Ordinary Life Podcast

How We Travel Is Where We End Up

Summary of May 19, 2013

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Dear Folks -

Wise and useful spiritual teachings are designed to get us to question our assumptions and, thereby, contribute to our transformation. The prevailing ethos of our culture emphasizes outcomes and frequently justifies whatever it takes to reach a desired goal. The teachings of spiritually enlightened people are just the opposite. They tell us that how we travel is where we end up.

That's a brief summary of the talk I offered in Ordinary Life this week. The full text I spoke can be found  below. As is sometimes the case, the audio version has some significant additions. You can find the audio on the Ordinary Life website as as the presentation slides by clicking the links below.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

 

To read the complete text click here  Download 5:19:13 - Complete text

To view the presentation slides click here  Download 5:19:13 - How You Get There

To download an the talk in Mp3 format click here Download 20130519 - Mp3

Living A Disarmed Life

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life

 

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Summary of May 12, 2013

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Dear Folks -

One of the pieces of advice that Jesus gave was, "Give to anyone who begs from you." We are trained, because of our Western and materialistic culture, to hear these words as having something to do with money. Jesus was clear, as is every religious tradition, that acts of charity are essential. But, this saying is about something much more and deeper than that. It is about our developing the willingness and ability to live what I am calling "the disarmed life."

That is a brief summary of the "life talk" I offered in Ordinary Life this week. The full text I spoke from is below. As is sometimes the case, the audio version has some significant additions to the text below. You can find the audio as as the presentation slides using the links below.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To read the complete text click here  Download 5:12:13 - Complete text

To view the presentation slides click here  Download 5:12:13 - Living the Disarmed Life

To download the audio click here Download 20130512 - Mp3

 

Teachers, Teachings and Being Taught

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life

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Summary of May 5, 2013

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Dear Folks -

Every religious tradition stresses the importance of having a teacher and of being taught. Of course, what is taught is also important.

These are the matters I talked about this week in Ordinary Life. The teacher is as much a student as those being taught. As for content, what I claim is important in our relational lives is being able to say: I love you, thank you, forgive me and I forgive you.

That in summary is the "life talk" I offered in Ordinary Life this week. The full text I spoke from is below. Links to the audio version, which is somewhat different, as are the presentation slides are also below.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the complete text click here  Download 5:5:13 - Complete Text

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 5:5:13 - Teachers, Teachings and Being Taught

To download the audio click here Download 05052013 - Mp3

How We See

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life

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Summary of April 21, 2013

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Dear Folks -

One might say that the wisest and most useful spiritual work, as well as work from the field of psychology, is designed to help us "see" better. We are looking for "insights" about ourselves, others and the world that will help us live more meaningful and satisfactory lives.

The talk I offered in Ordinary Life this week was about such "seeing." There is always more to seeing than meets the eye.

You can find the complete text, the audio version and the presentation slides on the links below.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To read the complete text click here Download 4:21:13 - Complete text

To view the presentation slides click here  Download 4:21:13 - How We See

To download the audio of the talk click here Download 20130421 - Mp3

Gynecological Theology

Summary of April 14, 2013

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Dear Folks -

I called the "life talk" I offered in Ordinary Life this week "Gynecological Theology." I based it on one of the healing stories about Jesus where a woman with a vaginal hemorrhage was healed of her illness by touching the robe of Jesus. It is a well known story but seldom used as the basis of a talk.

I used it to reflect on how in both the inner and outer worlds we are "not well" because we have difficulty embracing and being embraced by what I call "the healthy feminine." Joan Chittister's influence on my thinking is apparent throughout the talk.

You can find the complete text, audio version and the presentation slides on the Ordinary Life website using the links below.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the complete text in pdf click here Download 4:14:13 - C0mplete text

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 4:14:13 - Gynecological Theology

To download the audio of the talk click here Download 20130414 - Mp3

Whatever It Takes, As Long As It Takes

Summary of April, 2013

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Dear Folks -

The talk I offered in Ordinary Life this week focused on the importance of our learning to read life metaphorically. It is not that we are to ignore or be unmindful of the best tools of historical and scientific research. Rather, we will not grasp the meaning of either life or our lives if we do not learn to go beyond this level.

Wise and useful spiritual teachings and practices must reflect a willingness to do whatever it takes for as long as it takes to find and be found by the Truth.

Very often we merely skim the surface of things - like the various stories we have been told - rather than dig deeper to see how these stories touch profound themes in our collective unconscious. This talk explores such a story after using Jack and the Beanstalk as an example.

The text I spoke from, the presentation slides and the audio links are below.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the complete text of the talk click here  Download 4:7:13 - Complete Text

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 4:7:13 - Whatever It Takes

To download the audio in Mp3 format click here Download 20130407 - Mp3

The Power of Believing

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life

Summary of March 24, 2013

Dear Folks -

For decades I have devoted my life to trying to find out how to make the changes in beliefs and behaviors that lead to more satisfactory living. One of the major things I've discovered along the way is the crucial role that beliefs play in this process. We must believe that the changes we seek are not only desirable but also possible.

This talk is part of my on-going series on the deeds and teaching of Jesus and their relevance for us.

You can find the audio version and the presentation slides, including the cartoons, via the links below.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the text of the talk click here Download 3:24:12 - Complete text

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 3:24:13 - The Power of Believing

To download the talk in Mp3 format click here Download 20130324 - Mp3

 

Jesus and Buddha - A Dialogue with Dr. Joseph Rachel

Dear Folks -

There is no printed text of this week's presentation in Ordinary Life. You can download both the presentation slides and the audio using the links below.

