tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683318922990064067.post4399551538251705911..comments2023-09-28T10:08:44.827+02:00Comments on Gwynt: Purity of HeartUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683318922990064067.post-46979023666565538952014-09-14T12:42:47.777+02:002014-09-14T12:42:47.777+02:00Geo; As I implied in my response to Susan, most o...Geo; As I implied in my response to Susan, most of the time my consciousness (ego) seems to be all too aware of the lack of experience of purity. But that doesn't mean that such a state does not exist at some deeper/higher level of the spirit.<br /><br />As you say, 'still we try to achieve it', an activity, I believe, driven by honest intent. As for the rest of your intriguing comment, there is much there to think upon.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09028121782477111901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683318922990064067.post-74664453633663789992014-09-14T12:35:59.457+02:002014-09-14T12:35:59.457+02:00Susan; I am so pleased that you enjoyed my inner ...Susan; I am so pleased that you enjoyed my inner visit to the Lords of Karma. I always feel hesitant about including experiences like that, perhaps because they go right to the heart of things.<br /><br />If it were not for my belief that honest intent counts for a very great deal, I would long ago have despaired of ever achieving that desired state of purity of heart, the result of acceptance and forgiveness, as well as making amends. Yet I have to say that it seems to be more often than not that the impurities become stirred up in me, and then I can only hope and have some faith.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09028121782477111901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683318922990064067.post-83182224295601965862014-09-14T09:08:07.558+02:002014-09-14T09:08:07.558+02:00I'm not certain that purity of heart can be ex...I'm not certain that purity of heart can be experienced any more than the surface of a lake can be visible without its reflection and refraction of the light around it. I'm not even sure such a virtue can be contained in a single life, or lifetime --still, we try to achieve it. This suggests a larger container than any one of us. Geo.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16221314320558128986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683318922990064067.post-14937983436767562522014-09-14T04:54:00.604+02:002014-09-14T04:54:00.604+02:00I admire your honesty, Tom, as only through our wi...I admire your honesty, Tom, as only through our willingness to be deeply honest can we become our true selves and find healing. <br /><br />Your description of the pyramid and the Lords Of Karma on the steps was quite wonderful. It seems to me the only way to attain to purity of heart is through forgiveness, forgiving ourselves can be the most difficult task of all.<br /><br /><br />susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16747450215034568033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683318922990064067.post-27935015237631945842014-09-13T12:48:41.984+02:002014-09-13T12:48:41.984+02:00Halle; That was an impassioned comment, straight ...Halle; That was an impassioned comment, straight from the heart. Bless you. You speak of an experience which not only leaves one breathless with wonder, but also humbled before a Presence which gives freely, so freely. Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09028121782477111901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683318922990064067.post-78085542329607745012014-09-13T12:28:58.557+02:002014-09-13T12:28:58.557+02:00Even here, now, that me, me, me wants to stop this...Even here, now, that me, me, me wants to stop this acknowledgement of how impossibly inept it has been. It distracts and diverts and says <i>analyse this more, then come back another time</i>.<br /><br />Only at those times of struggle and finally abandonment of all logic has there been a glimpse of what love is, and what peace is. At those times, when it is almost impossible to write it, when, so grateful for that glimpse, it has been so tempting to stay there, and not ever come back, that is when my heart has felt right.<br /><br />It is for that reason, for grace when I was too tired and felt so very unworthy, that I know that a higher power surrounds us always, and no amount of human work is necessary or worthy enough to call It into our presence.<br /><br />Blessings and Love to you TomHallehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03847654451426257182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683318922990064067.post-84138797552396604222014-09-13T09:44:35.295+02:002014-09-13T09:44:35.295+02:00Lindsay; Yes, the key is I think the devotion to ...Lindsay; Yes, the key is I think the devotion to meditative and contemplative practices, although I do think there is much more to contemplation than observing a practice. It never ceases to fill me with joy that all these gifts come without the intent to look for them. They do not require that we 'understand' them, only that we accept them with gratitude. Of course many of us do want to understand, but I see nothing detrimental to the life spiritual in that. Thank you again.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09028121782477111901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683318922990064067.post-82196873717287170742014-09-13T09:37:44.728+02:002014-09-13T09:37:44.728+02:00Natalie; I agree with the opening sentence of your...Natalie; I agree with the opening sentence of your comment. The joy of that experience, from my point of view, is that that receptivity and willingness to let go is something that seems to steal up on oneself, without a great need to 'work at it'. I do believe in the idea that God can only really be observed out of the corner of one's eye, so to speak. There is no 'in yer face!' contact. And that is all part of the gift.<br /><br />Referring to the latter part of your comment, again I agree that one's critical faculties need to become honed, not dispensed with. But once again, I feel that the development of the 'eyes open' approach to the inner life is something that is given, a grace, rather than self-cultivated.<br /><br />Our experience with our much-loved Mol would certainly bear out what you say about a dog. Mind you, she did on occasion let us know that enough is enough. We never really minded that, so I guess the 'Boss' wouldn't either.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09028121782477111901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683318922990064067.post-64192269739026273282014-09-13T05:55:09.909+02:002014-09-13T05:55:09.909+02:00Tom
