New Year's Day offers us the same sense of optimistic spaciousness that we gain while gazing toward the horizon from a mountaintop.

"It is pleasant to gaze upon the world from some lofty standpoint . . . It seems to expand the mind; it conducts one by easy pathways down long lands of thought penetrating far into the future of nations, and opens out broad vistas of contemplation through which glimpses of what may BE can dimly be discerned. The outlook from such a commanding point elevates the mind, and the soul is elated by the immensity of Nature."

The Earl of Dunraven,
19th century settler in Estes Park, CO

New Year's Day offers us the sense of a wide-open future, one that beckons and hints at seemingly endless possibilities. It is like the view of the horizon we gain by climbing a mountain, one that is filled with a sense of spaciousness, optimism and quiet excitement.

Happy New Year!

Photo: Looking toward the southern horizon at sunrise from the slopes of Medicine Bow Peak, Snowy Range, WY; August 24, 2013

The practice of inner silence is the same as the love of God.

"Inner silence, calming the agitations of our hearts and minds, letting go of all that is stubborn and grasping, is essentially an expression of the love of truth . . .

"To be dispassionate, not to let one’s own needs or prejudices or emotions color one’s actions, is essentially to put truth before everything else . . .

"To love truth in this way is to love God, who is Truth. Thus the practice of inner silence is the same as the love of God."

Dan Seeger,
Modern Quaker Activist

Photos: (Top) Horses in the mist, Bellvue, CO, December 30, 2014; (Second) Watson Lake and Bellvue Dome at sunset, Bellvue, CO, December 28, 2014; (Third) Devil's Backbone Open Space, CO, December 29, 2014; (Bottom) Joanne knitting in a cave in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, December 27, 2014

The Quaker Doctrine of the Inner Light

"I was glad that I was commanded to turn people to that inward light, spirit, and grace, by which all might know their salvation, and their way to God; even that divine Spirit which would lead them into all Truth, and which I infallibly knew would never deceive any."

George Fox, 17th century
Founder of the Quakers

"The Inner Light is the doctrine that there is something Divine, ‘Something of God’ in the human soul."

Rufus Jones,
20th century Quaker scholar

Photos: It was minus 20 degrees this morning, perfect for photography! Larimer County, CO, December 31, 2014

The cornerstone of belief upon which the Society of Friends is built . . .

"The one cornerstone of belief upon which the Society of Friends is built is the conviction that God does indeed communicate with each one of the spirits He has made, in a direct and living inbreathing of some measure of the breath of His own Life  . . .

"That He never leaves Himself without a witness in the heart as well as in the surroundings of man; that the measure of light, life, or grace thus given increases by obedience . . .

 

"And that in order clearly to hear the Divine voice speaking within us we need to be still; to be alone with Him, in the secret place of His Presence; that all flesh should keep silence before Him."

Caroline Stephen,
19th century Quaker writer

Photos: (Top and Third) Devil's Backbone Open Space, near Loveland, CO, December 29, 2014; (Second) Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, December 27, 2014; (Bottom) Burnt Ponderosa Pine, Lory State Park, CO, December 30, 2014

The likeness we bear to Jesus is more essential than our notions of him.

"The likeness we bear to Jesus is more essential than our notions of him."

Lucretia Mott,
19th century Quaker

Photo: Horses in a field near Bellvue, CO, December 30, 2014

Where there is no love, put love - and you will find love.

"Where there is no love, put love - and you will find love."

St. John of the Cross,
16th century Spanish mystic

Last weekend, Joanne and I hiked up in the mountains on a cold and blustery day. However, an hour into the hike, we found a small, sun-warmed "cave" which sheltered us from the cold and wind. It was actually "toasty" in there, and we were able to eat lunch and have an extended retreat. Joanne even got out her knitting needles. It felt like a summer day!

This reminded me that when we find the world too cold and impersonal, it is time for us to enter the heart and warm ourselves by the heat of the Inner Light that is always present there. Then, consciously allowing the warmth of our Divine Source to radiate out from the heart, we can begin to bring that warmth into the world!
 

Photos: (Top and Middle) Joanne knitting in a "cave" in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO; (Bottom) An alpenglow sunrise just outside our front door, Larimer County, CO. All three photos were taken on December 27, 2014.

Be still and cool in your own mind and spirit, and you will feel the principle of God . . .

"Be still and cool in your own mind and spirit from your own thoughts, and then you will feel the principle of God to turn your mind to the Lord God from whom life comes; whereby you may receive his strength and power to allay all blusterings, storms, and tempests."

George Fox, 17th century
Founder of the Friends (Quakers)

"There is a principle which is pure - placed in the human mind, which in different places and ages hath had different names. It is, however, pure, and proceeds from God. It is deep and inward, confined to no forms of religion, nor excluded from any, when the heart stands in perfect sincerity. In whomsoever this takes root and grows, they become brethren."