Dr. Joseph Rachel was our guest speaker. He is one of my best friends and is a devout Buddhist. He talked about his beliefs and practices and we ended up having a lively "Q&A" period.

The few presentation slides I showed at the beginning - including the cartoons and pictures of the mandala Joseph talked about and the Buddhist monks doing a sand painting are to be found below. Enjoy.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 3:17:13 - Joseph Rachel

To download the talk in Mp3 format click here Download 20130317 - Mp3

 

The Miracle of Meaning

Summary of March 10, 2013

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Dear Folks -

This week's "life talk" raises two questions:

Did Jesus perform miracles?

Are their miracles today?

In an effort to increase religious and biblical literacy I've been working my way through one telling of the Jesus story. It is impossible to deal with any version of this story without encountering the fact that Jesus had a reputation as a healer. What does this mean both historically and for us?

I try to answer these critical question and then give some examples of "miracles in our time."

The audio version of this talk is, as usual, somewhat different than the printed version. The full text from which I spoke is below, as are the audio version and the presentation slides.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the complete text click here  Download 3:10:13 Complete Text

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 3:10:13 - Did Jesus Perform Miracles?

To download the talk in Mp3 format click here Download 20130310 - Mp3

 

 

The Ring of Gyres

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life

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Summary of February 24, 2013

Dear Folks -

This talk begins by my asking attendees to give their responses to the following words: God, life, faith, church and worship. My contention is that whether we use these words or not, each of these things has some function in our lives. So I ask, and I got this idea from John Dominic Crossan years ago:

What is the character of your "God"?

What is the basis of your "life"?

What is the content of your "faith"?

What is the purpose of your "church"?

What is the function of your "worship"?

Most of the talk is about "the character of one's God" because my belief is that when that issue is resolved in a wise and useful manner, our lives and the lives of others will be better.

The audio version of this talk is, as usual, somewhat different than the printed version. The full text from which I spoke is posted here, as are the audio version and the presentation slides.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the complete text click here  Download 2:24:13 - Complete text

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 2:24:13 - The Ring of Gyre

To download the audio click here Download 20130224 - Mp3

A New Way of Seeing and Being

Dear Folks -

Over the years I have revisited, for one reason or another, a work I was first introduced to in 1966. The work I have in mind is Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning." The Library of Congress claimed it was one of the most influential books of all time.

The talk I gave this week ends referencing this work. I talk about the ongoing responsibility and opportunity we have to find in the moments of "ordinary life" the meaning of our lives. Of course, I sneak in some material that, I hope, contributes to spiritual and religious literacy - as well as to our psychological and spiritual growth.

The audio version of this talk is somewhat different than the printed version. The full text from which I spoke is below. The audio version and the presentation slides are on the Ordinary Life website.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the complete text click here  Download 2:17:13 - Complete text

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 2:17:13 - New Ways of Seeing and Being

To download the audio in Mp3 format click here Download 20130217 Mp3

 

Safe and Secure

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life

 

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Summary of February 10, 2013

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Dear Folks -

One of the things all humans share is the desire to be safe and secure. Paradoxically, many of the ways we go about trying to be safe and secure end up not leading to safety and security at all. Religions have frequently been used in ways that are dangerous and damaging.

In this talk I talk about an understanding of God that is dying for many in our time as well as what I consider to be a misunderstanding of Christianity. In an effort to communicate non-dual mind, I introduce a new metaphor. It is of a knife that is at the same time the sharpest dull knife and the dullest sharp knife.

The audio version of this talk is different, especially near the end than the printed version. The full text from which I spoke is below. The audio version and the presentation slides are on the Ordinary Life website.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the complete text of the talk click here Download 2:10:13 - Complete text

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 2:10:13 - Safe and Secure

To download the audio of the talk click here Download 20130210 - Mp3

The Wisdom of No Escape

Dear Folks -

Those of you with connections to St. Paul's are likely already aware that our Senior Minister, Dr. Jim Bankston, has announced his retirement. It will be effective at the end of June. Dr. Bankston has been instrumental in the creation of and support for Ordinary Life - among many other wonderful contributions. I will arrange for him to come and speak to us before he leaves St. Paul's.

This week's "life talk" focused on the important of developing awareness and skill in learning to be in the various worlds in which we live without either gaining or losing our identity from or in them. I called it

"The Wisdom of No Escape."

The full text from which I spoke can be found below as well as a link to the the presentation slides.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

 

To download the complete text click here  Download Text of 2:3:13

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 2:3:13 - The Wisdom of No Escape

Finding Balance in an Unstable World

Dear Folks -

I began the talk I offered in Ordinary Life this week by playing the introduction to the film Fiddler on the Roof. Because of copyright restrictions the audio of the film is not on the audio file of the talk. You can see it by going to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRdfX7ut8gw

That evening I was able to watch the entire movie. It is LONG and, I thought, good. It is very much about how a community of Jewish people in Russia, prior to the Revolution, try to hang on to their lives and lifestyle through the use of tradition and humor. I recommend the film to you.

Tradition does play a vital role in our lives, especially in our religious and spiritual work. Also, of value and matters that often trump tradition are the roles of reason and experience. If we are to find balance in life, we must be open to seeing and thinking clearly.

That is what this "life talk" is about. The cartoons, optical illusions and logic problem can be found by viewing the presentation slides.

