Super crazy busy. As usual.

I saw this phrase on my son Michael’s page on Facebook (which if you are not up-to-date with the internet will perhaps become the next Google of the internet world).

Super crazy busy. As usual. This phrase aptly describes me, my wife, my over-achieving children, and a host of other people I know all around the world.

The adrenaline rush of speeding through a day with cars, jets, phones, computers, business, socializing, entertainment and more is intoxicating. Like my kids, I have many screens open on my computer so I can work simultaneously on many tasks, get information from many sources, and communicate through a bunch of message and computer/phone options.

I enjoyed that high-powered lifestyle for decades as a banker and executive, but I can hardly stop running now, even though I am “Retired”.

My excuse is that I am building a house, trying to become a writer, looking after gardens and investments, and trying to stay in touch with my far flung friends. But I wonder if this busy-ness will stop? Perhaps next year when the house gets finished?

Another phenomena I have noticed is that over-stressed and over-busy people like me have developed certain mindless habits that allows our brains to slow down a bit. For me it is computer games like Solitaire, Hearts, Minesweeper and Jetman (on Facebook).

For me, these are virtually forms of (cheap) meditation like a mental rosary, or counting beads in meditation. When I play these computer games, my mind is mostly operating on automatic pilot, so that I can think and reflect on what is most important.

Sadly, these games are not an authentic substitute for real pleasures, like looking up at the stars in my country backyard, where the stars are amazingly bright and present! Nor are these electronic diversions as revitalizing as going out into lovely gardens and sitting quietly. Outside, I see beautiful trees changing into autumn colors, and the ocean at a distance has an ever-changing set of colors and moods as it meets the sky on the distant horizon.

Yesterday morning I woke up with a great idea: I would try to live the next year as if it were my last year on earth. Fortunately, I appear to be in great health. My color is good; I can swim 25 minutes at a fast pace; I feel very good. Yet I know that at age 60 I have already outlived most of my ancestors. This year, if not this month could well be my last. And if not, I could still benefit from living with this thought.

The real point of living life as if it were about to end is that I must concentrate on what is most important to me and not delay things until the future. A few years ago I watched our friend Linda Bergwall as she was dying from cancer. She and her husband Jim lived very deliberately each day. They spent lots of time with friends. They travelled. They enjoyed each day more than you might imagine. It was a (bittersweet) pleasure to watch them live this mindful way.

Being as busy as I am, I doubt that I (or you) could hold this thought in mind unless I was actually dying of cancer, or something else serious. However, for a few minutes or days, this kind of concentration on ultimate reality helps sift out what really matters in our lives.

I wonder if I truly want to be Super crazy busy – as usual?

Beyond Activities and Possessions

I am now starting my third year of “retirement” and am still amazed how busy I am. For a while, I thought that this was just a temporary phase while I was catching up with all the things I had neglected during my executive career. Then there was the matter of moving up the coast to a wonderful small community and creating a pleasant life. I have succeeded in writing some blogs and in staying in touch with a wide variety of friends. But why do I still get up at 5:00 AM to make sure that I can accomplish what seems important?

Obviously the building of a new house on two lovely acres and all the landscaping and gardening opportunities fill a lot of hours. I have investments to manage and a few boards that require my best judgment. We just sold an old van and bought a new one. I have another car to sell off.

It seems that I can hardly keep up some days on doing what seems truly important. Does this sound like a familiar story?

Eugene Peterson said once that modern people spend much of their lives pursuing ever more possessions and ever more activities, but neither can truly satisfy our deepest longings, which are for Intimacy and for Transcendence.

Intimacy means an affectionate and loving personal relationship with another person or with a group of friends. It involves closeness, familiarity and warmth. It requires a lot of time and commitment. It means opening up ourselves on a deep level and becoming vulnerable. It requires shedding our veneers and facing our companions with our defects and insecurities on display. It means dropping our masks of respectability to stand naked emotionally with those we love. Intimacy is a lot more difficult than sharing activities and comparing possessions. Why do we need it so much?

Transcendence is an obscure word for many people. It doesn’t even appear in some dictionaries, although transcend, transcendent and even transcendental are used from time to time.

To transcend is to go beyond, rise above or be more important or better than something, especially a limit. Transcendent is greater, better, more important, or going beyond or above all others. Transcendental describes an experience, event, object or idea that is extremely special and unusual and cannot be understood in ordinary ways

Transcendence words are used particularly in philosophy, psychology and religion. This concept involves going beyond our normal range of perception. Sometimes it can mean being above and independent of the material universe. It may be expressed as supreme, extreme, ultimate, unsurpassable, or uttermost. It may be an experience, event, object or idea that is extremely special and unusual and cannot be understood in ordinary ways. All of these words are used frequently to refer to God or any other concept of Deity. They may involve prayer, meditation and the invisible realms of reality, such as Heaven.