John Woolman, 18th century
Quaker writer

"Words may help and silence may help, but the one thing needful is that the heart should turn to its Maker as the needle turns to the pole. For this we must be still."

Caroline Stephen, 19th century
Quaker writer

Photos: Red cliffs and Watson Lake, Bellvue, CO, December 28, 2014

Simplicity enables us to better hear God's still, small voice.

"Simplicity is the name we give to our effort to free ourselves to give full attention to God’s still, small voice: the sum of our efforts to subtract from our lives everything that competes with God for our attention and clear hearing."

Lloyd Lee Wilson, 1947
Quaker writer

Photos: Various scenes from Devil's Backbone Open Space, near Loveland, CO, December 29, 2014

A Quaker View of Simplicity

"As Friends (Quakers), we believe in simple living . . . We try to live lives in which activities and possessions do not get in the way of open and unencumbered communication with others and with one's own spirituality. Clearing away the clutter makes it easier to hear the 'still small voice' within. Our commitment to simplicity calls us to speak plainly and go directly to the heart of the matter. However, simplicity does not mean being simplistic. We value nuance and choose words carefully when we speak. We may speak passionately, but we avoid distortion and exaggeration. 

"In our work, simplicity requires focusing our efforts on what is most important rather than diffusing our energies too broadly. In our personal lives, simplicity may mean limiting our consumerism - and resisting over-commitment, so that we have time to care for ourselves and to be present with one another."

American Friends Service Committee

Photos: A snowy day at Devil's Backbone Open Space, near Loveland, CO, December 29, 2014

The Perils and Joys of Giving Compliments to Each Other from a "Namaste" Perspective

I very much appreciate the Sanskrit word "Namaste" employed as a greeting, especially when it is used to mean "The Divine in me honors the Divine in you." It implies that whenever any of us meet, there are always more than simply two individuals communicating with one another. Instead, we are seeing THROUGH one another in order to contact the deeper underlying Reality.

As all of you know, I enjoy using landscape photography as a means of seeing THROUGH the plants, animals, rocks, landforms and skies to the underlying Reality to which each points, and of which each is an embodiment. A vivid example of this happened the other day when I photographed two horses grazing in a field near my home, with the foothills looming through the mist just beyond. At the time, I saw in the horses a symbol of two people interacting with one another, always in the context of a Reality greater than both (symbolized by the misty foothills), to which each relates whenever they see one another.

Those of us called to become spiritual mentors or leaders must work diligently to allow our own individual selves to become transparent windows THROUGH to the Divine Presence radiating outward from within us. We may not always be successful, but that, at least, is our intent. Similarly, we also seek perpetually to see THROUGH the surface qualities of those whom we encounter in order to find and highlight the Divine present within them as well. Often this work calls for offering heartfelt compliments as a means of helping awaken others to their own inner divinity. These are given from a "Namaste" attitude, one that intends to move beyond the one giving the compliment and the one receiving it in order touch the Reality underlying both individuals. At times, this calls for complimenting the other person's PHYSICAL presence - usually in a generalized way - which is especially important in our time, when all of us fall so easily into a tendency to denigrate what we perceive to be our own physical flaws. "You are beautiful!" or "That outfit looks great on you" as well as "You are an amazing person" or "I love your combination of spiritual depth and earthy humor" are all means by which we can highlight the spiritual radiance of one another.

Even though I've worked very hard to make sure the compliments I offer are coming from the Divine within rather than from my own grasping ego, I find that there are still times when the recipient  thinks of the compliment in individualistic terms. This happens especially when the recipient of my compliment is a member of the opposite sex. Sometimes they even take offense at the compliment, or think that I am trying to "get something" from them in return. I try to guard against this misunderstanding by offering the compliment and then immediately changing the subject, or (if I'm writing) putting a good amount of space between the next communication. However, even then, sometimes the compliment is still misunderstood. I suppose this is simply one of the hazards of being called to highlight the goodness and beauty of others. Fortunately, I find that as I age, my compliments are taken more and more on this deeper level, rather than as attempts to "get" something from the other person  :)

I take consolation from the fact that something similar often occurred with Christ. When Jesus told his hearers "I and the Father are One," he meant that he had become transparent to the indwelling Divine, whom he called "Father." Everything he spoke came from THAT reality rather than from his ego. However, members of the religious hierarchy took his statement instead to mean that he was saying "I am God." Even after he went on to explain "I am God's SON," they still continued to mistake his words, thinking that it was his individual ego that was speaking rather than the indwelling Divine. If even Jesus was misunderstood - especially after years of working to make sure his individual ego had become transparent to the indwelling Divine - I suppose all of US can just DEAL with being misunderstood!

