Some people go to a place of worship every Sunday, some on Saturdays, others on Mondays. A day has been set aside for the liturgy that will be heard, but not always felt. The Building becomes a symbol. A place of sanctuary. For many, peace and tranquility can be gained from this experience from this structure. I know and understand this form of religious conviction as I was once a priest and I was very good at what a priest does. Therefore, I will never sit in judgment of others who may not agree with my religiosity.
For me, as I have evolved, the Earth is my church. I do not have certain days of worship as I experience my church on a daily basis. I am surrounded by my church everywhere I tread this planet. My church sleeps with me at nights and is with me every second I am living and breathing in this journey. There are no doors to my church. With each action, each thought, each word spoken I show respect and love to all humanity and living creatures and all of Mother Nature. Each time I excel I am practicing my religion. There is a Lakota Native American prayer , "Mitakuye Oyasin" which I cite everyday. It is a praise to all living creatures acknowledging the oneness of all life, ~~ that we are all related. It is a petition to God on behalf of everyone and everything on Earth for peace and unity.
Here is the prayer in full:
Aho Mitakuye Oyasin....All my relations. I honor you in this circle of life with me today. I am grateful for this opportunity to acknowledge you in this prayer....
To the Creator, for the ultimate gift of life, I thank you.
To the mineral nation that has built and maintained my bones and all foundations of life experience, I thank you.
To the plant nation that sustains my organs and body and gives me healing herbs for sickness, I thank you.
To the animal nation that feeds me from your own flesh and offers your loyal companionship in this walk of life, I thank you.
To the human nation that shares my path as a soul upon the sacred wheel of Earthly life, I thank you.
To the Spirit nation that guides me invisibly through the ups and downs of life and for carrying the torch of light through the Ages, I thank you.
To the Four Winds of Change and Growth, I thank you.
You are all my relations, my relatives, without whom I would not live. We are in the circle of life together, co-existing, co-dependent, co-creating our destiny. One, not more important than the other. One nation evolving from the other and yet each dependent upon the one above and the one below. All of us a part of the Great Mystery.
Thank you for this Life.
The following is a poem I wrote that reflects my spirituality at this time in life. As I have said many times before, I am spiritual but not dogmatic. If anything my Theology is parallel to the Native Americans.
The breath of Zeus beckons the thunder, the lightening and winds which dance on Mother Earth's skirt ~~ the beautiful plains of the planet. This is my ecclesiastical music.
My choir will be the sounds of silence or that from all living creatures.
As I tread upon Mother Earth's skirt I may knell on her as a pew.
My congregation may be the trees, water, flowers and our fellow man.
The sermon of the day will be the voice of my soul and spirit
~~ Stephen Hill~~
Embrace any conduit (church) you are comfortable with that helps you communicate with the creator and promote love and unity to the world!
friend of the dalai lama, when I went to nepal for journalism .
ReplyDeletewas going to report on the conditions of the red chinese invasion, the warriors being killed in the foothills of the himalayas.
am native american,teton sioux(lakota)
and am a pantheist.
Thank you for taking the time to visit and post your comment! Wado!
ReplyDeleteMy church lies on the feet of the Acropolis at the Areopagus hill. There I seat during sunsets,either on winter or spring days and in that spot, over the ancient agora I breath my ancestors wisdom. There I comunicate with my God Whom I thank for all he has provided me. Air, sun, water, life.
ReplyDeleteI don't know his name, I don't know how he looks but I can feel his presence. He is everywhere, inside all living creatures, in the flowers, in the trees, in the waters, in all nature's mysteries and ...I breath, feel alive, full of hope, positive thoughts and ready for the future.
Stephen you are always an inspiration and you touch the most delicate chords of our hearts with your writings.
Se exharisto
Athanassia
Parakalo my dear Fili! You have also touched the Greek spirit in me. I was just sitting on the rocks of the Acropolis last summer. I am sure that our spirits connected there!
ReplyDeleteWith Love ~~ Agapi and light to you!