Thoughts For Today

[Robert Gutleben]

Spirituality ultimately takes us beyond religion and culture to a place of oneness and collective consciousness.

[JosephM]

Yes.

Another thought....

 

The only separation between us there could possibly be must be in one's mind.

[Robert Gutleben]

Yes.

Another thought....

 

The only separation between us there could possibly be must be in one's mind.

[Robert Gutleben]

Yes.

Another thought....

 

The only separation between us there could possibly be must be in one's mind.

 

Yes. I agree. All seperation begins in the inner-world. It is my observation that, while seperation begins with the mind, or what I would call the unconscious shadow, the pursuit of spiritual consciousness will ultimately lead us to the soul or humanity which is what we all share in common.

[irreverance]

Spiritual depth is unleashed as we learn to play on the surface of life.

[Robert Gutleben]

Spiritual depth is unleashed as we learn to play on the surface of life.

 

I like the word "play", it expresses creativity and discovery.

[soma]

View PostXianAnarchist, on 02 May 2010 - 03:14 AM, said:

Spiritual depth is unleashed as we learn to play on the surface of life.

 

I also like this quote because it makes religion an enjoyable lifestyle with a most welcome effect.

[Lauren]

>>The only separation between us there could possibly be must be in one's mind.<<

 

Further on this -- The definition of sin being "actions that seperate us from God", I believe it is our mind that causes that seperateness. Not necessarily "bad acts", whether it be lying, stealing, whatever -- however it is our minds that lead us into making those "bad choices". So I've now come to accept the notion of man being "sinful" because we were given a brain....to make free choice, but in my understanding today - to think, reason, analyze, dissect, argue -- which is not where God is. We are 'sinful' beings because we resort on our own intellect rather than turning to Him/Her, which is the seperator. I've always had trouble with being told I'm a sinful being just by being merely human. Ha! I'm a good person, do good works, go to church, am filled with love/compassion... But anytime I'm focused more in MY head, than responding from within, from my heart - then I"m being "sinful".

 

I also hate that word. Sin. Because it suggests we are inherently Bad People. Sin for me now just means not fully aware or developed.

[JosephM]

I agree lauren,

 

I do not believe that we are inherently "bad" though that may be a reasonable assumption of mind for many when looking at the negative or non supportive acts of life of humankind. I think there is a deeper way to look at reality and sin as you have alluded to.

 

Love in Christ,

Joseph

[Guest billmc]

Into the mouth of babes…

 

There’s an 8 year old girl that lights the candles in the sanctuary of my church every Sunday morning. She’s a cute little thing with red hair and an ear-to-ear grin. During communion, my church has the practice of serving the “ministry team” first – pastor, associate, music minister, pianist, and this little girl who lights the candles.

 

Yesterday when they served her communion, she put the bread in her mouth and, while chewing, rubbed her tummy and said, “Yummy!” The pastor’s mic picked it up, so we all couldn’t help but laugh.

 

But my smile lingered as I thought of how the bread represents the life of Christ that we are partakers of. For most of my church background, Christ’s body was represented by a tiny tasteless cracker than had all of the “yummy factor” of a Styrofoam peanut. And I would think to myself, “This is what the life of Christ tastes like? This represents the abundant life?” Blech!

 

My Methodist church does, in fact, use “yummy” bread for the communion service. And it reminds me to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” The little girl just made the point all the more obvious.

[Robert Gutleben]

I am reminded, this 4th of July, that in times of great historical crisis, men and women of great wisdom and consciousness will arise.

[Robert Gutleben]

"Innocence that cannot include the daimonic becomes evil." Rollo May, Power And Innocence, A Search For The Sources Of Violence.

[Deva]

I am Buddhist so forgive me if this is not applicable, but I ran across this quote today. Dudjom Rinpoche was formerly head of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. I don't know the source, but having read other writings by him I think it reflects his attitude. Although he is talking about Buddhism, I think it has a broader application.

 

 

 

....This means that although we should follow the tradition to which we feel drawn, we should never presume to criticize other schools. If we train in our own tradition with faith and devotion, it is certain that we are following the unmistaken path of the Buddhadharma. If, by contrast, we practice with partiality and... a sense of sectarian difference, believing that our own practice is the only right one, and if we denigrate the other teachings, we are committing a very serious fault. The Buddha said that only he and those on his level could be the judge of others. No one else. Therefore, since emanations of the buddhas and bodhisattvas are everywhere, do not criticize others. Instead, train in pure perception and practice the teachings to which you aspire....' ~H.H. DUDJOM RINPOCHE~

[Robert Gutleben]

"Christianity is a feeling religion; it must involve our emotions as well as our intellect, or it will not be real." John A. Sanford, The Kindgom Within.

[Robert Gutleben]

Integrity is the moral strength to embrace all our feelings honestly and openly. Robert Johnson writes in his book, He, that, "you can always tell when a man is in touch with his feelings because he brings grace into the room.

[soma]

Robert Johnson writes in his book, He, that, "you can always tell when a man is in touch with his feelings because he brings grace into the room.

 

I like that quote. Thanks

[Robert Gutleben]

"Spiritual laziness flees from a critical or skeptical attitude." Taken from An Interpretation of the Nature of Religion, by Miguel de Unammuno.

[Robert Gutleben]

Four frogs sat upon a log that lay floating on the edge of a river. Suddenly the log was caught by the current and swept slowly down the stream. The frogs were delighted and absorbed, for never before had they sailed.

 

At length the first frog spoke, and said, "This is indeed a most marvellous log. It moves as if alive. No such log was ever known before."

 

Then the second frog spoke, and said, "Nay, my friend, the log is like other logs, and does not move. It is the river, that is walking to the sea, and carries us and the log with it."

 

And the third frog spoke, and said, "It is neither the log nor the river that moves. The moving is in our thinking. For without thought nothing moves."

 

And the three frogs began to wrangle about what was really moving. The quarrel grew hotter and louder, but they could not agree.

 

Then they turned to the fourth frog, who up to this time had been listening attentively but holding his peace, and they asked his opinion."

 

And the fourth frog said, "Each of you is right, and none of you is wrong. The moving is in the log and the water and our thinking also."

 

And the three frogs became very angry, for none of them was willing to admit that his was not the whole truth, and that the other two were not wholly wrong.

 

Than a strange thing happened. The three frogs got together and pushed the fourth frog off the log into the river.

 

Kahlil Gibran, from The Forerunner, entitled Knowledge and Half Knowledge

[Robert Gutleben]

"Jung writes: 'It [theology] proclaims doctrines which nobody understands, and demands a faith which nobody can manufacture.'" From The Illness That We Are: A Jungian Critique of Christianity, Chapter on Sacrosanct Unintelligibility, by John P. Dourley