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Wednesday, September 26

GARY MERRILL

Looking at the conflict that is going on in the
world right now and has gone on for millennia,
peaceful folk wonder what they can do and it seems
the power is always in the hands of the very people
who seem to have created this mess.

This mess being the fundamentalism, dogmatism and
generally closed minds and hearts which still
permeates the political, religious, social affairs
of the world. The consequence of which is the
division of humanity and endless war.

So I ask the question is it possible to wage war on
dogmatism, fundamentalism of all kinds, to speak
out against every ism there is whether it be
nationalism, patriotism, communism, capitalism, all
the religious isms and all that think they are the
sole keepers of truth.

This is not rocket science. Can we drop bombs of
open mindedness on the world? The other sort of
bombs don't work. This would be a serious work but
with humour as our guide less we fall foul of our
own zealousness.

Rather than go on, I would welcome any feedback
over the next few days as to what anyone else
thinks? whether anyone else would like to help with
this task?, how it could move forward? whether
anyone thinks this is stupid and can't be done? If
we can do it together perhaps we can have a world
voice for inner freedom.

MATTHEW

........peaceful people and those without power are
just as much creators of this mess as anyone.
Though actually i would say we are sustainers of
this mess not really creators. We perpetuate the
mess we incarnated into. Those peaceful and
powerless people suffer the illusion of separation
as much as anyone. Every human being is born
suffering the illusion of separation and piercing
that illusion is the only thing that will make any
kind of real difference.

.......isms and closed minds are not the issue. the
division of humanity (and all other percieved
problems)is the consequence of abiding in the
illusion of separation, which is what we all do,
until we dont, which for the vast vast majority i'm
sorry to say will not be this lifetime, but we
might as well trying. what the hell else is there
to do anyway? Oh i know, some fundamentalist
nondualist will say "stop trying".

.......isms are not the problem (though i would add
non-dualism to your list), "i" is the "problem".
Wage "war" on yourself, on the "i" you belief
yourself to be, which changes about every 15
seconds.

..........Drop the bomb of "who am I" on yourself
(and never let up on the bombing) forget about
trying to change any one else.

GENE POOLE

As usual, we have the choice of how to take any
sense-information.

Involvement or attachment is voluntary.

Humans 'have' inherited 'hard-wired primate nervous
system'.

Primary among the inherited characteristics, is the
drive to homogenize the 'tribe'. This seems to be
the root of 'fundamentalism'. To cause the total
populace to live in fear of harsh discipline or
death, for the sake of regimented sameness, is
unfortunately, still seen as a worthy goal.

The same drive exists among those who would reform
the fundamentalists.

The battle between 'democracy' and 'fascism' still
rages, in part because the same drive motivates
libertarians and fascists. This drive itself must
be confronted, outside of the context of any
circumstance.

As seen from here, only human individuals can do
the work you call for. If there are to be groups of
human individuals dedicated to doing this work,
such groups must work primarily to counter the
drive to homogenize said group. No mission can take
priority over the need of the human individual to
maintain balance.

To live life moving forward while always making
space for human individuals to bloom into,

If one feels no opposition to one's own flowering,
one may assume a most basic commonality with those
who offer no opposition.

To be nurtured in this way, allows the space to
eventually realize that acceptance is of Being,

and that ideas and concepts and beliefs and
ideologies are inevitable artifacts of experience,
instead of arbitrary regulators of experience.

In the vastness of this Universe, there is space
enough for everyone;

beware the urge to homogenize. The true family is
qualified only by Being.

___________________________________________________________

ERIC ASHFORD


Light is the daily illumination of Gods vision in
us. Just as the moon is lit by the sun, the world
is lit by the heart. Without heart radiance the
world is the dark side of the moon.

The seeing of God is the object of God, for
everything can be seen in Her light, nothing really
appears without this light. The mind is a
lampshade, that either covers or elucidates. The
lucid visionary is the seer of God.

