I have only two words for this passage, short and sweet. I enjoyed this reading so much I read it a few times in a row. It was both lighthearted and deep. Some of my favorites follow:
“All things flow.” The idea of change is less frightening as I learn more about the cycles of life in this class. I’ve learned that even inanimate objects have a life cycle, as Professor File pointed out in our discussion about the pen. I never would have thought about what that pen was 10 years ago or what it will be in 100 years from now. I see the fluidity of life more clearly now and this passage has communicated this idea in such a simple way.
“Opposition brings together, and from discord comes perfect harmony.” I have experienced the first part of this passage personally and I hope with all my heart that the second half is true also. Recently, I’ve been participating in politics and realized that I’ve had many opportunities to talk to people that I normally wouldn’t associate with. I’ve sat in person and on the phone for hours with people who’s beliefs oppose my own. I’ve been able to talk to people who support issues that affect my livelihood in a negative way. Opposition brought us together and I hope that our future brings harmony, not only as Americans, but as humans.
I completely enjoyed the sweet simplicity of this passage. It wasn’t preachy or difficult to grasp. I was able to apply the verses in a personal way which gave me a feeling of inclusion.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Philo
I thought this week’s readings were a breath of fresh air. I enjoyed most of them very much and this one made it to my top two. It’s becoming rare for me to read about God from a Western standpoint and be moved. But the God described in this passage had many qualities that I could appreciate.
“God loves to give, and freely bestows good things on all people, even the imperfect…” It sounds like this God would love me for me. In fact, I don’t think this God would even exclude my wife and I from the rights and privileges associated with marriage.
“For all the beautiful things in the world would never have been what they are if they hadn’t been modeled after the archetype of true beauty, the Uncreated, the Blessed, the Imperishable.” This passage was pretty powerful to me. All beautiful things come from a model that was never created, always blessed and indestructible. It’s especially interesting to think of an archetype that has no beginning or end, and is solely responsible for all beautiful things. It makes me wonder what is responsible for all of the ugly.
“…the goal of wisdom is laughter and play.” This is my favorite, hands down. I think laughter is a fantastic goal to have for attaining wisdom. It usually seems (from a western religious standpoint) the more knowledge you have about the world, the less playful and happy you are. The saying is, “ignorance is bliss”, not wisdom. But maybe we’ve had it backwards all this time. Perhaps laughter and play do follow true wisdom.
“God loves to give, and freely bestows good things on all people, even the imperfect…” It sounds like this God would love me for me. In fact, I don’t think this God would even exclude my wife and I from the rights and privileges associated with marriage.
“For all the beautiful things in the world would never have been what they are if they hadn’t been modeled after the archetype of true beauty, the Uncreated, the Blessed, the Imperishable.” This passage was pretty powerful to me. All beautiful things come from a model that was never created, always blessed and indestructible. It’s especially interesting to think of an archetype that has no beginning or end, and is solely responsible for all beautiful things. It makes me wonder what is responsible for all of the ugly.
“…the goal of wisdom is laughter and play.” This is my favorite, hands down. I think laughter is a fantastic goal to have for attaining wisdom. It usually seems (from a western religious standpoint) the more knowledge you have about the world, the less playful and happy you are. The saying is, “ignorance is bliss”, not wisdom. But maybe we’ve had it backwards all this time. Perhaps laughter and play do follow true wisdom.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Abu Yazid Al-Bistami
This was my favorite reading by far this week. This passage was a break from the contradictions I saw in the others that focused on an omnipotent God full of love and goodness, without addressing the cause of evil in the world. This reading crossed the boundaries of religion and spoke to the heart.
“Nothing is better for a man than to be without anything, having no asceticism, no theory, no practice. When he is without everything, he is with everything.” This is a common belief in Eastern religions as well. The idea of letting go of everything you Think you know along with all of your earthly possessions to gain something much greater is so powerful to me. I always stop and think about what that would literally mean for me. Could I leave the comfort of my home and my concepts of religion behind to gain the real truth? There is definitely something about this path that is very appealing to me. More so than listening to someone else’s interpretation of God’s word and telling me it’s the truth.
“Anyone whose reward from God is deferred until tomorrow has not truly worshiped Him today.” Any form of worship should renew your body, spirit and mind. It should be an opportunity to stop and smell the roses per se. Take a moment to count your blessings so that they may continue to flow in your life. Take some time to fill up at the gas station of love by remembering those you love and those who love you. There’s a reward every single time. This passage seems to speak to a specific group of people who think that worship is a chore to be completed to ensure a seat in heaven. But I believe the God Christians speak of would let a sincere, faithful & good-hearted idol worshiper into heaven before an insincere Christian that only goes through the motions of religion.
