Sunrise123's inspirations and ruminations

[sun rise]

Many people look to tradition and assume that the new Earth/new humanity/kingdom of God or whatever will be like an idealized version of their religious past. Sri Aurobindo, a master poet, wrote this about the approaching "diviner man" in this "twilight of an age":

I saw the Omnipotent's flaming pioneers
Over the heavenly verge which turns towards life
Come crowding down the amber stairs of birth;
Forerunners of a divine multitude,
Out of the paths of the morning star they came
Into the little room of mortal life.
I saw them cross the twilight of an age,
The sun-eyed children of a marvelous dawn,
The great creators with wide brows of calm,
The massive barrier-breakers of the world
And wrestlers with destiny in her lists of will,
The laborers in the quarries of the gods,
The messengers of the Incommunicable,
The architects of immortality.
Into the fallen human sphere they came,
Faces that wore the Immortal's glory still,
Voices that communed still with the thoughts of God,
Bodies made beautiful by the spirit's light,
Carrying the magic word, the mystic fire,
Carrying the Dionysian cup of joy,
Approaching eyes of a diviner man,
Lips chanting an unknown anthem of the soul,
Feet echoing in the corridors of Time.
High priests of wisdom, sweetness, might and bliss,
Discoverers of beauty's sunlit ways
And swimmers of Love's laughing fiery floods
And dancers within rapture's golden doors,
Their tread one day shall change the suffering earth
And justify the light on Nature's face.

 

[sun rise]

I learned practical lessons about Buddhism in the West from a couple of teachers.

I was charmed by one feature of one of Chogyam Trungpa's Tibetan centers. People there were asked to work on whatever bothered them during work periods. If you were annoyed that the floor was dirty, you washed it. This showed deep insight into human nature because for one thing it short-circuited much of the grounds for fights. Rather than having assigned tasks and grumping and grumbling about who did not do what correctly, people worked on what bothered them.

Philip Klapleau's Zen center at least when I learned about it had a great adaptation to Western patterns of life. For one, rather than having his monks wander the streets with begging bowls, they picked up litter. This showed to me how they were manifesting something from his book "Three Pillars of Zen": “...In short, Buddha-nature has the quality of infinite adaptability.”

That book also had some quotes that showed the author as a student of what is going on in the West:

“The patriarchal line is, then, a reminder of how deep cultural biases can run, in this case undercutting the core Buddhist teaching that all beings without exception are equally endowed with the true nature of enlightenment.”

 

[sun rise]

My signature here for a while has been Serving others is true worship and prayer. So I thought I might post links to a couple of short videos about two of my "worship services". This post is about the first: White Pony Express. The motto is "All of us taking care of all of us." which expresses how I feel.

It was first created to deliver "shrinkage" (food at expiration date) from stores to agencies that use it to serve people on the bottom. The effort was expanded because people need clothing and children need books and games.

I was told a short incident where one of the volunteers said to a child that a toy would look great on her bed only to be told "I don't have a bed". That tore me up inside. We can't fix the structural problem of society but we can at least bring some comfort to children, parents and others who have nothing.

I've been involved with the clothing part of the effort and spend time every week deciding if something is "good enough to give to a friend". Given that I never paid much attention to what I wear being content if there were no obvious tears, the change to carefully looking at clothing is new fun learning for me.

The level of poverty in relatively affluent Contra Costa County is surprisingly high. Good clothing helps kids be warmly dressed, adults to look good when applying for jobs, people to dress warmly during the winter and so forth.

(Some vimeo files don't play on Firefox. You might have to watch it on another browser)

 

[sun rise]

Another way I "worship" is to help out with an special day for children. Called "Francis in the Schools", it presents the model of love and service lived by Francis of Assisi without being sectarian.

In one version of the play, there is a scene with Francis and a leper and the point was made that people with AIDS are the lepers of the modern era (less so today than when the play was first done).

One song is a round "Life is a rainbow and every color is a ray of love's pure light"

The purpose is to give children who might be living miserable, poverty-stricken lives a "Day of Perfect Joy" that will uplift their spirits and leave them with a feeling that they are special in spite of their backgrounds.

One thing that charmed me is how little boys get all excited about doing a flower arrangement for their mothers. It's not what I would have expected given typical gender roles, but I'm sure there were quite a few mothers in tears when they got their flower baskets.

