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Post by Blu on Dec 9, 2004 23:50:57 GMT -5
During the Iranian revolution of 1978, a remarkable event that may not make it into the history books occurred in a hotel in Tehran. A group of 30 men sat in a meeting room conducting a noble experiment designed to minimize the violence taking place in Iran: they were simply meditating. They did not take sides for or against the ruling Shah or the revolutionaries, they simply hoped to save lives by exerting the mystical force of group meditation to foster peaceful, rather than violent, change. That evening the hotel manager insisted that they check out immediately. “This place is going to be burned to the ground!” he shouted. As it turned out, all the other foreignowned hotels in Tehran were looted or This was not a one-night phenomenon. The meditators stayed in Tehran for three months, rarely leaving their hotels, meditating for long periods every day. Convinced that their effort was making a difference, they focused on trying to spread the peaceful wisdom of the silent human mind. In their book, The Maharishi Effect, Elaine and Arthur Aron report that “if the shooting erupted near their hotel, they meditated, and the shooting stopped. If violence flared in any of the smaller Iranian cities, a delegation was sent to meditate there – just meditate – and the violence immediately subsided. Every time.” Unfortunately, they could not stay longer – their visas expired and could not be renewed – and they left Iran instead of continuing this new method of “waging peace.” The recent terrorist attacks on the United States offer a fresh opportunity to continue this approach to seeking peace for all peoples. While nations may officially be waging war, using all the weapons of violence that are deemed appropriate by military leaders, there is nothing to stop those of us who favor peaceful methods from waging peace with all the weapons at our disposal. Prayer and meditation are powerful tools if widely employed. I’m not making one of those “God is on our side” claims to validate the value of our prayers or meditations, any more than conventional Muslims will credit the notion that the terrorists who were killed in the World Trade Center explosion had a one-way ticket to Paradise. Violence begets violence, and those who beget it no doubt carry a heavy load of karma beyond the grave. Prayer is the tool of choice for people of faith, whatever their religion. It seems to come naturally to those who believe. Moreover, Larry Dossey, M.D., cites scientific evidence of the effectiveness of prayer. In Healing Words: The Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine, he says even some doctors use prayer while treating patients. Meditation, which is newer in Western culture, and therefore less trusted than prayer, nonetheless has ancient roots as a form of pure consciousness. The Greek philosopher Plato called it “the vision of the form of the Good.” The Jewish philosopher Philo termed it “Divine Illumination.” The Egyptian Plotinus considered it “the final and best state of the soul, its final and complete unity.” More recently, meditation has been subjected to Western scientific research. The Arons believe that meditation has become sufficiently widespread that a “critical mass has developed: it is obvious throughout our culture. Along with it has come a very detailed scientific understanding of the experience and its potential.” editating to control addictions is one solid application of such research. Meditating to reduce societal violence is less understood. The Arons report that it “has been nourished and treasured not only as a profound personal experience, but as a means (often the only means) to guide the individual and the community up out of pettiness, confusion, and violence. Now a substantial body of recent research indicates that the experience of pure consciousness can (a) eradicate much of the violence and disharmony among humans, including war, and (b) increase intelligence, creativity, and longevity to levels beyond current limits. “This discovery (or rather, rediscovery) appears to be the single most important scientific achievement of our time – one that might keep us from destroying ourselves and our planet.” Few of us are able to wage war, but most of us can wage peace, if we are willing. Having rarely been disciplined about daily meditation, I can see that making peace requires as much commitment as making war. I’m signing up to wage peace. What about you?
