It is popular today to entertain the question; "What is your favorite superpower?" I think part of our fascination with Jesus is that he demonstrated a desirable superpower and was the equivalent of a superhero to those of his day.
My answer to this question is that the superpower I desire is one given to me by virtue of being a child of G-d - the ability to heal all suffering of emotion and thought, and to do so almost instantly. What the church has not realized is that we all havve this power and it requires ony exercising with the help of a guide who understands the anatomy of the soul, just as a physical trainer must understaqnd the anatomy of the body.
This anatomy of the soul I must point out is one of the most neglected firlds of study in religious education. We `would rather invent new menings of terms to validate our sectarian theological positions.
Do understand I am not talking about instantaneous healing of the body - though that is apparently possible I believe – but of the soul, the seat of suffering. In our imaturity we lack the conviction, the faith, and knowledge that we can change the physicality in a predictable and consistent way. We may grant that some “have the gift” but it is not for everyone.
But let us use the metaphors of science to help us understand our predicament and begin to decipher the equation matter = energy = information as it relates to healing..
The Physicists tell us - through extending our sensory perception with instruments - that looked at one way, the universe apears as a constellation of "particles", yet looked at another way it is a wavelike motion of energy - though we do not know what that IS. This energy can further be broken down by the mind into simple information - relative information only – situational meanings, for we are not able now to see beyond our own filters, the glass darkly as St. Paul put it.
How this relates to our own experience is that the body sometimes appears as a solid form and sometimes is experienced as an identity of fluid movement of sensations - as energy in manifestations of thought, attitufe. and emotion. Along with this observation a meaning develops. The meaning is not a sperate reality but an integral "felt meaning” which involves the whole of our experiencing and memories of experience and hopes for future experience.
Furether, observing that the body seems sometimes a solid, and sometimes as vibrating or wavelike surges and floods of energy via thoughts and emotions, and sometimes as a dreamlike imagining of pure symbol and geometric beauty, frees us back into the liberating mystery of not knowing, and not having to know what this thing is - the force of life - that appears as many, yet is only one just like the particle and wave are a single unity and not two things. This helps me loosen the strangle hold of my judgments and opinions which steal my joy as they increase my suffering and sense of separation in the flow of life
This state of flow is what we seek and we find confirmation in the word for heaven in the aramaic - shemaya - which has the meaning of space and vibration, rather than place or thing. This is related to Malchuta or “queendom”, being the “Presence” of G-d.
In this co-mingled union of Presence; possibilities of communion, mystical contemplation, answered prayer, inspired guidance and many healings increase. These profound aspects of Divine immanence play within our awareness as the shifting patterns of a kaleidoscope. Metaphorically this interactive Presence might be picturesqly termed walking with G-d, in the same sense of the Genesis story of G-d walking the garden with Adam and Eve and communicating in a comprehendible way.
Certainly, at least, our sense of separation begins to dissolve at an ever increasing pace. And we discover, at least energetically, that what we can feel we can heal – meaning: all the traumas of the past can be brought to naught and all the buttons that trigger our unhappiness may be irrevocably defused. From this place of inner peace I find love comes naturally and all the commandments are thus fulfilled.
In my mind, whether we are talking Buddha (known as the Great Physician) or Christ, the spiritual path is better understood as a path of healing. This removes us from the divisiveness of theological abstractions and faulty logic, and places the “proof” directly in the deepening experience of love and happiness in all relationships; self, other and G-d – Alaha in the Armaic.
A church – as a community of persons - that fails in its healing ministry must perpetuate the idea of a heaven and happiness far removed from this life in time and place. And it must know that it betrays the Jesus it takes its commission from. How shall such a church in conscience call itself Christian?
Yes, body and circumstance may remain in bondage for yet a while as seeds sown must yet be reaped; seeds of our doing, seeds of our ancestors. But a higher authority rules the spirit and its will is love, peace and joy - regardless of circumstance. Its will is available now in the ministry of healing. Yes, I honor G-d’s wisdom in being patient with my infirmities, but I honor G-d more in the active pursuit of the restoration of my soul in G-d;s merciful and gracious joy./Will we accept it – giving our hands our heart and mind to the task of restoring this divine image and superpower hidden within each of us?
© Arjay, 2009, All rights reserved
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Church as Healer III
The Mystic Joaquin de Fiore had a vision of a church without walls. It was a church under the direction of the Holy Spirit. It is this church I speak to now.
To properly understand such a church we need to be clear on the words. Church never was a building or a professional ministry. It was a group of people teaching and learning from one another’s experience. Holy means set apart, being that which is beyond corruption. Spirit in every language means literally breath and is linked to the Life energy and creative energy of the source behind all things. Do not let the word energy scare you/ It simply means that which does the work. We do not know what that energy is and different cultural and even scientific systems have different names for it, yet we can not see it directly, only its effects.
