When necessary, reread this to remind yourself about what's real. You are not a job, or money, or no money. You're not a car or any other possession. You're not a bank account, bills, or, receipts. You're not anything online, offline, or out of line. You're not just a head full of thoughts and worries. You're not whatever you fear or daydream about. You're not any of these small and transitory things. You are a DNA unique human, aware and conscious, living your life day by day, hour by hour. You are perfectly created by the universe, in spite of your faults. You are a loved member of a family that includes your parents, other relatives, and your family of friends, roommates, neighbors, everyone who values and cares about your well being and person. All the other distractions in the first part are easy to get sucked into, to identify with, to define yourself by, but so inaccurately. You don't need to define anything, you already are defined by your chara...
Since the earliest beginnings of human experience, the practice of chanting, known thru many traditions and histories, is there a common thread that ties all? Thinking of the great mantras, Hare Rama, Hallelujah, Allahu Akbar, Baruch atah Adonai, Om Mani Padme Hum, Hail Mary, many more, each a meditation, all recited in rhythmic pulses of breath and depth of devoted emotion. Chanting that numbers respiration, paces introspection thru humble reflection, body and mind together imagine a sheer immenseness of cosmos, the constant praise of creation's expanding space, the measured meter and cadence of the dumbfounded spirit, the elusive realms, the new electricity of quantum promise and wonder. The mantras and chants of humanity- from Gregorian to Tibetan- all may invoke the various names and faces of God. But, what doesn't change is the intrinsic, mortal need for a grounding to something greater, a centering and focusing that chanting brings in tones of harmonious reconnection. ...
One might begin with a noble philosophical question: does any species truly know the experience of another? We too often assume all life feels what we experience. Anthropomorphic perspectives are nearly impossible to avoid for most of us. We reflexively attribute our own mortal sensations with any flora or fauna of passing interest. Mostly, the analogies and comparisons aren't accurate- all critters do things for reasons they understand. Yet, clearly most forms of life also example some degree of empathic reaction, as we so often witness in nature. Feeling more connected, we are comforted by these parallels between us and other species, it's understandable. But, it still remains true- as far as we know- that a creature will in the end freeze to death in the subzero storm, without knowing even one moment of what we would call remorse, regret, self-mourning, or the dreadful sense of non-existence.
Comments
Post a Comment