I Advice - Letter to God

Rock: Is there any possibility of humanity going beyond its opinions and beliefs, or are we destined to fight with each other endlessly? If God commanded you to come up with something that would satisfy all beliefs, yet enlighten all minds, what would you suggest?

Clark: That's an interesting question. I don't know the answer for sure. Some believe that, as the New Testament suggests, there ultimately will be a period of peace. But in my view it's hard to know if this is just prophetic symbolism or something that will actually happen on Earth. It seems our human personalities inevitably come into conflict with one another. But as free beings we have a choice as to how to deal with that. We can see conflict as an opportunity for mutual understanding and growth. Or we can just react like an animal would. Worse, we can plot and scheme like devils. And don't laugh. Because it's no joke and many people do.

I don't think we can always go beyond our opinions and beliefs. But I think during moments of grace we can. So if we continually turn to God for guidance, we might become better and better servants of the Divine. Some say that too much introspection is a bad thing. But I think that if you don't know your true inner core then you're going to be acting on the basis of some personality fragment or tangent; or perhaps on the basis of a socio-cultural, transpersonal or negative spiritual influence. If you don't act from the center, then whatever bad you do will likely come back on you. If you act from the loving center, informed by Grace (or as Catholics would say, the Holy Spirit), then good will come back.

Rock: You mention that too much introspection is bad. Could you expand on that a little — where does that attitude come from? Perhaps introspection is bad for those who don't want their flock to see too clearly! The contemplative saints regarded contemplative prayer highly, discovering that the state of grace could be enhanced by Orison, which is similar to Eastern thinking that meditation creates fertile ground for enlightenment.Since nothing else has worked throughout history (we are still killing ourselves in the name of God!) could it actually be that introspection; Orison, recollection, the dark night and unison, would enlighten our minds? And could it be that the second coming of Christ (Christ translated as enlightened mind) might be a universal enlightening of many people, instead of an individual Savior this time around?

Thank you for your input. I'm trying to find a common denominator among all religions that would transcend beliefs, yet not disparage any religion. What other hope do we have? A Muslim will rarely become a Christian; or a Buddhist a Muslim. Perhaps introspection — meditation and contemplative prayer — could be an answer. Perhaps Christ was trying to teach us how to go within, but the original Church Fathers (no different from today), perhaps stressed the emotional side of Christianity, feeling that the deeper teachings should only be reserved for monks, thinking that the masses weren't ready. Maybe it was more important to build a religion in those days than free their flock from the fear of God, and the fear of themselves, both of which are laid bare by deep prayer.

Clark: Ah, but I said that "some say" too much introspection is a bad thing. That's a little trick I learned over the years. It doesn't necessary mean that too much introspection is bad. It's just a useful way to bracket a statement. It means that some people believe it's bad, those people not necessarily including myself.

However, I do believe that in my own life, anyhow, it's good to keep some kind of working and flexible balance between contemplation and outward activity. Although I tend to be more contemplative and less visibly active than most. I think everyone has to strike their own balance here. And also, to keep renegotiating it.

My feeling on the Christian saints is that most of them reached very high levels of Godly awareness. But it came with such a price. They suffered for every grace received. And of course, their suffering wasn't only for their own purification, but also for the redemption of other souls. St. Faustina Kowalska's Divine Mercy Diary is an excellent book about the power and importance of (contemplative) prayer. If you haven't read it already, I would recommend it.

As for the differences and similarities among world religions when it comes to mysticism, this is a rich and fascinating topic. It's really hard to know for sure what another mystic experiences. Some believe they all come to the same type of "ah-ha" experience. Others, like Rudolf Otto and C. G. Jung, stress that the grades and qualities of encountered numinosities may differ. Myself, I find that the most intuitive folks in my hometown are scattered across the board. It could be a woman working in a dollar store. It could be the postman. It could be a businessperson with whom I just have a passing conversation. And it could be a priest too. While the vast majority of priests adhere to the standardized approach, I sometimes wonder if in private they have their own thoughts on certain issues. Would they be human if they did not?

