May the longtime
sun shine upon you,
all love surround you,
and the sweet light within you
guid your way on.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
The Prophet - Kahlil Gibran
And could you keep your heart
in wonder at the daily miracles
of life, your pain would not seem
less wondrous than your joy.
in wonder at the daily miracles
of life, your pain would not seem
less wondrous than your joy.
Invocation to Shiva
O you the creator, you the destroyer, you who sustain and make an end,
Who in sunlight dance among the birds and the children at their play,
Who at midnight dance among corpses in the burning grounds,
You Shiva, you dark and terrible Bhairava,
You Suchness and Illusion, the Void and All Things,
You are the lord of life, and therefore I have brought you flowers,
You are the lord of death, and therefore I have brought you my heart -
This heart that is now your burning ground.
Ignorance there and self shall be consumed with fire,
That you may dance, Bhairava, among the ashes,
That you may dance, Lord Shiva, in a place of flowers,
And I dance with you.
Who in sunlight dance among the birds and the children at their play,
Who at midnight dance among corpses in the burning grounds,
You Shiva, you dark and terrible Bhairava,
You Suchness and Illusion, the Void and All Things,
You are the lord of life, and therefore I have brought you flowers,
You are the lord of death, and therefore I have brought you my heart -
This heart that is now your burning ground.
Ignorance there and self shall be consumed with fire,
That you may dance, Bhairava, among the ashes,
That you may dance, Lord Shiva, in a place of flowers,
And I dance with you.
Paul's prayer
Good morning sun, earth, moon, and stars!
Good morning fire, water, air, earth, and spirit!
Good morning ancestors, spirits, and allies!
Good morning to all the being, known and unknown,
named and unnamed, who have assisted me
in being alive in this human body,
in these times, in this world, with these gifts,
with these relationships, and this work.
For this privilege, I humbly thank you!
Good morning fire, water, air, earth, and spirit!
Good morning ancestors, spirits, and allies!
Good morning to all the being, known and unknown,
named and unnamed, who have assisted me
in being alive in this human body,
in these times, in this world, with these gifts,
with these relationships, and this work.
For this privilege, I humbly thank you!
Psalm 51:10-12
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Hildegarde of Bingen - 12th century (2)
Holy Spirit,
Giving life to all life,
Moving all creatures,
Root of all things,
Washing them clean,
Wiping out their mistakes,
Healing their wounds,
You are our true life,
Luminous, wonderful,
Awakening the heart from
its ancient sleep.
Giving life to all life,
Moving all creatures,
Root of all things,
Washing them clean,
Wiping out their mistakes,
Healing their wounds,
You are our true life,
Luminous, wonderful,
Awakening the heart from
its ancient sleep.
Today - Aaron Hawkins
Today I will resist judgements
about the words and actions of others.
I will listen with great attention,
without reference, without grading
my own Truth against Yours.
Teach me the validity of trust,
that in every creature rests the center
of their own universe,
that my task is to witness, to nuture, and support,
as each One grows along their unique path.
May I transform this small mind
into an empty vessel,
and may it fill to overflowing
with compassionate acts, mercy,
kindness, and love.
about the words and actions of others.
I will listen with great attention,
without reference, without grading
my own Truth against Yours.
Teach me the validity of trust,
that in every creature rests the center
of their own universe,
that my task is to witness, to nuture, and support,
as each One grows along their unique path.
May I transform this small mind
into an empty vessel,
and may it fill to overflowing
with compassionate acts, mercy,
kindness, and love.
Psalm 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside still waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside still waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
Chief Seattle - This We Know
This we know: the earth does not belong to man,
man belongs to the earth.
All things are connected like
the blood that unites us all.
Man did not weave the web of life,
he is merely a strand in it.
Whatever he does to the web,
he does to himself.
man belongs to the earth.
All things are connected like
the blood that unites us all.
Man did not weave the web of life,
he is merely a strand in it.
Whatever he does to the web,
he does to himself.
Mount Equity Zendo blessing
This food is the gift of the whole universe,
The earth, the sky, and much hard work.
May we live in a way that makes us worthy to receive it;
May we transform our unskillful states of mind,
and learn to eat with moderation;
May we take only foods that nourish us,
and prevent illness;
We accept this food to realize the path
of understanding and love.
The earth, the sky, and much hard work.
May we live in a way that makes us worthy to receive it;
May we transform our unskillful states of mind,
and learn to eat with moderation;
May we take only foods that nourish us,
and prevent illness;
We accept this food to realize the path
of understanding and love.
The Way of Love - Rumi
The way of love is not a subtle argument.
The door there is devastation.
Birds make great sky-circles of their freedom.
How do they do it?
They fall, and falling, they're given wings.
The door there is devastation.
Birds make great sky-circles of their freedom.
How do they do it?
They fall, and falling, they're given wings.
Prayer to Kuan Yin - Claudia L'Amoreaux
Divine Mother of all Beings
Great Goddess of Compassion and Mercy
May my heart be home to you
like your island in the sea.
May I feel your presence guiding me in fear and rage.
