A reader forwarded me a letter sent out by Gangaji to her followers recently.

Dear Sangha,
In 1947 India was in extreme crisis. Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs were
killing each other. Enforced mass migration was causing anger, fear,
and despair. The country was in chaos.
At the same time, Papaji sat in bliss at Ramana’s feet and at the feet
of the holy mountain Arunachala. One day, after reading in the
newspaper of the horror, Ramana asked Papaji about his family and the
dangers they were in as they were being forced to leave the Punjab and
relocate to Hindu governed Lucknow. Papaji responded, “That is all an
empty dream. I am here in the bliss of your grace.”
Ramana looked deeply at Papaji and said, “If it is all a dream, where
is the problem of taking care of your family? Go and help them.”
Papaji left that night for the Punjab. He was able to help get all his
family out in time. Just in time. He was on the last train allowed
out.
It is my view that politically our country is at an essential
crossroads. In my lifetime, there has never been an election as
important as the upcoming one.
I strongly invite you all to look deeply into your hearts and using
what you value most in your self and in all your relationships, choose
a candidate for President and vote. You may also be called to work for
Voter Registration or to help with voter turnout. I support you fully
in support of our precious democratic process.
Finally one discovers there is no difference between inside and
outside. Between form and emptiness. To cling to either is to miss the
whole.
In deep love and respect,
gangaji

Nice one.

May each of us let our votes reflect the expanse of our heart’s deepest longing.

We’re still reeling a bit from the site problems we’ve been having.
Stay tuned as they should be fixed soon.
Happy Halloween.

For the next few days, 25 people will be joining me for what should be a marvelous time at Mt. Madonna Center in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Photos to follow.
Bows,
M

Bill Maher speaks of his newly released film, Religulous:

I don’t use the word “atheist” about myself, because I think it mirrors the certitude I’m so opposed to in religion. What I say in the film is that I don’t know. I don’t know what happens when you die, and all the religious people who claim they do know are being ridiculous. I know that they don’t know any more than I do. They do not have special powers that I don’t possess. When they speak about the afterlife with such certainty and so many specifics, it just makes me laugh.

I’ve written and spoken at length about this over some time. Again and again I’ve argued that I’m pretty certain that certitude leads to war. Or in spiritual terms, that attachment generates suffering. The problem is that Maher’s certitude makes him sound like a fundamentalist in rationalist’s clothing:

People can tell you, “Oh yes, when you get to Paradise there are 72 virgins, not 70, not 75.” Or they say, “Jesus will be there sitting at the right hand of the Father, wearing a white robe with red piping. There will be three angels playing trumpets.” Well, how do you know this? It’s just so preposterous. So, yes, I would like to say to the atheists and agnostics, the people who I call rationalists, let’s stop ceding the moral high ground to the people who believe in the talking snake. Let’s have our voices heard and be in the debate. Let’s stand up and say we’re not ready to let the country be given over to the Sarah Palins of the world.

To be fair, I agree with much of what he is saying, and, let it be known that have not seen the film yet so feel free to discount my premature commentary. Our baby daughter came down with a slight bug so my wife and I have been home-bound, which has forced us to watch a selection of Tivoed mediocrity instead of getting to the theater. That said, reviews and Maher’s own comments seem to center around his clinging to his version of what is false. We call this “fundamentalism.”

More to come.

Barbara O’Brien, over at About.com takes on an interesting practice that is summarily given a pass by many Western practitioners:

Buddhist temple in Thailand is offering instant rebirth, for a fee. People line up every day to climb into big, pink coffins. Monks chant over them, and they climb out, reborn. The rebirth costs $5 and change.

This selling of indulgences doesn’t reflect the core of any nondual spiritual teaching and yet it can be found anywhere that claims its heritage as holy.