The heart must sing its song. It seeks God out in
itself, to carol Her madrigal. That singing is Her
shining vision in the world. It affirms - I only
have eyes for you. Light seeks the echo of itself
and finds God reflected there.

It attests to the miracle of lights nativity,
revealing a Bethlehem of creation in every mindful
gaze. The seeing of divinity is its own sacrament
and confirmation. In daffodils and dog shit the
risen Christ is revealed.

No matter where we are, we always have the perfect
view. No walls or clouds can dim the perception
when the eye of love shines. Time is not a road
that leads anywhere, but a space to remember in.
When we see only the present, we will witness Love
in every particle and the countenance of Beauty in
all things.

This everyday enlightenment is our extraordinary
gift to each other. We open the look of love on
every face to see the Beloved there. Seeing Her
eyes, cast within that golden moment. Love is
begotten of itself within rapt attention.

Look deeply into that which is laid before you, and
the glory of unceasing dawn will be heaven sent
from within. Your kith and kinship to Holiness
disclosed upon the field of vision. This daily life
a ceremony of angelic blessings brought forth with
lights intent.

Seeing the apparel of love arrayed in diversity,
heart flies to the heart of each inward sun, to be
again, the nova of endless wonder. We all wake up
in the one heart, and open a million soul windows
to the world.


The lover finds the Beloved
in this moment only.
Yesterdays bed is empty
tomorrow the graves may be full.
Love is the desire of now.

________________________________________________________________________

JERRY

In his Live Journal, Dustin points to this article by Cat Stevens
___________________________________________________________________

MICHAEL READ

Games games games - it is all games. No doubt about
that!

Folk will play and change the rules from time to
time. Folk will play and change the game from time
to time. Folk will take their games so seriously.

And you are right - in the end, after all the rules
have been followed, broken, changed - we all end up
dead! what a hoot!

Or .. ?

Stop by the buffet and eat a good meal. It will
clear the head and strengthen the body. Relax a bit
and see what other games are available.

Whatever game we play let us not forget that it is
only a game.

There is an old song. I don't remember it all and
the title eludes right now. But there is a line
that spoke to me then and speaks to me now.

'Give your love and all of your heart And do what
you do do well.'

The game of seeking god is being played on many
lists. Well, we don't play that here. How can we,
if we see that everything is already god?

See how I play? By my 'rules' god is not
capitalized. ":^)

What fun! Hate is transmuted to love and I cheat
continuously!

Break all the rules! How else can you find out what
works and what doesn't?

_______________________________________________________________________

TONY O'CLERY

aily Words of the Buddha
September 26, 2001


Little though he recites the sacred texts,
but puts the Teaching into practice,
forsaking lust, hatred, and delusion,
with true wisdom and emancipated mind,
clinging to nothing of this or any other world --
he indeed partakes of the blessings of a holy life.

Dhammapada 20

____________________________________________________________________

GENE POOLE

Humans have capacity for maturity.

Humans should recognize their capacity for
maturity.

As the human fetus grows into a human baby and is
born,

So also is the human mind born in the born baby.

As the baby grows into child and eventually adult,

So also may the mind born in the born baby grow in
a similar fashion.

The baby is born, then the mind is born, and as the
body matures, so may the mind.

Imagine judging a month-old human fetus to be
defective, because it does not resemble a grown
human,

Now imagine judging a young mind to be defective
because it does not resemble a mature mind.

What is mature mind?

It is not ideal mind, for mature mind does not
entertain ideals.

It is not enlightened mind, for mature mind does
not entertain abstractions such as enlightenment.

It is not fanciful mind, for mature mind has no
fancies.

It is not problem solving mind, for mature mind
does not solve problems.

Mature mind is careful to avoid multiplying or
dividing,

Is interested only in generating space for mature
mind to flourish,

Seeks only of what it already is,

Thus has endless abundance of itself.

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