Living the Dance
updated 18-Oct-2005
This music and dancing is to
increase Joy, not awe toward another person, but bliss in our own self.
This is finding God within, through experience.
-
Samuel Lewis
The Dances
The Dances of Universal Peace provide a wonderful environment for spiritual
growth. Many of us find great peace and insight during the Dances, only to have
that profound peace and insight disappear after a few days.
In the Dances, we are in the midst of a loving,
supportive environment filled with sacred words and sacred intent. In such an
environment, the heart is unveiled, and the unbounded depth of inner peace and
joy is revealed.... wouldn't it be worth some effort to live like that
everyday??
It is possible to keep the light of the Dances
shining in your life every day.
"Let your light shine," said Jesus Christ. It is
that light which reflects the inner personality, purifying man from dross and
restoring him to his position as a "son of God." The spiritual dance has no
other purpose, no other aim than to elevate mankind beyond self-thought: to joy,
to bliss, to realization, and to peace.
- from Spiritual Dancing by Samuel Lewis
This elevated state, where the Dance stays with us in every moment, is the
result of spiritual awakening.
Spiritual Awakening
Spiritual awakening means living each moment in awareness of Spirit... an inner
awareness that the Greater Life is beyond this little self, and that receiving
and giving these exquisite gifts of Spirit is all that truly matters.
There is a universe full of variety, but one
Spirit.
- Inayat Khan
The true depths of awakening only arise through personal experience. There
are no words, no books, no poems and no gurus that can awaken anyone. Although
such resources may help to set the stage, awakening will happen only as a result
of personal experience.
This music and dancing is to increase Joy, not
awe toward another person, but bliss in our own self. This is finding God
within, through experience.
- Samuel Lewis
Spiritual Paths
Every person has their own unique path, different from yours, different from
mine. Trying to resist that simple truth is the cause of much conflict and
suffering.
Awakening leads to selflessness, the free flow
of Spirit, and a profound inner peace. Walk your own path, follow your own
bliss.
Paths are many. Truth is One.
- Swami Satchidananda
Inner Peace - A Measure of Spiritual Progress
Spiritual progress is recognized in the ability to maintain a profound inner
peace regardless of outer circumstances.... inner peace in the midst of chaos,
inner peace in the midst of battle, unattached to outer appearances.
The deep, profound inner Peace that can arise,
is not simply the absence of strife, much the same as true Love is not simply
the absence of hatred. It is far greater than that. In fact, true Peace
and true Love are essential qualities of the Divine.
The generality have conceived peace as the opposite to war... but spiritual
peace is fullness of life...
- from Commentaries on the Gayan, by Samuel Lewis
The depth of the inner Peace is a measure of the progress toward spiritual
awakening.
But to what does the love of God lead? It leads
to that peace and stillness which can be seen in the life of the tree, which
bears fruit and flowers for others and expects no returns, not even thanks in
return. It serves and cares for nothing else, not even for appreciation. That is
the attribute of the godly.
- Gathas, by Inayat Khan
Spiritual qualities begin as subtle
transformations in the consciousness of the inner being. [The spiritual
qualities] are measured according to their peace giving...
- by Paramahansa Yogananda
In the transformations of consciousness which
arise from inner Peace, all of life is transformed.
If one can seek the Peace which is beyond
‘Understanding,’ i.e., Vijnana,
if one can become attuned to the Spirit of Guidance which is the very spirit of
the whole universe, out of this Peace can come all things, all attainments
because they are there.
- from Commentary on The Inner Life, by Samuel Lewis
A Choice
Even in the midst of your everyday life, you can experience that same joyful,
peaceful spirit that is so often discovered in the Dances. And from the center
of Peace, all of life can be transformed.
It's up to you.
Tools for Daily Progress
- You can do it, yet it is up to you to do it, nobody else can do it for you, it
requires intent and effort.
- A powerful transformation will happen when the Divine Presence is more
important than anything else.
- Establish a daily spiritual practice. Let your practice be a Dance with the
Beloved.
- Enhance your spiritual awareness with the support of daily spiritual
activities and interests such as:
Meditation... many forms, find what suits you...
Gatherings... dances, kirtan, lectures, discussions
Poetry...
Music...
Books...
Audio tapes and CDs...
Magazines... many spiritual groups offer great magazines (SRF, Sufi Ruhaniat,
etc)
Daily Thoughts
The thoughts that we keep in our consciousness
throughout the day have a great affect on our lives.
The following can be used as topics for
meditation as well as discussion with friends and family:
At whatever cost harmony is attained, it is a good bargain, for harmony is the
secret of happiness; and, in the absence of this, a person living in palaces and
rolling in gold can be most unhappy.
- from Takua Taharat: Purity of the Body, the Gathas of
Inayat Khan
Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you.
- Jesus, Mt 6:33
Harmony is brought about by attuning oneself to
all beings, to all things, to all conditions, to all situations; and he who
cannot tune himself tries to tune others...
- from Takua Taharat: Everyday Life, the Gathas of Inayat Khan
I abandoned and forgot myself, laying my face on my Beloved;
all things ceased; I went out from myself, leaving my cares forgotten among the
lilies.
- St John of the cross
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and
with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is
like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
- Jesus, Mt 22:37-39
Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.
- The Dhammapada of Buddha
O servant, where dost thou seek Me? Lo! I am beside thee.
- Kabir
It is harmony between breath and breath which brings harmony between men. This
comes most easily through music and dancing...
- from
201 Suras on Breath by Samuel Lewis
Peace can be obtained through the
refinement of breath coupled with devotional exercises and attitudes.
-
from Pasi Anfas:Breath, series II:10, by Samuel Lewis
Seek God for His own sake. The highest perception is to feel Him as Bliss,
welling up from your infinite depths.
-
Paramahansa Yogananda
O Thou, Who art the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, The Lord of Heaven
and Earth,
Open our hearts, that we may hear Thy Voice, which constantly cometh from
within;
Disclose to us Thy Divine Light, which is hidden in our souls, That we may know
and understand life better.
Most Merciful and Compassionate God, give us Thy Great Goodness,
Teach us Thy Loving Forgiveness,
Raise us above the distinctions and differences which divide us,
Send us the Peace of Thy Divine Spirit, And unite us all in Thy Perfect Being.
Amen
- Khatm by Inayat Khan
We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
- The Dhammapada of Buddha
The point is not to deny our ego, but to extricate ourselves from our exclusive
preoccupation with it.
- One-Liners by Ram Dass
Most people die with their music still locked up
inside them.
-
Benjamin Disraeli
My rule of life is to drink and be merry. To be free from belief and unbelief is
my religion.
I asked the Bride of Destiny her bride-price, "Your joyous heart", she replied.
-
The Rubaiat of Omar Khayyam:
Our journey is about being more deeply involved in life, and yet less attached
to it.
-
One-Liners by Ram Dass
Do what you must, but don't resist what is.
- The
Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle
Renounce and enjoy.
-
Gandhi (Isa Upanishad)
Breathing in, I know that I'm alive
Breathing out, I smile to the world.
- Thich
Nhat Hanh
