President Obama's Inaugural Address - Total Thoughts (January 26, 2009)

President Obama's Inaugural Address
The Making of a Spiritual Student

-Can a spiritual leader be a political leader as well (i.e. Mahatma Gandhi) - can a political leader be a spiritual leader as well (i.e. President Obama)

-President Obama has offered more guidance than action - is he any different than a spiritual leader

-The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan Buddhists and the political leader of the Tibetan people - He is proving one can function in both the spiritual and political realms

-Is governance more effective in guiding society (i.e. being policed not to do something) or is education more effective in guiding society (i.e being taught not to do something)

-Does America suffer from the Arjuna disease - is knowledge essential for progress

-By acknowledging the Scriptures and past leaders, President Obama is seeking to empower everyone by showing everyone true possibility

-President Obama is inclusive in his message - his inaugural address was to the world's citizens rather than democrats or Americans alone

-President Obama has understood there will be disagreements in how to guide the country, while at the same time promises to listen - this simple practice has increased the awareness of spirituality worldwide

-"History will judge you not by what you destroy, but by what you build." - in our daily lives, how often do we strive to have constructive comments / ideas

-In his speech, President Obama makes several references to Scriptures and history to draw inspiration in trying to resolve our present problems - how often do we read our Scriptures

-President Obama's address is more spiritual than religious - the universal nature of this message is what has moved so many

-Religious ignorance is best countered with spiritual study - and spirituality can be a part of every moment if we choose so

-To experience Absolute Liberation (i.e. transcending ignorance) we have to experience relative Liberation (i.e. transcending laziness, anger, doership, etc.)

-Giving up the idea of mine and me is difficult - we still have to try

-Realization is achievable right here, right now - if we do not believe this truth, Realization will always be somewhere else at some other time

-Only the present is available to us - having regrets about the past or anxieties about the future is inefficient living

-Enlightenment is permanent Joy whereas all you and i know is fleeting happiness - for an Enlightened personality no Joy can be added or taken away

-When thinking about Liberation, we are closer to this goal than when we began - so we should never stop thinking about Liberation.