www.theburninghand.com
  • The Beat
  • blog
  • CW Photos
  • Thin
  • Praxis
  • Person
  • Rule
  • Soup
  • Bread
  • Human
  • Contact
  • Rumi
  • The Watcher
  • Heaven-Become
  • Seed Only
  • Dorothy
  • Interior Landscape
  • Subtle River, Subtle Moon
  • Feather
  • Lessons
  • Sabbath-Day
  • Gandhi
  • Hummingbird
  • Meditation

Light on the Path, Thirteenth Mindfulness Training

2/24/2012

 
Light on the Path
Picture
(Remember to begin with the Opening Meditation and the recitation of the Three Jewels as in Mindfulness Trainings One through Five -- scroll down in the burninghand blog for this.)

We begin:

"In the Name of the Holy One, Boundlessly Compassionate, Boundlessly Merciful... Beauty within Beauty within Beauty..."


Thirteenth Mindfulness Training:

Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, discrimination, and oppression, we are committed to cultivating loving kindness and learning ways to work for the well-being of all people, nations, creatures, and creation. We will practice generosity and gratitude. We will work to prevent anyone from profiting from human suffering or the suffering of other creatures. We will tirelessly advocate for the marginalized and powerless, whoever they are and wherever they live.


Reflection:


Light on the Path... to where? Where are these Mindfulness Trainings, where are these reflections, leading? Our answer is simple: they are all leading into, and deeper and deeper, into the human heart. We have learned from our own brokenness, as from our passions and joys, that it is only in our hearts that we will find the possibility of well-being and the total happiness that we hunger for. These Mindfulness Trainings and reflections are a call to come together in the only "place" that offers the hope of Planetary transformation...

So, this reflection is primarily going to focus on the spiritual / political necessity of "embracing our heart / embracing every heart"... herein lies the Path into the future and the transformation we dream...


Enter the Heart

The "awareness" and "awakening" implied -- or promised -- by the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings is a "quantum shift in consciousness". Nothing less is going to get us where we -- and this precious blue Planet -- needs to get to. The Mindfulness Trainings assumes the practitioner has no desire to be spun into oblivion -- but desires, instead, liberation for everyone and all life on this Planet. A tall order indeed, but the only one worthy of our humanity and personhood.

So, at least for twelve weeks now, we've been making some effort to take with integrity this opportunity. That is good! Let's try to dig a little deeper and find the door that opens onto the paradise Dostoevsky wrote of. Short of an explosion of mind-altering grace (which is always possible), how does one "enter the heart" -- and discover therein the actualization of the prep work of the Trainings?

We won't pretend any of this is easy, but here are three overarching "steps" or "actions" required for entry into, and then life in the heart: 1. We need to manifest by thought-word-action the real Reality of Only One, One Love, in our everyday lives. These manifestations happen (or don't) in our homes, every relationship, at work, in recreation, in our diets, in our politics -- in every aspect / part of our lives. Peace, Justice, Compassion, Mercy, Kindness, Equality, Gentleness, Passion, Harmlessness, Beauty, Empathy (you get the drift) are the means for the manifestation of the Holy One, of the Only One, of One Love. We are meant to be the channels and agents of One Love upon this precious blue Planet! What an exalted life of wonder, responsibility, and opportunity! We get to build Paradise (or not). 2. We need to clearly, demonstrably, intend towards greatness. Hafiz wrote at the conclusion of a poem two words that summarize this second step: "act great". In other words, fill your minds with the words and images of people like Yeshua, Francis, Rumi, Gandhi, Dorothy Day, Mother Jones, Hildegard, Mirabai, Aung San Suu Kyi, Wangari Maathai, Mandela, Huerta, Chavez, Morales, the Berrigans, Perkins, Arundhati Roy, Juila Butterfly Hill -- the list could go on and on! This precious blue Planet is ablaze with incredibly great beings! Join your name and daily life to this list! Don't settle for what you (or someone else) might think possible -- Act Great, and greatness and transformation will follow! 3. Steps one and two will be sustainable only - or exactly - to the degree that we practice number three: affirm the truth, beginning with you, and then flowing out about you and on into the Universe. Our minds are crammed full with crap -- so start with these words of the Shulammite in the Song of Songs: "I am beautiful!" The "average" person has around 65,000 thoughts a day -- we're not going to change the world until we change our minds! It is as simple and clear as that. To clear your head, turn off every advertiser, turn off every divisive political pundit, turn off every dominator paradigm preacher, stop buying all the crap they want you to sell your soul for! You've got to ask the question, "What am I worth?" And then you've got to answer with no ambiguity whatsoever, "I am worth the very best! I am worth Love!" And then the door into your heart will swing open: because you believe that you are worth the very best, that you are worth Love, you are no longer afraid, and you can stand aside and let everyone else enter before you! That's the Key to your transformation! None of this is about you! It is all about the Other! It is about the Other, every single one of them, being welcomed home! No exceptions, no one is left behind,and none are left out! When you have gotten out of the way, the Holy One has room to manuever! When She starts moving all the furniture in your mind aside, you know She's gonna let loose with One heck-of-a free-for-all- passion-dance through all the cells of your mind, ripping and shredding all the way down into only the possibility of "you"... but by then "you've" circled back Home to Only One, One Love...

