The gift of a new life, a new day of hope, a new way of living.
Yesterday at The Chautauqua Institution, I attended a class in Zen Buddhism. The instructor was teaching about emptiness and inviting us to be mindful, to focus our breath, to forget ourselves. Beginnings mind – no judgment – seeking the essence beyond name and form. He said really your date of birth and date of death do not mean too much. He read some words from a heart sutra but folks still had questions.
He was looking at me. I spoke about how all spiritual traditions call us to die before we die. Jungian Robert Johnson said, “Commit suicide many times in your life, but just don’t hurt your body.” What someone else called “death of the hero, birth of the soul.” I am remembering Jesus who said “you must lose your life to find it.”
I then spoke these words from a chant that I learned years ago at Shalom Mountain Retreat and Study Center. Amazingly, there was a woman in the class who knew the chant and sang the chant after me. After the class, we were putting our shoes on, folks came up to tank us and to ask for the words of the chant. Here are the words. Let them land within you – savor and absorb their deep, deep truth.
Blessed am I, freedom am I
I am the infinite within myself,
I have no beginning, and I have no end,
All is I am.
This is the essential self that all spiritual traditions point to. All other selves based on status, prosperity, prestige, money and power, are “false selves”. You can tell the difference between your false adapted self and your true unique unfettered self.
David Whyte recites a great poem by Derek Walcott which speaks of this inner transformation and rebirth that is available to all. Listen prayerfully with an open mind and an open heart. These words are for you.
Awakening to Presence which has always been within you.
“Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” [Romans 12:2]
Prayers for all living with cancer
We are all sparks of the Divine flame
Blessed Be
Boldy Be
Compassionate Be
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