Sunday, May 30, 2004
Matthew Fox
I have been very influenced my Matt Fox. I read a number of books by him and heard him speak in person several times. He played a major role in allowing me to bridge the gap between Vaishnavism and Christianity. I used his book The Coming of the Cosmic Christ as the basis for my Christology paper in seminary.
He has a bit of an impersonalist bent, but on the whole, he is an important seminal thinker of our time. His panentheistic perspective is comparable to seeing Krishna in everything. His ability to combine the teachings of the various mystical, wisdom traditions has influenced me in my own approach to spirituality in an eclectic manner. We live in a very electic world. Why not take the best of everything and benefit from it?
Fox's book Original Blessing provides a life affirming view which helped me become more incarnational and able to enjoy life in this world while I am here rather than trying to transcend all the time. I believe God put us here for a purpose more than just trying to leave and go to a better place. As long as we live here, let's enjoy the blessings God has given us.
I try to live in the constant awareness of God's presence everywhere. I live as a servant of Krishna in this world and try to manifest the mood of Krishna's spiritual realm Vrindaban here. When we become comfortable with ourselves, our bodies, minds, intellect, surroundings, companions, etc., it is much more like the spiritual world and conducive to devotion rather than having a dualistic attitude and rejecting material existence as pure illusion. I tried the path of renunciation and found it to be artificial. I am more comfortable being in the world but not of it. I know my eternal home is in the spiritual world of Goloka Vrindaban, but this life is a great gift also and should not be rejected.
I know I have grown, matured and benefited by the study of various spiritual paths. I accept wisdom wherever it is found. I look for sanatan dharma or the eternal religion in all teachings and that is the touchstone I use to measure their truth and beauty. Try not to be too narrow and judgmental of others. There is still much we can learn. No one has an exclusive lock on God.
I have been very influenced my Matt Fox. I read a number of books by him and heard him speak in person several times. He played a major role in allowing me to bridge the gap between Vaishnavism and Christianity. I used his book The Coming of the Cosmic Christ as the basis for my Christology paper in seminary.
He has a bit of an impersonalist bent, but on the whole, he is an important seminal thinker of our time. His panentheistic perspective is comparable to seeing Krishna in everything. His ability to combine the teachings of the various mystical, wisdom traditions has influenced me in my own approach to spirituality in an eclectic manner. We live in a very electic world. Why not take the best of everything and benefit from it?
Fox's book Original Blessing provides a life affirming view which helped me become more incarnational and able to enjoy life in this world while I am here rather than trying to transcend all the time. I believe God put us here for a purpose more than just trying to leave and go to a better place. As long as we live here, let's enjoy the blessings God has given us.
I try to live in the constant awareness of God's presence everywhere. I live as a servant of Krishna in this world and try to manifest the mood of Krishna's spiritual realm Vrindaban here. When we become comfortable with ourselves, our bodies, minds, intellect, surroundings, companions, etc., it is much more like the spiritual world and conducive to devotion rather than having a dualistic attitude and rejecting material existence as pure illusion. I tried the path of renunciation and found it to be artificial. I am more comfortable being in the world but not of it. I know my eternal home is in the spiritual world of Goloka Vrindaban, but this life is a great gift also and should not be rejected.
I know I have grown, matured and benefited by the study of various spiritual paths. I accept wisdom wherever it is found. I look for sanatan dharma or the eternal religion in all teachings and that is the touchstone I use to measure their truth and beauty. Try not to be too narrow and judgmental of others. There is still much we can learn. No one has an exclusive lock on God.
Saturday, May 29, 2004
The Path of Love
Here are a couple of websites that provide a wealth of information to complement The Path of Love which I teach Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm at Above and Beyond. Path of Love, Devotional Yoga, Subal Das, Steve Bohlert
Introduction to Raganuga Bhakti
Raganuga Bhakti - Home
Love,
Steve (Subal)
Here are a couple of websites that provide a wealth of information to complement The Path of Love which I teach Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm at Above and Beyond. Path of Love, Devotional Yoga, Subal Das, Steve Bohlert
Introduction to Raganuga Bhakti
Raganuga Bhakti - Home
Love,
Steve (Subal)
New Blog Template
I hope you like the new look of my blog. Blogger recently did an update and provided a wider choice of templates for blogs. This look goes better with the rest of my website. Of course, what I say is more important than looks, but just as I try to look as good as I can, I want my words on the web page to look as good as they can too. The image one projects affects the way the words are heard and understood. I am a communicator and as Marshall McLuen said, "The medium is the message."