A. Robert Smithwww.edgarcayce.org/venture_inward/11122001/editors_notebook.htm
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Post by Blu on Dec 9, 2004 23:55:32 GMT -5
Concerning These Times
One purpose of A.R.E. is to inspire us to act as individuals and then move us from the individual to groups and beyond. Religious scholar Huston Smith spoke at A.R.E. as part of the 2004 President’s Lecture Series. His visit to Virginia Beach was a cooperative effort with Christ and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church nearby. My hope is to comment on each lecture in the series: Professor Smith was introduced to the work of Edgar Cayce by a fellow doctoral student at the University of Chicago, Harmon Bro, who had spent a year with Cayce and was a lifelong student of the readings. He commented in admiration that after six years of persistence by Harmon, the University of Chicago accepted his doctoral dissertation on the life and work of Edgar Cayce – a huge step in academia. Huston Smith also mentioned having been born in China 84 years ago to missionary parents who watched the rise of communism in that country for many years. He observed with interest the view in the Cayce readings of a coming change in China, and the spiritual, especially Christian, changes occurring there now. In 1944, Cayce stated: “This, here, will be one day the cradle of Christianity, as applied in the lives of men. Yea, it is far off as man counts time, but only a day in the heart of God – for tomorrow China will awake.” (3976-29) In his talk, “What Can We Do for Our Deeply Troubled World? Guidelines for a World in Flames,” Huston mentioned six signs of current turmoil: (1) A planet in danger – nuclear, disease and environmental threats that according to some make the chances of our survival as a civilization to the end of this century, perhaps 50/50; (2) World unrest and violence – in spite of the hopeful creation of the United Nations in 1945, the 20th century has been the most violent and deadly ever recorded – over 160 million people killed; (3) Economic distress – the increasingly widening split between the “haves” and the “have-nots” – the readings’ comment on this was: “There must be that leveling that will come.” (3976-19); (4) Threats to civil liberties both here and around the world; (5) The content and effect of the media, especially television; (6) The secularism of our culture – the sense that technology and science will create endless “progress” for our civilization. Asked if he was optimistic about the future, Huston said, “Hopeful, not optimistic. Optimism implies a sense of clarity about the outcome of the future, and I don’t claim that, but I do have the conviction that if we give all that we can, transformation can occur.” When asked about intimations that the religion of Islam is intrinsically more violent than Judaism or Christianity, Smith said that careful studies of the history of these religions don’t confirm this, that Islam has probably been less violent historically. He also noted that the use of religion to achieve political ends is not new to our civilization: “Because we are the most secular society in history, organized religion does not get a fair shake in our culture. I’m not for hiding the sins and inequities of religion, which are certainly there, but I am for balancing the playing field by extolling its virtues as well. The truth is that violence and scandal sells papers and gets people to turn on the TV, so it’s what gets covered by the media. If a pro-life advocate shoots an abortion doctor, it’s on the front page of every newspaper in the country. Meanwhile, on that same day, millions of us were moved in a positive way by meditation or devotion of some sort, but that never hits the press. I’m inclined to lay the blame for this on the unbridled profit motive in our secular society.”
As he suggested guidelines for us in these times, Smith told a funny story about national publicity he received after telling an interviewer that composting is part of his regular spiritual practice. For me his story illustrates the suggestion in the Cayce readings of living a life tuned to nature and the hopefulness of focusing on the Life Force and its healing and renewing qualities. Becoming more attuned to the cycles of nature and bringing ourselves and the planet more in line with those natural cycles is a fascinating process, as any gardener will tell you. His second suggestion for us is to keep up our individual efforts in the face of huge difficulties – like a bird carrying drops of water in its beak to try to extinguish a forest fire, or a pinpoint of light in a dark room. It is through combined efforts – thoughts, prayer, and actions – that change occurs, beginning with the individual. Certainly one purpose of A.R.E. is to inspire us to act as individuals and then move us from the individual to groups and beyond.
Charles Thomas Cayce, Ph.D., A.R.E. Executive Director
www.edgarcayce.org/venture_inward/07082004/the_work.htm
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Post by Blu on Dec 13, 2004 14:44:57 GMT -5
The Dove and the Soul I knew that before my eyes stood the striking illustration that in reconciling opposites the Holy Spirit could be manifested. For 15 years I have been living in a suburb of Paris where many immigrants reside. My constant concern has been to further the understanding between different cultures and ways of life. Over the years, I have faced a number of difficult situations. For example, 10 years ago I was going back to my apartment, when I saw in the hall of the building a group of Arabic kids who fled immediately as I approached. I entered my flat, puzzled, and saw my 10-year-old son, Jean- Paul, pale and shaking.
“Mom,” he told me, “they called me through the intercom and said: ‘Come downstairs; we are all here, waiting for you. We have hammers and we are going to kill you.’”
I felt my insides roar with pain and anger. I ran to get a policeman, and for several hours we searched for each kid from the group. I went to each kid’s parents and explained to them that we as parents could not tolerate such behavior. If a boy nourishes such murderous thoughts and speech when he is 10, then when he is 15, he will become a killer. We are neighbors and must learn to live together in peace.
Since that time, my son has found a best friend: Mohammed, a Moslem whose parents left Morocco to live in France. For years, Mohammed has been coming to my home and I have treated him like my son. One day, both boys went to the large Catholic cathedral in the city and came back quite astonished:
“Mom,” Jean-Paul exclaimed, “we were sitting in the church, and suddenly both of us saw a huge radiant light!” They both understood very clearly that this event was a spiritual experience and neither has forgotten it.
One day, in the midst of war, I was leading a monthly dream workshop in my home. It was noontime and we were having a break. My now-20-year-old son was with his friend Mohammed. Mohammed had gone to a nearby Chinese restaurant and bought some Chinese food for the two of them to eat. When he came back, he called us and said:
“Look at what I have on my hand!”
I saw a shaking white bird sitting on his wrist.
“I found it,” he explained, “here in the street under a tree. It seemed wounded, I picked it up and it remained on my hand.”
