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| CHOOSE PEACE BY REV. NORA ALLEN THIS IS AN EXCERPT FROM A WONDERFUL TALK NORA DID AT THE TEMPLE SUNDAY SERVICE ON 9/8/02. I spent Labor Day weekend at a Buddhist monastery in the Jemez mountains of New Mexico with a group of Sai Baba devotees. The group spirit of the people complimented the rare beauty of the mountain monastery. Combined with the spirit of Sai Baba, "VOILLA", It feels like heaven. The chimes rang softly at 5:30am and the devotees began their morning with a walking prayer/meditation. That was followed by softly sung chants of peace and love---directly from the heart. After blessing the grounds of the BODHI MANDALA MONASTERY with our songs of thanks and appreciation, we entered the chapel. Prayers were then intoned for every country, continent, the planet and every being on the planet; then, lastly, for themselves. This is for Sai Baba devotees a daily ritual, as is their greeting of "NAMASTE". This is the greeting that we at the Temple of Universality use. Upon meeting another we simply put our palms together over our heart and softly say, "NAMASTE" which means: the God in me greets the God in you. That allows us to rise above all differences of personality and ego and come together in our heart. We're following in the footsteps of the Master Jesus who told us to "Love One Another." The Buddhist spirit pervades the lovely grounds of the monastery. They hold all of creation sacred and every encounter a holy one. We meditated on six points of remembrance: 1. Recognize our unity in God. 2. Remember that the denial of our divinity/ATMAN is blasphemy. 3. Release feelings of blame, shame and guilt 4. Reminisce on the spirit of miracles received through Divine Intervention. 5. Rely on the inspiration available for us to fulfill our aspirations. 6. REMEMBER THAT GOD IS GREATER THAN MY PROBLEMS. Thank you, dear friends of the Sai Baba organization who invited me to share your special time. Nora Allen |
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| When I came home I was inspired by a poem written by my sister, Rev. Betty Allen Tatalajski. It is entitled: CHOOSE PEACE, NOT WAR In our Father's house are treasures Of the heart and for the soul. As we break our bread together, Let us contemplate our goal. In his image we were created; Given dominion over land and sea. Let us unchain our minds from slavery-- Let us proclaim, 'I AM FREE." Free to choose the good or hateful! Free to like or dislike at will-- Always knowing these are my choices; And I alone must pay the bill. Let us celebrate life together. Let's declare PEACE, not war. As we choose LIGHT not DARKNESS, Our planet will become a STAR. NAMASTE, Rev. Betty Tatalajski |