What's So Important About Faith, Love and Compassion

http://www.ted.com/talks/imam_feisal_abdul_rauf.html

I tried to get the video to embed, but it wasn't happening.  The link above should take you to the TED talk I discuss in this post.

Lately I’ve been running into the same concept in many forms and from many sources: compassion.  Whether it’s a Buddhist, an Atheist, a Christian, a Pagan or a Muslim, I’ve heard the same call for compassion from each of these sources over the last week.  That strikes me a bit coincidental.  I am the first to admit that my knowledge of the Muslim faith is not as inclusive as my study of the other viewpoints and it was a Muslim’s call for compassion that prompts this blog.  I encourage you to watch this 16 minute video on compassion as the rest of this blog refers back to several points he makes throughout the clip.

Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf begins by discussing elements of his faith for those of us who are less than knowledgeable.  He states that part of man’s purpose under Muslim faith is to follow the path of the prophet as closely as possible.  When he says prophet, he includes Jesus as well as Muhammad.  I admit, I had to stop the video because the idea of following the path of the prophet struck me profoundly.  I couldn’t reconcile how if this is the goal of the faith it could be so bastardized into something as ugly as suicide bombers.  It’s the same notion about crusades and killing doctors who perform abortions in the name of Christianity that bothers me.  I simply cannot put war and spirituality together in my mind.  I understand the need to defend one's self, but to go looking for trouble in the name of religion offends me deeply.  I definitely did not get the impression that Rauf would condone such actions in the name of Muslim faith; in fact, he cites the egotism as the barrier to compassion and peace.

For many reasons I agree that a self-centered approach to life is a barrier to compassion and to peace.  How can we possibly hope to see an issue from another point of view if all we concern ourselves with MeMeMe?    All major world religions teach this idea of compassion as far as I’ve been able to gather.  Even Atheism believes that compassion is a good quality and that we should follow the Golden Rule because to do so otherwise is just cruelty.  Why is it so difficult for humans to get this through our skulls?  Rauf would say it is egotism.  In the sense of an overblown sense of self-worth or importance—I agree.  I think the idea of fanaticism is borne of egotism.  Everyone wants to be important and to feel a sense of purpose in their life.  By preying on that need, fanaticism breeds and extends its tendrils into cultures.  Religion on the one hand offers a beautiful sense of camaraderie and belonging, but fanaticism distorts that fellowship until it is unrecognizable as a spiritual center.  Egotism is therefore the death of following the path of the prophet or in my case, the Wiccan Rede. 

Along with that notion,  Rauf raises the idea of the soul as a divine breath.  This concept parallels the concept of the Lord and Lady being within each of us.  If someone truly believes that the divine breath resides inside our souls, how can one turn their spirituality into harm?  I absolutely cannot figure that out.  Life is beauty.  Being among life is glorious.  Making the most of the life we are given is a gift.  So much ugliness exists in the world as it is why would an individual choose to add to it?  It seems to me that a far more noble life path would be to spread appreciation for all life –especially those with whom you disagree.  I am not always good at this.  It’s not easy and I am not saying give up your personal views and be a pushover to anyone else.  Do not be a creampuff!  However, listening and trying to understand other viewpoints opens us to compassion for others and what a lovely way to honor the divine breath?  At the very least, it should be clear to everyone regardless of their spiritual beliefs that to be compassionate is better than to be apathetic. 

I disagree with the supposition that humans are meant to be servants and glorify the prophet even though I appreciate that he says by whatever name you call him.  I think the idea of glorifying a deity and serving a deity helps fuel the fire of fanaticism.  I’m sure people will disagree with me, but consider this:  glorification means to hold up the deity as exalted or above others.  That hierarchy of power sets up a foundation for a power struggle over who is right and who is wrong.  It again puts deities above us and demands that we try and carve out a higher point for our God or Goddess over any others.  I honestly do not think world religions will ever come truly to accept that a Protestant God, a Catholic God, a Pagan Goddess or a Buddha are all the same face of one concept or several paths to the same goal because of egotism and thirst for power or dominion over others.  Seeing humans as servants or supplicants to a higher power seems to widen the gulf rather than to bridge it.  Clearly, that’s my opinion and it’s not my place to tell anyone else their path is wrong if it works for them and creates good in the world.

