Tag Archives: Rami Shapiro
Separateness Is Suffering
True Self/Separate Self Separateness Is Suffering Thursday, September 3, 2020 The idea of the two “selves” within every individual—the True Self and the separate self—is a part of the perennial wisdom and a pathway for transformation in most faith traditions. I share the thoughts of two writers, a rabbi and a Sufi Shaikh (elder), on… Continue Reading Separateness Is Suffering
A Big Experiment
The Perennial Tradition A Big Experiment Friday, August 16, 2019 Rami Shapiro, a rabbi, teacher, and author on Judaism and spirituality reflects on the enriching, powerful experience of interspiritual dialogue initiated by Fr. Thomas Keating (1923–2018). In 1984 Father Thomas Keating invited a small group of contemplatives from eight different religious traditions—Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Islamic,… Continue Reading A Big Experiment
Hasidism
Judaism Hasidism Friday, August 31, 2018 The Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760)—Master of the Good Name—was the founder of a Jewish religious movement called Hasidism that began in the eighteenth century. The “Besht” (acronym for Baal Shem Tov) was ecstatically in love with God. He reminds me a bit of my own spiritual father, St. Francis… Continue Reading Hasidism
An Evolving Faith
Judaism An Evolving Faith Thursday, August 30, 2018 [We come into this world to] align our souls with God: The relationship between God and soul is analogous to that between the sun and its rays. We are the extension of God in time and space. How, then, can we be misaligned with God? Misalignment is… Continue Reading An Evolving Faith
Absolutes
Judaism Absolutes Wednesday, August 29, 2018 God reveals the essence of divinity to Moses: ehyeh asher ehyeh, most often translated as I AM what I AM [Exodus 3:14]. A more accurate Hebrew translation would be “I will be whatever I will be.” In either case, the Hasidic understanding of the text is the same: God… Continue Reading Absolutes
Prophetic Honesty
Judaism Prophetic Honesty Tuesday, August 28, 2018 Divine knowledge is always rooted in the details of ordinary life. The aim of all knowledge or visionary ecstasy is to increase the power of hesed [steadfast love] and compassionate action. . . . It is alive with the awareness of the holiness of Creation and the boundlessness… Continue Reading Prophetic Honesty
Infinite Forms
Hinduism Infinite Forms Monday, August 13, 2018 If you have ever traveled to India, you realize that Hinduism is less a religion and more a 5,000-year-old culture, formed by such ancient sources as the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita, and communicated in thousands of other ways. Hinduism is the product of millennia of deep self-observation, human history,… Continue Reading Infinite Forms
Finding the One in the Many
Primal and Indigenous Spirituality Finding the One in the Many Sunday, August 5, 2018 Over the next several weeks, I will explore the divine image and likeness in many spiritual streams throughout history and around the world. I can’t even attempt to give an exhaustive study—there are so many wonderful examples from the Perennial Tradition.… Continue Reading Finding the One in the Many
Awakening to Our True Self
Perennial Tradition Awakening to Our True Self Tuesday, July 31, 2018 The term “perennial philosophy” . . . refers to a fourfold realization: (1) there is only one Reality (call it, among other names, God, Mother, Tao, Allah, Dharmakaya, Brahman, or Great Spirit) that is the source and substance of all creation; (2) that while… Continue Reading Awakening to Our True Self