SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 355

WE ARE EXPLORING THE HEAVENLY ATTRIBUTE OF JUSTICE

+ We are called to create and enjoy a realm of compassion, peace, justice and sustainable abundance for all.

+

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;

and what does the Lord require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?

-- Micah 6:8

+ Any religion which professes to be concerned about the souls of men and women and is not concerned about the social and economic conditions that can scar the soul, is a spiritually moribund religion only waiting for the day to be buried.

-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

+ This is the first post on the heavenly attribute of Justice but it really isn’t because we have seen that justice is absolutely necessary for a real peace and we have explored the heavenly attribute of Peace. Making these kind of connections are such an important part of the quest for heavenly abundance. Justice is closely connected to the spiritual practice of Humility and Devotion. We are called to devote ourselves humbly to authentic peacemaking as we walk closely with God and as we embrace a peacemaking, justice-oriented, religion. How do you connect your religion with your spirituality? Do you see the connection? It really is important. And, if your religion is not devoted to seriously addressing the social and economic conditions we face, then you definitely need to challenge and change it.      

+ Spirituality & Practice offers plenty of plenty of resources on the practice of Justice and plenty of resources on the practice of Peace and plenty of resources on the practice of Connections. Also S&P provides a 12s Gallery of Memes on Justice, a 12s Gallery of Memes on Peace and a 12s Gallery on Connections.

+ I would love it if you offered a guest post.  And, I have work to do on the Abundancetrek Peace page. Maybe you can help.  Send an email with the subject “Peace” or “Heavenly Attributes” 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

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 257

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF HEAVENLINESS

+ This is a post on the style of The Way of Nature as we continue to explore Heavenliness through the lens of the 12 styles of the Mandala process.  There are 5 more styles to explore and then we will move on to the 9 Attributes of Heaven.

+ It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know of wonder and humility.

-- Rachel Carson

+ Sometimes it really is a good idea to remember how tiny we are in this vast universe.  We even live in a possibly tiny solar system on a possibly very tiny planet.  And each one of us is tiny on that planet.  Humility is something that wise teachers emphasize again and again.  So, I invite you to use nature as a way to practice humility, the second of the 12 practices we are exploring.  Also, use nature for the joy of simply wondering about this heavenly realm so full of color and texture and taste and nourishment and beauty of all kinds.  Joy is the second of 9 heavenly attributes soon to be explored.

+ The 12 styles of Mandala: Creating An Authentic Spiritual Path: An InterSpiritual Process by Edward Bastian are listed in SE206.

+ 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:  Seven Steps of InterSpiritual Meditation (11 minutes) | 15 minute introduction to InterSpiritual Meditation and the Mandala Process | 2 hour lecture & conversation

+ 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 “Love” 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

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 211

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF HEAVENLINESS

+ What is a soul? It's like electricity - we don't really know what it is, but it's a force that can light a room.

-- Ray Charles

+ The force of love is greater than the love of force.

+ My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind.

-- Albert Einstein

+ Maybe there is only one soul, that miraculous, mysterious and marvelous matrix of oneness.  Maybe there is no separation at all in this greater reality we are exploring. This is a fantastic & fascinating adventure of the mind, heart, body & soul.  We must take risks.  We must have courage.  We must trust this force, this energy, this “illimitable superior spirit.” This amazing journey we are on has all kinds of surprises.  We can trust that the surprises will be miraculous & marvelous in ways we often cannot even begin to comprehend with these “feeble minds” of ours.  

+ I would love it if you offered a guest post on this practice or any practice.  And, I have work to do on my Heavenlinesspage.  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

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 208

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF HEAVENLINESS

+ Although we seem to be different individuals inhabiting separate bodies, we are intimately connected with each other at some level of the mind. This image has surfaced consistently throughout human history. It permeates the language of poets, artists, and mystics, and has been repeatedly understood by spiritual adepts in all great religious traditions.

-- Larry Dossey

+ Let us awaken to the glorious, heavenly reality that, right now, right here, we are intimately, intricately, infinitely connected in a matrix of unconditional, unlimited, uniting LOVE which is miraculous, mysterious and marvelous.  This can only happen as we practice, practice, practice the Journey of the Mind practices of Stillness, Detachment & Humility; the Journey of the Heart practices of Silence, Discernment & Healing; the Journey of the Body practices of Solitude, Devotion & Holiness; and, the Journey of the Soul practices of Simplicity, Delight and Heavenliness.

