Being in Awe

I went to my often weekly Greek Orthodox meeting yesterday and was rather bored. It was all stuff I knew except for the beautiful end reminder which I knew in my intuition since attending for eight years my Greek grammar school Saint Demetrios in Jamaica,Queens about how the lovely sensual, material reminders combine with our spiritual worship in the Church and liturgy coincides with Nature, the Cosmos and all of God’s creations.

Although it’s not as bad is it would be in a fundamental situation, perhaps in a hillbilly village somewhere in Greece or the South (God forgive me), I found the context of the meeting to veer too much into dependence and “Give me money, for I know better than Thou”. Much of it felt small, putrid, puny, small-minded and insulting, geared to those that don’t have a deep connection to the Holy Spirit and confidence.

As usual, I believe it’s all a yin-yang balance. I have been and am a personal trainer. If you work in gyms, the manager tells you to show clients exercises on the floor so they don’t think they can do them on the machines, and show them new things enough to keep them hooked and dependent. Unless a client is taking on a new challenge like a Marathon, my goal really is to have them be able to do it on their own, as much as I’d want their money, and of course power. I think being selfish/selfless is another balance. I sure have my ego and it thinks I am the most special of God’s creations. Perhaps that is good for everyone to think on some level. We all have our masks and dark sides, including religious leaders, and we all should have our humble sides and our commitments greater than “My religion is the best.” After a while, that song sounds the same as “Go Yankees!” or “Let’s beat the enemy!”, etc. It is not ultimately what we want.

It seemed the leader thought that social networking, like the type that led to Egypt’s freedom this week, is a threat to the special oligarchy of Church and other leaders. This is not Christ-like or the Truth. The Parliament of World Religions sent links on how people of different faiths worked together in Egypt (see other blog post). The leader seemed to imply that people not of Orthodox faith do not like rules. Hmm, what about an atheist scientist with a Ph.D. that endures years of rules of laboratory research? How about a Protestant dancer who endures years of rules on dance and practice? A Protestant woman in my group protested. A fitness client of mine is an Orthodox Jewish woman who does not even flip a light switch on Saturdays. I'd prefer I could train her on Saturdays, but she does no work. She told me about hundreds of rules Orthodox Jews follow. To me, the rules are important but not as important as being present to the Holy Spirit, self-actualizing and being true to yourself and growing. There is a time that some rules must be broken. For instance, we usually don't use regular grammar in poetry, yet it's usually more touching the prose. It's been written that people don't like to think. People like to group people in black-white categories: religious or spiritual, black or white, artist or scientist, rule follower or rule breaker. Think deeper.

Yes, I think my religion is the best and the Truth. Yet, I believe the most important thing is just what the priest touched on last night: to be present to the Holy Spirit all the time. People spoke about, as Orthodox Christians appreciating Nature, being close to the Holy Spirit, and serving others. To me that is the same thing, yet the priest did not give credit to us catching that important distinction, and just seemed to want to take credit for the Church in observing that our Faith and liturgy are one with God. He almost seemed to want to take credit for Orthodoxy in being in awe on God’s creations. I think Native American Indians or even “witches” or pagans are. The Mayans came up with a calendar, correct? Scientists, even atheists, are in awe. Other Christians or groups are in awe and grateful. Let’s acknowledge each other.

I am most of the time connected to the Holy Spirit, even when I may be doing what the Church says is sinning. We must be part of a group but also be ourselves. We must take part in community but dare to disagree, be ourselves and act. Thank goodness the Founding Fathers did years ago and taught religious freedom, or this country would not be here. People of other religions or atheists may be close to the Spirit, although it may not be the same as us, or Love or Source. Do you want to argue about it? Gay performers may be at One with the Spirit when they are showing the result of hard years of discipline and showing themselves off while being selfless and performing for the audience at the same time. Muslims who defended Christians in the square in Egypt may be too. Eastern philosophies teach us about Oneness.

A woman in my group appeared to be close-minded in saying she knows “The Truth”. “What is that?” I asked. She said she believed in Christ. I wanted to go on: “So what do you want, a medal?” What actions is she doing? Proclaiming being right? Great! We all need that! Another woman and she questioned my input that one is open to other ideas and shares their own in Orthodoxy. They said you don’t have to do that to be Orthodox. I believe you are grounded in your faith but, being in awe of life, you can be in awe of what others have to teach and the continuous growth process for us, priests, and religious groups. Part of being like a child is being curious. After all, if one is walking with the Holy Spirit, is she or he closed and right, or open to contribution and contributing?

Egyptian Freedom Movement: An Interfaith Movement

Here are some wonderful links I received from the Parliament of World Religions on the Egyptian protests. People of different faiths truly worked together.

