Action at a Distance

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff 

Whoever is initiated by us and follows us and loves us, whether he is near or far, wherever he is, even if he is in the East and we are in the West, we nourish from the stream of love and give him light in his daily life.

-Bahaudin Naqshband

In this quote from one of the great Sufi masters we have a description of one of the natural laws of the universe. Action at a distance: this phenomenon describes how some objects can affect others, depending upon their relationship, at varying distances.

Consider the effect of a young child’s hand magnet as it pulls along a paper clip or the gravitational effect of the moon against the ocean tides. On our planet, feel the warm, life giving rays of our sun, generating tremendous heat millions of miles away, and the electric tug, at our heart, when our beloved enters the room. (more…)

Higher Knowledge: Enriching & Enabling Factor

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

Most people would agree we all want to live in a kinder, more humane world.  A world where there is respect for human life, economic resources are shared, and the old and infirm are treated with dignity.  In each of these areas there is room for improvement.  Economically many are still without the basic necessities of life and go hungry.  Even in the richest country on earth, often the sick go untreated.

Further most would agree, somehow, as a planet we need to work together to share our natural resources and improve our collective circumstance.  It is at this point, when we try to identify and prioritize what areas need improving and how we are to accomplish this all, we start to disagree and things break down.

Rationale or linear thought is able to tackle some of these problems, offering possible solutions; however this form of thought is not able to solve all problems.  It has limitations and, in some areas, is like the cart and horse that is without a driver and going around in circles.  Generally, for problems which involve the needs of divergent groups, there is no balancing factor and the needs of one group bounce unsuccessfully against the needs of others.  In situations like this, self-interest repeatedly rears its head and there appears to be no corrective.  Many are slow to accept that the needs of the individual are bound to the needs of the many.

What is the corrective to this harmful self-interest?  What factor reconciles the needs of different nations while sharing the earth’s resources in an ecologically sound manner?  (more…)

Family & Community

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

Q:     Speak to me of family.  Spiritually what is the significance of this grouping?

Each is a member of two families: their birth/marriage family and the larger, human family.  In both, meaningful membership and participation is essential to balanced living.  Each person must feel they are loved and protected, and have the opportunity to express, without fear, who they are. Each is a unique soul and has something to contribute and learn.

In a family there is a connection, love and bonding.  This connection occurs of many levels: it may be biological, emotional and spiritual.

Spiritually, the members of a birth/marriage family have entered the earth phase together to learn from each other.  On an inner level, their souls are connected.  Sometimes the lessons are painful and other times joyous.  This connection extends beyond time and space.

Similarly humanity is one family.  We have all come from the same source (God) and one day will return home after experiencing the many worlds. (more…)

Magnificent Monastery

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

For the longest time, I wished that I had a church, temple, mosque or synagogue to attend. I could find no special place that called to my heart and helped my soul sing. In years past, there had always been a place: top of a close by hill; stream just below a reservoir dam; tree lined chapel set beside a lake; shaded path through a nearby park; or an old stone church, late at night, when no other person was there. In these holy places, I learned to hear the quiet whispers that flowed through my heart; some from my soul and others from that distant shore. These moments of joyous, quiet solitude and contemplation filled me with peace, reminding of my far away Home. (more…)

Spiritual Traveler: Why Must there be Suffering?

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

Show me someone
Whose life has been easy?
And I will show you
Half a person.
-SB

For the spiritual traveler every day life problems offer an opportunity to learn and move forward along the Path.  Potentially running late to work, not having enough money to pay for gas and wondering whether the kids are coming down with a cold, all stressors- at some point on a spiritual level- offer the opportunity to go deep within our selves.

Once the problem passes and/or is resolved, the traveler wonders: why is life filled with so many ups and downs? Why must there always be clouds to cover the sun? (more…)

Spiritual Traveler: Remember

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

Everything is dependent upon remembering. One does not begin by learning, one starts by remembrance. The distance of eternal existence and the difficulties of life cause one to forget. It is for this reason God has commanded us: Remember!”

