LOVELIGHT
Magazine
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April 2004*** Vol. 1, no. 4
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Edited by Ada Maria and Richard Francis, rmfrancis@juno.com
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Contributors to this issue [in alphabetical order]: Maribee Butler, Loretta Carrier, Loren Ekroth, Gail England, Pat Fields, Mark Franzen, Sandi Grubb, Thomas Reynolds, Ty Scharrer, Larkin Sell, Amy Treadway. From the previous issue, special acknowledgments to Pat Helms and Cinda Miller.
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NOTE: To order
previous issues of Lovelight magazine please send orders to: rmfrancis@loveministries.org
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NEWS FROM U.L.T.R.A.
The latest news from the Universal Love Teaching and Research Association (U.L.T.R.A.) is very good indeed! We have just republished the book Jehovah, Good-bye: the “New Theism” of Love. Formerly, this book was larger, and cost about ten dollars. The reformatted version contains a brand-new very detailed index, which makes this book excellent for serious reading or study, and now, costs only $5.95. The book takes a historical overview-position in its analysis of the “Jehovah-myth,” a god of savagery, brutality, unfairness, violence, and atrocity. It very powerfully recommends the mystical God of pure Love as the alternative. This book is recommended for anyone who grew up with the fundamentalist god of terrifying Armageddon or everlasting “hellfire.” It is a very healing and reasonable book. Without becoming too technical, it seeks to blend reason and compassion in addressing the reader. This book, btw, would make an inexpensive, and possibly life-changing, gift. At this new price, you can also order multiple copies. While you’re at it, why not order also the companion episode of the “Heartmind” radio program, which aired in April? Order from: rmfrancis@juno.com
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FENG SHUI CORNER
Yesterday, March 23 is [the Chinese goddess of compassion] Kwan Yin's birthday.
She is believed to hear the prayers and to grant the wishes of those who appeal to her for children, prosperity, and harmonious families. Kwan Yin has been likened to the Virgin Mary because of her purity, her wisdom, and the miracles she performs. She is usually shown dressed in white robes with her hair hooded.
Put images of fruit and other food in the east area of your dining room to represent the sustenance and abundance that you want to attract to your home and table.
The Chinese zodiac animals that represent spring are the Tiger, Rabbit, and Dragon. They rule the directions of NE/E, E, and E/SE and are governed by the element of wood, which represents new growth.
The Tiger represents the awakening of life (in the form of spring) and is symbolized by a wriggling earthworm.
The Rabbit represents vegetation breaking through the soil and is symbolized by an open gate.
The Dragon represents seeding and new plant growth, and is symbolized by thunderstorms.
Don't allow the trunk of a tree to face your front door. It will block your view of the world outside and will obstruct beneficial chi.
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CHANGING A LIGHT BULB THE CHRISTIAN WAY, sent in by Sandi Grubb
***
How many Christians does it take to change a light bulb?
Charismatic: Only 1. Hands are already in the air.***Pentecostal: 10. One to
change the bulb, and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness.***Presbyterians:
None. Lights will go on and off at predestined times.***Roman Catholic: None
Candles only.***Baptists: At least 15. One to change the light bulb, and three
committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad and
fried chicken.***Episcopalians: 3. One to call the electrician, one to mix the
drinks and one to talk about how much better the old one was.***Mormons: 5. One
man to change the bulb, and four wives to tell him how to do it.***Unitarians:
We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a
light bulb. However, if in your own journey you have found that light bulbs
work for you, you are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about
your light bulb for the next Sunday service, in which we will explore a number
of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, 3-way, long-life
and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.***Methodists:
Undetermined. Whether your light is bright, dull, or completely out, you are
loved. You can be a light bulb, turnip bulb, or tulip bulb. Bring a bulb of
your choice to the Sunday lighting service and a covered dish to pass.***Nazarene:
6. One woman to replace the bulb while five men review church lighting policy.***Lutherans:
None. Lutherans don't believe in change.***Amish: What's a light bulb?***Jehovah’s
Witnesses: Five: One to make sure
that the bulbs are made by Witnesses, not by Satan’s world, two to sell
the bulbs, one to keep track of the money, and one to stock bulbs for the end
of the world.***Christian mystics:
You cannot “change bulbs”; you can change only the mind.
