SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 222

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF HEAVENLINESS

+ Continuing with our current emphasis on the Mandala process, Ed Bastian writes:

The arts are also a means of creating a state of consciousness wherein the numinous can be perceived or intuited. Christian or Buddhist monastic chants, symphonic or choral music, Hindu devotional mantras, the whirling of Dervishes, tribal drumming, dancing and sand painting, Japanese calligraphy, paintings, sculptures, tribal masks, religious architecture, and Taoist poetry are all art forms designed to engender a state of consciousness whereby transcendent communion with the numinous becomes possible.

+ You probably don’t need convincing that the arts are “a means of creating a state of consciousness wherein the numinous can be perceived or intuited.”  But we all do need to be reminded from time to time of the immense importance of the arts so that “transcendent communion with the numinous becomes possible” again and again.  I urge you to contemplate how this essential style is making a difference in your life and I urge you to write about it or find some other way to express how you are inspired and transformed by the arts.

+ The 12 styles of Mandala: Creating An Authentic Spiritual Path: An InterSpiritual Process+ The 7 steps of InterSpiritual Meditation by Edward Bastian are listed in SE21 and SE213.  They are described fully in his book, InterSpiritual Meditation.

+ To get inspired and illuminated by Ed Bastian, I invite you to set aside some time for these videos:

·         SevenSteps of InterSpiritual Meditation (11 minutes)

·         15 minute introduction to InterSpiritual Meditation and the Mandala Process

·         2 hour lecture & conversation

+ Spirituality & Practice emphasizes the practices of Beauty, Creativity, Imagination & Wonder: The Practice of Beauty | The 12s Gallery on Beauty | The 12s Gallery on Creativity | The Practice of Imagination | The 12s Gallery on Imagination |  The Practice of Wonder | The 12s Gallery on Wonder

+ I would love it if you offered a guest post on this practice or any practice.  And, I have work to do on my Heavenliness page.  Maybe you can help.  Send an email with the subject “Heavenliness” 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