-Sheikh Ismail Hakki

*              *

Traveler:         If the purpose of life is to join in Kingship with the Creator; then, why weren’t we born with this awareness firmly fixed in our conscious mind? Why do we go through the struggle or journey of reaching this realization? Wouldn’t it simplify things if we were born Awakened to this Reality? (more…)

A Week of Sustainable Living in an Intentional Community

Niánn Emerson Chase

I, along with Gabriel of Urantia, founded the intentional community of more than one-hundred people who now all live at Avalon Organic Gardens & EcoVillage located in the Tubac/Tumacácori area. It was more than two decades ago in Sedona (located in north-central Arizona) that Gabriel and I, with our three small children (an infant and two-year-old twins) began the journey of striving and struggling to create and maintain a culture more sustainable than the one that dominates Western civilization and increasingly the rest of the world. Within a few months of us beginning this adventure, others started to join us in our commitment to a vision that we all shared. Together we participated in the unfoldment of an intentional community that continues to expand on many levels—quantitatively and qualitatively. (more…)

"Glaciers are the canary in the global coal mine"

Interview with James Balog
by Jason Francis

James Balog, founder of the Extreme Ice Survey, discusses climate change as evidenced by the massive systemic changes wrought by humans in the basic chemistry of the planet. April 2013; source: © Share International

James Balog has been a leader in photographing, understanding and interpreting the natural environment for three decades. He has a graduate degree in geography and geomorphology and is an avid mountaineer. To reveal the impact of climate change, Balog in 2007 founded the Extreme Ice Survey (EIS), the most wide-ranging, ground-based, photographic study of glaciers ever conducted. The project is featured in the highly acclaimed documentary Chasing Ice, which has won numerous awards worldwide. Balog is also the author of eight books; his most recent, Ice: Portraits of Vanishing Glaciers, was released in the fall of 2012. Jason Francis interviewed James Balog for Share International. (more…)

Hugo Chavez (1954 - 2013)

by Benjamin Creme

A tribute to this "simple man who became a national hero." April 2013

Hugo Chavez was a simple man who became a national hero, much loved by the majority of the poorer people of Venezuela. He is said by Western media commentators to have been 'controversial', suggesting some failures or outlandish behaviour on his part. He was a nationalist who thought in global terms. He was a simple man from simple beginnings, who took upon himself, through love of his country and people, the role of benefactor. He was a man of great ideals who sought to reverse the terrible poverty of millions of his fellow countrymen, to stand up for them and their right to life.

Chavez used, as is well known, the profits of the huge oil resources of Venezuela to overcome the poverty that roused the ardour of his compassion. For this he was loved by his people and loathed by those greedy forces whose hatred of 'socialism' retards the transformation for the better of this world. He was a hero and a democrat, who sought power only for the benefit of his brothers and sisters.

He is accused by his enemies of leaving his country, potentially rich, with enormous debts. But these accusations come from countries like the US and Britain and others who themselves have enormous debts. Britain owes billions and US debts are measured in trillions. Other countries have their poor, but they do not have a Chavez to support them.

Benjamin Creme, source: © Share International

No Comments on Hugo Chavez (1954 - 2013)

Enlightenment: Initial Discussions

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

Introduction

As our society moves forward in its study and growing understanding of different spiritual paths, one of the things required is a dialogue concerning the nature of personal enlightenment. Or said another way, after studying a particular spiritual path, for the average traveler, what does personal spiritual development look like?

Often travelers start out on a spiritual quest uncertain about outcome. Having only a strong feeling that a particular path is calling, unsure where this study will lead; perhaps their point of reference being a specific teacher or what they have heard from other students or read.  Sometimes travelers define their search in terms of outcomes such as reading minds, gaining mysterious powers, spiritual states, being at peace, or wondering how learning will set them apart from others: that is make them individually special.

The following is a beginning discussion concerning possible outcomes of spiritual learning. (more…)