So coming back to your and my ordinary lives, how can we pursue intimacy and transcendence, rather than just increasing our activities and possessions?

I may not choose to be intimately related to everyone I meet, particularly if I suspect that they are manipulative or malicious. However, I have daily opportunities to open up to new people and to spend meaningful moments with my closest companions. That should be at least as important as building my house or finishing my never-ending TO DO list.

Transcendence takes even more focus and concentration. It means looking up at the night sky with millions of bright stars when our dogs need to run out. It means watching plants and trees in their life cycle through the seasons and wondering about the cycles of my life and those of other people.

Both transcendence and intimacy deserve far more of my attention and reflection. They are what I long for most deeply when my busy-ness subsides at midnight.

What is the Point of it All?

I have spent most of my working life in Vancouver, which recently topped the Economist Magazine’s list as the best place to live in the top 120 global cities. Yet in this safe, exciting and wonderful city, I have watched some of the most fortunate people on our planet struggling in seeming futility as they try to reach their life goals.

Mothers rush their young children from music lessons to sports activities. Parents rush home for dinner before pursuing their evening’s activities. People are buying houses and cars, music systems and vacation properties. They save what they can for investments in the future: education for their children and for their ultimate retirement. People seem frenzied by their non-stop activities and by ever more things to buy. Few people that I know are really contented and happy.

An English poet from an earlier generation said: “Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers”. As traffic gets more and more congested with expensive cars, people are endlessly rushing around, and sometimes I wonder: what is the point of all this?

We all look with compassion at starving children in poor countries. We sympathize with youth in developing countries who will likely never share the opportunities of the middle class in Vancouver. But when we see successful managers and even multimillionaires working as furiously as the very poor, we stop and wonder, what is the point of all this?

These ultimate questions about life are what occupy me most. In fact, these questions have fascinated me for a very long time, which perhaps means that I am a “philosopher of every day life”. I believe that I know some of the answers to these eternally perplexing questions, but I struggle to communicate the answers adequately. This quest is the central purpose of my Abbey Mountain Blog and of the books that I plan to write in the next few years.

My answers are not entirely original, nor are the questions. These questions have been asked and answered since the dawn of human history. Some teachers give very simple answers to these difficult questions; but unfortunately, while the simple answers are not entirely wrong, they seem inadequate to satisfy this generation. The changes on our planet during the last 100 years are likely the most momentous seen during the past 5,000 years of recorded history.

One typical answer is that it this endless struggle in our lives is all about another dimension and where we will go after death. I don’t reject that answer entirely, but I find myself impatient with otherworldly solutions which are of no use to us living in the here and now. The wisdom we need most urgently is how to live our lives today and tomorrow. Hopefully, that wisdom will also point us to our ultimate destiny.

Since ancient times, some people have believed we should seek pleasure, moment by moment: in delicious food, in fine wine, in sex, in all kinds of physical pleasures, and in whatever artistic and cultural pursuits which satisfy our immediate longings. This hedonistic philosophy still going strong today.

A smaller group of philosophers has believed that most pleasures should be denied, that we should seek complete chastity, poverty, simplicity and purity of our souls. This ascetic philosophy is also advocated today in many forms, both religious and secular.

However, the largest group of humanity has little conscious philosophy in these matters: they are too busy rushing to their next activity to give this matter much consideration.

Let me end this post on a note of hope and optimism. I truly believe that there are answers to life’s ultimate questions when we look for them; there are good solutions to life’s challenges; there are wholesome ways to live our lives so that they do not end in utter futility.

But these questions demand our full attention. The solutions do not come in little pills, or in easy recipes which take two minutes. The answer is more like a journey we must undertake.

My hope is to provide you the best wisdom that I have found in terms of practical usefulness for every day living. I have climbed part way up this mountain of spiritual seeking. I have found a life for myself that is mostly harmony and peace. This wisdom will not exempt me from old age and death, but it provides me a deep sense of meaning and contentment as I watch the endless cycles of life. I invite you to come share this exciting journey!

Work and Dreaming

Somewhere I once read:

Dreams without work are fantasy;

Work without dreams is drudgery;

But work in pursuit of a dream is ecstasy!

