SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 346

WE ARE EXPLORING THE HEAVENLY ATTRIBUTE OF TRUTH

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

+ Here are The Ten Sufi Thoughts of Hazrat Inayat Khan:

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.

+ Number 9 speaks to Truth directly but the rest are also all about Truth and I think the context is useful, even necessary. Hazrat Inayat Khan was one of the greatest Sufi teachers of the twentieth century.  You can find plenty of his immense knowledge and wisdom at http://wahiduddin.net/. I recommend that you take a little time and read the Long Version of the Ten Thoughts where Hazrat Inayat Khan wrote illuminating explanations for each thought. Here is an excerpt from the Thought on Truth:

The Sufi recognizes the knowledge of self as the essence of all religions; he traces it in every religion, he sees the same truth in each, and therefore he regards all as one. Hence he can realize the saying of Jesus; 'I and my Father are one.' The difference between creature and Creator remains on his lips, not in his soul. This is what is meant by union with God. It is in reality the dissolving of the false self in the knowledge of the true self, which is divine, eternal, and all pervading. 'He who attaineth union with God, his very self must lose,' said Amir.

Sufism is a mystical branch of Islam with ancient roots including one of the most famous poets who ever lived, Rumi.  Two great Sufi teachers of our era are Kabir Helminski and David Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, founder of The Golden Sufi Center which is the vehicle for the work of the Naqshbandiyya-Mujaddidiyya Order of Sufism.

+ I would love it if you offered a guest post.  And, I have work to do on the Abundancetrek Truth page. Maybe you can help.  Send an email with the subject “Truth” 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 – 326

WE ARE EXPLORING THE HEAVENLY ATTRIBUTE OF BEAUTY

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

+ Hazrat Inayat Khan quotes on Beauty >

·         The Creator is hidden in his own creation. Natural religion is the religion of beauty.

·         Beauty is the object which every soul pursues.

·         Beauty is the life of the artist, the theme of the poet, the soul of the musician.

·         The same light which is fire on earth and the sun in the sky, is God in heaven.

·         All surrender to beauty willingly and to power unwillingly.

·         The creation is not only the nature of God, but also His art.

Go to http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/say/gayan_chalas.htm for more illuminating HIK quotes on Beauty, Love, Truth and more.  There are volumes of Sufi wisdom at that wonderful website.

+ Hazrat Inayat Khan was a prolific writer of Sufi wisdom and he often emphasized the importance of appreciating beauty.  The quotes above are only a taste of his offerings.  Sufism is the wonderful mystical branch of Islam which is now highly appreciated by those of us promoting the InterSpirituality movement.  It is so very important for us to appreciate the beauty of everything.  Beauty is everywhere.  Beauty is pervasive.  Beauty is abundant. Beauty is perhaps the most powerful revealer of that Love which permeates creation.   

+ Spirituality & Practice offers plenty of resources on the spiritual practice of Beauty. Also, there is an S&P Twelves Gallery of memes on Beauty.

+ I would love it if you offered a guest post.  And, I have work to do on the Abundancetrek Beauty page.  Maybe you can help.  Send an email with the subject “Beauty” 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 – 256

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.

+ Anyone who has some knowledge of mysticism and of the lives of the mystics knows that what always attracts the mystic most is nature. Nature is his bread and wine. Nature is his soul's nourishment. Nature inspires him, uplifts him and gives him the solitude for which his soul continually longs. Every soul born with a mystical tendency is constantly drawn towards nature; in nature that soul finds its life's demand, as it is said in the Vadan, 'Art is dear to my heart, but nature is near to my soul'. ... Nature does not teach the glory of God; it need not teach this as nature itself is the glory of God.

-- Hazrat Inayat Khan

Read more at http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/XI/XI_III_7.htm

What appeals to us in being near to nature is nature's music, and nature's music is more perfect than that of art. It gives us a sense of exaltation to be moving about in the woods, and to be looking at the green; to be standing near the running water, which has its rhythm, its tone and its harmony. The swinging of the branches in the forest, the rising and falling of the waves, all has its music. And once we contemplate and become one with nature our hearts open to its music.

-- Hazrat Inayat Khan

Read more at http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/II/II_10.htm

+ As in the previous post, this is Hazrat Inayat Khan explaining the importance of nature because nature is indeed nothing less than “the glory of God.”  God is revealed in this wonderful creation we see, hear, touch, taste everywhere and at all times.  We are part of this glorious reality. It is heavenly. It is now. It is here. We are called to create and enjoy this glorious reality, finding ways to expand compassion, peace, justice and sustainable abundance for all.  When we do this we are expressing our true nature, our real identity, as a heavenly being.  It is simply natural that we do this.  

