Monday, May 23, 2016

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 152

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF HOLINESS


+ The four ripening factors refer to the four principal factors that bodhisattvas employ in attracting disciples and enhancing their spiritual potentials. These are:

1. Giving material aid;
2. Speaking eloquently;
3. Always giving the right counsel; and
4. Setting an example by living the principles taught.

It is through these skillful means that the compassionate bodhisattvas work for the welfare of all other beings.
His Holiness The Dalai Lama in The Path to Bliss by His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Christine Cox, editor

+ The archetype of the Bodhisattva is one of the greatest gifts of Buddhism to the planet. I liken it to the biblical archetype of the Suffering Servant which is introduced to us in the Servant Hymns of the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 42:1-6; Isaiah 49:1-7; Isaiah 50:4-9; Isaiah 52:13-53:12).  Other wisdom traditions also offer this archetype in a variety of ways.  The main idea is that the holy person becomes totally enlightened and, rather than keeping this bliss to herself or himself, she or he vows to save all creatures everywhere with this wisdom.  There is even an insistence that it is impossible for anyone to be saved until everyone is saved.

So, becoming a Boddhisattva or a Servant of the Lord is ultimately mandatory. I like how A Course in Miracles puts it:

This is A Course in Miracles. It is a required course. Only the time you take it is voluntary. Free will does not mean that you can establish the curriculum. It means only that you can elect what you want to take at a given time. The course does not aim at teaching the meaning of love, for that is beyond what can be taught. It does aim, however, at removing the blocks to the awareness of love’s presence, which is your natural inheritance. The opposite of love is fear, but what is all-encompassing can have no opposite.   

Learning how to be holy and practicing holiness is an obligation.  Sooner or later, everyone gets the call to be a devoted participant in bringing our planetary evolution to a more holy level of compassion, peace, justice and sustainable abundance for all creatures everywhere.  I don’t believe anyone can avoid this call nor would anyone want to avoid this call once the bliss of holiness is experienced.

+ Holiness is not one of the 37 Spirituality & Practice practices BUT put Holiness in their Search Engine and you come up with 460 items including 227 quotes, 168 books, 28 practices, 14 teachers, 12 arts links, 7 e-courses, 3 films and 1 blog as of 5/11/16.  Go to http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/search/?q=holiness.

+ The Body gets a lot of attention from Spirituality and Practice as you can see when you go to a link to “Body” on their search engine. You will find 1611 items as of 4/26/16.

+ I would love it if you offered a guest post on this practice or any practice.  And, I have work to do on my Holiness Page.   Maybe you can help.  Send an email with the subject “Holiness” or “Guest Post” to John@abundancetrek.com.

+ You can always find a link to any of the Spiritual Explorations posts by going to http://abundancetrek.com/sepostsaccess.html

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