Young children (day) dream naturally. Adults often forget how to dream and don’t even realize that it is very important. Dreams (or meditative thought) create our vision for both the present and the future. They show us how our creative energies can contribute to a better world for ourselves and for everyone else. They transform our attitude towards the most ordinary jobs.

Adults learn to become good at work if they wish to succeed. But somehow, the vital connection between work and dreaming gets lost for many people after childhood. Our dreams degenerate into escapism and mental vacations. Our dreams get crowded out by busy schedules; we cram more and more activities into our weeks, so that our minds become overloaded with just barely coping. Our dreams are replaced by mental diversions like books, movies, TV, games, sports, travel, and intoxicants.

Often our work gets out of our control and we do it merely to survive rather than with enthusiasm. We stop believing that our work matters to ourselves or to others. It just has to be done to get money.

Some people drop out of work and essentially become dreamers, disconnected from everyday working reality. They work only the bare minimum needed to survive. They fantasize about winning the lottery and other improbable dramas not remotely connected to their real lives. They dream empty dreams with little chance of attaining them.

So we may alternate between fantasy and drudgery, but rarely do we find the ecstasy of passionate, creative work. How can we re-establish this vital connection between dreaming and our daily work?

Our first challenge is relearning how to dream while we are awake: this state is something like daydreaming, but more purposeful and more closely connected with who we actually are. This state is like meditation and reflection. It entails mulling over the ultimate questions of our life during times of quiet.

It involves considering all of the possibilities and goals for our life. What work do we really enjoy doing? What do we want to ultimately accomplish and to become? Where do we want to be in 5 or 10 years? How can we become more creative in our actual daily work situation?

Dreaming needs to be cultivated like any important capacity or talent. Learn as much about dreaming as you can. Set time aside in your busy day to pause and reflect. Find outdoor beauty or a tranquil spot in your home or office to just sit and think. Dreams must be unforced; they don’t come quickly, on command.

The difference between dreaming and planning is that dreams reach further out into time and space. It is like the adage of “hitching your wagon to a star” which our ancestors did when they explored new countries to settle. Dreams stretch far beyond our reach, yet they beckon us and inspire us. Plans by contrast are mostly about doing what is immediately achievable.

Our second challenge is to think and dream about the work that we actually do, to see its endless creative potential, both in the present and for the future. I suspect that my career success came mostly because I never thought that I had a boring job. My co-workers often seemed bored when they did jobs like those I had in my early years: as a farm worker, a carpenter, mason, library clerk, gardener, tutor, sales assistant, and as a banker. But I found each of my jobs infinitely fascinating and I always dreamed about where this work might lead me. So I always looked forward to going to work.

Our work ought to be our vital connection with our community and also our creative contribution to the world. Obviously, it helps to find a kind of work which is legitimate and worthwhile. But most kinds of work can be done in such a way that it enriches us.

My good friend Paul, who has run his shoe store for nearly 60 years, puts his heart and soul into selling and repairing shoes. He does it as his contribution to the lives of every customer. He wants to know all about you and will stop his work to talk for a long while. And he repairs your shoes with an expertise and passion that is rarely found. I suspect many of Paul’s daydreams are about his shoe business and about his customers. His radiant smile and joyful disposition clearly demonstrate the ecstasy he finds in his work.

So dreaming is not so much about getting rich quick as it is about enriching all of our relationships through our work. True wisdom considers our work sacred when it is done in the right spirit. A creative attitude can transform our menial tasks into a divine calling.

Moving On

Many people start dreaming long before retirement about finding a better place to live, where they can enjoy doing the things they love most.

Nonetheless, there is something bittersweet about actually moving away from a family home, where our children have grown up, and where we spent some of the happiest days of our lives.

Kathy and I came to our Vancouver house when our son Michael was five, and our older children were seven, twelve and fourteen. Since then, our house has rung with laughter and parties for both children and adults. This old house, in this lovely neighbourhood, and in a great city, has been very precious to us!

But the time has come for moving on. One by one our children have moved out to seek their destiny elsewhere. Only Michael has remained with us in the old house, and he has spent most of his time away with friends. Fewer people have been eating at our table recently; usually just Kathy and I, and we now look beyond home for our social activities.

Our old house has been needing many repairs: the kitchen floor needs to be replaced; the dishwasher is broken; windows are hard to open and close; the hallway floor creaks because of a loose board. However, since we are now retired, we have decided to build a new and better home.

We are now moving to a virtual paradise on the Pacific Coast 40 miles northwest of Vancouver. We have an lovely acreage with mature trees, both fruit-bearing and decorative. There are colourful bushes and flowers in bloom much of the year. We are also building a wonderful new house with the help of an inspired architect.