I think you're right that most people will not convert from their own path. And why should they? These religions, when they work, serve to nurture the soul while keeping an individual's cultural underpinnings in place. I tend to see religions as flowerpots. You need a pot to hold the soil. Every pot is a little different. But each grows a plant (and hopefully a flower). And just as flowers may also differ, so the look and feel of souls in heaven may differ too. Difference isn't a bad thing at all. How boring heaven would be if it contained ten trillion daisies, and daisies only! As one person whom I spoke with through the web once put it, "there are many different flowers in the Garden of Eden."

And this brings me back to the idea of getting in touch with the core, the center. I believe that it's here that the heavenly flower grows. This isn't necessarily the Jungian self where the self is an aggregate or a totality of all observable elements. I tend to think that ultimately, after all the lesser elements are pruned away through eons of purification, we shine (and mediate grace) in heaven. But I also think this takes a very long time for most of us. Hence the importance of the idea of Purgatory.

To close, I should add that I haven't passed yet, so all this is mostly reasoned speculation. A theory. I don't claim to really know what happens at death. Because other issues come into play, such as the nature of space, time and eternity—both on Earth and within other realms.

Thank you for an interesting question. Feel free to follow up on any of this. I generally enjoy talking about the soul and metaphysics.

Rock: Thank you Dr. Clark for your "enlightened" discussion, rare to find these days! As you renegotiate your personal inward and outward balance, and venture inwardly a little more, do you find yourself less interested in worldly pleasures? And when you do revisit them, just to test their power over you, do you find that they don't hold the same mystique that they once did? What was it that Thomas Wolfe once wrote, "You can never go home?" which to me indicates the unrelenting changing nature of things, and how we can't really count on anything in the world? It's confusing, isn't it, that a new reality is developing, but you can't grasp it as you have grasped things in the past. Definitely a bittersweet experience.

Clark: Yes, it can be bittersweet because for everything valuable that we gain it seems we first must lose something. This might be a golden rule. But I find that the gains really do outstrip the losses. And as we mature in the path we, as you say, don't really want those things we once craved. Moreover, they may reappear in subtler ways. With regard to sexuality, for instance, see the Afterword in my article: Celibacy, Sex and Spirituality at Earthpages.org. I also believe that most people do revisit past pleasures and interests from time to time for various reasons. Doubtfully does it ever go in a straight line. Some say that the ego dances around the self, that is, it doesn't always rest there nor is it always perfectly aligned with it. Still, most world religions advocate - and this might get back to your initial question about syncretism - that the ego ideally is a servant of the self. But again, the understanding as to just what constitutes the self varies dramatically, I think. So one has to choose the path that's right for him or herself. And also consider the possibility of embracing new paths.

Rock: I read a story once about a man entering a strange house and finding a staircase, which he was compelled to climb. The further he climbed, the more fearful he became until he decided to climb back down - but all the steps had disappeared! A Great analogy of the spiritual quest. Five Reasons to Consider a Remortgage
Gone are the days when we took out a mortgage and stuck with it for life, until the debt had been completely repaid. The remortgage market is big business these days, and taking a look at the options available could considerably improve your finances. What are some of the reasons for considering switching your mortgage?1) Get a better deal: Are you sure that your current mortgage is the best one you can get? The market is very competitive and mortgage providers are desperate to attract new business, usually by offering special deals to people who switch their mortgage over to them. As well as aiming for a lower interest rate and lower monthly repayments, remortgaging could net you other benefits such as cash back, free home insurance, or other valuable extras depending on the deal.2) Lock in a low rate: Interest rates are at historic lows, even taking into account the recent rise. Many experts are predicting that rates will begin to rise again over the next few months and years, leading to more expensive mortgages. By replacing your variable rate mortgage with one that has a rate fixed for a few years, you can protect yourself against future rises in the interest rate.3) Release equity: As house prices have gone through the roof over the last decade or so, many people find that they are sitting on a large amount of equity in their home - the difference between how much their house is worth and what the outstanding mortgage balance is. Taking out a remortgage that will pay off your current mortgage and also es that attitude come from? Perhaps introspection is bad for those who don't want their flock to see too clearly! The contemplative saints regarded contemplative prayer highly, discovering that the state of grace could be enhanced by Orison, which is similar to Eastern thinking that meditation creates fertile ground for enlightenment.Since nothing else has worked throughout history (we are still killing ourselves in the name of God!) could it actually be that introspection; Orison, recollection, the dark night and unison, would enlighten our minds? And could it be that the second coming of Christ (Christ translated as enlightened mind) might be a universal enlightening of many people, instead of an individual Savior this time around?

