Rereading an old journal recently, I came across another quote that had a big impact on me at the time. The journal is dated 1967, and the quote is attributed to Vernon Howard, but I did not record what book I found it in. The quote reads: "If we have not enjoyed the last hour, we have wasted it."
Over time my understanding of that quote has changed as my experience has changed me. And I have grown to appreciate the wisdom of that statement even more.
When I first read this statement, I took it to mean if I was not enjoying what I was doing, I needed to change what I was doing. And that led to a lot of changes in terms of jobs, where I lived, who was a part of my life, what I did in my free time. But I never reached a point where I could change enough things in my environment to enjoy every hour.
Over the course of many years, I came to understand that what needed to change was not my world, but me. And that has made all the difference.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Who Has Mastered the Way?
"I do not write as someone who has mastered the way, but as someone who has been walking it, though often clumsily, for several decades of my life."
That is a quote from Marianne Williamson, someone I have begun reading only recently, but it relates to why I am writing this blog. I do not claim to be a guru or enlightened master, but I have been studying mysticism and self development for some forty years now, and want to offer a little light to others walking the same way.
I actually believe there is only One Way, the differences are illusory between all the different "ways", whether you call them "religion", "science", spiritual development", meditation", "yoga", "New Age", or any other label you may want to use. They all come from and return to the same Source. (See my previous post: Teaching Stories, it talks about One Truth)
Along the way, I have come upon many useful ideas, from many sources, and my goal here is to share the best of them, hopefully in a light-hearted manner. (I believe anyone who claims to be spiritual, but lacks a sense of humor, is either lying, or deluded. The more spiritually developed people I have met all laugh easily, and often, especially at themselves. )
That is a quote from Marianne Williamson, someone I have begun reading only recently, but it relates to why I am writing this blog. I do not claim to be a guru or enlightened master, but I have been studying mysticism and self development for some forty years now, and want to offer a little light to others walking the same way.
I actually believe there is only One Way, the differences are illusory between all the different "ways", whether you call them "religion", "science", spiritual development", meditation", "yoga", "New Age", or any other label you may want to use. They all come from and return to the same Source. (See my previous post: Teaching Stories, it talks about One Truth)
Along the way, I have come upon many useful ideas, from many sources, and my goal here is to share the best of them, hopefully in a light-hearted manner. (I believe anyone who claims to be spiritual, but lacks a sense of humor, is either lying, or deluded. The more spiritually developed people I have met all laugh easily, and often, especially at themselves. )
Monday, February 12, 2007
Ready to Live?
Way back in the 1960's, when I first became interested in personal growth, I began to read widely. One author I really felt drawn towards was Ralph Waldo Emerson.
I read whatever I could find written by and about him, and was especially fond of his journals. I found an old journal of my own today, and chanced upon a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson I thought was worth sharing.
"We are always getting ready to live, but never living."
I think it is worth reflecting on whether the things you do every day are part of getting ready to live, or really living your life.
I read whatever I could find written by and about him, and was especially fond of his journals. I found an old journal of my own today, and chanced upon a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson I thought was worth sharing.
"We are always getting ready to live, but never living."
I think it is worth reflecting on whether the things you do every day are part of getting ready to live, or really living your life.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
More on Teaching Stories
In my last post, I told a story that was inspired by a previous post, and I promised that I would have more to say about stories in this post.
I have another story today, it's the one I usually start with whenever I tell teaching stories, because it talks about the usefulness of teaching stories for personal growth.
The story begins...
I had a dream recently, in which I met an enormous wolf. I was terrified, and unable to move.
The wolf looked directly at me, and slowly walked toward me, until it stood directly in front of me. It sat back and looked down at my face.
Not knowing what else to do, I said "Hello". as if it was some neighbor's dog I had met on the street.
To my astonishment, the wolf replied with a hello of it's own.
Not knowing what else to do, I tried to make conversation, and blurted out that wolves appear in many stories that we humans tell each other. The wolf asked me to tell one. The only one that occurred to me was The Boy Who Cried Wolf, so I told that one.
After I had finished, the wolf said, "That is very interesting. We wolves also tell stories, and we have one called 'The Wolf Who Cried Boy'."
