Something in the news must have triggered the beginning of this session's discussion. Someone asked if Israel is likely to do something to stop Iran's production of a nuclear bomb. I remarked that my husband, an Israeli by birth, through discussions with fellow Israeli friends thinks something may happen during May. Israel feels that if they wait longer, Iranian facilities will be buried too deep in underground bunkers such that they would be inaccessible to destruction. The author here tried to explain the difference in culture between Western countries and the Islamic ideals.
Discussion of some of the world's current problems followed.
On a personal level, we are all dealing with aging and eventually death. Our spirituality must prepare us in some fashion for these two eventualities. Globally we are contemplating a bright future for humanity, but we seem to have a death wish. Freud said there is a death wish in humanity, even though our society is fearful of even a complete discussion about death.
It seems that over the centuries often religion has been the source of war and conflict. All religions have been guilty of inciting violence. The Christians initiated the Crusades. The Islamic Jihad is a brutal war against opposing ideologies. The war in Ireland between the Catholic vs and the Protestants was solved and women played a large part in solving that war. But women in Islam have no power or are afraid to wield it and so the hope that women can stop Jihad is slim.
One member told of Lynn McTaggert who is a best selling author who has been characterized as "a bridge between science and spirituality." Her books include The Field; The Intention Experiment; What Doctors Don't Tell You, and now most recently The Bond. In this book, she writes about how wrong the idea that we are individuals and not connected is. She writes: "In fact, we are inescapably connected, hardwired to each other at our most elemental level -- from cells to whole societies. The desire to help others is so necessary that we experience it as one of our chief pleasures, as essential as eating and having sex, and we succeed and prosper only when we see ourselves as part of a greater whole. Every conflict that occurs whether between husband and wife, social or racial groups, or nations -- is resolved only when we can fully see and embrace the space -- the bond-- between us. McTaggert offers detailed recommendations to help foster more holistic thinking, more cooperative relationships, and more unified social groups. Blending interviews and human stories into an absorbing narrative, she shows how:
A simple daily practice conditions the brain to enable you to become more empathetic toward others
A new way of speaking and listening can overcome polarization, helping the staunchest of enemies to become close friends.
People who fire together wire together. Whenever a group works together for a common goal, the brains of all parties begin to get on the same wavelength, strengthening the bond within the group.
Fairness is more powerful than unfairness. A small group of individuals committed to strong reciprocity can "invade" a population of self-interested individuals and can create a fairer society.
She also attempts to use the Internet to bring together meditative people for a positive outcome.
http://www.lynnemctaggart.com/
At this site you can sign up with your email address and download an excerpt from the book.
The group discussed that we can make a choice to exist in mindfulness and a love based society. If we can individually practice a love based existence, hopefully it will spread.
Dave believes we are evolving toward a time when we can be love based.
Gloria quoted Ekhart Tolle, from his book New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose.
Some find Tolle a little hard to understand.
We may need to live with the duality. Nobody does god the same way. In our heart religion is relational. This is the Martin Buber way of thinking.
I think we all do hope that we are evolving toward a better and compassionate society. Certainly current events prompt us to join any or many of these various groups to see if we can contribute to this evolution.
Discussion of some of the world's current problems followed.
On a personal level, we are all dealing with aging and eventually death. Our spirituality must prepare us in some fashion for these two eventualities. Globally we are contemplating a bright future for humanity, but we seem to have a death wish. Freud said there is a death wish in humanity, even though our society is fearful of even a complete discussion about death.
It seems that over the centuries often religion has been the source of war and conflict. All religions have been guilty of inciting violence. The Christians initiated the Crusades. The Islamic Jihad is a brutal war against opposing ideologies. The war in Ireland between the Catholic vs and the Protestants was solved and women played a large part in solving that war. But women in Islam have no power or are afraid to wield it and so the hope that women can stop Jihad is slim.
One member told of Lynn McTaggert who is a best selling author who has been characterized as "a bridge between science and spirituality." Her books include The Field; The Intention Experiment; What Doctors Don't Tell You, and now most recently The Bond. In this book, she writes about how wrong the idea that we are individuals and not connected is. She writes: "In fact, we are inescapably connected, hardwired to each other at our most elemental level -- from cells to whole societies. The desire to help others is so necessary that we experience it as one of our chief pleasures, as essential as eating and having sex, and we succeed and prosper only when we see ourselves as part of a greater whole. Every conflict that occurs whether between husband and wife, social or racial groups, or nations -- is resolved only when we can fully see and embrace the space -- the bond-- between us. McTaggert offers detailed recommendations to help foster more holistic thinking, more cooperative relationships, and more unified social groups. Blending interviews and human stories into an absorbing narrative, she shows how:
A simple daily practice conditions the brain to enable you to become more empathetic toward others
A new way of speaking and listening can overcome polarization, helping the staunchest of enemies to become close friends.
People who fire together wire together. Whenever a group works together for a common goal, the brains of all parties begin to get on the same wavelength, strengthening the bond within the group.
Fairness is more powerful than unfairness. A small group of individuals committed to strong reciprocity can "invade" a population of self-interested individuals and can create a fairer society.
She also attempts to use the Internet to bring together meditative people for a positive outcome.
http://www.lynnemctaggart.com/
At this site you can sign up with your email address and download an excerpt from the book.
The group discussed that we can make a choice to exist in mindfulness and a love based society. If we can individually practice a love based existence, hopefully it will spread.
Dave believes we are evolving toward a time when we can be love based.
Gloria quoted Ekhart Tolle, from his book New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose.
Some find Tolle a little hard to understand.
We may need to live with the duality. Nobody does god the same way. In our heart religion is relational. This is the Martin Buber way of thinking.
I think we all do hope that we are evolving toward a better and compassionate society. Certainly current events prompt us to join any or many of these various groups to see if we can contribute to this evolution.
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