Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Perfection

A seed of a rose has within it all it needs to grow into a beautiful rose. All that is required is fertile ground, water and light. Isn't that our truth?

We have all that we require within us to grow and to bloom. All we need is fertile ground (an opened mind), water (nourishment) and light (awareness of Truth). We are created in the Essence of perfection, from perfection we can manifest greatness. If we believe we are created flawed, we spend our life trying to become perfect and our life is wasted. This is a futile exercise because we can not become what we are already.

I always wonder, who are we to think God created us wrong. How do we know? Just think how much time and money we would save, if we all just accepted we were perfect just the way we are and that our neighbor was perfect just the way they are. We could go about the business of living our life to the fullest.

Own your Essence and the Essence of others as perfection, then you can move forward into your Greatness.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

The Wise Person

Like the bee gathering honey from different flowers, the wise person accepts the essence of different scriptures and will see the good in all religions. Srimad Bhagavatam

What a beautiful affirmation of the Oneness of all of humanity. I have found that the more I gather information from different scriptures the more common ground I find. My vision and my experience of God expands exponentially.

Gandhi once wrote, "If we reach the heart of our own religion, we also reach the heart of other religions."

I must have reached the heart of Christianity because I have reached the heart of other religions. I am grateful.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Self-acceptance is key to self-actualization or enlightenment

We are created in the image and likeness of our Creator according to the book of Gensis. We share the same life-force energy and co-creative energy of Creation. All of creation shares a portion of divinity within the core of its being. I claim this to be my truth, I claim my Divinity.

Realizing and accepting this truth, empowers me to unfold into the fullness of me. A rosebud can only unfold in its fullness as a rose. It can not unfold into a daisy or an pansy. From seed to full blossom, it is a rose. It is a unique rose unlike any other. So too are we.

We are a being, unique and perfect, unlike any other. It is our purpose to unfold, owning the whole of who we are along the way. We must embrace the thorns, the off-shoots of leaves, and the magnificence of our blossoming. There is nothing to do in this unfolding, just be, allow and accept.

Henry David Thoreau confirms, "that our self-acceptance actually determines who we are and who we can become. Self-acceptance means that we fully accept our humanness-our ability to make both wise choices and mistakes-without affecting our value as a human being" (McMurphy, Secrets of Great Minds, pg. 83).

We have value and worth because we were created not because we behave or do anything special. However, if we identify our value and worth by our actions and behavior and devalue and/or deny the indwelling spirit or divinity within us, we block our self-actualization or enlightenment.

"In knowing ourselves to be unique, we possess the capacity for becoming conscious of the infinite. But only then!" Carl Gustav Jung, Memories, Dreams, Reflections.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Palm Sunday

Even though I was not a church today, I celebrated my Oneness with God, just as I image the people in the streets did as they welcomed Jesus into their midst. I danced. I sang. I prayed. I laughed. I cried. I opened myself completely to the presence of God. I participated in an Oneness Awakening.

Opening myself is a process of becoming aware of the truth of who I am and the hurts hidden in my soul. In this awareness, I can seek and offer forgiveness to myself and others; thus dying to the illusions of myself. In this dying to my false self, I awaken and transcend into a new life of Oneness.

This is the ongoing process toward an enlightened state of consciousness which Jesus so passionately demonstrated. He is our great way-shower for this process of entering into Oneness with our Creator. He blessed us with this same ability, we must just claim it and open ourselves to this process and this higher state of consciousness.

"I pray that they may all be one. Father! May they be in us, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they be one, so that the world will believe that you sent me. I gave them the same glory you gave me, so that they may be One, just as you and I are one: I in them and you in me, so that they may be completely one, in order that the world may know that you sent me and that you love them as you love me." (John 17:21-23).

Yet another deepening of my relationship with God.

May you all be blessed with an Awakening to your Oneness with God.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Silence

Silence is one of the most difficult arguments to dispute. I find myself in several situations where at my core I disagree with some one's stand on something. I used to speak up and debate the issues which invariably cause a lot of heart-ache and tension.

