Sunday, March 9, 2008

Opening Meditation

Why?

"Why,---what are you?"
"I am the cry of the hungry mind."
"Why,---what do you signify?"
"I am the knocker on a closed door."
"Why,---What do you represent?"
"The owl which cannot see during the day."
"Why,---what is your complaint?"
"The irritation of the mind."
"Why,---what is your life condition?"
"I am shut up in a dark room."
"Why,---how long will your captivity last?"
"All night long."
"Why,---what are you so early waiting for?"
"The day-break."
"Why,---you are yourself the cover over the answer you want."
Hazrat Inayat Kham

Readings and Conversation

A Reading from Ezekiel 37:1-14

1 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
2And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and lo, they were very dry.
3And he said unto me, Son of Man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest.
4.Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.
5 Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
6And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and y;e shall know that I am the Lord.
7So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to h is bone.
8 And when I beheld, Lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, Son of man, and say to the wind. Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
10 So I prophesied as he commanded m e, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves.
14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.

A Reading from the Gospel of Mary

After saying this, the Blessed One greeted them all, saying "Peace be with you-may my Peace arise and be fulfilled within you! Be vigilant, and allow no one to mislead you by saying: "Here it is!" or "There it is!' for it is within you that the Son of Man [child of true humanity] dwells. Go to him, for those who seek him. find him. Walk forth, and announce the gospel of the Kingdom. Impose no law other than that which I have witnessed."

Closing Meditation:

"God is the partner of your most intimate soliloquies"
Victor Frankl




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