Essays on Creating Sacred Relationships - The next step to a new paradigm

212 Pages·1996·6.405 MB·English

by  Sondra Ray

Sondra Ray
The Next Step to a
New Paradigm
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Essays
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by Sondra Ray
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CELESTIAL ARTS
Berkeley, California
Copyright © 1996 by Sondra Ray. All rights reserved. No part
of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for brief
review, without the express permission of the publisher. For
further information, you may write to:
Celestial Arts Publishing
P.O. Box 7123
Berkeley, California 94707
Cover and text design: Victor Ichioka
Front cover photo: Bruce Hortz
Printed in the United States
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication
Ray, Sondra
Essays on creating sacred relationships : the next step in a
new paradigm / by Sondra Ray.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 0-89087-796-3
!. Marriage—Religious aspects. 2. Unmarried couples—
Religious aspects. 3. Courtship—Religious aspects. 4. Spiritual
life. I. Title
BL462.R38 1996
299'.93—dc20 96-6393
CIP
First Printing, 1996
I 2 3 4 / 99 98 97 96
DEDICATION
With great honor, I dedicate this book to my guru Shastriji,
who is the High Priest of Babaji, MahaAvatar (our mutual
Supreme Sadguru, total manifestation of God in human form,
who is bringing spiritual rebirth to the planet).
Over many lifetimes, Shastriji, has taken me through dark¬
ness into light by assisting me in a step-by-step process to give
up my personal, limited consciousness. He has showered upon
me his spiritual energy and grace, which has empowered me to
achieve that which seemed far beyond my normal consciousness.
Because I have had the great privilege and good fortune to
be connected to this God-realized Master, Shastriji, and enter
into his family like a daughter, the least I could do is to give
back to society and humanity at large as much as possible, in
any way possible, for the supreme grace I have been given.
With this spirit in mind, I acknowledge Shastriji, one of
the purest beings on this planet. May everything I write be
something beautiful for God.
A special thanks also to Meher Baba whose Discourses have
given me so much spiritual understanding and inspiration for this.
I want to honor my recent and new female colleagues, Beth
Hin and Leslie Temple Thurston who helped me create the
space for what was to be done. I also want to honor my female
guide in Spain, Elena Duranona, who helped me get going fur¬
ther and also Rich, the man I was with at the time, who cured
me of writer’s block among other things.
And special thanks to the women who took care of me
while writing this: Jane, Liz, and Kerry, who provided me with a
very sweet and holy setting in the Gold Coast, Australia; and
who supported me emotionally and physically the whole time I
worked on this book.
Bhole Baba Ki Jai!
iii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Robert Roskind, Robert Coon, The Hazelton Clinic, Robert
Skutch and the Foundation for Inner Peace, Mary Daly, Scott
Peck, Frank Pitman, Dion Fortune, Gary Zukav, Eleanora
Coppola, Meher Baba, Yogananda, Ram Dass, Leonard Orr,
Babaji, Diana Laschelles, Rajneesh, John Price, Judith Sills,
Susan Faludi, Barbara de Angeles, Germaine Greer, Snastriji,
Bob Mandel, New Woman, Nile, and Ita.
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CONTENTS
Introduction: A New State of Mind.ix
PART I: Essays on Relationships
Unexplored Territory.2
A Shocking Report.4
Needing a Paradigm of Balance.6
Discarding Old Models.8
Rethinking How to Attract Mates.10
Knowing What You Want from a Relationship.12
Knowing the Purpose of Life.14
Being with an Equal.16
The Interview.18
A Sacred Partnership.20
Having a Spiritual Mission Together.22
Loving Yourself Helps You to Love Another.24
Going for Total Enlightenment as the Matrix.26
The Willingness to Clear: Self-Analysis.28
Handling Karmic Debts and Dues.30
The Goal of Stabilization in Bliss.32
The Immortal Couple as a New Paradigm.34
Rebirthing as a Way of Life in the New Paradigm.36
Problem Solving in the New Paradigm.38
Conflict Resolution.41
Blessing Instead of Judging.43
Giving and Receiving Feedback in the New Paradigm.... 46
Transmuting Upsets.50
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Maintaining Respect.53
A Course in Miracles as a Foundation
for the New Paradigm.55
Replacing the Ego.58
Doing Spiritual Purification Together.61
A Life of Service.63
A Community of Majesty. 65
Networking as a Part of the New Paradigm.67
Commitment and the Length of the Relationship.70
Two Approaches.72
Sex in the New Paradigm.74
Children in the New Paradigm.76
Self-Acceptance, Satisfaction, and Peace of Mind.78
Money.80
The Need for Space.82
The Fear of Change.84
Mini Support Groups.86
“A Breezeful of Peace”.88
Intimacy with Everyone.90
The Healed Body.92
Shifting from the Old Paradigm to a New One.94
A New Paradigm for Singles.96
Celibacy.98
Marriage.100
What is the Luture of the Family?.102
Courage.104
Encouragement and Gratitude.106
vi
Divine Control.108
Divine Love.110
Surrender.112
Especially for Women.114
The Whole Woman.116
Especially for Men.118
The Whole Man.120
A Pleated Discussion.125
Life Itself as a Mirror.127
The I Iighest Reality.129
The Divine Mother.131
The Divine Mother Movement.134
Aims and Ideals of the Divine Mother Movement.136
Prayers to the Divine Mother.138
PART II: Essays on Enlightened
Business and Politics
Karma Yoga.142
Business and Spirituality.144
Business, Balinese Style.146
New Management.148
Relationships in the Workplace.150
Harmony Between Intellect and Intuition.152
Keeping Employees, Staff, and Clients Happy.154
Alignment on Purpose.156
Providing a Safe Place for Sharing.158
Enlightened Business Meetings.160
Cooperation.162
Vll
Knowledge of Birth and Business.164
Relationships to the Material World.167
Integrity.169
Grace and Humility in Business.171
Equality in the Workplace and Politics.173
Spiritualized Politics.175
Closing
Making a Difference with this Information.178
How to Have a Loving and Lasting Ideal Relationship. .180
Sondra Ray International Seminars.184
Babaji Centers and Ashrams.187
Bibliography.189
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