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Unteachable Lessons
"These three spiritual gifts — all originating in God — are deeply and integrally linked. If I want to be more prayerful, begin by trying to be more generous in my prayer. If I want to be more trustworthy, begin by praying. And if I want to me more generous, one important step would be to simply take the risk of trusting." So writes Carl McColman, a mystic who has mastered the art of writing about often arcane theological and devotional subjects in an accessible prose style.
He is a member of the Lay Cistercians of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit, a contemplative community under the spiritual guidance of Trappist monks. In the foreword, Brian McLaren praises the author for writing in Chapter 2 "one of the best descriptions of spiritual experience I've come across, one that tries to capture in words something that, obviously, can't be." He is also happy that McColman has created a short book on what usually is discussed in laboriously long books.
Calling himself "a slow learner," McColman probes some of the stages of his spiritual journey: books and spiritual teachers that had an impact on him and his meaningful encounters with silence, his inner voice, trust, and grief. One of our favorite passages is the one on prayer as kissing (see the excerpt).
With the good cheer that emanates from every chapter in Unteachable Lessons, McColman concludes:
"Read good books — but then put them down. One of my first prayer teachers used to say, 'Reading about prayer is one of the sneakiest ways we have of actually avoiding prayer.' Please keep that in mind. So do your homework: get to know the mystics and contemplatives of Christianity and of the world, and get to know what the explorers ahead of you have to say about their journey. But then the time will come when you need to close the book and go on beyond zebra with only your heart as your guide."
A generous probing of the stages of the spiritual journey from a deeply personal perspective.
The Heart
Kabir Helminski, a Sufi shaikh, has wisely observed: "Hearts need education and refinement just as the body needs exercise and moderation." He is right. But people are nervous about looking within or getting overly emotional. And in our bottom-line society, heart knowledge tends to be treated as impractical and worthless. Yet the heart is often mentioned in the spiritual traditions as being the locus of the spiritual life. The world's religions offer sacred texts and practices about such heart skills as compassion, kindness, reverence, listening, openness, and hospitality.
February is National Heart Month, and so we invite you to join us on a royal tour of the heart. The heart is the seat of wisdom for the Jews, the hub of the universe for Hindus, the throne of God for Sufis, an important quality for Buddhists, the essence of what it means to be human for Confucians, and the abode of the kingdom of God for Christians.
We chose to salute heart knowledge because of the heartlessness of these violent times and because of the growing number of people who feel disheartened. It is possible to tenderize this faculty and to become gentler people. Many spiritual individuals who have modeled this for us in word and deed. They challenge us to become wholehearted, to live with a heart free of possessiveness, and to treat others with a loving heart.
All the heart's multiple messages cannot be contained in words, but words give us a start. We can speak to each other heart to heart and be truly present with open hearts. The path of heart is a fulfilling and fruitful path one that leads to deep meaning and joy. Join us for the journey, day-by-day.
About the Found Heart Photographs
The universe loves the heart! Why else would so many objects in our world appear in this familiar form? Rick Ruggles is an avid photographer whose keen eye for detail led him to notice a heart-shaped pothole in the fall of 2000, sparking the idea for a Valentine. Inspired by that single image, Rick began seeing hearts in shadows, clouds, puddles, flowers, rocks, leaves, and a lot of other places. His collection of "found hearts" now numbers in the thousands.
We stumbled upon Rick's work when we saw a poster of heart-shaped rocks in a catalog. Being rock lovers, we were immediately entranced. On his website we found posters, calendars, books, puzzles, magnets, postcards, greeting cards, and more. We emailed him to ask if we could use some of his photos with our quotes about the heart, and he graciously said "Yes." We encourage you to visit Rick's website to be inspired by his creativity and to support it by purchasing your own copies of his hearts.
Quotations about the Heart
The Four-Chambered Heart
That Aha! Moment
Carry All Those You Meet in Your Heart
Feeling in the Heart
The Feeling Function
The Hatching of the Heart
The Vulnerable Heart
Learning By Heart
Conversion of the Heart
The Awakened Heart
The Strong Heart
The Charitable Heart
Largeness of Heart
The Humble Heart
The Heart Busy With God
God Flowing Through the Heart
Heart Gratitude Practice
Broken Hearts
God's Words Across Our Hearts
Cutting Through the Heart
Healing the Heart
The Warm Heart
The Open Heart
The Heart as Living Museum
The Human Heart
The Universe in the Heart
The Heart at Your Center
The Deep Heart
Let the World Tickle Your Heart
A months' worth of quotes about the heart illustrated with photographs of hearts found in nature.
The Little Book of Light
Mikaela Katherine Jones is an inspirational writer, speaker, Intuitive, and creator of the Delight Frequency Manifestation Process. You can visit her at www.mikaelajones.com.
Light and delight are the centerpieces of this lively collection of inspirational quotations. The author sees all of us as bearers of the light; we can illuminate our lives and the lives of others by acts of love, kindness, generosity, compassion, gratitude, being present, and forgiveness.
We can choose by conscious intention to make our light shine more brightly in the world. Jones has 111 suggestions on how to do that. Are you ready to work with the light?