I remarked that it was a good thing that we could tell each other stories, and save each other from making big mistakes.
The wolf sadly shook it's head. "I am afraid that I have greatly over estimated your intelligence. Even stupid wolves know that a story does not teach before the experience."
End of story...
My experience has confirmed that stories teach more after the experience, and I have often found new levels of meaning in stories after having new experiences.
I have another story today, it's the one I usually start with whenever I tell teaching stories, because it talks about the usefulness of teaching stories for personal growth.
The story begins...
I had a dream recently, in which I met an enormous wolf. I was terrified, and unable to move.
The wolf looked directly at me, and slowly walked toward me, until it stood directly in front of me. It sat back and looked down at my face.
Not knowing what else to do, I said "Hello". as if it was some neighbor's dog I had met on the street.
To my astonishment, the wolf replied with a hello of it's own.
Not knowing what else to do, I tried to make conversation, and blurted out that wolves appear in many stories that we humans tell each other. The wolf asked me to tell one. The only one that occurred to me was The Boy Who Cried Wolf, so I told that one.
After I had finished, the wolf said, "That is very interesting. We wolves also tell stories, and we have one called 'The Wolf Who Cried Boy'."
I remarked that it was a good thing that we could tell each other stories, and save each other from making big mistakes.
The wolf sadly shook it's head. "I am afraid that I have greatly over estimated your intelligence. Even stupid wolves know that a story does not teach before the experience."
End of story...
My experience has confirmed that stories teach more after the experience, and I have often found new levels of meaning in stories after having new experiences.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Teaching Stories
Yesterday, I said that we all see a part of a greater whole, often thinking we get the whole picture.
The idea about understanding the same occurrence differently because we each have a hold on a different part of the "elephant" reminded me of a story, and I wanted to tell that story today.
There are three characters in this story. The first I will call "Our Hero", who represents a person of some spiritual understanding, meaning someone who gets that the elephant is bigger than any one description of a part of it. The second, I will call "The Neighbor", who represents someone in ordinary consciousness, someone whose understanding of the spiritual comes from watching the television show "Medium". The third character I will call the "Wild Eyed Mystic", someone who has glimpsed the elephant, and is no longer wholly focused in this world, but lost in some Spiritual Reverie.
Our story opens with Our Hero holding a small sack, standing along a roadside, talking with The Neighbor, just chatting, about the weather.
Suddenly, the Wild Eyed Mystic appears.And what an apparition! Ragged, disheveled clothes, eyes that seem focused elsewhere , and a look that may be bewilderment, or maybe amusement, or even madness.
The Wild Eyed Mystic comes directly in front of Our Hero and The Neighbor and stares intently at both. Suddenly he thrusts his right index finger skyward, and continues glaring at Our Hero and The Neighbor.
The Neighbor thinks, "This man is deranged." and positions himself behind Our Hero for protection against the madman.
Our Hero understands the Wild Eyed Mystic is saying "One Truth, which covers all." then opens his sack and pulls out a coil of rope, which he hands to The Neighbor.
The neighbor is much relieved, and thinks, "Good. If he becomes violent, we can restrain him with the rope."
The Wild Eyed Mystic nods and smiles, understanding Our Hero to say "Ordinary Man tries to reach that One Truth in the same way one would try to climb into the sky with a length of rope."
Then, just as quickly as he appeared, the Wild Eyed Mystic is gone, much to the relief of the neighbor.
That is the story, there is more to it than just how different people perceive things differently, but that's for another discussion.
I'll have more to say about teaching stories in my next post.
The idea about understanding the same occurrence differently because we each have a hold on a different part of the "elephant" reminded me of a story, and I wanted to tell that story today.
There are three characters in this story. The first I will call "Our Hero", who represents a person of some spiritual understanding, meaning someone who gets that the elephant is bigger than any one description of a part of it. The second, I will call "The Neighbor", who represents someone in ordinary consciousness, someone whose understanding of the spiritual comes from watching the television show "Medium". The third character I will call the "Wild Eyed Mystic", someone who has glimpsed the elephant, and is no longer wholly focused in this world, but lost in some Spiritual Reverie.
