 ur UU
principles are ringing statements that can inspire us to responsible,
ethical action in the world. Combined with the sources of faith
referred to in our covenant, there is a sound blueprint for a meaningful
religion, as far as it goes. We will continue to study them and follow
them. But, to me, something of great value is missing.
As they are currently
stated, or even as I re-stated them a few weeks ago, the UU principles do
not constitute a true "well" through which we can enter the river of
spirit running underneath all of life, (as I outlined 2 weeks ago in the
sermon based on Matthew Fox's book, "One River, Many Wells.") We are
missing a way to truly practice those life affirming ways which produce,
in the Dalai Lama's words, "the inner work" which leads to inner peace.
And we do not have solid ways to help us grow when we are "touched by the
pain of life", and to translate that pain into the practice of compassion.
Today, I wish to
speak to our future. To the construction of our well.
Many of you in
this room -- and me -- are both bright, and wounded. Some here have been
drawn to UUism because our personal faith was injured early in life.
Cherished people in whom we had great faith died or left. Someone in whom
we had faith injured or abused us. The religion in which we were
raised was boring and meaningless or narrow and doctrinaire to the point
of denying our individuality; of denying our capacity to think for
ourselves. What ever the circumstances, we lost the open, trusting
relationship that we had with the holy, the sacred, when we were
relatively young. We threw out the offending religion, usually
Christianity or Judaism, and in so doing may have thrown out the baby with
the bathwater. Cynicism, suspicion, and carefully constructed intellectual
defenses appeared. We lost our childlike nature. We lost the capacity to
be present with awe and mystery and celebration.
In order to go
down the well, faith in such things needs to be restored. We need to be
able to dance as well as think.
So, to review . .
. restoration of awe, mystery, faith, despite our skepticism. Ability to
find inner peace and practice compassion . . .
Sounds like a job
for Super God. Or, us. Practicing a lovingly woven combination of UU
principles, creation spirituality, and basic practices borrowed from other
faiths. It is time to begin to construct, together, a religious practice
at CUUC that works to help us all through the many challenges of life.
Where do we
start? How do we do it?
Given the need to bring soul, sacred context, to our principles, I would
offer the following additions to them (I do not wish to
subtract, but rather add to):
Every person who
is born must die. Within that profound context we endeavor to develop a
deep sense of worth and dignity in ourselves for ourselves, and for
every other person on earth.
All of the
world's religions and spiritual practices have at their center the
desire to treat all other human beings with compassion. This we pledge
ourselves to do. And to work toward justice and equity for all those in
need.
Within our
congregations we endeavor to accept each other as we are, "warts and
all. " We seek to share an ongoing spiritual experience together, and to
strive to grow together in deeper and deeper ways. Our congregations are
a safe place for spiritual celebration.
We honor the
search for truth and meaning, based on skepticism and scientific
knowledge, carried out within our congregations. We value the freedom to
think independently hard won by our ancestors.
We affirm the
right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our
congregations and in the society at large.
The bright blue
and white ball floating in space, the earth, is our only home. We are
not here by accident. We strive to create meaningful connection with the
other peoples sharing our home planet. We pledge ourselves to practice
peace with all other peoples of the earth, and to support movements
promoting liberty and justice for all.
We practice
respect for the interdependent web of existence of which we are all a
part. We live the fullness of mitakuye oyasin. We are related to
all living things.
Creation Spirituality
Some say, "what
does it matter what happened at the beginning of all things? Here we are
now!" It matters enormously. Albert Einstein said, "either everything is a
miracle, or nothing is." He came down on the side of everything. Indeed,
the more he learned the more he became convinced that there was a Creative
force at the center of the universe. In order to practice a well worthy
religion, we must each bring this Question to rest in our own minds. For
me, the moment of Creation is the beginning of religion. Something so
awesome that it defies imagination happened when that small ball of energy
was instantaneously transformed and began rushing out to create the
universe. Transformed by WHAT? If I open my mind and heart it
is a permanent path to seeing the mystery and awe at the center of all
life. It is also easier from this place to sense and embrace the reality
that all living things are related, that we come from the same source.