My spiritual guide asked me one day, "Becky, Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy; because you do have a choice?" I thought about it for awhile and observed my life. I found that I spent a lot of my time in futile disputes over issues that had no solutions. This created tension, anger, and frustration in my life and the life of countless others. I realized that if I remained silent and allowed the other person their opinion, we were happier.

I now choose "Happy". I practice the art of allowing others to be and to believe as they will which frees me to do the same. This moves me from the bondage of self on the road to 'nowhere' and frees me to enjoy life and the person I am with in the 'now here.'

It is in the NOW here that I find peace and happiness.

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. Proverbs 21:23

Enjoy practicing the silence and holding your tongue, let me know what happens.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

The Loving and Compassionate Father of the Buddhist Prodigal Son

The father in the Buddhist story is also loving and compassionate. He longs to be reunited with his son just as the Biblical father. I find it inspiring to see the Buddhist father realizes that his son's mindset will not allow him to accept his true identity and to live an abundant life. The son's consciousness is limited and restrictive.

Therefore the wise father knows not to force himself and his wealth onto his son. It is a gradual process of raising the son's consciousness. The father meets him where he is, he dresses down as not to instill fear and/or discomfort. The father patiently offers the son more and more responsibility allowing the son time to grow into the realm of higher consciousness.

It is only when the son's consciousness has expanded to that equal to the father that the son is willing and able to receive the inheritance of the father.

This is a great analogy for many people. I have seen many times when a family has a business and they turn it over to the children. The children are emotionally not prepared and have not worked diligently to develop the skills and discipline needed to maintain the business. Therefore, in many cases, they loose the business within a few years which took decades to build .

This is another analogy of our spiritual lives. God meets us where we are in our consciousness. God is present in the depths of our misery, struggles, and unworthiness constantly providing for our needs and protecting us from harm. God gently guides us and expands our minds into a higher consciousness until we are willing to take our rightful place in the Kingdom.

In both prodigal son stories, the father-God longs for and awaits the son's return, loves and accepts the son where he is, and celebrates the son's awakening to their rightful place in the Kingdom of God.

We are all wayward prodigal children of God, it is important to know, that God is anxiously awaiting our return or our awakening to our truth that we are the heirs to the Kingdom. God is waiting with baited breath to bless us abundantly. The question is, "What are we waiting for? How long do we what to suffer and stay apart from our Creator? It is our choice.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

The Loving Father/parent of the Biblical Prodical Son

In the Biblical version of the prodigal son, I find a loving and compassionate father. As a parent, friend, volunteer of youth, I find great wisdom and advise about raising and working with children in these stories.

In Luke 15:25-33, I find a loving father who allows both sons to live out their life as they choose, not as he chooses. He appreciates and loves the son who stays by his side, and he also yearns for the return of the son who has moved away. I love that he does not judge either son, and he generously gives them both all that he has. He does not chose one over the other, he seems to accept and love them both despite the breaking of societal norms and the reactions of others about their behavior. He doesn't seem to expect them to be anything other than who they are.

The father is so secure in his own identity that he his not shamed or thwarted by the behavior of his children. He openly and confidently allows, accepts, forgives, and loves his children unconditionally, despite their actions. He sees only their Oneness with him.

I have witnessed families who have been torn apart because children have not met the 'expectations' of the family. The children have been disowned, ridiculed and belittled because they have stepped out of the status quo, acted "inappropriately" or have "ruined the family name". This is very difficult to watch. For me this is a sense of false pride and personal insecurity on the part of the parent.

(Now my kids have not challenged me in this area, it is my hope that when and if this occurs, I will follow the lead of this father but we'll see. All I can say today is but for the Grace of God go I.)

The parents in these situations seem to gain their identities from their children. They are enmeshed and believe that their children are a reflection of themselves. They are embarrassed and ashamed which is an easy trap in which to fall. It is important for parents to practice letting go and letting God. Simple but not easy.