Thank you for your input. I'm trying to find a common denominator among all religions that would transcend beliefs, yet not disparage any religion. What other hope do we have? A Muslim will rarely become a Christian; or a Buddhist a Muslim. Perhaps introspection — meditation and contemplative prayer — could be an answer. Perhaps Christ was trying to teach us how to go within, but the original Church Fathers (no different from today), perhaps stressed the emotional side of Christianity, feeling that the deeper teachings should only be reserved for monks, thinking that the masses weren't ready. Maybe it was more important to build a religion in those days than free their flock from the fear of God, and the fear of themselves, both of which are laid bare by deep prayer.

Clark: Ah, but I said that "some say" too much introspection is a bad thing. That's a little trick I learned over the years. It doesn't necessary mean that too much introspection is bad. It's just a useful way to bracket a statement. It means that some people believe it's bad, those people not necessarily including myself.

However, I do believe that in my own life, anyhow, it's good to keep some kind of working and flexible balance between contemplation and outward activity. Although I tend to be more contemplative and less visibly active than most. I think everyone has to strike their own balance here. And also, to keep renegotiating it.

My feeling on the Christian saints is that most of them reached very high levels of Godly awareness. But it came with such a price. They suffered for every grace received. And of course, their suffering wasn't only for their own purification, but also for the redemption of other souls. St. Faustina Kowalska's Divine Mercy Diary is an excellent book about the power and importance of (contemplative) prayer. If you haven't read it already, I would recommend it.

As for the differences and similarities among world religions when it comes to mysticism, this is a rich and fascinating topic. It's really hard to know for sure what another mystic experiences. Some believe they all come to the same type of "ah-ha" experience. Others, like Rudolf Otto and C. G. Jung, stress that the grades and qualities of encountered numinosities may differ. Myself, I find that the most intuitive folks in my hometown are scattered across the board. It could be a woman working in a dollar store. It could be the postman. It could be a businessperson with whom I just have a passing conversation. And it could be a priest too. While the vast majority of priests adhere to the standardized approach, I sometimes wonder if in private they have their own thoughts on certain issues. Would they be human if they did not?

I think you're right that most people will not convert from their own path. And why should they? These religions, when they work, serve to nurture the soul while keeping an individual's cultural underpinnings in place. I tend to see religions as flowerpots. You need a pot to hold the soil. Every pot is a little different. But each grows a plant (and hopefully a flower). And just as flowers may also differ, so the look and feel of souls in heaven may differ too. Difference isn't a bad thing at all. How boring heaven would be if it contained ten trillion daisies, and daisies only! As one person whom I spoke with through the web once put it, "there are many different flowers in the Garden of Eden."

And this brings me back to the idea of getting in touch with the core, the center. I believe that it's here that the heavenly flower grows. This isn't necessarily the Jungian self where the self is an aggregate or a totality of all observable elements. I tend to think that ultimately, after all the lesser elements are pruned away through eons of purification, we shine (and mediate grace) in heaven. But I also think this takes a very long time for most of us. Hence the importance of the idea of Purgatory.

To close, I should add that I haven't passed yet, so all this is mostly reasoned speculation. A theory. I don't claim to really know what happens at death. Because other issues come into play, such as the nature of space, time and eternity—both on Earth and within other realms.

Thank you for an interesting question. Feel free to follow up on any of this. I generally enjoy talking about the soul and metaphysics.

Rock: Thank you Dr. Clark for your "enlightened" discussion, rare to find these days! As you renegotiate your personal inward and outward balance, and venture inwardly a little more, do you find yourself less interested in worldly pleasures? And when you do revisit them, just to test their power over you, do you find that they don't hold the same mystique that they once did? What was it that Thomas Wolfe once wrote, "You can never go home?" which to me indicates the unrelenting changing nature of things, and how we can't really count on anything in the world? It's confusing, isn't it, that a new reality is developing, but you can't grasp it as you have grasped things in the past. Definitely a bittersweet experience.

