17 Jun 13
-Removed-As for me, I try to present the person that I am in real life here in cyberspace. I feel this is necessary if we are to communicate anything of any real significance here on this forum.
To me spirituality has always meant that one is at peace with their own conscience. This means being truthful/honest which includes honestly considering all criticisms of ones pov. I felt that I have tried to answer all relevant questions truthfully and to the best of my ability.
I do understand that we are all different, but at the same time, we also have some things that are the same. Other than truthfulness there is originality and creative expression that is another common factor between all Zen masters. ( When I say "Zen masters", I mean "Spiritual people" who are in and of themselves their own authority. Note that they are only master of themselves and nothing or no one else. If some choose to follow them and submit to their authority, it is totally on the follower and not the master. )
On first viewing there seems to be hardly anything that Zen masters have in common. It is only after careful study that one can see deeper underlying patterns of behaviour with these amazing people. After all one common Zen saying is "copying is death". So one must come up with their own answers for koans, one cannot cheat and get the other guys answers.
Yes I can see why you would label me as "slightly weird" , but given the world we live and what has traditionally been considered "normal" , I would say that the rest of the world is weird in that normalness is based only on material considerations. "Loving your neighbour" , let alone "loving your enemies" is oft repeated within Christian circles, but rarely does it get beyond a good idea and actually established in practice.
The fact that someone like me can be born into this world and allowed to pursue my spiritual interests without being physically punished for it, as say the guys in "Easy Rider" were at the end of that film is extremely exciting and potentially revolutionary for the whole world.
i am no Zen master yet, however once an individual passes the point of "liberation" there is no falling back below that point for the individual as "liberation" refers to ones understanding of their own physical mortality.
This understanding is based on the meaning of the original Indian board game "Snakes and ladders" where each square represents a certain spiritual truth that must be learned by the player before advancing to the next square. "Liberation" comes at around square 90, the top row, which once attained cannot be forgotten by the adept. 100 represents "enlightenment" , which is extremely difficult to attain , but which is the driving force behind all proper orientations of individual divinations.
17 Jun 13
Originally posted by karoly aczelYou should be on your guard that you don't allow a demon in to possess you.
As for me, I try to present the person that I am in real life here in cyberspace. I feel this is necessary if we are to communicate anything of any real significance here on this forum.
To me spirituality has always meant that one is at peace with their own conscience. This means being truthful/honest which includes honestly considering all criticis ...[text shortened]... riving force behind all proper orientations of individual divinations.
The Instructor
17 Jun 13
-Removed-What about you?
To me you remind me of the religious version of twhitehead- forever cynical and wary of anything that does not conform to a very prosaic view of the world.
Perhaps you 2 should be in the running for the 'most critical poster' ? 😀
btw, good thread. Anytime someone focuses on who is here and now, alive in the world today, is going in the direction of actual (contemporary) spiritual understanding and not just floundering about with the outdated words of prophets,(etc.), which can be viewed several different ways depending on what one wants to take from it.
17 Jun 13
-Removed-I am happy to say that the meds have worn off and normal service is resumed.
The whole truth of it is.......no one can win an argument in here.
There are too many holy papers all claiming to be correct and each
one denouncing the other.
I have gone to join the church of the most high holy pepperoni.
All hail to the cheese. Beat your breast for the holy herbs and spices.
Place your trust in the crust. Worship the one and only pepperoni.