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LOVELETTERS FROM FRIENDS, PALS, AND BUDS
***
I can see God in your words. They comfort so much... and make me strong. They will give strength to my friends who also need the gentle love and faith in eternity [that] your words provide.... We just dread that separation [in death] from... anyone we love, we are so tied up in this physical existence. It is, for the most part, all we know, but we have to keep seeking the eternal reality in order to survive this plane.
Your statement about loving even more in the eternal reality, without the limited and flawed body, makes so much sense. How often have I been less than loving because of hormones, or my head hurt...?
My senses are dull and limited, but I am blessed to be with those who see and know so much more, who relay true reality to me, and I do believe.
They say when you throw a pebble into the cosmic pond, to be sure your ripples are loving and positive ones. You have the sweetest, kindest and most loving ripples, thank you, bless you.
...I do hope you know how much of a difference you make every day. I was going thru my home email this morning, which is where you send the newsletters, and it just is so amazing how much good and insight and knowledge and peace you bring every day to people. This has to be a full time job, or passion, for you. Of particular note was the email where you stated that you have to choose to be happy; it doesn't just happen. Sometimes I think things should just "happen", such as finding peace inside, just because I have taken this path to find my way home--"oh, boy, I've learned "the secret", now it will all come easy to me". Its a learning experience every day, isn't it? It makes one stronger, but it just doesn't "happen". Thank heavens for your words to help make me think and learn.
...I have come to experience that I never regret any choice made as a result of love. It never feels wrong. Sometimes its difficult to hear thru the "noise" of the body or the outside world but, thanks to listening to you, more decisions are being made with the heart in the right place.
...I think its un Christian [to hate gays]. Christ told us to love one another as He loved us, and to judge not lest we be likewise judged. I think there is a lot of homophobia that is driving a lot of this [bigotry], all under the guise of being "Christian" (yet pulling all the support from the Old Testament, I challenge anyone to find anywhere in the New Testament where Christ said "Love one another, but not gays".)
I am not gay. But it is not my job to judge their lifestyle, so long as it is between consenting adults, just as it should be in a heterosexual relationship.
I also think its a
flagrant conflict to the Constitution's dictate for a separation of Church and
State.
Love eternally and
forever,
Sandi [Sandra
Grubb]
***
Dear Richard,
It isn't said often enough, so I am writing to let you know how much your work is appreciated. Every time a [email Universal Love] “Digest” comes out with a post in it from you, it is appreciated. Each time you take your precious moments and spend them answering a question about the Way, it is appreciated.
Thank you for the work you do, sharing your experience and wisdom, and the many ways in which you share it-- through the [“Universal Love] Digest,” through the Ezine, through the website and radio show, and of course, through your many books. Your work nourishes souls, and not just mine...
Thank you, from the bottomless substructure of my eternal Self.
love and a hug,
maribee
[Mary Butler]
***
Dear Richard,
Thanks so much for your warmness and accepting spirit. I do have a question, which is a concern of mine. Where do we park if we would attend your Sunday gathering? John and I discussed this and I am not sure where to park, perhaps we could park at Kroger's and do a shuttle? All aboard the Buttercupbungalow shuttle please!... I have passed that house for 40 some years!...
The invitation to meet with you for a couple of hours elates me,... Yes a cup of reali-tea will be enjoyable and refreshing....
I really want my Mom to hear this tape [of the “Heartmind” radioshow]. I have talked to her about you and she has indicated that she is interested in learning more about what you have to say. I don't know if she will ever be able to grasp the nondualistic approach or not, she is close to 80. Yes it is obvious that you and Ron have a good time doing the radio program.... John and I usually go to walk our dog and exercise, then we get a sandwich and sit in the car and listen to you guys on Sundays. Often we will look at each other and burst out laughing at something that you guys have said, or at one of Ron's reactions to something. We find you both a hoot!
Maria is a lovely person, and I felt at ease around her the moment that we met. I am happy that you have such a wonderful companion to share your life with....
May the warm gentle winds of truth, honesty, and love always comfort and sustain you along your way.
