by Diana Autumn

As the wise words of Chief Seattle reveal, the Native Americans revere the Earth and hold her sacred. They consider themselves an integral and living part of the Earth, instead of considering the Earth as something to be used, possessed and exploited. All living and nonliving things on the Earth are considered one, and human beings are a part of this wholeness. By living harmoniously with the Earth, human beings demonstrate their respect and love.

This is the tenth teaching in the Cafh course "Sacrifice." The course expands our usual understanding of sacrifice by referring to the Latin roots of the word: sacer+facere, to make sacred. It discusses various aspects of life that we often consider painful and suggests how we can meet them constructively, in ways that will deepen our knowledge of ourselves and help us unfold spiritually.

… the purpose of playing, whose end, both at the first and now, was and is, to hold, as ‘twere, the mirror up to nature…

William Shakespeare

The actor’s work is to create a character, a personality, and to bring it alive for an audience. The process of accomplishing that work reminds me of the process of spiritual unfolding and of coming to know one’s true self.

The search for truth is more precious than its possession.
Albert Einstein

Introduction

The process of science is one my inspirations for spiritual life. The expansion of consciousness brought to humanity by science is something from which I have tried to learn. The open-ended nature of science, always seeking a greater approximation to truth, a greater understanding of reality and, with it, an attitude of seeking and non-attachment to current understandings is a basic approach that I try to apply to life.