Living Consciously April 8, 2009

Dear friends,

Once I had the privilege of spending all day watching a small group of Tibetan Monks create a sand Mandala. First, they painstakingly filled long metal tube-like applicators with colored sand. With one pointed mindfulness they tapped out the sand creating intricate patterns, all of which were spiritually symbolic. Working together, the monks were, at various times, silent, chanting or laughing amongst themselves. They tolerated my occasional questions with sweet patience and boyish smiles.

That evening they performed an ancient ritual of chanting and dance. The elder monk blessed us with the white kurta scarf and then they gathered round the mandala, recited some prayers and swept the sand into a small urn. The beautiful patterns disappeared. None of them complained about how hard they had worked just to have their efforts destroyed. They were celebrating the temporal nature of life. The sand would be dispersed over the land as a blessing to the earth, a way of bringing healing to the planet.

There is a definite correlation between spiritual awakening and a healthy relationship to change. It seems that the more in touch we are with the infinite aspect of our own nature, the less we grasp onto the temporary and try to hold it in place. People and things have a right to grow, evolve and leave their blessings with us. We do not mourn the melting snow or the dead leaves. They each leave behind their gifts of moisture and nutrients for the soil so that new life may appear. All change is like that when we see it through the eyes of spiritual insight.

Peace and blessings,

Rev Carol Carnes

Living Consciously April 9,2009

Dear friends,

Sometimes the answer to a personal problem is in the right question. If we only ask why did this happen to me we will spin around in the egoic realm of self deception. The question has to be some version of what do I need to develop in myself to grow through this or rise above it?

This may seem like a strange analogy: In the news this week was a story of a dog, an Australian border collie who was swept overboard while sailing with his owners off the coast of Queensland. It was a stormy day and he could not be found. He swam five miles in shark infested waters and reached a small island. He lived alone for four months by hunting feral goat and drinking rain water. This is a dog who had been raised in suburban luxury and ease. Rangers found him this week and he was returned to his owners, nearly flattening them with joy and excitement at the reunion.

Point: Although he was a pampered pet, in life threatening circumstances he found the true dog within and took care of himself. He followed his instincts and found land, food, water and safety. When he was rescued he was as joyful as any of us might be and went right back to living in the house with the swimming pool and endless doggie treats.

There is an inexhaustible reservoir of wisdom and love and intelligence and creativity in us. Many of our troubles could be turned into adventures in self discovery if we ask the right questions and listen to our inner guidance.

Peace and Blessings,

Rev Carol Carnes