Yours,
Thomas
[Reynolds]
***
Yes, I certainly did [receive the March issue of Lovelight magazine], and I enjoyed every part of it. You spend so much time and energy on
all the online stuff, and I want to thank you for that. There aren't many places any more where
one can find positively satisfying material, and I view the [“Universal
Love] Digest” and Lovelight as real lifelines. Thanks again.
Love,
Loretta [Carrier]
***
...I have so enjoyed reading the
[“Universal Love] Digest” the last week or so with all of the
post regarding spirituality, "The Passion," Jesus, etc. SO much
good stuff, I wish I could mention it by content.
There was a comment... recently,
that I particularly appreciated... regarding all of the political talk
that is now going on. It said something like "during this
time even if we are struggling with the issues or persons, that we
must continue to remember all are "full spiritual
bodies", Something like that (I probably slaughtered that)
but it echoed my thoughts as I listen to the talk that surrounds us via tv,
radio, internet, etc. Even when I don't like what is going on
with war, the country, the president, etc, I feel I must
continue to show respect for the humans involved,... So thank you for
reminding us of that.
Lucky for all, I don't have
volumes to say these days, but wanted to say thank you all for your post,
and I also wanted to share my Zen calendar reading for yesterday....
"Restless man's mind is, so
strongly shaken in the grip of the senses:
Gross and grown hard with stubborn
desire for what is worldly.
How shall he tame it?
Truly I think the wind is no
wilder."
--Bhagavad Gita
Thank you and much love to all,
Gail [England, aka
“Flowersun”]
***
[A letter
to a third party:] ...We are so-o fortunate to have him at our beck and call at
this point in our existence. He has cleared so many things up for
me. His ability to call upon all the great theologies to answer my
questions is really powerful to my continued growth in the spirit. To
find such an individual during our time here is truly empowering and
comforting. He has, through his words of wisdom, allowed me to audit
numerous courses in the “School of Hard Knocks” rather
than actually fully “enrolling” and being shackled by them.
His influence can be major.
Mark
[Franzen]
***
[Re
Maribee’s article on suicide in the March 04 issue:] Thank you, Richard,
for this touching article.
Blessings,
Loren
[Ekroth]
Website: www.conversation-matters.com
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SOME SPIRITUAL QUOTABLE QUOTES: WORDS TO LIVE BY, edited by Loretta Carrier
“That which propels us to say yes to our callings can save the world.” -- Gregg Levoy.***"What do you want more or less of in your life, so that you can love the life [that] you're living?" -- Sarah Ban Breathnach.***"A man's a success if he... does what he wants to do." -- Bob Dylan.***"Our happiness or our unhappiness depends
far more on the way we meet the events of life than on the nature of those
events themselves." -- Wilhelm von Humboldt.***"When one door closes, another opens: but we often look so long and so
regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for
us." -- Alexander Graham Bell.***“There are four essential qualities of a healer: trust, faith, love and humility.”--Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.***"Nourishing the soul means making sure [that] I attend to those things that give my life richness and depth of meaning." -- Robert Fulghum.***"Through the grace of God we have different gifts. If our gift is preaching, let us preach to the limit of our vision. If it is serving others, let us
concentrate on our service; if it is teaching let us give all that we have to our
teaching; and if our gift is stimulating the faith of others let us set
ourselves to it. Let the man who is called to give, give freely;... and let the man who feels sympathy for his fellows in distress help them cheerfully." -- Romans 12:6-8 (Phillips’ translation).***"Your work is to discover your work, and then, with all your heart, to give yourself to it." -- the Buddha.
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HUMOR THERAPY:
LAUGHING AND LOVING IT!
