What else can you do at a time like that?
Strangely, though, the peace of mind continues despite the challenges. I said to myself yesterday that I was starting at such a deficit at this point, but for the first time in years I actually have a future plan that feels wonderful and exciting. How odd to be at my worst possible state ever, as far as society goes, and to be looking so forward into the future with hope. I set myself the challenge of "how high can I get from this low starting line?" There's nothing here but shoe polish, really, but I'm singing a good song. That is the craziness of the "faithful," I guess. When there really is NOTHING left but God . . . He finally starts smiling upon you. How grateful I am for that, today, considering that I was sobbing continually about a month ago.
New ideas for the future include a decision to actually seek a publisher for my novel. I am inspired to complete it in Africa . . . and as part of that decision, I would like to begin anew in my old career as a desktop publisher, graphic designer, and publishing coordinator. I have met so many wonderful writers along the way . . . and if I can sell my novel & poetry along with a series of "unknown world artists" from Africa and beyond, I will be so happy. I'm in negotiations with a gorgeously handsome literary agent from Nairobi . . . so we will see what happens. :-)
Sing a song for me, if you can. Show tunes especially appreciated.
25 January 2011
Baba is excited about this
WHAT CAN I PLACE AT YOUR LOTUS FEET?Bal NatuAt the home of M. Ramalingeshwar Sastri, who was usually referred to as "Baba Sastri," owing to his penchant for constantly talking about Baba and interspersing his talks with Sanskrit slokas, one of the family members asked Baba, "My Lord, Baba, what can I place at Your lotus feet, other than my own heart? What else can I give you?" This question seemed to kindle a divine light in Baba's eyes and with an aura of love illuminating His face, Baba conveyed, "Give Me what is not Mine! Everything is Mine, except Myself; Myself is for those who love Me." GLIMPSES OF THE GOD-MAN, Vol. 5, p. 146 1987 © Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust |
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Infinite Names for God
In a world of excessive noise and confusion, one must really remember the truth of the matter. EVERYTHING is God, EVERYTHING comes from God, and EVERYTHING has a purpose. Even supposed evil and tragedy.
Never fear that the Masters of the Universe are truly monstrous or unkind. The Masters of the Universe are only as masterful as they are capable of being. It takes a giant of monumental proportions to convince a "master" of his trade that he may have something to learn. It is only the one or two among them who are humble enough to admit that they themselves are only *tools* in the game of Creation, and never masters of it.
Be brave. Be strong. Have faith.
Shalom.
Never fear that the Masters of the Universe are truly monstrous or unkind. The Masters of the Universe are only as masterful as they are capable of being. It takes a giant of monumental proportions to convince a "master" of his trade that he may have something to learn. It is only the one or two among them who are humble enough to admit that they themselves are only *tools* in the game of Creation, and never masters of it.
Be brave. Be strong. Have faith.
Shalom.
08 January 2011
In the Words of Ivy Duce
SUICIDE AND PAST LIVESPart TwoIvy O. DuceMost people of the western world pooh-pooh reincarnation because they have no memory of past lives. As a matter of fact, lots of small children do have such memories, and they are listened to attentively in countries of the East. Also, their parents do not scoff at their invisible playmates and label them "imaginary". Usually the memories fade somewhere between the ages of four and seven, and they no longer see those on the astral plane. When they retain their psychic perception, they have a difficult time in school and at home because of the scoldings and ridicule to which they are subjected. It may take some years before they realize that their friends and parents do not see what they see, and this can be a bewildering experience also. It is a far more merciful plan that we do not remember our past lives for we probably could not function as we should. The book of our life has its pages filled with good deeds and bad deeds, with successes and failures, all connected in some way with other people. When we give up the physical body and go to live in the astral world, we are given time to sort all this out and assess what the accounts of our life's ledger show in the way of debits and credits. We go through our days so fast here that we seldom take a real look at ourselves, our behaviour and motives, and can remember little of what happens. But it is all stored in our minds, and "over there" we watch the movie film of our life-span unwind. Some of the scenes are happy, some funny, some miserable. In making a beef potroast, after the meat is cooked the cook keeps the liquid boiling until only the real essence remains for the gravy. So the essence, the real meaning of all our experiences, is packed down in our subconscious where it remains for our next life. The ego has its roots in the subconscious. If we died in a hideous fire, we may in our next life show some fear of fire but we will not have to remember the agony. If our cousin happens to be someone we cheated or injured in our past life, we will not avoid him but will inevitably make it up to him, because the law of karma demands that we balance such things. By the same token, we may regard as luck something wonderful done for us, but it will represent another debt due us, paid by someone. There is no such thing in life as getting something for nothing, and nothing that happens ever happens by chance. St. Paul talked about "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." There are several kinds of karma. For instance, every now and then some person, usually young, will commit a violent deed and when asked why he did it will reply that he does not know. It seems to be as inexplicable to him as to the public. We are never destined to murder or commit suicide or such deeds. However, if we build in a feeling of hatred and a desire to murder somebody, or to burn down a house, and keep thinking about it long enough, in time this desire becomes ripened and the result is that when the holder of it incarnates in a new body, all it takes is some incident to trigger off or set vibrating this deep-seated desire-thought and suddenly he goes berserk. He will have to pay the karmic penalty for his behaviour, even though he had not consciously intended such a deed in this life, because that is the only way it can be wiped from his consciousness. WHAT AM I DOING HERE?, pp. 26-28, Ivy O. Duce 1966 © Sufism Reoriented Inc. |
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03 January 2011
Be the change you wish to see in the world
Here's a brief synopsis:
According to Buddhist teachings, one must strive to "be the change you wish to see in the world." I have been doing this all along . . . "turn the other cheek" (yup) . . . "seek ye first the kingdom of God" (yup) . . . "suffer the little children" (yup) . . . "love thy neighbor as thyself" (yup) . . . "learn self expression" (yup) . . . "fight the good fight" (yup) . . . and, now, finally "seek peaceful existence amidst the turmoil." Absolutely time, and SO ready.
Happy 2011.
- Learned to "keep quiet" at a young age . . . to be "seen and not heard." Safer that way.
- Got really good at faking being happy. Got confused about what love really was, because I pretended so much.
- Married really badly at 24 years old.
- Upon birth of my first child, at 33, I finally woke up to what a miserable existence I was leading.
- Started a heartfelt search for meaning. Turned to religions and spiritual teachings for help.
- Continued to remain silent . . . regardless of emotional changes and growth, I did not reveal the lessons of my heart to my "family." Safer that way.
- At 44, under intense pressure from my heart and deteriorating mind, I exploded in anger against society and my family. For over a year, I have been fighting an intense war of criticism toward people who thought I was happy with them.
- Now, I am done. It is time to seek peace within myself, and let others deal with whatever they need to handle without me. Praise God.
According to Buddhist teachings, one must strive to "be the change you wish to see in the world." I have been doing this all along . . . "turn the other cheek" (yup) . . . "seek ye first the kingdom of God" (yup) . . . "suffer the little children" (yup) . . . "love thy neighbor as thyself" (yup) . . . "learn self expression" (yup) . . . "fight the good fight" (yup) . . . and, now, finally "seek peaceful existence amidst the turmoil." Absolutely time, and SO ready.
Happy 2011.
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