Peace,
Steve
I hope you like the new look of my blog. Blogger recently did an update and provided a wider choice of templates for blogs. This look goes better with the rest of my website. Of course, what I say is more important than looks, but just as I try to look as good as I can, I want my words on the web page to look as good as they can too. The image one projects affects the way the words are heard and understood. I am a communicator and as Marshall McLuen said, "The medium is the message."
Peace,
Steve
Friday, May 28, 2004
Global Warming
While "The Day After Tomorrow" is said to be more science fiction than science, there is real scientific evidence behind it. Check out what the Union of Concerned Scientists has to say about Global Warming.
Be concerned,
Steve
While "The Day After Tomorrow" is said to be more science fiction than science, there is real scientific evidence behind it. Check out what the Union of Concerned Scientists has to say about Global Warming.
Be concerned,
Steve
Thursday, May 27, 2004
The Path of Love
"The Path of Love" got off to a great start this evening. Several of us enjoyed devotional chanting and Bhagavad Gita study. This will be on going, Thursday evenings, 7:30 pm, at Above and Beyond, 1136 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids, MI. Come and join us. No previous experience or knowledge is required, just an openness to experience your relationship with God through this time tested method of devotional yoga.
Peace and love,
Steve (Subal)
"The Path of Love" got off to a great start this evening. Several of us enjoyed devotional chanting and Bhagavad Gita study. This will be on going, Thursday evenings, 7:30 pm, at Above and Beyond, 1136 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids, MI. Come and join us. No previous experience or knowledge is required, just an openness to experience your relationship with God through this time tested method of devotional yoga.
Peace and love,
Steve (Subal)
Friday, May 21, 2004
Vacation and Vocation
After two weeks of vacation, visiting family and friends, staying at a resort in the Poconos and driving almost two thousand miles, it's good to be home, back to my routines and the work I enjoy so much. It makes me feel pretty good about my life that I enjoy work and home life as much as vacation. It's good to have a vocation that gives a sense of satisfaction and joy because most of us spend much more time with our vocation than vacation.
If you are looking for a way to have more fun and meaning in your life, contact me and I'll be glad to help you.
Peace,
Steve
After two weeks of vacation, visiting family and friends, staying at a resort in the Poconos and driving almost two thousand miles, it's good to be home, back to my routines and the work I enjoy so much. It makes me feel pretty good about my life that I enjoy work and home life as much as vacation. It's good to have a vocation that gives a sense of satisfaction and joy because most of us spend much more time with our vocation than vacation.
If you are looking for a way to have more fun and meaning in your life, contact me and I'll be glad to help you.
Peace,
Steve
Thursday, May 06, 2004
Vacation
Hi. I will be on vacation until May 20th. I will be kicking off new on-going programming at Above and Beyond when I return. I also look forward to serving you in whatever manner you would like to engage me.
Peace,
Steve
Hi. I will be on vacation until May 20th. I will be kicking off new on-going programming at Above and Beyond when I return. I also look forward to serving you in whatever manner you would like to engage me.
Peace,
Steve
Saturday, May 01, 2004
A fun place to be
It's so good to have an office in a place that is fun to just hang out. Yesterday morning, I came in a little after nine to meet with a couple that wants me to marry them. In the evening, my wife and I were looking for something fun to do. What did we do? We came to Above and Beyond and stayed until around eleven.
Here I am again today. Good music is constantly playing. As Phil and John keep doing more decorating, painting, etc., the place just gets a better and better ambiance. The customers are interesting people, and Phil keeps ordering more great things for sale.
If you're looking for a great place to hang, have a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy good company, Above and Beyond is the place to be in uptown Grand Rapids next to the Wealthy Theatre.
Peace,
Steve
It's so good to have an office in a place that is fun to just hang out. Yesterday morning, I came in a little after nine to meet with a couple that wants me to marry them. In the evening, my wife and I were looking for something fun to do. What did we do? We came to Above and Beyond and stayed until around eleven.
Here I am again today. Good music is constantly playing. As Phil and John keep doing more decorating, painting, etc., the place just gets a better and better ambiance. The customers are interesting people, and Phil keeps ordering more great things for sale.
If you're looking for a great place to hang, have a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy good company, Above and Beyond is the place to be in uptown Grand Rapids next to the Wealthy Theatre.
Peace,
Steve