The full text I spoke from is below.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the complete text of the talk, click here  Download 1:20:13 - Complete text

To download the presentation slides, click here  Download 1:20:13 - Being Balanced

To download the audio of the talk, click here Download 01202013 - Mp3

 

Practical Mysticism

Dear Folks -

During the talk I gave in Ordinary Life this week I passed out a handout of Richard Rohr's notion of the "Cosmic Egg." You can download that handout from the link below.  Unfortunately, it doesn't look like we captured an audio version of the talk.

The title of the talk I gave is "Practical Mysticism." It is based on the wisdom teaching: "don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." It is, in my opinion, very similar to the Zen saying "what is the sound of one hand clapping?"

Mysticism, among other things, provides us with deeper ways of knowing and seeing which give us room to be more loving and freer.

The full text I spoke from can be downloaded below.  

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the complete text click here  Download 1:13:13 - Complete text

To download the Cosmic Egg handout click here  Download Cosmic Egg Handout

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 1:13:13 - Practical Mysticism

Judgment and Hope

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life

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Summary of January 6, 2013

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Dear Folks - 

Before giving a brief summary and then the full text of the "life talk" I gave in Ordinary Life this week, I'd like to share some information with you.

As many of you know, my beautiful bride - Dr. Sherry Beeman - and I offer a relationship seminar several times a year that is sponsored by St. Paul's. Some time ago the complete seminar was recorded. Until just recently, however, we didn't have the technical ability (that means I didn't know how to do it) to make this readily available.

Thanks to the work of Susanna Hooper you can now either listen to or download the audio of this seminar. To do so go to the "Resources" page of

www.billkerley.com 

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This week in Ordinary Life I began what I had to say talking about how the sending and receiving of Christmas cards calls up for me an experience of both judgment and hope. If we are to experience hope for our future, we must develop the willingness to see that how we are currently doing things is neither wise nor useful. We have a choice - we can follow the teachings of Jesus to "go deeper within and further out." Or, we can keep doing what we are doing. One shift in awareness I suggest is adopting the position of embodying the belief that regarding our current situation(s) no one is to blame but everyone is responsible.

The full text I spoke from is below.  

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the complete text click here Download 1:6:13 - Summary

To download a pdf of the presentation slides click here  Download 1:6:13 - Judgment and Hope

To download the talk in Mp3 format click here Download 01062013 - Mp3

 

Question Everything! Even This

Dear Folks -

 The title I gave the "life talk" I gave in Ordinary Life this past week was -

"Question Everything! Even This"

Our culture, which is clearly troubled, lures and seduces us into seeking "easy and comfortable" answers. If we keep doing this, we will keep getting the same sad outcomes we are getting.

This talk was partly inspired by something Jim Wallis wrote about the ninth anniversary of the war in Iraq. I quote him at length.

Then I look back at what was going on in this country in the 60s.

Looking back we can usually clearly see how "mistakes" and misjudgments were made. Sadly, we don't seem to be able to use this matter of perspective to change the direction we move into the future.

This section of the talk is partly my response to the tragic shooting in Connecticut.

I end with two bits: The Hidden Camera episode that reveals the inherent wisdom we all have and a story of Morgan Freeman's mother telling him that the best news in the world can be contained in an eight note scale on the piano.

The full text I spoke from is below.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the text click here  Download 12:23:12 - Summary

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 12:23:12 - Question Everything.key

To download the audio of the talk click here Download 20121223 - Mp3

 

Playing Your Own Part

Summary of December 16, 2012

Dear Folks -

Ordinary Life will meet this coming Sunday, December 23. There will be no gathering on December 30.

This week I began with a few remarks about the tragedy in Newton, Connecticut.

The "life talk" this week was about one of the core teachings found in all spiritual traditions - don't judge. The paradox involved is that though we cannot avoid making judgments, we can work at being non-judgments.

The full text I spoke from is below. Also, you'll find not only the presentation slides but also the cartoons about readings and pictures of the wildly Christmas decorated house.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the full text click here  Download 12:16:12 - Summary

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 12:16:12 - Just Playing Your Part

To download the audio click here Download 20121216 - Mp3

Trapped in Freedom

Dear Folks -

A number of years ago I went to to Marcus Borg after one of his lectures and said, "Marcus, I want you to know that I plagiarize - err, I mean use - your stuff a lot." His response was an enthusiastic, "Borrow freely, borrow freely." That was his way of encouraging the spread of religious and spiritual literacy.

Some of you have asked about using some of the presentation slides I use in Ordinary Life. Borrow freely, borrow freely. 

By the way, the presentation slides for this week include several more optical illusions than were actually shown in class. Check them out.

Also, if you are looking for jokes and puns to use in your own presentations or for your own amusement, check out the joke section of my website. I update it regularly. The site is simply

www.billkerley.com 

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This week in Ordinary Life I talked about how essential it is for us to move into non-dual mind to apprehend the truths of the spiritual journey. I called the talk -

Trapped in Freedom

If that sounds paradoxical, contradictory and mystical; it is.

The full text I spoke from is below. The audio version and the presentation slides can be found on the Ordinary Life website.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the text in pdf format click here.  Download Summary

To download the presentation slides click here.  Download 12:9:12 - Trapped In Freedom

To download the audio click here. Download 20121209 - Mp3

The Spiritual Journey and the Illusion of Progress

Dear Folks -

There is no text of yesterday's wonderful presentation in Ordinary Life. There is, however, a full audio version of Dr. Paul Ilecki's presentation -

The Spiritual Journey and the Illusion of Progress

I'm so grateful to Christian Anfosso for making this possible to our gathering.

Dr. Ilecki was a priest for 11 years and a monk at Snowmass for an addition four years.

