Feeling my way through the church, the darkness is a stark reminder of how much darkness there is to overcome: the darkness that comes from wanting more and more, the darkness that comes from seeking pleasure and avoiding pain, the darkness of duality. The scents of beeswax and incense beckon me to the sanctuary. Slowly, I turn up the light. As the Roman lights begin to burn, I once again appreciate that enlightenment is a "process," something that can’t be forced or rushed. I feel the words of Jesus vibrate through me "I am the light come into the world" and "you are the light of the world." Of the many words I’ve heard to describe enlightenment, "light" is no doubt my favorite.
I move to the altar and begin lighting candles. As candles flicker, I remember Jesus the light and I smile. I’m not thinking of the rural rabbi, the historical man. I’m not thinking about Jesus, the construct of theology. I’m mindful of the Third Jesus, the teacher of God-consciousness who came forward to offer a path, a way that is universal, a way that is open to everyone. I offer a prayer for three special friends who share in this understanding of Jesus: a shaman-Candyman in the north of Mexico, a beautiful historian in Mexico City and a metaphysical tea drinking muse in Trinidad.
I strip the altar of elaborate fabric. Beholding the stark, grainy wood I am reminded of the beauty of simplicity, I silently pray the mantra "keep it simple." Turning, I gaze above on the massive crucifix hanging behind me. The corpus on the wood speaks of another stripping - a naked man who bared his soul to the world and finally turned self over to Self, in a heroic act of trust. Throughout this process, he offered many lessons on how to enter the kingdom of God, a kingdom that is love and only love. This is my task, this is our task, regardless of the path we follow. To strip away fear, to let go of everything that hinders us from embracing the One beyond name and form. To live is to trust in the non-local, trust in the universe, trust in the power and eternal dimension of love.
The people file to the front of the church where Father John and I await them with ashes – burned palm leaves from last year’s Passion Sunday. The ashes remind me ot the brevity and unpredictible nature of human praise and affirmation, the ashes remind me of the certainty of death. I impose ashes on foreheads repeating "turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel." Each face I gaze on, each sign of the cross I make with ash is a prayer for this person in front of me to experience the Third Jesus. Each cross I trace is a request for this brother or sister to experience enlightenment, to reach Self-realization. Each time I hear myself say "turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel" I know that I am really intending "may your self trust the Self."
Goodbyes have been said and the parish has gone home. The candles are extinguished and lights turned off. As I feel my way out of the church, I realize that this is how it is now. One of the most important teachings the Third Jesus imparted to those who follow him is that one’s greatest teacher is oneself. I must feel my way through life. I must feel my way to enlightenment. Gaining from the knowledge, experience and wisdom of others will always be important. But ultimately, I am called and you are called to the same unity, the same oneness with God that Jesus of Nazareth experienced and lived. Each way is unique, each life will experience and express it differently. As I leave the church I am certain that someplace deep inside of me, a place so deep it cannot be seen or touched, the following words are whispered - " be yourself."
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
"I come from Elsewhere, and though I do not know where that is, I am certain to return there in the end." – Rumi
Love, +Greg
A beautiful post. I am trying to feel my way through life just as you are!
Hey thanks for sharing the experience Greg!
Thanks Greg! Today I got to know about the Ash Wednesday.
Hey I shared this on my Universal Collective Prayer added some music…so lovely Greg brings tears to the eyes…
Check it out here…
http://tinyurl.com/ddlt5b
Very nice post. Core values of all religions point to Oneness of soul with diversity of life experiences. And so is the Oneness of God with diversity of religious manifestations.
Best wishes
thank you
What a superb post Greg. Thanks for writing it and sharing it with us.
god bless you.
sharmishtha
Hi Greg.
Wow. Reading your post was quite an experience for me, reminded me of some of what originally called me towards the R.C. church to begin with, when I was younger. I'm a bit more universalistic/eclectic in my practice now and I am afraid I am a bit too literalistic in my experience of divinity to really feel comfortable with some aspects of Roman Catholic ritual but I'm still inspired by R.C. holidays and try to "fast" from something for Lent every year–even when it's a character defect, like impatience or anger. I tried giving up meat last year like they did in the old days and my system about went haywire, even though I was supplementing and getting veggie protein, etc. I'm thinkin' my system is just not meant to be full-blown veggie–my reception of one of my main healer guides, Brighid, was kicking me in the butt after the first week to go to the pub near my place and have a sausage–which I ever so meekly obeyed, because I was literally feeling mentally unstable.
I know it was Ash Wednesday this past day but I'm still not sure what my "sacrifice" is going to be, so to speak. Maybe I'll just focus on eating healthier and cleaning up my body some. I find for me it's helpful to focus more on what I'm going to replace the behavior etc. I'm giving up *with*–Law of Attraction, etc. What one focuses on, increases in one's experience of reality.
