Monday, July 31, 2006
Kundallini and Prayer
I have often written about the role of bliss in connection with kundalini. But there are times, such as the present, when bliss must give way to serious reflection on what is going on right now in our world, to the immense amount of suffering we see spread in so many regions, and what, if anything, the rest of us can do about it.
Patricia gives her all through her continuing vigil in Washington. This might be called "prayer through demonstration." Her constant presence has put her in the very center of the action (not the war itself, but through the many, many personal encounters and reactions to events expressed by those who stop to talk with her.) Her accounts bring us all in closer, let us hear and sense the mood of those who pass by her in her witness state. Her conversations and experiences speak to us all--through her we are in touch with people from all over the world, people of various opinions.
What does this have to do with kundalini? Kundalini is (to my mind) itself a form of spirituality, spirituality has to do with compassion, compassion has to do with our willingness to set aside personal concerns and know and feel events as they are impacting our brothers and sisters everywhere.
The question we constantly ask is, what can I do? In many regards, we feel powerless, no matter who we are or where we live. The leaders do not listen. We seem to be getting dragged deeper and deeper into universal chaos and destruction.
I think we can pray. I am not advocating prayer in a traditional sense (though some may choose this route). I am not referring to the conventional "god" no matter what the name he/she is addressed by. I am pondering this question: if kundalini involves a shift of consciousness, if it endows us with a sense of connection with that which is higher than, more powerful, more inclusive that anything on the merely human scale, should we not turn to that connection in times of stress.
To whom, then, should we pray? I like what my friend Jeannine does: she prays to "whomever." We are told by many traditions that we are not capable of describing "deity," since any description is in itself limiting. So--I, like Jeannine, prefer to pray to "whomever." Even certain avowed agnostics prefer not to "close the books" prematurely.
Many of us involved in the current "evolution of consciousness" movement (some call it becoming beings of light) feel that our purpose, in part, is to help to create a spiritual network, a grid for earth itself, to bring into being a new phase for humanity and its home planet. Rupert Sheldrake calls this kind of creation a "morphogenetic field." Why not? If each of us can, individually, experience "the unthinkable," why could we not, collectively, serve a larger purpose orchestrated by unknown but benevolent forces? And why could we not put our collective awareness into the service of this higher reality through what (traditionally) has been called prayer.
I think it is time to pray. To get on our knees and ask. To meditate in the sincerest way for peace to return to our earth. To direct our leaders to return to the ways of human values and human survival, rather than the paths of destruction (for ourselves and others) we have been following for so many years. The future of all of us--our planet, out descendants--is at stake.
I have recently learned that our government is in process of building secret centers for the development of biological and chemical agents for "defensive uses." (See the Washington Post for discussion). Such centers are contemplated for places like the Bay Area, Boston, Maryland, and probably many other locations. They will be top secret. If there is a release (human error?), the toxins could kill hundred if not thousands within a 40-50 mile area. Anyone who remembers the development years of the atomic bomb knows that what we created for our defense ultimately fell into the hands of others, and became a major threat to ourselves. Why would not the same happen to these lethal agents? And anyone who has ever lived around certain kinds of atomic or chemical plants knows that leaks do occur, and people do suffer. Who will protect us from ourselves?
So I say it is time to "pray." With everything within us. With all our power and sincerity and might. To hold in our beings the central desire for the welfare of humanity itself, that it may have a future.
Who knows what such collective effort may achieve? Who knows what the outcome could be? Such a "mind field" can change history, turn events in another direction. It may be our last best hope.
I write this from the heart.
Patricia gives her all through her continuing vigil in Washington. This might be called "prayer through demonstration." Her constant presence has put her in the very center of the action (not the war itself, but through the many, many personal encounters and reactions to events expressed by those who stop to talk with her.) Her accounts bring us all in closer, let us hear and sense the mood of those who pass by her in her witness state. Her conversations and experiences speak to us all--through her we are in touch with people from all over the world, people of various opinions.
What does this have to do with kundalini? Kundalini is (to my mind) itself a form of spirituality, spirituality has to do with compassion, compassion has to do with our willingness to set aside personal concerns and know and feel events as they are impacting our brothers and sisters everywhere.
The question we constantly ask is, what can I do? In many regards, we feel powerless, no matter who we are or where we live. The leaders do not listen. We seem to be getting dragged deeper and deeper into universal chaos and destruction.
I think we can pray. I am not advocating prayer in a traditional sense (though some may choose this route). I am not referring to the conventional "god" no matter what the name he/she is addressed by. I am pondering this question: if kundalini involves a shift of consciousness, if it endows us with a sense of connection with that which is higher than, more powerful, more inclusive that anything on the merely human scale, should we not turn to that connection in times of stress.
To whom, then, should we pray? I like what my friend Jeannine does: she prays to "whomever." We are told by many traditions that we are not capable of describing "deity," since any description is in itself limiting. So--I, like Jeannine, prefer to pray to "whomever." Even certain avowed agnostics prefer not to "close the books" prematurely.
Many of us involved in the current "evolution of consciousness" movement (some call it becoming beings of light) feel that our purpose, in part, is to help to create a spiritual network, a grid for earth itself, to bring into being a new phase for humanity and its home planet. Rupert Sheldrake calls this kind of creation a "morphogenetic field." Why not? If each of us can, individually, experience "the unthinkable," why could we not, collectively, serve a larger purpose orchestrated by unknown but benevolent forces? And why could we not put our collective awareness into the service of this higher reality through what (traditionally) has been called prayer.
I think it is time to pray. To get on our knees and ask. To meditate in the sincerest way for peace to return to our earth. To direct our leaders to return to the ways of human values and human survival, rather than the paths of destruction (for ourselves and others) we have been following for so many years. The future of all of us--our planet, out descendants--is at stake.
I have recently learned that our government is in process of building secret centers for the development of biological and chemical agents for "defensive uses." (See the Washington Post for discussion). Such centers are contemplated for places like the Bay Area, Boston, Maryland, and probably many other locations. They will be top secret. If there is a release (human error?), the toxins could kill hundred if not thousands within a 40-50 mile area. Anyone who remembers the development years of the atomic bomb knows that what we created for our defense ultimately fell into the hands of others, and became a major threat to ourselves. Why would not the same happen to these lethal agents? And anyone who has ever lived around certain kinds of atomic or chemical plants knows that leaks do occur, and people do suffer. Who will protect us from ourselves?
So I say it is time to "pray." With everything within us. With all our power and sincerity and might. To hold in our beings the central desire for the welfare of humanity itself, that it may have a future.
Who knows what such collective effort may achieve? Who knows what the outcome could be? Such a "mind field" can change history, turn events in another direction. It may be our last best hope.
I write this from the heart.
