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Wednesday Jul 21st 7:30 P.M.
at Frederick's OM
Simplicity
Among the wise, one finds the exposition of simplicity. Being simply or simply being is the byword of every spiritual path. In order to be simple, one must have a sense of the all-sufficient foundation of life. Simplicity is an attribute of the Divine Personality, acting as a force, not merely as a state.
Because many of us have very crowded lives, both temporally and materially, we have difficulty relaxing. In a telling 1977 interview in Molde, Norway, Muddy Waters, Father of Chicago Blues, spoke of the benefits of simplicity. He mentioned that he did not have much money, and cautioned that having millions of dollars just crowded one's mind and life with worries.
Many travelers return and marvel at the effervescent joy expressed on the faces of “poor” people throughout the world, while wealthy people from developed countries look comparably glum. Simplicity has clear benefits.
When a person first enters a spiritual community, one dispenses with the vast array of possessions and lives with very little. As Monks, we each kept all our personal possessions in a single - and uncrowded - dresser drawer, aside from a few books, robes, hanging clothing, and footwear. The uniformity of our clothing allowed for distinctions in personality to become more apparent in our community. We sometimes observed that people who dressed in stylish and thus widely different clothing often acted very uniformly. Ironically, their uniformity stemmed from their desire to be different.
The desire to be different is a manufactured desire, affirmed hundreds of times daily in modern homes by media messages that bombard a child millions of times even before the permanent teeth erupt. It is no surprise that our culture is pathological. Archaic cultures and even such as the culture of Bali, Indonesia does not engage in the quest for social differentiation. In archaic culture, the quest is for fulfillment of family, spiritual, and community obligations. Thus they avoid the trap and the tyranny of consumerism, which cannot survive when people are satisfied with their shared human nature.
Shared human nature reveals itself in the traditional prayers of the Sages of Israel and other indigenous nations. Only G-d speaks in First Person. Everyone else speaks in Third Person. Expression of first-person terms I, Me, My, Mine, etc are virtually non-existent among the prayers we have been handed. The traditional orders of prayer do not presume a person prays alone, but with others. The terms “we,” and “our” proliferate. A prayer in the first person is virtually non-existent. What does this tell us?
The true expression of spiritual purpose is not a me-oriented self-interested or narcissistic activity. This would seem rather obvious, but many spiritual groups are plagued by a pattern of feeling themselves distinct from and better than the “non-spiritual” people in society. Spiritual groups and many congregations speak disparagingly and view “the world” with condescension. If your congregation or teacher adopts such language you are in a toxic environment: This is clear evidence of a false and harmful doctrine.
The Buddhist maxim that one's engagement in life is for the enlightenment of ALL sentient beings is consistent with the theme that ALL spiritual life is for the benefit of all, not oneself. One does not acquire enlightenment, it cannot be purchased. The oft-quoted Native American Lakota prayer Mitakuye Oyasin, or “All My Relations” involves recognition of a world where all forms of life, including the elements and winds are members of one's family. Such recognition leads to simplicity. The Sanskrit greeting Namaste bespeaks bowing to the Divinity in another person. The Hebrew greeting Shalom Aleichem bespeaks Completeness, as we might say in the Southern US Dialect: “Wholeness on ALL of Y'all.” It amazingly addresses another person in the plural, not the singular.
Simplicity is not only a consequence of living in relatedness. It can also be the CAUSE of spiritual enlightenment and an enabler of relationship. Many spiritual Teachers have advised followers to “Sell what you have, give to the poor;” By divestiture, attention to our own needs ceases and we free up. The practice of maintaining silence in monasteries has a comparable effect. The silent person's mind eventually becomes still.
We learn from this that a person who is simple is more likely to maintain a sense of relatedness and is free from neediness. We also learn that a person who has many attachments can simplify and attain freedom.
Simplicity is expressed beautifully in the Shaker Song:
Tis a gift to be simple Tis a gift to be free
Tis a gift to come down Where we ought to be
And when we find our selves In a place just right
'twill be in the valley Of love and delight. .
Our weekly quartet of spiritual practices can gradually lead you home. Join us, the benefits accumulate.
Frederick and the musicians will share Kirtan, Mantra, and other chants accompanied by traditional world instruments followed by Kriya Yoga Breathwork.
Self-Realization Meditation
Together, in the elevated wake of the music and Breathwork, we'll engage in deep Self Realization Meditation.
No prior experience with meditation is required, and friends are welcome. If you arrive late, simply enter quietly.
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Yes, most folks do, with a donation of $10 at the Gathering. Nobody will ask you for money. Please know contributions are deeply appreciated.
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