Fog

Why is it important to understand fog? Many will reach a point where they seem to be in a fog neither progressing or regressing. 

This happens to all spiritual travelers and is very common. 

Liken this to driving your car in the fog. Have patience and maintain your speed. Keep your light on for others to see. Below the fog is a beautiful valley and above the fog is a wonderful view from the mountaintop.

In James chapter 4 it explains that life is like the morning fog. Here today and gone tomorrow. We also are reminded here of patience and waiting for the fog to lift. We are reminded that anxiety is often a result of our sight. The fog is always temporary and to realize that can make a difference in how we react. You will find out that the most successful people in business are able to hold on to their positions without regard to circumstance. Faith is about making decisions based on goals and determination not sight.

Being September - thought of the song september morn. One of the lyrics is we traveled halfway around the world to find ourselves. Perhaps fog is a temporary illusion in which we find ourselves.

Peace.

Earl.

the Rooster

We are reminded that in conscience before passing into death all debt should be paid. Even Socrates one of the greatest thinkers of all time reminded a friend to pay back a rooster that he had borrowed. It may have seemed like such a trivial thing - a rooster. Socrates also had many opportunities to flee - Yet he stood his ground in court and faced death as a philosopher that was not about to retreat. His most famous saying, " I know, I know nothing". That is realization in its finest.

In many religions karma is sort of a debt that is collected over lifetimes and need to be resolved. As a christian we believe this debt is impossible to pay and therefore Christ paid it for us. Do we use this as an excuse to disobey God. I found that 85% of the persons in prison claim christianity as their religion. That is a staggering number compared to most religions. You will find the next largest number is muslims , then native indians and jews - so religion does not seem to keep people out of prison. The lowest number very minute are actually Sikh and hindu. Of the highest number most are catholic then closely followed by protestant.

Is this a direct correlaton to the number of the population -No! Then why the large number of christians, muslims and jews  in the prison system. Perhaps they are not fully practicing their religion, on the contrary most come from a very religious background. They all believe in repenting for sin as an atonement and that they are forgiven and owe no debt.

My contention is that we should always be willing to pay back the rooster and do the right action regardless of religious teachings. If you borrow money- pay it back , religion does not give you the right to steal. This is a misconception held by many of those in prison, they have weakened their conscience. We are not given the right to kill and steal as chosen people. We need to live lives above reproach and within the law. When we see ,so called, religious beings committing violence in the name of God , it is even worse.

Is it because the Sikh are not really religious , they are spiritual. The hindu is not religious but spiritual, if you look closely, they are more serious about experience and practice. It also is true with the orthodox christians who are more concerned with spirituality and practice. There are some others within christianity that also have a believe in spiritual experience and practice. These are all in the smallest percent of prison population , there is a direct reflection of this in statistics. By their fruit you shall know them.

We need to achieve awareness to get closer to God , it is not just a matter of appeasing conscience.

Peace.
Earl.

Apocrypha

Recently I developed an interest in scriptural studies. For some reason I felt the need to study the Septuagint and the Apocryphal books used by some. Actually there were several greek versions of the bible and many did not survive the ages. In all 600 books were presented and only one tenth were put into the modern bible. Some are referred to as canon and other deuterocanonical depending on the conference in which they were approved. So, I spent some time reading the stories and trying to see if the book of wisdom and others actually contained divine wisdom. It appears in the old testament other books are mentioned in Numbers 23 the book of the War of Lords and found a few others.

What does all this mean will I be given extra credit for reading all the books possibly related to the christian world - probably not. Leave no stone unturned is usually the incentive. Actually my favorite book is you. I love people even more than any biblical book. In all my studies never put a book before a person. Jesus never wrote a book, buddha never wrote a book, Muhammad was said to have written the Quran even though he himself was illiterate - this in itself would be a miracle. Actually hindu scriptures were attributed to gurus - enlightened holy men. The scriptures written by the the various gurus used by the Sikhs are considered to be a guru , the final guru in a series of guru. I have read about two thirds of the Guru Granth Sahib which is very inspiring. To be honest it is very poetic and could be used for quiet meditation effectively.

We take great pride in our scriptures because they are the religious guidelines. Yet - many will not read the others books. If you are truly a student , it seems you will read every book produced by gurus or apostles or by men of wisdom such as Solomon, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle or saints. Even more important there is a common thread of universal truth in most inspirational books. Read your books but never put a book before a person, they are much more wonderful it seems. If you get a chance hold a newborn baby , it can make us tremble in amazement. The most memorable times in my life were holding my children and grandchildren in the moments following birth.

Peace.
Earl.

Potholes

 While exploring other religions there is a possibility of hitting a pothole. You may realize your own religion is bringing you into a stale personal relationship with your inner being. This is not good, Luke 17:22 Jesus said' the kingdom of God is within you'.  This almost sounds like something the buddha would say , in fact many of the sayings of Jesus are found in other religions. Wisdom of the ages can be found in all religions , including christianity.