He currently serves on staff of intensive Centering Prayer retreats for Contemplative Outreach.

You can go to 

http://www.coloradonotes.com/page2.html 

for more information.

His talk was much richer than any few words can summarize. To me, he highlighted the difference between change (self-improvement) and transformation. I encourage you listen to the presentation.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the talk in Mp3 format click here Download 20121202 - Mp3

Speaking Of and To the Sacred

Dear Folks -

The audio version of the talk I gave in Ordinary Life this past week is significantly different from the text below. Check it out by going to the Ordinary Life website where you can also see the presentation slides I used.

The topic was

"Speaking Of and To The Sacred.

It is based on the radical teaching of Jesus to call God "papa." I have also included in the text the poem I read, "God's Letters."

The full text I used to speak from is below.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the text of the talk click here Download 11:25:12 - Summary

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 11:25:12 - Speaking of and to the Sacred

To download the talk in Mp3 format click here Download 20121125 - Mp3

Closet Prayer

Dear Folks -

The talk this week will make more sense if you do look at the presentation slides. Also, the audio version is somewhat different from the text from which I spoke.

In summary this is what the talk was about:

Our growing in freedom and love is blocked by several things and our psychological and spiritual work

involves being ever attentive toward these matters. They are -

the distracting, though useful, technology all about us;

our understanding of "Sacred Mystery" is wrong;

our understanding of ourselves is inadequate;

our understanding of "prayer" is neither wise nor useful.

The talk is an elaboration on these matters and a suggestion about how to correct them.

The full text I used to speak from is below.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the text of the talk click here  Download 11:18:12 - Summary

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 11:18:12 - Closet Prayer.key

To download the talk in Mp3 format click here Download 11:18:12 - Mp3

Security Over Safety

Dear Folks -

What is the difference between safety and security? And, which of the two is the most important to you?

Further, why are we so fascinated with violence and murder? One reason is that we want to be safe. Another reason is that murder and murderers have made up a form of drama and entertainment for humans since the beginning of recorded history.

In the talk I offered this week in Ordinary Life I amplify on these matters, talk about the movie Bernie and one of Jesus' most mysterious parables. The parable is called by scholars "The Assassin" and is quite unlike most anything else we have Jesus saying.

The full text I used to speak from is below. Unfortunately we had technical difficulties unknown to us at the time and did not capture the audio of the talk. You can download the slide presentation which can be found on the website.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the text of the talk click here -  Download 11:11:12 - Summary

To download the presentation slides click here -  Download 11:11:12 - Security over Safety

 

Being Skeptical and Re-Enchanted

Dear Folks -

Many people have become cynical and/or disenchanted with both religion and politics. It is easy to see why as reason has been displaced by thoughtless ideology in both. People believe weird things because they either accept a falsehood or reject a truth.

Jesus told a story that we didn't really know was his until the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is a story without a moral. It simply underscores the social and economic issues of his time - and ours. It is easy for us to accept falsehoods and/or reject truth about our own social and economic realities. This talk is about such and an encouragement not to become cynical or disenchanted but, rather, to be skeptical and re-enchanted.

The full text I used to speak from is below. The audio is somewhat different. It and the slide presentation can be found with the links below.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the text click here -  Download 11:4:12 - Summary

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 11:4:12 - Being Skeptical and Re-Enchanted

To down load the talk in Mp3 format click here Download 20121104 - Mp3

Patience, Persistence and Compassion

Dear Folks -

It was good to be back in Ordinary Life this past week.

We are working to post the presentations made by Kim Mabry and the youth about their Bolivia work on the Ordinary Life website. I'll let you know when that has been done.

This week I did show a few pictures from our trip to Russia. You can see them on the slide presentation link on the website as well. They will likely make more sense if you listen to the audio.

This week's talk is about the critical importance of seeing and honoring the unrecognized and unaccepted aspects of two matters:

First, the poor and powerless in our culture. Second, those aspects of ourselves, the feminine for men and the masculine for women, without which we remain incomplete persons. This life-long process requires patience, persistence and compassion.

That is a very brief summary of the talk I offered. The full text I used to speak from is below. The audio is somewhat different. It and the slide presentation are also linked below.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download a pdf of the text click here Download 10:28:12 - Summary

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 10:28:12 - Patience and Persistence.key

To download the audio click here Download 20121028Mp3

Crazy Life A Fox

Dear Folks -

Most folks know the story of the frog used to illustrate how we react to change. If you put a frog into hot water it will work hard to get out. If you put a frog in tepid water and gradually increase the temperature, the frog will die from the hot water. It is the gradual change in its surroundings that causes it not to notice how deadly things are becoming.

One, I think, could easily argue that this is an apt metaphor for our culture. Changes are occurring that are leading, in spite of all the good things that can be pointed to, in a deadly direction. How are we to respond to this? Especially, as people seeking to live wise and useful spiritual values? The talk I offered in Ordinary Life seeks to deal with this.

The full text I used to speak from is below. The audio is somewhat different. It and the slide presentation can be found on the website. Check the slides out to see a dramatic change in computer technology.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

In order to download and view or print the full text click here Download 10:7:12 - Summary

In order to view the presentation slides click here  Download 10:7:12 - Crazy Like A Fox

In order to download the talk in Mp3 format click here Download 20121007 - mp3

"What If . . . . ?

 

Dear Folks - 

This week I opened the talk I gave by reading the story of The Emperor's New Clothes in its entirety.

The presentation slides consisted of many of the illustrations found in the version of the story that I have. You'll have to go to the Ordinary website to see them.