But even so ……..granted, one could, given the...Tom <br />But even so ……..granted, one could, given the extensive references conclude that charismas are mainly the province of Christianity. But consider its commonly used definition as in “gift of grace” to give rise to the prospect of the universal application- by way of example as evident in Hinduism, Islam, and in Buddhism, although the latter is representative of a slightly different form. As I understand it in Buddhism "a state" in terms of the use of the word “enlightenment” is something that can be obtained, in varying measures, by all who seek to participate in the meditative and contemplative practices. In that respect there are different outward personal measures or charisma’s evident externally from the Buddhists devotion, entirely consistent with the ideas proffered in Christianity. <br />Best wishes <br />Lindsay Byrneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11030132436987752741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683318922990064067.post-45947717647617063412014-09-12T23:11:03.642+02:002014-09-12T23:11:03.642+02:00My understanding of "pure in heart" (I d...My understanding of "pure in heart" (I don't claim that this is the only interpretation) is that it implies a state of total receptivity, a willingness to let go of all of pre-existing concepts, regardless of how carefully or painfully one has accumulated them. <br /><br />Alistair Hardy, the professor who started the religious experience research unit in Oxford years ago, suggested trying an experiment for a month: <br />adopting a state of mind like that of a faithful dog in relation to its beloved human: the "master/mistress" being God and the dog being you. Prof.Hardy didn't use the 'pure in heart' terminology but I felt that this is what he meant.<br />Of course examined rationally such advice seems suspect if not downright dangerous. Abandoning our critical faculties in favour of naive credulity can obviously lead to all sorts of delusions and deceptions. But the dog's viewpoint is that her beloved human cannot possibly want to harm her, she trusts him/her absolutely.<br />Thus the pure in heart.Natalie d'Arbeloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757081405040926647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683318922990064067.post-28077336570128392262014-09-12T18:58:21.522+02:002014-09-12T18:58:21.522+02:00The question of making amends can be difficult, pa...The question of making amends can be difficult, particularly if the person has died. Forgiving oneself can be the most difficult task of all. I think that in the end one needs to be willing to make amends, both to others and to oneself. If honest willingness is there, you can't ask for more.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09028121782477111901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683318922990064067.post-56940439385230794472014-09-12T18:10:51.253+02:002014-09-12T18:10:51.253+02:00Purity of heart, no idea what it is. Does a newbor...Purity of heart, no idea what it is. Does a newborn have a pure heart and if so how long does it remain pure. Does our heart become impure through living? Do we revert to a pure heart by death?<br />I also, like you Tom, have not much time left. <br />As to amends being sufficient or not, I never thought they were because 'too late' came in the way. I came to the conclusion that forgiving myself instead of asking forgiveness from others is what I need to do. Still working at that. Ellenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14965850008354379369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683318922990064067.post-32523246032249474882014-09-12T17:26:16.587+02:002014-09-12T17:26:16.587+02:00Well that's very interesting. It would never h...Well that's very interesting. It would never have occurred to me that I have charisms. I realise that commitment to christianity would not necessarily be a requirement, but even so.....Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09028121782477111901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2683318922990064067.post-16381305957894812512014-09-12T15:45:42.098+02:002014-09-12T15:45:42.098+02:00From Chinese Confuciasm to Taoism, the mystical In...From Chinese Confuciasm to Taoism, the mystical Indian derivations of Buddhism, Christianity and Jewish mysticism (to name a few) we have, what I think, is a wisdom stream, whose gifts are evident in the expression of respective charisma‘s. The aim to aspire to a “purity of heart”, to my way of thinking, cannot be some lofty unattainable or unsustainable edifice of super human endeavour, but rather, as you say, the acceptance of our gift (S) which are the charisma’s that make up who we are but need to be recognised and encouraged or acted upon. But, of course, they will differ between individuals. Your charisma‘s for instance are already evident to me, in the way you have eloquently communicated your deepest thoughts and fears, just as others make a contribution to make insightful comments. How do you know your are following your charisma(s)? Well that will differ for everyone but for me its confirmation comes from bursts of energy increases when engaging and is reinforced with positive feedback. <br />Best wishes <br />Lindsay Byrneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11030132436987752741noreply@blogger.com