We ought not to think of building holiness upon action,
we ought to build it upon a way of being.
For it is not what we do that makes us holy,
but we ought to make holy what we do.
Meister Eckhart
Meister Eckhart
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Fasting 1
One of the most well known practices for Lent is a fast from food. Traditionally to fast means to have one full meal a day and two smaller meals which together may equal one meal; meat was also abstained from on Fridays. Sunday is not a fast day as it is a celebration of the resurrection or a “mini Easter”.
Many children were taught to give “something” up for lent usually candy or soda. Many adults base their current observation (or not) of Lent based upon what they were told as a child.
Given the lack of a reasonable justification for abstaining from food given to them when they were a child many “new thoughters” reject the notion of fasting or abstaining from food and state they observe a “metaphysical” fast. This is in alignment with the Roman Catholic notion that the “deepest fast is the fast from sin, and it is above all the mind and heart that need to be cleansed by surrendering the illusory foods they love to feed on.” (Father Robert Pelton, Roman Catholic priest of the Mount Madonna House Community) though they also practice physical fasting.
Jesus took fasting for granted as it was the general custom among the people in those days. He is quoted as stating that when you fast no one else should be aware that you are fasting.
Emmet Fox explains that {in “Scientific Christianity” fasting is the abstention from certain thoughts, chiefly negative or error thoughts. He also states that physical fasting has occasionally been found helpful in the overcoming of a problem, especially what is a “chronic” difficulty when accompanied by a spiritual treatment (prayer) chiefly owing to the high degree of concentration that goes with a physical fast.”}
The Purpose of Lent is to increase our awareness of God’s presence in our life. In effect we are making a concerted effort to put God first. As this is a time of intensified awareness and practice would including the practice of some type of fasting from physical food be of assistance to you and perhaps to others?
Some simple fasts you might consider are a water fast (drink only water giving up coffee, soda etc.), no meat or other food on Fridays, eating one lighter meal a day. What if you then took the money you saved by drinking water and donated it to a program which drilled wells for third world villages to have clean water? Your spiritual practice would also be of benefit to someone else.
Have some fun designing your own activity.
Enjoy the journey!
John
Many children were taught to give “something” up for lent usually candy or soda. Many adults base their current observation (or not) of Lent based upon what they were told as a child.
Given the lack of a reasonable justification for abstaining from food given to them when they were a child many “new thoughters” reject the notion of fasting or abstaining from food and state they observe a “metaphysical” fast. This is in alignment with the Roman Catholic notion that the “deepest fast is the fast from sin, and it is above all the mind and heart that need to be cleansed by surrendering the illusory foods they love to feed on.” (Father Robert Pelton, Roman Catholic priest of the Mount Madonna House Community) though they also practice physical fasting.
Jesus took fasting for granted as it was the general custom among the people in those days. He is quoted as stating that when you fast no one else should be aware that you are fasting.
Emmet Fox explains that {in “Scientific Christianity” fasting is the abstention from certain thoughts, chiefly negative or error thoughts. He also states that physical fasting has occasionally been found helpful in the overcoming of a problem, especially what is a “chronic” difficulty when accompanied by a spiritual treatment (prayer) chiefly owing to the high degree of concentration that goes with a physical fast.”}
The Purpose of Lent is to increase our awareness of God’s presence in our life. In effect we are making a concerted effort to put God first. As this is a time of intensified awareness and practice would including the practice of some type of fasting from physical food be of assistance to you and perhaps to others?
Some simple fasts you might consider are a water fast (drink only water giving up coffee, soda etc.), no meat or other food on Fridays, eating one lighter meal a day. What if you then took the money you saved by drinking water and donated it to a program which drilled wells for third world villages to have clean water? Your spiritual practice would also be of benefit to someone else.
Have some fun designing your own activity.
Enjoy the journey!
John
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Ash Wednesday
Today is Ash Wednesday the first day of Lent.
Lent is a period of intensified spiritual practice. The purpose of Lent is to take the time to focus on strengthening our connection and awareness of the presence of God.
What can you do for the next 40 days of Lent to strengthen your spiritual practice?
A traditional practice is eating less. As a child you may have given up candy etc. Another approach is giving up complaining or another negative thought process. Tomorrow I will discuss the tradition of fasting and Emmet Fox’s comment on the power of fasting from food and how this practice can be used to serve others.
Lent is a period of intensified spiritual practice. The purpose of Lent is to take the time to focus on strengthening our connection and awareness of the presence of God.
What can you do for the next 40 days of Lent to strengthen your spiritual practice?
A traditional practice is eating less. As a child you may have given up candy etc. Another approach is giving up complaining or another negative thought process. Tomorrow I will discuss the tradition of fasting and Emmet Fox’s comment on the power of fasting from food and how this practice can be used to serve others.
What is Lent?
Lent is a season of spiritual growth, a time for progressive unfoldment. When we can blend and merge our mind with the mind of God/Christ, the way is open for us to be lifted into a higher, purer, more spiritual state.
Lent is a season of retreat from the things of the world for the cleansing of the mind and the recollection of the things of Spirit.
May we release that which needs to be released in order to allow us to be lifted higher in spirit realizing the Christ Within.
Let the Journey begin!
Lent is a season of retreat from the things of the world for the cleansing of the mind and the recollection of the things of Spirit.
May we release that which needs to be released in order to allow us to be lifted higher in spirit realizing the Christ Within.
Let the Journey begin!
Thursday, January 18, 2007
2007 Journey Begins February 21st!
Our Journey through Lent begins February 21, 2007 which is Ash Wednesday.
We should also be getting together weekly to support each other on our journey.
We have some journals you can use. If you would like one send me an email. johnzenk @ gmail.com.(there are spaces in the email to prevent spam.
More to come.
We should also be getting together weekly to support each other on our journey.
We have some journals you can use. If you would like one send me an email. johnzenk @ gmail.com.(there are spaces in the email to prevent spam.
More to come.
Thanks John
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)