Photos: (Top) Horses and foothills near Bellvue, CO; (Middle) A pearl-like sun makes its presence known through the mist, Lory State Park, CO; (Bottom) Arthur's Rock gazing at the western sky, Lory State Park, CO; All three photos were taken on December 26, 2014

The things of nature are images of the silence

"The silence of nature is the primary reality. The things of nature serve only to make the silence clearly visible. The things of nature are images of the silence, exhibiting not themselves so much as the silence, like signs pointing to the place where silence is."

Max Picard,
"The World of Silence"

Photos: (Top and Middle) Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, December 27, 2014; (Bottom) Near Bellvue, CO, December 28, 2014

Spirituality is a quest to find the divinity underlying the surface challenges of life.

Oftentimes, winter hiking involves dealing with lots of cold and wind. Yesterday's hike in Rocky Mountain National Park was no exception. However, I love to focus on the beauty of simple things that other winter hikers often bypass in their quest to stay warm by moving continually onward. In this case, I found the snow patterns formed by the strong and frigid wind to be intoxicatingly beautiful. I couldn't stop admiring and taking pictures of the various patterns formed by wind in the snow. How amazing they are!

Many of the mystics throughout the history of Christian spirituality have held that there are actually TWO Christian scriptures: the Bible and the Natural World. However, some people find little solace in Nature because of all of the violence, competition, sickness and death that appear so consistently on the surface of natural processes.

Spirituality teaches us to take all things in life and look THROUGH them to the underlying divinity contained there. Accordingly, the "scriptural" aspect of Nature manifests itself when we look UNDER THE SURFACE at the deeper meaning contained within the natural world. After all, that is precisely what we do with biblical passages, many of which can seem distasteful if we remain solely on the surface of the text. It is also true of the people we know (including ourselves) whose surface traits can often seem difficult to deal with unless we learn to look instead into the CORE of their being.

It is for this reason that mystical spirituality is panentheistic rather than pantheistic. Accordingly, it finds the Divine WITHIN all things rather than AS all things, at least as they appear on the surface. This means that underneath the suffering, death and competition of Nature lies a hidden peace, love and harmony, just as wisdom can be found underneath the literalistic meaning of scripture, and as nobility lies like a sweet fruit hidden within the rind of human faults and foibles. As Allah says in the Quran: "I was a HIDDEN treasure, and I longed to be known, so I created the world." This verse, I'm convinced, is a supreme expression of the very core of the spiritual life: to seek continually for the HIDDEN wisdom lying within all things.
May all of us find the grace this day to look under and within the surface of life's challenges in order to find the Divine Beauty lying hidden there.

Photo: Snow patterns, with Long's Peak in the background, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, December 27, 2014

Our true self is an inward light, springing up from within.

"The ever-advancing POSSIBLE self is a Divine revelation to us. It is an inward light, not shining from some foreign world, but springing up within, because the life of God is an inherent and elemental part of our being, and this Life is the inward light . . . It is literally closer than breathing - never far enough away to be near. The truth is that our souls open inwardly into God's Spirit . . . the Divine center . . ."

Rufus Jones,
Quaker scholar and writer

Photos: (Top) Alpenglow on Greyrock, from my doorstep, Larimer County, CO; (Middle) Long's Peak and sun, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO; (Bottom) Joanne knitting by a rock in the sun, sheltered from the wind, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO. All three photos were taken on December 27, 2014

The Inner Light, the Inward Christ, is the living Center of Reference for all Christians and non-Christians

"The Inner Light, the Inward Christ, is no mere doctrine, belonging peculiarly to a small religious fellowship, to be accepted or rejected as a mere belief.  It is the living Center of Reference for  all Christian souls and Christian groups - yes, and of non-Christian groups as well who seriously mean to dwell in the secret place of the Most High. He is the center and source of action, not the endpoint of thought."

Thomas Kelly,
Quaker writer

Photo: Snow patterns, with Long's Peak in the background, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, December 27, 2014

Contemplation is a resting in God . . .

"Contemplation is a resting in God. In this resting or stillness the mind and heart are not actively seeking Him, but are beginning to experience - "taste" - what they have been seeking. This places them in a state of repose, tranquility, and profound interior peace."

Thomas Keating 

Photos: Various scenes near Bellvue, CO, December 26, 2014

"Follow your bliss!" - even if it means knitting in a snowbank!

"Follow your bliss!"

Joseph Campbell 

On our hike in the shadow of Arthur's Rock, Joanne just couldn't resist pulling out her knitting needles! She LOVES to knit :)

Meanwhile, "Arthur" kept up his steady gaze on the western sky . . .

