Welcome!
Five minutes of silent prayer / meditation.
Faith to Practice
Foundations of Happiness
by David Gaia Kano
This presentation: faithtopractice.org/christian-slides
Available in paperback or Kindle editions from amazon.com, or linked from faithtopractice.org
Presentation Overview
My mission and intention, which inspired the book.
Fairly quick look at book chapters, reading some.
Personal stories to illustrate the material, used throughout.
Presentation Introduction (about half the time)
Deeper look at the practice of non-judgment or radical acceptance.
Mini bible study, with helpful interpretations of a teaching from the gospel on non-judgment.
Questions always welcome, (answered immediately or later, depending!)
My mission and intention (hence, the book)
I will inspire and support people to adopt and maintain daily spiritual practice(s), through the evolution of their heartfelt Faith, and by simply showing up to practice with them.�
Book Chapter Outline
also available at faithtopractice.org
Introduction
Happiness is 95% interpretation and 5% circumstances.
Definitions of Faith:
“belief that is not based on proof.” (From dictionary.com)
“a foundational belief, upon which all our other beliefs depend.” (David Gaia Kano)
Invitation to shape your faith so that it supports wholesome life practices.
About the Author
Raised in Episcopal Church but did not believe in its creed as a boy.
Has been meditating twice a day since 1972 (15 years old).
Adopted belief in God as Love in 1984 (27) attending Quaker meeting in Cambridge, MA.
Has been practicing meditation with Buddhist and/or Christian Centering Prayer groups weekly since around 2006 (49).
About the Author
Has attended weekend meditation retreats 4 times a year since around 2009 (52).
Since retiring from his computer programming career in 2012 (55), he has made spiritual practices his primary priority with a goal of reaching full spiritual enlightenment.
By 2014 (57) his intention was to practice current moment mindfulness throughout the day regardless of the activity.
Chapter 1: Your Life Rests on Faith
Our conscious decisions depend on our beliefs.
What is your “faith” when defined as “a foundational belief, upon which all your other beliefs depend?”
In other words, facts depend on faith!�
Chapter 2: Examples of Beliefs and What They Support
Murphy’s law is a lie.
Consumer based “happiness.”
Materialistic Assumptions
Verbal Affirmations
Chapter 3: Habits and Addictions
We are creatures of habit, some helpful, some not.
All emotions, when experienced regularly, are “addictive.”
Habitual behaviors are easiest to change with the support of a group (even of 2).
Chapter 4: Personal Creed of Faith and Practice
Chapter 5: Faithful Evolution
As our consciousness rises, our faith must evolve to support our (new) practices well.
New interpretations of each traditions scriptures and teachings suffice for most people.
Understanding your current, lived beliefs, is important.
What behaviors and priorities does my faith support?
Examples of faith evolution from my life.
Chapter 6: Responsible Happiness
Happiness is 95% interpretation and 5% circumstances.
Happiness as a skill
Happy beliefs
Master our minds
Meditation and mindfulness practice�
Chapter 7: Summary and Conclusion
Summary of main benefits and points raised in the book.
Examples of the manifold benefits of raising our consciousness, for ourselves and the world at large.�
Practice of Non-judgment or Radical Acceptance
David’s practice of Radical Acceptance
Started meditating in 1972 (15 years old) - Releasing all thoughts during meditation is practice for releasing judgmental thoughts.
Started the practice of “non-judgment” in 1996 (39)
In 2012 (55) he first realized perception of the radiant beauty of all creation, which lasted 3 months.
David’s practice of Radical Acceptance
In 2015 (58) while interning at Koinonia Farm the perception of radiant beauty of all creation returned.
One October morning while meditating at Koinonia he had his first taste of ubiquitous unconditional Love of All, (aka bliss) which lasted 2 months.
Personal Creed of Faith and Practice
Part 6: Discernment and Radical Acceptance
my heart can feel the Loving mind of God. The process of discernment, through radical acceptance of everyone I meet and of all creation, helps to reveal actions which reduce suffering. i will follow my heart in a practice of grateful acceptance.
