Kitabu Roshi performing "WingSpan" from Zen Mushin Ryu:The East Sea/Germany

Hamburg, Germany, March 2010 a weekend of   transformation.

A MIND LIKE WATER/seminar

Sadguru Sant Keshavadas paved the way. The video below was an introduction to the event. Videos to follow reflect a successful mission.

Another session in Germany

It is  said that "travel expands your mind." Travel also opens my heart and spirit. In the different environments and diverse cultures I not only see the rich contours and variations of the land itself but I feel the kinship of other people. I sense our inherent connectedness beneath the layers of skin and the separation of language. Each country is different. Each people have a uniqueness. All cultures have their place. That place, I find, is in my soul.

Many years ago, Sadguru Sant Keshavadas, my own teacher and spiritual father was told that he would go to the West. The  messenger  was the famed and legendary Yogi, Babaji. Sant Keshavadas did not know when or how this mission would unfold. He did not know where he would go. When an invitation finally arrived he discovered that his first trip to the Western Hemisphere from India would be to Germany.

Recently I sat outside of the magnificent Town Hall building in  Hamburg, Germany.  Admiring the  imposing building which was no less impressive than the Parliament edifice in Britain, it was easy to remember my teacher's story. I was wearing a shawl like he wore. It was presented to me by Soul Sword sangha member, Karma Pema Shakti, who felt she had to present it to me. At the time, she did not know that my guru, Sant Keshavadas, always wore the same type of shawl. The message was suddenly clear. My visit was in a way the return of my teacher. It was where he began his Western ashram and planted the seeds of the Vishwa Dharma ministry to the West. Germany was the birthplace of The Temple of Cosmic Religion (Ashrams). Remembering this and feeling it. I knew that Germany was important to my own Dharma.

Some years ago It was suggested that I attend a Zen retreat established by Roshi Bernie Glassman in Germany. The purpose of that retreat was a healing one dedicated to the souls of Auswitz. I did not make it during that time. My journey was far different. I did not land in the Germany of old but the Germany of right now. Germany citizens attended my seminars in Switzerland and Holland. The attendees made their presence known in such a way that I could not forget their faces. There was intensity of purpose. They also reached out.  I  felt something, a hint of the light within them. Suddenly Germany had a new face to me,the old Historical Germany gave way to something fresh and different.

From the transportation systems to the layout of the cities, I could see the technological genius, charm and discipline of the people of Germany, and I saw much, much more. I saw that there was much to learn from them and somethings to be taught that could come only from The Spirit, from No-Mind.
I mingled with the people, visited farmlands and had dinner with the people in their homes. I meditated by the great sea and met German yogis in the park. I chatted with a Nigerian musician, on the streets of Hamburg.
I lived the experience and my heart was filled with love for the people.

In the courtyard of Hamburg's Town Hall, an archaic celebration demands that an unmarried 30 year old toil until freed by the kiss of a  passing virgin.

And so, as Sant Keshavadas planted the Dharma seed in Germany so long ago, I felt compelled
to water that seed by establishing a link to American Vishwa Dharma Zen (Soul Sword) on German soil.
It was Zen Mushin Ryu, my "Mind Like Water" Warrior Zen, that fanned people's interest in my teachings. Guruji saw that connection before I did. It is fitting that the seminar I will be doing grows from Warrior Zen because True warrior-hood is a path to peace. It is a way to heal the conflict within oneself. When that conflict vanishes there is no violence to be found. There is balance and restoration of balance.

The Dharma Wheel has many spokes radiating from the center of No-Beginning. Sadguru Sant Keshavadas expressed its East Indian flavor. My Dharma is decidely Afro-Asiatic/American, a natural reflection of my own cultural influences. Like water, The Dharma is beyond such designations. It has no given taste of its own, no form to cling to. I  honor my ancestors before the Hamburg seat of goverment.

Human beings need to adapt to varying situations, environments and circumstances.

Many people become awed by what other people achieve, even more so when there is a hint of spiritual or supernatural ability. This other-directed appreciation is due to a general misunderstanding of what MAN is. What MAN is, you are. You are THAT also. There are experiences beyond the intellect, yet they are still accessible. THE MIND LIKE WATER SEMINAR has been created to help you discover the essence of your being in a real way. The warrior frame-work will permit you to embrace form, movement, mind, spirit, conflict and resolution by various means. It is not a linear practice but a means of Self Realization. It is holistic in nature but also a fun way to learn a cosmic secret.

