On Sunday, Rev. Lola kicked off our new March series, “Truth Force,” with her message, “Spiritual Liberation … You’ve Been Called.”
Listen
Message Notes
Opening:
Burlington Coat Factory
SLIDE: Prejudice of any kind implies that you are identified with the thinking mind. It means you don’t see the other human being anymore, but only your own concept of that human being. To reduce the aliveness of another human being to a concept is already a form of violence. – Eckhart Tolle
Satyagraha – Loving Kindness – Fierce Love – Oneness
Objectives:
– You are in control of YOU
– Obedience/blissipline
– Develop awareness of passive and physical violence
Keywords/Stories/Points:
ONENESS – Ancient Wisdom/New Thought – Realization
We’re in a semi-conscious state aka trance of separation
SLIDE: The Unity of Good is a revelation of the greatest importance, for it teaches us that we are One with the Whole and One with each other. The Fatherhood of God and the actual Brotherhood of Man will be made apparent on earth to the degree that man realizes true Unity. – Science of Mind p. 332
***We are here to liberate minds. That is our ministry. How may we avail these teachings in a way that honors the Ancient Wisdom and New Thought tradition?***
Remote Control or Self Control/As within so without
SLIDE: The mind that is always confused and distraught is not at peace; the mind that is continuously upset and agitated by the little, petty things of life is not at peace; it is at war with itself. It is only when the individual mind ceases combating itself that it will stop combating others. – Ernest Holmes
SLIDE: Have dominion over your awareness and you’ll have dominion over your destiny. – Michael Bernard Beckwith
Obedience/Blissipline – How do you DO life?
There is plenty of opportunity for seduction. It is an easy time to lose your orientation.
SLIDE: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. – Matthew 5:43 NRSV
SLIDE: The whole world becomes a slave to its own activity, if you want to be truly free, perform all actions as worship. Bhagavad Gita 3.7-11
You have been called. You are not a victim of the time. This is your time.
SLIDE: What if you have been called to come to the kingdom for such a time as this? – Esther 4:14 NRSV
Summary/Homework (Arun Gandhi):
SLIDE:
Pick One Practice
Mental Focus Minute
Place mental faculty on pleasurable image. Shut your eyes and notice how long you can maintain the pleasurable mental image.
Family Violence Tree
Examine experiences from the day
Physical force (Physical Violence)
Discrimination/Oppression/Overconsumption of Resources (Passive Violence)
Did this action help someone or harm someone?
Closing:
Prayer & Meditation
SIX PRINCIPLES OF NONVIOLENCE
Fundamental tenets of Dr. King’s philosophy of nonviolence described in his first book, Stride Toward Freedom. The six principles include:
PRINCIPLE ONE: Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people.
It is active nonviolent resistance to evil.
It is aggressive spiritually, mentally and emotionally.
PRINCIPLE TWO: Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding.
The end result of nonviolence is redemption and reconciliation.
The purpose of nonviolence is the creation of the Beloved Community.
PRINCIPLE THREE: Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice not people.
Nonviolence recognizes that evildoers are also victims and are not evil people.
The nonviolent resister seeks to defeat evil not people.
PRINCIPLE FOUR: Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform.
Nonviolence accepts suffering without retaliation.
Unearned suffering is redemptive and has tremendous educational and transforming possibilities.
PRINCIPLE FIVE: Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate.
Nonviolence resists violence of the spirit as well as the body.
Nonviolent love is spontaneous, unmotivated, unselfish and creative.
PRINCIPLE SIX: Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice.
The nonviolent resister has deep faith that justice will eventually win.
Nonviolence believes that God is a God of justice.
SIX STEPS OF NONVIOLENT SOCIAL CHANGE
The Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change are based on Dr. King’s nonviolent campaigns and teachings that emphasize love in action. Dr. King’s philosophy of nonviolence, as reviewed in the Six Principles of Nonviolence, guide these steps for social and interpersonal change.
INFORMATION GATHERING:To understand and articulate an issue, problem or injustice facing a person, community, or institution you must do research. You must investigate and gather all vital information from all sides of the argument or issue so as to increase your understanding of the problem. You must become an expert on your opponent’s position.
EDUCATION:It is essential to inform others, including your opposition, about your issue. This minimizes misunderstandings and gains you support and sympathy.
PERSONAL COMMITMENT:Daily check and affirm your faith in the philosophy and methods of nonviolence. Eliminate hidden motives and prepare yourself to accept suffering, if necessary, in your work for justice.
DISCUSSION/NEGOTIATION:Using grace, humor and intelligence, confront the other party with a list of injustices and a plan for addressing and resolving these injustices. Look for what is positive in every action and statement the opposition makes. Do not seek to humiliate the opponent but to call forth the good in the opponent.
DIRECT ACTION: These are actions taken when the opponent is unwilling to enter into, or remain in, discussion/negotiation. These actions impose a “creative tension” into the conflict, supplying moral pressure on your opponent to work with you in resolving the injustice.
RECONCILIATION:Nonviolence seeks friendship and understanding with the opponent. Nonviolence does not seek to defeat the opponent. Nonviolence is directed against evil systems, forces, oppressive policies, unjust acts, but not against persons. Through reasoned compromise, both sides resolve the injustice with a plan of action. Each act of reconciliation is one step close to the ‘Beloved Community.’
Based on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” in Why We Can’t Wait, Penguin Books, 1963.
We often view the Six Steps as a phases or cycles of a campaign rather than steps because each of them embodies a cluster or series of activities related to each of the other five elements.
