Buddhist thought speaks
of View, Practice, and Action. In using this framework, we can
take a simple look at Unity’s spiritual
beliefs and practices which are supported and upheld through our
Sunday services, classes and programs.
Unity’s view comes
from our first basic Spiritual Principle. There is only One Presence
and One Power in the universe, God, the
Good, Omnipotent. From this perspective we understand that all
things are a part of this One Dynamic, Loving Presence. No matter
what shows
up in our life, beneath, above and through it all, The One Presence
and One Power is there, loving us, supporting us, living through
us.
Unity uses the
practices of meditation and prayer to
help us take an honest look at not only our divinity, but also
our humanity. These practices
help us to look deeply at what is going on inside of ourselves.
We see
not only the good within us, but we look at the parts that most
of us want to run away from: the anger, resentment, jealousy,
fear…As
long as we run away from these emotions, we are ruled by them.
The more we sit in meditation, the more we pray, the more we realize
the whole universe is playing out inside of our own being! This
helps
us develop a sense of humor and a grander perspective about our
individual condition, as well as our collective condition on planet
earth. In
these moments of fearless investigation of ourselves, “my pain”, “my
suffering”, “my anger” is transformed into “the
pain”, “the suffering”, “the anger” that
we all share. This is when real transformation and healing become
possible in the world, because we are dealing with it within ourselves.
From this honest
investigation, we take action in the world. The spontaneous
actions we take come from the Wellspring of Love, which
lies just beneath the surface of all turmoil. These acts include
lovingkindness, forgiveness, compassion, and generosity. We no
longer see others as separate, but rather as extensions of the
One Self
of which we are all a part. These are the greatest actions which
we can take in this world.
Meditation
Meditation is the practice of learning how to sit and quiet the
mind. When we sit and quiet the mind, we become aware of our thoughts
and feelings. We all have well-established habits of thoughts, emotions,
reactions and judgments, and it is these habitual patterns which
imprison us and make us unhappy and dissatisfied. Without the keen
awareness of a meditation practice, we continue to act out these
patterns. When they arise, we are not aware that they have arisen.
We get lost in them, identify with them, react to them. We spend
most of our lives acting out these habitual patterns.
Through meditation we open an incredible space of simply seeing
thoughts and feelings come and go, rise and fall. We get in touch
with that which holds all of our thoughts and feelings in a loving
embrace. This practice then gives us the opportunity to make wise
choices: to decide which thoughts and feelings we want to act on,
which ones we might let go. When we do this, we act from a fresh
place of knowing rather than from reacting from our old patterning.
Meditation gives us the absolute power to change the way in which
we act and react in the world, giving us a deep sense of freedom,
happiness and satisfaction.
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Affirmative Prayer
Karen Lindvig
Unity was founded on affirmative
prayer - not the begging, let’s
make a deal with God type prayer, but affirmative, life giving
prayer.
The use of affirmative
prayer goes all the way back to Unity’s
co-founder, Myrtle Fillmore in the late 1800s. Myrtle was the
mother of three young boys when she was diagnosed with a terminal
illness.
Like any mother, she was not ready to go. This was in the days
when using leeches was considered a cure for some illnesses. She
sought
another way.
Myrtle began studying “mind science” and attended a
lecture by E.B. Weeks. He said, “You are a child of God and
you cannot inherit sickness.” She took these words to heart
and sequestered herself for many months speaking words of praise
to every part of her body. It didn’t happen overnight, but
eventually she was healed.
Myrtle was so excited by her new relationship with prayer that she
began to pray for other people. Eventually she was holding prayer
circles in her home and this small group grew into the Unity movement
and Silent Unity. Silent Unity has the longest running prayer ministry
in the world. Prayer is still available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week.
Charles Fillmore, our
co founder referred to Unity as “practical
Christianity”. That is, we take the teachings of Jesus and
seek to apply them to our lives. Affirmative prayer follows the
example of Jesus who spoke Aramaic. Aramaic is a present tense language.
Listen to this passage
from the Lord’s Prayer: “Give
us this day our daily bread.” Can you hear the command in these
words? Jesus is not saying, “please God, give us this day our
daily bread”, or “if we are good give us this day our
daily bread”. He is not begging or bargaining. He is making
a positive, affirmative statement.
The definition of affirmative
prayer is: “to state the Truth,
even in the face of contrary evidence.” This means if you are
sick you affirm health. If you are poor you affirm prosperity; if
you are confused, guidance, etc. The idea is to affirm capital “T” Truth
vs. small “t” truth.
At first it may feel like you are faking it. And in some cases it
feels like bragging. Who am I to affirm all these good things for
myself and others? Who are you not to?