May the strength and balance of your grace-filled body be mine when I need them,
And may I walk in your Bodhisattva Way with trust and gladness,
Beyond time, beyond the end, beyond the beginning.
Great Goddess of Compassion and Mercy
May my heart be home to you
like your island in the sea.
May I feel your presence guiding me in fear and rage.
May the strength and balance of your grace-filled body be mine when I need them,
And may I walk in your Bodhisattva Way with trust and gladness,
Beyond time, beyond the end, beyond the beginning.
Hildegarde of Bingen - 12th century
Fire of the Spirit,
Life of the Lives of Creatures,
Spiral of Sanctity,
Bond of All Natures,
Glow of Charity,
Lights of Clarity,
Taste of Sweetness to the Fallen,
Be with us and hear us.
Life of the Lives of Creatures,
Spiral of Sanctity,
Bond of All Natures,
Glow of Charity,
Lights of Clarity,
Taste of Sweetness to the Fallen,
Be with us and hear us.
T.S Eliot - Ash Wednesday
Blessed sister, holy mother,
spirit of the fountain, spirit of the garden,
Suffer us not to mock ourselves with falsehood
Teach us to care and not to care
Teach us to sit still
Even among these rocks,
Our peace in His will
And even among these rocks
Sister, mother
And spirit of the river, spirit of the sea,
Suffer me not to be separated
And let my cry come unto Thee.
spirit of the fountain, spirit of the garden,
Suffer us not to mock ourselves with falsehood
Teach us to care and not to care
Teach us to sit still
Even among these rocks,
Our peace in His will
And even among these rocks
Sister, mother
And spirit of the river, spirit of the sea,
Suffer me not to be separated
And let my cry come unto Thee.
Dalai Lama Prayer for Peace
May I become at all times, both now and forever
A protector for those without protection
A guide for those who have lost their way
A ship for those with oceans to cross
A bridge for those with rivers to cross
A sanctuary for those in danger
A lamp for those without light
A place of refuge for those who lack shelter
And a servant to all in need.
A protector for those without protection
A guide for those who have lost their way
A ship for those with oceans to cross
A bridge for those with rivers to cross
A sanctuary for those in danger
A lamp for those without light
A place of refuge for those who lack shelter
And a servant to all in need.
Prayer of St Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not
so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be undersood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not
so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be undersood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
uses of prayer
"Everything which is not known remains dark. Mystery is our relation to what we cannot see."
Prayer came into my life as an extension of energetic attention. Through meditation I am learning to concentrate my mind upon a single point with great focus. Over time I began to realize that I could use that focus in concert with imagination, memory, and intuition to generate specific mental and emotional states. In my experience there are specific gestalts of sensory impression that are very effective at arousing precise varieties of mental energy, especially if those sensory impressions possess potent personal or emotional meaning. Visual images, sounds, shapes, smells, sensations of touch heat or pain along the skin, all can be used to shape and direct the energy of one's own mind for a specific purpose or intention.
An example: relaxation or cleansing can be achieved with sensations of water, the element associated with healing, purification, intuition, and dreaming. Imagine the coolness of water splashing on your head, slowly soaking your hair and scalp, traveling down shoulders and back, stomach, legs, thighs. This water can flow over your body or through it, like a river rushing through a sieve. Or you can imagine lying flat on a raft, moving gently with the rocking motions of the water. In either case, the essential aspect is to generate an internal experience through creative visualization and somatic memory. Key elements could be the sensation of rocking, the flowing motion of the water, coolness or wetness, gentle sounds of splashing, flashes of blue and turquoise, or anything that speaks to your own personal interpretation, memory, or experience. There are meditations specifically devoted to sensory experience that can increase our awareness and sensitivity to body sensation. These are very useful to bridge the gap between mind and body so that, with practice, we can recall (or imagine) any sensation at will.
In the case of prayer, the evocation of images is a bit more abstract. Instead of the stark cleanliness of physical sensations, words like compassion, forgiveness, or blessing, for example, do not have simple cognitive or physical experiences that can be recalled. However, when we find that space of openness, yearning, surrender, (combined with a smidgen of heartache) that I have come to know as prayer, it does have a certain signature of sensation that can be called upon, at will, when the need arises for spiritual renewal.
I accidentally stumbled upon that prayer space when I was reading and rereading the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. As I read I began to find a special resonance within every word. It was as if I could use the template of the prayer, that is, the succession of words and syllables, to weave together a series of emotional and mental states. I read it over and over again, very slowly, tasting the fullness of each word, feeling the yearning and intention behind each phrase, charging myself with the power of those words, offering that scintillating ball of energy back up as a promise, a gift, and a recognition.
It was part self-hypnosis, part psycho-conditioning, that much was clear to me. But the whole event was also an exercise in egolessness (transcending selfishness, planting seeds for compassion, love, and wisdom) and so I felt it brought me closer to some place of inner wisdom and grace, a place which might be a thread or life-line to the divinity in me. Since then I have have discovered other uses of prayer (uses for it and uses it has for me), but I have said enough for the moment.
