:: AA Random links ::

:: Tuesday, July 22, 2003 ::

I went to a Landmark Forum education day last weekend and was impressed by the way in which they use large crowd dynamics to bring about personal transformation/insight. Something very clever going on and not a word about God or spirit, and no quiet contemplative bits. I find myself intellectually fascinated - it seems they are doing pretty much what charismatic christians do but without Jesus. It seems that if you can bring about the group focus then get someone to stand up and say ' I did this and it changed my life' with tears streaming down their face it gives one permission to allow large scale inner change in oneself.

Belief seems to play a part and may be the catalyst for change and again this strikes me as a secret ingredient in ones relationship with the universe. Sure, God, the absolute is aware of what I want so from His point of view petitionary prayer is a waste of time, you're telling him what he already knows! But from a personal point of view how do I gain the clarity about what I want and then move on, not to spend my life constantly hoping and worrying.

Prayer is a transferrance from the vague to the specific. In order to voice the request I have to phrase it intelligably and this process can bring tremendous clarity. A mission statement can do the same job.

Once the request of the universe has been phrased it can be left at the alter. I can walk away strong in the belief that my prayer will be answered. And do you know, it often is.

What I have found refreshing about the way some of my Christian friends pray is that there is no ritual or palaver to go through - no long meditations, no need to be in the right state - just a simple request made simply in the name of the Lord Jesus (ok - little ritual!) and then let go of.

Now these guys do fast and go off on retreats and enter group worship too so there is an element of a deal going on: I behave as a good Christian and He will answer my prayers, sort of thing.

As an Advaitin (well I'm not, but I sometimes play!) of course the idea that there is something wrong with the creation that requires me to change it is the fundamental mistake we all make. The Christian will always be denied a sight of his maker so long as he holds to the belief that God messed up and needs his good Christians to fight the devil for him. He will see conflict where in truth there is harmony. His world will always be divided and his joy only partial.

This is not to say that there is nothing to be done and no battles to be won - we live in a world of cause and effect, an infinitely complex web of interactions some of which I might choose to label 'Good' and others 'Bad'. And I will fight the good fight with the best of them but fundamentally when I realise that it is all good, it is all the work of the creator: a staggeringly beautiful, comical, tragic drama, it ceases to be personal and my relationship to it changes.

:: simon dunstan 12:23 AM [+] ::
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Thisi is a short message saying lone whale is coool

:: simon dunstan 2:02 PM [+] ::
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