Photos: Joanne knitting in Arthur's Rock Meadow, Lory State Park, CO, December 26, 2014

"I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape . . . "

"I do an awful lot of thinking and dreaming about things in the past and the future - the timelessness of the rocks and the hills - all the people who have existed there. I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape - the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it; the whole story doesn't show."

Andrew Wyeth,
American Painter

Photo: Boulder on the shore of the Poudre River, with Bellvue Dome in the background, Bellvue, CO, December 25, 2014

Weaving the Peace, Simplicity and Silence of Winter into a Scarf

On Christmas Day, Joanne and I went for a hike. As she knitted on the shore of Watson Lake, a snowstorm moved in!

It seemed as though Joanne was weaving the peace, simplicity and silence of winter - as well as her own calmness - into the scarf!

Photos: Watson Lake, Bellvue, CO, December 25, 2014

The Birth of Jesus Releases a Quiet, Radiant, Golden Version of Oneness into the World

Each of the world's spiritual traditions specializes in a different aspect of wisdom. We might think of each as a unique COLOR suffusing the world-landscape with its own particular hue. I tend to think of Buddhism in terms of a a cool blue sky, Sufism as a hot red fire, and Indigenous spirituality as the beautiful green color of Life's Web, for example. Others might envision each of these hues in a different manner.

Each tradition - at its best - reveals the world's underlying Oneness or Union in its own particular way. In the case of Christmas, Jesus' birth releases a QUIET, RADIANT WARMTH onto the Earth, which I envision in terms of a golden or orange light. This warmth embodies a GENTLE LOVE that melts all of life and every creature into a correspondingly quiet, radiant version of Oneness. A Buddhist version of Oneness, for example, might emphasize a more cool and detached form of compassion, while a Sufi version might feel more passionate. In any case, each, I believe, added to all of the others, is needed to complete the picture of Oneness that we all are seeking on our journey through this life.

Because of Christ's self-emptying humility - symbolized by his appearance on earth as a baby, in a feeding trough, set up in a stable - we often don't experience Jesus' reality directly. However, what we DO find is that all of life - embraced within his humble, hidden presence - becomes suffused with that quiet, radiant, golden love which accepts all things just as they are.
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May all of us - Christian and Buddhist, Sufi and Hindu, Native, Taoist, Jewish or Atheist - embody this quiet, radiant, golden warmth today. For Christ belongs not just to Christians, but to ALL of us

Photo: Mesa Arch at sunrise, Canyonlands National Park, UT, December 1, 2014

The Mystical Meaning of Christmas

For those of you who are interested in the meaning of Christmas according to the Christian Mystical Tradition, here is an article I wrote that you might find interesting:

http://www.jesusjazzbuddhism.org/always-a-silent-night.html

Have a restful, contemplative holiday season!

Peace,
Stephen

In the Christian Mystical Tradition, "The Birth of the Son" means "the Awakening of God's Self-Awareness" within Human Consciousness.

In the Christian Mystical Tradition, the birth of Christ means the awakening of God's Self-awareness within human consciousness. John Ruusbroec, a 14th century mystic from Belgium, says that "the birth of the Son" is the awakening of a light - whose other name is "SEE!" - from within the dark intimacy and mystery of the Father's loving abyss. This light then shines back on the abyss, revealing it as the Source of all creation. Ruusbroec's insight corresponds to the Aramaic word - "rehem" - that Jesus often used for "love." Literally, it means "a shining from a dense or dark interiority."

This is precisely what occurs during contemplative prayer. Here, we find our awareness embraced - "hugged" - by a magnetic love welling up from the core of the dark, endlessly deep canyon of the soul. This deep, magnetic love is what the mystics mean by "the Father." Meanwhile, our thoughts and emotions - corresponding to the birth of the "light" or "the Son" about which Ruusbroec speaks - circulate like stars, meteors and moonlight in the sky high above the canyon walls. During meditation, these "lights" are viewed peripherally, for the bulk of our attention is drawn into the magnetic depths, the source of our being. Thus, in meditation, the thoughts we often find so distracting actually serve a purpose, for they reveal - by the contrast they provide - the depths and the dark intimacy of the canyon below! During contemplation, we simply let these thoughts flow of their own accord, while the light they provide automatically reveals the dark intimacy of our innermost depths, rooted in God!

This Christmas, may we go out with love to the world around us - a world that is often chaotic, stressed and suffering - and allow it to be magnetized and drawn into the innermost canyon of our being, where IT TOO can experience the dark intimacy of divine Love!

Photos: (Top) Sunset on Bellvue Dome, over the Poudre River, Bellvue, CO, November 25, 2014: (Second)  Sunlight entering "The Joint," Canyonlands National Park, UT, November 28, 2014; (Third) Alpenglow on Long's Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, December 8, 2014; (Bottom) Sunset on Mills Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, November 21, 2014