+ So much of this great teacher’s writings can be found at Wahiduddin’s Web including a daily Bowl of Saki.

+ The Sufis have a long history of representing the mystical dimension of the Islamic wisdom tradition.  I think it is fair to say that they pioneered InterSpirituality long before the term was invented by Wayne Teasdale.  I love the idea that we all share sacred scripture because we all have this amazing Book of Nature which ultimately reveals all truth to us.

+ 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 – 255

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.

+ There is One Holy Book, the sacred manuscript of nature, the only scripture which can enlighten the reader.

Most people consider as sacred scriptures only certain books or scrolls written by the hand of man, and carefully preserved as holy, to be handed down to posterity as divine revelation. Men have fought and disputed over the authenticity of these books, have refused to accept any other book of similar character, and, clinging thus to the book and losing the sense of it, have formed diverse sects. The Sufi has in all ages respected all such books, and has traced in the Vedanta, Zend-Avesta, Kabbala, Bible, Quran, and all other sacred scriptures, the same truth which he reads in the incorruptible manuscript of nature, the only Holy Book, the perfect and living model that teaches the inner law of life: all scriptures before nature's manuscript are as little pools of water before the ocean.

To the eye of the seer every leaf of the tree is a page of the holy book that contains divine revelation, and he is inspired every moment of his life by constantly reading and understanding the holy script of nature.

When man writes, he inscribes characters upon rock, leaf, paper, wood, or steel. When God writes, the characters He writes are living creatures.

It is when the eye of the soul is opened and the sight is keen that the Sufi can read the divine law in the manuscript of nature; and that which the teachers of humanity have taught to their followers was derived by them from the same source. They expressed what little it is possible to express in words, and so they preserved the inner truth when they themselves were no longer there to reveal it.

This is one of the Ten Sufi Thoughts of Hazrat Inayat Khan which are fully developed in a web page on The Way of Illumination.  So much of this great teacher’s writings can be found at Wahiduddin’s Web including a daily Bowl of Saki.

+ The Sufis have a long history of representing the mystical dimension of the Islamic wisdom tradition.  I think it is fair to say that they pioneered InterSpirituality long before the term was invented by Wayne Teasdale.  I love the idea that we all share sacred scripture because we all have this amazing Book of Nature which ultimately reveals all truth to us.

+ 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 – 220

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF HEAVENLINESS

+ Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Don’t claim them. Feel the artistry moving through and be silent.

-- Jalaluddin Rumi

+ From time to sacred time, silence is definitely a holy response to the wonders, the artistry of creation.  But so is noise.  Make a joyful noise.  And I am sure that Rumi would say that too. Sing, dance, move, play, write, speak, listen, dream, hope, pray, run, jump, paint, love. It’s all art. Enjoy the creative process which is happening all around you, beyond you, and deep inside you at all times.  Find all kinds of ways to participate in the creative process.  You are an artist. You are fantastic.  You are wonderful. Enjoy the moment.  Establish your way to be creative.   

   

+ 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:

·         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 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 – 217

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF HEAVENLINESS

+

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 NRSV

+ Mysticism without devotion is like uncooked food, it can never be assimilated.

— Hazrat Inayat Khan in The Inner Life

This is one of the quotes found in the Spirituality & Practice guide to the practice of Devotion.

+ When the passion of the mystic for God is married to the passion of the activist for justice, a new fire is born.

-- Andrew Harvey

+ Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.

-- Martin Luther King, Jr. often included this great statement of faith which he discovered in a sermon by Theodore Parker who was the rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Boston in the 19th century.

+ Justice is one of the nine heavenly attributes which we will be exploring soon.  Devotion is one of the 12 practices we have already explored but we can always come back to it and explore it some more.  In order to be faithful to God and to all of creation we need to be devoted to compassion, peace, justice and sustainable abundance with our all of our mind, heart, body and soul day after day, breath after breath.  Let us keep in mind that powerful mystical experience of Thomas Merton on the streets of Louisville which made him realize like never before that a spiritual life must include an unceasing devotion to justice for all.  See SE214.

+ Spirituality & Practice offers an abundance of resources on the practice of Justice and there is a 12s gallery on Justice.

+ Spirituality & Practice emphasizes the practices of Love & Compassion:

·         The Practice of Love | The 12s Gallery on Love

·         The Practice of Compassion | The 12s Gallery on Compassion

+ 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