This is not a path for everyone. Do not be deceived. There must be a longing in your spirit to answer this call. The quest for mere information or knowledge is not strong enough to pass through these barriers. If you feel that urging you will be right where you need to be. Faith in the unknowable, "the ungraspable", The Divine, is a vital key. This is not blind faith. It is a very inter-active power

Go to Soul Sword Radio to hear an interview with Sabine Kleftogiannis, Director of Zen BodyMind Works, sponsor of A Mind like Water Seminar Germany

Note: How quickly we forget that our sojourn on earth is short. How marvelous it is when we do something remarkable in that space between hello and goodbye. Here at the Soul Sword Zen Community we would like to pause and reflect on a soul who transfused us with his loving energy...Michael Jackson.

Vernon Kitabu Turner

"Kitabu Roshi"

The analytical or legalistic thinker may be baffled at the effect the death of Michael Jackson had on the public, considering the charges he once faced. The charges were never proven but the power of his spirit and his message bore witness of itself time and time again.  That message was beautiful. By reclaiming the soul they once loved without apology the public embraced redemption, the gift of Heaven to all who seek it. In this drawing, Soul Sword Zenist, Manaah Blackwell shares his vision of Michael Jackson in heroic fashion.

The Zen of Michael Jackson
Vernon Kitabu Turner
(Kitabu Roshi)

My current book is called Soul to Soul. Zen by simple definition is a direct pointing at the soul of man. While Religion purports to reveal the Lord of Heaven, Zen strips us bare to reveal that reflective essence focused as a single being. When we cut through distortions of the mind the pure motive power of our being shines through unimpeded. Asians call it by many names. African Americans just call it soul. Michael Jackson delivered it full force decade after decade. The Bible poses a question, “What is man that thou art mindful of him or the son of man that thou visiteth him? When I watch Michael Jackson perform I feel the spiritual current flowing back through me to the source of all things. The answer is so simple. God loves us because we can send the current of Him back with our own spin on it. We can touch Him when we act from soul (spirit). When we drop the trappings that bind us to a solid world we are like our Eternal Father....free. We are taught that only one who comes like a child can enter the “kingdom of heaven.” No adult in the modern world blazed a more obvious path to that sacred place than our Michael.

Zen activity, soul force, is electric. Once it starts it goes on until spent. Michael Jackson held nothing back when center-stage. Each performance was his only performance, the last one. Perhaps to some people he was just an entertainer but that which comes from the soul directed to the source of creation affects the fabric of the world. It travels, if you will, soul to soul. How clever to disguise a cosmic agent as a child-like singer. While man adores flesh or his carnal nature, God abhors that attachment. “There is no good thing in the flesh,” the scripture says. If a mirror could reflect God there would be only spirit. It is that part of ourselves that we must learn to cultivate.

Michael went deep into the well of his being. When he reflected on his first trip to Africa he spoke in marvelously poetic terms of the rhythm of the people and the land. In doing so he revealed his sensitivity to his environment. That was amplified more when he orchestrated the “We are the World” campaign. Suddenly a better world was in the making.

Michael was humble. Despite his tremendous accomplishments, fame and money, he spoke gently, and with respect to others. That is a significant sign to those who understand. The current of The Spirit flows through us not from us. Man is like a wire through which electricity flows. While he plays a part in the function, he is not the power but the conduit. Many will take the credit for their achievements outright developing a hardened ego. They do not understand. The effect they have will be different...limited.

All human beings are multi-dimensional whether they realize it or not. That is the reason why all cultures have a spiritual tradition. There is a difference between belief and being and between knowing about and experiencing. Many experts know a tremendous amount about things but the Zen of anything is simply  living and doing it from Source, a "place" beyond prior thought. The act explodes or flows from the spirit of being. There is no dualism in such action, no hesitation. So Michael danced and we moved. He sang and our vocal chords vibrated. He was one soul expressing for many bodies. Don't just take my word for it. The following depicts the response of people in Sweden to the soul that was Michael Jackson.

We have the ability to move each other in positive and loving ways. Truly this is a testimony to a mission accomplished.

Using a single human being to effect many is God's way, after all. One light bulb can illumine a room. What is important to remember is the light and the lamp are different. The lamp can be imperfect. . It does not have to be perfect to hold up the bulb. Its job is to stand. Sometimes, ...those in the dark curse the lamp which holds the light. They don't realize that if no lamps stood they would stay in the darkness. There are no more perfect lamps to be found in this world, only those willing to stand in the flawed vessel of flesh and blood. They can only give the best they can, that and no more. There is a light at the end of the tunnel because someone is holding it.

