The Guenther Pohlman Society Meeting, April 29, 2010

      Since this was the 5th Thursday of the month, this meeting was a meeting of the Guenther Pohlman Society Meeting. His daughter Heidi B brought a lovely poem favored by her father. She first read the following poem in German and then Todd D read it in English.

Buddha in Glory
     by Rainer Maria Rilke

Center of all centers, cores of cores,
almond self-enclosed, and growing sweet-
all this universe, to the furthest stars
all beyond them is your flesh, your fruit.

Now you feel like nothing clings to you;
your vast shell reaches into endless space,
and there the rich thick fluids rise and flow,
illuminated in your infinite peace.

a billion stars go spinning through the night,
blazing high above your head.
But in you is the presence that
will be when all the stars are dead.

Todd D. then read from a 53 page booklet that Guenther had given him in the past. Guenther had titled this treatise, "The Nature of Our Religiosity, An Array of My Thoughts"  by Guenther Pohlman. We will continue to read material from this booklet. The plan is that we will print copies of this writing and sell it to the group and others for about $3 or $3.50 to recoup expenses for copying.

Further discussion centered  about meditation in various spiritual traditions. Christianity at the North Shore Congregational Church is practicing regular meditation. Recently Judaism is beginning to use meditation frequently. Several books on Jewish meditation and also meditative practices for all spiritual traditions. Following is a list of the books that were discussed:

Meditation and Kabbalah by Aryeh Kaplan
God is a Verb: Kabbalah and the Practice of Mystical Judaism by David A. Cooper
The Awakened Heart: Opening Yourself to the Love You Need by Gerald G. May. This is a book with guidelines for spiritual self-awareness and gives considerable attention to techniques in developing a faithful prayer life.
Minding the Body, Mending the Mind by Joan Borysenko. A classic in its field, teaches how to release stress, cope with chronic pain, maximize immune function, and lead an awakened mindful life.
Joh Kabat-Zin has a youtube video on how to meditate.

At the Milwaukee Mindfulness Center, at 1922 E. Park Place , a 12 step meeting is held each Sunday evening from 6:30 Pm to 7:30 PM. This meeting is meant for someone in a 12 step program or interested in beginning one. Such a program strengthens one's ability to manage emotions and feelings  and is a key to breaking the cycle of destructive compulsions, allowing one to see things as they are as one experiences them. The 12 step program is strongly based on spirituality and meditation. The basis of meditation in such a program is producing more calm more often, less time spent hung up on resentments, a new desire to be of service to others, less ruled by character defects. Meditation is used highly in these programs. The book: "12 steps on Buddha's Path: Bill, Buddha and We" is used in discussion during these meetings.