This weekend I attended Adyashanti’s Christmas Intensive. It was a very intimate event with singing, poetry, satsangs, and hugs from Adya.
The main topic of Adya’s talks was the Christ story. Adya sees the Christ life as a teaching, as a model of a very special kind of love–redemptive love.
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son”
This is the type of love we are talking about. A love that will sacrifice one’s only son to not only death, but brutal, torturous death through suffering. As a father, I have a hard time even thinking about this type of love, which makes it all the more divine.
At the Last Supper, when Jesus tells his disciples, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another,” this is the type of love that he is asking for. A love that does not transcend suffering, but rather embraces it in it’s entirety. A love willing to sacrifice to redeem others.
This selfless love is the way to God, Nirvana, or, in modern terms, Happiness.
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”~Dalai Lama
I know it is not New Year’s Resolution time yet, but I am resolving today to start abiding in this type of love. If Jesus could let himself be tortured and crucified, if Buddha could starve himself then sit under a tree all night, if the Dalai Lama can sit in meditation for 4 hours everyday to cultivate compassion for the world, then I think I can start sacrificing for those I love. I can stop reacting to the attacks of others with ill will and retaliation. I can love beyond my own egoic needs and desires.
I hope you get to experience this type of love this holiday season. Have a Happy Holidays.
Love, Kozo
“Let us abide in a humble and loving heart. Never forsaking the Divine knowledge beyond all distinction, nor the infinitely loving heart of God which is our own.”~Adyashanti
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everyday gurus 
Beautiful and inspiring… I especially like the part about embracing in entirety. Perhaps the rising above is not reacting from ego.. but from a higher place..
I am enjoying moments with my parents .. our first holidays reunited after 2 years of healing. We are able to see what is really important and real. And we continue to find peace together through art..inspired by B4Peace.. Much healing and peace because of what you started.
May you know the deepest, highest love this holiday..
and may your heart be light.
Namaste,
Laurie
So happy for you, Laurie. We’ve both seen a lot of healing this year. Can’t wait for next year. I feel so much light in my heart now, thanks to friends like you. May your holidays shine with joy and redemptive love. {{{hugs}}} kozo
Me too 🙂
Loving beyond our own needs is a beautiful resolution… for all of us. 🙂 Beautiful message, Kozo. *hugs*
Notice how Adya is rephrasing what your brother said? Wouldn’t be surprised to attend a satsang one day with your brother on the stage. {{{hugs}}} kozo
I love you Koxo ❤
I love you for sitting with Adya, and then posting this so I get to read it first thing in my day to remind me. I too will abide in this love today. And everyday. It is my wish, my prayer and my intention.
Happy Holidays to you and yours my friend.
Alison xoxoxox
(((((hugs)))))
Love you too, Alison. In all honesty, if it wasn’t for you, I might not even know who Adya was. I am so grateful for you pointing me in the direction of one of my primary teachers. I am part of an Adya study group and would love to have you as a guest someday.
Sending you loving vibrations this holiday season. So grateful for your friendship, wisdom, love, and guidance. {{{hugs}} Kozo
Oh I would love that! I feel very honoured. I’m putting it out to the universe for it to happen.
Merry Christmas to you and your family. Pax Tecum.
Love and blessings to you this Christmas as well, Perpetua. You would have loved Adya’s talk on Jesus. So much love from both Adya and Jesus. {{{hugs}}} Kozo
Expressed very well; truth and love is beyond religion and personality. God bless you and your family with a beautiful Christmas and joyful New Year.
So true, Cheryl. Truth and Love are beyond personality. When the egoic mind drops we see our true connection. This is the type of love I am aiming for. Blessings to you, my friend. {{{hugs}}} Kozo
Thoughtful and inspiring. Thank you so much for all you do.
Thanks, Georgia. Have a wonderful winter break. {{{hugs}}} Kozo
Happy Holidays, my friend and thank you for giving so much of yourself and sharing your family and life path with us (((hugs)))
Lots of love to you, M. this holiday season. I look forward to a peaceful 2014. {{hugs}}} Kozo
Wonderful post with great quotes to inspire us all….. Love and Blessings to you and your family.. Enjoy Christmas time… and May 2014 bring only more Love, Peace and Harmony your way…
Blessings Sue
Lots of love back to you, Sue. Thank you for all the love and peace you spread every year. I see great things for 2014, while simultaneously grate-full of this day in 2013. {{{hugs}}} Kozo
“This selfless love is the way to God, Nirvana, or, in modern terms, Happiness.”
Absolutely. Love of self leaves me by myself. Love of others connects me to others. According to Jesus, loving others even connects me to God. I would argue that Jesus’ instruction even points to the idea that loving God is ACCOMPLISHED by loving others.
When I am only worried about loving ME, enduring suffering to achieve something for myself seems irrational. When I am concerned with the welfare of all, suffering on my part seems so tiny and even less worrisome.
Always thought-provoking, Kozo. High-five, buddy. I don’t know how you do it, but it’s amazing.
“loving God is accomplished by loving others.” Such wise words my friend. There is no duality. I was just thinking about “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Thy will is my will. There is no duality. “Be done” is both doing and being, or getting done by just being. I’m starting to realize that abiding in consciousness whether that be Christ Consciousness, God’s Will, or Buddha Nature is the key to happiness and enlightenment. Thank you for the inspiring dialogue. {{{hugs]}} Kozo
So enjoyed your thanks list. I could feel myself there with you. What a nice Christmas treat for me. Thank you!
You were there, Eileen–in spirit. We are all together in spirit. So comforting. So much love if we just let ourselves re-member. Happy New Year, my friend. {{{Hugs}}} Kozo
[…] took me a while to realize that Fox was feeling the redemptive love that Adyashanti talks about, the unconditional love that Amma displays, the love beyond reason that John Ortberg writes about. […]