Archive for December, 2006


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Struggling for Greatness…Yehuda Berg’s Monthly Tune Up

Published on December 19, 2006

For most, this month is not easy. However, not being easy can be a good thing. The kabbalists teach that within everything that happens, there is always the seed of mercy. In other words, all chaos leads us to good.

If your life is engulfed in troubles, remember that the chaos is there for the sole purpose of helping you to reveal Light. Imagine if everything always looked good and you never experienced any problems. It might seem like a tempting concept, but the truth is, without challenges to overcome, you would get bored.

Think back to the times in your life when you felt the greatest sense of accomplishment. Was it when things were handed to you on a silver platter or when you had to struggle to break through something?

When you do come up against the chaos, the kabbalists say there are two steps you can take to reveal the Light hidden within:

1. Embrace the chaos. Know that it is a blessing designed to lead you to the good. Trust that the Light will take care of you… and

2. Look within and take responsibility for being the cause of the chaos. Figure out what you did in this lifetime to bring it about.

It is important to do both steps. Doing only the first step will not keep you from repeating the pattern, and the second step by itself doesn’t take into consideration the importance of trusting the Light. It’s a universal truth that chaos will ultimately lead you to the good. It is always darkest right before the dawn.

And the greater the darkness, the more Light there is to be revealed. The faster you recognize and accept hardships as opportunities for spiritual elevation, the quicker the pain and doubt will disappear. You alone determine the rate at which your turmoil and pain passes.

All the best,

Yehuda

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EBG Excerpt…Causality

Published on December 9, 2006

No one thing causes any other thing. This is the simplistic, linear way of looking at what is happening. A “this” is not causing a “that.” If we gave up this premise, we may just have nothing to look at but ourselves.


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91st Psalm

Published on December 8, 2006

Four versions of the 91st psalm

O thou that dwellest in the covert of the Most High, and abidest in the shadow of the Almighty;

I will say of HaShem, who is my refuge and my fortress, my G-d, in whom I trust,

That He will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

He will cover thee with His pinions, and under His wings shalt thou take refuge; His truth is a shield and a buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flieth by day;

Of the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor of the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

A thousand may fall at Thy side, and ten thousand at Thy right hand; it shall not come nigh thee.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, and see the recompense of the wicked.

For thou hast made HaShem who is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation.

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent.

For He will give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee upon their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and asp; the young lion and the serpent shalt thou trample under feet.

‘Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he hath known My name.

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him, and bring him to honour.

With long life will I satisfy him, and make Him to behold My salvation.’

Jewish
source: Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)

_____________________
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
abides under the shadow of the Almighty.

He shall say to the Lord,
“You are my refuge and my stronghold,
my God in whom I put my trust.”

He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter
and from the deadly pestilence.

He shall cover you with his pinions,
and you shall find refuge under his wings;
his faithfulness shall be a shield and buckler.

You shall not be afraid of any terror by night,
nor of the arrow that flies by day;

Of the plague that stalks in the darkness,
nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day.

A thousand shall fall at your side
and ten thousand at your right hand,
but it shall not come near you.

Your eyes only have to behold
to see the reward of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord your refuge,
and the Most High your habitation,

There shall no evil happen to you,
neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.

For he shall give his angels charge over you,
to keep you in all your ways.

They shall bear you in their hands,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.

You shall tread upon the lion and the adder;
you shall trample the young lion and the serpent
under your feet.

Because he is bound to me in love,
therefore will I deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my Name.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him;
I am with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and bring him to honor.

With long life will I satisfy him,
and show him my salvation.

_____________________
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

_____________________

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

Psalm 91 (New International Version)


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Ashvaghosha

Published on

Thoughts of themselves have no substance; let them arise and pass away unheeded. Thoughts will not take form of themselves, unless they are grasped by the attention; if they are ignored, there will be no appearing and no disappearing.__ Ashvaghosha


Socrates

Published on

Whenever, therefore, people are deceived and form opinions wide of the truth, it is clear that the error has slid into their minds through the medium of certain resemblances to that truth.__ Socrates BC 469-399, Greek Philosopher of Athens


EBG Excerpt…Death

Published on December 6, 2006

Death comes when we are making “other” plans. It may come as disease, old age, or an outside event. But it will come. To see death as fearful, is to see life as fearful. You cannot separate the two. Death and birth are a part of each other. The Chinese have a saying, “Death is like pulling a hair out of milk.” There is nothing to fear from death. It is our joyful return Home.


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An appropriate e mail

Published on

I don’t often print e mails, due to the fact I get so many from my spiritual family and friends. This one was special to me because I also have two horses (mother and son), who love each other. This message is appropriate to the path.

Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each looks like every other horse.

But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing. Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind.

His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him. This alone is amazing. If nearby and listening, you will hear the sound of a bell.

Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field.

Attached to her halter is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her.

As you stand and watch these two friends, you’ll see how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she is, trusting that she will not lead him astray. When she returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, she stops occasionally and looks back, making sure her friend isn’t too far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others see.

Good friends are like this…You don’t always see them, but you know they are always there. Please listen for my bell and I’ll listen for yours.

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

“Kindness is a way of being in the world at all times.”__Myswizard