There have always been beings on the planet who are “born of The Spirit.” For them the body is like a heavy overcoat. Thus the message of gurus and Zen masters have been directed at stripping away the facade to reveal the truth of our being...what is man? Do you really want to know the answer or do you want to become the answer. When a person comes along who can make you feel your spirit, it is a powerful reminder that there is more to us than we can see. Michael reminded us that we are not alone. He, the spiritual man, was right there with us...and so it is. We, too, can be there for each other in our true identity.  It is unfortunate that in his darkest hour Michael felt alone I know that Michael is not alone now. It is .those of us who remain here who may be more alone.  Many of you  grieve for the lost. You can no longer see him. I remind you, however, that when you stand before the mirror you do not see yourself either. Meditate on that.

A reflection of Michael by Ron Johnson, Soul Sword Zen Community.

For a few moments in time we find ourselves in  bodies, children of the universe learning our ABC's. Unfortunately, we often think we know everything when in fact we know next to nothing but how to play in the sandbox. The Creator is always speaking to us through us but we are not always listening. We criticize the lamp and fail to appreciate the light. Those who have magnificent gifts and give them freely are often victims of great suffering and unknown sorrow. There is a price to pay for serving humanity. Money cannot pay the cost and human beings are so fickle so as to turn on their heroes at the first hint of a supposed crack in their armor. If you love people and you desire to give them of your soul those people can wound you more viciously than the enemy. When Michael faced accusers in court I wrote then that we had a choice to make. I choose to believe in the innocence of his childlike nature because the currents flow back to Source. I believed, and did not waiver.

The artist has fallen and now his greatness is apparent, highlighted. The music lives on. The rhythm is unbroken. The curtain has not closed on Michael Jackson. A curtain has two sides. He 's just backstage until the rest of the show plays out. You must perform also. Will you pour out the best you have to give without looking back, without seeking approval from those around you? Will you give from the essence of your soul?. Will your activity have the power of Zen because it is real?

Michael Jackson demonstrated a great Zen lesson. He lived Michael Jackson. There is a Zen saying, “When you are really you that is enlightenment.” Who's bad!? Give of yourself completely and your light will burn brightly also. By that I do not suggest that the world will honor and adore you but God, your eternal Father will embrace you directly. The lotus will open. You will have an insider's view of the “show.”

Thank you Michael, you were sensational. we will see you at the family reunion.

Postscript:

We have learned now that many of the so-called eccentricities of Michael Jackson had a medical basis. He suffered from an extremely rare form of   Lupus which contributed to lost of skin coloration, great pain, was a danger to his heart and perhaps more revealing, may have been the reason his began wearing the one glove. One doctor said that the glove, one or even two were more than reasonable to wear when suffering from such a condition. Michael, as was his right, chose to remain quiet about his illness for over 12 years. He let the media have its way. Those of us who feel a sense of mission often sacrifice our well being, even our lives for the "cause," as we perceive it. Some ways are not so dramatic. We don't get enough sleep. We don't eat properly, we don't slow down enough. Michael's mission was played out for all to see.

Perhaps, only now do people recognize the cost Micheal paid to perform so well. He pushed his body and mind to the limit. He took painkillers so he could dance just one more time for you....a soldier going into a different kind of battle Some soldiers willingly risk a bullet or being the target of a bombing to fight a war they may not even comprehend, should they turn and run? People want too much from their "stars/warriors." They think they want sainthood from them.  If someone seems to rank that exalted status there will be those dedicated to seeking their flaws to crucify them. Such is the nature of Mankind. All human beings are flawed.  Shakespear did not recommend that the "good be interred with the bones. He noted that that was often the case because men focused on the "evil." Fortunately, such is not the case with God. God sees the light within us. It is his reflection. Michael Jackson was one of his mirrors. You can be too, if you remember that the good thing in you is not a product of this world.  Let your light shine regardless of the critics. The One, who is the light of your life, sees only that. Celebrate it and I for certain will celebrate and rejoice with you, even if your rap sheet is book length, just leave it in the past and give the best you have now.

Mariah Carey (and Trey Lorenz) sang "I'll Be There," better than she thought at the memorial service for Michael. Her human-heartedness added the perfect quality.

Inherent in our nature, well-hidden from the ego and intellect, is the essence of our creator. We communicate That quality when we are being true to the moment. We can feel THAT in each other.

Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson (The Jackson Five) were right, we must bring salvation back. To do that we must be quick to love, quick to  forgive, quick to redeem each other and slow to condemn. We are connected in a circle. The current comes back to the sender. You can be sure of that.

Jai!

To see one needs more than eyes.

 Master Po demonstrated that THE WAY functions beyond the limitations of our physical senses.

"Looked for he cannot be seen."