Consider the universal principal of the Golden Rule;
Buddha: Consider others as yourself
Jesus: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Love thy neighbor as thyself.
Mohammed:  Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you.  That which you want for yourself, seek for mankind.
The Talmud:  What is hurtful to yourself do not to your fellow man.  That is the whole of the Torah and the remainder is but commentary.
Egyptian Late Period Papyrus:  That which you hate to be done to you, do not do to another.
Epicurus: Neither harm nor be harmed.
Confucius: Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself.

And what about Love your enemy it also appears in every religion as a universal principle.

We find there are many of these universal truths that are at the top of everyones list.

So why are people changing churches and some even switching religions?

Because  they can.... Freedom of religion allows us to be whoever we want in this country, we are not forced into a state religion. To me this is a good thing , it keeps everyone on their toes. You cannot get away with indifference or prejudice as in the past. People are realizing there are other choices and becoming braver to make that change.

Honestly I feel at home in a catholic church or a lutheran church. In a baptist or a methodist church or independent church. Do not involve myself in the dogma and reach out spiritually. It to me is a matter of choice but you should not ever act indifferent toward another christian. It seems this spirit of indifference is driving some to other religions, a pothole. 

In spirituality we search for wisdom. to me that is God's will - to obtain wisdom. There are many that leave other religions because of the same reason- indifference. Indifference is to me like a pothole , it means you do not love your neighbor , or your enemy and rather show them indifference. You may not even love the members of another church with the same lettering. I have seen this a lot. 

We need to hold onto all universal truths first , and then settle your dogma or minor disputes outside. It is important that we realize that we are all created in the image of the divine regardless of beliefs. We are all different in faith and character but of the same creator. If you do not believe in a creator , we are of the same fabric. 

To some science and philosophy is enough , some like to have both science and spirituality. I personally am this way. My mind and I get along very well. The most important thing is to be content with your own mind before you can help others. Getting along in this life is important, avoid potholes , if you are content in your beliefs , build upon them. I built this house with Jesus as the cornerstone, and somewhere in that foundation is my own mind. We find it is very much like building a house.

Peace.

Earl.

Walking on Water

This is definitely dealing in the area of neither possibility or probability. Though it would seem to me mind over matter is miraculous if not impossible the bible states that for Jesus it was a possibility. This is just a few of the suggestive ideas that had been rejected by the reasonable or current thinkers. Though Martin Luther stated faith is without reason, this means we are to go beyond the probable and the possible to grasp faith. This was at first hard for me to grasp, it seemed to be somewhat suggestive. Then it appears that Peter also followed this feat and began to walk then lost his faith and fell into the water. Not sure why Jesus did this miraculous feat, it would have satisfied me to have his wisdom only.

It was Thomas Jefferson that removed all the things that were beyond reason from his bible. Now I am a believer in Christ had many experiences that may seem miraculous to some but do not call them miracles. I cannot fault Thomas Jefferson for writing his own version, wanting to hold onto the Christ he had come to know and love but not willing to give up all reason. He was expected to lead a new nation based upon sound decisions using all the reasonable powers at his disposal.

Then we have the story of the hindu guru that charged over 100 USD to watch him walk on water. He showed up with many of his followers and after the first step kirplunk, splash. Angrily he shook his fist at the crowd shouting one of you is an unbeliever!

We also see in certain buddhist and other religious writings long before Jesus time these claims were made of holy men performing the supernatural. We also see that Jesus warned of those that performed miracles in his name. So even Jesus downplayed the significance of the miracles. He taught it more important that we obeyed and did God's will than perform miracles.

We are on a path of wisdom not a path of miracles but for the argument...

Because though our brains are taught to believe with reason , using the probability and less likely possibility. We are forgetting the words of Martin Luther faith is without reason, and we are also forgetting the words of Habakkuk who said, " The just shall live by faith". So we are told to live in the world and not be of the world. As children of light this world becomes an illusion a dream and true reality awaits us or we can experience a glimpse of it in the miracle.

The whole purpose of the miracle is to unshackle the reasonable brain, to take us into another domain of possibilities. There are some willing to accept them and others who just will not go beyond reason. Some things we are told to just accept by faith and the truth will follow. In the world in which some  live reason precedes the truth, this is a logical precept. However to be aware of the ethereal , reason cannot perceive it. Light we are told precedes truth and we should become children of light.

To me reasonable thought is just current thought , but things that were never thought possible have become possible and even probable. So imagination leads to new ideas and creativity, it has been already proven.

The man who invented quantum physics, Max Planck  now a recognized science also said ' light precedes truth'. He also said that light becomes the truth when the opponents of it die out and a new generation is born. It will be without question that there will be a generation born that will someday think of walking on water as being possible. The same as our generation looked at flight and breaking the sound barrier, going to the moon, creating a cell phone that can access huge warehouses of information and sending pictures back and forth. Someday , that generation,  will look back and say , he did walk on water!

Peace.
Earl.

Footprints

We see the picture of the person walking in the sand , the gentle wave crosses over the footprints erasing them. We see the walk in hollywood were footprints are made to be permanent in the sidewalk. We see halls of fame where famous sports figures are recorded. Yes- I have even seen the cast footprint of Albert Einstein - a childhood friends father owned a shoe store in Princeton and this was a favorite item they liked to show guests.

