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Saturday, November 25, 2006
If You Want To Be Free, Be Free
A couple of days ago, a woman and I had a conversation about the nuns and their collection of canned goods as a way of paying off the restitution the government says they owe. I told this woman how obvious it is that these three nuns are living their faith. They have a deep, deep belief in working for social justice. This calling is in their cells.
The woman that I was talking with strongly stated that we should obey the law of the land, and that our faith should take life through prayer, through inner work.
Ummmm... the law of the land can be a very bad thing. Why would we blindly follow it?
This all leads me to the book that I have been reading - The Common Heart. It is a compilation of interviews edited by Netanel Miles-Yepez.
In 1984, Father Thomas Keating brought together spiritual teachers from various world religions. They met in Snowmass, Colorado to meditate together and share their spiritual journeys, especially the aspects of their religions that they found most helpful in their lives. These Snowmass Conferences have occurred now every year since, and have included such teachers as Pema Chodron, Grandfather Gerald Red Elk, and Rabbi Rami Shapiro, along with other Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, and non-aligned teachers.
Over time, these teachers came up with a list called "The Points of Agreement" - eight points (plus four practical points) that they found were common to all religions. Some of these are:
1. The world religions bear witness to the experience of Ultimate Reality, to which they give various names.
2. Ultimate Reality cannot be limited by any name or concept.
6. Ultimate Reality may be experienced not only through religious practices, but also through nature, art, human relationships and service to others.
The participants were surprised by the commonalities of their various belief systems. AND they found that they bonded more deeply when they explored their disagreements, sharing frankly without trying to convince others of their position.
Reading this book, I am hopeful and inspired, because I can see that it is possible to work with others in acceptance, appreciation, respect and understanding.
I would find life boring if there were only one way to see the world. The many beliefs all living together make the colorful quilt of life.
My life's hope is that the seeds that have been planted at the Snowmass Conference will sprout throughout the world and a healing will begin. We will see an open-ness to the discovery of commonalities, a willingness to share differences with total honesty and acceptance, and an appreciation that we each have different work to be doing here.
"'Cause there's a million things to be, you know that there are"
.
The woman that I was talking with strongly stated that we should obey the law of the land, and that our faith should take life through prayer, through inner work.
Ummmm... the law of the land can be a very bad thing. Why would we blindly follow it?
This all leads me to the book that I have been reading - The Common Heart. It is a compilation of interviews edited by Netanel Miles-Yepez.
In 1984, Father Thomas Keating brought together spiritual teachers from various world religions. They met in Snowmass, Colorado to meditate together and share their spiritual journeys, especially the aspects of their religions that they found most helpful in their lives. These Snowmass Conferences have occurred now every year since, and have included such teachers as Pema Chodron, Grandfather Gerald Red Elk, and Rabbi Rami Shapiro, along with other Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, and non-aligned teachers.
Over time, these teachers came up with a list called "The Points of Agreement" - eight points (plus four practical points) that they found were common to all religions. Some of these are:
1. The world religions bear witness to the experience of Ultimate Reality, to which they give various names.
2. Ultimate Reality cannot be limited by any name or concept.
6. Ultimate Reality may be experienced not only through religious practices, but also through nature, art, human relationships and service to others.
The participants were surprised by the commonalities of their various belief systems. AND they found that they bonded more deeply when they explored their disagreements, sharing frankly without trying to convince others of their position.
Reading this book, I am hopeful and inspired, because I can see that it is possible to work with others in acceptance, appreciation, respect and understanding.
I would find life boring if there were only one way to see the world. The many beliefs all living together make the colorful quilt of life.
My life's hope is that the seeds that have been planted at the Snowmass Conference will sprout throughout the world and a healing will begin. We will see an open-ness to the discovery of commonalities, a willingness to share differences with total honesty and acceptance, and an appreciation that we each have different work to be doing here.
"'Cause there's a million things to be, you know that there are"
.
posted by Carol at 10:59 AM
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