Most people knew nothing about Shaolin Monks until David Carradine played the role of Kwai Chang Caine. Set in the old West and China, the Kung Fu series allowed westerners to peer into the distinctive culture of the exotic East and enjoy the rough adventures of the developing West on the same show. Half-European and half-Asian, the character Kwai Chang Caine reflected the very nature of The Tao, itself, the bringing of harmony between diverse forces... balance. Nowhere is that power more needed than in ourselves. When I learned that David Carradine, the actor who brought the Shaolin to life, died in Bangkok, the news struck me personally for several reasons.

My own contemplative way of life bore fruit that expressed itself more freely through what others call Martial arts. In the seventies, I was, perhaps, more of an enigma to my peers then than I am now. Kung Fu, the television series spoke to the same feelings I often expressed . The words of Kwai Chang Caine were poetry and a healing balm to me. My friends saw the similarity and treated me with both greater respect. They needed a frame, a reference point to view me from. The Shaolin, as played by Carradine provided a bridge for them and others. In many ways the series opened a greater dialogue between the East and The West so that water cooler conversations were now possible regarding the teachings of The Tao Te Ching and its place in a Judeo-Christian society. I was grateful for that. Television has a way of substituting itself for the real, so it was not long before David Carradine was Kwai Chang Caine. Even I did not want to miss a single episode of the show. Carradine was showing us Tao (The Way), not as just words but as living action.

Years passed. The Kung Fu series was off the air. My book, Kung Fu: The Master was out and I went to the ABA (American Booksellers Association Book Fair to promote it. At that time I was also an active free-lance writer so I kept myself mindful of possibilities for a story. The news was that David Carradine was giving a press conference. I decided to attend with the idea of getting an interview. There were hundreds of reporters crowding the room. Since  my satori I did not act in the same way. I would not yell above the crowd. I left the room and walked through Jacob Javits Center. Suddenly a woman in a green dress bumped into me. “Oh! I 'm sorry, “ she exclaimed. Then she pointed to the book in my hand and asked to see it. It was a copy of Kung Fu: The Master.

“My husband should meet you,” she said.

“Who is your husband?” I asked.

“David Carradine.” The woman was Gail Jensen, David Carradine's third wife.

One again I was being shown how smoothly The Way of The Spirit moves. A few hours later, David and I were face to face, two authors with a love of The Way and a common thread. We  both loved and lost our fathers but David's wounds were more recent and he showed me his tears. They were the links to brotherhood. As we sat on the raised platform above the convention floor, we were beyond interference. Even Gail  left us alone to talk, and no one seemed to notice the famous star while we chatted about our fathers and the Martial way. Then he told me something exciting. He was doing an updated version of Kung Fu. It was to be called, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues. At that moment he promised me an exclusive interview. I had just the magazine in mind, Body, Mind and Spirit. He gave me his phone number and the plan was set. I learned from David, himself, that he knew nothing about Kung Fu when the original series started. “I am a dancer and I know how to use my body. That helped,” he explainedn  He learned movements for each fighting scene, first by working with stunt men and later under the guidance of David Chow, the Judo master and Kam Yuen, the Kung Fu master who became the fight choreographer of the show.

David ended the original Kung Fu series for two reasons. He felt the quality of the show was going down and the character of Kwai Chang Caine had too strong a hold on him. I learned that he was very sensitive, perhaps, even delicate. His mind was a fine tool for reflecting characters but that same mind could reflect darker forces, left unchecked.

The new series, The Legend of Kung Fu, catapulted David to the future as his own grandson, who is also steeped in the ways of the Shaolin. The younger Caine does not fit into the present world. His soul is ancient. At the time of this writing there are two reports of how Carradine died. One story says he died of natural causes at age 72. The other said he was found hanged, the possibilty of foul play was being suggested. He was working on a movie and apparently in a good place. Would he have killed himself, intentionally.  By now most of you have heard the stories of what might have happened in those last moments of Carradine's life. If we linger there our minds become dark and gloomy. I prefer to remember what he gave us. I prefer to remember how his depiction  a Shaolin monk introduced the spiritual element  back into  the way of  the warrior more effectively than anyone had done in modern times. The role he made famous paved the way or opened doors for others with that understanding to speak and act more boldly, including  the new breed of Shaolin. Of course, Carradine was an actor but this character touched him more deeply than others.  In some ways, Kwa Chang Caine took over. The spirit properly nourished is stronger than mind. Kwai Chaing Caine will always be the  Eurasian Shaoline. You see, a Shaolin monk can walk through walls. Looked for, he cannot be seen. Reached for, he cannot be grasped. ,A  Shaolin monk is a virtual spirit, and spirits cannot die but at at some point in time and space we must all make an exit. David Carradine left his birth suit on the rack, leaving us to contemplate why...a mystery...a koan...foul play or just a twist in the plotline of the play of life?

