![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
And All Paths Are But One Path...
Apr. 14th, 2011 01:20 amFrom The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have.
In this way, humility is accepting that your head belongs beneath your heart, with your thinking subordinate to your feeling, with your will subordinate to the higher order. This acceptance is key to receiving grace.
In a lot of ways this reminds me very much of the admonishment, An it harm none, do as thou wilt. By which the heart 'feels' the right or wrong of a situation or action by its response to the world around us. By listening to our heart, allowing its beat - that emotional knowledge of cause and effect in the world - to guide the thoughts and impulses that drive us - to control our will to act (or not to act), we obey the highest law of spirit. Harm none.
As someone with a terrible tendency to grossly overthink things, that realisation is actually a bit of an eye opener, because instictively and through experience I know (I remember) that my overthinking has often led to hurt for others. Even when the thought is well meaning, it has often led to hurt for others. Hmmm, something to ponder.
Another thing to ponder is the blessing of some desert dwelling cultures. It's a non verbal blessing that reflects this 'higher order.' Where first the blesser touches the area of their solar plexus, then the heart and only then the head, before sending the blessing out toward the blessee, often with a 'kiss' to the gesturing hand.
Ancient wisdoms from ancient cultures.
All streams flow to the sea
because it is lower than they are.
Humility gives it its power.
-Lao-tzu
In this way, humility is accepting that your head belongs beneath your heart, with your thinking subordinate to your feeling, with your will subordinate to the higher order. This acceptance is key to receiving grace.
In a lot of ways this reminds me very much of the admonishment, An it harm none, do as thou wilt. By which the heart 'feels' the right or wrong of a situation or action by its response to the world around us. By listening to our heart, allowing its beat - that emotional knowledge of cause and effect in the world - to guide the thoughts and impulses that drive us - to control our will to act (or not to act), we obey the highest law of spirit. Harm none.
As someone with a terrible tendency to grossly overthink things, that realisation is actually a bit of an eye opener, because instictively and through experience I know (I remember) that my overthinking has often led to hurt for others. Even when the thought is well meaning, it has often led to hurt for others. Hmmm, something to ponder.
Another thing to ponder is the blessing of some desert dwelling cultures. It's a non verbal blessing that reflects this 'higher order.' Where first the blesser touches the area of their solar plexus, then the heart and only then the head, before sending the blessing out toward the blessee, often with a 'kiss' to the gesturing hand.
Ancient wisdoms from ancient cultures.
