Who? Me? Addicted?

I spent some time recently with a friend that I don't see or hear from very often any more. Addiction takes up most of my friend's life now. There are many reasons for my friend to hide in addiction, beginning with a horrific childhood. But all I know is...I just feel a loss and a sadness from what used to be to 'what is' today.

And as I contemplated my friend's habits, I started reviewing my own. Ouch! That didn't feel good. Yes, I have a few habits I'd like to change but, for heaven's sake, I wouldn't say I'm addicted. I mean, I would never consider stealing to pay for my habits. I don’t lock myself in the bathroom and shove a needle up my arm or snort things through my nose. My addictions don’t cause car accidents or impair my ability to make decisions. So my addictions certainly aren't dangerous or serious...OR is it just that my addictions are socially acceptable?

I could be dangerous if you try to take my computer or my cell phone away from me! And talk about serious...what about shopping for stress relief? I especially enjoy shopping on QVC or HSN. They make it so easy. I see it, I love it, I order it. The very act of ordering relieves my stress, and I forget almost immediately that I've ordered something. Then there is the "surprise" when the items come to my home. I love getting "surprises" delivered to my door.

Exercise, internet blogging/gaming, eating, caffeine, shopping, cell phones...all socially acceptable addictions...and I've overdone most of them at one time, as most people have. So perhaps we don't bankrupt the family by shopping, or cripple ourself with exercise, or hide to use the internet...but maybe we are all more addicted than we know.

And maybe some of the sadness I feel for my friend, I'm also feeling for myself.

Matthew 7:3-5
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

I'm holding the high watch...even with a beam in my eye!
Rev. Donna

Know Thyself

"Until you make peace with who you are, you'll never be content with what you have." -Doris Mortman

Making peace with who you are means knowing who you are. It means respecting yourself and respecting others...being kind, loving, and ethical...in other words, being moral. In Buddhist teaching, morality does not mean a forced or puritanical abiding by rules.

In my own definition, morality means living with intentions that reflect love and compassion for ourselves as well as caring for others. As the philosopher George Santayana said, "Morality is the desire to lessen suffering in the world." Living in a way that doesn't perpetuate hurting ourselves or hurting another is considered to be an expression both of great power and great compassion.

The Buddha said that if we truly loved ourselves we would never harm another, because if we harm another it is in some way diminishing who we are. There is no way to lash out at someone physically or verbally, to belittle their achievements, to exploit them in some way, to consider them unworthy of hearing the truth, and emerge undamaged ourselves. We are capable of so much more, and we dishonor that potential when we don't live with integrity.

How about trying a Buddhist practice of morality? It does involve loving ourselves and others...but isn't peace worth it?

Rev. Donna

monday morning ministerial musings...

Drinking coffee on the porch and thinking about...

Intellectual Knowledge and Spiritual Understanding

Intellectual knowledge comes from outside yourself...from books, lectures, and the opinions of speakers. Actually, it is information rather than knowledge. What we refer to as intellectual knowledge is just suggestions and opinions you have accepted from others.

Spiritual understanding comes from within. It can only happen with frequent periods of silence, inner stillness, meditation or whatever term you use for the act of getting quiet, going within, and listening, waiting, desiring, yearning for understanding.

In Matthew 16, Jesus asked, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" The answer, "Some say John the Baptist, other say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." That answer came from intellectual informantion.

Then Jesus said, "But who do YOU say that I am?" And Peter said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." This wasn't information from a book or a teacher...this was spiritual understanding from Peter's illumined mind.

Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven."

Intellectual knowledge...a book, a lecture, a radio program can be helpful but it only tells you ABOUT a power, a potential...ABOUT God. Spiritual understanding allows you to KNOW God. Knowing "about" is intellectual knowledge, but spiritual understanding is KNOWING.

Day by day, hour by hour...work at being aware of an invisible Power and Presence. Act from the guidance of the Light with you, instead of reacting the way the outer condition or person tells you to do.

I'm holding the high watch...

Rev. Donna

Stages of Spiritual Development

Four Stages of Spiritual Development

• Why Me/Mortal – victim, blame consciousness. Me! Me! Me!

We are all born as mortals. Many of us are born TO mortals and are told “this is all there is.”

• By Me/Metaphysician – vital phase of growth but not the end; learning to be a co-creator; taking responsibility for self; getting/manifesting is important here.

This is the phase were we to all the classes, read all the books and attend all the workshops.

• Through Me/Mystic – focus is more on knowing God than manifesting anything in particular; dwelling in the Presence; surrender; setting the ego aside so that God can express through

We begin to “get it” and understand the mystery a bit. We are eager to know more of God.

• As Me/Master – connection with God so strong that manifestation happens instantly; Christ consciousness; Jesus our beautiful role model.

We don’t know much about this phase but we do know this is where we are all headed.

Where are YOU on the scale? Is it time for the next step? What do you need to let go of or grab hold of?

What are you waiting for?

I’m holding the high watch! Rev. Donna