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The events of September 11th of this year allowed us to experience two contradictory aspects of our humanity---the dark side and the light.
Brutally and horrifically present on that day was that aspect of ourselves which can operate only when our hearts our closed, when we no longer are in touch with our true loving nature. Then separateness, fear, anger and hate displace connectedness, compassion and love. Only when we are asleep to our own humanity can we relate to others as mere "things," and become capable of acts that sow destruction upon innocent fellow beings.
Also present on that day in September was that aspect of ourselves which inspires us, shows us our connectedness, and spontaneously opens our hearts to act in the service of others in ways that illuminate the best expressions of our humanity. In act after heroic act, the light of our true nature shone forth in acts of courage, compassion and love, piercing the dark, hellish inferno of hate, separateness and death that engulfed so many. In the midst of the darkness, our humanity shone brightly.
But we do not need tremendous emergencies and tragedies to appreciate or act from who we really are as human BEINGS, as expressions of Spirit. Each day, each moment, with each person we meet, is an opportunity to be present to the gift that life is, and our profound connectedness with each other.
The Core Wisdom 3-Day Course of November 30-December of this year was an occasion for me yet again to be awed and moved by people's courage, compassion and love. I was privileged to be present as participants dissolved old fears, phobias, traumas and beliefs that had held them back, constrained their actions, and stifled their full expression for decades. They released long held energy at all dimensions--- physically, emotionally and mentally--- leaving themselves free to BE, free to express from their true Self fully, and free to love unconditionally. I had the joyful experience of being present as people created a new life principle for themselves, one that resonated with their Divine Nature. I was again filled with wonder at the glory of our creative nature, our capacity to generate our lives as unique expressions of Spirit, living each day with gratitude and appreciation for the gift that life is.
We each have a choice of our inner state in each moment. We can be victims or we can be creators. We can wake up each morning with "thank you," on our lips, knowing as Mendela and Gandhi did that the circumstances around us are not the Source of our inner state of being. Each day we can open ourselves to infinite grace, and realize directly that "the kingdom of heaven" is within us. This is the message of wisdom from all the great mystics and spiritual masters, no matter which tradition or culture they came from.
Life as a creation and a blessing occurs when we finally answer the question, "Who am I?" at the level at which we experience directly our true, unchanging nature. Then we are connected to and act from our core wisdom. Then, acceptance, grace, joy, compassion and love are natural expressions of our humanity.
As this year comes to a close, I invite you to celebrate and appreciate the people who have passed through your lives in this past 12 months. From everyone, there has been a lesson to be learned, an opportunity for compassion, giving, and loving to express itself in our hearts.
In this holy-day season, I thank each of you for being a part of my life.
May each of you be blessed with a creative, extraordinary New Year, in which each day is a "holi-day,"and may you live from the three questions asked by the sage, Hillel:
If I am not for my Self, who will be for me?
-- Hal Isen
From Core Wisdom On-Line Number 13 - Dec. 1, 2001
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