Conquering Worries — A Dose of Faith

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Brother M

Let Nothing Disturb You  

Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing make you afraid. All things are passing. God alone never changes. Patience gains all things. If you have God you will want for nothing. God alone suffices. [Teresa of Avila].

The more we become comfortably attached to our physical existence, the more our worries increase. This is because many of our worries and anxieties emanate from a desire to prevent loss of material possessions.

There is nothing that wastes the body like worry, and one who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever. [Mahatma Gandhi].

In an increasingly secular world, fear can disrupt our equanimity and affect our physical well-being, our economic condition and, most important, our spiritual health.

Strive to preserve your heart in peace; let no event of this world disturb it; reflect that all must come to an end. [St. John of the Cross].

Dealing with Worries – Timeless Remedy
Our worldview should diminish the significance of worldly attachments and offer spiritual security against grief, worries and fear.

Quenching worldly desires and stilling the mind are components of all major religions.

Buddhism: Craving begets sorrow. Craving begets fear. For him who is free from craving there is no sorrow. How can there be fear for him? [Dhammapada 216].

Hinduism: A person whose mind is unperturbed by sorrow, who does not crave pleasures, and who is free from attachment, fear, and anger; such a person is called a sage of steadfast wisdom [prajna]. [Bhagavad Gita 2:56].

Christianity: Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect [not wanting], go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” [Matthew 19:21].

Islam: Indeed, those who submit themselves to God and act righteously shall be rewarded by their Lord: they shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve. [Quran 2:112].

A Dose of Faith
Human beings require a regular dose of faith. As vitamins are needed by the body to prevent physiological deficiencies, so faith is needed by the soul to maintain spiritual equilibrium.

When the spirit is not fed, it is unable to sustain any serious endeavor without experiencing overwhelming worries and fear.

SAY: “[Thus speaks God:] `O you servants of Mine who have transgressed against your own selves! Despair not of God’s mercy: behold, God forgives all sins – for, verily, He alone is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace!’” [Quran 39:53].

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Mystery of Repentance — Perseverance (2)

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Brother M

 

Perseverance in Repentance

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. [James 1:2-5 (NIV)].

Repentance requires acknowledging sin, confessing to God, and asking for forgiveness. The cognitive mind must understand that it has deviated from its proper course and has transgressed. To be effective, repentance must remain attached to perseverance.

Good fortune and misfortune take effect through perseverance. The way of heaven and earth becomes visible through perseverance. The way of sun and moon become bright through perseverance. All movements under heaven become uniform through perseverance. [The I Ching].

Despair, Penance and Repentance

Repentance comes only when the physical reality of sin penetrates to our inner heart and lodges itself there. Our contrition starts in our conscience when we acknowledge our wrongdoing and grows until it finds comfort in faith, where it is delivered from despair.

If a man has beheld evil, he may know that it was shown to him in order that he learn his own guilt and repent; for what is shown to him is also within him. [Baal Shem Tov].

When physical, mental and spiritual calamities strike, they humble us and make us call for help. They send our souls scurrying into the realm of the Divine for forgiveness and protection. This is the work of God.

We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking, only to learn that it is God shaking them. [Charles C. West].

Guilty of error, whether wilful or inadvertent, the self must then incline toward correction. Even before we perform any penance, a turning of the heart is required. By turning away from sin and leaving what God has prohibited, we return to what He has commanded.

“Rebbe, I am a sinner. I would like to return, to do teshuvah [repent]!” R. Israel of Ryzhin looked at the man before him. He did not understand what the man wanted. “So why don’t you do teshuvah?”"Rebbe, I do not know how!” R. Israel retorted. “How did you know to sin?” The remorseful sinner answered simply. “I acted, and then I realized that I had sinned.” “Well,” said the Rebbe, “the same applies to teshuvah, repent and the rest will follow of itself!” [Quoted in "The Dynamics of Teshuva" from the book Deep Calling Unto Deep, by Dr. J. Immanuel Schochet].

Purification through Repentance

God is with us in our deepest despair and our highest ecstasy. However, in despair is when we need God most. When lost, we are most aware of our dependent condition — in the darkness of the night, wandering blindly in our recalcitrance.

Our penitence generates humility and is the prime response of our awakened conscience. Having acknowledged guilt, we turn the remorseful mind to correcting the perverted conditions that stimulated sorrow and regret.

From sincere penance, we gain confidence and tranquility, while discarding anxiety and fear. From our repentance, we resolve to continue living in accord with Divine principles of goodness and compassion.