The story ends, as you recall, by a child saying, "The emperor has on no clothes."

We live in a world - indeed, in many worlds - where the inability  to see "what is" is costing us dearly. What is it that blinds us, both individually and collectively, to the truth?

In summary, this is what the "life talk" I gave this week is about. I was motivated to give it because of a parable Jesus once told where he doesn't tell people what to do. Rather, he asks, "By what values are you living?" Because, the values we serve determine the world(s) in which we live.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the text in pdf click here  Download 9:30:12 - Summary

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 9:30:12 - What If . . .?

To download the talk in Mp3 format click here Download 2010.9.30 Mp3

Zen Master Miao Tsan

Dear Folks -

There is no summary or text of Ordinary Life for this week. Here are the remarks I made to introduce our speaker. If you would like to download the audio of his talk on happiness and the question and answer period that followed, please go to the Ordinary Life website to do so.

Here are the opening remarks I used to introduce Zen Master Miao Tsan

* * *

I want to welcome you to Ordinary Life.

If you are a first time visitor, I hope you have paid attention to the slides that were showing while we were gathering.

The content of Ordinary Life is about putting together insights from religion, spirituality and psychology that contribute to individual and communal growth in wise and useful ways so that we can live lives that contribute to a more compassionate and peaceful world.

You can get the talks that are given here in several ways: visiting the OL website or by having them sent to you via our list serve. There you can also learn how to have the talks delivered automatically as a podcast from iTunes.

Though at the moment I am making an effort to contribute to religious and spiritual literacy by focusing on the teaching and deeds of Jesus, the stance I take is that to follow any authentic religious tradition can lead one into Sacred Mystery.

Occasionally we are fortunate to have someone from the outside to come in and speak to us.

This is the third time that I have been with Master Tsan. The first was at the Bonuick Center at Rice University to facilitate a dialogue between the Master and Houston Jungian analyst Pittman McGehee. Then the Master came and spoke to us when we were meeting in the museum and now today.

Venerable Master Miao Tsan is the founder and abbot of Vairocana Zen Monastery and has dedicated himself to the propagation and practice of Zen. Vairocana Zen Monastery was founded in order to clarify the essence of Zen’s Mind teaching through a variety of skillful means.

Master Miao Tsan’s core belief – and the goal of his dharma teaching – is to lead people from every tradition toward an understanding of the all-pervasive, universally applicable truth. The universal truth transcends time, race and religion and is without exception. It is the only path for the dissolution of dualistic conflict and the resolution of disparate views among religions and their various sects.

Master Miao Tsan is the author of Just Use this Mind, The Origin is Pure, Intrinsic Awakened Nature, and Directly Actualize Buddhahood, originally published in traditional Chinese. Among those books, three have also been translated and published in English, Spanish, and simplified Chinese.

He has conducted hundreds of meditation courses as well as Zen-Seven and Zen-Three retreats in the United States, Mexico and Taiwan. Additionally, he travels to major cities in China, Taiwan, Mexico and the United States, where he visits universities, medical centers and television/radio stations.

Master Miao Tsan has vowed to spread and promote this universal truth around the world, through the wisdom of Mind teaching and the interpretive vehicles of contemporary knowledge. His goal is to open a universal path of wisdom and light for all beings coming and going in the Ten Directions.

He is going to speak to us today on Happiness and perhaps afterwards we will have time for some dialogue and question.

(To learn more go to www.miaotsan.com)

Much love,

Bill Kerley

 To download these remarks and more about Ordinary Life click here  Download 9:23:12 - Summary

To download the audio of the presentation click here Download 20120923 - Mp3

Listening Again For the First Time

Dear Folks -

One of the ongoing temptations in doing spiritual work is to fall into the belief that we already know. Or, to look at a spiritual teaching and think, "There is nothing for me here."

This is one of the things I like about some of the titles Marcus Borg has used for some of his books. For example, "Reading the Bible Again, for the First Time." I've borrowed from him in giving the talk I gave in Ordinary Life this week this title -

Listening Again For the First Time

We are to be involved in the on-going task of hearing over and over, and at deeper levels, teachings about who we are and what we are to do.

The full text from which I spoke is below.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

 To download the text of the talk click here  Download 9:16:12 - Summary

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 9:16:12 - Listen Again

To download the audio of the talk click here Download 20120916 - Mp3

 

Teachings At the Edge

Dear Folks -

Wise, useful and authentic spiritual teachings always seek to take us beyond where we are into new places. I refer to these places as "further out and deeper within" in an effort to capture the non-dual nature of them. That is to say, such teachings take us to the edge of what we think we know. Sometimes such teachings are "edgy."

Certainly this description applies to the teachings of Jesus. This is the concept I amplify on in the talk given in Ordinary Life this week.

The full text from which I spoke is below.

Much Love,

Bill Kerley

To download the text of the talk click here  Download 9:9:12 - Summary

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 9:9:12 - Teachings on the Edge

To download the talk in Mp3 format click here Download 20120909 - Mp3

Irritating Comfort

Dear Folks -

There are many reasons we miss transforming truths when they are presented to us. In this "life talk" I list some of these and suggest ways we might be open to "truth."

We easily defend ourselves from hearing "prophetic voices."

The teaching of Jesus I based this talk on is this: "No prophet has honor on his own home turf."

Prophetic voices are irritating when what most of us want is comfort. This is why I gave this talk the title "Irritating Comfort." Read on for that to make sense.