On the day we met I was pushing my book, Kung Fu: The Master. David was promoting his book, Endless Highway. We shared that vision of an endless path. By this time, David had become a genuine student of Master Kam Yuen, s I was talking to a man who had really taken a drink from the “West River.” People like to put halos on others and act disappointed when they slip or crash broken to the ground. No human being is worthy of a halo. When Jesus Christ was called "Good master," he denied the truth of the accolade, "Know ye not that only your Father which is in heaven is good," he admonished the speaker. We may do good work, we may serve well. If we are wearing flesh, blood and bones in this world we are prone to error and the displeasure of others. In pleasing ourselves, whether in private or public in some way, we will earn the distance of others. We cannot please two masters, whether the master is  the public and ourselves or God and mankind. Sometimes we opt for higher ground but just as often we choose what others decry as beneath us. There is no one worthy to judge since the very reliance on a judgmental attitude towards others  is to admit our duality  of mind and to fall further from the grace of liberation ourselves. Our true and orginal face lies beyond the designation good and evil, it is awakening on ones own hidden soul, not a licence to point the fingers at someone else.  And so it is, that the final scene of this real-life drama is not a happening ending as we would hope. It is, higher, a reminder that we must always be vigilance. The enemy does not always come from outside, he is proficient at using the mind, the very mind we call pur own, against us. Pay attention!

As the songwriter wrote, “Life is a highway, I'm going to ride it all night long. Just between us the division between day and night, life and death is just a blink. Focus on the life current, AKA, The Holy Spirit, and the distinctions fade. .David Carradine, the person, I can say he was easy to love.  That he was flawed is obvious. That I am flawed is obvious to me, are you so aware?  The best we can be is the instrument that serves in the hand or under the spirit of the master.  Christ say that there is  no good thing in the flesh. Life is spirit. Celebrate the triumps and forgive the failings. Forgive us our debts.  The secret of the Shaolin was that they did not rely on their ego selves to do great things. They surrendered to Tao, what Christians call to The Spirit of The  Lord. The grace of The Lord, the virtue of The Lord is the light of the master, herein lies his humility. He is but a vessel of The Good, not the good. I will remember the spirit of David, the one who cried about his father's death before me. The star who chatted with me as a friend. I will remember Kwai Chang Caine.

Considering that truth, one would think we would be a close family by now. Mankind needs to take a closer look at what we share in common and less at where we differ.

Kitabu Roshi

As children we used our imagination well. We became cowboys and Native-Americans, cops and robbers, ballerinas and doctors with ease. Now for a few moments imagine that you were born Black in America of a few centuries ago and have lived to this day. You are now in the right mindset to continue.

Through the phenomenon we call ego, Man is able to divide himself from others of his kind for any number of reasons. If he possesses money, he may distance himself from those who have less. If he has prestige, he may avoid those who have no clout but perhaps the most destructive form of separation and disdain is connected with something irreversible, the color of a person's skin. People can appear to have money and carry themselves with an air of importance, they can even avoid revealing their Religion but they cannot significantly alter their racial identity, especially if they are of Asiatic or African descent, for example

By wide-spread use of negative profiling a people can become vested with an image which triggers spiritually harmful results. As in the case of African-Americans, the people became disassociated from the human race as a whole. Despite convention, however, Mankind is born of a single root and every tribe of human beings are spiritually grounded in that same origin beyond gross form. The human experience, no matter how diverse has universal significant and impact, one on the other. For centuries, Europeans, Asians even Semitic people have viewed history and studied the world against a backdrop that failed to include the cosmology of African Peoples. As Scientists who have traced the genetic roots of Mankind to a single African Woman known as Lucy, the circle of inclusion continues.

A play by Shewri Bailey.

The Black Mind is an inseparable part of the Universal Consciousness. As Black people awaken the entire human family will feel the effects. In this moment in history when America is celebrating the election and triumphant service of its first black president of the country, Barrack Obama, it is wise to recognize the glimmer of that star that is steadily rising. There is more to come. In that context, it is important that those who lead The Juneteenth Celebration, the oldest continuous celebration of freedom in America, make it a point to note that this recognition of the Emancipation Proclamation is for all peoples. Join me in a Soul Sword Radio interview with Sheri Bailey, Founder and Executive Directorof Juneteenth VA.

Oppression awakens the sleeping dragon.

In later years, oprression would awaken the panther.

KITABU ROSHI INTERVIEWS SHERI BAILEY OF JUNETEENTH VA.

An artist's depiction of Sheri Bailey, playwright and Executive Director of Juneteenth VA.