Often we will remember our prior weaknesses with sorrow and crying. However, the tears from our eyes are expressing the joyful state of our soul. Our lament is evidence of our sincerity that documents that we truly turned to God.

Even if the most sinful person resolves to worship Me with single-minded loving devotion, such a person must be regarded as a saint because of making the right resolution. [Bhagavad Gita 9.30]

When we rushed toward lustful cravings and uncontrolled gratification, we plunged our soul into great depths of spiritual darkness. However, repentance replaces recurring thoughts of previous wrongdoing. Our past evil life can make us feel disheartened. However, purification through repentance cleanses the soul of the sediment deposited by our prior prodigal existence.

The most dangerous thief is unwholesome thought; the most precious treasure is virtue … the most tormenting pain is bad conscience; the height of bliss is redeemed awakening [The Gospel of Buddha].

Repentance, Mercy and Grace

So now, we must be patient in climbing out. The cure for our spiritual disease must be gradual for it to be long-lasting. A bone that we break in a split second takes weeks to heal. Likewise, spiritual breakdowns come suddenly, but are only healed gradually.

The soul rising out of sin to a devout life is like the dawn of a new day. It does not banish darkness suddenly, but by degrees. All addictions are resilient, so we must commit to fighting a long-term war. We must persevere to the end.

Nay, seek (God’s) help with patient perseverance and prayer: It is indeed hard, except to those who bring a lowly spirit,- Who bear in mind the certainty that they are to meet their Lord, and that they are to return to Him.  [Quran 2:45-6].

Praise and thanks belong to You, oh Lord. You offered grace and we accepted. We receive it and thank You.  Yet, we seek to come closer, to understand more, to serve with the light You provide. As servants, all we can ask is to know what more can we do to please You. We wait and watch, trusting and fearing, knowing our weaknesses, our humanity, our many faults.

I — yes, I alone — will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again. [Isaiah 43:25 (NLT)]

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Mystery of Repentance — Turning to God (1)

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Mystery of Repentance — Turning to God (1)

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Brother M

Mystery of Repentance — Turning to God

Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” I tell you that, in the same way, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. [Luke 15:4-7 (NIV)].

Repentance Defined

Repentance describes the condition of being sorrowful because of our actions, turning away from sin, and feeling regret. The literal translation of the word is “to turn” or “return.”The Hebrew word teshuvah and the Arabic tauba both describe “repentance” as turning from a path of error back to the path of God. This turning requires a spiritual change of direction, a rejection of our prior sinful existence and a return to obeying God.

In heaven, God will not ask is why we sinned; He will ask us why we didn’t repent. [Pope Shenouda III].

Repentance extends over two critical points in time. It starts in our thoughts then extends into action.  From the moment we recognize and acknowledge our deviation to the moment we return to right conduct, our focus must be to return to the path of God. First comes the prodding of guilt and of consciousness of error. This is followed by a heartfelt response of regret, sorrow, and remorse, signs of true repentance that lead to moving away from sin.

God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it [1 Corinthians 10:13].

When we are immersed in sin, drowning in lust, passions and depravity, we can rely on the rope of repentance offered by God to pull ourselves back to safety. Then, we must continue on the path of Divine awareness and righteous conduct.

On no soul doth Allah place a burden greater than it can bear; for it is (the benefit of) what it has earned and against it (the evil of) what it deserved: [Pray:] “Our Lord! do not punish us if we forget or fall into error! Our Lord! Lay not on us such a burden as thou didst lay on those before us! Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear! Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; Help us against those who stand against faith.” [Quran 2:286 ].

Mystery of Repentance

Repentance is a manifestation God’s mercy to humanity. It is an inherent emotion encrypted in our hearts that allows us to escape from the pain of contrition and from regrets for past conduct. It changes our thoughts and actions to free our soul from the sorrows caused by wrongdoing.

Through repentance, we make the transition from the misery and agony of sin to the relief and tranquility of faith. That is the mystery of repentance.

I may speak of that which I know by experience; and so I say, let him never cease from prayer who has once begun it, be his life ever so wicked; for prayer is the way to amend it, and without prayer such amendment will be much more difficult. Let him not be tempted by Satan, as I was, to give it up, on the pretence of humility; let him rather believe that His words are true Who says that, if we truly repent, and resolve never to offend Him, He will take us into His favour again, give us the graces He gave us before, and occasionally even greater, if our repentance deserve it. And as to him who has not begun to pray, I implore him by the love of our Lord not to deprive himself of so great a good.  [Teresa of Avila].