Take care. Hope your Lenten practice brings you all you hope.
Love,
Brigit
Scarce was the Church's mime, Greg, when sighting the most blest.
I love the Church for what it has brought down to me. I have a close relationship with the Redemptorist Fathers in the UK Province and I am humbled by the way they accept me in spite of such seeming insults above, as from my Apocalypse poem which I blogged.
I cannot help what I see. The sands of the egg-timer dwindle down. 'If Christ is not risen, we labour in vain.' For me, resurrection is ALL. Jesus lives, and like Lazarus, so do I.
With greatest respect, Greg,
Ed.
Thanks Sukanya: May you always "feel" your way with grace and ease.
Garima: Thank you. I am really glad to see you back on Intent.
Anurag: I value your wisdom and comments. We both appreciate the One, expressed in all.
Dear Tamasin: Thank you. I enjoy reading you. We see many things similarly I think.
Dear Sharmishtha: I am grateful for your affirmation. You comments and poems resonate with this trust I speak of.
Dear Brigit: Its always good to hear from you. Not sure if it is helpful but during Lent, I don't focus on "sacrifice." I focus on loving others. My lenten practice will take me to nursing homes for visits and anything I can do to help others experience some light.
Dear Ed: The Redemptorists are fortunate to have you as a friend. Your poetry literally surges with love and the divine.
Dear Babita: The video and music are hauntingly beautiful. I am deeply honored. Let us break bread together.
Love, Greg
Greg,
If Catholicism had been explained to me, so movingly and eloquently, I never would have left the Church all those years ago.
Best regards,
Bob
Dear Bob:
Thank you for your warm affirmation. I believe most of us are precisely where we need to be, things unfold and we follow. Catholic means "universal" so the Church is a big boat, we are each unique, there is room for everyone. You might enjoy a visit back sometime, it can be like a visit in our family home – a reconnection with love experienced early and perhaps helping us to find gratitude for the reality that we've grown up and a deeper appreciation for where we are now. It is comforting to know that you that are taking the compassion, love and understanding of the Third Jesus to cancer patients who thirst for affirmation and hope.
Be well and keep being yourself.
Love, Greg
Dearest Brother-in-Faith Greg!!!
THANK-YOU SEEMS SO INADEQUATE, BUT THANK-YOU FROM THE VERY DEPTHS OF MY SOUL FOR SHARING YOUR BLESSED, ENLIGHTENED, INFORMING and STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE, WHICH COMES FROM A SACRED PLACE DEEP WITHIN YOU FILLED WITH UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, TRUST AND PEACE!!! Your wisdom and words carried me home to that space and filled me with greater wisdom, courage, virtue and hope on my journey closer to the truth, the way and the light.
THANK-YOU Brother!!!
BLESSINGS, LOVE and PEACE!!!
Dear Greg,
What a lovely post, you always have such a beautiful and gentle way of seeing and putting things. You have the knack of making me see things that I have grown up with and did not have much time for at all, very differently. Thanks Greg, keep doing what you're doing.
Love, Noreen.
Dear Noreen:
Thank you. I hope you and your family are well. When I think of Dublin, I think of you.
Love, Greg
Dear Babita:
I am but a reflection of you….
Noreen you are right there are two people on here that make me wonder where all their love and compassion come from and I strive to be as egoless and loving as they….they are my brothers:
Greg and Eze the Shaman aka Candyman
Adriana you know I love you too but I see you more as a sister on same level as me…we both have the same excitement and energy for things…we go so crazy!
Alice in Wonderland inhabitants are we! 
But I'm always awed by the depths of love and compassion our two brothers show!
And with no ego to go! 
Thank you Tim. I am happy to see you back. I hope your quiet time was fruitful and life giving.
Love, Greg
Greg,
I was really moved when you told me what you focus on during Lent. You have a beautiful heart. Thank you. Love, Brigit
Greg,
I'm thankful that in the Roman Catholic boat there are people like you rowing. Smiles
As I explain in one of my blog entries, I'm afraid I'm a bit too literalistic in my imagination to be comfortable with certain aspects of the Communion–"this is my body," chomp chomp. Laughs
I know the gospels show him as saying it but I never really got that, and I kind of wonder if maybe that part wasn't borrowed from Pagan practice? I read in a book that the Egyptians celebrated their dying god in much the same way and the Greeks Dionysos in the same way. I'm not at *all* trying to "diss" Roman Catholicism in saying that or the gospels in saying that–I'm very universalistically inclined myself, just like you, and in that sense Catholic, but I wish the Church at the official level–at the level of its administration in other words not the followers–were as honest about some of its Pagan roots as some of the Catholics I've met. Honestly those aspects of the RC faith that *are* Pagan–other than the teaching of trans-substantiation which still doesn't appeal–appeal to me *more* now that I embrace Paganism more–I'm just a bit more metaphysically inclined than the Church administration is. Thank you for sharing your beautiful heart, as always. Love, Brigit
Thanks Brigit. There was a divine meal in ancient Eygpt that Jesus would have known about, long before his time. For me, its a mystical celebration where I ask for the strength and support to be in my world what Jesus was in his. Love, Greg
Dear Greg, this is just beautiful!