The situation of our old house in Vancouver reminds me strikingly of my aging body. I am now 60 and although in good health, I realize that my body will wear out within a few more decades. Although my parents lived until their 90’s, I can not count on good health for that long.

My body has more creaks and pains than ever before, despite getting regular exercise and eating healthy food. My shoulders ache. My legs are sore sometimes. My digestion is not as good as it used to be. I am progressing through the normal stages of aging. Fortunately, I still look relatively young for my age. But I have no illusions that that I can continue long in the prime of my life. Soon I will become older still and then will come the time for the ultimate Moving On.

The prospect of giving up my old body is not as frightening for me as it is for many people. I still hold the beliefs of my parents and ancestors of a wonderful Home of the Soul where our spirit can go after our death. While I cannot describe this pace with accuracy, I sometimes get a deep longing to be in Heaven, where all is joy and peace.

I realize that my belief in Heaven is not shared by all. Many people regard belief in Afterlife as just lingering superstition. I cannot prove them wrong. But let me give you a few considerations.

Virtually every ancient culture worldwide has believed in an afterlife for the spirit: Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Jews, Catholics, Polynesians, Africans, and Native Americans, among others, have all held this common belief throughout history; there are few cultures without this belief. One could conclude that all cultures suffer from common wishful thinking. On the other hand, perhaps these traditional cultures, less distracted by modern technology, have demonstrated a common access to a realm of the spirit that we have nearly lost.

These visions of Heaven have included an end to all suffering, pain and tears. It has been described as a realm of beauty and splendour, where glorious music and wonderful scenes bless those who enter there. Some people today still encounter this glorious place in their dreams and times of meditation.

So as I move on from my Vancouver house and consider that I will one day also giving up this body which houses my spirit, I am struck by similar feelings of poignancy: both seem like moving on to a Far Better Home.

A Lifetime Commitment in the Same Direction

Last night I went to see the movie Amazing Grace, the story of how William Wilberforce led an evangelical group committed to outlawing the oppressive evils of slavery throughout the British Empire. If you had stopped the movie two thirds of the way through, you might have concluded that Wilberforce was an idealistic failure, who wasted his life, wealth and health on a hopeless cause.

But in fact, after a 20 year campaign, Wilberforce and his companions turned around both the Parliament and also British public opinion. A mere handful of idealists converted a great nation and the entire British empire to more humane standards which outlawed the slave trade.

His triumph surely stands near the peak of spiritual accomplishment. I suspect that Wilberforce’s contribution to human civilization was perhaps even greater than that made by Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi or Mother Teresa, not that comparisons matter. Unfortunately, Wilberforce has now been virtually forgotten some two centuries later.

What I found thought provoking was Wilberforce’s struggle as a young man, trying to decide between a life devoted to purely spiritual pursuits vs. a life of social action; finally, he realized that both callings could coexist together.

When you consider how great the cost of this struggle was to Wilberforce in every dimension of his life, you might conclude that he was misguided. For a while, he was a political and social outcast; his family life and health were nearly ruined; and he became addicted to Laudanum, an opium-based medicine that he took to sleep and to calm his bowels and shattered nerves.

But his ultimate triumph outshines these very real costs. He deserves the greatest honours for almost extinguishing the slave trade; although slavery persisted in the United States and elsewhere for half a century more, but at least there was an end to fresh capture of Africans to be transported across the Atlantic. Wilberforce stands as a beacon to anyone who considers committing themselves to a noble cause on behalf of wider humanity.

The other fascinating thing I saw in his story was the importance of a lifetime commitment. In today’s world of instant cures for all ills (particularly those promised in the political world) it is useful to reflect that great changes and progress seldom come quickly, sometimes not even within the duration of one lifetime. This principle applies to most forms of human endeavour.

During my career as a businessman, I was amazed to find that successful entrepreneurs were rarely exceptionally charming, well educated, brilliant, or talented. The one trait they possessed in common was a deep commitment for many decades to their business concept. They typically started out on a humble scale in a basement or garage and just kept going in the same direction for 20, 30 or 40 years. Equally, I observed that people who pursued completely new directions every year or two almost never succeeded – it seems the kiss of death.

This rule of long, lasting commitment applies to almost any type of career. It applies to relationships, including marriage and family. It applies to artistic endeavours, sports and virtually every other dimension of human accomplishment. To really succeed requires a passionate commitment for many years.

