Locke Rush, PhD » Jihad

the path

Locke — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:07:27 +0000

Standing on the plain,the wise man
pointed to the left.

As far as the eye could see.
were pastures,rivers,and meadows.

Then he turned to the right.
And looked up.

A steep mountain climbed
into the clouds,and a narrow
winding path disappeared
Above.

On the left is Hell,he said
And the path on the right
Leads to Heaven.

The meadows are pleasant;
the fruit is tasty.

But above,the wind howls
And our hands are chilled.

Better hurry
The sage is already climbing.

movie house

Locke — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:57:18 +0000

Did you ever notice

how your finger stops hurting

when you go to the movies?

For two hours ,you forget it

But after you come out,

It begins to throb again.

Isn’t there a movie house

I could spend my life in

To remove my pain?

The sage tells us there is;

The problem is we have to build it;

Brick by brick.

I’ve started,but there’s

A long way to go.

Yet sometimes,already

When I sit in it,

I can feel my troubles go.

I can’t wait till

It’s finished.

building the house

Locke — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:56:10 +0000

The striving towards peace and spiritual understanding is difficult and daunting,but at the same time,not complicated.Like many things in life that require success, it is simple to perform yet requires patience,faith and perseverance – kind of like a really dirty brass pot that you know has a wonderful lustre – neath all the hardened grime. We also realize,when we begin to scour ,how much effort, determination,and time it will take to restore the pot to its original state of glowing beauty.So,we begin and follow the three words that guarantee success- BEGIN AND CONTINUE. Everyone begins ,at some time or another, but the ones who see the task through to its completion are rare. This work of the practice of God’s qualities is hard and our antagonist (the ego) is skilled and persistent.Each day we make this effort we build a part of the house -the storehouse of grace.Without this storehouse – God’s grace has no place to reside, hence slips away. With the house ,even in construction,it offers a resting place for God’s grace and this gives us the peace we so ardently desire.

the artichoke

Locke — Tue, 05 May 2009 18:08:57 +0000

I love artichokes.I wonder sometimes who discovered the heart? Think of all the prickly,coarse leaves he /she would have had to go through to reach that tender,succulent ,delicious center. It’s like that with people, I find. But sometimes instead of focussing on the prickly leaves if we concentrate on the center,(the goodness) of each person we discover that often the leaves part and we can see straight through to the sweet heart inside. It may not happen immediately but if we persist with compassion it will shine through and we can then taste the beauty of that soul.The important thing is: don’t give up and don’t expect; it will come in its own time and meanwhile we will, by our intent and perseverance, be tasting our own center.

What about Satan?

Locke — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:29:39 +0000

No one has seen satan. Each evil quality is a satan: jealousy, backbiting, wrath, revenge, anger, self- importance, haste ,vengeance, deceit, treachery, falsehood, theft, arrogance, karma, maya, hatred, miserliness, greed, fanaticism, envy, intoxicants, lust, murder. It is such qualities that are satan.

M.R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen

minding the store

Locke — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:50:52 +0000

If you try to analyze what others do,if you have suspicions or deceit in your mind,or any ideas about others, if you mind the business of others, your own affairs will all be ruined And what will you have grown within yourself? Your analysis of yourself will not have deepened. It is your analysis of others that will have grown.That is wrong.It will consume the truth and devour your wisdom.It will consume our own growth.This is not good. These actions should never exist within us.
Each person must do his own service. Each person must do his own duty.Each person must have only good thoughts, good qualities, good conduct,good manners,and good behaviour,God’s actions and God’s qualities – this is your wealth. God’s qualities are your angels.They are the qualities that will serve you. God’s actions must be put into practice. God’s love must be our love. This is what heaven is.

M.R.Bawa Muhaiyaddeen

sleep and torpor

Locke — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:37:46 +0000

I’m finding there’s

a difference between

sleep and torpor

Sleep comes when

the body and mind

are truly tired.

Torpor says,”I’m here

Don’t you feel tired,

Take a nap.”

It’s like a false fuel guage

That tells you

You’re empty.

But if you knock it hard

The needle bounces

To full.

It takes a lot of

faith and determination

To reject torpor.

We’ve been brought up

To feel well rested,

It is our right.

What am I to do

With this imposter?

Time to get up.

the heart

Locke — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:03:05 +0000

No one can know the state of another’s heart. We may think we can, but that knowledge is limited to God alone. As the Buddhists say “The mind is, by its nature, restless – but you are not the mind”. As long as we stay in that surf of the mind constantly tossed and turned we are beholden to the mind and our actions and thoughts and words flow out of that area. But at deeper levels the mind is quiet and we behave and think very differently and our persona becomes more understanding and compassionate. Every person has this potential. So to judge another when he/she may be in the restless mode is an error and one that perpetuates our illusion of separateness and also our dark side. To learn to “see only good” is a wonder and a great blessing.

optimism – escaping the box

Locke — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:28 +0000

We see the world the way we see ourselves. If we are down or depressed it is because we are focusing on negative emotions and qualities inside – these literally spawn a host of thoughts that take form in our minds and torture us. If we use our wisdom and change our focus to the positive and the gracious qualities- such as patience,tolerance,forgiveness, compassion and under standing -and begin to practice them – the change begins. If we persist we gradually become those qualities and this brings us directly to a place of peace.

unity

Locke — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:56:34 +0000

Separate that from you which separates you from others and you will find unity which is peace and the completeness of your life. This is the path – It’s hard work,though.