Clark: Yes, it can be bittersweet because for everything valuable that we gain it seems we first must lose something. This might be a golden rule. But I find that the gains really do outstrip the losses. And as we mature in the path we, as you say, don't really want those things we once craved. Moreover, they may reappear in subtler ways. With regard to sexuality, for instance, see the Afterword in my article: Celibacy, Sex and Spirituality at Earthpages.org. I also believe that most people do revisit past pleasures and interests from time to time for various reasons. Doubtfully does it ever go in a straight line. Some say that the ego dances around the self, that is, it doesn't always rest there nor is it always perfectly aligned with it. Still, most world religions advocate - and this might get back to your initial question about syncretism - that the ego ideally is a servant of the self. But again, the understanding as to just what constitutes the self varies dramatically, I think. So one has to choose the path that's right for him or herself. And also consider the possibility of embracing new paths.

Rock: I read a story once about a man entering a strange house and finding a staircase, which he was compelled to climb. The further he climbed, the more fearful he became until he decided to climb back down - but all the steps had disappeared! A Great analogy of the spiritual quest. Why Do Professional Speakers Need Public Relations?
Four Reasons Why Every Speaker Should Hire a PR FirmHow many speakers do you know who have engaged the services of a public relations firm? Chances are you may not know many. What professional speakers don’t realize is that hiring a public relations company can become extremely beneficial and can produce a surprisingly high return on investment. The amount of revenue which can be generated as a result of the activities of a public relations firm can easily outweigh that of advertising. Why? Because public relations is more reputable than traditional advertising. A consumer is more likely to purchase a product or service because they read a third party revue, not because they saw an advertisement. When a consumer reads a review, it is normally unbiased and comes from a trustworthy source.Furthermore, public relations is less expensive than advertising. The cost of sending a press release to a magazine editor is a lot less than creating a direct mail campaign or purchasing a display advertisement in a trade publication. Some people are notorious for developing elaborate direct mail campaigns, only to experience minimal results. Public relations is a far better way to spend your hard earned money, especially when some of your competitors could afford to spend a lot more than you can, but the difference is, you will see results!Create Your Brand There are many benefits of public relations campaigns, the first being branding. Speakers need to think of themselves as brands. Donald Trump is a brandt necessarily including myself.

However, I do believe that in my own life, anyhow, it's good to keep some kind of working and flexible balance between contemplation and outward activity. Although I tend to be more contemplative and less visibly active than most. I think everyone has to strike their own balance here. And also, to keep renegotiating it.

My feeling on the Christian saints is that most of them reached very high levels of Godly awareness. But it came with such a price. They suffered for every grace received. And of course, their suffering wasn't only for their own purification, but also for the redemption of other souls. St. Faustina Kowalska's Divine Mercy Diary is an excellent book about the power and importance of (contemplative) prayer. If you haven't read it already, I would recommend it.

As for the differences and similarities among world religions when it comes to mysticism, this is a rich and fascinating topic. It's really hard to know for sure what another mystic experiences. Some believe they all come to the same type of "ah-ha" experience. Others, like Rudolf Otto and C. G. Jung, stress that the grades and qualities of encountered numinosities may differ. Myself, I find that the most intuitive folks in my hometown are scattered across the board. It could be a woman working in a dollar store. It could be the postman. It could be a businessperson with whom I just have a passing conversation. And it could be a priest too. While the vast majority of priests adhere to the standardized approach, I sometimes wonder if in private they have their own thoughts on certain issues. Would they be human if they did not?

I think you're right that most people will not convert from their own path. And why should they? These religions, when they work, serve to nurture the soul while keeping an individual's cultural underpinnings in place. I tend to see religions as flowerpots. You need a pot to hold the soil. Every pot is a little different. But each grows a plant (and hopefully a flower). And just as flowers may also differ, so the look and feel of souls in heaven may differ too. Difference isn't a bad thing at all. How boring heaven would be if it contained ten trillion daisies, and daisies only! As one person whom I spoke with through the web once put it, "there are many different flowers in the Garden of Eden."