Matthew 7: 1-2, 5
“1 Judge not, that you not be judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”
5 “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”
Interpretations Matthew 7, 1-5
What interpretations of this passage work for you?
Supportive Interpretation of Matthew 7, 1-5
I like to see this teaching as being immediately true, at many levels.
Supportive Interpretation of Matthew 7, 1-5
The judgments we pass against another are caused by misunderstandings, represented by “the log in your own eye,” blocking you from seeing clearly.
Supportive Interpretation of Matthew 7, 1-5
When we judge another we are also judging ourselves (Insight of Unity)
Supportive Interpretation of Matthew 7, 1-5
When we judge another, we “defile ourselves*,” even if we tell the other how we feel. Even a speck in our eye hurts, let alone a log!
* See next slide.
Supportive Interpretation of Matthew 7, 1-5
Mark 7:20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”
Benefits of this belief and practice
When you practice radical acceptance, in the moment of releasing your judgment, everyone benefits, starting with yourself.
Benefits of this belief and practice
“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
This is true for all judgments!
Benefits of this belief and practice
Radical (unconditional) acceptance is a prerequisite to unconditional Love.
which is required to Love your enemy!
David’s practice of Radical Acceptance
In 2017 (60) the realization of ubiquitous unconditional Love of All, (bliss) returned and has remained to this day.
Communicating conflicts
Radical acceptance does not mean remaining silent in all cases!
Compassionate use of “I messages” can help us understand each other and grow in Love.
Chances are, the people we are challenged to accept don’t want to behave in ways that we see as harmful. Communicate the problem you see (describe the “log in your eye”) and see if increased understanding can create more harmony. If the conflict remains unresolved, accept that!
Further, more secular approach
I recently published a blog post on this subject as well. From my experience and understanding, acceptance is so crucial to spiritual progress that their can’t be too many beliefs to support the practice!
http://oceanofspirit.org/davidgaiakano/faith-to-practice-radical-acceptance/
Faith to Practice Apparel
Various styles of T-shirts and hoodies with the Faith to Practice Logo are available at faithtopractice.org/tshirts
Enter a drawing to win a rebate valued at up to the full price of your shirt!
Buy one, post a picture of you wearing it on Facebook and tag David Gaia Kano (you may need to friend me first). He will enter you into a monthly drawing to win all of his profits for that month, up to the full price of your shirt or hoodie (not including S&H)!
faithtopractice.org
is on the back
Facts depend on Faith
The bottom text reads:
What do you believe?faithtopractice.org
Books available here
Paperback $10
I’ll donate $4 back to Koinonia for every paperback sold today.
Kindle edition $5.
Faithful Evolution
Jesus worked to help shape people's faith
Jesus rebelled against some of the traditional Jewish rules, such as strictly observing (no work) on the sabbath (Matthew 12:1-14), and avoiding certain foods (Mark 7:18-19) and he enjoyed the very important tradition of quoting and discussing the scriptures and arguing their meaning. (Luke 2:46, Luke 19:47, Matthew 4:4, Matthew 5:21 and more)
Our beliefs change as we raise our consciousness
A person who mainly lives through fear would most often believe in a God that is judgmental and punishing.
A person that sees the world as promising and fulfilling would most often believe in a loving, forgiving God.
Common Examples of Changing Beliefs
Existence of Santa Claus, Tooth fairy, etc.
About the infallibility of our parents.
A loving God would never have allowed this! (Shaken / lost faith which was dependent on experience of safety.)
I am actually a worthy and capable person.
End Matter
For more information see faithtopractice.org
Presentation Copyright 2018 David Gaia Kano
Please contact the author before using this presentation in any group context by using his contact form: http://oceanofspirit.org/contact.php or calling 603-298-9882 and leaving a voicemail message. He will call humans back, but screens any call from an unknown number.