However, remembering to open ourselves to acknowledging the suffering of others and to looking for ways to ease that suffering, I think we make the world a little better.  It’s important to take a few steps back every once in a while to consider other viewpoints.  It helps us solidify and reason out our own beliefs.  Please consider these ideas, pray about them, meditate on them and if you are so called, please sign the Charter for Compassion.

 http://charterforcompassion.org/site/

To Harm and Harm Not

                Long time no blog.  Let’s just say that I have been quite successful at distracting myself with all kinds of other activities.  However, there is a topic that has been gnawing at me for a few weeks and I have been tossing it around in my noggin like some kind of chunky yet unsatisfying salad.  The issue arose a few weeks ago during a family dinner.  The idea proposed that thoughts could be harmful simply by thinking them. While I can see the point of view, I am not sure that I fully agree with this assertion.

                Can thought be harmful?  Absolutely.  I do believe that under certain circumstances thoughts can indeed become harmful.  For example, consider the typical stalker.  An average ordinary Joe sees a sweet young thing that captures his attention.  After a few creepy notes, heavy breathing phone calls and restraining orders Joe’s thoughts have clearly crossed boundaries into harm.  However, was it his initial thought that was harmful?  I don’t think so.  It was the obsession with the thought and the subsequent action Joe took that led to the harm.  Simply seeing the sweet young thing isn’t harmful in and of itself.  Furthermore there is the ultimate harmful thought: suicidal thought.  Again, simply pondering is not harming oneself.  I must admit that I have thought about suicide and what way I would do it.  Personally, I like the idea of pills.  Simply going to sleep sounds way better than many of the other choices.  Before you go calling for someone to do a wellness check on me, I am not suicidal.  However, I am prone to morbid thoughts after reading books or viewing a show that relates to the topic.  After watching CSI for example, I have to ponder why someone would follow through or why they opted to do the deed in that way.  Trying to understand the motivation for the action is not harmful.  I think it helps me to see a point of view that I don’t comprehend.  I think it is vital for someone to explore those darker currents of our world in order to appreciate life.  I have thought about suicide, but not in a serious context as in planning on when, where, how and what my note should say.  I do not think either of these scenarios as thought are harmful when taken by themselves. It seems to me that two important distinctions exist when evaluating the harmfulness of thought: how much time and energy is put into the thought and whether or not the thought leads to deed.

                Energy ties into the notion of obsession and compulsion in my book.  Think of our stalker Joe—his thought of the pretty young thing consumes him.  He feels an overwhelming need to be with her and imagines a whole other reality with his nymphet.  His reality of course is not real at all except in his mind.  That’s mental illness that leads to illegal and violent action.  Joe Stalker invests all his energy toward that thought.  This is not the same as simply thinking, “Hmmm, she’s really pretty” and going about your life. I think back on my Newt Gingrich post—is it harmful to think after reading a few articles where he likens me to all the evil that he sees in the world—“What a jackass!  I’d like to smack him alongside the head.”  I don’t think so.  I am human and therefore flawed.  I embrace my flawedness. I realize that once I have that gut reaction and I state my opinion fervently it’s over and done.  I go back to living my life such as it is until something else vexes me.  My thoughts are mine and as long as they don’t cross over into action, I think to deny that heightened emotion state is actually more harmful—you go toward repression then and that never leads anywhere healthy.  Now some days I am better at looking at the ridiculous statements people make about issues I find important and tossing my head back in laughter than others.  I’m not trying to be perfect.  I am not seeking a state of compassion for all humanity right away.  I think sometimes it takes a bit more effort and that is ok.  Grappling with the big issues and engaging the debate shows a use of the grey matter between our ears and that to me is not harmful.  It’s when we take violent action or don’t try to reason our way out of our anger and frustration that the harm takes root. 

