This past year a very fine book came out with a title that seems to speak to our situation today. It is called We Were Made For These Times: 10 Lessons for Moving Through Change, Loss, and Disruption.
Its author is Kaira Jewel Lingo who was a nun in Thich Nhat Hanh’s Buddhist community for 16 years. Her reflections are drawn on that tradition, but she also includes teachings from Meister Eckhart and Thomas Merton and other Christian mystics.
Kaira Jewel is African American and her father was a minister who worked with Dr. King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He became a “devoted student of Thich Nhat Hahn” and was ordained a Buddhist Dharma teacher in 2008. She cites her father: When we see ourselves as victims, that is the separate self. When we see ourselves as beloved, that is no-self.
In the name of transparency, I confess that Kaira Jewel is a friend of mine now and she married my good friend Adam Bucko, with whom I co-authored the book, Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision For a New Generation, and who is an Episcopal priest in the diocese of Long Island. I was present for their memorable and ecumenical wedding and they share a common vision for an ecumenical monastery that is dedicated both to activism and to contemplation.
They have acquired a former Russian Orthodox monastery property located about 45 minutes north of New York City where they will put their vision into practice. Meanwhile, they are active in contemplation/action networking.
Is it true that, with all the concern and doom unleashed by election 2024, “we are made for these times”? One hopes so. One hopes we can rise to the challenge and develop both the deep spirituality and the smart and savvy political consciousness that can turn this lemon into lemonade. That we can participate in a re-doing of democracy and how we do it and put the brakes on climate denial and appeals to hatred and vengeance and stand up to an utterly corrupt and compromised unsupreme court and senate and media and bogus religion and value-free education and more.
One argument that we are “made for these times” is this: We are here. Each of us was born in these times of moving from modern to post-modern, from the age of Pisces to the age of Aquarius, from a time of religion to a time of spirituality. The fact that we are here is a pretty good argument that we are made for these times.
Joanna Macy, in her 90’s, attended a meeting I was part of a few years ago and when handed the microphone, said: Isn’t it wonderful that we are alive at this critical time for planet Earth and our species? What a privilege to be so chosen. All of us.
Tomorrow we will share some useful practices from Kaira Jewel for dealing with our grief and empowering us for the tasks ahead. For today, let me leave you with just one which is called a “Remembrance” of our mortality and that of our institutions, all things being impermanent.
Breathe in: All that is dear to me will change.
Breathe out: No escape from being separated from those I love.
Breathe in: My actions are the only thing I take with me.
Breathe out: There’s no escape from the consequences of my actions.
Repeat: My actions are my only true belongings.
I cannot escape the consequences of my actions.
My actions are the ground on which I stand.*
*Kaira Jewel Lingo, We Were Made For These Times: 10 Lessons for Moving Through Change, Loss, and Disruption, pp. 90, 70.
See Matthew Fox, “Meister Eckhart Meets Buddhism via Thich Nhat Hanh,” in Fox, Meister Eckhart: A Mystic-Warrior for Our Times, pp. 35-56.
And Fox, One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing From Global Faiths, “From Fromlessness, Nothingness”; “Meditations and Mindfulness,”, pp. 157-170, 189-217.
And Rev. Matthew Fox and Lama Tsomo, The Lotus & The Rose: A Conversation Between Tibetan Buddhism & Mystical Christianity.
And Fox, A Way To God: Thomas Merton’s Creation Spirituality Journey.
And Adam Bucko and Matthew Fox, Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision For a New Generation.
Banner Image: All things are transient: young monks clear the Hevajra Sand Mandala away, Tharlam Monastery, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal. Photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.
Queries for Contemplation
Are you beyond seeing yourself as a victim and instead seeing yourself as a beloved? What are the implications of that for working for social, economic, gender, racial and eco-justice? Do you agree that your actions are your only true belongings?
Recommended Reading
Meister Eckhart: A Mystic-Warrior For Our Time
While Matthew Fox recognizes that Meister Eckhart has influenced thinkers throughout history, he also wants to introduce Eckhart to today’s activists addressing contemporary crises. Toward that end, Fox creates dialogues between Eckhart and Carl Jung, Thich Nhat Hanh, Rabbi Heschel, Black Elk, Karl Marx, Rumi, Adrienne Rich, Dorothee Soelle, David Korten, Anita Roddick, Lily Yeh, M.C. Richards, and many others.
“Matthew Fox is perhaps the greatest writer on Meister Eckhart that has ever existed. (He) has successfully bridged a gap between Eckhart as a shamanistic personality and Eckhart as a post-modern mentor to the Inter-faith movement, to reveal just how cosmic Eckhart really is, and how remarkably relevant to today’s religious crisis! ” — Steven Herrmann, Author of Spiritual Democracy: The Wisdom of Early American Visionaries for the Journey Forward
One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Global Faiths
Matthew Fox calls on all the world traditions for their wisdom and their inspiration in a work that is far more than a list of theological position papers but a new way to pray—to meditate in a global spiritual context on the wisdom all our traditions share. Fox chooses 18 themes that are foundational to any spirituality and demonstrates how all the world spiritual traditions offer wisdom about each.“Reading One River, Many Wells is like entering the rich silence of a masterfully directed retreat. As you read this text, you reflect, you pray, you embrace Divinity. Truly no words can fully express my respect and awe for this magnificent contribution to contemporary spirituality.” –Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit
The Lotus & The Rose: A Conversation Between Tibetan Buddhism & Mystical Christianity
How can we move away from “us vs. them” thinking as our surroundings feel more divided and polarized than ever? Co-authors Matthew Fox and Lama Tsomo discuss how Tibetan Buddhism and Mystical Christianity answer this question from unique points of view, with many commonalities and practical tools to break down the barriers between us.