Brighten every place you go. Count your blessings and share the light with others. See yourself as a glorious, radiant being. Toss worry out the window. Focus on the positive in others. Let your heart sing. Say "Yes" to life. Let go of the past and all regrets and resentments. Be someone's anonymous angel.
You get the picture. These light boosters can lift your spirit, perk up your mind, and send you on your way rejoicing!
Light boosters to lift your spirit, perk up your mind, and send you on your way rejoicing.
Talia and the Rude Vegetables
Talia's grandmother is busy in the kitchen making a stew to welcome the Jewish New Year. She sends the little girl to the garden for seven root vegetables. Talia hears the word "rude" rather than root and has fun wondering what kind of misdeeds were done by the onions, garlic, carrots, turnips, potatoes, parsnips, and rutabagas. This train of thought leads her to take a hard look at her own behavior and the need for apologies to those she has offended.
Talia puts the best vegetables in a basket that she delivers to the rabbi to give to those in need of food. Her grandmother gets a kick out of her digging up the "rude" vegetables but is impressed with her mitzvah of giving the extra bag of vegetables to the rabbi.
Linda Elovitz Marshall, the writer, and Francesa Assirelli, the illustrator have done a fine job integrating the Jewish New Year with Talia's garden adventures. They have also included a recipe for "Rude" Vegetable Stew as a special treat.
A delightful children's story about a sharp little girl who helps her grandmother prepare for welcoming in the Jewish New Year.
Pocket Peace
Allan Lokos spent the first 30 years of his adult life in the arts as a professional singer on Broadway and in concert and opera. He then attended and graduated from a New York seminary and was ordained as an interfaith minister. His wife became one too, and together they founded the organization that would become the Community Meditation Center which he describes as "a nondogmatic welcoming [place] for spiritual exploration supported by a creative, open-minded community."
People are desperately seeking peace in this turbulent and ever-changing world, Lokos observes. Much of the time they feel frightened about the future and unsure of themselves. That is why it is easy to capitulate to the false enchantments and lures of selfishness, anger, sloth, and greed. Meditation is a practice that can lead to inner peace and joy; it also provides a counter-balance to these toxic emotions. Other spiritual practices can be done in everyday life. Lokos gave the following assignment to members of his community:
"For one week, keep five one-dollar bills on hand and give them to anyone who asks for help, no questions asked. In addition, give that person the gift of your attention, even if just for a minute, and listen to what they have to say."
The community responded very well to this kind of practice, so Lokos decided to create a book filled with more of them. The paperback is organized around qualities based on the Buddhist teachings called "Paramis" or Perfection Practices. There are chapters on generosity, morality, relinquishing, wisdom, joyous effort, patience, truthfulness, determination, lovingkindness, and equanimity.
Lokos offers insightful and always practical commentary on many spiritual matters of consequence including the priceless gift of presence, the importance of intention as an animating force for good, the danger of making quick decisions, the feeling of pleasure without attachment, the negative fallout from the judgmental mind, the challenges of becoming more mindful of the words we speak, the hurtfulness of teasing, and the necessity of recognizing the impermanence of all things.
Here are a few examples of practices:
• "From time to time, when you want to ask for more, ask instead, 'How can I give more?' "
• "Consider letting someone off the hook for a deed they committed or harsh words they spoke."
• "Find a place where you can feel completely at ease and say to yourself, Only I can destroy my peace, and I choose not to do so."
• "When someone is pushing your buttons, replace your annoyance toward that person with the silent wish, May you be happy. Notice how it feels."
A wonderful collection of spiritual practices to do in everyday life modeled and inspired by Buddhist principles.
Grandpa's Soup
Jesus spent a lot of time eating with others. He often broke down the barriers between people by associating with individuals who were excluded from other gatherings. The spiritual practice of hospitality was one of his great gifts to humanity. It is warmly celebrated in this wonderful children's book aimed at readers from 4 - 8 years of age. It is written by Eiko Kadono, a Japanese author and illustrated by Satomi Ichikawa.
After Grandma dies, Grandpa sits in his chair and has no energy to do anything. One day he decides to make the meatball soup that she used to make. He starts out simply and shares the results with three hungry mice. The soup isn't quite as good as his wife's, so he purchases more ingredients. This time three mice and a cat come for dinner. Grandpa keeps adding things to the meatball soup and extending the circle of guests to include a dog and ten children. In the process, he moves beyond his grief by connecting with others and creating a grateful community around him.
Grandpa's Soup is a delightful children's book that is simple, elegant, and richly spiritual.
A simple, elegant and richly spiritual story for children that affirms the practice of hospitality.
Living Presence
G.I. Gurdjiefff originated the term "The Fourth Way" to describe the spiritual path of someone who follows the heart in the midst of everyday life in contrast to the ascetic, monk, or yogi, who separates him- or herself from the world. In this masterful primer on the education of the soul and the inner work of transformation, Sufi teacher Kabir Helminski presents his own special vision of everyday spirituality. At its core is presence, "the point of intersection between the world of the senses and the world of the Spirit."