+ Spirituality & Practice offers plenty of resources on the Practice of Connections. It is one of the 37 practices Frederic & Mary Ann Brussat feature at their amazing website, the best website in the universe. There is also a 12s Gallery on Connections. The meme here comes from that gallery.  

+ I would love it if you offered a guest post on this practice or any practice.  And, I have work to do on my Heavenlinesspage.  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

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 184

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF DELIGHT

+ The habit of being happy enables one to be freed, or largely freed, from domination of outside conditions.

-- Robert Louis Stevenson

+ Change is the only constant and it’s our job to delight in it. Go with the flow. At times you can be the change agent. More often you simply allow change to happen, changes which are constantly coming at you from all directions. It’s OK. Better than OK, delightful. When you are experiencing life in the soul realm, you are always experiencing life as delightful, as a delicious feast, a celebration, a party, an adventure. This is bliss. How sweet it is.

It’s wonderful to reach these Journey of the Soul practices of Simplicity, Delight and Heavenliness. But even the first stage of these practices, the Journey of the Mind practices. can offer many tastes of heaven. Stillness can turn into Simplicity. Detachment can turn into Delight. Humility can turn into Heavenliness. Any one of these practices can be delightful. So, celebrate. Enjoy. Be glad all over.

Delight can be expressed as gratitude. Being thankful for life’s many gifts is a delight in itself. Pause here to become aware of so many blessings which have come your way and continue to come your way. If you are not smiling, laughing, or even dancing at this point, then you simply haven’t given enough time and effort to simply being grateful.

The practices of Simplicity and Delight come easily once Stillness, Silence, Solitude, Detachment, Discernment and Devotion have become regular practices. I can’t emphasize enough how stillness is the key to heaven. Simply be still and amazing things happen sooner or later. It can almost be said that the rest of the practices come as gifts, as amazing grace, once the practice of stillness is achieved.

You are delightful. You are simply heavenly. You are amazing, fantastic, wonderful. You really are. That’s the truth.

+ Delight is not one of the 37 Spirituality & Practice practices BUT put Delight in their Search Engine and you come up with 85 items including 67 quotes, 16 books, 1 practice, and 1 film as of 6/14/16.  Go to http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/search/?q=Delight.  However, it is clear that Mary Ann & Frederic Brussat are big fans of Joy. Therefore, put Joy in their Search Engine and you come up with 2057 items including 867 quotes, 835 books, 160 practices, 11 teachers, 24 arts links, 29 e-courses, 98 films, 26 blogs and 4 traditions as of 6/14/16. Oh, and Joy IS one of the 37 spiritual practices. You can also be inspired by their Twelves Gallery on Joy. 

+ Joy will come up again very soon in these explorations since it is the second of 9 heavenly attributes we will be exploring.

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

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 165

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF SIMPLICITY

+

Those who are known

As Real People

Are united in essence

With the Way,

So they have endowments yet

Appear to have none;

They are full yet

Appear to be empty.

They govern the inside,

Not the outside.

Clear and pure, utterly plain,

They do not contrive

Artificialities but return

To simplicity.

- Lao Tzu

Simplicity, patience, compassion.

These three are your greatest treasures.

Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.

Patient with both friends and enemies,

you accord with the way things are.

Compassionate toward yourself,

you reconcile all beings in the world.

― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.

― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

+ What is real anyway?  Are you real?  Of course you are but there are, most likely, aspects of your life which are unreal.  Discovering our real self and the reality of our existence is a life long journey into the unknown and mysterious.  It is quite an adventure.  Lao Tzu, and other ancient teachers of the Tao, or The Way, offer us plenty of wisdom on this quest but perhaps the most important thing he ever said was that those who know do not speak.  Reality is elusive and mysterious and always surprising us and changing us.

Clearly this practice of Simplicity has its foundation in the Journey of the Mind practices of Stillness, Detachment and Humility which we explored in posts 1 through 64. The Tao Te Ching of Lao Tsu has stood the test of time and is universally revered, particularly by Zen Buddhists, for its clarity regarding these essential practices.