Go to the Ordinary Life website to download the audio, text and presentation slides. You'll find the cartoons (one not mentioned in the text) there as well.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

 

To download a copy of the text click here Download 9:2:12 - Summary

To download a copy of the presentation slides click here  Download 9:2:12 - Irritating Comfort

To download the audio of the talk click here Download 20120902 - Mp3

 

 

Flirting with Life

Dear Folks  -  I gave the "life talk" in Ordinary Life this title -

Flirting With Life

I based that on a cartoon I saw where the angel of death asked a woman who was involved in very risky behavior, "Are you flirting with me?"

In many arenas of life it seems that we are indeed flirting with death or disaster.

Spiritual teachers of all traditions talk about "a way." This refers to a way to be and a way to live. Jesus talked in unmistakable, if unpleasant words, about the importance of "putting first things first." If we don't, we court disaster.

That's a brief summary of the talk.

Go to the Ordinary Life website to download the audio, text and presentation slides. You'll find the cartoon there as well.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download a copy of the text of the talk click here  Download 8:26:12 - Summary

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 8:26:12 - Flirting With Life

To download the audio click here Download 20120826 - Mp3

 

Lateral Thinking

Dear Folks -

I have had an interest in combining spirituality and psychology for almost all of my life - since being a teenager. I've been most fortunate that I've been able to pursue this interest since then. The discipline of giving the talks I do benefits me greatly.

I not only get to speak weekly in the Ordinary Life Gathering but also I receive invitations to speak to other group. Many invitations have come from religiously oriented groups - churches, retreats, hospital chaplains, pastoral counselors, etc. Recently I've noticed that such invitations are beginning to come from more psychological oriented group.

Recently, I was asked to give such a talk to the Houston Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. I have posted the text from which I spoke, the presentation slides and the handout I used on my own website. You can go to the page "Hidden in Plain Sight" to download these items. Go to

www.billkerley.com  

* * *

The title of the talk I gave in Ordinary Life this week is "Invisible Loyalties." More often than not we unconsciously adopt beliefs about the world, ourselves and others in the first few years of our lives. Though we remain unconscious of these matters, they rule - and often, ruin - our lives. In the field of systems psychology these unconscious "vows" are called "invisible loyalties." In order to be truly free we must become aware of these loyalties and cut ourselves loose from them. This "leaving home" is the beginning of the spiritual journey and it is most difficult thing any of us ever do. Further, it is not something we do "once and for all." We have to keep at it all of the journey.

That's a brief summary of the talk.

Go to the Ordinary Life website to download the audio, text and presentation slides.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download a copy of the text click here Download 8:19:12 - Summary

To download a copy of the presentation slides click here  Download 8:19:12 - Lateral Thinking

To download the audio of the talk click here  Download 20120819 MP3

Lose Your Mind - For God's Sake

Dear Folks -

This week in Ordinary Life I spoke about the importance of losing our minds so that we can come to our senses. The talk begins with some comments, some humorous and some not, from a variety of sources about what is sanity and what is not.

Spiritual teachers of all traditions have taught that very often people do not see what truly is because of the culture in which they are immersed. Jesus, for example, frequently commented on how people had eyes but did not see.

Very often these spiritual teachers are looked at by those who are at lower levels of development or who are invested in the "status quo" as being "crazy." This is how Jesus was seen by his family.

That's a brief summary of the talk I gave. The full text I spoke from is below. I gave the talk this title -

Lose Your Mind - For God's Sake! 

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the text in pdf format click here Download 8:12:12 - Summary

To download a copy of the presentation slides click here  Download 8:12:12 - Lose Your Mind

To download the audio of the talk click here Download 20120812 Mp3

 

 

Deep Healing

Dear Folks -

Four times a year my beautiful bride, Sherry Beeman, Ph.D., and I give a relationship seminar that is sponsored by St. Paul's. The next one is this coming Saturday from 9 until 2. Child care is available. The cost of the seminar is $60 per couple and this goes to cover the costs of lunch and materials. If you or someone you know would like to attend, registration must be made. Call 713-528-0527 and ask to speak to Kat Denton to register.

I know that many of you know about a variety of "supplement tools" on the web for psychological and spiritual growth. For example, The Center for Action and Contemplation sends out a daily meditation written by Richard Rhor. Go to

www.cacradicalgrace.org

and explore their site for a wealth of resources as well as to sign up for the daily e-mails.

I want to let you know about another. A friend and colleague of mine, Barbara Wendland, has an excellent monthly newsletter that you can subscribe to. Go to 

http://www.connectionsonline.org 

More importantly she is sponsoring a gathering September 28-29 in Temple, Texas. The featured speaker this year is Robin Meyers. He has written, among other books, "The Underground Church: Reclaiming the Subversive Way of Jesus." You can find out more information about this conference and about the newsletter at the web site mentioned above. Even if the conference is something you can't attend, you might want to explore Meyers' book and subscribe to Barbara's newsletter.

This week in Ordinary Life I spoke about how individually, corporately and globally our notions of religion and spiritual need to be "healed." Misconceptions of both are causing much damage.

See below for the full text from which I spoke. Go to the Ordinary Life website to download the audio, text and presentation slides.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download a the text of the talk in pdf click here  Download 8:5:12 - Summary

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 8:5:12 - Deep Healing

To download the audio of the class click here Download 20120805 - Mp3

Comfort Food

Dear Folks -

What follows is not a summary of Ordinary Life. There is no text of that for this week. The audio version can be found on the Ordinary Life website.