I personally believe it is the fathers willingness to let go of his son and allow him to fall and to be, that opened the door for his return.

There is a saying, If you love someone, let them go; if they come back to you, they are yours; if not, they never were. Could this be the idea of free will. God gave us all free will, loving us enough to let us go and do our own thing confident that we all will return to our Source- The Creator of the Universe. What is true love, if it is forced love? Love freely given and freely received is True Love.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

A side note,

It has only been two days of getting back into a routine. I amazed at how comforting and rewarding that feels. Just knowing I have accomplished one thing and put it on this blog makes me smile.

Thanks to all of you that pull me forward into becoming who I am intended to be. Yesterday I heard a definition for serendipity: a wonderful happening on the way to something else.

This blog is just that.

Much love and happiness.
Becky

Interpretation of the Buddhist Prodigal Son Story

For me, this parable is a beautiful story of how we grow into who we are meant to be and how God meets us where we are emotionally, physically and spiritually.

In the beginning the son runs away from home. He wants to find himself or he can not accept the blessings which surrounds him. He lives in an unworthy mindset.

I see this a lot with women who stay in abusive relationships and children in foster care who defile their new home because they feel uncomfortable in a clean and loving environment. It takes time to release the pain, the beliefs, and the experiences which have been indoctrinated in ones psyche.

This is the process of the prodigal son. He begins his journey at the lowest juncture, he cannot accept any form of love and compassion. It takes him years to open himself to the possibility of a different life. His father senses this and meets his son in the depths of his despair and gently builds him up. Step by step the son comes into being the son of a King, which of course he was at birth, just unable to accept this truth.

Meeting people where they are is necessary for several people with whom I work. Several have been abused in the name of God, Jesus, Allah, etc. In these cases, if I mention the word, God, Jesus, Allah, etc., they run. I have to meet them in a seeming Godless realm. Many have only known poor and negative living situations, and if they are put in a nice, loving and compassionate living situation, they run. It is a fine line and a gradual process to rebuild their trust and belief system in themselves, which opens the door to building relationships with others, which in turn, opens the window to God.

This parable is a beautiful example of growing into our potential and receiving the blessings that come when we awaken to the indwelling spirit of God. Sometimes, it can be hard and stinky work, but the rewards are unbelievable and so worth it.

Buddhist Prodigal Son Story

A young man left his father and ran away. For long he dwelt in other countries, for ten, or twenty, or fifty years. The older he grew, the more needy he became. Wandering in all directions to seek clothing and food, he unexpectedly approached his native country. The father had searched for his son all those years in vain and meanwhile had settled in a certain city. His home became very rich; his goods and treasures were fabulous.

At this time, the poor son, wandering through village after village and passing through countries and cities, at last reached the city where his father had settled. The father had always been thinking of his son, yet, although he had been parted from him over fifty years, he had never spoken of the matter to anyone. He only pondered over it within himself and cherished regret in his heart, saying, "Old and worn out I am. Although I own much wealth - gold, silver, and jewels, granaries and treasuries overflowing - I have no son. Some day my end will come and my wealth will be scattered and lost, for I have no heir. If I could only get back my son and commit my wealth to him, how contented and happy would I be, with no further anxiety!"

Meanwhile the poor son, hired for wages here and there, unexpectedly arrived at his father's house. Standing by the gate, he saw from a distance his father seated on a lion-couch, his feet on a jeweled footstool, and with expensive strings of pearls adorning his body, revered and surrounded by priests, warriors, and citizens, attendants and young slaves waiting upon him right and left. The poor son, seeing his father having such great power, was seized with fear, regretting that he had come to this place. He reflected, "This must be a king, or someone of royal rank, it is impossible for me to be hired here. I had better go to some poor village in search of a job, where food and clothing are easier to get. If I stay here long, I may suffer oppression." Reflecting thus, he rushed away.

