The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers |
Holiness and Moving beyond Evil, cont'd 04/29/2023 |
Let us consider more in depth Rabbi Heschel’s teaching on how “the holy is an attempt to raise humanity to a higher level of existence.” To do this we will explore some understandings of the
sacred or the holy. |
What is a “higher level of existence” that is higher than Evil? What might that kind of existence be? How would we recognize it if we saw it—in ourselves or in others? I think that two evident qualities of holiness today | |
are: Joy and Courage. Let us first consider
Joy. |
Otto Rank talked about finding joy in spite of our “mal de siècle,” the evil of our times. He was writing in the 1930’s and died in 1939. He had plenty of suffering in his life, but he stayed committed to a path
that avoided bitterness and hatred toward self or others. He learned to empty himself of anger in order to let Spirit in, Joy in. |
When I find people who have lived or are living full lives in spite of profound encounters
with abuse or oppression of any kind, I admire them. So many souls can be broken by the vicissitudes of living. We call them “challenges,” a word that rises often today. |
Joyful children from Sierra Leone. In spite of widespread poverty and disease, these children exhibit great joy. Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash | But joy is considered a “gift of
the spirit,” and being of Spirit, it is big in size. Joy is so big that it can embrace the whole–even the broken pieces of self and life–and still smile. Joy is something bigger than suffering and bigger than Evil. Say the Upanishads: “Joy comes from God…. From
joy all beings have come and unto joy they all return.” |
Indeed, the question is posed: “Who
could live and who could breathe if the joy of Brahman filled not the universe? Brahman is joy (ananda, bliss).” |
The Buddha said; “Waken yourself, watch yourself, and live joyfully.” How do we live joyfully? Thich Nhat Hanh
teaches this simple meditation practice to bring joy alive in us: |
Breathing in, I calm my
body.
Breathing out, I smile.
Dwelling in the present moment,
I know this is a wonderful moment! | Thich Nhat Hanh demonstrates mindfulness and then unexpectedly evokes laughter, teaching that spirituality does not have to be so serious! Plum Village on YouTube |
Heschel reminds us that humans are not alone when confronted with evil. Living in ‘the light of the face of God’ bestows upon humans a power of love that enables one to overcome the powers of evil. |
We can live in the light of the face of God. How about that? |
Adapted from Matthew Fox, One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Global Faiths, pp. 254f, 260. Banner image: Basking in the Holiness. Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash |
Queries for Contemplation Are you living joyfully? Do you see holiness and Joy around you and within you? |
| To view today's video, please click the image. You will be taken to today's post on the Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox website, where you can see the meditation in a larger version and also view and post your Comments. In the sharing that follows, a kind of community is developing around the DM.
If
you can't reach today's post on the website directly, click HERE.
If you can't reach Matthew's video on the website, try his Vimeo channel HERE.
|
Responses are welcomed. To add your comment, please click HERE
to go to our
website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Global Faiths
Matthew Fox calls on all the world traditions for their wisdom and their inspiration in a work that is far more than a list of theological position papers but a new way to pray—to meditate in a global spiritual context on the wisdom all our traditions share. Fox chooses 18 themes that are foundational to any spirituality and demonstrates how all the world spiritual traditions offer wisdom about each.“Reading
One River, Many Wells is like entering the rich silence of a masterfully directed retreat. As you read this text, you reflect, you pray, you embrace Divinity. Truly no words can fully express my respect and awe for this magnificent contribution to contemporary spirituality.” –Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit
| |
Sheer Joy: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation Spirituality Matthew Fox renders Thomas Aquinas accessible by interviewing him and thus descholasticizing him. He also translated many of his works such as Biblical commentaries never before in English (or Italian or German of French). He gives Aquinas a forum so that he can be heard in our own time. He presents Thomas
Aquinas entirely in his own words, but in a form designed to allow late 20th-century minds and hearts to hear him in a fresh way.
“The teaching of Aquinas comes through will a fullness and an insight that has never been present in English before and [with] a vital message for the world today.” ~ Fr. Bede Griffiths (Afterword). | |
See Matthew Fox's full calendar
HERE |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses “The Physics of Angels – Exploring the Realm Where Science and Spirit Meet” in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat.
Thursday, May 18, 4:00-6:00 pm PT. Register HERE. Join Matthew Fox as he discusses “The A.W.E. Project – Reinventing Education, Reinventing the Human” in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, June 15, 4:00-6:00 pm PT. Register HERE. |
Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Phil Goldberg of Spirit Matters: Conversations on Contemporary Spirituality interviews Matthew Fox on Opening to Original Blessing. To listen to their conversation, click HERE | |
Please share this post! Just click the buttons below.
OR share your insights on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #RevDrMatthewFox and tag Matt with @RevDrMatthewFox
|
|
|
|
