Tuesday, August 31, 2004

Ross's Moment

"Moment" is in the sense of the Greek kairos. It means the present moment -- not the past, not the future. It means what the bible calls Now. It is the moment of God's Word, and the only moment of reality.

I am Ross, and I am a Benedictine Oblate.

I used to be a Presbyterian Church parish minister in New Zealand, but grew out of it.

Right now I am setting up this blog, and finding my way around the protocols... Bear with me.

_______________________________________

Some advice from Aristotle (4th century BC) for the USA...
"A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side."
(Politics)
________________________________________
Inwardness is all. For me, as a christian believer, that means Christ. For others, it means whoever or whatever they find central, pivotal, axial. And I draw from Buddhist teachings. But without our inwardness secure by way of daily discipline, our outwardness, social attitudes and actions, are insecure. I find my inwardness through the teachings of the Rule of St Benedict, and through the daily discipline of christian meditation. Important teachers include John Main, Laurence Freeman, Joan Chittister, Beatrice Bruteau, Thomas Keating...
________________________________________