And this brings me back to the idea of getting in touch with the core, the center. I believe that it's here that the heavenly flower grows. This isn't necessarily the Jungian self where the self is an aggregate or a totality of all observable elements. I tend to think that ultimately, after all the lesser elements are pruned away through eons of purification, we shine (and mediate grace) in heaven. But I also think this takes a very long time for most of us. Hence the importance of the idea of Purgatory.

To close, I should add that I haven't passed yet, so all this is mostly reasoned speculation. A theory. I don't claim to really know what happens at death. Because other issues come into play, such as the nature of space, time and eternity—both on Earth and within other realms.

Thank you for an interesting question. Feel free to follow up on any of this. I generally enjoy talking about the soul and metaphysics.

Rock: Thank you Dr. Clark for your "enlightened" discussion, rare to find these days! As you renegotiate your personal inward and outward balance, and venture inwardly a little more, do you find yourself less interested in worldly pleasures? And when you do revisit them, just to test their power over you, do you find that they don't hold the same mystique that they once did? What was it that Thomas Wolfe once wrote, "You can never go home?" which to me indicates the unrelenting changing nature of things, and how we can't really count on anything in the world? It's confusing, isn't it, that a new reality is developing, but you can't grasp it as you have grasped things in the past. Definitely a bittersweet experience.

Clark: Yes, it can be bittersweet because for everything valuable that we gain it seems we first must lose something. This might be a golden rule. But I find that the gains really do outstrip the losses. And as we mature in the path we, as you say, don't really want those things we once craved. Moreover, they may reappear in subtler ways. With regard to sexuality, for instance, see the Afterword in my article: Celibacy, Sex and Spirituality at Earthpages.org. I also believe that most people do revisit past pleasures and interests from time to time for various reasons. Doubtfully does it ever go in a straight line. Some say that the ego dances around the self, that is, it doesn't always rest there nor is it always perfectly aligned with it. Still, most world religions advocate - and this might get back to your initial question about syncretism - that the ego ideally is a servant of the self. But again, the understanding as to just what constitutes the self varies dramatically, I think. So one has to choose the path that's right for him or herself. And also consider the possibility of embracing new paths.

Rock: I read a story once about a man entering a strange house and finding a staircase, which he was compelled to climb. The further he climbed, the more fearful he became until he decided to climb back down - but all the steps had disappeared! A Great analogy of the spiritual quest. Using a Sales Process - The Gatekeepers
In a recent article, I wrote about the four influencers in a B2B sale. I then wrote an article about the Financial Influencer and an article on the User Influencer. In this article I want to focus on the Gatekeepers. As a quick review, here are the four influencers again.1. The Financial Influencer(s)2. The User Influencers3. The Gatekeeper(s)4. Your Champion or SponsorThis week we will focus on the gatekeepers.The GatekeepersThe gatekeeper can also be referred to as the technical buying influence. The role of the gatekeeper is to screen out or block your proposal. They are there to ensure you meet the many technical requirements most companies want. There are many groups who may be gatekeepers.They may include the following.· The finance department· The legal group - may be inside and/or outside the company· Human resources· The IT department· Engineering· OperationsAs you can see, depending on the technical and financial influence of your product and service, there are many groups that can be involved. Also, the impact your proposal has on their organization will determine how many of the above groups will get involved.These people generally will only be involved for a short time, and then not be involved at all after your proposal has been accepted.The keys for these groups are the following.· They judge the measurable and quantifiable aspects of your proposal.· They arethe soul while keeping an individual's cultural underpinnings in place. I tend to see religions as flowerpots. You need a pot to hold the soil. Every pot is a little different. But each grows a plant (and hopefully a flower). And just as flowers may also differ, so the look and feel of souls in heaven may differ too. Difference isn't a bad thing at all. How boring heaven would be if it contained ten trillion daisies, and daisies only! As one person whom I spoke with through the web once put it, "there are many different flowers in the Garden of Eden."

