What is enlightenment?

"...as our attention comes to reside naturally in the omnipresent, undulating blissful silence in all things, we become that ever-present harmony. We find our own self to be the essence of all things. This is the experience of unity, union, enlightenment. The world does not disappear. It becomes transparent. Boundaries become like veils, thinly covering the essence of life, which we have come to know as an expression of our own nature. Can we still act in the world? Yes, but our motives are different than before when we could only see ourself as separate. We now act in the interest of a broader self. In doing so, we may seem to become selfless. The truth is that we always are acting for our own self-interest. But our self has become universal, so our interest is for the whole of humanity, and for the whole of life."

Advanced Yoga Practices

72 Names of G-D

http://www.ajudaica.com/guide_kabbalah_names.php

... via Penny. Thanks!

We Are One

Declaration of Principles, Interstellar Alliance (Opening):

The Universe speaks in many languages, but only one voice. The language is not Narn or Human or Centauri or Gaim or Minbari. It speaks in the language of hope. It speaks in the language of trust. It speaks in the language of strength, and the language of compassion. It is the language of the heart and the language of the soul. But always it is the same voice. It is the voice of our ancestors speaking through us, and the voice of our inheritors waiting to be born. It is the small, still voice that says: ‘We are One. No matter the blood, no matter the skin, no matter the world, no matter the star. We are One. No matter the pain, no matter the darkness, no matter the loss, no matter the fear. We are One.’ Here, gathered together in common cause, we agree to recognize this singular truth and this singular rule: that we must be kind to one another. Because each voice enriches us and ennobles us and each voice lost diminishes us. We are the voice of the Universe, the Soul of Creation, the fire that will light the way to a better future. We are One.

– Citizen G’Kar of Narn, for the Interstellar Alliance (Babylon 5, The Paragon of Animals, 1998, written by J. Michael Straczynski)

[Who says there's nothing good on television?]

Exercise, week starting Monday, 5/25/2009

For one day truly practice all that you believe. If the opportunity rises to "preach" to someone else try to do it through example rather than verbally.

A SPIRITUAL CONSPIRACY - [Found on the internet]

A SPIRITUAL CONSPIRACY

On the surface of the world right now there is
war and violence and things seem dark.
But calmly and quietly, at the same time,
something else is happening underground
An inner revolution is taking place
and certain individuals are being called to a higher light.
It is a silent revolution.
From the inside out. From the ground up.
This is a Global operation.
A Spiritual Conspiracy.
There are sleeper cells in every nation on the planet.
You won't see us on the T.V.
You won't read about us in the newspaper
You won't hear about us on the radio
We don't seek any glory
We don't wear any uniform
We come in all shapes and sizes, colors and styles
Most of us work anonymously
We are quietly working behind the scenes
in every country and culture of the world
Cities big and small, mountains and valleys,
in farms and villages, tribes and remote islands
You could pass by one of us on the street
and not even notice
We go undercover
We remain behind the scenes
It is of no concern to us who takes the final credit
But simply that the work gets done
Occasionally we spot each other in the street
We give a quiet nod and continue on our way
During the day many of us pretend we have normal jobs
But behind the false storefront at night
is where the real work takes a place
Some call us the Conscious Army
We are slowly creating a new world
with the power of our minds and hearts
We follow, with passion and joy
Our orders come from the Central Spiritual Intelligence
We are dropping soft, secret love bombs when no one is looking
Poems ~ Hugs ~ Music ~ Photography ~ Movies ~ Kind words ~
Smiles ~ Meditation and prayer ~ Dance ~ Social activism ~ Websites
Blogs ~ Random acts of kindness...
We each express ourselves in our own unique ways
with our own unique gifts and talents
Be the change you want to see in the world
That is the motto that fills our hearts
We know it is the only way real transformation takes place
We know that quietly and humbly we have the
power of all the oceans combined
Our work is slow and meticulous
Like the formation of mountains
It is not even visible at first glance
And yet with it entire tectonic plates
shall be moved in the centuries to come
Love is the new religion of the 21st century
You don't have to be a highly educated person
Or have any exceptional knowledge to understand it
It comes from the intelligence of the heart
Embedded in the timeless evolutionary pulse of all human beings
Be the change you want to see in the world
Nobody else can do it for you
We are now recruiting
Perhaps you will join us
Or already have.
All are welcome
The door is open
~ author unknown.....hehehehehe....

Some Playthings

A trembling brown bird
standing in the high grass turns
out to be a blown

oakleaf after all.
Was the leaf playing bird, or
was it "just" the wind

playing with the leaf?
Was my very noticing
itself at play with

an irregular
frail patch of brown in the cold
April afternoon?

These questions that hang
motionless in the now-stilled
air: what of their

frailty, in the light
of even the most fragile
of problematic

substances like all
these momentary playthings
of recognition?