Repentance emanates from the deep desire to gain forgiveness. Longing to end our estrangement from the Divine, our soul petitions God’s help in correcting past wrongs and opposing evil inclinations. We seek healing of present sins and protection against relapsing.

Surely God loves those who turn unto him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves. [Quran 2:222].

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Continue reading: —> Mystery of Repentance — Perseverance (2)

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Wealth, Integrity and the Soul — Conforming for Possessions

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Brother M

Wealth, Possessions and the Soul

Wearing fine clothes, bearing sharp swords, glutting with food and drink, hoarding wealth and possessions: these are the ways of theft, and distant from the Way. [Tao Te Ching 53].

For many of us, wealth represents a source of independence and freedom. Without wealth, we feel limited, unable go achieve our potential. Lack of financial resources forces us to conform to behavior we do not particularly condone.

Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. [1 Peter 3:3-4 (NLT)].

Wealth of the Soul

In the media, in social environments and, yes, even in churches, mosques and synagogues, our consumer driven institutions teach us to accept practices that conflict with our spiritual, moral and ethical affirmations. We are asked to conform to lifestyles alien to our nature and we readily accept them, destructive as they may be.

We convince ourselves that conformity is essential to success and we adopt behavior established by material marketers promoting an ultimately secular reality. Not only do we accept the tendered lifestyles but we strive to rival and surpass our peers in possessions and affluence.

Man’s merit lieth in service and virtue and not in the pageantry of wealth and riches. Take heed that your words be purged from idle fancies and worldly desires and your deeds be cleansed from craftiness and suspicion. Dissipate not the wealth of your precious lives in the pursuit of evil and corrupt affection, nor let your endeavors be spent in promoting your personal interest . . . Guard against idleness and sloth, and cling unto that which profiteth mankind, whether young or old, whether high or low. [Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets].

What soon emerges from our pursuit of wealth is greed. What it eventually develops is deceit and hypocrisy. What it ultimately produces is perdition.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. [Romans 12:2].

Enduring Wealth and Prosperity

The accumulation of fears frequently accompanies the accumulation of wealth. As we increase our possession and as our prosperity grows, we develop anxieties and worries. We fear that our possessions will be lost, that comforts will become hardships, and that those without wealth will commit violent acts to take away our precious property.

In response to our growing fears, we also accumulate instruments of security. We seek to buy freedom from anxiety by spending a considerable portion of our resources to protect the wealth we have accumulated.

Perceiving only a secular reality and entrenched in material existence, our earthly thoughts cannot envision a solution for our fears other than physical safeguards. Our efforts are directed only at developing temporal protections, transient safeguards.

Nevertheless, despite our investment in instruments of security, we feel no real confidence in our safety and find no true peace in our rest.

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. [Proverbs 8:18-19 (NIV)].

Purification of Wealth

The Divine security that we seek is found in abundance of charity. We should know that charity purifies us and our wealth.

Moreover, what we give in charity is recorded and preserved in our account with our Lord. It is an investment without risk, guaranteed to multiply in value. It not only soothes our soul, but also  protects our interest in the hereafter, while paying regular dividends and offering immediate profits

We diminish our fears and increase our wealth by the happiness we produce in others. The charity we offer from our possessions guarantees safety for our wealth. This is the promise found in the same scriptures that pronounce the warning on accumulation of wealth. It is the antidote for the poisons inherent in material possessions.

So, we can filter out greed through the gratitude we receive from the poor; strain out hypocrisy with the appreciation we see in the eyes of the needy; smoother our pride with the thankfulness we hear from the hopeless.

Those who spend their wealth for increase in self-purification, And have in their minds no favour from anyone for which a reward is expected in return, But only the desire to seek for the Countenance of their Lord Most High; And soon will they attain (complete) satisfaction. [Quran 92:18-21].

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Spiritual Exercises for the Soul — Developing Moral Strength

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Brother M

Spiritual Exercises for the Soul

The first Annotation is that by this name of Spiritual Exercises is meant every way of examining one’s conscience, of meditating, of contemplating, of praying vocally and mentally, and of performing other spiritual actions, as will be said later. For as strolling, walking and running are bodily exercises, so every way of preparing and disposing the soul to rid itself of all the disordered tendencies, and, after it is rid, to seek and find the Divine Will as to the management of one’s life for the salvation of the soul, is called a Spiritual Exercise. [Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola].

When our passions are focused on physical accomplishments and satisfying material desires, spiritual growth is often stunted or forgotten. We become so involved in worldly activities that we don’t have time for spiritual development. A higher consciousness appears to offer little value for advancing our career.

