The Deepest Spiritual Life Ezine

A Monthly Publication, Issue #7 – March 2003

Publisher: Susan Quinn

http://www.thedeepestspirituallife.com

Opening to Wisdom

To have a firm persuasion in our work—to feel that what we do is right for ourselves and good for the world at exactly the same time—is one of the great triumphs of human existence.” David Whyte, Crossing the Unknown Sea

In the last few months, I’ve become increasingly aware that, even though I have a consulting business and am busy marketing my book, I am also being called to explore another direction. Given that I am still learning so much from, and enjoying my consulting and training work in the secular world, and promoting my book has provided many opportunities for learning and growth, I have found myself pushing away this “nagging feeling” that there is something else I am being drawn to (or called to) do. I already have a full plate, and can’t imagine where I will find the time to start something new! Why in the world would I take on even more?

So this force that is speaking to me is both mysterious in some ways, but not completely unfamiliar. There is a process that is often discussed in Christianity, but to my knowledge isn’t discussed directly in Judaism or Buddhism (at least at this point in my training). The process: discernment. The dictionary defines discernment as acuteness of judgment or insight. In spiritual terms, and for me, discernment is the ability to open to absolute or divine wisdom, in order to see what we are called to do in our lives. Since I favor looking at things rationally and logically, I discern fairly well in my day-to-day life; after all, daily discernment comes from my own brain waves, my own experience, analysis and understanding—right? Or do I need to consider that as my spiritual life evolves, divine wisdom is always working and available, if I open myself to it?

The idea of opening to and engaging in discernment that invites transcendent wisdom is only recently something I have begun to explore. In writing my book, I felt ideas and decisions all along the way often emerged from something greater than my own intellect or understanding, but since then I haven’t explored the possibility of opening to a higher wisdom consciously and ongoingly.

In the last two months, however, after a discussion with a friend, I began to realize that I could no longer resist learning what I was being moved to do. Call it curiosity, impatience, destiny, motivation, karma—perhaps it has been all these and more—but I have tried to put myself in the place of receiving and embracing my life. What came to me was that I wanted to find a way of blending my work as a consultant and trainer in the area of conflict with my dedication to spiritual efforts and ideas. Would there be a way to teach conflict as a spiritual tool to deepen relationships? This idea is not totally new to me; I am already teaching that conflict is an opportunity to improve or deepen relationships. And in fact I have been including some of my spiritual views in my work. The question was, and still is, how can I blend these ideas—conflict and spirituality---and do it with integrity? Needless to say, my practical mind leaps ahead to questions about whether there would be an audience, who would they be, how would I find them—the resistance to moving forward is endless. But if I trust the process of discernment, the answers will come.

I realize that the way I can nurture this process is to take the following steps:

1) I want to be clear on my intention, which is defined by the paradoxical combination of distinctiveness and flexibility, so that it has an opportunity to unfold organically and creatively.

2) I need to “create space” for wisdom to emerge; by meditating, or having a regular time of stillness and silence, I’ll spend time in an environment that supports my perceiving and digesting my insights.

3) I need to be open to the information; that means, at least in the initial stages, not judging, picking or choosing what I like or don’t like about taking a new path or about what the path is. There’s time to be analytical and evaluative later.

4) I need to be patient. These answers don’t always come on my preferred schedule. There may be a universal principle that determines what I need to know, when I am ready to receive it, when I am ready to act on it, and when others are ready to receive it.

So I am making myself available to the universe, to the absolute, to understanding divine wisdom. I already feel excited about the idea, and feel challenged by the opportunity to explore it. As I continue to discern this possibility, who knows what lies ahead?

To hear Susan discuss her book, The Deepest Spiritual Life, call BookTalk toll free at 888-355-0600, code #2677.

Calendar of Events—Please let your friends know!

Tuesday, March 11, 2003 – 7:00 – 8:30 pm, Borders Books and Music, 22372 El Paseo, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (949) 635-2800

Friday, March 14, 2003 – 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm, East West Bookshop, 324 Castro Street, Mountain View, CA (800) 909-6161

Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 7:30 to 8:30pm, Barnes & Noble, 10775 Westview Parkway, San Diego, CA (858) 684-3166

Sunday, March 23, 2003 - Service and zazen beginning at 9:00am, dharma talk at 10:30am, Santa Monica Zen Center, Santa Monica, CA, (310) 572-9070

Sunday March 30, 2003 – 7:00pm, Bodhi Tree Bookstore, 8585 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, CA (310) 659-1733
www.bodhitree.com

Tuesday, April 8, 2003 – 7:00 – 8:30 pm, Borders Books & Music, 25222 El Paseo, Mission Viejo, CA (949) 367-0005

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