16-Apr-2006
GOLDBERG VARIATION #11
Greetings of springtime,
Recently, I learned that the word heretic derives from the Greek word hairetikos, which means “able to choose.” Well, count me in: ready, willing and able to choose. I was never very good at believing what anyone said I should believe, and I’m very happy to live in a time and place where heretic don’t get burned at the stake—and where freedom of belief is accompanied by such breathtaking access to information.
I’m writing this on the day that Christians celebrate what they believe was the physical resurrection of Jesus, and during the time Jews commemorate a liberation from bondage that they believe was facilitated by miracles. Did Jesus rise from the dead? Did God unleash a series of awesome plagues on the Egyptians? I’m officially agnostic on such matters.
I honor both holidays in a way I find spiritually fruitful: setting aside issues of belief and historical truth, I open to the spirit of the occasions and contemplate the ancient stories as richly transformative metaphors. Beliefs as such seem secondary; what matters is their influence. As I type this, I'm listening to Bach's "St. Matthew Passion." Whatever beliefs inspired Bach to compose this sublime music, I'm glad he believed it.
May you be liberated from bondage and be reborn—whatever those concepts mean to you.
MONTHLY COLUMNS
Introducing my most recent columns in Healthy Update, the newsletter of HealthWorld Online (www.healthy.net).
"Sporting Grace" – how watching sports can be a spiritual practice, win or lose, if you bring to the games the right intention and a fully attentive mind: http://healthy.net/scr/column.asp?Id=758
"Dealing Spiritually with Pain" – how a healthy spirituality can help people deal with physical pain, and what we can infer from scientific research: http://healthy.net/scr/column.asp?id=757
"How Good Is Good Enough?" – on the trap of trying to be all good all the time and the the delicate spiritual balance between accepting who and what we are and always aspiring to do better: http://healthy.net/scr/column.asp?Id=748
"The Gift of Service" – on the selfish benefits of selfless service; research shows that those who serve others are healthier, happier and may even live longer: http://www.healthy.net/scr/column.asp?id=747
RECOMMENDED MEDIA
I usually recommend works by friends in this space, but someone recently asked, “How come you never mention your own books?” I had no answer other than queasiness about self-promotion. Facing the aversion head-on I offer, at a reduced price, copies of my last two books:
"Roadsigns: Navigating Your Path to Spiritual Happiness." An essential guide to life on the spiritual path, it examines the issues, decisions and paradoxical dilemmas that everyone who takes spirituality seriously encounters. Regardless of the tradition or non-tradition you follow, you’ll find it a valuable resource at every stage of your journey. Deepak Chopra said the book’s tips are “as practical as they are wise.” More info: http://www.philipgoldberg.com/work1.htm
"Making Peace with God." Written with my friend and colleague, psychiatrist Harold Bloomfield, this is an indispensable guide to overcoming psychospiritual obstacles to the divine, whatever your faith or lack of it; whether you’re formally religious or a spiritual independent; regardless of your conception of “God” and even if you don’t like the word at all. Archbishop Tutu extolled its “expert and surefooted guidance.” More info: http://www.philipgoldberg.com/work2.htm
To make matters simple, send $20 per book to 4048 Lyceum Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90066.
SHAMELESS PROMOTION
Speaking of "Roadsigns," it will come out in paperback next fall, with a slightly modified title. I’m gearing up to promote it with lectures and workshops. Suggestions on where to offer them are welcome. For a partial list of topics: http://www.philipgoldberg.com/disc.htm
ILLUMINATIONS ON YEARNING FOR THE SACRED
- Nothing whatsoever is achieved in spiritual life without yearning. – Ramakrishna
- Two prisoners whose cells adjoin communicate with each other by knocking on the wall. The wall is the thing which separates them but is also their means of communication. It is the same with us and God. Every separation is a link. - Simone Weil
- To know the sweetness of the Infinite within us. That is the cause, the reason, the purpose, the only purpose of our being. – Nicholas of Cusa
- Returning to the source is serenity: it is to realize one’s destiny. To realize one’s destiny is to know the Eternal Constant. To know the Eternal Constant is to be enlightened. To be ignorant of this is blindness that begets evil. – Lao Tzu
SEEDS OF CONTEMPLATION
In honor of the holiday, I offer this teaching from a great rabbi:
“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; they love to pray standing up in synagogue and on the street corners for everyone to see them. I tell you this: they have their reward. But when you pray, go into a room by yourself, close your door and pray to your Father who is there in the secret place; and your Father who sees what is secret will reward you.
And when you are praying, do not go babbling on like the heathen, who imagine that the more they say the more likely they are to be heard. Do not imitate them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Don’t you wish those loud televangelists would pay attention to that?
FORGE INSTITUTE PROGRAMS
As the Director of the Forge Guild of Spiritual Leaders and a board member of the Forge Institute, I’d like to invite you to learn about these programs for the general public:
Community for Spiritual Wisdom: A membership organization for those who wish to pursue spiritual growth in community with others from a diverse range of paths, locations and perspectives.
Forge Hearths: Facilitated local groups devoted to mutual learning and growth in a non- dogmatic, informal and diverse context. Hearths are up in New York, Boston, Seattle, LA and Tucson, with other areas starting up soon. If you’re in LA and interested in knowing more, drop me an e-mail or call me at 310-827-8266.
For more about the Forge: http://www.theforge.org.
THIS NEWSLETTER
Feel free to pass this on to interested friends. Anyone can subscribe by clicking on http://www.philipgoldberg.com/newsletter.htm and entering an e-mail address in the right-hand column. You can unsubscribe with the same link or send me a private message.
Blessings to all,
Phil
