March 12, 2012

     Light A Candle and offer a prayer - this site is for readers of the people on this blog list only, although the site also has a wider audience from its main page. Click on:

                                                            Light A Candle


                      -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
   What I am about this week are the Metta prayers and chants from the Buddhist cannon. Our daughter Bridget and her fiance Rudy were married last Saturday at St. Malachy's church in Manhattan and I offered the prayer of Loving-Kindness to them as they said their vows. The service was a sacred offering from the two of them to live their lives together under the umbrella of God's Love and ever flowing Graces that showered them on this very special day. It was a joy to be present for the union of two wonderful people who in the beginning of their life together entered into marriage with full intention to spend all of their lives together in a partnership that is solidly and tangibly committed to their journey. They are Blessed, and Lee, I, and all who were present are also wonderfully Blessed to have been witness to their Rite of Passage into the next stage of their lives. 


    God is Good, God is Gracious, God is Generous, and has given Metta in abundance to Bridget and Rudy. Their pathway is firm, and they are taking the right steps to insure happiness that is infused with Serenity and Joy.


         Thanks be to God !

Mr. Rudy Medina, now husband of Bridget

Bridget and her Maid Of Honor, Denisa, walking from the hotel to the church.

She is now Mrs. Bridget Medina

                    ------------------------------------------------------------


    In Buddhism there is a wonderful prayer known as "Metta" which simply means loving-kindness. This kindness, this generosity is first directed toward ones self, and then offered to others is several stages. I am only going to post a few versions of this prayer here this week along with a few links to help perhaps move this blessing into your hearts with a hope that you will give it to others once peace  
"falls upon you."

   At the end of this post there are two links, one to a talk by Tara Brach on Metta, and the other is a meditation on Loving-Kindness.

    The Prayer Of Metta -  (from the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City California)

May you be held in the heart of lovingkindness

May you be free from inner and outer harm

May you be well

May you have ease of well-being

May your life be of service to all beings

May you come to know great and natural peace

May you awaken and be free

-----------------------------------------

   Imee Ooi is a Burmese Buddhist nun who is currently the largest selling singer of chants and teachings of the Buddha in all of Southeast Asia. The first of the two links here has Imee Ooi singing the Metta chant in a lovely version that became widespread all around the world. The second link is the translation of what she is singing for you to print out and use as you see fit - feel free to change the words to fit your active meditations.

The Chant Of Metta sung by Imee Ooi

           http://www.box.com/s/35etms0fbkura84avpdy   

Translation -

         http://www.box.com/s/8judnqvpxb7kefz0ba6n     

                            ------------------------------------------------------------

The stairs to Serenity and Peace are not complicated,

take the gentle path to arrive at where we began

The Metta Prayer

(The Buddha gave a beautiful teaching on the development of lovingkindness called the Metta Sutta (also known as the Karaniya Metta Sutta). I’ve adapted the words of the sutta to formulate them as an aspiration that can be repeated in a prayer-like way.)

In order that I may be skilled in discerning what is good, in order that I may understand the path to peace,

Let me be able, upright, and straightforward, of good speech, gentle, and free from pride;

Let me be contented, easily satisfied, having few duties, living simply, of controlled senses, prudent, without pride and without attachment to nation, race, or other groups.

Let me not do the slightest thing for which the wise might rebuke me. Instead let me think:

“May all beings be well and safe, may they be at ease.

Whatever living beings there may be, whether moving or standing still, without exception, whether large, great, middling, or small, whether tiny or substantial,

Whether seen or unseen, whether living near or far,

Born or unborn; may all beings be happy.

Let none deceive or despise another anywhere. Let none wish harm to another, in anger or in hate.”

Just as a mother would guard her child, her only child, with her own life, even so let me cultivate a boundless mind for all beings in the world.

Let me cultivate a boundless love for all beings in the world, above, below, and across, unhindered, without ill will or enmity.

Standing, walking, seated, or lying down, free from torpor, let me as far as possible fix my attention on this recollection. This, they say, is the divine life right here.

                                       Translated and adapted by Bodhipaksa from the Pali Metta Sutta.

