I received some significant
traffic about last week’s message [Msg-4-May-2014:
Coping With My Ocean of Guilt and Shame] concerning the Hawaiian spiritual
practice of Ho’oponopono. Most of the traffic was positive; some indicated
confusion, as if Ho’oponopono was some form of “spiritual gimmickry.”
When I was writing my book, How the Bible became the Bible, Infinity
Publishing (ISBN: 978-0-7414-2993-3), I struggled a lot trying to use words to
describe what had happened to me spiritually as I got sober with the grateful
help of Alcoholics Anonymous. I simply couldn’t do it. I couldn’t describe with
the written word the reality and significance of my transformation. It was very
frustrating.
I decided, in the end, to
concentrate that discussion in its own chapter, The Difficulty in Finding the Right Words (Chapter 9). From a literary point of view this seemed to
help with the flow of the book. However, my internal frustration and dissatisfaction
remained. Words can be horrible buckets with which to convey very personal
spiritual realities. That is further complicated by the fact that, even if I
were to communicate my unfolding spirituality in a way that allowed readers to
fully grasp what I was saying about me, it would have nothing to do with those
same readers experiencing their own spiritual realities. Whether or not the
words of mine (or the Apostle Paul, or the writers of the Gospel of Mark, or
John of Patmos, or Wayne Dyer, or Eckert Tolle, or Deepak Chopra, or Marianne
Williamson, or anyone else) resonate with you – simply believing this happened
to me or other writers does not mean it will happen to you.
The realities of Spirit are experienced, not arrived at
intellectually. The Truth of Spirit is known on a visceral level, not as a
logical conclusion to a series of philosophical arguments. The Truth of Spirit
brings a Peace I simply know from my insides. And I have learned to recognize
when it is missing.
There are significant
similarities between Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), A Course in Miracles (ACIM) and
Ho’oponopono. To acknowledge that one of these “speaks” to me more readily than
the others does not elevate that one above the others. It simply means, at this
particular time, that particular approach and language resonates better with
me. The same is true with you.
Simply rejoice!
In AA, whenever I had gotten too involved in my own life, I have
experienced a change in perception – which changed my world – by following the
suggested path of getting involved in the life of another alcoholic. By
honestly sharing my experience, strength and hope with another I forgot about
my own pity-pot – my own self-absorbed perceptions. Those actions allowed the
Truth of Spirit to unfold. As it’s often stated in AA: Change the way your look
at things and the things you look at change. In ACIM I have experienced the process of forgiveness as described
in the Course and felt the frustration, anxiety, and fear of my error-filled
perceptions melt away as the Holy Spirit whispered to me different ways to look
at situations, people, and events. In
Ho’oponopono I have used the suggested process of repeating its mantra:
“I’m sorry. I love you. Please forgive me. Thank you.” This mantra evokes the 3-step process of
repentance, forgiveness, and transmutation. I have found my inside-me turmoil
begin to dissipate.
All these processes are similar
and very effective tools to encourage my willingness to ask for help and to
encourage my openness to see things differently. And not only do I get better
but my universe responds and heals. It’s always a miracle when this happens!
If you are talking about how the
principles of AA and its suggested Twelve Steps of recovery allowed the Spirit
of your Higher Power to transform you and someone else describes a similar
transformation following the principles of ACIM – simply rejoice! If someone
describes something similar following the cleansing steps of Ho’oponopono,
simply rejoice! If people describe how a Paul-type road-to-Damascus revelation or
a Buddhist “external observer” revelation was transformational for them, simply
rejoice!
The experience of a spiritual
transformation is the Truth that brings Peace. The reality of freedom that
Truth and Peace bring is beyond words. I just know it viscerally, and although
I still try, it is frustrating to communicate. [As I write this, I am working
on uncovering the thoughts that compel me to feel that I have to still try to
put it in words. I am asking myself, “Why?”
When I begin to believe my
transformation is “better” than your transformation, I know my ego has
“kidnapped” me once again. I then use the Steps of AA, ACIM’s process of
forgiveness, or the cleansing of Ho’oponopono to correct that error. That
correction will open the door to allow my Holy Spirit to begin nudging me back
to the experience of Truth and Peace that I have tasted before in my
spirituality.
Although these messages are
mostly for me, thanks for listening. As always – feel free to forward this
message to your friends, family, and those accompanying you on your spiritual
journey.
Don
#1 Jun, 2014
Copyright, 2014
No comments:
Post a Comment