“Nothing is better for a man than to be without anything, having no asceticism, no theory, no practice. When he is without everything, he is with everything.” This is a common belief in Eastern religions as well. The idea of letting go of everything you Think you know along with all of your earthly possessions to gain something much greater is so powerful to me. I always stop and think about what that would literally mean for me. Could I leave the comfort of my home and my concepts of religion behind to gain the real truth? There is definitely something about this path that is very appealing to me. More so than listening to someone else’s interpretation of God’s word and telling me it’s the truth.
“Anyone whose reward from God is deferred until tomorrow has not truly worshiped Him today.” Any form of worship should renew your body, spirit and mind. It should be an opportunity to stop and smell the roses per se. Take a moment to count your blessings so that they may continue to flow in your life. Take some time to fill up at the gas station of love by remembering those you love and those who love you. There’s a reward every single time. This passage seems to speak to a specific group of people who think that worship is a chore to be completed to ensure a seat in heaven. But I believe the God Christians speak of would let a sincere, faithful & good-hearted idol worshiper into heaven before an insincere Christian that only goes through the motions of religion.
Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali
This reading took me on an interesting rollercoaster ride. First, I came across a beautiful passage which addressed why humans are drawn to God. Then, I read how all things good in nature come from God and felt frustrated because it left me with a longing to understand why evil exists in our world.
“Finally, man loves God because of the affinity between the human soul and its source, for it shares in the divine nature and attributes, because through knowledge and love it can attain to eternal life and itself become Godlike.” I felt a quiet satisfaction as I read this passage. I thought this was an excellent explanation of our need connect with God. It’s human nature to be drawn to the source of our existence. For instance, many people who have been adopted find it necessary to seek out their biological parents. It’s so important to find and/or connect with the source that is responsible for creating their life in this world.
“In truth, there is nothing good or beautiful or beloved in this world that does not come from his lovingkindness and is not the gift of his grace…For all that is good and just and lovely in the world, …is just a particle from the treasure of his riches and a ray from the splendor of his glory.” Does this mean that all things bad and unjust just illustrate a smidgen of his wrath and malevolence towards us? These types of passages frustrate me deeply. It’s very difficult to read that all things good are of God without needing an explanation for all things bad. The words in this passage are poetic, but I cannot ignore the underlying contradiction. If God is the creator of all, doesn’t that include things evil in nature as well as good? If God doesn’t have anything to do with evil, is he really ALL powerful? When we look at war, poverty, genocide and disease, what solace do we have if He is ALL powerful? Do we just say, “That’s God’s will”?
If anyone is able to answer any of my questions, I’ll be most grateful. I only want to increase my understanding. Thank you in advance.
“Finally, man loves God because of the affinity between the human soul and its source, for it shares in the divine nature and attributes, because through knowledge and love it can attain to eternal life and itself become Godlike.” I felt a quiet satisfaction as I read this passage. I thought this was an excellent explanation of our need connect with God. It’s human nature to be drawn to the source of our existence. For instance, many people who have been adopted find it necessary to seek out their biological parents. It’s so important to find and/or connect with the source that is responsible for creating their life in this world.
“In truth, there is nothing good or beautiful or beloved in this world that does not come from his lovingkindness and is not the gift of his grace…For all that is good and just and lovely in the world, …is just a particle from the treasure of his riches and a ray from the splendor of his glory.” Does this mean that all things bad and unjust just illustrate a smidgen of his wrath and malevolence towards us? These types of passages frustrate me deeply. It’s very difficult to read that all things good are of God without needing an explanation for all things bad. The words in this passage are poetic, but I cannot ignore the underlying contradiction. If God is the creator of all, doesn’t that include things evil in nature as well as good? If God doesn’t have anything to do with evil, is he really ALL powerful? When we look at war, poverty, genocide and disease, what solace do we have if He is ALL powerful? Do we just say, “That’s God’s will”?
If anyone is able to answer any of my questions, I’ll be most grateful. I only want to increase my understanding. Thank you in advance.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
The Gospel of Thomas
It is hard for me to read a quote from Jesus without wondering how accurate the words really are since they were written at a time when he couldn’t confirm, deny or defend them. The other thought hurdle I encounter is trying to envision how Jesus looked since there are so many depictions of him, but most do not match the written descriptions in the Bible. I finally realized I was standing in my own way of discovering some of the beautiful truths this passage had to offer.
“Jesus said, ‘Recognize what is in your sight, and what is hidden will become clear to you.’” I had to read this a few times before realizing that the passage has more than one meaning. The most significant for me was the concept of gratitude. I believe by being grateful for the things and circumstances you have ‘in your sight’ can lead to an unveiling of new wonderful things that were previously ‘hidden’ from you. I also believe the quote was also referring to concepts in our ‘sight’. Concepts we can grasp such as morality, honor, and love. I believe that once we recognize these then the ‘hidden’ concepts such as God and eternal life become illuminated.