Questions that are asked
of questions: no less weighty
and lingeringly

dark than the riddles
posed by any apparent
bird or leaf or breath

of wind, instruments
probing what we feel we know
for some kind of truth.

- John Hollander

Exercise, week starting Monday, 5/18/2009

Jesus accepted his cross, and through that acceptance, overcame it.

Throughout the week, try to accept what happens to you as a way of moving toward the law of grace.

Edgar Cayce (reading 295-6)

“Fasting—as is ordinarily termed—is as the Master gave: Laying aside thine own concept of HOW or WHAT should be done at this period, and let the Spirit guide. Get the truth of fasting!”

Noticed this quote on one of the Cayce websites today. Thought it was cute, and something to ponder/discuss: letting one’s inner listening, listening, guide our decisions and choices, and letting go of what we “should” or “should not” be doing according to modern fads and beliefs. I just heard that it’s totally fine for a chocolate chip cookie to visit my temple today. You?

List of Universal Laws

List of universal Laws as compiled by

Bruce McArthur in his book

Your Life

(in the order in which they are presented in his book)

• Like Begets like
• As you sow so shall you reap
• The spirit of your actions multiplies the results
• Like attracts like
• Opposites repel
• As you seek, you attract and are attracted to that which will fulfill your search
• As you seek, you repel and are repelled by that which will not fulfill your search
• For every effect there is a cause
• There is nothing by chance
• Nothing happens by chance; there is a purpose to everything that happens
• As thought and purpose and aim and desire are set in motion by minds, their effect is as a condition that is
• Know the truth and the truth shall make you free
• God is
• As you honor, respect, and love your own unique individuality, so you honor, respect, and love the individuality of others
• Your true needs, wants, desires, hopes, dreams, wishes and their fulfillment are as important as those of any other soul in existence
• You must first 'save' self if you would 'save' another
• As you put the God within first in your life, so you manifest the God you are
• As you become master of your lower self, so all things, conditions, and elements become subject unto you
• Spirit is the life, mind is the builder, physical is the result
• Life is the experience of your choices
• If you will be my people, I will be your God
• Seek first the Spirit within and all things shall be added you have need of
• Seek first the Spirit within and you will find
• Ask the Spirit, with faith, and you will receive
• Knock, with faith in Spirit, and the door will be opened
• All exchanges balance
• As you believe, so it becomes for you
• Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith
• Love transforms
• True giving manifests love
• As you give so it is measured to you again
• As you give you gain in understanding

Thanks to Edgar Cayce Australia… http://www.cayce.egympie.com.au

... much appreciated, mates!

Exercise, week starting Monday, 5/11/2009

Practice the attitude of patience, of long-suffering.

"...Be kind, be gentle, be patient, be long-suffering, for if thy God was not long-suffering with thee, what chance would you have?" (#5081-1)

Hokusai Says

Hokusai says look carefully.
He says pay attention, notice.
He says keep looking, stay curious.
He says there is no end to seeing.
He says keep doing what you love.
He says keep praying.
He says everything is alive -- shells, buildings, people, mountains, trees.
Wood is alive.
Water is alive.
Everything has its own life.
Everything lives inside us.
He says live with the world inside you.
He says it doesn't matter if you draw, or write books.
It doesn't matter if you saw wood, or catch fish.
It doesn't matter if you sit at home and stare at the ants on your veranda,
Or the shadows of the trees and grasses in your garden.
It matters that you care.
It matters that you feel.
It matters that you notice.
It matters that life lives through you.
Contentment is life living through you.
Joy is life living through you.
Peace is life living through you.
He says don't be afraid.
Don't be afraid.
Look, feel, let life take you by the hand.
Let life live through you...

- Excerpted Poem by Roger Keyes ~ Petersburg, AK

Let go and fall ...

Let go and fall into the river. Let the river of life sweep you beyond all aid from old and worn concepts. I will support you. Trust me. As you swim from an old consciousness, blind to higher realities beyond your physical world, trust that I will guide you with care and love into a new stream of consciousness. I will open a new world before you. Can you trust me enough to let go of the known, and swim in an unknown current?

Michael J. Roads

from
Talking with Nature: Sharing the Energies and Spirit of Trees, Plants, Birds, and Earth

Amazon book description
(I haven't read it yet, but it sounds great!)

In Honor of The PathWalk

"There exists in life an overwhelming, soul-dwelling understanding of nature, inherent in the human mind. Senses, and the very notion of feeling, thought, and guts, are entirely too primitive to comprehend all of nature's greatness and absolute wonder. It's like the intuitive 'knowing' of love; the conceptual feeling, the expression, and its undeniable 'magical' feeling. You know that feeling in the innermost depths of your being -- it's like the only thing great enough in this world to be able to actually brush against your soul. It's above everyday senses, and it shatters the finite bounds of all intellect, and logical comprehension."
~ Unknown

Pathwalk and drumming event in Stoughton -- May 9th

Folks-

This is the pathwalk and drumming event in Stoughton that I mentioned… Good stuff!

