A friend of mine recently became a devotee of Her Holiness Mata Amritanadamayi. She is more popularly known as Sri Amma, the Holy Mother, the hugging saint. Perceived by many as the feminine incarnation of the Divine, she expresses unconditional love through the act of hugging. People from all over the world travel to have darshan (holy sight of a sacred individual) with Amma. Many seek to be held by her the way a mother holds her children.
In describing his first experience of Sri Amma, my friend said that he was blown away by being in her presence. His life had been changed. He instantly requested a mantra (prayer), and became her student on the spot. Interestingly enough, my friend is a Buddhist priest. Buddhism, by definition, is an atheistic, philosophical and/or religious perspective.
My friend spent many years living as a monk in Fo Guang Shan, a Chinese ecumenical Buddhist order. He and I co-lead a local Thursday night meditation service in the Ch'an/Zen tradition. It may seem rather odd that he and I would be co-leading this meditation given my background in Christianity, and his move towards Hinduism as a Shakti (sacred feminine) practitioner. Ch'an/Zen is an experiential form of Mahayana Buddhist practice that emphasizes experience in meditation over dogma and doctrine.
Arguably, because of its anti-dogmatic stance, it is practiced by many that by definition are not Buddhists. However my friend defines himself, he does seem happy. His companion is overjoyed as well. She is a member of the Self Realised Fellowship of Yogananda.
Another friend of mine, a former Presbyterian who converted to Hinduism decades ago, operates a universal/interfaith center named the Living Insights Center. The center is designed to educate individuals around many of the primary world's religious and spiritual traditions. My friend is rather eclectic. He devoutly attends the temple on Monday to observe the Shiva puja (ritual worship). Yet, he participates as a singer and drummer for an annual Native American ritual, and he is a Reiki master. He walked away from a lucrative law career to practice his faith.
Perhaps, my friends are all confused, but I must emphasize that they are happy! What if they have found something that many are struggling to accept that God isn't a brand name copyrighted by one religious tradition? There is an emerging realization across consciousness that authentic spirituality is more fluid and open than previously thought. The message appears to be quite simply: There are many paths to God!
What if God is the inclusive One, and the separatist has been those of us that attempt to pigeon hold God into one category of religious practice? God isn't a Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, etc. God is God. Across all of our traditions, God really is Unconditional Light and Love? And, in the words of my spiritual grandfather Bishop Dr. Ajari, "Unconditional Love is Enlightenment."
Whatever names we use, whatever practices we undertake, the primary practice is the awareness of the Divine Presence. It is the awareness of the Divine Presence that heals, that manifests abundance, that answers prayers, that transforms lives. Our words about God are often inadequate ramblings around an attempt to categorize the Sacred. It is a sort of irony that the more we talk about God, the more it indicates our lack of understanding about God.
I can't help but think that a God of unconditional love is about building people up, not tearing them down. Real faith suggests that the Divine Presence is about encouraging, not discouraging. The Sacred promotes love and compassion, not anger. I am convinced that the barometer of authentic spirituality is the celebration of life. The absence of the celebration then is anything but God. Be in joy, be in love, be in God.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
Something About Her
The last two months have been an amazing blur. Obviously, in a good way, though. I have been fortunate to enter into an intimate and committed relationship with my companion. My lady is a sensitive, passionate person that inspires my own creativity and excitement for life. By most accounts, I am crazy about her, as evidenced by three abstract paintings I did recently that were born out of my desire for her.
There is a certain synchronicity around the time she came into my life. We met within days of the lost of one of my beloved mentors. The first few days of his death left me uncertain as to how I would handle the impact of his passing. A former Catholic priest, I felt comfortable asking for his intercessory help from the other side. I prayed that he would send someone to ease the pain of being alone and without his guidance.
I needed someone in my life. Not just to ease the lost, but as a calling to be in a relationship with someone special. That is when she showed up. Yes, I believe it was my mentor's support that made our introduction possible. She does, as well. One of the initial points of common between us is that she had attended several of my teacher's events prior to my relationship with him.
She is a wonderful woman. Attractive, cultured (she speaks nine languages), intelligent and intriguing, I am grateful to be in relationship with her. So far, our differences seem cause for connection rather than separation. She is Swedish, I am African American. She left home early on to discover the world vis a vis her travels around Europe. I went directly from high school to college not far from where I was raised. There are other things, but suffice it to say, it works.
From my previous failed relationships, I hope this one will be different. By all early indications, I think she gets me. One of her initial compliments to me was that she identified early on that my visual art is the product of my poet's heart. I feel relaxed around her and that I can be myself. I trust I do the same for her. We have been able to talk about our points of disagreement, too. I like that we both know to use the phrase, "I'm sorry."
Besides, I dig the little stuff about her, too. She knows how I like my morning coffee. I know the kind of wine she prefers in the evening. It is the simple things that grab my attention, not the big productions that run out of steam in a few days. Most importantly, she loves me. And, I love her. That's where she and I start and end. We can figure out the rest later.
There is a certain synchronicity around the time she came into my life. We met within days of the lost of one of my beloved mentors. The first few days of his death left me uncertain as to how I would handle the impact of his passing. A former Catholic priest, I felt comfortable asking for his intercessory help from the other side. I prayed that he would send someone to ease the pain of being alone and without his guidance.
I needed someone in my life. Not just to ease the lost, but as a calling to be in a relationship with someone special. That is when she showed up. Yes, I believe it was my mentor's support that made our introduction possible. She does, as well. One of the initial points of common between us is that she had attended several of my teacher's events prior to my relationship with him.
She is a wonderful woman. Attractive, cultured (she speaks nine languages), intelligent and intriguing, I am grateful to be in relationship with her. So far, our differences seem cause for connection rather than separation. She is Swedish, I am African American. She left home early on to discover the world vis a vis her travels around Europe. I went directly from high school to college not far from where I was raised. There are other things, but suffice it to say, it works.
From my previous failed relationships, I hope this one will be different. By all early indications, I think she gets me. One of her initial compliments to me was that she identified early on that my visual art is the product of my poet's heart. I feel relaxed around her and that I can be myself. I trust I do the same for her. We have been able to talk about our points of disagreement, too. I like that we both know to use the phrase, "I'm sorry."
Besides, I dig the little stuff about her, too. She knows how I like my morning coffee. I know the kind of wine she prefers in the evening. It is the simple things that grab my attention, not the big productions that run out of steam in a few days. Most importantly, she loves me. And, I love her. That's where she and I start and end. We can figure out the rest later.
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