Russell in Sebastopol 11/3/02

Radical Inclusiveness of the Masters, vs. Exclusiveness - God first created the light. We are all children of the light. The whole creation sprang from the light. Why then dub anyone as evil? -- Kabir, from the Gurbani - Eternitiy is forever in love with the products of time. -- William Blake - Love is the core of the universe. -- Rabia, a Sufi Mystic - The Master wants us to succeed. Master will make whatever we are or do work to our advantage. - I'll try to remember, but I may forget. Then some evil that is good for you will follow. And if I remember? Then some evil which is not good for you will not follow. -- George McDonald, from Lilith Flowing Into the Ganges - from Bhai Gurdas series, Sant Bani Mag., Sept. 2002 Missing the Point - Hamartia means: missing the mark, an archery term - In the Bible, hamartia is usually translated as "sin" - For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into slavery of under sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. But, in fact, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. So I find it to be a law, that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the Law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am. -- St. Paul, Romans 7:14-24 - Sin is aiming at the target, but we miss. It is what we have to learn to do. What the Masters have mastered. - If you see someone missing the target, you don't hate them, you don't put them down, you help them see. The Masters do this over and over again, until we get it. - What then should we say, that the law is sin? By no means, yet if had not been for the law, I would not have known what it is to covet, if the law had not said you shall not covet. But sin, seizing an opportunity in the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. A part from the law, sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died and the very commandment that promised life, proved to be death to me. -- St. Paul, Romans 7:7-10 Kirpal: excerpt from Little, Little Things - So for this reason, don't think evil of anybody, because as you think, so you become. If you are always thinking that he is bad, he is bad, you will get infected by that. ... Sant Ji: story about Guru Nanak liberating Vali Kandari - Vali had supernatural powers, created a lake by stopping the water, and wouldn't let anyone have any water unless they would beome his disciple. Then Nanak and his companions passed by and were thirsty... - Master's punishment is to take people to the feet of God Russell: story about visiting Kirpal at Mr. Khana's home in Berkeley, CA, 1972 tour, and feeling out of place Tape: ???