And this brings me back to the idea of getting in touch with the core, the center. I believe that it's here that the heavenly flower grows. This isn't necessarily the Jungian self where the self is an aggregate or a totality of all observable elements. I tend to think that ultimately, after all the lesser elements are pruned away through eons of purification, we shine (and mediate grace) in heaven. But I also think this takes a very long time for most of us. Hence the importance of the idea of Purgatory.

To close, I should add that I haven't passed yet, so all this is mostly reasoned speculation. A theory. I don't claim to really know what happens at death. Because other issues come into play, such as the nature of space, time and eternity—both on Earth and within other realms.

Thank you for an interesting question. Feel free to follow up on any of this. I generally enjoy talking about the soul and metaphysics.

Rock: Thank you Dr. Clark for your "enlightened" discussion, rare to find these days! As you renegotiate your personal inward and outward balance, and venture inwardly a little more, do you find yourself less interested in worldly pleasures? And when you do revisit them, just to test their power over you, do you find that they don't hold the same mystique that they once did? What was it that Thomas Wolfe once wrote, "You can never go home?" which to me indicates the unrelenting changing nature of things, and how we can't really count on anything in the world? It's confusing, isn't it, that a new reality is developing, but you can't grasp it as you have grasped things in the past. Definitely a bittersweet experience.

Clark: Yes, it can be bittersweet because for everything valuable that we gain it seems we first must lose something. This might be a golden rule. But I find that the gains really do outstrip the losses. And as we mature in the path we, as you say, don't really want those things we once craved. Moreover, they may reappear in subtler ways. With regard to sexuality, for instance, see the Afterword in my article: Celibacy, Sex and Spirituality at Earthpages.org. I also believe that most people do revisit past pleasures and interests from time to time for various reasons. Doubtfully does it ever go in a straight line. Some say that the ego dances around the self, that is, it doesn't always rest there nor is it always perfectly aligned with it. Still, most world religions advocate - and this might get back to your initial question about syncretism - that the ego ideally is a servant of the self. But again, the understanding as to just what constitutes the self varies dramatically, I think. So one has to choose the path that's right for him or herself. And also consider the possibility of embracing new paths.

Rock: I read a story once about a man entering a strange house and finding a staircase, which he was compelled to climb. The further he climbed, the more fearful he became until he decided to climb back down - but all the steps had disappeared! A Great analogy of the spiritual quest. Albanian Taxation - What About New Audit Strategies?
The Albanian General Taxation Directorate (AGDT) has more than 3 years that has been working on new inspection strategies, the core of which is to develop strategies by building an adequate audit system. This makes it possible to improve the idea of “taxation tools of economic policy”. Economy is observed and carefully evaluated within the various sectors and companies respectively.The structural perspective is constituted by observation and evaluation of the acquired result. Sector analysis provides one of the best evaluation tools. Economical variables are received by the AGTD and policy alternatives and solutions are produced immediately. Sector working system analysis is not only necessary in order to produce fiscal policy alternative, but also in order to acquire specialized information from complicated companies. Company inspections are complicated today because of such influences as globalization, technological advancements, and legislation developments.The Tax Audit Directory (TAD) , that is part of AGDT observes the improvements of inspection strategies and adapts them to conditions in Albania. These new strategies are also aimed in aiding tax administration transitions into the EU. Some of their requirements are mentioned in the moment of assignment of Stabilization Association Agreement on June 12, 2006 and are summarized below: o Revenue management’s effectiveness should be strengthened. o External and internal inspections are too dispersed. This situation should be eliminated and increasehat they don't hold the same mystique that they once did? What was it that Thomas Wolfe once wrote, "You can never go home?" which to me indicates the unrelenting changing nature of things, and how we can't really count on anything in the world? It's confusing, isn't it, that a new reality is developing, but you can't grasp it as you have grasped things in the past. Definitely a bittersweet experience.

Clark: Yes, it can be bittersweet because for everything valuable that we gain it seems we first must lose something. This might be a golden rule. But I find that the gains really do outstrip the losses. And as we mature in the path we, as you say, don't really want those things we once craved. Moreover, they may reappear in subtler ways. With regard to sexuality, for instance, see the Afterword in my article: Celibacy, Sex and Spirituality at Earthpages.org. I also believe that most people do revisit past pleasures and interests from time to time for various reasons. Doubtfully does it ever go in a straight line. Some say that the ego dances around the self, that is, it doesn't always rest there nor is it always perfectly aligned with it. Still, most world religions advocate - and this might get back to your initial question about syncretism - that the ego ideally is a servant of the self. But again, the understanding as to just what constitutes the self varies dramatically, I think. So one has to choose the path that's right for him or herself. And also consider the possibility of embracing new paths.

