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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