SOME GREAT TWO-LINERS, sent in by Larken Sell
1) When I die, I want to go peacefully, like my grandfather, who left the earth in his sleep. Not screaming like the passengers in his car. ***2) Advice: If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache, do what it says on the aspirin bottle: "Take two aspirin" and "Keep away from children." ***3)"Instead of getting married again, I'm going to find a woman I don't like, and just give her a house." --Rod Stewart ***4) "Relationships are hard. It's like a full time job, and we should treat it like one. If your boyfriend or girlfriend wants to leave you, he/she should give you two weeks' notice. There should be severance pay, and before he/she leaves you, he/she should have to find you a temp." --Bob Ettinger ***5) "My Mom said she learned how to swim when someone took her out in the lake and threw her off the boat. I said, 'Mom, they weren't trying to teach you how to swim." --Paula Poundstone ***6) "Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant? I'm halfway through my fish burger and I realize, I could be eating a slow learner."--Lynda Montgomery***
7) "Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same."--Oscar Wilde***
8) "Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself." --Mark Twain***9) Women complain of pre-menstrual syndrome. But I think of it as the only time of the month that I can be myself." --Roseanne***10) Do you know why they call it "PMS"? Because "Mad Cow Disease" was taken. --Unknown, presumed deceased.
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Rodney
Dangerfield's One-Liners:
1. I was so poor growing
up, if I hadn’t been a boy,
I'd’ve had nothing
to play with.
2. A girl phoned me the
other day and said, "Come on
over; nobody's home.
"I went over. Nobody was home.
3. During sex, my
girlfriend always wants to talk to
me. Just the other night
she called me from a hotel.
4. It's been a rough day.
I got up this morning, and put
a shirt on; and a button
fell off. I picked up my
briefcase, and the handle
came off. I'm afraid to
go to the bathroom.
5. I could tell my
parents hated me. My bath toys
were a toaster and a
radio.
6. When I was born, the
doctor came into the
waiting room and said to
my father, "I'm sorry. We
did everything we could,
but he pulled through."
7. I went to the doctor
because I'd swallowed a bottle of sleeping pills. My doctor told me to have a
few drinks and get some rest.
8. Some dog I got. His favorite bone is
in my arm.
9. One year they wanted
to make me poster boy-- for
birthcontrol.
10. My uncle's dying wish
was to have me sitting in
his lap; he was in the
electric chair.
***
Letter
from Gator [sent in by Ty Scharrer]
Hello, my name is Gator.
(Sounds like an introduction to an A.A. meeting doesn’t it?) I suffer
from guilt for not forwarding 50 billion chain letters sent to me. People believe that, if you send them
on, wonderful things will happen.
Do you honestly believe
that Bill Gates is going to give you, and everyone to whom you send
"his" e-mail, $1000? I’m still waiting for mine.
Maybe the evil chain
letter leprechauns will come into my house and kill me in my sleep for not
continuing a chain letter that was started by the Apostle Peter in 35 AD, and
brought to America by midget pilgrims on the Mayflower.
I've seen all the
"send this to 10 of your closest friends, and this poor, wretched excuse
for a human being will somehow receive a nickel from some omniscient being. If
I sent all this stuff out, I wouldn’t end up with ten friends.
The point? If you get
some chain letter that's threatening to leave you homeless, poor, or luckless
for the rest of your life, delete it.
If it's funny, send it
on.
Don't piss people off by
making them feel guilty about a leper in Botswana with no teeth who has been
tied to the ass of a dead elephant for 27 years and who’s only salvation
is the 5 cents per letter he'll receive if you forward this e-mail.
Have a nice day!
I almost forgot. For the best laugh you had in a long time watch the short video at
http://www.lolfun.com/flash_0203/splishsplashbaby.swf
-Gator [sent in by Ty Scharrar]
***
THE YEAR'S BEST ACTUAL HEADLINES OF 2003, sent in by Amy Treadway
Crack Found on Governor's Daughter.*** Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says.*** Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers.*** Iraqi Head Seeks Arms.*** Prostitutes Appeal to Pope.*** Teacher Strikes Idle Kids.*** Miners Refuse to Work after Death.*** War Dims Hope for Peace.*** Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures.*** Enfield (London) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide.*** Man Struck By Lightning Faces Battery Charge.*** New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group.*** Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft.*** Kids Make Nutritious Snacks.*** Chef Throws His Heart into Helping Feed Needy.*** Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half.*** Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors.