Obviously, not everyone who is strongly committed achieves spectacular success. However, I think they will become the best in life that they could ever be. And public recognition or accumulating significant wealth is not a good measure of a lifetime of accomplishment. I have written previously about my humble parents, who failed to reach much visible success, yet were recognized in their community as extraordinary people.

I once met a Jewish businessman who told me that religion is essentially discipline. While there are many other aspects of a spiritual life, including grace, spirituality clearly involves a strong commitment for a lifetime.

Of course, we experiment and explore in our spiritual life to find Real Truth for ourselves. But eventually, we adopt some lifetime core values (at least by default), whether these are values that lead to our moral dissipation or those that contribute to lasting human betterment.

Nearly all of us have a sense that we should do something worthwhile with our lives, something of lasting significance. This is best done by making our commitment long before the sunset of our lives. We should stick to our commitment both in pleasant times and also when we are nearly overwhelmed by chaos sweeping over us.

Such dedication and commitment, by even a few resolute souls, can change the life on our planet much for the better! William Wilberforce provides a wonderful illustration of how much can be achieved in one life by resolute dedication.

Metaphors and Stories of the Spiritual World

The spiritual world is filled with stories and metaphors, which some people find intriguing, but others find frustrating. However, when religious thought is codified to simplified doctrines, it can equally prove a dilemma for those not raised with this mindset. From my perspective, it is best to accept the inherent mystery of spiritual language and concepts, which are due to the virtual impossibility of human minds trying to grasp the Infinite.

Let me illustrate this challenge with a metaphor. I have traveled more than many people. In my career as an international banker and later as a company executive, I took as many as 50 – 150 airplane flights per year. I often traveled to other countries and continents. When I returned, I found it difficult to convey adequately the places and cultures I had seen to friends who rarely traveled overseas.

Similarly, in my career in the world of finance, I worked with the invisible world of finance, dealing with millions and tens of millions of dollars in countless financial transactions. I found that trying to explain this financial world was even more challenging than telling about my travels to other parts of the planet. I made public presentations about finance for various audiences, both academic and professional. I found out quickly that using stories and metaphors was crucial to getting my points across to non-financial audiences.

But my most difficult challenge is trying to communicate about the spiritual world, which seems as real to me as foreign continents and the mysteries of finance. However, the challenge to find apt language is more daunting. I have found stories and metaphors are more useful than abstract theories to explain a world where there are no pictures and videos available to convey the hidden wonders of the spirit.

Take for instance trying to describe God: while every known language has words for the Highest Power in the Universe, sometimes it appears that the various concepts of God found around the world are irreconcilable. However, if we consider both the names for God and their meanings as metaphors of a greater Reality, rather than as precise descriptions, the conflict diminishes.

Allah is the Arabic name of God, which is used by Muslims. It literally means "The One Worthy of Worship”. In the Aramaic language used at the time of Jesus, a similar word Alaha was used for the name of God. The Jews have many names for God, such as Yahweh, Adonai, El Shaddai, Elohim, and Emmanuel, each with slightly different meanings. Christians tend to use the Jewish names plus Deus (Latin Catholic), Holy Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and Holy Spirit), and others. In Chinese, the name Shang Ti (Hanyu Pinyin: shàng dì) (literally King Above), is the name given for God.

Meanings for the name of God in various cultures include: Lord of the Universe (Ethiopian Orthodox), “The Holy One, Blessed is He” (Orthodox Jews), The One, The Great, The Supersoul, The Ineffable, The Ground of all Being, The Eternal, The Nameless Power, The Great Spirit, The Master of Life, and The Force (in Star Wars).

Not all of these names and concepts are equally appealing, but they all suggest a universal intelligence and power beyond us that connects everything. Fortunately, this Power seems congenial towards us.

Beyond naming or describing the Highest Power, there are equal problems in describing the human spirit or soul, and other spiritual beings like angels without using metaphors. Eugene Peterson, author of The Message, wrote:

Calling an angel a metaphor says nothing one way or another about the reality of angels as such. Metaphor is a primary means by which language deals with what is unseen and yet real. If we say, as the psalmists often did, that God is a rock, and that “rock” in the sentence does not refer to an idol but is a metaphor for God there is no implication that the rock is not real on its own account. Angels as metaphors provide a means for making story and sense out of illusive energies and forces for which abstract terms seem unsatisfactorily thin.

I find that metaphor, poetry, and story work best in trying to convey the Indescribable. We humans must stretch to comprehend a Cosmic Power capable of creating and maintaining billions of galaxies, and yet also to keep the infinitesimal world of subatomic particles functioning. Ambiguity and mystery are inevitable for us in face of such awesome Infinity.

Doing What I Think I Should & Doing the Best That I Can

As a much younger man and an aspiring folk singer, I used to play Green Back Dollar by Hoyt Axton on my Gibson steel-string guitar:

Some people say I'm a no count

Others say I'm no good

But I'm just a natural born traveling man

Doing what I think I should

Oh Lord, doing what I think I should

Well, I don't give a damn about a green back dollar

Spend it fast as I can

For a wailing song and a good guitar

Are the only things that I understand

Oh Lord, the only things that I understand

After nearly a lifetime of studying and observing the human species, and of investigating every possible moral philosophy, religion and form of spirituality, I have come back full circle to simplicity as the best approach to life. “Doing what I think I should” and “Doing the best that I can” may seem like a poor excuse for pursuing my highest ambitions, but the alternative looks worse.

A large number of people have given up trying to live a good life altogether, since it just seems too hard. Others are still striving valiantly to achieve perfection as best they can understand it, but are getting battered by the unceasing storms that blow them off their desired path.

Perhaps it doesn’t need to be this hard. As most of us move into an increasingly complex and complicated (“complexicated”) world in our large metropolitan areas, we have become rich in money and possessions, but poor in free time, leisure and simplicity. Just driving or commuting to work is arduous. Managing a successful career is increasingly challenging. Maintaining relationships, a solid family, and caring for the wider community seems more like an impossible dream than a present reality. Add to this the complications of exploding technology, communications, entertainment, and new systems for doing anything better (which usually disappear overnight), and we moderns are working full-out just to meet our minimum obligations.

The irony is that while we have ever more knowledge and educational degrees, we have less understanding of how to live life well. By contrast, although my parents and grandparents faced life-long economic hardships and health challenges, they didn’t spend their days in unfathomable complexity. They could come home after a hard day’s labour to sing, garden, cook, chat with neighbours, and to keep their simple faith.

Our generation seems in danger of losing what matters most in life. We may own cars that perform beyond the wildest dreams of our grandparents; and we accumulate home furnishings, travel to distant places, and live like royalty in some respects; yet, we suffer the severe modern anxiety where the speed of change has left us utterly baffled.

So I come back to simplicity and to manageable goals. At age 60, I have no illusion that just around the corner I will encounter a new success formula to bring great wealth, better health, effective government, or perfect spirituality. Rather, I see much unhappiness in those still striving for impossible levels of perfection in every dimension.

I remember fondly the days of my youth when I had few “green-backed dollars”, but lots of fun and leisure. I enjoyed never-ending days at the beach or in the mountains with friends and family. We sang around the fire. We cooked simple food. We made plenty of mistakes. But life was good.

I hope for the generations that follow that our material ambitions, our pursuit of education and knowledge, and our desire to achieve human perfection in every aspect don’t ruin what could be a good life.

My advice: just do what you think you should and the best that you can. It doesn’t get much better than that.

From Oppression to Freedom

One of the oldest recurring stories throughout the world is that of liberation from oppression. Countless foreign occupying armies have been driven out and oppressive rulers overthrown around the world in almost every century. In recent history, Simon Bolivar, El Libertador, freed Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, and Bolivia from Spanish colonial rule during the 19^th Century. Slaves in the United States were freed a bit later by Abraham Lincoln; and in the next century racial discrimination was finally outlawed under the leadership of Martin Luther King. Colonial rule was pushed out in India, Africa, and China during the 20th Century. European nations were also freed from Hitler; and later Eastern Europe was freed from Soviet rule.

These liberations brought ecstatic celebration by immense crowds in the streets, in cafes and private homes; normal life now seemed possible again for all the oppressed people. Liberation stories are endlessly wonderful. They are the stuff of legend, song and film.

But there are in fact different kinds of oppression. One type is the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner. This would include foreign domination, economic exploitation, misrule in companies and in other institutions, unhealthy media influence over our minds, and even extortion by criminal gangs, to mention just a few. This kind of oppression is usually caused externally.

The other kind of oppression is usually on a smaller, more personal scale. It the feeling of being heavily burdened, mentally or physically, by troubles, adverse conditions, anxiety, etc. It may involve mental and emotional oppression, often self imposed, such as addiction to drugs and alcohol. It may occur in families and in other important relationships. Whether oppression is due to large external circumstances, or to more subjective internal causes, it can be equally debilitating.

