Dear Friends.

It is the illusion of “otherness” that keeps humanity separate, competing, and at odds or war. During this Fast let’s focus our energies on inclusion, unity, friendship, bonding, loving-kindness, and transformation so that we can become more spiritual beings. The Fast will generate the heat required to create the love and radiance that is necessary to produce worthy deeds.

The goal is to “translate that which is written into reality and action.” Fasting is more than just not eating. Fasting is a about transformation.

GUIDANCE

“Cleanse ye your eyes, so that ye behold no man as different from yourselves.

See ye no strangers; rather see all men as friends, for love and unity come hard when ye fix your gaze on otherness.

And in this new and wondrous age, the Holy Writings say that we must be at one with every people; that we must see neither harshness nor injustice, neither malevolence, nor hostility, nor hate, but rather turn our eyes toward the heaven of ancient glory.

For each of the creatures is a sign of God, and it was by the grace of the Lord and His power that each did step into the world; therefore they are not strangers, but in the family; not aliens, but friends, and to be treated as such.

Wherefore must the loved ones of God associate in affectionate fellowship with stranger and friend alike, showing forth to all the utmost loving-kindness, disregarding the degree of their capacity, never asking whether they deserve to be loved. ‘

In every instance let the friends be considerate and infinitely kind. Let them never be defeated by the malice of the people, by their aggression and their hate, no matter how intense.

If others hurl their darts against you, offer them milk and honey in return; if they poison your lives, sweeten their souls; if they injure you, teach them how to be comforted; if they inflict a wound upon you, be a balm to their sores; if they sting you, hold to their lips a refreshing cup.”

REFECTION

Remember “one hour’s reflection is preferable to seventy years of pious worship. Pick one or more to meditate on today.

HOW CAN I…”

1) Associate in affectionate fellowship with stranger and friend alike?

2) Show forth to all the utmost loving-kindness?

3) Disregard the degree of a person’s capacity?

4) Never ask whether they deserve to be loved?

5) Cleanse my eyes so that I see no one as a stranger, an alien, or different than me?

6) See ALL as friends and family?

7) Be as one with every people?

8 Turn my eyes toward the kingdom of Glory so that I no longer see harshness, injustice, malevolence, hostility, and hate?

9) Be considerate and infinitely kind?

10) Not be defeated by the malice, aggression, and hate, no matter how intense?

11) Return honey when people hurl darts at me?

12) Sweeten their souls if they poison my life?

13) Teach them how to be comforted when they injure me?

14) Be balm to their sores if they inflict a wound upon me?

15) Hold to their lips a refreshing cup if they sting me?

We have a lot to think about during this Fast, and all year long.

Happy Fasting
Barbara