Character is the product of daily, hourly actions, and words and thoughts; daily forgivenesses, unselfishness, kindnesses, sympathies, charities, sacrifices for the good of others, struggles against temptation, submissiveness under trial. Oh, it is these, like the blending colours in a picture of the blending notes of music which constitute the man. [J. R. Macduff].

 Spiritual Exercises against Temptations

Spiritual exercises become vital when we are inundated by secular pastimes and besieged by worldly temptations. These negative conditions blind the mind and deprive it of divine awareness and contemplation. This is particularly true with young adults.

It is impossible to be our best at the supreme moment if character is corroded and eaten into by daily inconsistency, unfaithfulness, and besetting sin. [Frederick Brotherton ( F. B. ) Meyer].

To strengthen our spirit for such struggles, we must engage in regular meditations, prayers, and other spiritual practices that help us elevate our consciousness and cleave to our faith. In addition, fasting and dedicating time to helping needy persons, particularly the young and the elderly, help to restrict excessive indulgence in worldly pastimes.

Those who do wish for the (things of) the Hereafter, and strive therefore with all due striving, and have Faith — they are the ones whose striving is acceptable (to God). [Quran 17:19].

Spiritual Exercises for Moral Virtues

Faith in God is the active ingredient in every ethical and moral virtue we posses. It is the motivation for every positive thing we do. The reality of God’s majesty and power comforts and strengthens us, and also humbles us in our relationship with other.

It is the habit of making sacrifices in small things that enables us for making them in great, when it is asked of us. Temper, love of preeminence, bodily indulgence, the quick retort, the sharp irony, — in checking these let us find our cross and carry it. Or, when the moment comes for some really great service, the heart will be petrified for it, and the blinded eyes will not see the occasion of love. [Anthony W. Thorold].

We can be devoted to pleasure, to material success and prominence, or to knowledge and understanding. Whatever our goal, the level of our accomplishment is often proportional to that of the effort we exert.

There is one thing that keeps many from zealously improving their lives, that is, dread of the difficulty, the toil of battle. Certainly they who try bravely to overcome the most difficult and unpleasant obstacles far outstrip others in the pursuit of virtue. A man makes the most progress and merits the most grace precisely in those matters wherein he gains the greatest victories over self and most mortifies his will. [Thomas a Kempis].

Spiritual Exercises to Strengthen Faith

Here are ten steps we can take to reinforce our faith and develop our moral strength, if God so wills:

  • 1.   Remember & thank God often
  • 2.   Acknowledge our sins through repentance and penance
  • 3.   Pray regularly, specially during the night
  • 4.   Mention God often in conversation (without shame)
  • 5.   Sing hymns, gospel, sacred music; chant
  • 6.   Attend religious services, lectures, visit sacred places
  • 7.   Invite others to faith, share our beliefs & knowledge
  • 8.   Give in charity, money and time
  • 9.   Regularly engage in fasting
  • 10.  Learn and study sacred texts; memorize verses.

God’s Mercy

Even if we have thousands of acts of great virtue to our credit, our confidence in being heard must be based on God’s mercy and His love for humanity. Even if we stand at the very summit of virtue, it is by mercy that we shall be saved. [St. John Chrysostom ].

We know that our efforts do not earn us merit, but it is God’s benevolence that we seek. Throughout our spiritual exercises, our trials and difficulties, we never despair of God’s mercy.

 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD. [Psalms 117:2]

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Buddhist Spiritual Exercises (6)

Posted on March 25, 2012 by Brother M

Master your senses, what you taste and smell, what you see, what you hear. In all things be a master of what you do and say and think. Be free. Are you quiet? Make quiet your body. Make quiet your mind. By your own efforts awake yourself, watch yourself, and live joyfully. Follow the truth of the way. Reflect upon it. Make it your own. Live it. It will always sustain you. [Dhammapada].

Buddhist spiritual exercises focus on the Four Noble Truths, all of which center on cessation of suffering and attaining Nirvana.

Samsara, the Sanskrit word for the cycle of death and rebirth, describes the illusionary perception formed by ignorant cravings. Buddhist adherents seek to escape saṃsāra by eliminating desires and attaining a state of perfect peace, Nirvana.