May you all discover your own thread to divinity, be charged with the yearning and intention to dissolve all ego-motives, and awaken purest compassion in your life.
Prayer came into my life as an extension of energetic attention. Through meditation I am learning to concentrate my mind upon a single point with great focus. Over time I began to realize that I could use that focus in concert with imagination, memory, and intuition to generate specific mental and emotional states. In my experience there are specific gestalts of sensory impression that are very effective at arousing precise varieties of mental energy, especially if those sensory impressions possess potent personal or emotional meaning. Visual images, sounds, shapes, smells, sensations of touch heat or pain along the skin, all can be used to shape and direct the energy of one's own mind for a specific purpose or intention.
An example: relaxation or cleansing can be achieved with sensations of water, the element associated with healing, purification, intuition, and dreaming. Imagine the coolness of water splashing on your head, slowly soaking your hair and scalp, traveling down shoulders and back, stomach, legs, thighs. This water can flow over your body or through it, like a river rushing through a sieve. Or you can imagine lying flat on a raft, moving gently with the rocking motions of the water. In either case, the essential aspect is to generate an internal experience through creative visualization and somatic memory. Key elements could be the sensation of rocking, the flowing motion of the water, coolness or wetness, gentle sounds of splashing, flashes of blue and turquoise, or anything that speaks to your own personal interpretation, memory, or experience. There are meditations specifically devoted to sensory experience that can increase our awareness and sensitivity to body sensation. These are very useful to bridge the gap between mind and body so that, with practice, we can recall (or imagine) any sensation at will.
In the case of prayer, the evocation of images is a bit more abstract. Instead of the stark cleanliness of physical sensations, words like compassion, forgiveness, or blessing, for example, do not have simple cognitive or physical experiences that can be recalled. However, when we find that space of openness, yearning, surrender, (combined with a smidgen of heartache) that I have come to know as prayer, it does have a certain signature of sensation that can be called upon, at will, when the need arises for spiritual renewal.
I accidentally stumbled upon that prayer space when I was reading and rereading the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. As I read I began to find a special resonance within every word. It was as if I could use the template of the prayer, that is, the succession of words and syllables, to weave together a series of emotional and mental states. I read it over and over again, very slowly, tasting the fullness of each word, feeling the yearning and intention behind each phrase, charging myself with the power of those words, offering that scintillating ball of energy back up as a promise, a gift, and a recognition.
It was part self-hypnosis, part psycho-conditioning, that much was clear to me. But the whole event was also an exercise in egolessness (transcending selfishness, planting seeds for compassion, love, and wisdom) and so I felt it brought me closer to some place of inner wisdom and grace, a place which might be a thread or life-line to the divinity in me. Since then I have have discovered other uses of prayer (uses for it and uses it has for me), but I have said enough for the moment.
May you all discover your own thread to divinity, be charged with the yearning and intention to dissolve all ego-motives, and awaken purest compassion in your life.
Welcome
I am writing this blog as a gift for a certain group of friends, but also for anyone else who happens to come across it and enjoy the fruits. I have found prayer to be an incredible clarifying and stabilize practice, and these are all the best I have come across. I pray that they serve to help open you, my friend, to express your wonderful true self as well.
If you have any personal favorites that you want to share - from any belief system, time period, or imaginary nation - then please send them to me. Feel free to write your own if you feel inspired. I get frustrated sometimes when the prayers I have aren´t well suited for a certain moment or difficulty in my life - so I write my own!
My Lord, please grant me constancy.
That I might suffer nobly the pains of my existence,
That I might bleed or cry or toss in anguish
With the same loving heart that reaches for you come morning.
That my pains, on the altar of my experience,
Be Yours, as this Heartbeat is Yours,
And this Breath, Yours,
And this loving, compassionate Impulse, Yours.
Other times when I learn a new prayer I can use it as a litany in difficult moments, to help guide me through. One of my favorites is the first part of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy.
Another favorite comes from the book by Frank Herbert, DUNE
Fear is the mindkiller. Fear is the little death that brings total annihilation. I will face my fear. I will allow it to pass over me and through me, and when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
- Bene Gesserit Litany
That's all for now.
Enjoy!
If you have any personal favorites that you want to share - from any belief system, time period, or imaginary nation - then please send them to me. Feel free to write your own if you feel inspired. I get frustrated sometimes when the prayers I have aren´t well suited for a certain moment or difficulty in my life - so I write my own!
My Lord, please grant me constancy.
That I might suffer nobly the pains of my existence,
That I might bleed or cry or toss in anguish
With the same loving heart that reaches for you come morning.
That my pains, on the altar of my experience,
Be Yours, as this Heartbeat is Yours,
And this Breath, Yours,
And this loving, compassionate Impulse, Yours.
Other times when I learn a new prayer I can use it as a litany in difficult moments, to help guide me through. One of my favorites is the first part of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy.
Another favorite comes from the book by Frank Herbert, DUNE
Fear is the mindkiller. Fear is the little death that brings total annihilation. I will face my fear. I will allow it to pass over me and through me, and when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
- Bene Gesserit Litany
That's all for now.
Enjoy!
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