What follows is the text I used for the sermon I gave at St. Paul's this week. I hope you find it useful. If you would like to receive a CD of the entire service, go to 

http://www.stpaulshouston.org 

to order a copy.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

 

To download the text in pdf format click here  Download 7:29:12 - Summary

To download the audio of the class click here Download 20120729final

Give It A Rest

Dear Folks -

Jesus said to his critics when accused to breaking the law: "The Sabbath was made to serve us and not we it."

We are invited to take a rest and put down our burdens.

We are weary because we live at such a distance from who are and what we are to do.

That's a brief summary of what the "life talk" I gave this week is about.

The full text I used is below. The audio version, to be found on the Ordinary Life website, is somewhat different. You can find the presentations slides I used on the website as well.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the text in pdf format click here Download 7:15:12 - Summary

To download the presentation slides click here  Download 7:15:12 - Give It A Rest.key

To download the audio of the talk in Mp3 format click here Download 20120715 - Mp3

 

 

Grow Up

Dear Folks -

Some people never grow up. They just grow old.

This talk is about growing up in both the spiritual and psychological sense.

Paradoxically, we do so by returning to our true selves, to the people we are called to be.

I've been basing these talks on what is known as the Parable of the Prodigal Son. We are more often than not either the younger son or the elder brother, or some combination of both of them. What we are called to do is to move beyond this identity and become "compassionate Holy Mystery" ourselves.

The full text I used is below. The audio version, to be found on the Ordinary Life website is somewhat different. You can find the presentations slides I used on the website as well.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download a copy of the talk in pdf format click here Download 7:8:12 - Summary

To download the presentation slides in pdf format click here  Download 7:8:12 - Grow Up

To download the audio click here Download 20120708 - Mp3

Lost in Resentment the

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life ===================================================

Summary of July 1, 2012

===================================================

Dear Folks - If you follow these "life talks" I give in Ordinary Life, you are aware that I've been guided the past few weeks by reading and responding to Henri Nouwen's wonderful book The Return of the Prodigal Son. Last week we looked in depth at the younger son. This week we look at the older son who seems left outside, lost in resentment. One application of this to us, our culture and out world is how much damage is done by those who separate themselves from the human community for whatever reason. The full text I used is below. The audio version, to be found on the Ordinary Life website is somewhat different. You can find the presentations slides I used on the website as well.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the text in pdf format click here  Download 7:1:12 - Summary

To download the presentation slides in pdf format click here  Download 7:1:12 - Lost in Resentment

To download the audio click here Download 20120701

Lost in Resentment

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life ===================================================

Summary of July 1, 2012

===================================================

Dear Folks - If you follow these "life talks" I give in Ordinary Life, you are aware that I've been guided the past few weeks by reading and responding to Henri Nouwen's wonderful book The Return of the Prodigal Son. Last week we looked in depth at the younger son. This week we look at the older son who seems left outside, lost in resentment. One application of this to us, our culture and out world is how much damage is done by those who separate themselves from the human community for whatever reason. The full text I used is below. The audio version, to be found on the Ordinary Life website is somewhat different. You can find the presentations slides I used on the website as well

Much love,

Bill Kerley

Or, Would You Rather Be A Pig?

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life

===================================================

Summary of June 24, 2012

===================================================

Dear Folks -

I have been probing and being probed by Henri Nouwen's provocative book, "The Return of the Prodigal Son." My intention is to follow his unfolding of this marvelous story in an effort to see the timeless applicability it has for our lives.

One requirement, and there are many, for being open to the truths this story has for us is what I call "the humility of non-dual mind."

It takes humility to see and admit how far we have wandered from being the people we are called to be. I end this talk with a couple of illustrations from sex and politics and the question "would you like to swing upon a star? Or, would you rather be a pig?"

The full text I used is below. The audio version, to be found on the Ordinary Life website is somewhat different. You can find the presentations slides I used on the website as well.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the text in pdf format click here  Download 20120624 Summary

To download a copy of the presentation slides click here  Download 6:24:12 - Would You Rather Be A Pig

To download the audio click here Download 20120624Mp3

Going To A Place We Have Not Been But Think We have

Dear Folks -

I want the psychological and spiritual work I do and then share with others to be nourishing as well as challenging. Sometimes the psychological and spiritual truths and principles we work with are so familiar to us that we assume we "know" them. When this is the case, we cease being pulled further out and driven deeper within.

The story I based the talk I gave in Ordinary Life on this week is so familiar that we all likely think we "know" it. It is a story Jesus told that is frequently called "The Parable of the Prodigal Son." I gave the talk I did this title: "Going To A Place We Have Not Been - But Think We Have."

The full text I spoke from is below. You will find the audio version somewhat different and that is available on the Ordinary Life website as well as a copy of the slides I used to accompany the talk.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

Click here to download the text  Download 6:10:12 - Summary

Click here to download the presentation slides  Download 6:10:12 - A Place We Have Not Been

Click here to download the audio Download 20120610MP3

 

Have You Found Jesus?

Dear Folks -

If we expect and/or hope to experience healing for our own brokenness and to bring healing to our broken world, we must learn to live in the house of wisdom. Being found by wisdom is what our primary purpose in life is.

That is a two sentence summary of the "life talk" I gave in Ordinary Life this week. I based it on the parable Jesus told which is known as "the parable of the pearl of great value."

The full text I spoke from is below. You will find the audio version somewhat different and that is available on the Ordinary Life website as well as a copy of the slides I used to accompany the talk.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the text of the talk click here  Download 6:3:12 - Summary

To download a copy of the presentation slides click here  Download 6:3:12 - Have You Found Jesus?