------------------------------------

Jesus said,  "This is my Peace, my Peace I give to you"

- Let the peace of Jesus, the Serenity of the Spirit be upon you -

The Peace of God's Spirit is the light at the tunnels end

--------------------------------------------------------

    A Metta Meditation

From Peter Carlson, Orlando Insight

May I be safe

May I be happy

May I be healthy

May I be content

May I love myself completely

And with great kindness

Just as I am now

No matter what happens

May you be safe

May you be happy

May you be healthy

May you be content

May you love yourself completely

And with great kindness

Just as you are now

No matter what happens

May we be safe

May we be happy

May we be healthy

May we be content

May we love ourselves completely

And with great kindness

Just as we are now

No matter what happens

May all beings be safe

May all beings be happy

May all beings be healthy

May all beings be content

May all beings love themselves completely

And with great kindness

Just as they are now

No matter what happens

----------------------------------------

Talk on Metta by Tara Brach:

http://www.box.com/s/483qbx0fbf5je0oeu1ue

Loving-Kindness meditation:

http://www.box.com/s/1zt4bu93q6jdyzbt5jl9

------------------------------------------

March 5, 2012

    I am adding a new feature to the blog, Light A Candle which can always be accessed from the "A Few Good Sites" links on the right side of the page. You will be lighting candles as prayer for who or what you want. The directions are easy to follow and the candle will be lit for 48 hours.
   For a few weeks the link will also be posted here. Just click on the text below the candle. On the site click on an unlit candle to start. The candles will be lit under the group heading which are the letters of the name of this blog. We will also be able to see each others prayers and comments. The picture is not mine.

Light A Candle

   In my meditations today I recalled the verse from Psalm 142 and the impact it has had on quieting my prayer over the years allowing me to be present to the stillness that seems to invite the Spirit to join me. If it moves you please spend a few minutes with the verse and the image  -

                                          "Let my prayer rise like incense before You,
                                                              my uplifted hands
                                                             an evening offering."

   Here is a link to a 16th. century composition for soloist and 3 voice choir singing the second verse of Psalm 141. It is sung by members of the Male Choir - Drevneruski Rospev, a  group of professional singers who recorded this in pre-democratic Russia. This recording has never been available in the U.S. It was given to me quite a few years ago by a friend who knew of my interest in Russian orthodox liturgical music. 
   You might listen to it while pondering the Psalm and the photo. Click on the link -


                                      http://www.box.com/s/iunnzs8681f5sffj9tg0

        One of the great prayers of the service of The Mass in the Catholic Church has been the Kyrie Eleison, translated as "Lord, have mercy." Or, Lord, be gracious - or, Lord, be generous. It has been in use for the entire length of Christian history, recited or sung in its original language which is Greek. It is rare to find a recording of the Mass by any of the great classical composers that doesn't include the Kyrie. Such is its importance in liturgy over the centuries.
      Here is the Kyrie as is has always been used followed by a different version from the Poet
R.S. Thomas. As a poet Thomas lived a bleak spiritual life always wondering where God has gone and why isn't God more present to him. None the less it is a most appropriate poem for where the world is generally today. Post poem I have included a link to a version of the Kyrie which is sung, as am example  of Gregorian chant.

          Lord, have mercy. ------ Kyrie, eleison. 

          Lord, have mercy. ------ Kyrie, eleison. 

         Christ, have mercy. ---- Christe, eleison. 

         Christ, have mercy. ---- Christe, eleison. 

         Lord, have mercy. ------ Kyrie, eleison. 

         Lord, have mercy. ------ Kyrie, eleison. 

                              ----------------------------------

            Kyrie,    by R.S. Thomas


              Because we cannot be clever and honest       
              and are inventors of things more intricate
              than the snowflake - Lord have mercy.


             Because we are full of pride
              in our humility, and because we believe
              in our disbelief - Lord have mercy.


             Because we will protect ourselves
             from ourselves to the point
             of destroying ourselves  - Lord have mercy.


             And because on the slope to perfection,
             when we ought to be half-way up,
             we are half-way down - Lord have mercy.     


                                      -----------------------------------------


            The Kyrie by the Capella Gregoriana:
                             http://www.box.com/s/jeevonice6zr65cuntyj

                              -------------------------------------------------

    Like incense, our growth, the living essence of who we truly are, also rises to meet our Creator as we nurture and feed the things of the heart. We are always rising to meet God whether our journey is outward, or inward. This is the Way Of Life that the Spirit is calling us to - the prophetic voice deep within that speaks for God through intuition - the felt sense of what is our authentic being.

Let our life rise like incense to God's Hands

----------------------------------------------

   Finally a poem for pondering:

                            - God Never Stops Arriving -

"I was a hidden treasure,

 and I wanted to be known – " *

"I came to you as Jesus,

 so I could touch you and be touched."

"I came to you as Adam and Eve,

 so I could share myself with you."

"I came to you as Moses,

 so I could free you from bondage."

"I came to you as Sarah,

 to give hope to your empty heart womb."

"I came to you as Job,

 to show you the way through your pain."

"I came to you as Mary,

 so you could know surrender."

"I came to you as the Magdalene,

 so you would know love without conditions."

"I came to you as the Baptist,

 so you could proclaim my coming."

"I come to you now, because I love you.

 Now, my beloved, now – will you come to me?"