+ You can see many more Lao Tsu quotes at https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/2622245.Lao_Tzu

    

+ Simplicity is not one of the 37 Spirituality & Practice practices BUT put Simplicity in their Search Engine and you come up with 314 items including 117 quotes, 156 books, 11 practices, 9 teachers, 1 arts link, 11 e-courses, 7 films and 1 blog as of 6/4/16.  Go to http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/search/?q=Simplicity

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

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 154

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF HOLINESS

+ Spirituality & Practice offers a multitude of resources on the practice of YOU.  Here is the first paragraph introducing the Basic Practice:

Each of us is a work-in-progress. The spiritual practice of you challenges us to become all we are meant to be as God's beloved sons and daughters. We are, after all, co-creators of the Great Work of the universe. By attuning ourselves to what in different traditions has been called the image of God, the everlasting soul, or the higher self, we are able to fulfill our mission in life.

-- Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

+ The goal here is authenticity.  In the Journey of the Mind practices, we explored Humility.  Humility is an essential practice leading to Holiness. To become humble is to realize that you are no better nor no worse than anyone else.  As you practice humility, you reveal the Real You to yourself and others.  Each one of us is essentially holy but we all find ways to evade this reality.  It is not healthy to do so.  It is not what God wills.  So, keep practicing and don’t hide the Real You from yourself or from others.  You are holy.  You are wonderful.  You are awesome.  You are amazing.  You are unique.  Isn’t it wonderful that God made you that way?

+ Spirituality & Practice offers a 12s gallery on YOU.  The meme with the quote by David Cooper comes from that gallery.

+ 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

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 147

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF HOLINESS



This image is offered by The Mussar Institute.

+ Frederic Brussat of Spirituality & Practice blogs on Civility & Spirituality.  In this post, he tells us about the Jewish practice of Mussar:

I've already written in this blog about how two religious traditions can help us deal with the incivility of our times. The Sufi practice of adab is an antidote to the lack of courtesy in our society, and the Confucian virtue of Jen or human-heartedness is based on a respect for the dignity of human life which leads to social harmony.

Another civility resource is from the Jewish tradition: the practice of mussar. It was developed in Lithuania in the second half of the nineteenth century by Rabbi Yisrael Lipkin Salanter. The word means "correction" or "instruction" and also serves as the simple modern Hebrew word for ethics. Mussar presents many practical and everyday ways to turn around the course of incivility in our personal and public interactions with others.

Mussar is a sturdy and substantive spiritual curriculum that emphasizes daily practices of soul traits such as humility, patience, gratitude, compassion, and honor that are the signs of a decent human being. In Every Day, Holy Day, Alan Morinis, the founder and director of the Mussar Institute, offers teachings and steps to take in order to activate these and many other traits. He believes that polishing the best in us and correcting our character flaws are paths to true fulfillment as human beings.

-- Posted by Frederic Brussat on March 13, 2014

+ Here in the USA, and I'm sure elsewhere,  we have an urgent need for civility as we work through our current political and cultural divide.  We simply can’t be holy without it. We become more civil, more holy as we practice Humility in every situation, in every relationship, in every moment.

+ 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

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 88

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF DISCERNMENT

+ Your visible image shows your inner truth, so when you're estimating others, what you see is what you get. It therefore becomes critically important to see generously, or you will get only what you see; to see sharply, so that you discern the mix of traits rather than a generalized lump; and to see deeply into dark shadows, or else you will be deceived.

-- James Hillman in The Soul's Code

+ Healing happens when we achieve a level of discernment which gets beyond all the deceptions, prejudices, opinions and judgments which many of us have in abundance.  The truth will set you free.  The truth will make you whole.  The truth will make you heavenly.

We need to transform our vision of reality so that we can see the truth and not illusions.  This takes plenty of stillness, detachment and humility, the Mind practices we explored in SE posts 1 through 64. Now we are exploring Heart practices so that compassion prevails and makes all things new.        

+ Spirituality & Practice offers many resources on the practice of discernment including the quote above.

+ I have work to do on my Discernment page.   Maybe you can help.  Send an email with the subject “Discernment” 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

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS -- 83

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF DISCERNMENT

+ The spirit of liberty is the spirit of not being too sure you are right.

-- Learned Hand

+ Discernment requires the kind of openness and humility Learned Hand wisely insists upon if we are to achieve true freedom for ourselves and for the greater community.  Let go of opinions, even cherished ones.  You may come back to them but be open to new revelations, new insights, new ideas and new visions.  Be flexible.  Expand your horizons.  Grow and change. 

+ Spirituality & Practice offers many resources on the practice of discernment.

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

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS -- 82

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF DISCERNMENT

+ I think this is how we are supposed to be in the world -- present and in awe.