Meanwhile the rich elder on his lion-seat had recognized his son at first glance, and with great joy in his heart reflected, "Now I have someone to whom I may pass on my wealth. I have always been thinking of my son, with no means of seeing him, but suddenly he himself has come and my longing is satisfied. Though worn with years, I yearn for him."Instantly he sent off his attendants to pursue the son quickly and fetch him back. Immediately the messengers hasten forth to seize him. The poor son, surprised and scared, loudly cried his complaint, "I have committed no offense against you, why should I be arrested?" The messengers all the more hastened to lay hold of him and brought him back. Following that, the poor son, thought that although he was innocent he would be imprisoned, and that now he would surely die. He became all the more terrified, fainted away and fell on the ground. The father, seeing this from a distance, sent word to the messengers, "I have no need for this man. Do not bring him by force. Sprinkle cold water on his face to restore him to consciousness and do not speak to him any further."

Why? The father, knowing that his son's disposition was inferior, knowing that his own lordly position had caused distress to his son, yet convinced that he was his son, tactfully did not say to others, "This is my son."A messenger said to the son, "I set you free, go wherever you will." The poor son was delighted, thus obtaining the unexpected release. He arose from the ground and went to a poor village in search of food and clothing. Then the elder, desiring to attract his son, set up a device. Secretly he sent two men, sorrowful and poor in appearance, saying, "Go and visit that place and gently say to the poor man, 'There is a place for you to work here. We will hire you for scavenging, and we both also will work along with you.'" Then the two messengers went in search of the poor son and, having found him, presented him the above proposal. The poor son, having received his wages in advance, joined them in removing a refuse heap.

His father, beholding the son, was struck with compassion for him. One day he saw at a distance, through the window, his son's figure, haggard and drawn, lean and sorrowful, filthy with dirt and dust. He took off his strings of jewels, his soft attire, and put on a coarse, torn and dirty garment, smeared his body with dust, took a basket in his right hand, and with an appearance fear-inspiring said to the laborers, "Get on with your work, don't be lazy." By such means he got near to his son, to whom he afterwards said, "Ay, my man, you stay and work here, do not leave again. I will increase your wages, give whatever you need, bowls, rice, wheat-flour, salt, vinegar, and so on. Have no hesitation; besides there is an old servant whom you can get if you need him. Be at ease in your mind; I am, as it were, your father; do not be worried again.

Why? I am old and advanced in years, but you are young and vigorous; all the time you have been working, you have never been deceitful, lazy, angry or grumbling. I have never seen you, like the other laborers, with such vices as these. From this time forth you will be as my own begotten son."The elder gave him a new name and called him a son. But the poor son, although he rejoiced at this happening, still thought of himself as a humble hireling. For this reason, for twenty years he continued to be employed in scavenging. After this period, there grew mutual confidence between the father and the son. He went in and out and at his ease, though his abode was still in a small hut.

Then the father became ill and, knowing that he would die soon, said to the poor son, "Now I possess an abundance of gold, silver, and precious things, and my granaries and treasuries are full to overflowing. I want you to understand in detail the quantities of these things, and the amounts that should be received and given. This is my wish, and you must agree to it.

Why? Because now we are of the same mind. Be increasingly careful so that there be no waste." The poor son accepted his instruction and commands, and became acquainted with all the goods. However, he still had no idea of expecting to inherit anything, his abode was still the original place and he was still unable to abandon his sense of inferiority.

After a short time had again passed, the father noticed that his son's ideas had gradually been enlarged, his aspirations developed, and that he despised his previous state of mind. Seeing that his own end was approaching, he commanded his son to come, and gathered all his relatives, the kings, priests, warriors, and citizens. When they were all assembled, he addressed them saying, "Now, gentlemen, this is my son, begotten by me. It is over fifty years since, from a certain city, he left me and ran away to endure loneliness and misery. His former name was so-and-so and my name was so-and-so. At that time in that city I sought him sorrowfully. Suddenly I met him in this place and regained him. This is really my son and I am really his father. Now all the wealth which I possess belongs entirely to my son, and all my previous disbursements and receipts are known by this son." When the poor son heard these words of his father, great was his joy at such unexpected news, and thus he thought, "Without any mind for, or effort on my part, these treasures now come to me."

http://www.comparativereligion.com/prodigal.html

Monday, March 22, 2010

Discipline

A discipline is something practiced on a regular basis in order to form a habit or learn a particular skill. It is a form of training which maintains order and control.