"O friends on this Path,
My eyes are no longer my eyes.
A sweetness has entered through them,
Has pierced through to my heart...
Mira belongs to the One who lifts all,
And everyone says she is mad." -- Mirabai


It Is Not Yet Safe To Say

It is not yet safe to say
"Forget your Houses of Worship".
So instead,
You can read it here...
But that is not all!
If it is One whom you seek,
If it is Love that you desire,
If it is Liberation that you want,
They can all be found
At Road's End, in the Deep Green
That hides the Tavern of One Delight: just
Look for the sign with a Broken Heart...



An Alternate Thirteenth Mindfulness Training:

Aware of the One Love alive in my heart, I commit my life to Beauty and Kindness and to the manifestation of Only One in how I think, speak, and act. I will to act great and become an instrument of transformation for everyone and for this incredibly precious blue Planet! This is my joy!


Evening Star who gathers everything
Shining dawn scattered --
You bring the sheep and the goats,
You bring the child back to its mother. -- Sappho


At the end of a crazy-moon night
the love of God rose.
I said, "It's me, Lalla."

The Beloved woke. We became That,
And the lake is crystal-clear. -- Lal Ded


Bless this most beautiful world that I ever did saw. -- Devin at 5

...Just love until you and the Beloved become One... At every level at which you exist you're part of everybody else. Because: it's all One Being. Really!
-- Ram Das


Question of the Week:

How far am I willing to go in?

Practice of the Week:

Copy and post in a place very conspicuous to you the section entitled "Enter the Heart". Consider what you really want for the rest of your life. Choose to act accordingly GREAT!

Recommended Reading:

Creating A World That Works For All, by Sharif Abdullah
A Caring Economics, Riane Eisler


With Love and Blessings,
Michelle and Robert

"In the Name of the Holy One, Boundlessly Compassionate, Boundlessly Merciful... Beauty within Beauty within Beauty..."



Comments are closed.

    Author

    Robert Daniel Smith was privileged to serve the homeless and marginalized for 30 years in California. He is living now almost within shouting distance of the Twin Cities. He is a poet, artist, writer, and long-time  Companion of the Way still dreaming... 

    ​Recommended Reading:

    ​Son of Man by Andrew Harvey


    ​Be Love Now by Ram Dass

    ​Be Here Now by Ram Dass

    The Rebirthing of God by John Philip Newell

    The Hope by Andrew Harvey

    The Return of the Mother by Andrew Harvey

    ​Creation Spirituality by Matthew Fox

    Loaves and Fishes by Dorothy Day 

    Sacred Pleasure by Riane Eisler

    Occupy Spirituality by Adam Bucko and Matthew Fox

    Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda

    The Self-Aware Universe by Amit Goswami, Ph.D.

