What is going on?

First, here’s a link from Jacek on “who’s got your back?”.  And, according to same, best blues singer ever.

A day late, Digitizing a Movement from Harvard Gazette.

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The Wild Things of God.

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To many modern Christians, words like “meditation,” “mystic,” and “mysticism” bring to mind Eastern religions, not Christianity. Certainly Eastern religions are known for their mysticism; however, mysticism is not only a vital part of the Christian heritage as well, but it is actually the core of Christian spirituality. Mysticism simply means the spirituality of the direct experience of God. It is the adventure of “the wild things of God.”

The direct experience of God is a kind of knowing, which goes beyond intellectual understanding. It is not a matter of “belief.” It is marked by love and joy, but it is not “emotional experience.” In many ways, it is better described by what it is not. To describe what it is, we must use metaphors—the marriage of the soul to Christ, the death of the “old man” and birth of the “new man,” being the “body of Christ.”

Jesus proclaimed “I and the Father are one,” (Jn. 10.30) showing the world what the union of God and man can be. Christian mysticism is about nothing else but this transforming union.

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Or:

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:2-4)

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I have spent my life. driven by an inner. undeniable need, trying to find my way closer and closer to God: it is not a trivial thing. I was from an early age full of a loneliness and desire that I could not name. I can’t live any other way. The only thing that satisfies me is to keep making the spiritual effort,  Sadhana, without it I may as well not exist.

My life has been full of visions, voices, indescribable encounters with the ultimate and Un-Nameable One. And I still have no dog in the fight between the various wings of the Christian churches from the most liberal Quaker Meeting to the most Fundamentalist Church. I mat sometimes slip but I want mostly to remain open because I know only tht I don’t know. So I can’t, in good concience, argue dogma or anti-dogma. I have my feelings and the things that are closest to beliefs but I can’t say who is right or wrong, if anyone is.

I suspect that none can speak the truth because by it’s very nature, truth is unspeakable.

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Coffee Hacks:

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Atomic Pocketwatch!

Who coyld resist a laser-heated cesium chamber in your pocket!

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This is not the atomic watch, but rather the “Atomic Punks”, an obviously classy act.

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A New Hope (click if it doesn’t animate, huge file, but what do you expect when you get to see essentially the movie in just a few minutes.

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Enough! from the Procrastitorian

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The world’s best dad.

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Cristian Mihai, On Letting Go

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(From Maitripa College) H.H. Sakya Trizin, Lama Etiquette:

Ask the Dalai Lama! Maitripa wants to know your questions for His Holiness. Some will be selected for the Q&A! In This Issue HH Sakya Trizin Lama Etiquette Summit Security In the News Ask the Dalai Lama Sold Out! Classical Tibetan Language Earn you MA or MDiv Degree Visit Us  If you live in, or plan to visit,  the Portland, area and have an interest in Tibetan Buddhism, Buddhist scholarship, or meditation, please attend one of our events, take a class, or contact us for a tour. Maitripa College 1119 SE Market St. (cross street SE 11th; 3 blocks S. of Hawthorne) Portland, Oregon 97214 email: info@maitripa.org website: www.maitripa.org This Week at Maitripa Just a bit over a week until His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Holiness Sakya Trizin arrive for the Dalai Lama Environmental Summit! His Holiness Sakya Trizin to teach at Maitripa Maitripa College is very honored to announce that His Holiness Sakya Trizin, head of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism, has accepted our invitation to offer a special teaching at Maitripa College on Sunday, May 12, at 6pm. Registration and further details coming soon! Lama Etiquette & Protocol Yangsi Rinpoche invites the community participating in the Dalai Lama Environmental Summit, including ticket holders and volunteers, to attend a presentation by Dean Namdrol Miranda Adams regarding Lama etiquette and protocol. THURSDAY, 6 – 7 pm. Public Teaching with Yangsi Rinpoche Please join public teachings with President Yangsi Rinpoche on Thursday evening at 7:30 pm. Donations gratefully accepted. Security for Dalai Lama Environmental Summit For the safety of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and all event participants, the following items are prohibited from the venues: Weapons Work tools Metal containers Plastic bottles Large bags or backpacks Outside food or drink No video/audio recording is allowed, and no professional camera lenses or flash photography are permitted Because there are no storage facilities available and these prohibited items can not pass through the security screening, please leave these and similar items at home. PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY TO ALLOW TIME TO GO THROUGH SECURITY AND TAKE YOUR SEAT. Doors will open at least two hours prior to the start time of each event/session. In the News… We invite you to peruse the videos, articles, and updates about Maitripa and the upcoming visit by His Holiness. This week, we are delighted to add Yangsi Rinpoche’s appearance on the Seattle morning talk show “New Day NW” and the Portland Tribune’s“Buddha Rising in Rose City”! Ask His Holiness the Dalai Lama! We would like to hear from members of the Maitripa Community (and beyond!)! Submit your question for His Holiness the Dalai Lama! A limited number of questions will be posted on the event website, and some will be selected for the Q&A sessions during public events on May 9 or May 11, 2013 in Portland, Oregon. His Holiness the Dalai Lama Events are Sold Out Tickets are currently sold out for all events of the Dalai Lama Environmental Summit. We look forward to seeing you all there! (And for those who cannot join us in person, please stay tuned for information about webcasting; we are finalizing these details now.) Classical Tibetan Language Summer Courses Summer Tibetan language study options from beginner to advanced translation skills. Applications currently being accepted, limited spaces remain so apply now to reserve your space. Learn More & Apply Here Where Could a Maitripa Degree Take You? Learn more about degree entry for Fall 2013 to earn your Masters in Buddhist Studies (MA)  or Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree. Applications currently being accepted!Questions: studentservices@maitripa.org Admissions Deadline for Fall Entry: June 8, 2013 Click here to learn more online.