Well, I have been very disciplined with my blog since January the 4 of this year. But, when I went on spring break and my routine and my discipline went out the window. I allowed myself to be in the moment of where I was and did not stop to journal or to write. In the past, I would beat myself up for not keeping my personal commitment and quit.

However, this year is a different year for me. I am committed to live my life to the fullest and not allow myself to self-sabotage my goal. Therefore, you may be receiving multiple blogs until I catch up. I do have some great new insights to share.

Remember: "Success consists of getting up once oftener than you fall down." -anonymous
Here's to getting back on track.

Monday, March 15, 2010

The "Good and Obedient Son or the Martyr"

Let's continue the story of the Prodigal son. In Luke 15:25-33, we find the older brother hears the sound of music and dancing and asks a servant, "what is happening?" The servant tells him that his father has slaughtered a calf because his brother has returned home.

This angers the brother and he refuses to join in the party. His father comes and pleads with him to come in and celebrate. The son replies, "I have been here day and night working and serving you. And not once did you slaughter a calf for me and my friends.

The father goes on to say, "You have always been with me and what I have is yours, but we must celebrate because your brother has returned."

The message I find in this story is a son who stays with his father because it is safe and it is expected. He doesn't move out of the status quo and have his own experience. He doesn't question, he just stays with what he knows. Now this is neither good or bad, but when the brother becomes resentful, it tells me, he has been out there plowing the fields angry and jealous of his brother. He wishes he could go and do, but no-he is the "responsible one" and stays behind. This is a life not lived.

He also never asked that his dad slaughter a calf. While he was in the Kingdom, he forgets that everything around him is his. He is surrounded by blessings and riches yet, he never partakes of them. He does not ask, he just wishes. He really never is the responsible one, he is the martyr. He is a prisoner in his own mind. He is bound by his own expectations and lives a life of poverty in the land of abundance.

He is here to teach us to live life to the fullest. If you are in a job or even a relationship that you are feeling victimized, ask yourself, "Am I asking for what I need or am I assuming they will read my mind?" If you are asking and are not getting what you require, you may consider leaving and moving on. However, if you are not asking you may want to try it.

Learn to live a life with the words, I choose to be here, I choose to serve here, I choose to work here. This empowers you because you can make another choice. If you believe and say, "I 'have' to be, server, or work here, you are a slave without choices. You are in a self-imposed prison.

Remember, "Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be open." These are all action words that lead ; to happiness. God designed the world to supply all of our needs, Jesus came that we might have life and have it abundantly; abundant joy, happiness and peace. If you are not happy, change your thinking. This is our inheritance, Claim It!

Sunday, March 14, 2010

The Parable of the Prodigal Son with a Twist

I have heard many sermons and interpretations of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24). Most of them project the prodigal son as the wayward, selfish son who squanders his fortune but is then welcomed home by the father and resented by the righteous son.

This was great for me when I was searching for a scripture that would offer a ticket out of the life I had created and into one of mercy and grace. However, as I continue to seek deeper insights to this story, I find a twist to the story.

Please remember, take what you like and leave the rest.

When the brother asked the father for his inheritance early, the father graciously and willingly gave it to him. The father allowed him to go into the world and live his own life. The father supported his son's dream and his desire completely. He did not cut him off or say, "You unselfish kid, take what you want and leave, and don't bother coming home. The father did not judge him when he left and welcomed him when he came home.

This is a story of God, the creator of our world, who supplies all of our needs and allows us to go out into the world to test our wings. God does not prevent us from living nor does God judge our actions, but allows us to explore and to experience life. Most importantly when we make choices that aren't what we deem good or in our best interest, God welcomes us home with open arms.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

My way or the highway

I have encountered many people who get very defensive if you don't believe in their beliefs and spend a lot of time attempting to convert me to their way of thinking and believing.

