Clarence
Valley Environment Centre
Winter 2000 Newsletter
Something to Ponder
Want to find peace &
equality? The
Great Invocation
When I read that the Dalai Lama was to speak at a conference, I noticed
that his name was preceded by the letters "H.H."
I asked someone what those letters stood for, and I was told, "His Holiness." It's also the respectful title bestowed upon the Pope.
I began to wonder why the Dalai Lama and the Pope got to be His Holiness, and not the rest of us. To be sure, these spiritual leaders are very holy - but are they more holy than anyone else? Do the Dalai Lama or the Pope have any more God in them than the people who mop their floors? I imagine they would agree that we are all equally holy in the eyes of God.
I met a man who called everyone he met, "Buddha". "How are you doing today, Buddha?" he would ask me. "Beautiful sunset, don't you think, Buddha?"
At first I felt jarred by his magnanimous appellation. Then I began to really like it. It felt better than "Dude".
This month, the month of May, we celebrate Buddha's birthday. Buddha was very holy. One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the messiah?"
"No", answered Buddha.
"Then are you a healer?"
"No", Buddha replied.
"Then are you a teacher?" the student persisted.
"No, I am not a teacher."
"Then what are you?" asked the student, exasperated.
"I am awake", Buddha replied.
The goal of Buddhism, like any self-respecting spiritual path, is not to have titles or to make distinctions between degrees of holiness; it is to wake up.
I love the famous Buddhist admonition, "If you see the Buddha on the road, kill him."
This means that if you try to single out the Buddha and confine him to one form at the expense of all others, you have severely missed the point, and you must do away with your concept that this is the Buddha and all else is not.
The story is told of a holy man who lived in a large house on top of a remote mountain. Over time, news of the holy man's greatness spread throughout the land, and many seekers made their way over the mountains in hopes of having even a brief moment with this saintly being.
Each aspirant was greeted at the door by a servant, who ushered him or her into the house, and guided the visitor through several rooms. After a few minutes the servant and aspirant arrived at another door, which led out of the back of the house. The servant opened the door and indicated to the visitor that it was time to leave.
"But I was hoping to have even a few minutes with the holy man!" the aspirant would utter in frustration.
"You just did," answered the holy man as he closed the door.
The insecure mind takes refuge in hierarchies of spirituality, seeking to segment the universe into levels of power and worth. The Spirit of Love, on the other hand, will have none of the hierarchy game; all is God, all is powerful, all is spiritual, and all is worthy. As the third Zen Patriarch Hsin Hsin Ming declared, "The great way is not difficult for those who have no preferences. Make the slightest distinction, however, and heaven and earth are set infinitely apart."
The "His Holiness" concept got me to thinking about other appellations of respect. Take "Your Honor", the title attributed to judges. Certainly judges merit honor, but are the other people in the courtroom any less honorable?
I suggest that judges address the criminals before them as "Your Honor" as well; perhaps this practice would bring forth the honor within them. Most criminals were not treated with respect as children; beginning now might call forth their innate integrity. A Course in Miracles tells us that all actions are either pure expressions of love or calls for love. Addressing criminals as "Your Honor" might begin to satisfy that call in a healthy way.
Then there is "Your Majesty", "Your Grace", and "Your Highness", offered to royalty. Does that mean that everyone else is not majestic, graceful, or high? Hopefully not.
I've been thinking about what title I would like. I choose "Your Eminence".I like that because it implies that I emanate. That is my goal: to emanate.
To emanate life, light, and joy. I don't care that much about being an Honor, Grace, Highness, or even Holiness; "Eminence" really makes my boat float.
So from now on, if you write, fax, email, or talk to me, I respectfully request that you address me as "Your Eminence". And when it comes time for me to address you, I'll do the same. Either we all emanate together, or none at all.
Okay, Buddha?
Author: -Alan Cohen
Want to find peace & harmony? Top of page
If
we want to find peace and equality in our life perhaps we can look at
ourselves and how we relate to each other.
Do we really care about what the other person needs? Or how they feel and how what we do even in our own space can and does effect them?Do we think about someone else when we find something good that works for us and try to share our new find?
A lady told me this little story. Hre friend called her and said she is coming to visit on Sunday. When Sunday came she cleaned the house early and didn't bother about the washing piling up in the corner. She got some nice herbs ready and it got very late before she realised that the visitor would not be arriving.
Another story...
organising a gathering for twenty people, involving food, time and effort
when just three people arrived and no notice of those not coming.
We all spend money and effort on many things, the phone is just but one of them. For these two stories how much nicer it would have been to get a call to say "sorry but we can't make it".
If we all gave each other a thought then the time when we really can't find a phone would not be so bad.
But this is going deeper than not calling or missing a party. This is an illness of a society that has too much and so lost the need to need. Everything we can imagine we can get and although we may share a belief to protect the environment, save the world or social justice, our senses have been dulled by a large media coverage and we don't feel the pain of others, may it be a tree or a personal friend.
If we can just see that there must be a connection between ourselves and everything else around, that our belief in justice and protection can't just be something that belongs to a meeting, a protest or a job we have. This belief has to encircle everything in our life. We can't afford anymore to disregard the role we play as local, national and international individuals in the game we call life.
The
Great Invocation
Top
of page
From the Point of Light
wihin the Mind of God
Let Light stream forth into the minds of Men
Let Light descent on Earth
From the Point of Love
within the Heart of God
Let Love stream forth into the hearts of Men
May Christ return to Earth
From the Center where
the Will of God is Known
Let Purpose guide the little wills of Men
The Purpose which the Masters know and serve
From the Center of
which we call the Race of Man
May the Plan of Light work out
And may it seal the door where evil dwells
Let Light and Love
and Power restore
God's Plan on Earth
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