(It's free.)

-A

2^nd Annual Spirit in Nature Pathways Earth Festival

at The Packard Manse

“It’s a Spring Thing Celebration”

on

Saturday, May 9^th from 1-6 PM

“A time to Descend into your heart. Refresh your body, your mind

and your spirit, and then meet one another again.”

583 Plain Street

Stoughton, MA 02072

Follow 138 into Stoughton and go beyond the center of town to the South. At the Town Spa Restaurant take a right onto Plain Street and the driveway to Packard Manse is 1.2 miles on the right.

Details: Packard Manse Invitation and Directions for May 9th

Coffee with Cayce - every 2nd & 4th Friday at A.B.S.

Coffee with Cayce
May 8 / Fri @ 10:30 am–12:30 pm (every 2nd & 4th Friday)
Drop by and join us for a light-filled conversation and the sharing of spiritual epiphanies! Discuss Edgar Cayce’s “Think on These Things” from the readings and choose an angelic message for the day. The agenda is open—you guide the direction! Come and go as your time permits. Let’s explore the wisdom of the work of Edgar Cayce! (Angels by the Sea, Village Landing, 170 Water Street, Plymouth, MA 02360 [Click for Google map | Website: angelsbythesea333.com]. For info, contact Betty Pleiss [bettyp508@aol.com, 1-508-673-0477]. Free coffee. Free-will donations appreciated)

Exercise, week starting Monday, 5/4/2009

For one day practice being joyful in any situation which normally seems burdensome. Perhaps just smiling or humming an upbeat tune will be enough to turn around the circumstances. You might also try visualizing something when ever you know you'll be encountering some one or something negative.
- Patty

Reality is ...

"Reality is merely an illusion,

albeit a very persistent one."

Albert Einstein

New Cayce Internet Radio Program

Edgar Cayce's A.R.E. is pleased to announce our new Internet radio program Reflections: The Wisdom of Edgar Cayce. The program will feature show host personality Jon Michael Zapf and include expert guest speakers and authors. Debuting on May 3, with Kevin Todeschi, the Executive Director and CEO of A.R.E., each program will delve deeply into concepts from the Edgar Cayce readings including ancient mysteries, perspectives on the afterlife, reincarnation, personal health, intuition, psychic development, and much, much more. The show will broadcast Sundays from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. EST, on the CBS Psychic Radio network (PsychicOnair.com), which is dedicated to worldwide news and information regarding all things mind, body, and spirit.

The mission statement of the program is to introduce listeners to the vast array of information from the Cayce readings, which complements the overall mission of our nonprofit organization to provide individuals from all walks of life, levels of education, and religious backgrounds with tools for personal empowerment and healing at all levels — body, mind, and spirit. Upcoming featured guests include Edgar Cayce's son and grandson, Edgar Evans and Charles Thomas, family friend June Bro, popular speaker John Van Auken, and special guests like singer/songwriter Helen Reddy, among others. To learn more, visit EdgarCayce.org/radio.

The Boy Who Saw True (Update)

[Take two, update:]

Well, I finally read it. (Thanks Evelyn!) Definitely a fun book.

---

1885: A school-aged boy starts a diary. Not just any boy, but one who can see auras, and who can see and converse with non-physical beings. Of course, no-one around him can do anything of the sort…

Along the way, alternating with his insightful and endearing observations of all the people he encounters -- the servants, the local vicar, his annoying sister, etc. -- he casually mentions such things as conversations with his (dead) grandfather and seeing a gnome in a tree. These non-physical interactions eventually culminate in a few bits of fuller discourse with some more evolved “guides”.

---

To those for whom these concepts are new, this book may provide a good launching platform for further exploration into the realities beyond what meets the physical eye. For those who have already started down that path, it is nonetheless a fun jaunt, and a bit of a reminder of who we really are.

For This Reader, one of the strongest impressions was just how aggravating his parents were, especially his mother! I was full of pity for the poor kid. – And as a whole, what a strange and twisted culture! Such strict conformity to such arbitrary and absurd rules. Good thing we don’t do that here! ;)

I was also struck by the contrast: here is an obviously highly-evolved soul, for some reason “enslaved” under this spiritually-retarded parent. Constant struggle.

I find it resonating with my own experience. Not that I have the same level of ability as the main character, but it’s that split: on the surface, the struggle with the day-to-day pain and trivia of life; but at the same time, some deeper stream beneath.

It is as if some wise man-of-the-world were to spend a few minutes aimlessly doodling, perhaps while sitting on the toilet… a quick break, before getting back to the “real world”…

On Amazon:

The Boy Who Saw True
paperback $10.85
"44 Used and new from $7.00"
[A little drilldown shows used paperbacks as low as $2.50 + shipping, also with several in the $4-5$ range]