Rethinking Religion

Spiritual Wisdom of the Week

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This week’s spiritual wisdom comes from p. 146 of Steve McIntosh’s book Integral Consciousness and the Future of Evolution (Paragon House, 2007):
In the realm of consciousness and culture, evolution is a two-way street. Its persuasive influences move us not only to pursue our own ascension, to improve ourselves, but also to try to make things better here on earth during our brief sojourn in this world. That is, not only are we called to rise to higher stages, but we are also called to bring the wisdom of these higher stages down to the levels that need assistance. Our world is full of trouble and suffering, and those who have attained elevated states of consciousness have a sacred duty to use this light to make a difference. And now, through the insights of integral philosophy, we have more detailed instructions on how we can actually bring more beauty, truth, and goodness into the world.

Buddhism

Spiritual Wisdom of the Week

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This week’s spiritual wisdom has been circulating for years as an internet meme, but it’s actually from David M. Bader’s humorous book Zen Judaism: For You, a Little Enlightenment (Harmony Books, 2002):
Be here now. Be someplace else later. Is that so complicated? To find the Buddha, look within. Deep inside you are ten thousand flowers.

Judaism

Journalism Award for Tikkun

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We won a Rockower Award from the American Jewish Press Association for our ‘Israel at 60’ issue

That issue was published in May/June 2008. It contained a range of perspectives, from those embracing and celebrating Israel at 60 to those who deeply lamented the way that Israel has become a human-rights-violating oppressor to the Palestinian people, a “shanda fur de goyim” (a disgrace among the nations), and an idolatrous worshipper of power instead of trust in YHVH (the God of healing and transformation, the God that calls for a world based on love and generosity and promises to throw the Jews out of their land if they do not embody this different and very anti-“realistic” perspective that is the whole point of being Jewish). Among the authors in that issue: Rebecca Alpert, Uri Avnery, Theodore Bikel, Chana Bloch, Leon Botstein, Daniel Boyarin, Cherie Brown, Bradley Burston, Harvey Cox, Riane Eisler, Sidra Dekoven Ezrahi, Sander Gilman, Lynn Gottlieb, Joshua Levine Grater, Art Green, Rodger Kamenetz, Irwin Kula, Laura Levitt, Shaul Magid, Vanessa Ochs, Alicia Ostriker, Marge Piercy, Mazin Qumsiyeh, Omid Safi, Rami Shapiro, Zalman Schachter Shalomi, Svi Shapiro, David Shasha, Robert Thurman, Arthur Waskow, Steven Weinberg, C.K.Williams, Jim Winkler and Howard Zinn. If you wish a copy of that issue of Tikkun, send us a check for a two year subscription to the magazine ($52) to Tikkun, 2342 Shattuck Ave, Suite 1200, Berkeley, Ca. 94704) and with your check put a note asking for a copy of the May/June 2008 issue of the magazine!

Culture

Spiritual Wisdom of the Week

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This week’s spiritual wisdom is a poem from Brian Piergrossi’s book The Big Glow. The poem has been circulating the Web under the name “A Spiritual Conspiracy.” Brian told us its original title and invited us to share it with you here:
Love Is The New Religion

On the surface of the world right now there is war and violence and things
seem dark
But calmly and quietly, at the same time, something else is happening
underground
An inner revolution is taking place and certain individuals are being called
to a higher light
It is a silent revolution
From the inside out
From the ground up
It is time for me to reveal myself
I am an embedded agent of a secret, undercover
Clandestine
Global operation
A spiritual conspiracy
We have sleeper cells in every nation on the planet
You won’t see us on the T.V.
You won’t read about us in the newspaper
You won’t hear about us on the radio
We don’t seek any glory
We don’t wear any uniform
We come in all shapes and sizes
Colors and styles
Most of us work anonymously
We are quietly working behind the scenes in every country and culture of
the world
Cities big and small, mountains and valleys, in farms and villages, tribes
and remote islands
You could pass by one of us on the street and not even notice
We go undercover
We remain behind the scenes
It is of no concern to us who takes the final credit
But simply that the work gets done
Occasionally we spot each other in the street
We give a quiet nod and continue on our way so no one will notice
During the day many of us pretend we have normal jobs
But behind the false storefront at night is where the real work takes place
Some call us the “Conscious Army”
We are slowly creating a new world with the power of our minds and hearts
We follow, with passion and joy
Our orders from the Central Command
The Spiritual Intelligence Agency
We are dropping soft, secret love bombs when no ones is looking
Poems
Hugs
Music
Photography
Movies
Kind words
Smiles
Meditation and prayer
Dance
Social activism
Websites
Blogs
Random acts of kindness
We each express ourselves in our own unique ways with our own unique
gifts and talents
“Be the change you want to see in the world”
That is the motto that fills our hearts
We know it is the only way real transformation takes place
We know that quietly and humbly we have the power of all the oceans
combined
Our work is slow and meticulous
Like the formation of mountains
It is not even visible at first glance
And yet with it entire tectonic plates shall be moved in the centuries to
come
Love is the new religion of the 21st century
You don’t have to be a highly educated person
Or have any exceptional knowledge to understand it
It comes from the intelligence of the heart
Embedded in the timeless evolutionary pulse of all human beings
Be the change you want to see in the world
Nobody else can do it for you
We are now recruiting
Perhaps you will join us
Or already have…. All are welcome… The door is open

Judaism

Spiritual Wisdom of the Week

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This week’s spiritual wisdom comes from poet Mark Siet:
Life is about the perfection of love
Its source remains in heaven above
And yet still through these hands do we mold
Our lives of caring from young until old. Nothing else matters but the Creator in every breath
What else could compare to this sublime holiness
Knowing that with each step there is only One
In the rising of the moon and the setting of the sun. There in that place where nothing may be perceived
A curious fashion comes into being whereupon received
The threads of Torah’s living letters the vine upon the Tree
Weave these pesukim flowing through Tzimtzum to the sea
Joining the waters above with those that are below
With every meaning shared light there does show
For after all this is the very purpose of divine connection
To reveal in each moment by our infinite reflection.

Politics & Society

The Coup in Honduras

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One of the hemisphere’s most critical struggles for democracy in 20 years is now unfolding in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa (nicknamed “Tegucigolpe” for its long history of military coup d’états, which are called golpes de estado, in Spanish). Despite censorship and repression, popular anger over the June 28 military overthrow of democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya is growing. International condemnation has been near-unanimous, and the Organization of American States has suspended Honduras, the first time the hemisphere-wide body has taken so drastic an action since 1962. That’s the latest word from Tikkun Contributing Editor Stephen Zunes. It’s hard to get this story from our media.

Rethinking Religion

Spiritual Wisdom of the Week

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This week’s spiritual wisdom comes from Jonathan Granoff, an author, attorney, and international peace activist who recently wrote a piece about the elimination of nuclear weapons for Tikkun:
When the words “We hold these truths to be self evident…” [were written], who could have imagined that the equality of all people to determine their political destiny would become a global norm? It is not obvious that we are created equal. I am short. My wife is beautiful.

Politics & Society

Opening Day

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Congratulations on getting to read the very first day of Tikkun Daily! Do you know what Tikkun really stands for? Have you read our Core Vision at www.tikkun.org? [brclear]

Culture

Spiritual Wisdom of the Week

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As civilization advances, the sense of wonder has declined. Such decline is an alarming symptom of our state of mind. Humanity will not perish for want of information, but only for want of appreciation. The beginning of our happiness lies in the understanding that life without wonder is not worth living. — Abraham Joshua Heschel, God in Search of Man