Greetings and Happy New Year,
I hope Santa was good to you, and that you were generous to those on your gift list. More important, I hope your spiritual gifts were richer than the material goodies you gave and received.
During this time of reflection, I found myself thinking back to this time of year four decades ago. That winter, I drove with a carload of comrades from New York to rural Georgia, where we spent our college break registering African Americans to vote. It was a tense, dangerous and eye-opening adventure. Full of youthful idealism, I spent the next few years agitating for civil rights and protesting the Vietnam War, thinking I was changing the world. Inwardly, however, a different sort of fervor was brewing: my spiritual yearning awakened, and gradually intensified.
For a while, I straddled two worlds, the contemplative and the activist. But over time, they felt increasingly incompatible. I had once thought that religion was the opium of the masses. Now I started to think that politics was the opiate—sound and fury signifying nothing. It seemed obvious that the world could not get better unless individual hearts and minds were transformed. So, I tuned out politics and turned to spiritual activism.
Now, it’s become obvious that neither course alone is sufficient. Millions of us have been working on inner transformation for decades, but the outer world is still a mess. It seems time for those of us who value spiritual development to offer the fruits of our efforts to the problems that plague our communities, our nations and our planet.
Therefore, my new year’s wish for each of you is to find an opportunity for service that both nourishes your spirit and contributes to a greater good. More than ever, the world needs your energy, creativity and compassion.
FORGE INSTITUTE PROGRAMS
Much of my non-writing time this past year was devoted to my work with the Forge Institute and the Forge Guild of Spiritual Leaders. Two programs we’ve developed are now available to the general public:
Community for Spiritual Wisdom: An international membership organization for those who wish to pursue genuine spiritual growth in community with others from a diverse range of paths, locations and perspectives.
Forge Hearths: CSW members in certain areas can come together on a regular basis for mutual learning and growth. Led by Forge-trained facilitators, the hearths are non- dogmatic, informal and diverse. Hearths are now running in New York, Boston, Seattle and Los Angeles, with Tucson and 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 CSW, the hearths and the Forge Institute: http://www.theforge.org.
MONTHLY COLUMNS
Introducing my most recent columns in Healthy Update, the newsletter of HealthWorld Online (www.healthy.net).
"The Spirit of Relationship" – on the value of relationships as a catalyst for spiritual growth: http://healthy.net/scr/column.asp?Id=626
"Put Your Faith in Doubt" – facing head-on the inevitable doubts we run into on the path, and turning them into stepping stones to deeper and more genuine faith: http://www.healthy.net/scr/column.asp?id=671
"Taking the High Road" – every teaching calls for love, compassion, kindness and other virtues. How much can we demand of ourselves? When should we lighten up? http://healthy.net/scr/column.asp?Id=675
"After the Deluge" – disasters like the ones we witnessed in 2005 raise questions about the kind of universe we live in. We might never know the answers, but we can channel our anguish and rage into making the imperfect world a little more perfect:
http://healthy.net/scr/column.asp?id=708
"The Spirit of Sex" – on the complicated relationship of spirituality and sexuality: somewhere between suppression and excess, avoidance and compulsion, there is a position of sexual balance that is right for each of us: http://healthy.net/scr/column.asp?id=735
"The 'G' Word" – who or what is God? Getting attached to any concept or model can lock the mind into a false sense of certainty and shut down further growth: http://healthy.net/scr/column.asp?id=746
RECOMMENDED MEDIA
“Shortcut to Nirvana,” a documentary by Maurizio Bennazo. Available on DVD, it’s about the 2001 Maha Kumbha Mela in India, the largest gathering of human souls in history. I was there, and the film does a fine job of capturing the amazing sights and sounds and spirit of the event. I saw things I missed in person. For information: www.melafilms.com.
“The Book of Balance,” an excellent translation of Lao Tzu’s sublime Tao Teh Ching by Yasuhiko Genku Kimura, a scholar and integral philosopher, whose journal “Vision in Action” is also worthy of your attention. Even if you’ve read other translations, you’re likely to discover new insights in this one. Information: www.via-visioninaction.org.
ILLUMINATIONS ON SERVICE
“I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”
- Albert Schweitzer
“We do not know how to solve the general problem of evil, but we are not exempt from dealing with evils in the world which we can eradicate.”
- Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But if that drop was not in the ocean, I think the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”
- Mother Theresa
“I slept and dreamt that life was joy,
I woke and saw that life was service,
I acted and behold!
Service was joy.”
- Rabindranath Tagore
SEEDS OF CONTEMPLATION
One day, Nasrudin is walking in the woods, when he comes upon an wandering monk. He asks the ascetic what he’s doing in the forest. The answer: “I am trying to achieve harmony with all living things.” Nasrudin says he understands what he means. In fact, his life was once saved by a fish.
Recognizing a kindred soul, the monk says, “Please tell me about the miraculous experience of communion with a fish that saved your life.”
Says Nasrudin, “I was starving, and that fish lasted for three days.”
THIS NEWSLETTER
I’ve received some messages asking why I haven’t sent out one of these since the spring. I was, to be honest, both surprised and delighted to hear that some people actually look forward to receiving them, despite the deluge of junk e-mails we all receive. Last year was exceptionally busy, and I will no doubt send more than two in 2006 – but I won’t be hurt if you’re up to your ears in e-mail and wish to be removed from the list.
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