spiritual?

The term 'spiritual' is thrown around much these days.   What does it mean to be 'spiritual'.

Does it mean to wear certain crystals? - to don certain color clothes? - to work towards some "oneness experience" - to perfect some advanced yoga posture? To align oneself with a powerful guru or teacher? I think not!

Messengers and prophets for thousands of years have given precise instructions on how to be spiritual which is: to surrender to God and obey his commands which are:  

a. worship the One God,
b. be good; do good, and 
c. be charitable.

It is not surprising to note that these principals are dictated in steps 3, 10,11, and 12 of the AA program.

Step 3 is about surrender(where it all begins).
Step 10 is about morality(be good; do good).
Step 11 is about worship (prayer and meditation).
And step 11 is about charity.

(Matthew 22: 36-40) “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

(Quran 2:277) Those who believe, do good deeds, keep up the prayer and pay the prescribed alms will have their reward with their Lord: no fear for them, nor will they grieve.

peace on you,

bob

who are you?

Continuing with the topic of long term fruits of meditation practice … 

As mentioned last week, reverence becomes our default world view after establishing a sound practice.

However the question remains:  Who is reverent? Who are you at the root? 

Earnest practice yields the answer -  

Unless you make tremendous efforts, you will not be convinced that effort will take you nowhere. The self is so self-confident that unless it is totally discouraged it will not give up. Mere verbal conviction is not enough. Hard facts alone can show the absolute nothingness of the self-image. 

Sri Nisargatta Maharaj


bob

reverence

Greetings,

Sometimes I like to talk about the long term fruits of meditation practice.  In other words, how does meditation change us in deep ways vis a vis our views toward life?

Meditation is emptying!  When we empty we drop our beliefs about how we think the world 'ought' to be - When we drop beliefs we open ourselves to seeing things as they actually are - When we come to see things as they are we uncover the reverence deep within us.

ahhhh reverence!  

peace on you,
bob

how long to meditate?

You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day, unless you're too busy; then you should sit for an hour

- old Zen saying.

Ahhh Silence

As meditation is the search for what to give up … Silence is the best teacher.

In the presence of Silence all that is temporary shows up. All things transient are candidates for release if you so choose. Release is the wise (and only) choice. 

The father of release is Silence.  


“Silence is the language of God, 
all else is poor translation.” 
~ Rumi

JUST BE

During meditation we can "just be" ... as Silence demands nothing from us, we are invited to let go and be ourselves without the stain of achievement. 

Rocks do this sooooo naturally.

How easy is it to forget who created everything on the earth and in the heavens.  The goal of meditation is to remember the Creator.

(Quran 2:115) To God belongs the east and the west; wherever you go there will be the presence of God.  God is Omnipresent, Omniscient.

remember?
bob