Rock: I read a story once about a man entering a strange house and finding a staircase, which he was compelled to climb. The further he climbed, the more fearful he became until he decided to climb back down - but all the steps had disappeared! A Great analogy of the spiritual quest.

Enjoyed your article - very well thought out and complete. My experience with Catholicism is like yours, but backward. I spent the first thirty-eight years as a catholic, and then the next twenty-seven meditating!

All religions seem to have their scripture as a basis, accompanied by individual experience, or the deeper side based on that scripture. I am at a point where I'm taking a worldview of it all, beyond my personal viewpoint, and I see that something is amiss. Wars are still being fought over differences in religious beliefs.

My first experience of meditation was at Shasta Abbey, a Zen monastery. The monks there didn't teach me Buddhist scripture, only insisted that I meditate and practice silence most of the day, and because of that simple practice, my whole life was turned upside down with no teachings whatsoever. I was very surprised!

Is it possible that contemplative prayer or meditation could do the same thing for others? But how do you encourage people to pray deeply, that is listen to God instead of talking? You would think that everybody would want to personally communicate with the Source of all understanding, but usually, we are shy in this area. Few dare to venture into the dark night of the soul of St. John of the Cross, or experiment with enlightenment.

Is it fear of seeing through our illusions, our concept of self, our beliefs? We attach to these notions and feel comfortable in them, not wanting to lose them, which is what happens when we achieve that ineffable that can only be described as the unborn, the undying; beginning less and with no end. How would you ever introduce such a practice and concept to busy, everyday people? I don't know the answer to this, but I tirelessly attempt to find a way to introduce contemplative prayer and meditation into everybody's hearts.

There is that which is underneath all the divisive beliefs, and to touch that is the key. It can be touched when all our thoughts, opinions and knowing dissolves into that mysterious realm where we lose ourselves to that which is.

Clark: You know, I would keep asking God for advice. I'm not sure as a practicing Buddhist how you envision the Godhead. Words and concepts can get in the way. But I tend to regard God as the creator, somehow other but immanent.

From my experience, Buddhists tend to deemphasize individuality while Catholics feel that individuality is important. But it seems that you still have some sense of an individual self, yet one which is more fundamental than the intellectual, the conceptual, the desirous and so on. That's the core that I feel is the important commonality among all paths. As to how to get people to meditate, to contemplate, to know the Divine... this is something that I personally don't try to rush. I see the entire spectrum as important to the total picture. So I tend to look at individuals and try to determine where they're at, what external factors are influencing them, and so on. I guess as a doctor and educator that's my role. I don't see myself as a mass preacher or contemplative exemplar. But maybe someone else is! As St. Paul put it, “One body... many different members.”

Copyright © E. Raymond Rock and Michael W. Clark, Ph.D. 2006. All rights reserved.

HTTP = HTML link (for blogs, profiles,phorums):
<a href="http://www.willuadd.com/article/196486/willuadd-Letter-to-God.html">Letter to God</a>

BB link (for phorums):
[url=http://www.willuadd.com/article/196486/willuadd-Letter-to-God.html]Letter to God[/url]

Related Articles:

Complete Top 10 Methods Of Driving Traffic To Your Blog Part 1

If you are blogger or want to become one, look no further, you will find everyhting you need to know about blogging and driving traffic to blogs here.

Aquired Brain Injury Attorneys

An acquired brain injury impairs the functioning of the brain. There could be many causes of an acquired brain injury. The most common causes include vehicular accidents, sports injuries and falls. These injuries can cause permanent disabilities. They can even prove to be fatal.

Feeling Sorry For Saddam Hussein

Yes, he was an evil dictator, but he was a husband and father also. I don't know what made him the man he was, but I know he probably didn't ask to be that way. Most of us don't.

Bookmark it: