  Spiritual
This week: Edited by: SophyBells  
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Hi, I'm SophyBells ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter. This week we'll talk about compassion.
The Rev. Scotty McLennan, author of the book Finding Your Religion, compares humanity's innate need for spiritual searching to climbing a mountain. In his view, we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative mountain in our search for the divine, we just may take different ways to get there. In other words, there is one "God," but many paths. I honor whatever path or paths you have chosen to climb that mountain in your quest for the Sacred.  |
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A CHARTER FOR COMPASSION
Jesus ~ You have heard it said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You be compassionate, as your heavenly Father is compassionate. (Matthew 5:43-48)
The Buddha ~ Like a mother who protects her child, her only child, with her own life, one should cultivate a heart of unlimited love and compassion towards all living beings.
More and more I am persuaded that the essential aspect of faith is not so much about maintaining an approved set of beliefs or obedience to numerous laws. Rather, it is the cultivation of compassion – the ability to experience the joys and sorrows of others as your own - that brings one closer to the Sacred. In other words, faithfulness to God begins with a willingness to be moved by the circumstances of others and respond for their well being. The reason I prefer compassion over orthodoxy or legalism is simple. Orthodoxy and legalism as ultimate goals lead to arrogance and conflict. Compassion leads to reconciliation and generosity.
I am blessed to be part of a faith community with a wide variety of beliefs and opinions about religion and spirituality. In spite of those difference, what draws us together as a community each week is the sharing of our hopes and heartbreaks, the triumphs and trials of our lives in recent and upcoming weeks. And we take inspiration from one another’s efforts at helping those in need. A group of volunteers advocates for neighbors at risk of foreclosure. A teacher reaches out to a student isolated by poverty. Another group volunteers helping develop reading skills with elementary students in an underfunded school.
It is our compassion which binds us, not our dogma. This is true in my spiritual community, and beyond, as compassion is at the center of all authentic religious faith and practice. In fact, Buddha and Jesus, the most well known practitioners and teachers of compassion, made it the central ethical virtue, lived out by their example and teachings.
Believing there is an urgent need to focus on compassion within all religious traditions, writer Karen Armstrong founded a global interfaith project called the “Charter for Compassion” which will release an important statement on November 12, 2009. “The Charter, crafted by people all over the world and drafted by a multi-faith, multi-national council of thinkers and leaders, is a cry for a return to this central principle which is so often overlooked in our world.” (from the web site)
I encourage you to find out more at http://charterforcompassion.org
SophyBells |
Below you'll find some offerings from other WDC members about compassion. Please let the folks know if you read their piece by leaving a thoughtful comment or review.
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Here are some responses to my last newsletter about anger:
From Zeke  :
I've always considered anger to be a form of laziness. Getting angry about someone or something is easy. Understanding exactly why the person is the way they are and what caused the incident takes energy. Unfortunately, it's much easier to just get angry.
Zeke
Excellent observation, thank you so much for sharing it with us!
    
From salliemoffitt:
Thank you for writing a newsletter about anger. In America, anger has become rampant, bordering on the scary side. Having attended classes on anger management, I am aware of the negative consequences for this emotion when left unchecked. As you state, some anger is healthy, but left undisciplined it can destroy lives like a tornado through a trailer park.
Thank you for reminding us about the true nature of anger and putting it in perspective. Very enlightening newsletter, Sallie.
Thank you so much for your comments -- glad you liked the newsletter, and thank you for your great metaphor about the negative consequences of anger.
From Quick-Quill  :
Anger is like a cancer, in any religion forgivenss is highly touted. I have found that holding a grudge or ill will against anyone is a detriment. I learned that, hard as it may be, I give it to God and he takes the pain and hurt, gives a blessing and a peace. I do not wait for them to ask my forgiveness, I already did and God is holding it for that day. I look at the people who have done me wrong, I will not allow Satan to beat me down with that slight. if a cannot walk with them here how can I walk with them in heaven.
In rebuttal to your response to Rob's note. If you had a Girl Scout troup, and a child came and said. "I don't want to wear a green uniform. I want to do all the things the girl Scouts do, but I won't wear a uniform and I think the badges are dumb." I am sure you would be kind and say, "That is what GS is all about, learning to be a part of a group and in joining you must comply with the rules." It is the same with God. He made the rules, he doesn't want anyone to miss out, but He gave everyone a free will and THEY choose not to obey. You are assuming God will say, Of course self centered sin is no worse than anyone else so come on in. There will be no sin in heaven and anyone who thinks differently is going to miss out. Your father is right. I always say CAN YOU AFFORD TO BE WRONG? I can. This is not meant to be an argument, but just a comment to your comment. ).
Well first of all, I wouldn't have a Girl Scout troup, I was a Camp Fire Girl. 
I don't believe God made the rules -- I think men made the rules based on their own historical and cultural biases, and, in some cases, an attempt to understand what God might want for us. But in no way do I blame a loving God for some of the stupid rules that have been credited to God throughout history. Men said that God said that slavery was okay. Men said God said that it was okay for them to treat women and people of color as subhuman. Men said that God said that it was okay for men to have multiple wives and concubines. God said that? God made those rules? I don't think so. People made those rules -- more to the point, the men in charge made the rules, and used God's names to give them more credibility.
As for my father, he wasn't making a right or wrong statement -- he was asking me a hypothetical question, "what IF I was wrong?" I replied that I'd rather be wrong for (and would take my "licks" for) being too loving or accepting, than to be rewarded for being judgmental and condemning of others. The part I left out of the story was that after my father heard my explanation, about my expectation that God would prefer me to be loving over being judgmental -- he ended up seeing my point and agreeing with me.
I am fine with people disagreeing with my perspective -- that is their right and I would not attempt to change their beliefs or opinions, just as theirs will not change mine. Sometimes it's just best to agree to agree to disagree.
From Katya the Poet :
Thanks for this great discussion on anger--the ambivalence, dangers, and possible good connected to it! I love the Buddhist hot coal image. I recognize that I have been walking away from anger quite a bit recently--don't want to pick up the hot coal, throw it, or have it thrown at me! But the hot coals of a community could indeed be placed at the center of a gathering to warm people and remind them of the need to handle something carefully and responsibly, and not let trouble or fire run rampant.
I love your imagery here -- thanks so much for expounding on how the hot coal could be used for good and not harm.
From pammierose:
I am relatively new here and I want to contribute to the anger section.
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Thank you for sharing your poem!
From osofoaddo
Thank you for sharing your wonderful thouths on Anger. There is an African Proverb among the Ga Speaking People of Ghana West Africa which loosely translated says something like this ....Anger or allowing Anger to take over you is like allowing a total stranger into your home and then asking the Total Stranger to take over the Care of your Children....Again thank you..osofoaddo
Thank you for your comment -- and for sharing the beautiful African Proverb -- so true and powerful, and such a great metaphor for anger!
Please keep your comments and suggestions coming, they are greatly appreciated!
Until next time! SophyBells
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Spiritual: October 21, 2009 Issue [#3340]
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