The Four Noble Truths:

  • Everything that exists is filled with suffering
  • Suffering is caused by desires
  • You can end suffering by discarding all desire
  • The Noble Eightfold Path leads to the end of suffering

The Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism

  • Right View
  • Right Thought
  • Right Speech
  • Right Behavior
  • Right Livelihood
  • Right Effort
  • Right Mindfulness
  • Right Meditation

The Fourth Noble Truth can be divided into three categories of spiritual exercises: moral conduct (sila); mental concentration (samadhi); and wisdom (prajña). These three categories are the basis for Buddhist spiritual exercises .

Moral conduct (Sila): No: stealing; lying; sexual abuse; intoxicants. Monks cannot eat after noon, sleep on soft beds, handle gold or silver.

Mental concentration, (Samadhi), is the result of mind-development: “Concentration gives the message of alertness. Meditation gives the message of vastness. Contemplation gives the message of inseparable oneness.” [Sri Chinmoy].

Wisdom (Prajña): Understanding of the non-self.

Clear Seeing – Vipassanā

Vipassanā is a Pali word from Sanskrit translated as “insight,” ”clear-seeing,” “seeing deeply.” It refers to immediate experiential perception, as opposed to intellectual knowledge, reasoning or deduction.

Breathing in, there is only the present moment.
Breathing out, it is a wonderful moment.  [Thich Nhat Hanh] 

Khandhas are the phenomena which form the sense of self. Suffering arises when we cling to any khandha. By realization that nothing among them is real, we discard the notion of “I” or “mine.”

Release from attachments to khandhas is the object of meditation exercises. They seek to extinguish our clinging to illusions that cause suffering. [See: Practical Insight Meditation Basic Practice The Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw].

The secret of Buddhism is to remove all ideas, all concepts, in order for the truth to have a chance to penetrate, to reveal itself.  [Thich Nhat Hanh (Buddha Mind, Buddha Body: Walking Toward Enlightenment)].

Five Buddhist Aggregates [pañca khandha] are:

  • 1.”form” or “matter” [rupa] — Externally, rupa is the physical world. Internally, rupa includes the material body and the physical sense organs
  • 2.”sensation” or “feeling” [vedana] — sensing an object either pleasant, unpleasant or neutral
  • 3.”perception,” “conception,” “apperception,” “cognition”, or “discrimination” [sañña] —recognition of objects, sounds; shapes
  • 4.”mental formations”, “impulses”, “volition”, or “compositional factors” [sankhara] — mental habits, thoughts, opinions, prejudices, whims, decisions
  • 5.”consciousness” or “discernment” [viññana] — cognizance, discernment

Understanding means throwing away your knowledge.  [Thich Nhat Hanh (Being Peace)]

Yoga

As a Pali word originating in Hinduism, ”yoga” is central to many early Buddhist texts and  is often translated as “spiritual exercise or practice.” Yoga controls body and mind to harmonize with spirit. It educates the body, the intellect and the inner spirit with the goal of gaining to elevate a person to greater goodness and holiness and, ultimately, to divine consciousness.

370. Cut off the five (senses), leave the five, rise above the five. A Bhikshu, who has escaped from the five fetters, he is called Oghatinna, `saved from the flood.’

371. Meditate, O Bhikshu, and be not heedless! Do not direct thy thought to what gives pleasure that thou mayest not for thy heedlessness have to swallow the iron ball (in hell), and that thou mayest not cry out when burning, `This is pain.’

372. Without knowledge there is no meditation, without meditation there is no knowledge: he who has knowledge and meditation is near unto Nirvana.   [Dhammapada].

Zen

In Zen Buddhism, meditation (zazen), the writing of poetry (especially haiku), painting, calligraphy, flower arranging, and the maintenance of Zen gardens are considered to be spiritual exercises .

A kōan in Zen Buddhist is a story or statement, the meaning of which baffles rational thought but may activate intuition. “Two hands clap and make a sound; what is the sound of one hand?”

Dalai Lama

 The Dalai Lama has asked that the following spiritual exercises be shared with as many people as possible. The Practice

  • 1. Spend five minutes at the beginning of each day remembering we all want the same things (to be happy and to be loved) and we are all connected to one another.
  • 2. Spend five minutes breathing in — cherishing yourself, and, breathing out — cherishing others. If you think about people you have difficulty cherishing, extend your cherishing to them anyway.
  • 3. During the day extend that attitude to everyone you meet. Practice cherishing the “simplest” person (clerks, attendants, etc.), as well as the “important” people in your life; cherish the people you love and the people you dislike.
  • 4. Continue this practice no matter what happens or what anyone does to you. These thoughts are very simple, inspiring and helpful. The practice of cherishing can be taken very deep if done wordlessly, allowing yourself to feel the love and appreciation that already exist in your heart.

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