The second and equally
important step in affirmative prayer is to invite the presence
of God within you to speak the Word. It isn’t
you who is doing the praying – it is the spirit of God within
you who prays. It’s surrendering to your higher Self and giving
it Voice. Besides, if you think it is you who is doing the praying
and a healing takes place, there will be no containing the ego. On
the other hand, if you think it is you who is praying and a healing
doesn’t take place, the ego will deem you a failure.
Pray affirmatively and let go. Only God can see around the corner
and up ahead. Give your prayers over without attachment.
Here are some
Prayers to enjoy!
Saint
Theresa’s
Prayer
A Prayer for Lovingkindness
Prayer for Protection
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Generosity
Our ministry is completely supported by the free will love offerings
of those who call Seattle Unity their spiritual home. As we give
of our time, talents, treasures and tithes to both our ministry and
our lives, we practice the spiritual law of generosity.
Jesus said: “As
you give, so shall you receive.”
The Buddha said: “If you knew, as I do, the power of giving,
you would not let a single meal pass without sharing some of
it.”
A Course in Miracles: “To
give is how you recognize you have received.”
Seattle Unity: “I
give willingly, joyfully and lovingly, knowing that God is the
constant source of my supply. I give with graciousness
and receive with gratitude.”
Richard Levy: “Generosity
is my natural state. I easily expand and extend into experiences
of abundance and prosperity.”
Generosity is the spiritual principle we practice in order to open
ourselves to the divine gifts of Spirit. It has the tremendous power
to transform our lives in a very concrete twofold manner. How does
this work? When we give, not only does it make us feel good about
ourselves in that moment, but we practice letting go of thoughts
and feelings of not having enough. These feelings take many forms
in our lives, not enough time, not enough money, not enough love.
When we give to others our time, talents, and money, we release ourselves
from those constrictive thoughts. As those constrictions loosen,
we experience more love, compassion, joy, and peace in our lives,
and our trust in God increases. We come to realize that we truly
are supported by a kind and loving Presence.
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Service
Serving is one way to put our View and Practices into Action. Serving
gives us the opportunity to practice generosity in a very physical
way. All spiritual traditions advise us to care for that which feeds
us spiritually and for those in need. The Buddha says that when we
practice service, it opens our heart and gives us joy in three concrete
ways. First, we feel good about ourselves by just the thought of
doing something good for someone else. Then we feel good about ourselves
while we are performing that act. Finally, we feel good about ourselves
as we remember that we did something good for someone or something
else. It also makes us feel good to know that we are nurturing the
people or things in our lives that are important to us. Feeling good
about oneself is a God-given, spirit-driven gift. God wants us to
feel good about ourselves! And serving gives us the added benefit
of others feeling good about us, too, when we act out of the generosity
of spirit.
Being of service to others
can come in many forms. It can be as easy as pouring the first
cup of coffee for your partner or your
workmate instead of for yourself, moving your neighbor’s garbage
cans back in place for them, letting a harried shopper ahead of you
in the grocery line…It can be as simple as volunteering in
some aspect of your church community or as dramatic as working
to end homelessness or other pressing community issues. Serving always
puts our hands and feet into action for a greater good.
Serving can be a great
way to connect with like-minded people and a way to get involved
in one’s community. For thousands of
years people have gathered to worship, share, and work in support
of their common spiritual values and practices. At Seattle Unity
we continue this deep work of spiritual practice and mutual support.
The many men and women who volunteer in so many capacities support
our ministry and assure the smooth running of our community and
church. Seattle Unity could not be maintained without the support
of so many
dedicated volunteers. Our volunteers are a vital and integral
part of our incredible church family.
For opportunities to serve at Seattle Unity, please check out our
Volunteer Opportunities or contact
our volunteer coordinator, Jeanne Strawn, jeannes@seatteunity.org
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Education as a Spiritual Practice
Spiritual Education is a practice that equips us to understand spiritual
laws so that we may harmonize with the Intelligence that underlies
the universe. It is a practice which helps us to know God, and thus
ourselves, better.
Spiritual Laws such as
karma and the Law of Mind Action are operative whether we are aware
of them or not. We don’t have to believe
in the law of karma or the Law of Mind Action to have them work.
They just do. Our thoughts, words and actions have a direct effect
on the manifestations that happen in our lives. To know and understand
Truth principles gives us the tools needed to effectively work
with spiritual laws.
Seattle Unity provides an educational process where each student
has an opportunity to study Truth principles and apply them. Truth
students practice metaphysics in a supportive environment and receive
firsthand experience of how these principles work. Each class provides
a way to move beyond theory and into practical application.
Does prayer really work?
How about tithing or the Law of Mind Action? What does it mean
to have God serve through you? In each class we
have the chance to explore these concepts and put them into action
to see if they do. Classes offer a springboard to “walk our
talk” and to bring ideas from something we have read or talked
about into something we live.
Emily Cady, an early Unity
writer, said: “Practice the Presence
of God as you would practice music.”
Come
practice with us
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