    Bhagavad Gita by Eknath Easwaran

    The Wisdom Jesus by Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault

    ​Living the Eternal Way by Rev. Ellen Grace O'Brian

    Listening For The Heartbeat of God by John Philip Newell

    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    September 2010

    RSS Feed

Copyright (c) Michelle Smith   All Rights Reserved  2017
Photos from tejvanphotos, heather aitken, PixFav.com, Rennett Stowe, Never Edit, dsgetch, Jeffrey, spiritchasa, red line highway, luciefly, np&djjewell, Milton Keynes Museum, pmarkham, Wonderlane, Flikkersteph -4,000,000 views ,thank you!, KOREA.NET - Official page of the Republic of Korea, homethods, igo.rs, Daniel Dudek-Corrigan, WarmSleepy, MizGingerSnaps, niiicedave (back from AK USA), rachel_titiriga, neotint, mRio, regan76, Chilanga Cement, Goldmund100, nevil zaveri (thank you for 20+M views:), Sasha Y. Kimel, Evoflash, ianmalcm, National Farm Worker Ministry, CapCase, Larry Lamsa, nathanborror, philozopher, iamathis, keepitsurreal, Elvert Barnes, NASA Goddard Photo and Video, *ErinBrierley*, archer10 (Dennis) 85M Views, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, recommendgroup3, normalsanik, philwarren, Rod Waddington, Nic's events, edenpictures, ell brown, Eneas, skugga2shadow, PiConsti, matsuyuki, Lucie Bluebird-Lexington, Christiaan Triebert, Kyle Taylor, Dream It. Do It., Schwarzkaefer, K. Kendall, satanoid, Rod Waddington, Adrian Thomson, Rod Waddington, Neon Tommy, Javmorcas, EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection, hams37, DigitumDei, Dean Hochman, Rob React, Marion Doss, Celestine Chua, Bold Frontiers, Bobfantastic, Daniel M. Hendricks, The National Guard, micadew, Pero Kvrzica, Pan American Health Organization PAHO, Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), Abode of Chaos, zugaldia, jorgemejia, 1nativeTexan, A. Strakey, STUART_BURNS1, Jan Tik, erix!, greensefa, Meanest Indian, miketnorton, eliduke, K. Kendall, willthomas7, Southbank Centre London, fuseboxradio, alden0249, Chuckfranky, **** j a z z z i ***, eliduke, kevin dooley, iz4aks, Loco Steve, U.S. Embassy New Delhi, geckzilla, InSapphoWeTrust, PhotoHenning, Miradas.com.br, srslyguys, otterbeintheatre, Sasha Y. Kimel, Dick Thomas Johnson, justin, cattan2011, Rebecca Harms, ** RCB **, jdg32373, thisisjamesj, Glyn Lowe Photoworks., www.ilkkajukarainen.fi, eugenenoodleman, swong95765, WarmSleepy, scazon, albany_tim, hoyasmeg, austinevan, Easa Shamih (eEko) | P.h.o.t.o.g.r.a.p.h.y, Filipe Moreira, Old Sarge, BlatantNews.com, .shyam., puroticorico, Jim, the Photographer, rajkumar1220, mike.benedetti, Lost Albatross, babasteve, Alex E. Proimos, Falling Heavens, cliff1066™, pixiduc, To Tuscany, Space Ritual, Walt Hubis, qwrrty, Geoff Livingston, nyoin, jeffreyw, Cea., tibchris, Friar's Balsam, Pink Sherbet Photography, Trilok Rangan, cscott2006, Kris Krug, spratmackrel, Celestine Chua, Shashank Mhasawade, AlicePopkorn, mhiguera, waitscm, mikekwaan, Lost Albatross, rajkumar1220, Alan Cleaver, philipmatarese, @jbtaylor, Anosmia, ryPix, Illusive Photography, Beverly & Pack, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, Paul Lowry, Ben Sutherland, kamshots, National Farm Worker Ministry, k763, Wonderlane, BAMCorp, bm.iphone, QuotesEverlasting, markbyzewski, greensefa, DonkeyHotey, Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), VinothChandar, jamarmstrong, Ian W Scott, olcoge, carulmare, eleephotography, rajkumar1220, AlicePopkorn, billy verdin, Melody Campbell, PixFav.com, cyberien 94, symphony of love, Cory Kipa Photography, Mulligan Stu, Jack Heart, creativedc, yummyporky, Liz Henry, beaumontpete, Karen Eliot, Formula_d, cuatrok77, Eneas, Monica Arellano-Ongpin, YIM Hafiz, AlicePopkorn, dalbera, TausP., Song_sing, Duncan~, Ed Coyle Photography, h.koppdelaney, L. N. Batides, oseillo, K. Kendall, omnos, francesco sgroi, akshay moon, popejon2, Waiting For The Word, DeeAshley, rajkumar1220, mira66, NASA Goddard Photo and Video, Jean-Luc Toilet, Morgaine, Јerry, silviostarr, mahalie, jGlidePhotoATL, bixentro, AirHaake, VinothChandar, niyam bhushan, tedeytan, Kıvanç Niş, kevin dooley, secretlondon123, mike 23, christian.greller, OliBac, quinn.anya, goat_girl_photos, yeowatzup, revmags, jlwelsh, doubledareyaa, bberburb, Cea., clkohan, Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), garlandcannon (on hiatus), kdinuraj, TheAlieness GiselaGiardino²³, Raphael Goetter, omnos, jeet_sen, rajkumar1220, gbaku, Pink Sherbet Photography, payneshut, timmarshall, cutemosaic.com, Balaji.B, Morgaine, sadeog, DrStarbuck, michaelvito, VinothChandar, Emily Stanchfield, ninja 4 life, Carly & Art, The Jewish Agency for Israel, McD22, Ashok666, Zanastardust, grahamc99, Sharon Mollerus, dental ben, WarmSleepy, Flikkesteph, quinn.anya, h.koppdelaney, Katrin Lorenzen, ernenn, Fairy Heart ♥, Spirit-Fire, Lynda W1, Bob Doran, miheco, micadew, e-strategyblog.com, The Center for Interfaith Relations, Nagarjun, Morgaine, mollyktadams, Marco Gomes, Bennilover, sergei.gussev, U.S. Institute of Peace, symphony of love, waferboard, Abode of Chaos, Br. Christian Seno, OFM, Rod Waddington
  • The Beat
  • blog
  • CW Photos
  • Thin
  • Praxis
  • Person
  • Rule
  • Soup
  • Bread
  • Human
  • Contact
  • Rumi
  • The Watcher
  • Heaven-Become
  • Seed Only
  • Dorothy
  • Interior Landscape
  • Subtle River, Subtle Moon
  • Feather
  • Lessons
  • Sabbath-Day
  • Gandhi
  • Hummingbird
  • Meditation