“The Lotus and the Rose is an extraordinary example of what can happen when spiritual leaders from different traditions open up and speak from the heart.” — Paul Chaffee, The Interfaith Observer.
A Way to God: Thomas Merton’s Creation Spirituality Journey
In A Way to God, Fox explores Merton’s pioneering work in interfaith, his essential teachings on mixing contemplation and action, and how the vision of Meister Eckhart profoundly influenced Merton in what Fox calls his Creation Spirituality journey.
“This wise and marvelous book will profoundly inspire all those who love Merton and want to know him more deeply.” — Andrew Harvey, author of The Hope: A Guide to Sacred Activism
Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation
Authors Adam Bucko and Matthew Fox encourage us to use our talents in service of compassion and justice and to move beyond our broken systems–economic, political, educational, and religious–discovering a spirituality that not only helps us to get along, but also encourages us to reevaluate our traditions, transforming them and in the process building a more sacred and just world. Incorporating the words of young activist leaders culled from interviews and surveys, the book provides a framework that is deliberately interfaith and speaks to our profound yearning for a life with spiritual purpose and for a better world.
“Occupy Spirituality is a powerful, inspiring, and vital call to embodied awareness and enlightened actions.”
~~ Julia Butterfly Hill, environmental activist and author of The Legacy of Luna: The Story of a Tree, a Woman, and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods
6 thoughts on “From Buddhism: More Spiritual Practices To Deal with Grief”
We grieve because we have an unnecessary fear of ‘losing our comfort zone’. People generally like to take the easy way versus one of faith, discipleship and sacrifice. Many would rather sleepwalk through life and not be any more than what they were when entering this ‘temporal’ life. Let us not grieve and cry during this opportunity to build our faith in any and all circumstances that St. Paul told us of. There is a spiritual battle going on and we have been invited into it and we cannot revoke the invitation. We are advised then to put on the ‘full armour of God’. — BB.
See Ephesians 6:10-18 –“10 … be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, … stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, … . 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, …. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,…”
I don’t understand what Rachel Maddie means when she says we (the Democrats) are going to spend their lives working for democracy? Surely, surely, surely we have just SEEN democracy at work. There was an election – just as there was four years ago and will be in another four years – and the citizens of this country had the opportunity to cast a vote. They did, and more citizens voted for a different candidate to the one you wanted. What on earth is wrong or undemocratic about that? I’d love to know. I find much of this deeply hypocritical, sour grapes and a sign of bad losers. You can’t assume that everyone should think as you do; and if that is the case, take to the streets – and the pulpits – and explain better than you have why they should.
All the books recommended in today’s DM seem to be excellent to help Us with our grieving process, and maintaining Our FAITH in GOD’S PRESENCE of DIVINE LOVE in Our hearts~Eternal Souls, and DIVINE WILL in Our daily compassionate actions with one another in Our Beautiful Sacred Mother Earth within Our LOVING Evolving Spiritual multidimensional/multiverse ETERNAL DIVERSE ONENESS COSMOS… COSMIC CHRIST CONSCIOUSNESS….
GREAT ! Someone else actually doing “ecumenology” as well as ecology and economy.
They would be most interested in the Sacred Quaternity of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water !
May they journey in joy and jubilation with Wonder, Love, and Praise to Self and No-Self.
Tree-Fully
DAS
I’ve been a peace activist one way or another since my son was 4 years old. He was “the littlest volunteer” in the office of ProPeace as we launched The Great Peace March in 1985. He’s now almost 44, and things are far worse now than they were then when worked for a Comprehensive Test Ban and the eventual elimination of nuclear arms. But I will never see myself as a victim.
When I moved to Arizona, I exchanged overt peace activism for letting Spirit speak through me in the writing of stage plays that might work through art to change hearts and minds. Although some of my plays are simply flat-out comedies (much needed in these times), I hope that by improving my writing, I will be ready when God gives me a truly powerful play that will work to change enough hearts and minds to make a difference. You might say I’m fooling myself or fooling others around me, but I don’t see it that way. Last year, we self-produced my play “La Posada” that looks back at the peace movement of the 1980s, hoping to encourage everyone to use whatever their skills are to make positive change. My mantra for years has been “I am not in charge of outcomes. I am only in charge of doing the best I can at any given moment.” I am not a victim. I am a beloved child of God, and as such, I do what I can to give back.
I find hope easier now that the beast has a recognized power position than when it was constantly barking, grabbing everyone’s attention, and them not doing anything (eg judge decided not to sentence a convicted felon, to not interrupt an election).
My hope comes from the words of Eugene Gendlin. They are easier to understand when we jump out of our usual unit model paradigm of things and hierarchies, none of which is suited to living systems. He wrote,
“Your physically felt body is in fact part of a gigantic system of here and other places, now and other times, you and other people—in fact, the whole universe. This sense of being bodily alive in a vast system is the body as it is felt from the inside.” (Focusing, 1976).
Let us plough down into who we are, sensing our unique and tangible feelings, in touch with whole situations as lived through each of us. Let us be confident in who we are and how life seeks unique expression, precisely in exact circumstances. There is no fooling what is real. Truth to power. Being and acting. That’s where I find hope.