-- Anne Lamott

+ Discernment happens when our attitude is gratitude, when we realize how wonderful life is, how precious, how beautiful, how awesome, how amazing.  Now that we know are practicing stillness, detachment, humility and silence, we can discern our purpose, our mission, our next step.  These precious moments of discernment are crucial in the journey of the heart and its main purpose: Healing. 

What is your unique purpose, the mission you called to accomplish, your next step?  What is your intention for today on this journey?  I do not ask these questions to burden you.  I ask these questions only to make your life awesome.  When you are in the zone of your life purpose, your calling, your mission, you are awesome and you become one with all of creation.

I invite you to enjoy “Everything is Awesome” sung by Tegan and Sara for the Lego Movie.

  

+ Spirituality & Practice offers many resources on the practice of discernment.

+ I have work to do on my Discernment page. Maybe you can help. Send an email with the subject “Discernment” 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

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS -- 80

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF SILENCE

+ We live in the noise, and we are so busy all the time, there is no time, no space, no silence for the heart.

-- Isabel Allende

+ This is such essential wisdom as we continue on this Journey of the Heart moving from Silence to Discernment to Healing.  We have explored the Mind practices moving from Stillness to Detachment to Humility. With practice, practice, practice and more practice, we become holy and even heavenly.  Our citizenship is not of the earth but of heaven.  Let’s now move on and explore the amazing spiritual practice of Discernment.  We can do this now that we are committed to practicing Stillness and Silence on a regular basis.  Are you?  Am I?  Let’s continue to make this our intention.  It is so fantastic, so wonderful, when we can still our mind and quiet our heart.

Breathe deeply. Breathe fully.

Be still. Be silent.

Be centered. Be grounded.

Loosen up.  Lighten up.

Let go. Let God.

Celebrate. Enjoy.

Be glad all over.

+ Spirituality&Practice offers many resources on the Spiritual Practice of Silence and a wonderful photo and quotes gallery.

+ I have work to do on my Discernment page. Maybe you can help. Send an email with the subject “Discernment” 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

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS -- 64

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF HUMILITY

+ I will let Brother Wayne have the last word in this exploration of the spiritual practice of humility. 

+ There is no possibility of a mature spiritual life without humility. Nor is it possible to be a successful human being without it. Humility is also, most fundamentally, a relationship of truth with ourselves. Humility begins with self-honesty about our actions, attitudes, and speech. It compels us to accept the fact that we are capable of being wrong, perhaps even when we are convinced we are right. It means that we acknowledge our mistakes, not years from now, but when they are made.

We must be willing to own up to these mistakes before others and not simply ourselves. Such humility is a basic operating principle of ordinary life. Without it, we can hardly move at all, since the mystical process is based on honesty and humility of heart. Search your experience and examine if humility is at work in you.

-- Wayne Teasdale in The Mystic Hours excerpted  from http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/quotes/features/view/27978/quotations-on-humility

+ As you “search your experience,” remember to be very gentle with yourself, forgiving yourself again and again and again. Yes, examine yourself but don’t be harsh.  All too often, we judge ourselves too critically.  Humility requires diligence but not destructive thoughts and actions.

+ We have reached the final post of the Journey of the Mind section of this exploration.  Next we will build on our mind practices as we explore the Journey of the Heart.  The heart practices we will explore are silence, discernment and healing. 

The categories of Mind, Heart, Body and Soul are not new but, the idea of connecting these practices with the paths of Mind, Heart, Body and Soul came to me as I read The Seeker’s Guide: Making Your Life a Spiritual Adventure by Elizabeth Lesser, a truly amazing book. She uses these four categories which she calls Landscapes. She offers great wisdom and many useful practices for each of the landscapes: Mind, Heart, Body, Soul.

+ Spirituality and Practice offers a wonderful 12s gallery of images and quotes on Humility
> http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/galleries/category/12s/2#/37/12-humility. The photo with the Roger Housden quote comes from this gallery.

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

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS -- 63

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF HUMILITY

+ [Ramakrishna said] ‘Adore and honor yourself humbly as my child.’ Not as your small self, not as your ego, not the false self, the constructed self, the biographical self, the self that wants power, but as the Divine Self, the Divine Child who through love, through adoration of the Mother and of each being as the child of the Mother, develops the awakened mystic senses of divine childhood. Honor yourself humbly as my child. Worship the body in which you are having this experience. Protect it. Worship your hair, your knuckles, your feet, and the strange little bones you have in secret places. Bless each aspect of your being, including those aspects that you have been taught to feel ashamed of. Bless them, release them all into the light and embrace of the Mother. Adore yourself, honor yourself, revere yourself. Salute yourself. Bow down to her in you, and to the divine childhood in you that is waiting to be born.