***
TWO HUNTERS FROM MINNESOTA (This is a true story.), from Amy Treadway
A guy bought a brand new Lincoln Navigator truck for $42,500. He had to make $560 monthly payments. He and a friend went duckhunting in winter. And, of course, all the lakes were frozen. They went out on the lake with their guns, a dog, and, of course, the new vehicle. They drove out onto the lake ice. Now, they wanted to make some kind of a “natural” landing-area for the ducks. They needed to expose the water where the ducks could land. In order to make a hole large enough to look like something a wandering duck would fly down and land in, it was going to take more effort than a small ice hole drill. So, out of the back of the new Navigator truck came a stick of dynamite with a short 40 second fuse. Now, these two rocket Scientists did take into consideration that they wanted to place the stick of dynamite on the ice at a location far from where
they, (and the new Navigator truck), were standing. They did not want to take the risk of slipping on the ice when they ran from the burning fuse, and possibly go up in smoke with the resulting blast!
They lit the 40 second fuse and threw the dynamite.
Remember when I mentioned the vehicle, the guns, and the dog? Let's talk about the dog: A highly trained Black Lab used for RETRIEVING, especially things thrown by the owner. You guessed it, the dog took off at a high
rate of doggy speed on the ice, and captured the stick of dynamite with the burning 40 second fuse, just after it hit the ice. The two men yelled, screamed, and waved their arms! The dog, cheered on, kept coming. One of the guys grabbed the shotgun and shot at the dog.
The shotgun was loaded with #8 birdshot, hardly big enough to stop a Black Lab. The dog stopped for a moment, slightly confused, but continued on.
Another shot and, this time, the dog became more confused, and, of course, terrified, thinking that these two geniuses had gone insane. The dog took off to find cover-- under the brand new Navigator truck. The men continued to yell as they ran.
The exhaust pipe on the truck was still hot, so the dog yelped and dropped the dynamite under the truck, and took off after his master.
Then --BOOM!!-- the truck was blown to bits, and sank to the bottom of the lake in a very large hole, leaving the two idiots standing there.
The insurance company said that sinking a vehicle in a lake by illegal use of explosives was not COVERED.
The new owner still had yet to make the first of those $560 a month payments!
And you thought your day was not going well!
***
A PARABLE: HOW TO DIE WELL, sent in by Sandy Grubb
A dying man turned to his doctor, as the doc was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."
Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know.”
"You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on
the other side?” the man berated the physician.
The doctor was holding the handle of the door, from the other
side of which came a sound of scratching and whining. And as he opened the door, a
dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show
of gladness. Turning to the
patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my
dog? He's never been in this room
before. He didn't know what was
inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the
door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death,
but I do know one thing: I know
that my Master is there; and that is enough."
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THOUGHTFUL THOUGHTS, sent in by Sandi Grubb
1. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.***2. Dear God, I have a problem--- it's me.***3. Growing old is inevitable, growing UP is optional!***4. There is no key to happiness. The door is always open.***5. Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.***6. Do the math: Count Your Blessings.***7. Faith is the ability to not panic.***8. Laugh every day, it's like inner jogging.***9. As a child of God, you can use prayer like calling Home every day.***10. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.***
11. The most important things in your home are not things. They are the people.***
12. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be still, so that He/She can untangle the knots.***13. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.***14. The one who dies with the most toys is still dead.***15. We do not remember days, but moments.***16. Life is moving too fast; so, enjoy your precious moments.***
17. Nothing is real to you until you experience it; otherwise it's just
hearsay.***18. Living your life successfully requires courage. The goals
and dreams that you are seeking require risk taking. Learn from
Brother Turtle; he makes progress only when he sticks out his neck.***19. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because
your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely
what others think you are.
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THE RAINBOW BRIDGE, sent in by Sandi Grubb
There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth. Its called "The Rainbow
Bridge" because of its many colors. Just the other side of the Rainbow
Bridge there is a land of meadows, hills and valleys with lush green grass.
When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place. There is always food
and water and warm spring weather. The old and frail animals are young
again. Those who are maimed are made whole again. They play all day with
each other.
There is only one thing missing. They are not with their special persons who
loved them on earth. So, each day they run and play until the day comes
when one suddenly stops playing and looks up! The nose twitches! The ears
are up! The eyes are staring! And this one suddenly runs from the group.
You have been seen, and when you and your special friend meet, you take him
or her into your arms and embrace. Your face is kissed again and again and
again and you look once more into the eyes of your beloved pet.
Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated.