                The simplest part of this argument to me is that thought is not action.  Period.  There is a considerable difference between me thinking of hitting someone alongside the head and me actually hitting someone alongside the head.  Using those critical thinking skills to consider the potential consequences of such an action is part of what makes us human and not a chimpanzee or some other primate cousin who solves problems by flinging poo.  Self control separates a mature adult from a tantrum-prone toddler.  We have several idioms in our language about harmful actions like, “I’m gonna kill you if you do that one more time.”  We don’t really mean it—it’s a figure of speech.  I understand that some world views say that we should greet all discord with love and compassion.  That’s a beautiful aspiration, but it’s not always practical.  I think you might be able to get to that state of enlightenment, but I also think that occasionally thinking, “if that guy doesn’t shut up I am gonna put my foot through his front teeth” is perfectly human and not harmful in and of itself.  It’s certainly not something I am going to lose sleep over.  It’s an emotional response that I will suppress and channel in another manner.  Acknowledging the frustration is important in order to maintain my self control and to figure out a way to manage the situation that doesn’t involve aggression. 

                Can thought be harmful?  Sure.  Can it be a red flag for us to take stock of our emotions before things get too out of hand?  Positively! However, I don’t want to live in a world view that wants me to feel guilty or says that I need to confess my all my questionable thoughts.  Hello!  Left Catholicism for a reason. My thoughts are mine and as long as they aren’t obsessive and/or don’t lead to harmful action, then I do not see harm.

Imbolc

I performed my Imbolc ritual last week.  I must say that while it felt a little strange during the ritual, the results were certainly felt!
When I say strange, I mean I had all the parts together, I had a circle that felt charged and electric and I had all the feline support I could take, but there was something in the periphery of my awareness.  There was something on the fringe that I couldn't quite put my finger on during the ritual.  It was not wrong or uncomfortable, just a presence with which I was uncertain I guess.
Following closing the circle  I felt this surge of energy.  It was wild.  I always get a little juiced after a circle, even with grounding and a simple feast, but this was different.  I was filled with this hopefulness that I haven't felt a lot lately.  Imbolc is about anticipation and the awakening of earth to a new season of growth and I have to admit I felt the energies far more acutely than I have in a while.  My mood was light, my attitude positive, my spirits higher than they have been the last several months.  It was like all my worries, concerns, and stresses were burned away in that cauldron and replaced with everything that is good about the world.  On a funny note, I gave Poof--the eldest of the felines--a kitty massage.  When he wants attention from me, he wants to be scratched and massaged from noggin to tail so I did.  Holy buckets!  I don't know if I had a little residual energy still in my hands or what, but I think I transferred them to him because he started behaving like a kitten full of all the attitude and bravado of a young Tom!  There was a definite pulse beating in the house on Imbolc night and we all felt it.  It was exciting!
The whole next day I floated through my routine with this sense of invincibility.  It was like whatever much got hurled at me at work, it didn't matter.  No one was going to disrupt my happy.  Some really icky stuff happened that day, but I felt better equipped to dust myself off and keep moving forward.  It was like I could handle anything and remain feeling lighthearted and content.  It was glorious.
Then it happened.  As I was quietly reflecting on the amazing sensations I was experiencing, it hit me.  This is why I do this.  This is why I meditate, visualize, cast circles--I've always been a pagan.  Even when I was little and supposedly following the Catholic teachings, I was a pagan.  When I think about it, every spring when the days started getting longer, I felt it.  I didn't know what it was, but I could feel this potential warmth and energy that was begging to be released.  I observed that the snow was getting wetter instead of the dry, cold winter snow.  I noticed that the little bunnies were being born.  I saw the birdies building nests.  I was always a keen observer of the changes in the seasons.  I felt them.  I was the same way with the phases of the moon.  I could feel the electricity crackle when a moon was full and the brightness shown over the night.  In the fall, I would have the sense of rest.  As I smelled the chimney smoke in the neighborhood, saw the frost over the lawns, felt the chill that is so distinctly autumn I knew that the earth was going to sleep.
This revelation was just one of those moments of ah-ha that brings order to every chaos that permeates existence.  Suddenly everything was in focus and I felt energized and centered all at once.  As for the odd presence I felt in my Imbolc ritual, I can only guess as to what it was.  If I had to venture a shot, I would guess it was energies of spring.  I've been fine tuning my connection to the earth for the last several weeks and I think I was sensing that old spring magic once again.
Blessed be!