Posted December 9th, 2004 by rogerfromcardiff(#9630)
Time for me to add to the anniversary celebrations - best wishes and
also sincere thanks to all who contribute to this group and have
thereby brought inspiration (and entertainment) to so many. Those of
us in small centres (like myself and Shane, both in the "Celtic
Fringe" of Europe) are especially lucky to have it.
Secondly, a word about the "peddlars of negativity" mentioned in
this thread. In my youth I was keen on the music of many radical/
anti-establishment bands, and a fully signed-up adherent of their
philosophy. As far as I was concerned, bad things were happening in
the world, so to highlight these and lambast those responsible
(anyone in authority of any kind, as far as I was concerned) seemed
quite justified. I look back now with some embarassment, having
realised that the positive message, the inspirational message, is
the one that can actually help to make things better. If you improve
yourself, you become a source of good in the world - a channel for
the light you might say. I remember Sri Chinmoy once speaking about
the critics of a certain world leader and likening them to people
who look at the moon and instead of being inspired by its beauty
simply complain that it has a few dark spots on it!
Thirdly, on revealing one's faith in the workplace - it seems from
this thread that some have had a bad experience from this, but I was
lucky in the office where I used to work. I was very up front about
my practice of meditation, kept an inspirational picture on my desk,
etc. After a while people could see how it was helping me and making
me happy, so they didn't give me a hard time. I even got a payrise
one time and the letter I received to confirm it praised my calming
influence on the rest of the team - surely a reference to the fruits
of meditation! I even had the chance to teach meditation to some
colleagues as part of a training exercise (learning to give
presentations to other staff on a subject of our own choosing).
Before that presentation I was worried about one staff member who
could be quite cynical, and might disrupt the whole thing. In the
event, he took the day off sick and the remaining attendees loved it
- one said she would remember the experience for the rest of her
life.
Having said all that, since I gave up the office and started working
in a divine enterprise, my working life has been more conducive to
my spiritual progress. Where else could I start and end the day by
meditating with the other staff - and get the chance to speak with
fellow seekers about inspiring topics while we work. Oh, and time
off for celebrations is a bonus :)
Time for me to add to the anniversary celebrations - best wishes and
also sincere thanks to all who contribute to this group and have
thereby brought inspiration (and entertainment) to so many. Those of
us in small centres (like myself and Shane, both in the "Celtic
Fringe" of Europe) are especially lucky to have it.
Secondly, a word about the "peddlars of negativity" mentioned in
this thread. In my youth I was keen on the music of many radical/
anti-establishment bands, and a fully signed-up adherent of their
philosophy. As far as I was concerned, bad things were happening in
the world, so to highlight these and lambast those responsible
(anyone in authority of any kind, as far as I was concerned) seemed
quite justified. I look back now with some embarassment, having
realised that the positive message, the inspirational message, is
the one that can actually help to make things better. If you improve
yourself, you become a source of good in the world - a channel for
the light you might say. I remember Sri Chinmoy once speaking about
the critics of a certain world leader and likening them to people
who look at the moon and instead of being inspired by its beauty
simply complain that it has a few dark spots on it!
Thirdly, on revealing one's faith in the workplace - it seems from
this thread that some have had a bad experience from this, but I was
lucky in the office where I used to work. I was very up front about
my practice of meditation, kept an inspirational picture on my desk,
etc. After a while people could see how it was helping me and making
me happy, so they didn't give me a hard time. I even got a payrise
one time and the letter I received to confirm it praised my calming
influence on the rest of the team - surely a reference to the fruits
of meditation! I even had the chance to teach meditation to some
colleagues as part of a training exercise (learning to give
presentations to other staff on a subject of our own choosing).
Before that presentation I was worried about one staff member who
could be quite cynical, and might disrupt the whole thing. In the
event, he took the day off sick and the remaining attendees loved it
- one said she would remember the experience for the rest of her
life.
Having said all that, since I gave up the office and started working
in a divine enterprise, my working life has been more conducive to
my spiritual progress. Where else could I start and end the day by
meditating with the other staff - and get the chance to speak with
fellow seekers about inspiring topics while we work. Oh, and time
off for celebrations is a bonus :)
Roger von Cardiff