Kitabu Roshi sits with a Buddhist Monk at the Wat Promkunaram Buddhist Temple in Arizona.

-Photo by Reverend Jeanene McQuillen-

The gyroscope was invented in 1852 by the French experimental physicist Leon Foucault (1819-1868) as part of a two-pronged investigation of the rotation of the earth. (On display at Bowdoit College)

As a child I was fascinated by a gyroscope spinning on top of a string. Even though it teethered this way and that from time to time it always returned to its center.

The world is not always peaceful. There is turbulous  every day. Pressure comes in many ways from the economic downfall of the country to violence in the streets. Anger gives rise to child abuse and murders but  people can also do emotional damage with uncontrolled words.  When the mind is disturbed it can easily transfer its  discontent to another person, even if they are innocent. We do not have to be constantly disturbed by the shifting tides of events. We may be knocked off balance or even lose our peace for a moment but we do not have to dwell in that negative space.  Like the gyroscope we can return where we belong...to our center. With practice, it  becomes effortless but first we must learn to become rooted in peace.

When I was a child I heard a song on the radio promising that “there will be peace in the valley some day.” Even at a young age, I felt the power of that promise because I had already witnessed acts of violence and knew the damage it did to a soul. We hear of movements to establish global peace. That vision is attractive to most of us. However the most we can hope for on any large scale, global or domestic, is a ceasefire. We can take away weapons but violence arises when the spiritual nature of a person is channeled through a negatively focused mind. Even without sophisticated tools of destruction such a person can disturb the balance of life in many ways. Hatred, itself, is a corrosive power. There is a great difference between policing people to control their behavior and genuine peace. Peace can not be achieved by government legislature or military might. It is a life-altering gift that happens within you first of all. Out of that precious seed the mighty tree is born. Its roots are not superficial. If they are deep, many people will find shelter beneath its branches.

There is power in peace, if you are really experiencing it. There is no power in the mere concept of peace. Too often people become prisoners of concepts, dogma and doctrine, never realizing that they are not yet embracing the spirit of the teachings. Sadguru Sant Keshavadas reminded disciples, “Letter killeth-Spirit saveth.” This teaching should be fully examined, not with the intellect but absorbed into the consciousness because it teaches something very important to our transformation. If you are spiritually centered you may feel moved by temple bells whether they ring from a cathedral or a Buddhist monastery. The call to prayer resounding from a Mosque may also touch you. If you are bound to a narrow concept, however, you may be offended by any call to worship that does not originate from familiar quarters.

Peace at the experiential level is universal. At the conceptual level, such is not the case.

A few years ago I lead a satsang in Arizona. During my stay, Reverend Jeanene McQuillen drove me to the grounds of the Wat Promkunaram Buddhist Temple where I had an opportunity to share with the resident monks. While I was there I learned that six monks, a nun and a two novices were murdered in the temple, execution style., some years ago. The tragedy took place in August of 1991. Whoever the perpetrators were, neither the peaceful way of life of the monks nor the sacred ground, itself, deterred them from committing the horrendous crime. According to what I heard, the nine Buddhist laid on the floor face down, and were shot to death as they laid helpless before the attackers.. Despite that violent blot on its history, Wat Promkunaram, still radiated an air of peace as I entered the inner-sanctum. I was graciously received. I reflected on the story of executioners coming at night to shatter the stillness of the temple and take lives, What if I had been there among them? I knew that the peace within me would have been expressed in a different way.

My Dharma path is serene but not passive. There is no fixed Dharma as people presume. It is a medicine formulated to heal specific soul ailments. It is not a solution mixed by the ego. Its source is traceless but its affect is profound.

When I was nine years old my parents read an article about Queens, New York housewife, Kitty Genovese. One night she was attacked on her way home from work. There within hearing of at least two hundred neighbors, she screamed as she was stabbed 27 times, only yards from her building. The image of a helpless woman crying out for help as people watched from the safety of windows, haunted me. I prayed to God that if He would give me the wisdom and the power I would never walk away from a cry for help. With that prayer began the journey to Zen Mushin Ryu and the Soul Sword Zen Mission. It would be years, however, before the names would come and I would understand the profundity of that childhood prayer. I love peace but it is not given to me to stand by and allow the violent to prevail. It is written, “blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.”There must be those who are strong enough to counteract those bent on destruction. To stand idly by while the innocent or weak are harmed is also a form of violence. The peaceful aren't powerless. They choose to walk the path of harmony. If you choose that path, you must realize that you may be called upon keep the peace...make the peace.

