I recently came across this little homily from one of my favorite spiritual teachers, James Finley. He’s been called the spiritual teacher that spiritual teachers listen to when they listen to spiritual teachers…or something like that… In any event, what makes him compelling has nothing to do with needing some kind of esoteric or highly specialized knowledge. It’s that he’s just had a mature presence, the picture of someone experienced, i.e. he has suffered, but he is also relaxed and calm, which always gives me a sense of reassurance, because when someone who is serene and light can talk about the deepest most difficult shit that we have to endure, then it means something.
[Footnote: my auto-correct keeps changing “spiritual” to “Doritos.” I change it back, but I’m quite certain that there are Doritos teachers who are also fans of James Finley. There is no doubt in my mind.]
In any event, if you have ten minutes to watch the homily, let me know what you think.
[Note on photo: that’s early 2012, when I moved to L.A. That move only lasted a few months, so it’s better to think of it as an extended trip.]
Hi, that was lovely! A piece of it reminded me of some lines from a book called The white woman on the green bicycle, ‘the other person’s spirit climbs into you, you feel so much for them, when they hurt, you hurt, when you hurt them, you hurt yourself.’
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This is so simple and so wise. Thank you for sharing it.
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And thank you for pointing me in the direction of JF.
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