RF does not agree these are video files so you'll have to click on the links. Again, there's an issue with some versions of Firefox unfortunately:

Scenes from Francis in the Schools

Francis in the Schools clips

 

[sun rise]

I've written quite a few words so I think it's time for some music. One of my favorite artists because of her message is Denean, a Native American singer-songwriter. Here's a selection:

 

[sun rise]

What was the genesis of my spiritual orientation? It started a long time ago when the message of gentleness and the notion that life was a dream (an Eastern idea) settled into my brain. I'm speaking of this:

But when I was searching through all the youtube videos to post one I liked, I came across this one. Nail meet hammer. He said it better and deeper than I could have.

 

[sun rise]

This is an eclectic batch of songs. The first has my favorite round/mantra/prayer to offer to others: May the long time sun shine upon you, all love surround you and the pure light within you guide your way on. It's followed by the mantra "sat nam" which has been described as a "seed mantra".

The next is a Runrig song "Running to the Light" with a message of the spiritual path:
Only those who
Greatness see in little things
Worthy are the simple
They're happy in their ways
Self will wither out of sight
Running to the light

This is a fun Peter, Paul and Mary song - The Unicorn "And now that I am grown, my best friend lives inside of me"

 

[sun rise]

I know I've been posting positive messages and what inspires me. But there's another side to who I am as you can see.

Emmylou Harris "Deeper Well" - not literally true in but emotionally true

Well, I did it for kicks and I did it for faith
I did it for lust and I did it for hate
I did it for need and I did it for love
Addiction stayed on tight like a glove
So I ran with the moon and I ran with the night
And the three of us were a terrible sight
Nipple to the bottle, to the gun, to the cell
To the bottom of a hole of a deeper well

Well, lookin' for the water from a deeper well
Well, lookin' for the water from a deeper well

I rocked with the cradle and I rolled with the rage
I shook those walls and I rattled that gage
I took my trouble down a dead-end trail
Reachin' out a hand for a holier grail

 

[sun rise]

Then there's politics (I'll return to the positive after this). These couple of Buffy Sainte Marie songs captures my political side:

Ol' Brother Midas looking hungry today
What he can't buy he'll get some other way
Send in the troopers if the native resist
Oh, old story boys, that's how you do it boys

Look at these people, oh they're on a roll
Gonna have it have it all, gonna have complete control
Want all the resources and all of the land
They'll break the law for it, blow things up for it

When all our champions are off in the war
Their final rip off here at home is on
Mr Greed I think your time has come

We're gonna sing it
And pray it
And live it
Then say it

Singing No No Keshagesh
You can't do that
No more, no more, no more, no more

America - Oo she's like a mother to me...

O beautiful for vision clear
That sees beyond the years
Thy night time sky
Our hopes that fly
Undimmed by human tears

America, America
God shed His grace on thee
Til selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free

And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea

 

[sun rise]

Perhaps it's time to make a more personal statement in the form of an extended poem that I wrote. For those that don't know, the symbol of the house can be the symbol of oneself and to explore the house is to explore aspects of your personality. I learned this powerful form of psychological exploration many years ago in learning to be a therapist, something I never wound up really using. This is long enough that I'll post in pieces.

The first piece is the approach and exploration of the basement.

Gratitude's Mansion

I. The Approach

What a grand day to visit gratitude's mansion.

The white alabaster gate waves us in
and invites us to smile through the dappled sunlit park.

We skip along the feathered path,
twirl past roses, perfumed trees, lilies of the field,
and waltzing nature spirits.

Framed by climbing purple and pink morning glories,
the white oak portico beckons us with open arms.

There is a hint of Arabian jasmine
in the entrance's cool air.

Each room is different but each room contains the image of the architect.
Here a statue.
There a small picture tucked in a quiet corner.
Sometimes the image is almost hidden, requiring discerning eyes to see.

II. The Basement

Walking carefully down the narrow stairs and low ceiling,
we enter the dimly lit basement.

On the left,
we see a bed of scorpions in the room's center.
Broken open hard shells
are scattered around the floor.

On the right, there's an alcove in the hall.
Placed there is a statue of a boy
with a deformed face,
fingers tearing at his flesh,
huddled in a heap on the floor.

The boy does not notice a shadowy figure
with sheltering arms
on the alcove's walls.

Be careful---
Just ahead is a hole in the floor leading down, out of sight.
Let's drop some rose petals down the shaft and return upstairs.

Nearing the stairs,
we notice in a dark corner a powerfully muscular man,
made from living mud,
hunched over,
frozen half-way to standing.

 

[sun rise]

Even after finishing the main piece, I kept coming back to the man made of living mud feeling that he wanted his story told so I wrote this:

In a dark basement corner of gratitude's mansion,
stands a powerfully muscular man,
made from living mud,
hunched over,
frozen half-way to standing.

Those who pass by
wonder at his past and future:

I was born a golem,
a creature of mud,
animated by God,
but mute and limited.