I must admit, I used to be this person. And every now and again, my know-it-all person still tries to raise its little head and I have to bite my tongue. This happens when I am too attached to my beliefs and/or I am not sure about my beliefs and I am in fear that I will lose something of value to me.

Today, I believe it is quite arrogant for me to say or try to enforce my beliefs on anyone. For me, this is saying I am better, bigger, and wiser than you and even God, for that matter. It has become my spiritual practice to allow others to live and believe what feels good to them. This has alleviated a lot of arguments and unnecessary pain to myself and others.

When I allow you to be and believe as you want, then I have the freedom to be and believe as I want. This is freedom.

Try it, the next time you want to impose your belief system onto someone, stop and say, "you know what, you may be right." Just allow them the freedom to be, feel the tension in the room disapate. You may realize that there are many highways that lead to the same place.

Friday, March 12, 2010

God is Undefineable

It always strikes me as funny when people say, "God said, God thinks or God believes this or that." I want to say, "How do you know?"

For me, we are a small part of the Greater whole. Even though we are created from the Essence of that which created, can one person, or one faith really know what God says, thinks and believes? Or do we project our thoughts and beliefs onto our idea of God? This is one of the age old questions people have asked since the beginning of time.

In the differing faith traditions it is clear that God is beyond comprehension.

I love the writing of Mohammad found in the Kor'an. "If all the trees that are upon the earth were to become pens, and if God should after that swell the sea into seven seas of ink, His words would not be exhausted; of a truth God is Mighty, Wise" (31:27). For me, this means God is so vast, there is not enough ink to write or describe all of the Wisdom of God. This might explain the plethora of books, texts, and documents written about people's experience of God. There are as many experiences of God as there are creations, ever unfolding, evolving and expanding.

In Christianity, Romans 11:33 (KJV), it states, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"

So for me, when people say, God said, God believes, or God thinks so and so, I just smile and realize there is just one more realization to go into the vastness of an incomprehensible Idea.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

How is your attitude?

I love the saying, Jesus can turn water into wine, but he cannot turn your whinning into anything.

Have you ever noticed that your attitude can make or break your day? I have found that when I make a decision to go with the flow and look for the good, I usually have a great day and the people around me tend to have a better day. However, if I surround myself with neigh- sayers and focus on the negative, my day is always yucky and I spread that yuck to everyone I encounter.

My dad always says, "if you put a smile on your face when you wake up and keep it there all day, you will have a terrific day."

Philippians 2:14 says, "do all things without murmurings and disputings." How much better would our world be if we all excluded murmurings and disputes from our lives?

Try it, I bet you will have a lot more fun and feel better.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

God is my refuge

God is my refuge, I shall not fear. This is a saying I refer to on a regular basis when I allow my circumstances to pull me into a state of fear. This usually happens when I allow my mind to live in tomorrow and in 'what if' land.

Since none of us can predict the future, why do we have the tendency to project bad things to happen. This has been an area in my life I try to reprogram regularly. When my mind takes off into its pessimistic fear based future, I attempt to reign it in by focusing on the hundreds of blessings which surround me at any given moment. This pulls me into the now which is the place where God consciousness resides-the refuge.

Scripture tells us to "be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you." 1 Chronicles 28:20 NASB

Since we can only live in the Now moment, but our active minds can bi-locate or tri-locate and I am sure mil-locate (be in a million other places instead of the here and now). It is imperative to be strong and courageous and to act. By acting, we practice the skill of meditation in order to still our thoughts, to experience the loving presence of God.

© 2010 by Becky Benes
www.onenessoflife.com

Monday, March 8, 2010

Success vs. Greatness

Many people in our world make decisions in their lives based on becoming successful. Parents and society make success the primary goal for the next generation. Most of us judge and either accept or reject our peers based on "worldly success," which for most means; a good job that earns lots of money, becoming famous (a household name), getting what we want, and being concerned about what we will receive. Basically, "worldly success" is an all about me attitude!