We are used to thinking of the intervention of the Holy Breath as manifesting in dramatic ways, including the miraculous. Yet any expectations in that regard are our impositions and the Holy Breath is not bound by our concepts of it. Neither is it bound by our religious orientation, as scripture speaks of it being poured out on all people.
Incoruptible breath as icorruttible energy is the highly experiential "Presence " (Wisdom, Shekina) of G-d. G-d is that spirit-breath and we are called to worship in spirit-breath. This experiential aspect of worship is what we are to strive for as the basis of healing, answered prayer, scripural revelation, and daily coversation with G-d. To not understand this is to cheat people out of their natural right to commune with G-d directly.
I believe we are in the days of the outpouring of the Holy Breath upon its church. This seems evident in so many ways; The advent of numerous theraputic “touch” therapies and healing techniques. The rise of energy based healing techniques like Reiki, The recent explosion of workers and researchers in “Energy Psychology”.which addresses the need for emotional and attitudinal healing. I believe this is a beginning of a new movement of the Holy Breath to heal its children. Yet Its children must be willing to answer the call.
There are of course professional healers who use these spiritual methods and there is likely to remain a need for some “experts”, Yet many work with these practices out of the love and generosity of their own spirit. It is to these I address this message. Come, learn, heal, teach and bring this service, this ministry, to the tired traditions of your religious institutions. We need to heal the conflicts and wound within us, between us, and outside us and we have the tools to begin.
© Arjay, 2009, All rights reserved
.
..
To properly understand such a church we need to be clear on the words. Church never was a building or a professional ministry. It was a group of people teaching and learning from one another’s experience. Holy means set apart, being that which is beyond corruption. Spirit in every language means literally breath and is linked to the Life energy and creative energy of the source behind all things. Do not let the word energy scare you/ It simply means that which does the work. We do not know what that energy is and different cultural and even scientific systems have different names for it, yet we can not see it directly, only its effects.
We are used to thinking of the intervention of the Holy Breath as manifesting in dramatic ways, including the miraculous. Yet any expectations in that regard are our impositions and the Holy Breath is not bound by our concepts of it. Neither is it bound by our religious orientation, as scripture speaks of it being poured out on all people.
Incoruptible breath as icorruttible energy is the highly experiential "Presence " (Wisdom, Shekina) of G-d. G-d is that spirit-breath and we are called to worship in spirit-breath. This experiential aspect of worship is what we are to strive for as the basis of healing, answered prayer, scripural revelation, and daily coversation with G-d. To not understand this is to cheat people out of their natural right to commune with G-d directly.
I believe we are in the days of the outpouring of the Holy Breath upon its church. This seems evident in so many ways; The advent of numerous theraputic “touch” therapies and healing techniques. The rise of energy based healing techniques like Reiki, The recent explosion of workers and researchers in “Energy Psychology”.which addresses the need for emotional and attitudinal healing. I believe this is a beginning of a new movement of the Holy Breath to heal its children. Yet Its children must be willing to answer the call.
There are of course professional healers who use these spiritual methods and there is likely to remain a need for some “experts”, Yet many work with these practices out of the love and generosity of their own spirit. It is to these I address this message. Come, learn, heal, teach and bring this service, this ministry, to the tired traditions of your religious institutions. We need to heal the conflicts and wound within us, between us, and outside us and we have the tools to begin.
© Arjay, 2009, All rights reserved
.
..
Monday, September 21, 2009
Church as Healer II
Missiongathering Christian Church has a slogan: "Christianity for all". It sounds wonderful, as does the slogan on its home page (which I wrote).
Yet, aside from its gay ministry there is little different here. The same values are supported of serving family and children and getting a (Church) "home" - family including gay marriages of course .
The other suffering souls will likely not find much attention to healing here. How different the Gospels would read if Jesus said he had decided to cut back of the healing thing as it’s a bit flamboyant. How different would Churches be today if healing the hurting soul had a high priority? Jesus preached to it must be noted but there is no sign he thought that was enough, so why should our ministers think preaching G-d is all that is required?
Of course the "gifts" of healing may not be as abundant today, yet should that stop us from using the gifts we have? Perhaps if we take this first step the Holy Spirit will come again in power.
Loosing job, car, home, credit, possessions and friends almost overnight does give one a different perspective on things. One insight might be this: Charity is good, yet often is used (abused?) by those who do not need it and sometimes received too make the giver feel good. The true need is a healing and that may require literally taking someone’s hand and supporting them through a transition. That too is healing. The soul of everyone is worth saving.
Is this beginning to sound more militant?
© Arjay, 2009, All rights reserved.
Yet, aside from its gay ministry there is little different here. The same values are supported of serving family and children and getting a (Church) "home" - family including gay marriages of course .