                                                          Bill Lagerstrom 2008

* Hallaj, circa 910.

------------------------------------

More finally, the view from the window I wake to every morning -

   Peace,  Bill Lagerstrom



                          

          

February 27, 2012

   I am adding a new feature to the blog, Light A Candle which can always be accessed from the "A Few Good Sites" links on the right side of the page. You will be lighting candles as prayer for who or what you want. The directions are easy to follow and the candle will be lit for 48 hours.
   For a few weeks the link will also be posted here. Just click on the text below the candle. On the site click on an unlit candle to start. The candles will be lit under the group heading which are the letters of the name of this blog. We will also be able to see each others prayers and comments. The picture is not mine.

Light A Candle

------------------------------------------------------------

   

    Today I woke and was blessed with the sight of what God created for wonder and awe - every tree and branch down to the smallest stem of the beech trees golden brown winter cloaked leaves were covered with snow. Since we have had so little snow this winter here in Maine it came as a surprise that filled me with delight to come alive on this day to such a scene. There is indeed glory in the moments that our loving God seems to enjoy presenting to us, especially as it seemed winter was soon to be over.

   I got dressed, 6:30 AM (late for a lot of people but early for me) grabbed the camera and became truly present to the beauty that I felt greatly gifted to behold. This was an exclamation point and an affirmation that mindfulness and awareness to each moment has rewards beyond limits. The last decade of meditation and the practice of prayer as the present moment to be experienced has given me moments such as this morning. 

   All efforts to be ready to be taken into God's Presence have their answers come alive when least expected. How have I found the willingness to be ready for the Gifts always waiting on my inner sight coming alive? The answer to the Carnegie Hall joke has my truth, "practice, practice, practice." The effort is simply to "Be here now." (Note the period.) Putting in the necessary time, years in my case, have granted me the patience to wait on God's desires for any given day, and the gift of generosity to myself to be patient has been the path of least resistance.

   Here are two pictures of this wonderful morning.

There are days when I find it hard to believe I live surrounded by nature's beauty. Thanks be to God.

                      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   An offering from another who had immense gratitude for blessings no matter where he was. A lesson for me to ponder.

The Akathist Hymn: "Glory to God for All Things"

   

   This Akathist, also called the "Akathist of Thanksgiving," was composed by Protopresbyter Gregory Petrov shortly before his death in a prison camp in 1940. The title is from the words of Saint John Chrysostom as he was dying in exile. It is a song of praise from amidst the most terrible sufferings.

   Kontakion 1

  

   Everlasting God, Your will for our salvation is full of power. Your right arm controls the whole course of human life. We give You thanks for all Your mercies, seen and unseen. For eternal life, for the heavenly joys of the Kingdom which is to be. Grant mercy to us who sing Your praise, both now and in the time to come. Glory to You, O God, from age to age.

   Ikos 1

   I was born a weak, defenseless child, but Your angel spread his wings over my cradle to defend me. From birth until now Your love has illumined my path, and has wondrously guided me towards the light of eternity; from birth until now the generous gifts of Your providence have been marvelously showered upon me. I give You thanks, with all who have come to know You, who call upon Your name.

Glory to You for calling me into being
Glory to You, showing me the beauty of the universe
Glory to You, spreading out before me heaven and earth
Like the pages in a book of eternal wisdom
Glory to You for Your eternity in this fleeting world
Glory to You for Your mercies, seen and unseen
Glory to You through every sigh of my sorrow
Glory to You for every step of my life's journey
For every moment of glory
Glory to You, O God, from age to age 

                -------------------------------------------------------------------

     Last week I put a link here to a video called "Simple Gratitude" which if you haven't looked at it please spend the 5 minutes it takes to view it, you will not be disappointed. Here is the link to another video by the same photographer on the beauty of pollination is many forms. 

   The video starts at 3'15" into the showing with an explanation by the creator of fine images.

                           

                                   http://wn.com/the_hidden_beauty_of_pollen

  

    An offering from Chabbad, the site of the Lubovitcher Jewish sect on gratefulness and the bagel.

   A short article that has a lot to offer ...

 http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1755346/jewish/Gratefulness-and-the-Holey-Bagel.htm

   A song from John Michael Talbot, a Franciscan whose music has meant a great deal to many, many people. This song is about who we may find ourselves to be if we allow God to have God's way in us.

          http://www.box.com/s/co5q24uclqjz9o8981oc

   Here is the entrance to the Metropolitan Museum Of Art in NYC, one of the most remarkable places in the world, and my favorite place to be in Manhattan. It is a picture of a gateway to so many surprises and wonders the bring up awe frequently and unexpectedly to all visitors.

  Until next week, Peace and Serenity, The Gifts of the Spirit. be with us all.
         
                            Bill Lagerstrom