Dr. Tim Kimmel in his book, Raising Kids for True Greatness gives us another alternative. He is a proponent of raising kids for greatness not success. Dr. Kimmel suggests that true greatness:
  • Looks upward, then outward.
  • Looks for God's agenda.
  • Celebrates altruism.
  • Focuses on giving.
  • Grieves over the injustices in the world.
  • Makes a lasting impact in the world. (XII)

These are the qualities of our great spiritual leaders and our peace-makers. They are the Mother Teresa's among us. They are our neighbors who are behind the scenes feeding the hungry, sewing blankets for the homeless, working for social justice, and becoming the voice for the voiceless.

Our media bombards us with the tragedies in our world, until it is overshadowed by the infidelities and scandalous lives of our "successful." They pull us into the trap of worldly success as they bypass the millions of everyday great people who truly make a difference in our neighborhoods, communities, and in our world.

I encourage you to evaluate your life, is it one focused solely on worldly success or is it a life destine for greatness.

Don't be mistaken, there is nothing wrong with financial success and being proud of one's accomplishments. In fact, spiritually it is our heritage to live a life of abundance. It is when that success becomes paramount in our lives and the basic needs of those around us go unnoticed and unmet. We become so self-centered, we forget we are here to serve.

© 2010 by Becky Benes
www.onenessoflife.com

Sunday, March 7, 2010

A Burden Shared

Have you noticed that a burden shared is halved; yet a joy shared is doubled.

We are called to help one another and lift their burdens. "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" Galatians 6:2. This is our purpose in life. Most people wonder aimlessly seeking their God given purpose. They take courses, participate in retreats, spend hours in counseling, all seeking "their true purpose."

I suggest that you look around your life at this moment in time and ask yourself, "Who do I know who needs some help?" An elderly neighbor, a friend, a stranger in line at the store, a newspaper salesperson, a child, a teacher. . . . Reach out and lend a hand, let your hand be the hand of God, serving another.

When you do this, you will be fulfilled, your purpose will be found, you will find joy. Joy is in the giving and in the sharing of burdens.

© 2010 by Becky Benes
www.onenessoflife.com

Saturday, March 6, 2010

God does not have favorites

Many religious claim to be the "chosen ones" of God. These convictions are the cause of many a war, and many atrocities in our world. However, when observing nature it is clear that God-our Creator, does not have favorites.

The sun shines and the rain falls on all people. The fruits and nuts of trees are food abundantly and freely supplied for all people and animals. Hurricanes, earth quakes, and tsunamis also have no preference of people they affect. These are only a few of the examples of God's lack of favoritism among creation.

Jesus and Buddha both taught this idea.

Your father in heaven makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. Matthew 5:45

That great cloud rains down on all whether their nature is superior or inferior. The light of the sun and the moon illuminates the whole world, both him who does well and him who does ill, both him who stands high and him who stands low. Sadharmapundarika Sutra 5

These teachings challenge me to practice acceptance and release judgement about people, places, and things. They also teach me that life is fair, it is my reaction and judgement about life that creates discourse and angst or peace and happiness.

All of creation is given life, so that we may enjoy all things.

© 2010 by Becky Benes
www.onenessoflife.com

Friday, March 5, 2010

Buddhist Wisdom


Do not underestimate good, thinking it will not affect you. Dripping water can fill a pitcher, drop by drop; one who is wise is filled with good, even if one accumulates it little by little. Dhammapada 9:7


When we practice random acts of kindness in our lives, we gradually build a reservoir of goodness which fills our hearts and actually changes the hearts of others. Have you ever noticed how a smile or a compliment can change a person's attitude and their work day. This small gesture will ripple out into the lives of others and who knows how many dogs won't get kicked after work.

Practicing kindness is one example of how something small can grow into something huge. What we do daily slowly affects our lives and those with whom we have contact, especially our children. What do you chose to practice and spread?