My son, a veteran bird-rescuer, put the bird near the win- dow in a box with water and bread.
I resumed the workshop with my dream students but I could not keep the white bird out of my thoughts. It seemed somehow strange to me. The bird could not really be a pigeon – pigeons are gray and much bigger. Then I understood: the bird had to be a dove! I went to speak with Jean-Paul and Mohammed:
“Mohammed, do you know what kind of a bird this is? Do you think it’s a pigeon?”
“No Madam, it is not a pigeon. It is a dove.”
“Do you know the symbolic meaning of the dove?”
“Oh yes, Madam, it is the symbol of peace.”
“Well, Mohammed, who is picking up the peace? You! It is you, the Arabic Moslem. Do you see what it means? Mohammed, peace is in your hands! In this time of war, where you are in a difficult situation, seeing Arabic people in France becoming angry and perhaps aggressive, the peace is entrusted to you.”
My son cried out:
“Wow! Mom! What you are saying sounds crazy, but it is true!”
“Yes, and where does Mohammed find a place to take care of the dove? Who knows how to look after it? You, Jean- Paul, you know how. But it’s more than that,” I continued:
“Mohammed, you are learning to become a male nurse. You are a very nice person, always trying to help, loving and modest. You will have to be compassionate to cure people.”
“And you, Jean-Paul, you are a marine paratrooper. You are learning to become a warrior, coming from the sky. You are learning to fight in order to defend the peace.”
knew that right before my eyes stood a striking illustra- Ition: that in reconciling opposites, the Holy Spirit (symbolized here by the dove) could be manifested. All at once the dove, the holy dove was not shivering; it was quietly sleeping and resting in Jean-Paul’s room. Suddenly, an understanding came to me:
“Jean-Paul, Mohammed, do you see why this bird is here in this room, with you both? It means that you must never forget your friendship; no matter what happens, you should always keep the peace between you.”
Both remained shaken and silent. Then, because the boys were going outside, they left the dove with us in the dream workshop, and as the dove began to fly around in the room, I took its soft warm body in my hands – it let me do this without being afraid. I brought it carefully outside on the balcony under a little tree. It sat there quietly for a while, and then disappeared. I knew it was up to us now to make the peace last.
Christiane Riedel is an A.R.E. member and schoolteacher from France. A professional dream interpreter, she is the author of a book on dreams and dream interpretation Rêvesà- vivre (meaning literally “Dreams to be lived” ) based on the dream work of Edgar Cayce and Carl Jung.www.edgarcayce.org/venture_inward/07082003/viewpoint.htm
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Post by Blu on Dec 13, 2004 15:04:04 GMT -5
There can never be to much understanding of Peace. This is just a short portion of an excellant article. Please go to the Link below it to read it all.Cayce’s Blueprint for Healing the World By Judith Stevens Allison . "In times of trial, let us think of the faith that has sustained others in troubles far greater than ours. Faith is the promise sent on before to show that whatever we ask, we have.” Faith cancels fear. Lesson Five: Virtue and Understanding “Virtue is pureness of heart, pureness of soul, and pureness of mind . . . There is a desire in each of us to live better day by day. We may not know what trial or tribulation may have caused a brother to err. We have no cause to find fault or condemn. We begin to see ourselves when no unkind thought of our brother is allowed to lodge in our hearts. Virtue is a defense against all temptation to censure or criticize…. No man liveth to himself. How we live, act, and think has its effects upon others. As we put into practice love, mercy, justice, patience, and forgiveness, others catch the same spirit.” Lesson Six: Fellowship “Would I have fellowship with Thee, I must show brotherly love to my fellow man … The brotherhood of man is but a shadow of fellowship with the Father.” (262-21) It is only when we sever relationship from Divine Love by failing to suffer with our fellow man, to bear his burdens, and to forgive him that we are out of harmony and sympathy with all that makes life worth living – fellowship with the Father. If we would commune with the Spirit within let us be kind and gentle, compassionate and loving to others less fortunate. The test is this: Are we willing to deal with others as we wish they would deal with us? Now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of their country. Now is the time to begin the process of change and accept personal responsibility for our thoughts and actions. Now is the time for each of us to begin quilting our square on the peace quilt that will comfort and heal the whole world." www.edgarcayce.org/venture_inward/11122002/cayces_blueprint_for_the_world.htm
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Post by Blu on Dec 13, 2004 15:20:00 GMT -5
The following qoute is from an article who's wisdom can be applied to schools, countries and personal relationships. It's very long but very worth the read!
‘There Must Be Another Way’ By Kenneth Wapnick Illustration by Robert Bourdeaux
"Only a psychologically naive person would ever believe that crushing humiliation and defeat could possibly breed peace or friendship, security or safety." www.edgarcayce.org/venture_inward/07082002/there_must_be_another_way.htm
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