Christ taught that we should love our neighbors (others) as we love ourselves. By making that command he accepts as a matter of course that we do, in fact, love ourselves. Yet, this one platform which is so vital to the development of a spiritually healthy being is rarely received or understood. The power inherent in this one message is too great to be measured. We sing and write about love but mostly we direct it away from our own being and invest it in someone else, whether God, Man or animal. Love that starts abroad, that is, elsewhere, is without roots. The Bible says that Charity (love) starts at home and spreads abroad. It grows within you and radiates out to the world. If we work the formula backwards by loving everyone but ourselves, it may seem virtuous but we are deluding ourselves. We may gain some ego-satisfaction believing we are doing the “right thing” but this is not real love.

“All things are reducible to the one...” We begin with numeral one and proceed from there. From the standpoint of your actual experience, not the product of your mind, after the fact, life and all it contains in the elemental and spiritual aspects began with your consciousness of it. In the purity of that moment without thought, the universe can not be separated from you. You are one suchness, as Buddhist would express it. What we call love is lived spontaneously in our inherent No-Mind state before language rules and divides. Desiring our well-being is not a Philosophy. When cold we seek warmth. When hungry we reach for food. If fear rises, we naturally seek protection. There is nothing complicated about the way we sense and respond to life when we are not processing outside data. Soon, however, our perception is altered. We know longer live from the depths of our being. We become creatures of the world, victims of the beast. We are manipulated into following a collective pattern that is supposed to be the norm for everyone. When we accept this as truth we find ourselves conforming.

This very act of blindly conforming to the dictates of an outside power does violence to your True Nature. The Lord states, “be not conformed to the image of the world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

We are brought full circle. We came into the world at peace with ourselves, loving being without reference to a “self” to love. The world forces a “self” on us and one day the inner-peace is broken. There is an edict against fighting “The System” so that we are renewed. Unaware of the many levels of deception, many seekers and religionists settle for a passive life. There are times when even the peace-lover must rise. Even Jesus Christ made this clear,

“If you have no sword, sell you robe and buy a sword,” He says In the book of Luke. One can be certain that the innocent nor the weak need fear the sword of Jesus Christ but the message sends a signal to evil forces. The peacemakers must also carry swords but they are motivated by love. The Soul Sword Zen Mission reflects that admonition of Christ. “Protect my sheep,” The Lord said. Shepherds fend off the wolves, the lions and the poachers. They are not motivated by concepts but the necessity of the moment. There is power in peace but you have to exercise it to discover the uniqueness of its expression.

 The Soul Sword Zen Mission (American Vishwa Shanti Zen Mission) is powered by the faith-full and no one else.

Contact number: Uma  646-340-2032  or

Write Raymond Thrasher 

WordMasters@ PeoplePC.com

Out of the stillness of the earth beauty sprouts for all to see.

Photo by Jeanette Emory

President Barrack Obama

The First "American " President of The United States (AP photo)

The world-wide lure of America is that it stands as a blazing light of hope to the rest of the world. It promises that all men have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness here. For centuries the promise was a glaring untruth. All men did not have such freedom or hope because all men were not perceived as equal nor afforded unbias opportunity. Still the oath of allegiance was taken  as if that dream was already a reality for all.  The oath was in some sense a prayer..."some day over the rainbow..." one day. America has always been a melting pot but each ingredient in that pot did not enjoy the same value. Each culture which makes up the fabric of this amazing nation is not respected. It is a sad reality that while one  may serve in the military as an American, pay taxes as an American, any person deemed a minority may still face discrimatory treatment either de factor or dejure. A nation, by design, is suppose to function as one mind and spirit. A nation, like a human being has a unique soul (one). What happens when it wars against itself? The internal conflict causes damage that may not be clear. On the surface, Americans live in a prosperous country. Cosmetically, we appeared to be a diamond in the world of nations. The truth is the gem is flawed. Every facet of a diamond must be free to shine for its true lustre to be seen and experienced. For too long, America suppressed its most vital resource, the creative power of its diverse people. They are America. It was the combined voting power of Americans of many ethnic backgrounds that made History and resuscitated the spirit of America. Now there is a genuine effort lead by the people to experience the America they pledged allegiance to for so long. The election of a president is obviously a political event but this time it went deeper than that. This was a multi-dimensional occurence that is already sending tremors throughout the world. In my book, Soul to Soul:Harnessing the Power of Your Mind, I refer to the Zen koan (spiritual riddle), one hand clapping and make a particular reference to black hand clapping to indicate the impact people of African ancestry would  have on the present world. It is important for us to look at this phenomenon just as we have always noted the influence of European or Asia influence on the globe. Each of us (of a given ancestrial lineage) have something special to contribute. How would anyone understand what that is or what is missing if it remains suppressed or  hidden behind the facade of conformity? A new day has dawned but the dawning is just a beginning...genesis.

