God is actively present in our lives – all the time –
But we don’t acknowledge it
Because we’re not looking for God –
After all, humans, historically, have specialized in looking only at themselves
Or at objects they desire to possess or manipulate.
The truth is that if we ever did look away from ourselves – even for a moment –
We couldn’t avoid seeing God.
So, look away, little one, look away!
To meet God “directly,” we’ll need a more radical approach:
Assuming that we have to “go up” – i.e., ascend – in order to experience “ecstasy”
Requires, for good balance, for us to also “go low” –
Into “humility,” “modesty,” and “humbleness”
That is, in order to get high, we’ll first have to go low –
And, to meet God, face to face, we might even be required to “disappear” altogether.
In other words, an ego (much less a big ego) will never experience God “directly” –
Everyone knows this – since most male religious leaders
Possess the biggest egos – and look at how empty they’ve turned out to be.
No one talks about this –
Which is fine with God
Who prefers meeting in secret with her most un-famous friends.
If love is the “background reality” of the universe
Then everything else must be fantasy, dreams, or other mental images,
Especially if driven by ambition, desire for fame, or accumulation of power and riches.
If God is love,
Then traditional worship practices, systematic theology, and ancient church structures
Are just so much “straw” out in the fields of spiritual life –
In sum, since love is the only true reality
Why are we talking about anything else?
Of course, when we talk about love –
We’re talking about intelligent love
We’re talking about freedom as a pre-condition to love,
And we’re talking about three-dimensional love –
Not the paper version,
Right?
Enlightenment is momentary – not a permanent state –
Anyone who says differently is either a phony or badly mistaken.
It’s true that an enlightenment experience can be life-changing
Like a road sign pointing in an unexpected direction
That we courageously take –
But it’s not a permanently elevated state of existence.
Real mystics don’t walk around in an “enlightened state”
They’re just people – no different from the rest of us –
Except for having been blessed with a “break-through” spiritual experience.
Brief – yet profound –
Truly, “a gift from God.”
Growing old physically –
We start to fall apart
Which isn’t all bad
Since we gain opportunities to become more spiritual.
Our goal is the attainment of “wholeness” – or “holiness” –
Inside and out –
Accepting both the world and ourselves
Right up to the moment when we go crashing into the dark –
Which, God willing,
Turns light.
Do we awake when we die?
And, if we can accelerate this consciousness while still alive,
Mightn’t this bring us an even earlier “awakening”?
But what if we’re never able to find the “pearl” –
And what would be the consequences of not bothering to look?
Yes, it’s true that, as we grow older, we start to fall apart –
It’s natural –
But what would be “unnatural” is to become more loving
While, at the same time, becoming weaker, more stressed, and more helpless.
This would be like observing the sun rising up behind a dark mountain –
When we’re both mountain and sun.
Poets used to write primarily for God
Or about the kinds of people who take long and dangerous trips in search of God.
Their tools were images and symbols that could “light up the truth” –
Truth that uninspired reason, by itself, wasn’t able to touch – much less attain.
I believe poets are ready to return to these artistic/spiritual roots –
Pouring out light into our contemporary darkness,
Displaying literary compassion to sustain people through their Trumpian confusion –
Along with uncovering intimations of a God hidden in plain sight
Behind all the materialism now drenching our greed-stunned world.
In other words, is “God” just another name for the “Good”?
And, if so, wouldn’t that make it difficult to remain an atheist or agnostic?
The “Good” doesn’t require religious institutions
Like ministers, rabbis, or priests to support its natural state –
And, in fact, don’t they sometimes undermine it?
Perhaps we should consider getting rid of the word “God” altogether
Because, given the hypocrisy traditionally inherent in religion,
Couldn’t it frequently be pointing people away from the “Good.”
And perhaps it might also make sense
To dispense with other “God” accoutrements, as well –
Including holy books, religious paraphernalia, and all those buildings, buildings, buildings.
Maybe it’s time for “God” to be “born again” as the “Good” –
And for this ancient shibboleth to be de-institutionalized and purified.
Everyone recognizes the “Good” when they experience it
While “God” frequently can only be identified through religious passwords –
Especially in the Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, and other major religious institutions
Of today.
When you’re looking at colors – but instead observe only shapes or ideas –
When you’re having tea with friends – but dream about being somewhere else –
Or if your ideas have turned out to be all derivative –
Dear friend, it might be time to “wake up” –
Sparkle; effervesce a little – begin living a “real” life.
It would be much like being slapped in the face
By “beauty.”
When you wake up this way
You’ll start seeing the colors you once experienced as a child –
The colors that make up God’s beautiful “face.”
It’s smart to be humble –
Because everything’s constantly changing.
Today, the king loves you,
But, tomorrow, you might find yourself out on the street.
So, generally, it is smart to be humble
Because you can’t fully appreciate life
If, unconsciously, you’re taking the gifts for granted
That are already yours.
When you start opening up to love – like a heliotropic flower –
You’ll start becoming aware of all the gifts coming in
As well as the gifts going out.
On the other hand, if you insist upon remaining proud –
You won’t understand anything at all
And find yourself sitting up on top of a mountain –
Unaware it’s collapsing beneath you.
Moreover, the pearl you were obsessed with finding
Will remain hidden deep inside your heart –
Because it’s not now, nor has it ever been, the subject of sale.
Let’s get this straight:
God is not some kind of “super-human” who runs the universe –
God’s essential nature is one of “spirit” – such as “love” or “truth.”
Whoever experiences this, experiences “God”
So, the paramount goal is not to get into some place called “Heaven”
The goal – for each of us – spiritually –
Is to become love – become truth.
If this ends up as our reality – at least from time to time –
Then, when meeting other people, you’ll still be largely ignored,
But, subconsciously, they might intuit they’ve encountered something “Holy”
And that would be true –
And that would be you –
So long as you remember
Never to take credit for it.
Law and the Political
BUILDING ALTERNATIVES FOR PEOPLE AND PLANET: News and reports from the grassroots on worker and community coops, land trusts, participatory bufgeting and other explorations in mutual aid
Diner Mystic 