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SPIRITUALITY AND “POLITRICKS”
Political stuff can get dirty and ugly. It is infected with corruption, and riddled with greed. Perhaps more bad than good factors can be cited that mark politics.
Many, in fact, are stuck like barnacle glue in the mental and social paralysis ("dead zone") of political inactivity. They have given up completely. They have become so radically pessimistic because they feel that there is nothing that anyone can do.
This petrified pessimism is understandable, but does not represent the only reasonable response to the political process. For politics actually interfaces with spirituality, in such matters as concern for the poor, the environment, justice, and even the creation of a peaceful world. We must, as spiritual beings, if we are to choose to be politically active, demand the best from our leaders-- nongreed, the service of the common person, justice, noninvasiveness, the protection of privacy, and the moral, ethical use of government funds to help real people in need.
Bitterness, or giving up, only keeps people from being active in a political way. The problem with that is, they will never emerge from this sense of helplessness if they do not take some action at least to try to aid themselves. So, getting active politically can actually be psychologically therapeutic. And because it can be a Way of serving people, it can be an intrinsic part of your spirituality.
Must a person be politically active in order to maximize spirituality? Yes, in order to maximize caring for others, the political component must not be ignored-- especially when fundamental questions of honor, decency, and good and evil are at stake. This does not mean that you must be politically active in order to be spiritual, for there are dozens of valid ways to exercise real, valid spirituality. But we are here talking about doing your very best, your maximum, and that requires your involvement and participation at many levels of society.
For it can be a way of service-- one of the practical translations of Love. Perhaps it is not for everyone. But if, due to human orientation or "discomfort" with the issues, you leave it out of your life, you are leaving a hole in your very total commitment to other people. You are abandoning a powerful tool for change.
Is your vote going to change the world? It is easy to say, "No," but, if you join with others, the real answer might well be, "Yes."
What "power," though, does a vote have in a nondemocratic republic in which power can be purchased with money? Although, as already admitted, the system is shot through with corruption, string-pulling, the "buddy" system, the purchase of power, hidden mechanisms of arm-twisting, and many other forms of dishonesty, the people, if united, can still make a difference. Is this "hopeless" idealism? No, for it can lead to real power if enough of us act with unity.
In the cult in which I grew up, we were ordered to have nothing to do with politics. This, like the rest of the cult, was antihuman. The cult cared only about “doctrinal correctness,” and Love had no place within its boundaries. It was a snobbish attempt to say that we were "above all that." As mystics, we truly are "above" the events of the physical cosmos. Yet we are never above any act of Love. So, if you cooperate with others with a motive of Love, and that is your incentive, then voting, although partly symbolic, becomes a valid aspect of your spirituality. Politics is people, and so, the compassionate heart cannot always remain either silent or neutral about all matters political. Of course, it is very easy to see how one could suffer from burnout because of all the immorality of politicians who "play religion" for the gullible. Still, there do exist decent and honest people in politics, as in every other human endeavor.
Usually, politics is much too polarized for our taste, for we mystics prefer open communication, dialog, negotiation, and compromise whenever possible. We are not divisive, but unitive, in our activities. But even the most Taoist mystic must often take a stand. Holding firmly to a rock-solid belief does not make you dogmatic or unreasonable, as long as you are ready to communicate in a friendly way with those who feel differently. But even this fine Taoist neutrality must have practical limits: The enlightened are not "neutral" when a puppy, or a child, is being beaten. The same principle applies when parts of our society are being ruined, "beaten," threatened, or distorted. Nor are those of the Love and Enlightenment Tradition neutral when it comes to greed.: the right argues with the left. But we are centrists, which means that we avoid all extremes. Mystics are never right-wing whackos or leftist loopeys. We are open to any good, workable, compassion-based idea, whether it comes from "right" or "left." Both sides, of course, create extremists. We also object to politics on the grounds that this life-area often divides people. But as centrists, we also believe that it has some great potential.
It's not really our Way, of course, but sometimes, great principles such as justice and compassion do interface with political issues. When that happens, the ball is in our court. But please know that we have no interest in influencing or affecting your own personal political choices, or even your desire to have nothing to do with it all. But we do remember the striking words of an English politician named Burke, who said, a couple of centuries ago, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good people do nothing.”
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