— Andrew Harvey in The Return of the Mother

+ Adore yourself?  Honor yourself?  Is this what humility is about? YES.

But remember what Max Wertheimer, a pioneer of Gestalt Psychology said: “An adult is a deteriorated child.” It is essential that we return to our original state of divine simplicity.  As we continue to practice, practice, practice stillness and detachment, we return to our authentic or real self.  Humility is the practice of being real, being honest, being sincere, being compassionate, being childlike.

+ Spirituality and Practice offers a book review of The Return of the Mother by Andrew Harvey.

+ Spirituality and Practice offers a wonderful 12s gallery of images and quotes on Humility
> http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/galleries/category/12s/2#/37/12-humility.  The meme above is from that gallery.

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

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS -- 62

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF HUMILITY

+ It is a mystery we are dipped into. Two-thirds of Jesus' teachings are about forgiveness. A good third of Jesus' parables are about forgiveness, directly or indirectly. Forgiveness has nothing to do with logic. It is the final breakdown of logic. It is a mystical recognition that human evil is something we are all trapped by, suffering from, and participating in. It calls forth weeping, humility, and healing much more than feverish attempts to root out the evil. The transformation happens through the tears much more than through threats and punishments.

-- Richard Rohr in Everything Belongs

+ As I write this reflection today, February 1, 2016, I am aware of synchronicity which is a great topic in itself and an important theme James Redfield has featured in his efforts on behalf of the Celestine Vision.  Today, I received Lesson 10 in the current Spirituality and Practice e-course: Learning to Accept Grief as a Lifelong Companion.  This course will be available for some time and it is one of the best e-courses I have experienced.  The February 1 lesson in the course is on Forgiveness.  This is the  synchronicity or divine coincidence which I experienced.  God is always teaching us, guiding us, challenging us and comforting us.  

It takes humility to forgive.  The hardest person to forgive is yourself.  Humility allows us to engage the process where we can face the reality of the situations and events of our lives where we need to forgive ourselves.  If you are like me, there are plenty.  We can forgive others as we progress in the important process of forgiving ourselves.

+ Spirituality and Practice offers a wonderful 12s gallery of images and quotes on Humility
> http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/galleries/category/12s/2#/37/12-humility. The photo and quote above comes from that gallery.

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

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS -- 61

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF HUMILITY

+ Masters of the Japanese tea ceremony use the term kokoro ire, or "inclusion of the heart's spirit." The best tea ceremonies have nothing to do with fancy surroundings or making a good impression; the determinant of success is the sincere and humble heart of the host.

-- Philip Toshio Sudo in Zen 24/7

+ In their book review of 24/7, Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat say the author is “A master teacher of the way of enlightenment (who) makes everyday spirituality come alive.”  Here is an excerpt from the review:

With an ease that comes from spiritual maturity, Sudo delivers one marvel after another in this astute reading of zen truths residing in work, exercise, eating, laughter, and sleep.

Or as the author puts it — "Zen teaches that our approach to today determines our whole approach to life. The Japanese call this attitude Ichi-nichi issho: 'Each day is a lifetime.'

+ So, then, this state of humility we are working on could be considered everyday hospitality.  It is an attitude to be practiced 24/7.

+ Spirituality and Practice offers a wonderful 12s gallery of images and quotes on Humility
> http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/galleries/category/12s/2#/37/12-humility

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

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS -- 60

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF HUMILITY

+

Knock. And He’ll open the door.

Vanish. And He’ll make you shine like the sun.

Fall. And He’ll raise you to the heavens.

Become nothing. And He’ll turn you into everything.

-- Rumi.

found at http://theislamicworkplace.com/positive-quotes/

+ There are many great wisdom teachers in all traditions who offer the same basic message as Rumi did, as Jesus did, as The Buddha did, as Muhammad did.  You become your Real Self when give up your false self.  These practices are essential.  The Real Self is a given but it is received only by the humble, those who vanish and become nothing. 

