Kindness

As we come near the beautiful time of Full Moon (when the Sun has just moved into Taurus) there is a special radiation from the Lord Buddha. In my meditations over the last few days I have been very aware of the gentle feminine energy which often emanates from him/her at this time. Just over a week ago now I was in Texas at our Temple and Retreat Center, walking on the land and around the labyrinth. I felt this feminine vibration of Buddha shining from the central ‘rose-heart’ of the cross within the circle of the labyrinth. It seemed to me, as I walked, that this central rose took the form of an exquisite pearl at the centre of a soft white flower. Overshadowing the whole circle was an immense Buddha, ethereal and translucent, radiating the gentle nurturing love/wisdom of the Mother aspect of God, the pearl ray.
 
What struck me most, as this aura of pearly light spread out further and further, eventually embracing the whole world, was that as it touched all people’s hearts, it was stimulating the quality of thoughtfulness and simple human kindness in every heart. It made me think that maybe we don’t often fully realise how much this quality can uplift and change peoples’ days. A kindly word, a thoughtful gesture, can change a day (maybe a life) for someone feeling low and sad.

 A lovely aspect of the philosophy of the Buddha (and the same applies to the White Eagle teaching) is ‘metta’. Metta is a Pali word meaning loving kindness—or ‘the strong wish for the welfare and happiness of others…an altruistic attitude of love and friendliness, as distinguished from mere amiability based on self-interest.’ It is one of what are called the four virtues. White Eagle tells us: ‘It is one thing to talk about love and to say “Love one another”, but it is quite another thing to become love within. Yet the whole purpose of life is to bring forth love. There are many degrees of love, to love in any form is good. We look upon the children of earth and see the spontaneous kindness, the little thought, the little actions which are Godlike. You may not realise that such gentleness is a Godlike expression showing that the soul for the moment is expressing love, and God. The purpose is for the life to become accustomed to spontaneously expressing kindness to all—whatever the race, the cast, or religion; let us be kind and recognise the God in our fellow, the spontaneous expression of which is kindness and love; this is the key to all knowledge.’

 So let’s make a special effort at this time of year to focus on the gentle quality of altruistic kindness. What an extraordinary example our Pope Francis is setting in this! We cannot all do what he has done, maybe, in taking in refugee families, but we can all look around and see what simple acts of kindness we can offer our neighbours, family, and friends, and gradually we then develop in ourselves the spontaneous expression of that kindness.

The Power of God

‘The Power of God’ was the theme of a talk I recently gave at the Sunday Service in our beautiful Temple of the Golden Rose in Texas, USA. I quoted White Eagle’s words in Spiritual Unfoldment Vol.2, Chap. iv, entitled ‘Angels of Light and Darkness’. White Eagle tells us about the part the angels of darkness play in God’s plan for the evolution of life on earth. He answers the question: ‘Can the angels of darkness—these angelic forces perhaps not yet fully aware of the light and the power and the wisdom of the Most High—triumph over the angels of light, and cause the destruction of humanity?’ He replies: Our answer is NO. The dark angels can go so far and no further because then they are caught up by a cosmic law which renders them powerless…… God does not allow the universe to slip out of His-Her hands. Nothing can happen outside the will of God.

I find these words supremely comforting. When we look out at our world today, it can be tempting to feel despondent and fearful about the violence and suffering we see around us. Our work, White Eagle tells us, is to learn how to command ourselves, our thoughts and emotions, so that instead of giving way to negativity, we align ourselves to the forces of good and continually ‘will the will of God’. This is the first ray of power—divine power, God’s power, the power which created the world. We are part of God, part of this power—it is in us. Let us use it to create a new world of peace and joyful creativity.

I find it interesting to note that the word Islam means peace, and one of the most important aspects of Islamic teaching, one of the five Pillars of Islam, is devotion to Allah (God) and submission to His will. It is sad that this is not well known and there is so much misunderstanding about this beautiful religion—which in its true practice is a religion of peace, not violence.

And now some more inspiring words of White Eagle’s from an Inner Teaching:  He who would find an answer to every personal or world problem, let him practise the art of going into the spiritual state and becoming very still—as still as a lake. Let him remember that lake is his soul. Man must first learn to develop the will of God within himself. The will of God commands you to be still. Then you will without distortion see the reflection of truth on the waters of the lake which is your psyche. Be still and know that I am God.