To download the talk in MP3 format click here Download 20120603MP3

 

Tell Me What To Do

Dear Folks -

Anytime we don't know how to do something, like prepare a particular recipe, it is okay to go asking for advice. This is the way we learn and grow. For many things in the realm of dualism is this true. However, the stakes are higher when it comes to seeking advice about religious and spiritual matters. Sometimes what we hear is either not at all what we had hoped for or are willing to do.

I open this "life talk" with an experience from the days of my clinical training where one of my colleagues asked a professor to "tell him what do do." Then use one of Jesus' parables to encourage our being open to living more truly in the present as the persons we truly are.

The full text I spoke from is below. You will find the audio version somewhat different and that is available on the Ordinary Life website as well as a copy of the slides I used to accompany the talk.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the text of the talk click here  Download 5:27:12 - Summary

To download the slides used during the talk click here  Download 5:27:12 - What To Do

To download the talk in MP3 format click here Download 2012.5.27 MP3

 

From Reason to Radical Wonder

Dear Folks -

A man had a hundred sheep. One of them was lost and he went looking for it until it was found.

This parable of Jesus has been so domesticated by us that we don't hear its offensive meaning. In summary the message is that we are to be, and this take non-dual mind to understand, both the culturally despised shepherd and, at the same time, realize that we are the sheep that has wandered off the trail.

The full text I spoke from is below. You will find the audio version somewhat different and that is available on the Ordinary Life website as well as a copy of the slides I used to accompany the talk.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the text in pdf format click here  Download 201209520 - Text

To download the slides in pdf format click here  Download 5:20:12 - Beyond Reason

To download the audio in MP3 format click here Download 20120520 - MP3

Finding the Lost

Dear Folks -

One non-dual mind way to describe spiritual work and practice is this: We are always to be going deeper within and further out. In this "life talk" which is based on the parable of a woman having ten coins, losing one and searching until she finds it; I offer another model of moving from dualistic thinking to non-dual mind. The lesson for us here is to go searching within for that which is lost to us. This is the way we begin to make a true difference in the world.

Unfortunately, there is no audio available for this week's talk. But, you can find the slides I used on the Ordinary Life website.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download the text in pdf format click here Download 5:13:12 - Summary 

To download the slides in pdf format click here  Download 5:13:12 - Finding the Lost

 

An R-Rated Religion

Dear Folks -

In this "life talk" I describe the theories of ego and self development that are part of the current psychological understanding. Some keen observers of the human scene say that the majority of adults in our society are arrested at a late adolescent stage of development. Hence, our interest in and preoccupation with sex and violence.

If we know the stages of moral and spiritual development, we at least have a road map for what it means to fulfill the life principle of psychological and spiritual growth.

As is often the case, the talk I gave deviates somewhat from the text. Nonetheless, the full text that I spoke from is below. As usual, the slides and the audio version can be found on the Ordinary Life website.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

To download text in pdf format click here Download 5:6:12 Summary

To download slides in pdf format click here  Download 5:6:12 - R-Rated Religion

To download the audio of the talk in MP3 format click here Download 2012.05.06mp3

Beware of Cracked Pots

Dear Folks -

 

Though there is much to be said in favor of innovation, discovery and newness; there is also wisdom to found in ancient truth. We are encouraged not to abandon the values that have contributed to our freedom, enlightenment and liveliness.

 

That pretty much summarizes what the "life talk" I gave in Ordinary Life was all about this week. In it I encourage people to look carefully not only at the content of their beliefs but also the container in which these beliefs are carried.

 

The full text that I spoke from is below. As usual, the slides and the audio version can be found on the Ordinary Life website.

 

Much love,

 

Bill Kerley

To download text is pdf format click here  Download 4:29:12 - Summary

To download the slides in pdf format click here  Download 4:29:12 - Beware of Cracked Pots

To listen to the audio or to download an mp3 file click here Download 20120429final

Unprecedented Power

Dear Folks -

Steven Fenberg did an outstanding job in speaking to us in Ordinary Life this week. He spoke from his book, "Unprecedented Power: Jesse Jones, Capitalism and the Common Good."

His talk was incredibly informative. There is no text of his talk. You can, however, either listen to it or download the audio as an MP3 file from the Ordinary Life website. I promise you, if you did not hear him, listening to his talk will be a worthwhile investment of your time.

I am very grateful to John Watson for arranging that Mr. Fenberg speak to our gathering.

Several people asked that I post the answers to the religious and biblical quiz that I gave on April 15. I have done so. Go to the posting for that week and you can download a pdf file of the answers.

Much love,

Bill Kerley

to download the audio file click here Download 2012.04.22 Audio

Fasting and Feasting

The title I gave the "life talk" I offered in Ordinary Life this week was "Fasting and Feasting." Both words - fasting and feasting - are metaphors for our religious and spiritual work. If we see one of our main purposes in life to be to grow spiritually and psychologically, we must immerse ourselves in both.

Fasting is the disciples we uses to grow in knowledge and wisdom.

Feasting is the celebratory lifestyle we live of freedom, love, compassion and justice.

I elaborate on both of these in the talk. Also, as part of the class experience I passed our a "test" so that those in attendance could evaluate their religious and biblical literacy.

To download text in .pdf format, click here Download 4:15:12 Summary

To download the slides in .pdf formet, click here  Download 4:15:12 - Fasting and Feasting.key

To download the audio in .mp3 format, click here  Download 2012.04.15 Audio

To download a copy of the religious/biblical quiz that was given in class, click here  Download Religious:Biblical Knowledge Quiz

To download the answers to the above quiz, click here  Download Religious:Spiritual Quiz Answers