the light within
Tonight is a very special night for me and has been so since I was in high school. Although I am a Baha'i, I have attended many a candlelight service, midnight mass and other commemorative programs honoring the spirit and life of Christ, and I have been moved by and have enjoyed every single one of those experiences. They have reconnected me with a spirit and light that are precious, and to me these services are the most fitting way to celebrate Christmas and the birth of Christ the Lord.
Having just arrived back at Deadra's house in St. Joe from a candlelight service, I was particularly moved this year by the symbolism of the candles. But before I get into all that, perhaps some background first?
I (finally!) picked up "Field Notes on the Compassionate Life" today by Mark Ian Barasch, and I'm finding it hard to put down! I had been tracking the development of this amazing book online as Mr. Barasch was writing it, and I'm so excited by it. He began his journey to write this book with a couple of questions: What exactly is compassion? How can tapping into this single trait transform not only individual lives but the world at large? And in researching these questions from all kinds of perspectives, he thoroughly explores what he calls "the x-factor that every faith…exalts as a supreme virtue." It's a brilliant book, and it moves me to tears.
In the beginning, he describes those precious souls we sometimes have the bounty of meeting - radiant, warm people who make you feel instantly loved, cared for and accepted. They are like angels of compassion. And it's not that they do anything in particular to accomplish this - it just emanates from them, it glows from within. I have been SO blessed in my life to know many of these amazing people, and I wholly aspire to emulate even a fraction of the grace they manage to naturally share with anyone who crosses their path. It moves me to simply think about the effect they have on others.
In the Gospel it says, "Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him." (Matthew 20:34) The context has to do with people who were literally blind, but I also read this symbolically. The power of compassion to give us true (spiritual) sight and to transform our lives - not to mention the lives of those whom our compassion touches - is awe-inspiring.
So, the candles. The ushers came to each row and lit the first person's candle. The next person then tipped her candle to light hers from the first's. And so on, and so on - each person lighting their candle by touching it to that of the person sitting next to him. And so, I thought, can you imagine if each of us truly radiated the light of compassion such that anyone who came close to us - close enough to touch - would be affected and "lit" by our light? That he or she would "see" something he or she had not previously seen? And that in turn that person would pay it forward by being so clear-sighted and fired up within that it would move them to share that light with someone else?
I imagine this is how movements are born. And I have to say, I'm excited by that prospect.
Comments
sorry D, I wish I could spell your name right 100% of the time. But I have also forgotten to put on pants before leaving the house, hence, I am an absolute buffoon that deserves a life of lonliness and misery as punishment for my complete ubsurdness. I will now retire into the night and remain, a lonely fool..
Posted by: Brian...again | December 29, 2005 12:39 AM
I would find it extremely out of character for Delora, a very sophisticated woman of high standing, to be speaking of "movements" and being "excited by the prospect" of them. But here I am laughing to myself because I would find that talk with her HALARIOUS! I don't think she is one to stoop to poop (talk that is, how funny, it even rhymes..hahahaha)oh god the madness that is the inside of my poor, poor head.
Posted by: Bri Bri the fry guy | December 29, 2005 12:35 AM
both of you are comedians. har har.
Posted by: delara | December 28, 2005 09:38 AM
Waaaiiiit a second. This whole thing about the crapper isn't just a reference to the last line of the entry, is it?
Posted by: george | December 27, 2005 09:30 PM
It's a sanctuary, Brian. Most days that's the only place I get a chance to read what I want to. And thinking, yeah. I'm with ya.
Posted by: george | December 27, 2005 09:26 PM
whoa, this is like real time, trippy yo', trippy. But seriously, who DOESN'T think on the golden commode?
Posted by: Bri | December 27, 2005 11:11 AM
bri, you are so crazy.
Posted by: delara | December 27, 2005 11:06 AM
In line with the theme here. For christmas I recieved a wonderful book which has a picture for every day of the year (all from Buton, Nepal, India and Tibet) and a Buddhist quote. Today's quote was a Tibetan proverb "Birds that live on a golden mountain, reflect the color of gold" Meaning just that. With no effort we reflect who we are. So as our service to the planet should be compassion, we need to be also. Intentions obviously come out through actions, unless you are that mindfull of what you are doing and that deceitfull, i.e. the GOVERNMENT!! (call me paranoid, I don't care) So if every intention is for the betterment of others without thought to the self, and that intention is driven by a person's uncovered compassion, they will reflect "gold". All this while on the plopper this morning. Who doesn't agree that that room is one of the best thinking rooms?
Posted by: Brian | December 27, 2005 11:00 AM
wow - love that imagery, george. lighting up the stars indeed...
and bri bri - as always, so insightful.
Posted by: delara | December 27, 2005 01:37 AM
Nice one, Brian.
And D: this is also how civilizations meet. I can't remember if it was Sagan or a speaker I saw in person, but many cosmologists look to the future of the universe using something similar to this analogy. If we can keep our collective candles burning long enough for someone else to see them, then reach out and share the light, we may soon light up the stars...
Posted by: george | December 26, 2005 10:13 PM
I'm not being preachy here but, welcome to Buddhism! that's the whole practice, that's what it's ALL about, developing mindfullness and compassion to the point that it takes no effort to rediate it to others, it just naturally flows out of everything you say, do, touch etc etc. It came up the last time I was at my temple and I mentioned that I think I'm leading a fairly selfish life and not working for the happiness of others, and the teacher simply said, "But your practicing aren't you?". And I thought, WOW..I am. And because of that I know that I am transformed and that it might be effecting others in a positive way even though I'm extending no effort in doing so. The power of compassion, ya' baby!!!!
Posted by: Brian | December 25, 2005 09:33 AM