Egypt’s Muslims and Christians join hands in protest

http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/news/index.php/2011/02/2862/?utm_source=Parliament+Newsletter&utm_campaign=8eed519dbf-Newsletter_12&utm_medium=email

Egyptian Christians urged to work for equal rights in post-Mubarak government

http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/news/index.php/2011/02/egyptian-christians-urged-to-work-for-equal-rights-in-post-mubarak-government/?utm_source=Parliament+Newsletter&utm_campaign=8eed519dbf-Newsletter_12&utm_medium=email

Egyptians Rejecting Religious Leadership, But Not Religion
http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/news/?p=2834&utm_source=Parliament+Newsletter&utm_campaign=8eed519dbf-Newsletter_12&utm_medium=email

Geoffrey Rush in Diary of a Madman

I went on Saturday afternoon to see the Brooklyn Academy of Arts matinee with Geoffrey Rush. Of course he played brilliantly. But I wanted to see more. The character was one-dimensional, for the most part: a person going crazy. It did not make use of Rush's talents, to go in there and make use of various thoughts and emotions to produce a subtle, multi-dimensional view of his character, as he and Colin Firth did of their characters in King's Speech. The New York Times editor said that he never gave us a glimpse into the mad man's head. I
agree that he did not,as much as spewing forth what was on the edge of his thoughts. I'd like to see more of his past or the subtle subconscious thoughts and elements of which the character is not even aware. However, his two-hour monologue (basically) attests to his mastery of acting.

There were I think two other actresses, one playing a maid and a crazy woman. Her Finnish speaking (I am not sure if it is made up), was hilarious. I wanted to see more acting from them. The set was sparse and "crazy", but I love to see different stage sets. I loved the music. Two musicians, playing on various instruments such as guitar, drums and bells, showed the main character's disharmonious thoughts. It was at times riveting and hilarious. We can all relate, I am sure.

You Are Who You Are

A member of the Greek Orthodox religion group I attend on most Tuesdays said that Eastern traditions leave out the God as Father and are therapy. I think that other traditions, whether it is Judaism and Islam with the father figure, or Hinduism with a God that has many faces, or Buddhism with one can argue, the principles of loving kindness and Buddha as something to aspire to, all have our ideal in mind. I also think that therapy can be good, if it is not a crutch, and any religion or practice can be a crutch that prevents you from being brave, making choices, having Free Will or being you.

Rules and a parent-figure are important, and when tempered with growth, freedom and courage to grow. "To thine own self be true" is the greatest truth for me, as I wrote about in another post. "Pan metron ariston", as Socrates said, is key. Too much of anything is just too much and not arista, or excellence, Rule rigidity can turn into arrogance, as Father Frank Marangos commented last night. Too much thinking can turn into mental masturbation, as in trying really hard to figure things out and chasing one's tale, going nowhere. It can end up the same as too much hedonism or candy on the couch.

Michelle Obama this morning told Matt on the Today Show why Barak ate fattening food on the Super Bowl. She maintained, as I have on my fitness blog, it's about balance, not self-denial and suffering.

As Father Frank said, we are all sinners. The greatest and perhaps only real sin to me is not self-actualizing to be what-all you can be fore yourself and others, in a balance of selfish self and Loving self.

Multidimensional thinking is key. Ken Wilber's Integral Spirituality and Integral Psychology are must reads, but not as much as his 1995 Sex, Ecology, Spirituality: The Spirit of Evolution,[ 2nd rev. ed. 2001: ISBN 1-57062-744-4], where he describes the pitfalls in Western and Eastern philosophies, an all scientific views, and fully I as God or Thee as God views.

Check out this brilliant, simple yet deep song by Merle Haggard "I Am What I Am.". Bravo!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhkVOSKI_TU

David Parsons Matinee Show February 6, 2011

I went to the Joyce Theater today to see Parsons. Their dancing was not the conventional type I like. It may be post-modern, but I am not sure. However, the originality and courage of the pieces was great. What I loved the most was the energy of the dancers that escalated toward the end of each piece,instead of their getting tired, including at the last piece.

The envelope was interesting in the costumes everyone wore, and the focus on conveying a message. We can think how mail is different than email.

Sleep Study was cute. Children laughed abundantly. It was a fun piece more than serious dancing.

Hand Dance was beautiful with the interplay of hands, light and music.

Love, Oh Love was cheesy at first, but it was supposed to be, I suppose. LOL I loved the 1970s music feel. The energy picked up at the end, and the dancers came together to conclude that it's all worth it in love.

Run to You was great with on-and-off light playing with the man's body. I preferred last year's performance of this piece by Miguel Quinones, born in Jamaica, Queens, where I live.