Through an arduous process of reconditioning and unconditioning, we can be released from the tyranny of the ego with its compulsive games and delusions. Helminski, an American-born sheikh of the Mevlevi Order of Sufis, is convinced that the "Work" demands a commitment to practice. Some of the elements of this path include the refining of our attention through meditation, gathering the fragmented self, listening within, balancing the outer and the inner, attending to the mysteries of the body, and opening to others in a communal circle of love.
Rumi once noted: "The Sufi's book is not ink and letters; it is nothing but a heart white as snow." Helminski sees this organ as "the antenna that receives the emanations of subtler levels of existence." As human beings, it is our calling to awaken the heart, or the spiritual mind, by being "more sensitive, focused, energized, subtle and refined."
Although the various distinctive forms of religion are important, the traditions also share certain essential virtues which can be practiced with intention and ardor. They include patience, kindness, honesty, generosity, humility, and love. Helminski points out that the Prophet Muhammad said: "I came to perfect moral virtues."
Sufis prove to be master practitioners of everyday spirituality with beautiful applications of these qualities. For example, dervishes don't "put out" a candle, they "put it to rest." Sufi musicians kiss their instruments before and after playing them. This regular practice of reverence, or respect for all things, is part and parcel of living out of the heart. Through the practice of salaat, the five-times-a-day prayer, Sufis surrender themselves to Allah. They also fast which is "meditation of the body."
Helminski closes this paperback with a brief delineation of Sufism with its emphasis upon the development of presence and love. He also salutes its accent upon "the unity of being, that we are not separate from the Divine. This is a truth that our age is in an excellent position to approach We are One: one people, one ecology, one universe, one being;. . . Sufism is about realizing the current of love that runs throughout all life, the unity behind forms."
This understanding is what makes Sufis both pioneers and wonderful ambassadors in this age of interspirituality. They have the experience and the practices to present to the world a Fourth Way that is eminently sane and salutary.
A masterful primer on the education of the soul and the inner work of transformation.
Something More
Child development specialist Jean Grasso Fitzpatrick offers counsel to parents who want to make their homes hospitable environments for love, wonder, community, reverence, and a sense of right and wrong. The author includes all these virtues under the umbrella term "spiritual" which she defines as "our sacred connection with all life."
Parents should use meals, play time, reading aloud, walks in nature, and settling differences as occasions to celebrate and affirm what Fitzpatrick calls "revelations of a beauty and generosity at the heart of life that is deeper and more mysterious than we may have ever imagined." She presents ideas and exercises which can enrich and deepen children's understanding of prayer, the natural world, and family togetherness. She offers ways to handle difficult questions about God, justice, death, and other religions. Something More is an ideal resource for parents who view themselves as spiritual pilgrims and who desire to share the delights of their journey with their children. A helpful list of books, music, and video resources which can enhance your child's spiritual growth concludes this volume.
Reveals ways parents can nourish the souls of their children.
Heart, Self, and Soul
"There is really no good English translation for adab. It means behaving well or good etiquette. It is acting with heedfulness, beauty, refinement, graciousness, and respect for others. The Koran teaches us the importance of acting beautifully. 'Do what is beautiful. God loves those who do what is beautiful.'
"You can see beautiful adab in how a dervish serves or receives a cup of tea. You can learn to serve tea graciously if you are trained in the right charm school, and it would look just lovely on the outside. However, what is most important is the inner sense of genuine respect and service."
Robert Frager on the Sufi practice of adab, or behaving well.
The Way of Sufi Chivalry
This classic by Ibn Al-Husayn al-Sulami, a Sufi saint and scholar, has been used since the tenth century as code of conduct. Here many spiritual masters share their experience of futuwwah. In Arabic, fata literally means a handsome, brave youth. Following the use of the term in the Holy Koran it came to be associated with an ideal, noble person whose hospitality and generosity would enable him to always put others above oneself.
According to Sufis, futuwwah is a state of mind that is animated by selflessness, compassion, kindness, and altruism. This behavior was modeled by the Prophet Muhammad and by other friends and lovers of Allah. The word that describes the Sufi brand of chivalry is adab. They see it as "a continuous act of devotion, for it is a method of constant remembrance of God."
What are some of the marks of this code of conduct? Here are a few:
• Be satisfied with little for yourself, and wish much for others.
• Instead of seeking the faults of others, look at your own faults.
• Respond to cruelty with kindness, and do not punish for error.
• Bring joy into the lives of your friends and meet their needs.
• Prefer the well-being and comfort of your brothers over your own, and relieve them of their difficulties.
• The host should serve everything he has to his brother. Even if he has only a drop of water left, he should serve that.
And just to add a little relish, here is Abdul-Husayn ibn Sam' un on the broad meaning of futuwwah:
"[It] means opposing and arguing little, being fair; preventing errors in oneself and not criticizing the errors of others; trying to correct one's faults; accepting accusations; enduring troubles caused by others; lowering one's ego; being pleasant to both the old and the young, doing good deeds, giving good advice, and accepting advice; loving one's friends; and bearing peacefully with one's enemies."
A Sufi classic that has been used since the tenth century as a codebook for kind, loving, generous and selfless behavior.