Man, my parents liked the late '60s and early '70s original soft-rock groove sounds: 5th Dimension, Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, the Carpenters (yes, I really love the Carpenters)...
So, that title just sticks like babyhood candy syrup in my brain - here's a link to the video if you want to get a Slurpee headache, courtesy of my memories.
But, on the serious note, it's times like these that test us, try us, temper us and treat us to the wholeness of our selves. I've seen a lot of anger, which is mostly just unplaced sorrow coming out strong. I've seen a lot of intolerance; I've seen the nastiness, the conspiratorial concerns, the end-timerisms, all of it. And, as we've been reminded, we've seen the best of humanity, who after all is said and done, are wired for struggle and to help each other. That's a nobility granted, not gained.
At times like this, we look to the differences - why is that? We look for reason or cause or blame - usually, we're not satisfied with what we find. I suggest there is nothing to be found but everything to be learned.
How are you - how are you, really? And, how does that make you - how are you acting and reacting; where do your thoughts go? If we seek to not differentiate, but to understand through our commonality, we can go back to the sacred scriptures and learned texts, and see where it all converges.
From the ideas at the basis of the Hammurabi Code, to the Mosaic Code into the Ten Commandments; to the Suras and the Sutras, there is a pretty base, reductionist, simple theme.
Under all of the "Do Nots..." and all of the "Thou Shalt Nots..." it really says, "DON'T BE MEAN". Killing is mean, stealing is mean, cursing someone is mean, making their life worse is mean, disrespecting someone is mean. That's the gist of it, "DON'T BE MEAN".
How's this for more simple, elegant and positive - BE NICE. Ahimsa tells us not to be violent, or perhaps, does it remind us to live outside of even contemplating the violent act simply by focusing on being nice - honoring, caring, respecting, nurturing, thanking and praising?
That's my message, I'm sticking with it - I'm also offering a challenge: can you prove to me that your Spiritual tradition isn't based on the simple admonishment to "BE NICE"!?
Let's not argue the difference, let's focus on that mission as we give thanks and praise!
So, that title just sticks like babyhood candy syrup in my brain - here's a link to the video if you want to get a Slurpee headache, courtesy of my memories.
But, on the serious note, it's times like these that test us, try us, temper us and treat us to the wholeness of our selves. I've seen a lot of anger, which is mostly just unplaced sorrow coming out strong. I've seen a lot of intolerance; I've seen the nastiness, the conspiratorial concerns, the end-timerisms, all of it. And, as we've been reminded, we've seen the best of humanity, who after all is said and done, are wired for struggle and to help each other. That's a nobility granted, not gained.
At times like this, we look to the differences - why is that? We look for reason or cause or blame - usually, we're not satisfied with what we find. I suggest there is nothing to be found but everything to be learned.
How are you - how are you, really? And, how does that make you - how are you acting and reacting; where do your thoughts go? If we seek to not differentiate, but to understand through our commonality, we can go back to the sacred scriptures and learned texts, and see where it all converges.
From the ideas at the basis of the Hammurabi Code, to the Mosaic Code into the Ten Commandments; to the Suras and the Sutras, there is a pretty base, reductionist, simple theme.
Under all of the "Do Nots..." and all of the "Thou Shalt Nots..." it really says, "DON'T BE MEAN". Killing is mean, stealing is mean, cursing someone is mean, making their life worse is mean, disrespecting someone is mean. That's the gist of it, "DON'T BE MEAN".
How's this for more simple, elegant and positive - BE NICE. Ahimsa tells us not to be violent, or perhaps, does it remind us to live outside of even contemplating the violent act simply by focusing on being nice - honoring, caring, respecting, nurturing, thanking and praising?
That's my message, I'm sticking with it - I'm also offering a challenge: can you prove to me that your Spiritual tradition isn't based on the simple admonishment to "BE NICE"!?
Let's not argue the difference, let's focus on that mission as we give thanks and praise!