ONE HAND CLAPPING

There is an old saying, “Mr. Chan drinks wine and Mr. Wong gets tipsy.” While it is possible that I have the names reversed the message remains the same. What happens to one man affects another. Genesis, the very first book of The Holy Bible, means beginning. In its accounting of the creation and fall of mankind is the story of Adam. The failure of this one man, the prototype for all human beings was transmitted to all beings as surely as an internet virus spreads to every computer in a network.   In a sense, Adam became drunk and you and I have been wandering in a drunen stupor ever since. The election of Barrack Hussein Obama to the presidency of the United States of America was a different kind of transmission. The election of the very first African American to the highest office of the land and arguably, the world, was like uploading a powerful anti-virus program to a malfunctioning system or to use the opening metaphor, like pouring black coffee down the throat of Mr. Chan to sober up Mr. Wong. Will President Obama make such a dramatic difference in America and the world? Yes…but the impact goes far deeper than Mr. Obama himself. We are all connected in marvelous ways but that connection does not begin with our conscious involvement.

THIS IS THE INTRODUCTION TO A WORK IN PROGRESS, SO PLEASE DO COME BACK AND READ ON.  REMEMBER, THE SOUL SWORD ZEN MISSION IS POWERED BY YOU. WITH YOUR SUPPORT WE GROW ACCORDINGLY.

One Person Makes a Difference.

The election of Senator Barrack Obama to the presidency of The United States of America is far more than a political feat.  Sometimes  we repeat a universal truth so often that it becomes no more than an oft-repeated slogan. We are accustomed to the saying that Mankind is one. The evidence gathered by our eyes and ears and  by the daily news would suggest otherwise. However, the divine emissaries of all ages saw from a different perspective. They knew and taught that the fundamental nature of our kind is indeed one when it comes to the essence of our being, when it comes to that part which operates far beyond the reach of our intellects and egoes. The wise men observed that the actions of one, The One, had an effect upon the many. Such is the case with the election of Senator Barrack Obama to the office of President of the United States of America. The honor and the effect of the people's decision to choose him as their leader resounds far beyond the halls of political power but also reverberates in souls around the globe.

One Person always makes a difference. Everythings begins with one. From the first all else arises. The Biblical account of The Creation reveals that Mankind began with one perfectly conceived being, the man we call Adam. That spiritual account of our origin tell us that failare of the one...Adam, was accrued to all mankind. The same holy book details the advent of Jesus Chirist, The Second Adam. The life and sacrifice of Christ, also known as The Anointed One, in divine servitude to God is offered as an "one for all" cure for the broken condition of fallen man. Thus as the first Adam is representative of the family of man and affects us all, so also does the second.

Scripture teaches that Man cannot live by bread alone but by every word which comes from the mouth of God. Through the ages living beings have recorded the wisdom which comes from the traceless depths and shared visions of  what is to come. That work has never ceased. Over twenty years ago after spending a weekend in prayer and meditation a story came to me so I wrote it down. In my novel, called "Visionary Fiction," by Hampton Roads Publishing, I told of an African featured young man who broke through the wall which separated his people from the larger nation and lead a battle to unify all people against the tyranny of deception that bound them all. His name was Zafir. Ironically, just weeks before the story became true the company decided to remove the book from further circulation. You have the option now to own one of the last copies of the final printing. Only those who purchase it here on the Soul Sword site will receive signed copies. The Secret of Freedom takes you through the inner-path from powerlessness to power full.

The Secret of Freedom

Zafir faces the "new dawn."

The Enlightened One, Sidhartha Gotama, also known as The Buddha, experienced salvation from the deluded state of mind which affects all humankind. Speaking from the wisdom which resulted from his awakening, he realized that all human beings are also buddhas. All human beings share the same exquisite nature of the enlightened ones.  They simply lack the awareness. The wises among us recognize that despite the diversity of our cultures and appearances, human beings are connected at the root beyond intellect and the control of ego. This truth, though spoken about in loftly places fails to reach the common everyday world. In fact, we have been living in contradiction to that truth in the Religious community and the secular for countless centuries.  No place in the world has been a greater example of the contradiction between rhetoric and practice than the United States of America, that is, until now. Something extraodinary has happened with the election of Barrack Obama. A new dimension has opened for Americans and for our extended famiy around the globe. It is like a Zen koan. We can only speak around it, demonstrate it, but we cannot capture the full affect in words. There are so many levels to the experience that masquerades as politics. This article will grow at a natural pace. For now, I offer you an interview conducted by recording artist, Maya Meerana of Australia, just before the historic election took place. I was asked to speak on the then impending election.

(More to come)