A persons footprint does not have to be cast in stone for others to know they were there. To some fame is important , a sign of success that sometimes money can buy. Yet we see in the story of Mahatmas that very little was left behind , perhaps a few articles sandals , glasses and maybe a watch. In America fame and fortune is viewed as success, in other cultures royalty and subjection to royalty. Some cultures  success is having children as many as possible. 

In Truth success has a perfect relationship with the footprint that we want to leave behind. In studying the cultures that are based on religion, political and providence. We discover this is America , from the founding fathers till now , we see a constant struggle for power and fame. We even elevate those that have achieved this kind of success. We have a love relationship with them , this include passion, jealousy and other feelings. We the people, by the people and for the people really means certain people. If you belong to as many fraternities and churches as possible your chances for this kind of success improve greatly in America. This is what a democracy is about -people. 

What is the spiritual life about? Is it about influencing people or becoming powerful? You will find it is not. We find that our footprint is more like the person that walked upon the beach whose footprints were erased by the sand. This type of life seems so meaningless though- from the aspect of the average american, it is probably something you would regard more in India or Africa or a  more spiritually historic place. It is true! The spiritual communities are often destroyed by the religious , those who seek power and providence. As in the case of the american indian , the australian aboriginal, the canadian aboriginals - many of these were a spiritual people. They were saved by religion according to the salesman of providence. Now we are discovering they had a deeply rich heritage and are trying to understand some of the writings left behind. If you take the time to read some of the american indian poetry it is a taste of this rich heritage. Often reflect on the writings of the Lakota and Cherokee tribes as they leave me with a sense of balance and peace.

The footprint of the moccasin has a lot of character, as does the footprint of the sandal. The moccasin was often worn for comfort and the stealth it provided in hunting. The sandal is often the choice of a philosopher or man of knowledge. The boot was often worn by those more aggressive in society , kick ass is a popular american term.

Actually the first boots were found in the use by the american indians over 8000 years old. The moccasin came later as it was discovered they were more comfortable for average wear, so the evolution of footwear has regressed. Indians learned to soften the hide and produce this remarkable footwear over time. The buddha left his shoes behind for the more comfortable sandal.

You may wear whatever you choose and certainly you will judge your own success by the footprint left behind in this world. 

Peace.

Earl.

Mondo della luna

The opera by Joseph Haydn is a story about a venice man who liked to entertain with his own private observatory and a telescope pointed at the moon. He would tell his guests he could see the people on the moon carrying out mischief and had everyone convinced he was an astronomer.

Actually he had no training in astronomy and no idea what he was looking at. Sometimes the telescope was pointed into the sky with nothing in view. He would answer his guest that his telescope was so powerful that it could see right through the houses on the moon.

We appear to be so emaciated at times to belief just about anything , a man can set up a church, hold a service and claim to observe the heavens. It may all appear real and the trimmings all seem right , the guests are delighted.

Who am I to judge ones intentions , are they playing church and just having a delightful time. The whole scenario of the opera Mondo Della Luna, looking at the moon, believing whatever, that it must be real because we are in an observatory with a real telescope.

The findings are the same without the trained astronomer how can one see the moon and have it explained. People on the moon in houses - really? I do not think so , especially since men have already stepped on the moon and returned. Of course some are told this never happened , what an opera that religion can be. At least play along with science and change the story , you can still play the same music. This has been the way for ages science and religion. A Venice opera.

Actually people were more entertained by the bogus astronomer and that all had a great time. It seems that is what people want , they return from church and say wasn't the music wonderful, did you hear the choir? fantastic. Now they have copied the popular rock music to appease the young minds, they have video screens to view, just like TV. They roll out the sacraments like it is just another part of playing church, very seldom saying the sacramental prayers or convey the incense.

Everyone has their method of religion , but at least do not copy the rock bands and give in to entertaining. We are not there to entertain but yes - if someone has an opera voice - enjoy, it may even bring a tear to your eye that God had gifted someone with such a voice. The more the capacity is for emotion the greater the emotional experience one will seek. The greater the spiritual capacity one has, the greater the spiritual experience. This is what the people want an experience, but to me the quiet radiates its own music, a celestial opus. Not that I am against a full symphony orchestra with an opera voice if you can arrange it - that sounds wonderful. What is important is that the message be pointed in the right direction.

The relationship with God is a spiritual one, there is also a spatial significance. Spatial is our sense of direction, the telescope example is relative to the spatial relationship. If we meet together for  spiritual service and do not have this spatial relationship it was just entertainment or a social meeting. In the human brain the frontal lobe contains our capacity for spirituality and next to that is the spatial or our sense of direction or where we are. It is not by co-incidence that the design is this way.

We are there to maintain a focus on God, however it be in worship or the message. If we have spirituality without focus it is unlikely we will actually have a ethereal experience. My hope is that we understand spirituality without focus is like the Venice opera.

Peace.
Earl.