Listening

 Subject: Re: spiritual matters
 Date: Sunday, September 06, 1998 5:07 PM

 You point of view is noted and perhaps we can talk about more in future.  Specifically in regards to what's going on in our exchanges. For me allowing  the mind to still and emptying the heart of everything but love and  questioning every belief that is interfering with such opening and receptivity  is what is necessary.

K

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Then do it. The best way to still the mind while engaged with the world (and not tucked away in some room away from other people in some silent meditation) is to really try to LISTEN to others (both their words, their emotions, and in what they are trying to express) and to UNDERSTAND them. One does this by giving others your full attention like when you meditate and give your full attention to some central idea.

This is the way to MEDITATE ALL THE TIME.

I suspect that the problems you are having are due to your just reacting to the surface level of what someone is saying, instead of responding to their "full expression".

jc
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A discussion in which spiritual principles are tossed  around and back in forth at each other without increasing detachment is ill  advised. I am finding that difficult in situations like last night and find  that my inner sense tells me to re evaluate what is going on.

K

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Then detach.

Your pain is a result of your attachment. You seem to have this need for your environment to be formatted "just so" so that you can process "the world" in a way that meets your preconceived expectations and agendas. But the world won't behave, will it? Other people and things keep going "Boo!" in spite of your efforts to format them into polite behavior.

The solution is to change your perceptions and release your attachment to the idea that "The World" has to change. You have to Change. Then the world WILL change.

Here is an quotation that may help:

"Relate thyself neither to the past nor to the future: live out the present with a smiling heart." Be fully receptive to what occurs NOW. Resolve to take it, understand it and apply it.

How may union with the "still, small voice," [Intuition] be effected?  

How do we become better listeners?

1. By deliberately  adopting a receptive, listening, attitude [humility].
2. By continuously reminding ourselves [memory], of the truth that the One Power is actually present everywhere.  
3. By using our imagination in every way we can to discriminate between the mask and the essence.  Between gross appearances, and the reality behind those appearances. 
4. By practicing compassion and mercy.  Expressing Good Will,  is the most important rule of all.

So try to exercise some HUMILITY, REMEMBER that God is everywhere, use your IMAGINATION to discriminate the face of the beloved veiled by appearances, and always express GOOD WILL.

In this way we come to be guided more and more by God's Will.

jc
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Intellectual principles are one piece of the matter the other and more urgent matter is  stilling the mind and calming or purifying desire/passion, that can not be  done in such a manner. I feel its misleading to foster the belief that what  is spiritual is to philosophize and debate only.

K

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K,

It is a challenge to learn to approach situations from a different perspective, I agree. That is why we have "inner work" (formal meditation) as a part of our practice. The "outer work" (interacting with others in everyday life) should compliment our inner work. We all need to do more inner work, so that we can approach the "outer work" with mindfulness instead of reacting to the surface of things.

jc
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