I am an advocate of InterSpirituality, particularly as offered in the pioneering work of Ed Bastian of Spiritual Paths.  But Rumi, back in the twelfth century, was definitely a much earlier pioneer of InterSpirituality.  I believe it was his humility which made it possible for him to be radically open to the teachings and traditions of other cultures and religions.  In the early twentieth century, in that same Sufi tradition, Hazrat Inayat Khan also promoted what we are now calling InterSpirituality.  You can see it blossoming in his Ten Sufi Thoughts:

There are ten principal Sufi thoughts which comprise all the important subjects with which the inner life of man is concerned:

1) There is one God, the Eternal, the Only Being; none else exists save God.
2) There is one Master, the Guiding Spirit of all souls, who constantly leads all followers towards the light.
3) There is one Holy Book, the sacred manuscript of nature, which truly enlightens all readers.
4) There is one Religion, the unswerving progress in the right direction towards the ideal, which fulfils the life's purpose of every soul.
5) There is one Law, the law of Reciprocity, which can be observed by a selfless conscience together with a sense of awakened justice.
6) There is one human Brotherhood, the Brotherhood and Sisterhood which unites the children of earth indiscriminately in the Fatherhood of God.
7) There is one Moral Principle, the love which springs forth from self-denial, and blooms in deeds of beneficence.
8) There is one Object of Praise, the beauty which uplifts the heart of its worshipper through all aspects from the seen to the unseen.
9) There is one Truth, the true knowledge of our being within and without which is the essence of all wisdom.
10) There is one Path, the annihilation of the false ego in the real, which raises the mortal to immortality and in which resides all perfection.

+ Spirituality and Practice offers a wonderful 12s gallery of images and quotes on Humility
> http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/galleries/category/12s/2#/37/12-humility. The image and quote above is found in that gallery.

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

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS -- 59

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF HUMILITY

+ It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know of wonder and humility.

 -- Rachel Carson

+ Human and humility and humus come from the same root.  We are rooted in the soil, the ground, the dirt, the fragile layer of earth which sustains creation as we know it.  It is awesome, wonderful, delightful, fascinating, fantastic.  Yet, we all too often take it too much for granted.  We are part of this fragile layer and we are responsible for its vitality.  Clearly we have messed up and must face the consequences of this failure.  We can and must do better.  Humility is essential if we are to correct this situation and we need to do this ASAP.  “Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.” – Matthew 5:5 NRSV

+ Spirituality and Practice offers a wonderful 12s gallery of images and quotes on Humility
> http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/galleries/category/12s/2#/37/12-humility

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

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS -- 58

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF HUMILITY

+ The spirit of liberty is the spirit of not being too sure you are right.

 – Judge Learned Hand

+ This has been one of my favorite quotes for a long time.  We need to have beliefs, values, opinions and loyalties.  No doubt about it.  But we keep running into people with different beliefs, values, opinions and loyalties, don’t we? When they differ from ours, are they always wrong?  I don’t think so. 

Trust the process. Be as open and tolerant and accepting as much as you can as you relate to others.  Listen.  Share.  Listen.  Share.  Listen.  Share. 

It is likely that at least some of your beliefs, values, opinions and loyalties will change as the result of sincere and authentic contact with people who differ from you.  Isn’t this a good thing?  Isn’t variety the spice of life?  Isn’t diversity a gift? 

It is good to share your beliefs, values, opinions and loyalties as long as it is done with great humility and acceptance of others.  That traditional taboo against speaking about sex, politics and religion has some merit since misunderstanding is likely when people speak without humility.  But society needs honest conversation about these things.  Humility makes it possible for us to speak about difficult topics in a way which builds trust.  Don’t be afraid to be who you are.  Let others know you want them to be who they are.  We are creating a more compassionate society through these practices.  This is so important. 

+ Spirituality and Practice offers a wonderful 12s gallery of images and quotes on Humility
> http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/galleries/category/12s/2#/37/12-humility

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

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS -- 57

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF HUMILITY

+ Humility frees us up to use all our gifts and talents to the best of our abilities by enabling us to accept our limitations and vulnerabilities as well as our strengths. With humility we can enjoy our achievements without unnecessary ego-inflation or -deflation; we are neither full of ourselves nor do we pick ourselves apart. And being humble doesn't mean that we stop trying to better ourselves. We are all works in progress!

— Estelle Frankel in Sacred Therapy excerpted from
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/quotes/features/view/27978/quotations-on-humility

+ When we are truly humble, we can rejoice in the successes and achievements of others knowing that we are not superior or inferior to any other person. 

The practices of stillness and detachment have brought us to this amazing state of acceptance and unconditional love.  In this state of humility, we are given the gift of unlimited compassion to unwrap and share.  Enjoy and be glad all over.    

+ Spirituality and Practice offers a wonderful 12s gallery of images and quotes on Humility.

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