On Singing to the Beloved in Times of Crisis

Highlights

Sing to the Beloved

• Josh advises singing to the beloved, especially during times of crisis.
• This practice acknowledges a deeper connection to something beyond rational explanations. (via) ^rwhi896815016

Singing in Dark Times

• In times of crisis, people historically turn to singing and devotion, not obsessive analysis.
• Brecht highlighted the importance of singing even during dark times. (via) ^rwhi896815018

Root of Longing

• In times of diminishing light, focus on core longings and the source of all longing.
• Josh emphasizes the importance of giving voice to these unmet longings and turning to their source. (via) ^rwhi896815023

Rekindling Spirit

• Rekindling a sense of shared life and spirit is crucial.
• Josh emphasizes the importance of geographically situated words and shared longing. (via) ^rwhi896817896

Bhakti's Lament

• Josh shares the story of Bhakti, Devotion personified, who feels neglected in this age.
• Bhakti laments the decline of spirituality and the focus on greed and consumption. (via) ^rwhi896817897

The Beloved

• The term "Beloved" can represent a personal connection to the source, encompassing various names.
• Josh discusses how this connection has both vastness and deep personal significance. (via) ^rwhi896817898

God as Beloved

• Omid Safi explains that one's conception of God reveals much about themselves.
• He highlights the Sufi perspective balancing God's majesty and intimacy. (via) ^rwhi896817903

Longing for Union

• Beneath superficial wants, there's a deeper longing for union with the cosmos.
• Josh explores this longing across various human pursuits. (via) ^rwhi896821494

Remembering the Sacred

• Singing to the beloved involves remembering and honoring the sacred in everyday life, like food.
• Embodied gratitude is expressed through slowing down and cultivating things over time. (via) ^rwhi896840913

Treasures in Ruins

• Josh encourages seeing treasures within ruins, even in seemingly ruined people.
• He quotes Rumi: "Whenever you see a ruin, suspect a treasure." (via) ^rwhi896840909

Beyond Outrage

• Narrow bandwidth emotions, like outrage, are unsustainable for movements.
• Deeper, more nuanced emotions are essential for lasting change. (via) ^rwhi896840919

Trust in the Mystery

• Acknowledging the mystery of the unknown is our deepest resource.
• Connecting to the mystery allows for constructing alternative futures aligned with natural cycles. (via) ^rwhi896840920

Giving Up to Birth the New

• Giving up completely creates space for the beloved and unforced future to emerge.
• Josh likens this to the moment of birth, a time of complete surrender. (via) ^rwhi896840931

Embracing Paradox

• Singing to the beloved embraces all facets of experience, not just bliss.
• Josh cautions against "bypassing" difficult emotions by forcing positivity. (via) ^rwhi896840932

Seeking Thirst

• Longing and seeking are essential parts of the spiritual path, leading us to realize we are already home.
• Omid Safi highlights Rumi's teaching of already being in divine presence. (via) ^rwhi896840933

Acknowledging Wounds

• Healing comes from acknowledging wounds, not just explaining them.
• Percival's story highlights the importance of asking "What ails thee?" (via) ^rwhi896840938