Our story opens with Our Hero holding a small sack, standing along a roadside, talking with The Neighbor, just chatting, about the weather.
Suddenly, the Wild Eyed Mystic appears.And what an apparition! Ragged, disheveled clothes, eyes that seem focused elsewhere , and a look that may be bewilderment, or maybe amusement, or even madness.
The Wild Eyed Mystic comes directly in front of Our Hero and The Neighbor and stares intently at both. Suddenly he thrusts his right index finger skyward, and continues glaring at Our Hero and The Neighbor.
The Neighbor thinks, "This man is deranged." and positions himself behind Our Hero for protection against the madman.
Our Hero understands the Wild Eyed Mystic is saying "One Truth, which covers all." then opens his sack and pulls out a coil of rope, which he hands to The Neighbor.
The neighbor is much relieved, and thinks, "Good. If he becomes violent, we can restrain him with the rope."
The Wild Eyed Mystic nods and smiles, understanding Our Hero to say "Ordinary Man tries to reach that One Truth in the same way one would try to climb into the sky with a length of rope."
Then, just as quickly as he appeared, the Wild Eyed Mystic is gone, much to the relief of the neighbor.
That is the story, there is more to it than just how different people perceive things differently, but that's for another discussion.
I'll have more to say about teaching stories in my next post.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Understanding
"Each of us touches one place
and understands the whole in that way."
These lines are from the poet Rumi, as translated by Coleman Barks. They come from a poem where Rumi is talking about the story of The Blind Men and the Elephant. (If you are not familiar with that story, here is a quick synopsis: a group of blind men encounter an elephant, and each decides what an elephant is, based on his touching a small part of the animal. One who touched the ear said the elephant is like a fan, another who touched the trunk said like a snake. Each insisted his version of the animal was the correct one.)
I find this image of touching "one place' to be a great description of how we all approach Spiritual Truth. In our limitation, we touch one part of a much greater Whole. We get into trouble, or cause trouble for others when we believe that we have the Whole (and only version of) the Truth.
In my postings here, please understand they come from the "one place" I touch, and represent how I have come to view the Whole from that one place.
and understands the whole in that way."
These lines are from the poet Rumi, as translated by Coleman Barks. They come from a poem where Rumi is talking about the story of The Blind Men and the Elephant. (If you are not familiar with that story, here is a quick synopsis: a group of blind men encounter an elephant, and each decides what an elephant is, based on his touching a small part of the animal. One who touched the ear said the elephant is like a fan, another who touched the trunk said like a snake. Each insisted his version of the animal was the correct one.)
I find this image of touching "one place' to be a great description of how we all approach Spiritual Truth. In our limitation, we touch one part of a much greater Whole. We get into trouble, or cause trouble for others when we believe that we have the Whole (and only version of) the Truth.
In my postings here, please understand they come from the "one place" I touch, and represent how I have come to view the Whole from that one place.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Welcome
Hello and welcome to Comes The Dawn.
The goal of this blog is to be a source of inspiration and encouragement, lighting a candle against the darkness.
I hope to offer a place where you can find an antidote to the "darkness" which seems rampant in our world today. (I put the word "darkness" in quotes for two reasons: this blog is an attempt to "light candles against the darkness"; and I have come to believe that darkness is not the opposite of light, but the absence of light, no amount of darkness is sufficient to destroy the smallest light, but the tiniest light will disperse the darkness.)
I have been a student of self development and spiritual development since 1967. I do not claim to be enlightened, but I have learned a few things in all these years. I hope to share those ideas I have found helpful, and that have brightened my life as it has evolved.
The goal of this blog is to be a source of inspiration and encouragement, lighting a candle against the darkness.
I hope to offer a place where you can find an antidote to the "darkness" which seems rampant in our world today. (I put the word "darkness" in quotes for two reasons: this blog is an attempt to "light candles against the darkness"; and I have come to believe that darkness is not the opposite of light, but the absence of light, no amount of darkness is sufficient to destroy the smallest light, but the tiniest light will disperse the darkness.)
I have been a student of self development and spiritual development since 1967. I do not claim to be enlightened, but I have learned a few things in all these years. I hope to share those ideas I have found helpful, and that have brightened my life as it has evolved.
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