Christianity has been a difficult religion to study this week because it is the only religion I’ve had negative personal experiences with. It’s so difficult, for humans in general, not to judge an entire group based on the distasteful actions of individuals within that group. However, it is absolutely necessary to set all prejudices aside so that we don’t perpetuate spread of hate and ignorance. Once I got over my own obstacles and preconceived ideas about Christianity, I was able to appreciate these passages very much.
“Jesus said, ‘Recognize what is in your sight, and what is hidden will become clear to you.’” I had to read this a few times before realizing that the passage has more than one meaning. The most significant for me was the concept of gratitude. I believe by being grateful for the things and circumstances you have ‘in your sight’ can lead to an unveiling of new wonderful things that were previously ‘hidden’ from you. I also believe the quote was also referring to concepts in our ‘sight’. Concepts we can grasp such as morality, honor, and love. I believe that once we recognize these then the ‘hidden’ concepts such as God and eternal life become illuminated.
Christianity has been a difficult religion to study this week because it is the only religion I’ve had negative personal experiences with. It’s so difficult, for humans in general, not to judge an entire group based on the distasteful actions of individuals within that group. However, it is absolutely necessary to set all prejudices aside so that we don’t perpetuate spread of hate and ignorance. Once I got over my own obstacles and preconceived ideas about Christianity, I was able to appreciate these passages very much.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Jesus of Nazareth
Christianity is considerably younger than the other religions we’ve studied, and I found that the readings contained many similar themes. Even though the passages didn’t contain many new ideas, one difference did strike me. One must accept certain myths and irrational beliefs as truths to receive the blessings and awards of eternal life with God in heaven.
Although the following is not an original concept, the words were still inspiring to me: “For the measure by which you give is the measure by which you will receive.” This strongly resembles Karmic Law, which I am completely fascinated with because it’s manifested so clearly in many areas in my life. It makes me wonder though, in the context of Christianity, does this quote mainly apply to ‘giving’ in this life and ‘receiving’ in the afterlife? If we give love or hate on earth, will we receive the same in heaven or hell respectively? I cannot wrap my head around this concept. What are the benefits of being a faithful believer right now? Perhaps it’s our need for forgiveness for the mistakes we make as humans. If I break one of God’s rules, we’re square if I repent, and if I don’t, I have to wait to die before I receive my punishment. If I broke one of my mother’s rules at home, she didn’t accept my repentance (no matter how heartfelt), and she punished me immediately. It might take me a long time before I gain my mother’s favor again, whereas with God, favor and forgiveness can be regained right away.
Another thought provoking passage was, “Unless you change your life and become like a child, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.” This is somewhat logical and twisted to me. When I read ‘child’, I envisioned a baby. A perfect being full of love that hasn’t been corrupted….yet. They don’t know the differences between the concepts of boy and girl, black and white, gay and straight, or rich and poor. The passage was sort of logical because only a child is capable of showing love across all of these lines all of the time, so it makes sense that they could enter heaven. The passage is twisted to me because it seems impossible for anyone to change their life to get back to an uncorrupted childlike state. If that is really a prerequisite to getting in to heaven, then I’m sure I’m out of luck.
Although the following is not an original concept, the words were still inspiring to me: “For the measure by which you give is the measure by which you will receive.” This strongly resembles Karmic Law, which I am completely fascinated with because it’s manifested so clearly in many areas in my life. It makes me wonder though, in the context of Christianity, does this quote mainly apply to ‘giving’ in this life and ‘receiving’ in the afterlife? If we give love or hate on earth, will we receive the same in heaven or hell respectively? I cannot wrap my head around this concept. What are the benefits of being a faithful believer right now? Perhaps it’s our need for forgiveness for the mistakes we make as humans. If I break one of God’s rules, we’re square if I repent, and if I don’t, I have to wait to die before I receive my punishment. If I broke one of my mother’s rules at home, she didn’t accept my repentance (no matter how heartfelt), and she punished me immediately. It might take me a long time before I gain my mother’s favor again, whereas with God, favor and forgiveness can be regained right away.
Another thought provoking passage was, “Unless you change your life and become like a child, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.” This is somewhat logical and twisted to me. When I read ‘child’, I envisioned a baby. A perfect being full of love that hasn’t been corrupted….yet. They don’t know the differences between the concepts of boy and girl, black and white, gay and straight, or rich and poor. The passage was sort of logical because only a child is capable of showing love across all of these lines all of the time, so it makes sense that they could enter heaven. The passage is twisted to me because it seems impossible for anyone to change their life to get back to an uncorrupted childlike state. If that is really a prerequisite to getting in to heaven, then I’m sure I’m out of luck.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Dogen
I liked the theme of change in this passage. Nothing can ever be permanent since time moves forward and no two moments are alike. We’re constantly evolving into something new physically and mentally.
