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| ROSE AND LOTUS SPIRITUAL PRACTICE |
The rose and the lotus are unfolding flowers, both used to represent
the opening of wisdom and compassion; the former specifically in
the Sufi Tradition and the latter in Buddhist and Hindu art and
literature. The great wisdom paths share many of the same goals and
answer the same aspirations. That is why they have been singled out
as the "perennial philosophy" which runs through the world's great
religions, art forms and systems of psychology.
While it is often best to find our way to a specific path and a teacher
or community that will guide us, hold a mirror up for us, open our
inner eye and heart through consistent work--such paths will be most
productive when we have already learned to experience full
"presence" as the Sufi's say, or "mindfulness" as the Buddha taught.
Rose & Lotus Practice in a simple way takes us into, 1) essential
one-pointed meditation, 2) the insight meditation allowing
mindfulness and critical awareness, 3) self-directed contemplation
or "taking stock" of our actions in the world and our intentions, and
4) the ability to move toward compassion by practicing
non-judgmentalism. It makes use therefore of silent meditation, the
inculcation of openness allowing for practices such as contemplation
of music and teaching texts (from sutras to parables to poetry)
designed through the millennia for these purposes.
Having a grounding in contemplative techniques has become an
increasingly important way of finding who we really are in our
accelerating world and lives with their maddening demands. And yet
the signs all around us say that if we do not evolve as conscious
beings, if our wisdom and understanding do not evolve to higher
levels now--the evolution of technological knowledge will tear us
apart, both individually and as a community, society and world.
In Buddhism, Sufism, Kabbalah,Vedanta and the "higher" yoga
the essentials of contemplative practice overlap. In Rose & Lotus
Practice individuals may learn about any of these traditions, while
working experientially to find simplicity: the Now that unfolds.
To that end participants in the contemplative circle or in individual
spiritual counseling, learn simply to be. They abide in their breath
until fully present. They detach from jumping and bumping mind of
the little ego or self. It is only then that the compassion we all want
and need can arise. Then we can move to the moments of ecstasy
when we are in love with the cosmos as a living system -- so we
directed ourselves toward it as the spiritual "Friend" the "Beloved"
in the Sufi terminology that is now common due to the vast
popularity of Rumi and the other Sufi masters and poets. The goal is
to be able to say "I am alone" while meaning "I am all One" as the
Buddha put it.
As scientifically based organizations like the Mind and Life Institute
have shown; and organizations like the Center for Contemplative
Mind in Society have put in practice in universities and institutions
around the country -- science is increasingly demonstrating the
radical individual and social value of meditation and mindful,
critical awareness. This is how the future, if it is not to be forfeited
for any and all of us, will unfold and open.
the opening of wisdom and compassion; the former specifically in
the Sufi Tradition and the latter in Buddhist and Hindu art and
literature. The great wisdom paths share many of the same goals and
answer the same aspirations. That is why they have been singled out
as the "perennial philosophy" which runs through the world's great
religions, art forms and systems of psychology.
While it is often best to find our way to a specific path and a teacher
or community that will guide us, hold a mirror up for us, open our
inner eye and heart through consistent work--such paths will be most
productive when we have already learned to experience full
"presence" as the Sufi's say, or "mindfulness" as the Buddha taught.
Rose & Lotus Practice in a simple way takes us into, 1) essential
one-pointed meditation, 2) the insight meditation allowing
mindfulness and critical awareness, 3) self-directed contemplation
or "taking stock" of our actions in the world and our intentions, and
4) the ability to move toward compassion by practicing
non-judgmentalism. It makes use therefore of silent meditation, the
inculcation of openness allowing for practices such as contemplation
of music and teaching texts (from sutras to parables to poetry)
designed through the millennia for these purposes.
Having a grounding in contemplative techniques has become an
increasingly important way of finding who we really are in our
accelerating world and lives with their maddening demands. And yet
the signs all around us say that if we do not evolve as conscious
beings, if our wisdom and understanding do not evolve to higher
levels now--the evolution of technological knowledge will tear us
apart, both individually and as a community, society and world.
In Buddhism, Sufism, Kabbalah,Vedanta and the "higher" yoga
the essentials of contemplative practice overlap. In Rose & Lotus
Practice individuals may learn about any of these traditions, while
working experientially to find simplicity: the Now that unfolds.
To that end participants in the contemplative circle or in individual
spiritual counseling, learn simply to be. They abide in their breath
until fully present. They detach from jumping and bumping mind of
the little ego or self. It is only then that the compassion we all want
and need can arise. Then we can move to the moments of ecstasy
when we are in love with the cosmos as a living system -- so we
directed ourselves toward it as the spiritual "Friend" the "Beloved"
in the Sufi terminology that is now common due to the vast
popularity of Rumi and the other Sufi masters and poets. The goal is
to be able to say "I am alone" while meaning "I am all One" as the
Buddha put it.
As scientifically based organizations like the Mind and Life Institute
have shown; and organizations like the Center for Contemplative
Mind in Society have put in practice in universities and institutions
around the country -- science is increasingly demonstrating the
radical individual and social value of meditation and mindful,
critical awareness. This is how the future, if it is not to be forfeited
for any and all of us, will unfold and open.
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