Christmas Season Reflections
Light and Spirit
It is interesting that in the Christian tradition we celebrate the coming of Jesus as Light with the passing of the shortest day of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere) and the gradual of light to the world. So there is something very important about the connection between Spirit and light.
What does physical light do? It enables us to see. So in some way Spirit and the presence of Spirit must enable us to perceive. I think that just as light clears away darkness, Spirit helps us perceive by clearing away our judgments. When I ponder the Gospels, I am struck by the contrast between the judgmental thinking of the culture and Jesus' refusal to judge.
This, for me, is the beauty in the story of Jesus. He didn't (and still doesn't) judge. Enlightenment is about seeing through our judgements. Our mind, or ego creates them, but the presence of Spirit illuminates them as the illusions they are. When we are enlightened we too are able to see our judgments as illusions and avoid taking action on them.
How are we to act if we are not judging? I don't know. But I find that describing is an antidote to judging. The more I force myself to explore a situation so I can describe it precisely AND completely the easier it is to notice my judgments as judgments and to separate from them. This can be very hard, because a judgment can feel so true, especially if I am judging someone who has hurt me. So a close relationship with Spirit helps here. I ask Spirit to help me perceive the way Spirit perceives. I may still respond firmly, even forcefully, but by disengaging from my judgments I am less likely to over-react, and more likely to notice if my choice of action is not yielding the results I want and therefore needs to be changed.
So as we approach the end of the decade, perhaps we can meditate to find the judgments we hold onto and ask Spirit to help us perceive more deeply. We do this so that we can act more effectively.
Logistic Note
No class on Tuesday 12/29/2009. Next class is on Tuesday 1/5/2010. (Yes! I got the year right the first time. We'll see how long that lasts.)
Interesting how St. John the Apostle also refers to Jesus as light. We can only hope we can co-operate with Spirit so that we can become what we are created to be. Interesting how you discuss the problem of judging. I, too. have read how Jesus was so non judgemental about others. I try to remind myself to take the beam out of my own eye before trying to take the speck from someone else´s eye. Madrid has so many beggars on almost every street corner and I have been trying not to be judgemental concerning why they are there. Best to say a prayer for them & when possibe leave a few cents to help them as best I can. It took me a while to learn this important lesson but we do get help from the Spirit if we ask.
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