tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82976619654264634592024-03-13T08:14:22.194-07:00Integrative SpiritualityAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18073402854778945282noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8297661965426463459.post-66188451389553089242015-08-24T06:37:00.001-07:002015-08-24T06:37:36.560-07:00<div class="MsoNormal">
Please share with anyone who might be interested!</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ecclesiastes - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Most Unusual Book</i></b></div>
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A New Class for Fall with Rabbi Avigail Nord</div>
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The book of Ecclesiates (Qohelth) is described by Biblical
scholar Michael V. Fox as, “A strange and disquieting book. It gives voice to
an experience not usually thought of as religious: the pain and frustration
engendered by an unblinking gaze at life’s absurdities and injustices.<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class=""><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>”
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We read Ecclesiates each year on Sukkot. It is the source of
familiar texts, including the well-known lines, “To everything there is a
season and time for every matter under heaven.” Yet many of us are not familiar
with the challenging and thought-provoking subject matter of the book.</div>
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You are invited to join in an investigation of Ecclesiates.
We will look at the origins of the book, its relation to the rest of the Bible,
its fascinating philosophy, and how we might apply these ideas to the ups and
downs of our daily lives. </div>
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What a great way to begin the New Year of 5776!</div>
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For more information, or to register, email Rabbi Gail at <a href="mailto:ravavigail@gmail.com">ravavigail@gmail.com</a> or call the Sharei
Chesed Office at 763-545-8800</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Class Dates</b>:
Wednesdays - September 30 through November 4</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Time</b>: 7:00 – 8:30
p.m.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Location</b>: Sharei
Chesed Synagogue, 1712 Hopkins Crossroad, Minnetonka, MN 55305</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cost</b>: $42/person
for 6-week class (Session summaries will be recorded and available online for
paid participants if you need to miss a week.)</div>
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<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class=""><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The JPS Bible Commentary—Ecclesiates</i>,
Jewish Publication Society, 2004</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18073402854778945282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8297661965426463459.post-23563482344785387042015-05-27T04:31:00.001-07:002015-05-27T04:31:26.742-07:00<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="649" data-total-count="2493" id="story-continues-2" itemprop="articleBody">
From today's New York Times, quoting from an editorial by Thomas Friedman:</div>
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<i>Otto
Scharmer, an economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who
works with communities trapped in perpetual conflicts, defines the main
features of the fundamentalist mind-set by its opposites: What is the
opposite of an open mind? he asks. “You are stuck in one truth.” What is
the opposite of an open heart? “You are stuck in one collective skin;
everything is us-versus-them and, therefore, empathy for the other is
impossible.” And what is the opposite of an open will? “You are enslaved
to old intentions that originate in the past and not from the present,
and so you cannot open up to any emerging new opportunities.”</i></div>
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Friedman's topic was political chaos in the Middle East, rooted in religious fundamentalism. However, I see this truth as applying equally to each of us personally. We can become stuck in one truth, defined by our past experiences. In doing so we close ourselves off from others, from new experiences, and from positive spiritual growth.<br />
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Getting "unstuck" in our minds, hearts, and spirits begins with honest self-examination. From self-examination comes self-awareness. From self-awareness comes openness all the wonders and mysteries of life!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18073402854778945282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8297661965426463459.post-8674841416917373362015-05-20T06:31:00.000-07:002015-05-20T06:31:04.129-07:00<div id="prayer">
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I came across this today and found it so beautiful!<br />
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From <i>Reverence for Life</i> by Dr. Albert Schweitzer - 1964.<br />
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<i>"From childhood, I felt a compassion for animals. Even before I started<br />
school, I found it impossible to understand why, in my evening prayers,<br />
I should pray only for human beings. Consequently, after my mother<br />
had prayed with me and had given me a good-night kiss, I secretly<br />
recited another prayer, one I had composed myself. It went like this:</i><br />
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<br /><span class="bigcap">D</span>ear God, protect and bless all living beings.<br />
Keep them from evil and let them sleep in peace. AMEN"</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18073402854778945282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8297661965426463459.post-46346010177409052312015-04-13T11:10:00.002-07:002015-05-07T20:16:52.702-07:00<div style="text-align: right;">
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<b>Integrative Spirituality? </b><br />
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Over many years of studying spiritual traditions including Jewish Kabbalism, Christian Mysticism, Sufism, Jainism, and, Buddhism, I have eagerly sought the unifying factors woven throughout all traditions.<br />
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My goal - a grand unification theory of spirituality. <br />
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The guiding assumption of the quest - truth is truth. If a concept is true, it must be true across time, place, and tradition.<br />
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Many religious traditions make absolute truth claims, promoting their particular path as the one and only way to have a relationship with the Ultimate Reality, by whatever name and image the tradition uses for the divine. <br />
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Finding the truth has been, and is, a process of eliminating images, metaphors, myths, dogma, and seeing what's left . . . <br />
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A vast silence beyond silence. A radiant glow. A vibration.<br />
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Integrative spirituality is my term for that reality. A spirituality beyond images and dogma; a spirituality that unites rather than divides. A spirituality that can be shared by all, and even woven into one's one tradition (this may require a willingness to let go of divisive teachings which promote religious exclusivity). Obviously, this is not a path which will be comfortable for all people.<br />
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If you are open-minded, desiring to grow spirituality, and willing to let go of old models, climb aboard! We'll journey together . . . Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18073402854778945282noreply@blogger.com0