When g-d revealed himself to Abraham as I am, was g-d revealing a transcendent person separate from all others, or a transcendent life spirit energy completely beyond any one aspect of creation but wholly present in every aspect of creation? A unity of all things, people, places and concepts, but appearing as separate in each individual part? When Jesus revealed himself as I am, was he revealing himself as that one transcendent person, name the great I am, or was he revealing that transcendent life spirit energy completely beyond any one aspect of creation but wholly present in every person, himself, his disciples, sinners gathering around him and even present in the hypocrites who hated him?

When desire is conceived, suffering will soon be born.

Sylvia Boorstein talked about having an intention statement to start her times of meditation. I never really formally thought about that, but I immediately had a good idea what mine would be. The difficulty is coming up with those doggone prepositions.

"Present to your presence; loving to your love." Or should it be "loving with your love", or "loving in your love?" I think I'll settle on "loving through your love."

This intention statement says a lot to me, it really sums up everything about meditation and it's also a creed about prayer. Prayer is simply two things: attention and intention. Attention is mindfulness, paying attention to what is, being aware of God's presence. Merton talks about having a "simple, loving awareness." James Finley calls it "realized oneness with God." Brother Lawrence describes practicing his presence as "a habitual sense of God's presence." Even Eckhart Tolle uses similar language: "felt sense of being."

To me, being aware of what is and being aware of God are the same thing. God is being; God is life; God is everything that is, non judgmentally.

Intention is all about the ultimate purpose or goal, if there were to be one for life. The Dalai Lama summarizes in a sutra what we are about every day: "developing ourselves, expanding our heart out to others, achieving enlightenment for the benefit of all living beings." The Dalai Lama isn't necessarily writing about prayer for Christians, but he might have well been. Jesus put it simply, "love one another as I have loved you."

Intention is desire, the real, true heartfelt desire behind everything about who we are. What do I want? Peace for my soul, Peace for the world, praise to the transcendent creator and life force, creating and sustaining all life; praise to God.

Social Justice trumps worship, but it doesn't cancel it.

Desire. What do you want? It is the ultimate question. At the core of each one of us, we desire to be happy, to be at peace. The challenge is finding out what brings that happiness and peace.

It is not by wanting things, material or people. It is not in prestige, or ambition, or fame, or physical pleasure, or money or things money can buy.

It is in abandoning the illusion of self and identity. In mindfully accepting the way of the Tao, submission to the Great One, losing attachments and accepting what is, worshiping the true One, uniting with the Logos, realizing the dharma, becoming an instrument of peace to others by compassionate living.

Here is peace. Here is happiness. At the center of your being. At the center of One.

What the Moon Teaches Me About Faith

The moon is always there, whether I see it or not. It can be hidden by trees, a forest, a gray cloud covered sky, or be on the other side of the planet. It is there, I know it. And not because someone told me about it, I saw it before and I will see it again.

Full moon is hiding.

But I still know it is there.

Obscure in a tree.

Half a moon shining in the sky is better than a full moon hidden. Half a moon in a clear sky can brighten up quite a bit of real estate. It is beautiful itself. A hidden moon can only be imagined.

The moon is an egg.

Still shining bright light to all.

Leaning to one side.

The moon creates no light of it's own, none whatsoever. It is a dark, cold place. But when it gets in the right position, it can reflect an incredible amount of light from the true light, and relfect that to an entire world.

Bullfrogs beckon night.

Fireflies light around lake.

Prayer ascends like moon.

I believe in one Life, one Being,
one great compassionate Spirit,
infinite and eternal
manifested in various forms
here and now.
I believe the present moment
offers just what I need
for peace and happiness.
No matter the situation or
circumstance, I can choose inner peace right now.
By consciously choosing peace,
intentional prayer, and
expanding my heart to others,
that peace can be shared with the world.
On behalf of all and for all
I accept peace now.