Mitakuye oyasin.
Okay. But what
about the practical stuff, like the Dali Lama's injunction to do our inner
work in order to have inner peace and practice compassion here and now.
How do you do that in the middle of the distractions, losses, and
sometimes, deep pain, of life? There are many answers to this. One way of
seeing that helps me to put it in perspective is the four paths from
creation spirituality.
For example. Our
birthright is relaxed joy (as Rev. Jim Dace reminded us last week). That
is how we came into the world, but painful experience removed it. To come
back to it, we need to accept that joy, pleasure, kindness, celebration,
and, inner peace are natural. We are the recipients of original blessing.
The via positiva. When darkness comes, the via negativa, it
too is natural. We need to allow it to be a part of us, while it is there,
as much as we allow the good stuff. The experience of the darkness
prepares us and deeply enhances the experience of light.
And by allowing
the pain in, we begin to see that we are like all others. We all hurt and
struggle from time to time. It does not need to be a secret. That is the
basis of compassion. We are all on this journey together. Then, rather
than seeing ourselves as victims when bad things happen, we can sense the
opportunity to help others based on the experience we have gained waiting
just on the other side of the curtain. Pain and loss can season us and pry
open our hearts. And helping others with compassion in our hearts (not
sympathy or pity) is the key to transformation of our own souls.
Then we can return
to the living out of a creative life, a transforming life. We can also
then enter a place of deep humility from which we do not need to judge
others, from which we know we are neither superior of inferior to others.
In the future we
will talk of some of the many ways, the practices that can take us to
inner peace, and the practice of compassion, and love. Meditation. (me
teach next year) Group sharing and support (start more small groups for
deep support on this journey) Religious paths (Christianity , Judaism,
mysticism, Islam, Hindu, Taoism, Buddhism, indigenous spiritual
traditions, etc.)
And, in the
future, we will continue to celebrate life together.
Holding regular
gatherings where we celebrate life as a reflection of the Divine.
Finally.
This is all a lot of work. Is it worth it to do such hard
construction work in the creation of our well? It may not feel as
important to face difficult questions and emotions when all is well in our
lives, but when challenges come, it is the time when meaningful religion,
and a meaningful religious community , are of incredible value. When there
is illness or death in our family. Our spouse dies. Our child
is in a terrible accident. Painful divorce. When aging takes
the form of Alzheimers and our loved ones spirit goes away though their
body is still present. Loss of a job creating a slide toward
poverty. Then we need a deep connection with spirit to make meaning
of what is happening. We need a a foundation to hold us up, as well
as a strong spiritual community to support us. Stirred in with these daily
events are concerns about the ultimate questions that religion originally
came into being to answer for us.
Why are we here?
What happens to us when we die? Is there a God? If so, what is
her/his nature?
Fifty years from
now most of us in this room will not be here. In 100 years none of
us here will be alive. None of us. We will age, move through
the remaining stages of life, and die. Will we have said and done all that
we wanted in our visit to this planet? Will we have enjoyed
intimacy, love, and connection with those who matter most to us?
Will we have made a difference in our family, in our neighborhood, in our
community, in the world? If we live with inner peace inside and
practice compassion outside, the chances are strong that we can say a
clear "YES" when our time of last breaths comes. Religion that
works, religion that is real, that is an authentic well, helps us to live
out our lives with deep meaning.
Here, at CUUC, our
intention is to continue to grow into practice of these ways. To
support one another in spiritual community , and to realize our own
dreams. We will be a light -- in each others lives and in the world
at large. Come, join in the journey down the well.
The River of Life
awaits us all.
"I don't think
religions can afford to be exclusive any longer. The world is in an
appalling state because religions are trying to be exclusive instead of
universal. In a mystical form, all religions are one, but most people
only scratch the surface of them. Right now I'm beginning work writing a
long lament for the city of Jerusalem. I'm using Judaic, Islamic and
Christian texts. In the end, they are all the same thing. As Dostoyevsky
used to say, "The world can only be saved by beauty."
-- John
Tavener, composer
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