For Sunday April 2nd, 2023

Hello all, we humans spend a lot of time focusing on peace, no matter the turmoil we're in. This of course is admirable. However, J. Krishnamurti tells us that peace itself is a by-product, not an end in itself. A forced peace is not really peace, it's simply a withholding of aggressions, and doomed to be temporary.
 
True peace is a by-product of something much greater, something from within each of us where there is no aggression to begin with, either against ourselves or others.

May we sit this Sunday for the courage to see what arises when we are willing to let the false power of aggressions fade. We may need the courage to be vulnerable, the strength to honestly reassess ourselves, and the willingness to learn a new way.

Blessings on us all,

Richard

For Sunday March 26th, 2023

Hello all, looking around the world today we may find ourselves wishing the powers-that-be would simply fix everything, one fell swoop and all's well. But what would be learned?

With the understanding that existence is eternal we can see the horrors of the world as intense lessons, this is what happens when you do that, and we come back to try again.

Even the heart-breaking passage of a bright 6 year old, who touched the hundreds of attendees at her celebration of life, and way more beyond, can be seen as an exceptionally brave teaching experience.

So let us sit tonight for the bravery to face the lessons we encounter, and how they may become contributions to the healing of the world.

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday March 19th, 2023

Hello to everyone on this beautiful day. We are often of two motivations, that of the spiritual and that of the psychological, and they're not always in agreement. We clearly can trust the purely spiritual, but sometimes our psychological 'self talk' isn't as helpful as it might be.

Internal comments of;
"I don't think I can do this"
"I hope nothing else goes wrong"
"What if I screw it up, again?"
Can easily lead us away from satisfaction with ourselves, with others, and the possible completion of our tasks.

Taking a moment to put our hand on our hearts, maybe even tapping our chests, and saying;
"You've got this"
"It's ok, you're doing well"
"I'll get as much done as I can"
Can go a long way toward grounding us, putting us back in touch with who we really are, and allowing ourselves to move forward with more positive, relaxed attitudes.

May we sit this evening for such self-love. May it put our feet on the ground, and elevate our hearts.

Blessings on us all,

Richard

For Sunday March 12th, 2023

Hello to all, we strive for the inner understanding that all humans are of one species and indeed, we are all One at our core. On the other hand, caste systems of all kinds are built upon inequality, a feeling of 'better than' – borne out of insecurity, fear, and the desire to control.

History shows, and still today, there are some 'leaders' who are willing to capitalize on these human frailties and work to create arbitrary caste systems where some humans are seen as 'less than' or undesirable, even to the point of suggesting eradication. Yet, the great teachers tell us that whatever the difficulties, because of Oneness, we are always meeting ourselves.

May we sit Sunday evening to see ourselves in all others; the subordinated, the 'less than', and even in the promoters of such. May our sense of Oneness deepen within. May our light shine in how we treat others.

In reverence,

Richard

For Sunday March 5th, 2023

Hello good people, if we see the experiences of life as being various manifestations of divinity we may then choose to set about treating them creatively, meaning from love. Given that we can set aside our reactive mind and be lovingly creative, we will find ourselves moving from karma into grace.

And, from this loving grace we move into our higher calling.

May we sit this evening for the ability to honestly recognize our reactivity. May we look anew with eyes of love. May this grace lead us forward.

With blessings for all,

Richard