Babita, how honoring of you! Thank-you both for your heart, time and sharing!
Thank you Lauren. I hope you and your family are well. Have a great weekend.
Love, Greg
Greg, thank you. Your response almost triggered happy tears–I've never had them in my life other than in one tiny pinprick once–not even a full teardrop–at the corner of one eye. Thank you as always for shining your Love-light. Yeshua loves you very much. The part of me connected to him and channels him says: Bless you, my son. Thank you for being so open to me. You are helping my child Brigit more than you realize. She had an experience at the Catholic parish she left where when she first mentioned her Wiccan bf at the time she felt a huge shield of discomfort go up around the person she shared it with and that's what, in part, made her leave it. She still loves the Church–but she's very frustrated with the current Pope and she reveres John Paul II pretty much as a divinity. Thank you, my son. I appreciate what you're doing. As they say among Wiccans, blessed be. Bows head in greeting, not in reverence. Fare thee well.
Brigit's back: Wow. I don't think I've ever experienced him as quite that happy in me before. Thanks. I'm tickled pink. I'm almost blushin' actually. Purring a happy purr, Brigit
Hi Lauren…yep he is my brother…you should see the intent I had up yesterday about him!
Greg,
You truly give so much meaningfulness to each and every aspect of life
Truly, your presence is a gift to cherish in every word that you express
Each aspect provides a world of meaning; since the initiatives that you take are outstanding
Thank you Greg time and again for sharing your Wisdom, we Cherish your insights and
guidance with utmost Appreciation and Gratitude
Love and Light
God Bless
Vashi
http://thesoulspeaks.wordpress.com/
Dear Vashi: In you, I have come to embrace the meaning of bhaktai yoga. You teach and live this devotional way, with great humility and great love. You bring meaningfulness and wisdom, gently, effortlessly. It is a beautiful thing to behold and to receive. I hope you, your wife and daughter have a great weekend together. Love, Greg
Borther Greg in you we all trust , back in India we respected the jesuit fathers a lot who imparted world class education .The founder of my school was the first European to learn Sanskrit and spread enligtment to all .Maybe you will find the article about Father good http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_de_Nobili .
Dear care forall:
Thank you for sharing about Fr. Nobili with me. I am anxious to read about him, I did not know of him before. He went to India hundreds of years before two Catholic priests of the twentieth century did who I am devoted to: The French Fr. Henri Le Saux who later came to be known as Swami Abishiktananda and the English Benedictine priest Fr. Bede Griffiths who founded an ashram in southern India and pursued unity consciousness there. I greatly treasure the reality that Le Saux and Griffiths went to India not in order to convert Hindus to Christianity, but to learn and grow. They are great inspirations to me. Thanks again.
Love, Greg
Dear care forall:
Your sharing about Father Nobili reconnected me with Father Bede Griffiths who I mentioned above. In India, Bede found the other half of himself. I remembered the U Tube video in which he talked about surrending to love after a stroke. He is wearing the orange robe of the sannyasa that he came to prefer. I hope you enjoy it.
Love, Greg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3SwmtrOkuI
Brither Greg saw the video its really good to see how simplistic he is but must say you look quite impressive in you white christian attire serving somekind of holy drink
) .Some customs about christianity is very impressive like we used to get very attracted to the chrsitan wedding 
)
Thanks care forall. Fr. Bede lived a very simple life at his ashram "Shantivanam" in Tamil Nada. The alb I wear during liturgical service is white as a symbol of Resurrection. The green stole is the color of ordinary time. Purple is the color I wear during this time of the year as it is a symbol for Lent. The gold chalices are the cups that wine is poured into and a little water added during the eucharistic prayer that speak of the blood and water that ran from Jesus's body on the cross.
Hi Greg, hello my friends– that was so beautiful, thank you for sharing that. It was a grounding post that I came to, and the thought that came to my mind was that it reminded me of "as thine eye be single" ,I can't remember exactly how it goes, but something about seeing with your inner eye.
In my moments of peace, this is how I visualize the world, that all may find solace…
with humblest regards, your friend Jasmina
love to all
Thank you Jasmina. It's good to hear from you.
Love, Greg