“Wood burns and there are ashes; the process is never reversed. Just as wood doesn’t become wood again after it has turned into ashes, a person doesn’t return to life after death.” I imagined a piece of wood used to build a home and a piece used to build a slave ship. Neither the home nor the ship is permanent, and both pieces of wood, if burned, will become ash. The same is true for humans. A man can live his life spreading love or live it spreading hate. When both die, their physical bodies return to the earth and not back to life. This quote made me think of connections I never would have considered before. The pieces of wood and humans have an ability to leave a legacy of comfort and love or pain and hate.
I’ve always heard, “You can’t go back in time”, “What’s done is done” and “This too shall come to pass”, but these saying never brought me much comfort in my times of distress. I appreciate Dogen’s quote because it makes me feel like if life’s good, cool, enjoy it! But when the good passes and life sucks, don’t worry, you only have to do this life once and you’ll be relieved with death one day.
“Wood burns and there are ashes; the process is never reversed. Just as wood doesn’t become wood again after it has turned into ashes, a person doesn’t return to life after death.” I imagined a piece of wood used to build a home and a piece used to build a slave ship. Neither the home nor the ship is permanent, and both pieces of wood, if burned, will become ash. The same is true for humans. A man can live his life spreading love or live it spreading hate. When both die, their physical bodies return to the earth and not back to life. This quote made me think of connections I never would have considered before. The pieces of wood and humans have an ability to leave a legacy of comfort and love or pain and hate.
I’ve always heard, “You can’t go back in time”, “What’s done is done” and “This too shall come to pass”, but these saying never brought me much comfort in my times of distress. I appreciate Dogen’s quote because it makes me feel like if life’s good, cool, enjoy it! But when the good passes and life sucks, don’t worry, you only have to do this life once and you’ll be relieved with death one day.
Padmasambhava
The section that moved me from this passage was from The Book of the Great Liberation. I often find myself trying to wrap my brain around the words of these scared texts, and it either makes me dizzy or it strikes a cord and brings me beautiful clarity.
“When you realize that all phenomena are as unstable as the air, they lose their power to fascinate and bind you. To know whether or not this is true, look inside your own mind.” I thought of phenomena such as wealth, poverty, success and failure when I read this passage. These things do fascinate and bind me. In fact, much of my life revolves around these phenomena even though they aren’t things I can hold in my hand or even concepts can fully grasp with my mind.
“All phenomena are your own ideas, self-conceived in the mind, like reflections in a mirror. To know whether or not this is true, look inside your own mind.” This makes perfect sense to me. I have measured wealth, poverty, success and failure in different ways depending on my stage in life. When I was younger, I measured wealth and poverty in dollars. Now, I measure them in a less tangible way. I think a wealthy person is full of love, patience and compassion. And I believe a person living in poverty is full of fear and consumed by hate and intolerance. I used to measure success and failure with external cues, like if others perceived me as a winner or a quitter. Now, I know not to look to others for validation because these things are too complex and personal for anyone to judge.
This reading helped me look into my own life and recognize phenomena that are based on my perceptions alone. Perceptions that have changed over my lifetime. I know that wealth, poverty, success and failure, are very real for some and a state of mind for others. Now it’s time to ask myself, how can I consciously move forward and continue be fascinated and bound by something so unstable and counterproductive to my growth and well being?
“When you realize that all phenomena are as unstable as the air, they lose their power to fascinate and bind you. To know whether or not this is true, look inside your own mind.” I thought of phenomena such as wealth, poverty, success and failure when I read this passage. These things do fascinate and bind me. In fact, much of my life revolves around these phenomena even though they aren’t things I can hold in my hand or even concepts can fully grasp with my mind.
“All phenomena are your own ideas, self-conceived in the mind, like reflections in a mirror. To know whether or not this is true, look inside your own mind.” This makes perfect sense to me. I have measured wealth, poverty, success and failure in different ways depending on my stage in life. When I was younger, I measured wealth and poverty in dollars. Now, I measure them in a less tangible way. I think a wealthy person is full of love, patience and compassion. And I believe a person living in poverty is full of fear and consumed by hate and intolerance. I used to measure success and failure with external cues, like if others perceived me as a winner or a quitter. Now, I know not to look to others for validation because these things are too complex and personal for anyone to judge.
This reading helped me look into my own life and recognize phenomena that are based on my perceptions alone. Perceptions that have changed over my lifetime. I know that wealth, poverty, success and failure, are very real for some and a state of mind for others. Now it’s time to ask myself, how can I consciously move forward and continue be fascinated and bound by something so unstable and counterproductive to my growth and well being?
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