Recognizing the Sacred in Our World – Part Two

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A great read from off the web …. Please take the time.

SPIRITUAL WISDOM: Recognizing the Sacred in Our World

by Christopher Chase

Every religion, at its core, is based on the idea that our world is a sacred and mystical place, and that each of us is on a spiritual journey, that all life is sacred, and that our entire Universe is a mystical creation.

Below is some of the wisdom common to most of the world’s mystical schools and spiritual traditions. Mystical teachings are at the core of all the great religions. They provide an alternative to hate and fear, to our illusions of separateness, reminding us instead of the beauty, interdependence and sacredness of all life.

21 Core Ideas of the World’s Spiritual Traditions – 6 – 12

  1. RECOGNIZING THE PURPOSE OF SACRIFICE AND PAIN~ The journey of souls in this world is not easy.As long as we are motivated by anger, desire, pride or fear we will be challenged by life, and find ourselves experiencing struggles, anger, loss and pain. This is part of growth, a necessary condition for our spiritual development and learning. Fortunately, all pain and sacrifice are temporary.

“God turns you from one feeling to another and teaches by means of opposites, so that you will have two wings to fly, not one.” ~Rumi

  1. ETERNAL SAFETY~  Since we are divine eternal beings there is nothing for us to fear, not even death.Everything that happens to us is a learning experience and even the most terrible things can be transformed into expressions of divine grace. Death is a natural part of this experience, and should not be feared.

“Know the Spirit, Unborn, Undying, Never ceasing, Never beginning, Deathless, Birthless, Unchanging forever, How can it die the death of the body?” ~The Bhagavad Gita

  1. ALL LIFE IS SACRED~  While we may be eternal beings, to harm or kill another from malice, anger or indifference is to ignore their sacred nature and intrinsic value as sentient living creatures. Even when animals are killed we have the responsibility to do so compassionately and consciously, with respect for their lives and gratitude for their sacrifice. For the spirit that gave birth to us all lives in each and every one of us, each and every creation. All of us, no matter how foolish, insignificant or evil we may seem, are cosmic works of art, molded and inhabited by the divine light of God.

“You have heard that it was said, “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also… Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”       ~Jesus

  1. THE FUTILITY OF HATE~  Since we are all brothers and sisters to one another, all our hate, anger and fear are futile. Hate is based on the feeling that someone is trying to hurt you. But we are divine beings, who can never really be hurt in the end. Therefore, those we struggle with are actually teachers for us. They are challenging us to let go of our fears and illusions and open to love.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”              ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Hatred ever kills, love never dies. Such is the vast difference between the two… The duty of a human being is to diminish hatred and to promote love.”    ~Mahatma Gandhi

  1. MeditationMasters.comTHE REALITY OF LOVE~  Love is the way Spirit touches us, as souls here in this world. Love is the underlying reality and essence of the Universe. It is the force that holds all things together. Love is always there, although we may not always feel it or see it. Love takes care of everyone, forsakes no one. This is the great teaching common to all saints, prophets and spiritual traditions. We are all children of God, children of Love. No one should be ignored or pushed away.

“Love courses through everything. How can you say there is no love, when nothing but love exists? All that you see has appeared because of love. All shines from love, All pulses from love, All flows from love– All is love!”        ~Fakhruddin ‘Iraqi, Sufi poet

  1. SHARING AND SERVICE~  Out of our understanding of the reality of love comes the motivation to commit ourselves to be of service to others. Selfishness arises out of a belief in the scarcity of resources, so that each is compelled to grab whatever one can to ensure one’s survival. Cooperation, compassion and service are the actions that arise when we feel no lack, for they have the potential to fill our hearts with peace, gratitude and love.

“What actions are most excellent? To gladden the heart of a human being, to feed the hungry, to help the afflicted, to lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful, and to remove the wrongs of the injured.”   ~Mohammed

  1. THE RECONCILIATION OF GOOD AND EVIL~  The idea that some people are all good and others are all bad is one of the illusions spun by fear-based human reasoning. It is the central idea that gives birth to all wars and violence between people. From the perspective of higher consciousness everything and everybody in the Universe is a part of God. All good things have some “bad” within them, and all bad things have some “good.” To recognize the negative qualities of ourselves and the goodness within our enemies allows us to understand how we are all similar to one another.