© 2010 by Becky Benes
www.onenessoflife.com

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Who are you hanging out with?

"Walk with wise men and you will become wise, but the companion of fools will fare badly (Proverbs13:20).

This is so true. You can really tell a lot about a person by their friends.

I once had a spiritual director bring this message home to roost with me.

I was a member of a singles group which came together weekly to learn about how to have healthy relationships. We rotated group leaders. When it was my turn to lead, I asked my spiritual director, "what should I speak about?"

She gently stated, "Becky, that is crazy! You and all of your single friends are trying to learn about relationships from each other. You are all clueless in that area. If you want to learn about successful relationships, met with people who have them!" She then suggested, we talk about our relationship with God and get it in order, then we might be able to have a relationship with another person.

What a wise statement. From that moment, when I seek wisdom in different areas, I walk with wise people whom are experienced in that area. This has proven very beneficial for me. Prior to that I was guilty of walking with fools and I did not fair well.

When we open ourselves to learn from all wise men (and women) of the ages, we become wise.

© 2010 by Becky Benes
www.onenessoflife.com

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Wisdom of faith traditions

Even though, I have never met biblical scholar, Marcus Borg, I know we are kindred spirits. His words finally allow me to better define myself to those to whom I speak and write.

"I have lived with Jesus all of my life. . . In adulthood, I have become a non-exclusivist Christian. It seems clear that 'the sacred' has been known in all of the major religious traditions, and I do not think that Christianity is the only adequate religion, even though it is my 'home'" (Jesus &Buddha, 8).

This is what I have found to be true, as I study all major religions and meet people who practice the different faith traditions. The mainstays of the differing faiths are the same. For example, all faith traditions teach:
  • The Golden Rule, Treat others the way in which you would like to be treated.
  • Love your neighbor
  • And Blessed are the Peace makers.

Our life story, as we encounter the God of our understanding, becomes our personal sacred history. Our encounter differs from our neighbors, just as Buddha's differed from Jesus and Jesus from Mohammad. However, their sacred texts are all valuable to those whom embrace them and find meaning in them.

When I can honor and accept my neighbor's life journey as sacred, I find I can accept the faith journey's of my friends from different faiths.


© 2010 by Becky Benes
www.onenessoflife.com

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Serenity

God Grant me the Serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
This prayer sat on our bathroom vanity for years. I read it probably 2 or 3 times per day. It never made sense to me, because I did not comprehend the word serenity.
Through a series of events, and a lot of surrender, I finally experienced serenity-inner peace. Once experienced, serenity became my preferred state of mind and the rest of the prayer made sense to me.
I came to know that there are lots of things in my life that I cannot change: people, places, weather and things. However, there are some big things that I can change: myself, my perception, my decision, and my attitude.
Figuring out these two things opened the door to wisdom in my life. I still forget that there are things I cannot change, and sometimes I don't have the courage to change the things I can. But when I do, my life is serene and I feel happiness and joy.
© 2010 by Becky Benes
www.onenessoflife.com

Monday, March 1, 2010

Wisdom: What is that?

Wisdom is an esteemed virtue found in all faith traditions. It is valued greater than riches. It is a state of consciousness where one has mental clarity, emotional strength and intuitive power. Wisdom is the ability to learn from others and to gain deep insights from the indwelling Power within us all.

In the Garuda Purana of Hinduism,

Knowledge is the best treasure that a man can secretly hoard in
life. Learning is the revered of the revered. It is learning alone that enables
a man to better the conditions of his friends and relations. Knowledge is the
holiest of the holies, the god of gods, and commands respect of crowned heads
(115).
I find this to be true, the more I learn and the more I go within and develop my intuitive powers, the better able I am to deal with life on life's terms and my wisdom grows.
It is important to continue learning through books and spiritual practices and not rest on our laurels, because the things of the world are all unpredictable and spuratic. However, the universal wisdom of the Universe/God is reliable.
© 2010 by Becky Benes
www.onenessoflife.com