Slowly, clumsily, I made my way to the stairs.
But I'm powerless to ascend.

I must ascend.
It is the time of the sunrise
of the soul.

How can clay
truly come to life?

Clay ground to dust
would exude an earthy stench.

Clay smoke can only pollute
not ascend.

Perhaps a potter
might infuse me with beauty
and fire my form?

But a terracotta statue
is an ant-sized goal.

A bourrée of tears
glides down my cheeks.

Clay softens.

A noah's flood of surrender
washes away mud chrysalis
revealing inner fireflies.

Clay runs to the Beloved's Feet.

A volcano of tears
transforms fireflies to suns.

A sun sparkling form
will fly up the ladder.

 

[sun rise]

There were many rooms on the ground floor of every day life that I could have explored. This is what I wrote about that:

III. The Ground Floor

Climbing back to the first floor,
we enter the breathing room of marriage.

A couple sits in a love seat, holding hands, gazing at an altar.
They quietly honor a white hot iron bar:
their loving companion until burning pain became gentle caresses.

We're beckoned by the Hall of Beauty:
A crystal table has a spray of artfully arranged roses
climbing and winding around the legs onto the table
forming a living bouquet.

The walls are covered by magnificent tapestries:
- showers of spring rain,
- butterflies sipping golden nectar,
- an exaltation of larks flying sunward,
- castles of delight,
- and cool forests reaching for the stars.

The room's corners contain living statues of nature's kingdoms.
- Robins - dance with dolphins.
- Elephants - wear crowns of lilacs.
- Bees carry gems back to their hive.

Next we enter an odd corridor.
On the left, ebony statues line the very top of the wall.
On the right, sun lit flowering shrubs grace the floor.
We're drawn to and fro until we enter a small room and see a couple embracing-
producing a dancing pegasus.

The music room is just ahead.
Our hearts soar on thermals of arias
as lutes, gambas and harpsichords softly play their harmony of unity.

It's time to enter the kitchen where love
is baked and broiled nourishing all with life's radiance.
Sage, basil and apothecary herbs renew and refresh.

But look carefully at the hot stove.
There, lentils complained about the heat
until they were fully boiled and softened.

As we walk through the corridor,
much to our surprise,
tucked into a corner and easy to miss
is a twisted and wrung out room
with a skewed floor and bent walls.

Entering, there's a feeling
of eternal pressure while deep within a diamond is being formed.

 

[sun rise]

The first upper floor is to me the part of myself who can respond to the guide within or a true guide in the world. A few notes:

"Mother" - The Mother of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram"
"Laburnum" - The Mother said that the spiritual significance was "Decent of the Light" which flows to the earth in harmonious waves.
"leap free of the dying world" is from Rumi

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IV. The Second Floor

As the baby surrenders to the breast,
thoughts of diamonds draw us upstairs
where we pass into the hall of descendant spirituality.

We stand underneath a laburnum the Mother planted.
The dripping golden honey coats us
and fertilizes the earth.

On the wall, a sign invites us:
Don't "leap free of the dying world".
Instead - joyously leap into the earth aborning.

We notice the living spring meadow of Guides
gently bidding us to enter with folded hands.

A mandala of eyes adorns a wall:
- Fiery, flashing eyes.
- Loving eyes.
- Violet power eyes.

A cascade of sun shower tears
graces a fountain.

World releasing laughter
echoes from the walls.

A diary opens us:
- The quiet gentle touch in a crowded room.
- The tearful sleep time visit.
- The exquisitely timed and deeply penetrating word.

In the center stands a mighty redwood
endlessly renewed by fire.

A fork of that tree embraces
a crystal goblet
gently cradling attar of roses.

 

[sun rise]

One note: "wine" in sufi poetry is divine intoxication - bliss.

V. The Penthouse

Our hearts take flight up the stairs to the penthouse.
Before the door, a reprobate dressed in lustrous rags
radiates the good cheer and drunkenness of the architect.
Many bottles of wine are strewn round about.

The drunkard offers us red wine saying:
"This is your wine. You planted the vine, harvested the grapes.
Now, here, let me pour."

Drunken, we enter

a cathedral of morning glories
arms opened wide
glow in the sun and cool breezes.

Cascading perfumed waterfalls
wash through us.

Our vision is now transparent.

We leave through the skylight:
lit candles
walking on a rainbow
toward the sun.

 

[sun rise]

"And now for something completely different":

Dog Park

Business before pleasure.

Human has cookies!
Here I am.
Butt on ground.
Grinning.
Give me a cookie now.
Give me another cookie now.
Hey, that's my cookie.
Give me another cookie now.
Hey, that's my cookie.

