Again, from Monk in the World...This is where I am feeling my biggest challenge. I want to be like this but I have this deep realization that I can't. Ok, I can, but how?
"One simple but effective way to develop compassion is to intend it each day - to think of it and reflect on its nature as part of you, part of all of us. Our compassion is a fruit of our spiritual lives; it actually arises spontaneously when formed by intention in our spiritual practice. Love and compassion are always the goods of the spiritual journey, and they are guided by divine wisdom, which then shapes compassion in the concrete situations of our existence. Compassion, love, mercy, and kindness are the attributes of our true and common nature when we become freed from social conditioning and the indifference that often accompanies ignorance. The mystical life awakens knowledge of our genunine nature; it is a path to who we really are." (this last line is what frightens me...what is my genunine nature?)
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“The mystical life awakens knowledge of our genunine nature; it is a path to who we really are." (this last line is what frightens me...what is my genunine nature?)”
Great post, Cathy. This has gotten me to thinking as well. The whole concept of living with a conscious intent can be somewhat foreign to many of us in this “reactive” lifestyle that is thrown our way.
Our “genuine nature”… a scary thought – or is it? “I am a new creature in Christ…” There is the foundation of our “genuine” nature. I sometime derail that with picking up of a past habit, thought process, desire etc, but that is no longer who I am, nor is it who you are. I have seen your “genuine nature”…the one Christ formed and is forming. I have seen the intention of living in that nature.
I think I’m going to be a little less reactive today and live with more intent today. I might just be able to do the same again tomorrow as well. It just feels kind of, well, “natural” (or genuine) as I continue down this road.
Thanks for the post.
Mark
Many people should feel that your blog speaks for them. And I think you give more spiritual direction than you know.
Your comments come from a heart that knows where it wants to go — you see your direction from within. You are facing toward God and your desire is to walk in His ways. That is not a bad place to be. Your brothers and sisters are on the same path.
Rest is God’s mercy. Rest in His silence. Your heart is already there.
I'm wondering if this genuineness is akin to "soul integration." I mean, as parts of one's psyche or soul, parts that sometimes discount or deny or hate one another, begin to acknowledge, accept, and even love each other, one increasingly experiences life as from a whole self.
Who we really are, as I see things today, includes all of ourselves (body, soul, relationships, memories, choices, regrets, hopes, dreams, losses, everything), and as one accepts and loves all parts of the self, one knows themselves and lives genuinely.
Jung wrote that this process of integration, which from his perspective included shadow-ego-persona, doesn't begin until an individual is around 50 years old.
I've met two people in my life that embody this kind of genuineness. Both are over 70. Both are so self-accepting that their "faults" aren't any more troublesome than their "strengths." It's so easy to be with them. They know just who they are, and I want to be like them, not in their image, but embodying the image of God as they do.
One of those people, for me, is Margaret Hudson. A friend described her as "naked and unashamed" and I agree. What an incredible woman!
Thank you, John, for your encouraging words. This is why we need each other. It is true, isn't it, that both with our faults and our strengths, we can be blind. Blessings to you today.
Amy, this is probably the best thing about getting older. I am becoming who I am. Actually Fowler said he only knew of two people who ever reached that final stage of faith development of being universal in your outlook: always accepting anyone. Those people were Ghandi and Mother Theresa. Don't know that I'll get there but I hope I get a little closer.
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