One of the recurring themes in liberation stories is powerful outside help. Nearly every story points to a Moses, a Gandhi, a Mother Teresa, or some other person or group who rescues people lost in helpless despair. Frequently these stories have religious themes. For instance, when Jesus began his mission of spiritual liberation, he quoted from the Prophet Isaiah:

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Spirituality is almost always linked to this quest for freedom from oppression, involving liberation both for ourselves and also for our friends and families. This quest for freedom may be expressed in political and economic terms, or in psychological, emotional and spiritual language, or often by a combination of these.

There is a powerful desire in the human heart to break free from whatever enslaves us, from whatever is holding us back, in order to soar to the heights like an unfettered eagle. Often, we can recall our spirits soaring at a younger age, perhaps in childhood. But now they seem so heavy and constrained by overpowering circumstances that liberation seems only a distant dream.

Spiritual wisdom has always taught that freedom is reachable, particularly freedom of the heart, soul and mind. Not every struggle for political or economic liberation will succeed during the lifetime of those who struggle. Nor can we all find perfect health and the physical freedom that allows us to run effortlessly. But there is a kind of inner freedom that is reachable despite oppressive outer circumstances.

This is the kind of freedom that Helen Keller discovered despite her blindness and her inability to hear any normal sounds; she reached out of her darkness and found a source of joy and normal functioning notwithstanding these drastic physical limitations. Of course, she had powerful help through a teacher (liberator) who showed her how to train her mind and spirit to thrive despite her seemingly helpless condition.

That is our situation today. No matter how rich or poor we may be, we all face struggles to survive, particularly in our inner world. We face sickness, loneliness, despair, anxiety, loss of direction, old age, and fear of death. So we should all seek spiritual healing and liberation.

Our spiritual quest will involve finding wisdom and powerful help along the way, since it is too difficult to achieve within our own limited resources. But the first step is an aspiration to find freedom of the soul.

As long as the dream of freedom is alive, we have good reason for hope. One day we too may sail to new heights like the eagles that I often see flying outside of my windows. Never give up this quest to go from oppression to freedom!

The Listening Soul

Spiritual seekers are always listening to hear what is crucial to know beyond the mere sensory world. However, we also try to sharpen our ordinary senses to see all that there is to see; to hear every audible sound; to feel the slightest touch; and to taste and smell the wondrous scents around us. These too inform our souls.

But ultimately, to survive and grow spiritually we need to “hear” what is beyond ordinary hearing or seeing. The hardest challenge of our lives is knowing how to live, knowing what to do, and what we should avoid. How can we possibly distinguish the right course, among the countless influences and suggestions within ourselves and beyond us? How can we find a reliable way in such a perplexing world?

Since ancient times we have been told that if we “listen” intently enough, we can acquire special wisdom to guide our path. Sometimes this has been described as extra “sight” or “vision”. Some have even described a metaphorical “third eye” in our forehead. But what we are discussing here goes beyond any physical hearing or seeing, or any of our other senses, as important as they are.

The difficulty with a spiritual quest is the lack of adequate vocabulary to describe this invisible realm. We readily acknowledge the reality of taste or smell, although finding an adequate vocabulary to express what we have tasted to someone who has not tasted that substance is agonizingly difficult.

To illustrate this dilemma, look at the story of Helen Keller who lived in the 19^th century without being able to hear, see or speak. She lacked these ordinary senses completely since a childhood illness destroyed them at age two. Yet, with the help of an astute teacher, she was ultimately able to learn language, to speak, and even to write some best-selling books. She attended Radcliffe College, part of Harvard University. Mark Twain said that she along with Napoleon was one of the two most extraordinary people of her century.

We are all like Helen when it comes to learning about the spiritual world. However frustrating it is, trying to understand what seems almost incommunicable, the alternative of not “seeing” is unquestionably worse. Like Helen, we may be tempted to rage at the undecipherable nature of this hidden realm, trying to find language and concepts beyond all our ordinary senses.

And yet, this is exactly what every spiritual seeker has done throughout the ages. They may benefit from books and astute teachers, hopefully, but it is still a tremendous challenge. Often we give up, and decide we just want to enjoy normal existence. But then something brings us back to the challenge.

Life is full of unknowables if we face it without spiritual discernment. How can we tell good people from bad? How do we decide on difficult ethical and moral questions when there is so much unhelpful and conflicting advice? How do we know when we are getting it right?

Finally, how do we ever mature spiritually, so that we can stand on our own feet without constant dependence on teachers, however helpful they may be? This requires learning new ways of “hearing” and “seeing”.