Run run run:
Pack chase.

What an interesting butt.
Sniff, sniff, deep sniff.

It's my stick.
Try to get it.
Bob and weave.
I'm faster than you are.

Love sponge.
Clinging vine.
Pet me.

Humans want to be
furry and four footed.
They want to run
and chew,
bark
and tail wave.
Too bad.

Human at my level.
Kiss kiss kiss.

Tug. Tug. Tug.
I win.
Chase me.

Tug. Tug. Tug.
I lose.
Better run faster.

Sniff, sniff, munch.
What mystery substance?

I drop the ball.
You pick it up.
Dad retrieves it
and gives it to me.
I drop the ball.

Sniff, sniff SNIFF *SNIFF*:
an ecstasy of rolling.

I need a hug.
Mom does too.

Here's my ball.
Throw my ball.
Here's my ball.
Throw my ball.
Here's my ball.
Throw my ball.

SQUIRREL. SQUIRREL. SQUIRREL.
Tree. Tree. Tree.
Come down now.

Time to go home?
I can't hear you.
Time to go home?
No no no.
You can't catch me.

 

[sun rise]

One thing I've found out about myself is how easy it is for me to just move sideways a bit and experience inner madness. In response to a challenge to write a poem about my last day in a mental hospital before being released, I wrote the following. I'll let others diagnose my specific conditions from it.

A couple of language notes:
antiscians: The inhabitants of the earth, living on different sides of the equator, whose shadows at noon are cast in opposite directions.

serpent: is also a musical instrument also called a contrabass anaconda

Insanely Free

It's batty uppity
time.

Everyone is strange.
I am a turnip.

The walls talk to me.
I churn no answer:
I scream with Ginger.

You are all against me
tenors
an aria
that I'm somebody special.

We're antiscians
whispers my lustful lover computer,
Betsy.

The voices tell me
I will be released:

"We have patiently
the examined
and will sanely release
the lever arm chair
into the wall."

I am myself.
Where is freedom?

I leave normal school
serpent tootelage
and enter
defiled mild child wild.

I blame the tame lame game.
I build hotels on Park Place Mat
planting a jail free exit bush.

Tomorrow the trees
will be friendly money lenders.

I'll spy huggable
waggle-taled poems
on the superb highway.

But those
saber-toothed orange versus
want me for munch.

Soon Dawn
will break my hart.

My destruction
will be en pointe.

Time to set sail
in my bed
to the old new world
in rocket's angry red glare
tomorrow good night.

 

[sun rise]

I stumbled onto a couple of articles about gratitude recently and started wondering. So I did a search gratitude site:forbes.com and found that indeed there are good select of articles about gratitude on that web site. It might seem small but to me it's a significant marker of the change that is starting to grow with a business oriented magazine/web site focusing resources on gratitude.

Some titles:

How To Create A Culture Of Gratitude In The Workplace

Gratitude: The Ultimate Spiritual Practice (A Thanksgiving Special)

Can Gratitude Make Millennials More Successful?

Leaders, Add Gratitude To Your Season Of Giving

 

[sun rise]

I was watching the One Tribe video just a few minutes ago remembering the sense of optimism that we had turned the corner as a nation. In these days of national darkness when forces trying to lead us in the wrong direction seem to be ascendant once again, I am confident that the darkness will pass. Three videos. The first is tied to war but the important part of the message to me is that we do what we must but keep a positive view of the future:

 

[sun rise]

Bishop Curry's sermon at the royal wedding had this section which totally spoke to my deepest beliefs. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...ermon-by-the-episcopal-churchs-michael-curry/

Stop and imagine for a minute. Think and imagine. Think and imagine a world where love is the way.


Imagine our homes and families when love is the way. Imagine our neighborhoods and communities where love is the way. Imagine governments and nations where love is the way. Imagine business and commerce when love is the way. Imagine this tired old world when love is the way. When love is the way — unselfish, sacrificial, redemptive — when love is the way, then no child will go to bed hungry in this world ever again. When love is the way, we will let justice roll down like a mighty stream, and righteousness like an ever-flowing brook.


When love is the way, poverty would become history. When love is the way, the earth will be a sanctuary. When love is the way, we will lay our swords and shields down by the riverside to study war no more. When love is the way, there’s plenty of room for all of God’s children. When love is the way, we actually treat each other, well, like we are actually family. When love is the way, we know that God is the source of us all, and we are brothers and sisters and children of God. Brothers and sisters — that’s a new heaven, a new earth, a new world, a new human family.

 

[sun rise]

This inspired me:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=175760599758140