The other suffering souls will likely not find much attention to healing here. How different the Gospels would read if Jesus said he had decided to cut back of the healing thing as it’s a bit flamboyant. How different would Churches be today if healing the hurting soul had a high priority? Jesus preached to it must be noted but there is no sign he thought that was enough, so why should our ministers think preaching G-d is all that is required?
Of course the "gifts" of healing may not be as abundant today, yet should that stop us from using the gifts we have? Perhaps if we take this first step the Holy Spirit will come again in power.
Loosing job, car, home, credit, possessions and friends almost overnight does give one a different perspective on things. One insight might be this: Charity is good, yet often is used (abused?) by those who do not need it and sometimes received too make the giver feel good. The true need is a healing and that may require literally taking someone’s hand and supporting them through a transition. That too is healing. The soul of everyone is worth saving.
Is this beginning to sound more militant?
© Arjay, 2009, All rights reserved.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Church as Healer
My book in process is called The Betrayal of Love and Wisdom. It could also be called the betrayal of Jesu and the Holy Spirit, One betrayal of love is the betrayal of the healing ministry He charged his disciples with. We focus on Jesus’ physical healings but Jesu was the pattern of the “cure of souls” in spiritual guidance, which seeks to release our bondage and baggage – which goes far beyond preaching and even prayer. The Church is here, I believe, to “set the captives free.”
Yet how many are in bondage, even daily to bouts of fear, anger, jealousy, loneliness and even the numbness of indifference. The most common psychological problem is fear and it lies at the heart of many others. Perfect love may cast out fear but love often requires action in the form of therapeutic intervention. Without such intervention, our love is held in bondage and despite good works of charity en mass, Christians are seen as hypocrites in their daily lives.
To appeal to the baser motives of the church - which is the desire to grow and be prosperous; note that the largest selling category of non-fiction books is the self-help market. Yet do some ministers look in horror that many turn to yoga or other eastern meditation and healing arts for relief they did not find in the church, Some ministers supposing this to be the betrayal of the Gospels. They remind me of the Christian Scientist that would let their child die rather than get medicine from a doctor.
Shouldn’t it be obvious then that the flock is not being tended? A church that counts among its members, those cured of PTSD and a growing list of diagnostic labels are likely to be faithful members - and generous. I can not fathom how a minister can relegate healing to non spiritually based professional disciplines with mediocre track records, or on the other hand, leave it to the miraculous power of prayer, which too often is just passing the buck.
In light of the above I do understand how the mere mention of Christianity for many of my friends is a laughing matter. That ministers may be uncomfortable with this new role of the church I have no doubt. That Jesu could want this I also have no doubt. I cry His tears when I take communion and remember His love.
I have spent the last year prayerfully trying to seed this vision in my own church. If I fail, I fear only that it will be a failure for all of us. And if my single voice is silenced now by apathy and tradition, I trust the Holy Spirit is already preparing other voices to follow. As my vision is an interfaith ministry, perhaps a grander vision is in order, of an interfaith free soul clinic. This might wake up the church, to do the right thing.
© Arjay, 2009, All rights reserved.
Yet how many are in bondage, even daily to bouts of fear, anger, jealousy, loneliness and even the numbness of indifference. The most common psychological problem is fear and it lies at the heart of many others. Perfect love may cast out fear but love often requires action in the form of therapeutic intervention. Without such intervention, our love is held in bondage and despite good works of charity en mass, Christians are seen as hypocrites in their daily lives.
To appeal to the baser motives of the church - which is the desire to grow and be prosperous; note that the largest selling category of non-fiction books is the self-help market. Yet do some ministers look in horror that many turn to yoga or other eastern meditation and healing arts for relief they did not find in the church, Some ministers supposing this to be the betrayal of the Gospels. They remind me of the Christian Scientist that would let their child die rather than get medicine from a doctor.
Shouldn’t it be obvious then that the flock is not being tended? A church that counts among its members, those cured of PTSD and a growing list of diagnostic labels are likely to be faithful members - and generous. I can not fathom how a minister can relegate healing to non spiritually based professional disciplines with mediocre track records, or on the other hand, leave it to the miraculous power of prayer, which too often is just passing the buck.
In light of the above I do understand how the mere mention of Christianity for many of my friends is a laughing matter. That ministers may be uncomfortable with this new role of the church I have no doubt. That Jesu could want this I also have no doubt. I cry His tears when I take communion and remember His love.
I have spent the last year prayerfully trying to seed this vision in my own church. If I fail, I fear only that it will be a failure for all of us. And if my single voice is silenced now by apathy and tradition, I trust the Holy Spirit is already preparing other voices to follow. As my vision is an interfaith ministry, perhaps a grander vision is in order, of an interfaith free soul clinic. This might wake up the church, to do the right thing.
© Arjay, 2009, All rights reserved.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