The rewards for “listening” are ultimately life-changing, although at first they might seem unattainable. Guides are needed, but they are not enough alone. We need the ability to distinguish between false guides and reliable ones, between those who are only a few steps ahead and those who are mature. Even that requires listening and discernment.

This is a difficult challenge for us. However, walking in spiritual darkness, like the darkness and silence which Helen Keller had experienced, is even more frustrating.

We need spiritual perception to navigate the fog of life. Our friends and family will get sick or die. We will face dangers and challenges of every kind throughout our days. We need to decide where to live, whom to marry, what career to take and many more questions. These questions will all benefit from direct spiritual knowledge.

I encourage you to open the “ears” of your soul to hear. Begin this spiritual journey!

Aspiration

I am looking for truth, ultimate truth.

I want to see, touch, feel and hear that which is beyond ordinary sense.

I want to find the world of silence, where prayer, meditation and reflection breathe.

I want a spirit within me that is connected to all of human kind and the cosmos beyond.

I want a guide for life, struggle, adventure, pain, and eventually death.

I want to live intensely with my family, friends, neighbors and strangers. Let me hear their words and sense the longings of their hearts.

I want all my senses to be finely tuned to the world about me. I want a vivid imagination also.

I want to work and create even better things.

I want to sing with joy and excitement about what I experience, the good and the bad.

I want my life transformed so I can become the best that I can be.

The Nitty Gritty of True Spirituality – Generosity, Graciousness and Compassion

There are various definitions of spirituality (some quite bizarre), but if there were a worldwide poll, I suspect that the characteristics of generosity, graciousness and compassion might be agreed as about the best evidence of true spirituality. The descriptive words vary from culture to culture, but the ideal of love, generosity and kindness, even in the face of hostility, is a universal principle.

This is the spirit of Mother Teresa caring for the poorest of the poor in Calcutta. It is Mahatma Gandhi, Desmond Tutu, and Martin Luther King standing up to powerful oppression, yet refusing violence and hatred. It is the spirit of bestowing little acts of kindness whether in the middle of a cruel war or just in the haste of modern rush and traffic.

Generosity is giving far more than required by reciprocity. It goes well beyond just being fair. For instance, generosity in a marriage (or in other relationships) means giving far more than required on a “50 : 50” arrangement; rather, it would mean giving 60% or 80% or sometimes even 100%. Generosity doesn’t require giving in to every need or request, but being willing to give liberally when our heart tells us it is right to do so; but this discernment requires a generous heart.

Graciousness means acting with grace and dignity even when everyone else may be behaving poorly. It means being pleasant, kind and courteous in all circumstances, however trying or difficult. It requires control of our emotions and reactions, especially when facing provocation.

Compassion means helping the weak and poor beyond what they may deserve. It is a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate their suffering. It is sensitivity to the situation and needs of others, regardless of their own responsibility for their misery.

Most ancient religions affirm these qualities in one form or another, however different the words may sound in each language: love, sympathy, empathy, consideration, patience, open-mindedness, charity, bigheartedness, affection, civility, politeness, courteousness, sympathy, concern and care – the list of synonyms goes on.

Generosity, Graciousness and Compassion are necessary for the optimum functioning of all humankind – for ourselves, for our family, for our community, and for the whole world. They require giving space, giving time, giving attention, and always giving the benefit of the doubt, particularly when we are tempted to make harsh judgments.

These virtues are best shown in the face of their opposites: like stinginess, selfishness, rudeness, insensitivity, coercion, anger, aggression, cruelty, exploitation, tyranny and the other horrible faces of evil.

Not everyone may agree that generosity, graciousness and compassion are the best evidence of true spirituality. I leave it to each of you to reflect on what you consider to be the most convincing evidence. (It is a question worth pondering.)

But even for those who agree with this perspective, there are other significant questions which arise:

• Is it possible for large numbers of people to reach this level of spiritual maturity, or is it reserved for a few “saints”?
  
• Do people come by these qualities accidentally, or through genetic traits and social environment, or there reliable paths to reach this?
  
• Spirituality involves some level of sacrifice, but does it require extinguishing our ego entirely, or can a person enjoy a happy, fulfilling life while being spiritual?
  
• Can leaders in government, business and society be spiritual, or do authority and power invariably require elements of cunning, deception, ruthlessness and manipulation which preclude deep spirituality?
  
• What difference would it make to our world if a large part earth’s citizens became more deeply spiritual?
  
• Does spirituality require somehow anchoring ourselves in a deeper reality than that which we can see and hear?

There are more questions associated with this subject, but these are a few to consider.