“In this world, hate never dispelled hate. Only love dispels hate.
This is the law, ancient and inexhaustible.”  ~The Buddha

 

*Watch for Part Three, coming soon!

Recognizing the Sacred in Our World – Part One

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Recognizing the Sacred in Our World – Part One

A great read from off the web …. Please take the time.

SPIRITUAL WISDOM: Recognizing the Sacred in Our World by Christopher Chase

 “Wherever you turn, there is the face of God.”     ~The Quran

Every religion, at its core, is based on the idea that our world is a sacred and mystical place, and that each of us is on a spiritual journey, that all life is sacred, and that our entire Universe is a mystical creation.

Modern science, while often professing skepticism, is now coming around to provide further support for these ancient teachings.

At the atomic level, each of us is composed of nothing but energy, timeless swirling patterns of light. Every atom in your body is billions of years old, clustering in molecules and cells held together by solar energy pouring down from the heavens.

Our very consciousness rides upon this energy, the fields of solar light pulsing within every living being. The very meaning of ‘spirit’ comes originally from the idea of an animating principle within living creatures. We now know that this life force truly exists, its local physical source is the sun, its original source, a metaphysical mystery.

It’s usually hard for us to think this way. We are so caught up in our social and cultural identities, in our shared perceptions, desires and fears, that it’s difficult for us to see ourselves and others as primarily cosmic and spiritual beings. And yet, for centuries, that is what many of the world’s greatest prophets, sages, poets, writers, artists and visionaries have been trying to help us to do.

Below is some of the wisdom common to most of the world’s mystical schools and spiritual traditions. Mystical teachings are at the core of all the great religions. They provide an alternative to hate and fear, to our illusions of separateness, reminding us instead of the beauty, interdependence and sacredness of all life.

21 Core Ideas of the World’s Spiritual Traditions – Part One: 1 – 5 

  1. UNITY, CARING AND CONNECTEDNESS~ The concept of universal brotherhood and sisterhood, unity and compassion. We are all related to one another, learning how to love and respect each other here on this planet, and work together harmoniously. Human life is like a school, where we are given the opportunity to practice forgiveness, charity, cooperation and compassion in this world.

“The kingdom of heaven is inside you and it is outside you. God’s kingdom is spread out upon the earth.”         ~The Gospel of Thomas

  1. DIVINITY IN THE WORLD~ The concept of divine purpose, guidance and grace. This is based on faith in an unseen mystery and spiritual wisdom in the universe. There is a spiritual presence that resides within us, and surrounds us, that can guide us when we believe in it, pray to it and learn to listen to it’s subtle messages to us. Not only that, but since this divine power resides in all beings, it often speaks to us from the mouths of others, and through events in our world.

“God is not some person outside ourselves or away from the Universe. He pervades everything… He abides in our hearts and is nearer to us than the nails on our fingers.” ~Mahatma Gandh

3. THE UNIVERSAL SELF~ A central idea of mysticism is that there is One Spiritual Being at the core of everything. This Universal Self is our fundamental identity. We are all ideas in the imagination of God, fingers on the hands of the Universe, or leaves on the Universal Tree of Life. At the center of each person is this Divine Self.

“When we see God in each other we will be able to live in peace.”   ~Mother Teresa

“To love another person is to see the face of God.”   ~Victor Hugo

  1. THE SOUL~This universal spiritual Self is what most religious traditions call the soul. We are not the social roles society tells us we are. Our fundamental identity resides in our sacred and eternal core, whose origins lie in the spiritual realm and whose experiences and feelings here on this earth are providing important learning experiences for our spiritual evolution.

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  1. SPIRITUAL GROWTH~ As conscious souls we are constantly learning and growing, becoming more and more aware of our spiritual potential and our sacred relationship to everything else in the Universe. Life is a spiritual journey, where we learn to let go of our limited human ideas and beliefs, putting our faith in the wisdom of the mysterious creative power that gave birth to our Universe, and dances in our lives.

“Growth comes with an increasing awareness of and respect for Great Mystery in all people and things, with an awareness that this force of mystery is at work in all events. Growth comes through tolerance for the infinite variety of ways in which Great Spirit, the Infinite, may express itself in this Universe.” ~Ed McGaa (American Indian)

* Look for Part Two, coming soon!