Source Text
PREFACE By Lee Ann B. Marino, D.D., Ph.D.
It is God’s desire that we discover Him in a way that helps us to discover ourselves, and that it will change us. That change is not to be without impact. As we change, we change our decisions, our choices, and ultimately, our lives. This leads us to bring about change to those around us, as well.
When we deal with spirituality, many people think our walk with God must be something complicated and difficult, filled with endlessly profound moments. The truth is that
God desires us to see and sense His presence in everything we do, not just in things we deem to be sacred or profound.
Once one sees the beautiful diamond there is still the task of setting it. The hurdles are not over yet. In spirituality this process is often called something like a divine purging fire, i.e. the steps that prepare the devotee to be closer to the guru. This purging is as mysterious and wondrous as the guru him/herself. Its a wonder anyone lives through the fire, given it often is scorching.
Sometimes its easy to be blind to the fact that what we are seeking is already there, if we’d just stop seeking for it and not be afraid of commitment. I didn’t see the light, or one might say the Bright, until it was gone. He was like the lover you took for granted until they are gone, and you realize how much better they made your life and how your fear of commitment blinded you to what you had all along.
But, the shock was more like as if a friend of my own had passed and I knew I had failed to take advantage of or respect our friendship. Let alone, he probably wondered where I went. It wasn’t personal, I say to him, and I didn’t leave out of animosity. I didn’t know you considered us friends in the first place.
I like to say in hindsight I had to focus on just living life a bit before coming to him. I needed to clean up my life and find happiness on my own first. He always said come to him when you are happy, and I generally was happy at the time I returned.
After first meeting Adi Da Samraj I was inspired to write a novella, Da Eyes: The Striptease, which I believe was done through automatic writing by him. It was one of the spiritual gifts he granted me as a way to show his divine nature, though it wasn’t enough to keep me tied to him in the difficult years ahead.
These poems are trying not to mimic, but instead step inside like an actor studies for a role with nearly torturous research.
AI Summary
Into Da Bright by Aaron Joy and Lee Ann Marino presents key insights from the Taoism tradition. The 10 passages above capture the essential teachings.
Core Themes:
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Key Passages: Highlights 1, 3, and 10 are particularly representative.
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