Sum up your religious belief

Vajradhara

Vajradhara

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Namaste all,

on another forum, this topic was introduced and produced a fairly typical response. as this forum is more diverse, i was curious how it would work here.

i'll go first.


if i had to sum up my religious belifes, there are several things that i could say... so here's how i'd say it:


have you eaten your rice gruel today? good, now go and wash your bowl.
 
Kindest Regards, Vajradhara!

Mine in summed as this:

Love your Heavenly Father with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.
 
Hey Vajradhara! Could you explain the metaphor of the rice to me? I actually read the same story a few nights ago in this book I'm reading. The best explanation I could come up with is that we are the bowl that has been filled up with so much desire (rice), and that after we live out our desires, we must purify ourselves and become empty (washing the bowl). I may be way off though! :)

Anyways, here are two quotes that could sum up my spiritual journey:

"We have much to unlearn before we can learn."

- or -

"Die before you die, then realize that there is no death."
 
Namaste siberia,

thank you for the post.

Siberia said:
Hey Vajradhara! Could you explain the metaphor of the rice to me? I actually read the same story a few nights ago in this book I'm reading. The best explanation I could come up with is that we are the bowl that has been filled up with so much desire (rice), and that after we live out our desires, we must purify ourselves and become empty (washing the bowl). I may be way off though! :)

Anyways, here are two quotes that could sum up my spiritual journey:

"We have much to unlearn before we can learn."

- or -

"Die before you die, then realize that there is no death."
Click to expand...

this is my understanding of the phrase....

it's not really a metaphor in the sense that you are seeing... what this statement is indicating is that, outside of our normal, ordinary activities, there is no practice.. no religion to be found. the very act of eating our rice and then washing our bowl are, when being mindful, enligtened activity. outside of these activities awakened consciousness cannot be found.

this is pretty much the same as the old phrase "chop wood, carry water." in a sense... this is also speaking to the individual that believes that they have to go to some place to find a spiritual truth or enlightenment. this is not so. as it is said "the awakening you find on the mountain is the awakening that you brought with you."
 
Vajradhara said:
it's not really a metaphor in the sense that you are seeing... what this statement is indicating is that, outside of our normal, ordinary activities, there is no practice.. no religion to be found. the very act of eating our rice and then washing our bowl are, when being mindful, enligtened activity. outside of these activities awakened consciousness cannot be found.

this is pretty much the same as the old phrase "chop wood, carry water." in a sense... this is also speaking to the individual that believes that they have to go to some place to find a spiritual truth or enlightenment. this is not so. as it is said "the awakening you find on the mountain is the awakening that you brought with you."
Click to expand...
Wow; after reading that and thinking about it for a while, the meaning of that hit me pretty hard. I guess it's kinda similiar to the Zen saying "What, at this moment, is lacking?"; designed to bring you into the Present. :) . Thanks alot!
 
Siberia said:
Wow; after reading that and thinking about it for a while, the meaning of that hit me pretty hard. I guess it's kinda similiar to the Zen saying "What, at this moment, is lacking?"; designed to bring you into the Present. :) . Thanks alot!
Click to expand...
gassho :)

i'm glad that you found it helpful.
 
Sum up my beliefs?

Our beliefs do not matter - only our actions.

Or - actions, not words.

Or so forth. :)
 
Our beliefs do not matter - only our actions.

Or - actions, not words.
Click to expand...

Hmmmm...
My belief is that words are actions and that it is not actions that matter but intentions. Despite what they say about good intentions, I believe if they are their and there is an opportunity, then they will flower.
 
samabudhi said:
Hmmmm...
My belief is that words are actions and that it is not actions that matter but intentions. Despite what they say about good intentions, I believe if they are their and there is an opportunity, then they will flower.
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Hello samabudhi,

At one point in my life I would have agreed with you, but no longer. Hitler thought he had wonderful intentions.

Regards,
Steve
 
Wow, a lot of good answers. No way can I match up.

That could actually be my answer, but I'll try to make more of an effort.

I'll always be lost as long as I continue to believe that I know where I am.
 
Good answer, too, and welcome to CR, Mus Zibii. :)
 
neoxenos said:
Hello samabudhi,

At one point in my life I would have agreed with you, but no longer. Hitler thought he had wonderful intentions.

Regards,
Steve
Click to expand...

But he didn't, so there we go.
 
Who says Hitler didn't have good intentions? It is only because there is a relative position that says that he didn't that this is said. Certainly about 65 years ago many people thought he had good intentions. Their relative versus ours. As "we won", our relative position is the opinion that triumphs. If Hitler had won, other people would be lauding a different relative position - that of Hitler's good intentions as a shining example to all.
 
I said:
Who says Hitler didn't have good intentions? It is only because there is a relative position that says that he didn't that this is said. Certainly about 65 years ago many people thought he had good intentions. Their relative versus ours. As "we won", our relative position is the opinion that triumphs. If Hitler had won, other people would be lauding a different relative position - that of Hitler's good intentions as a shining example to all.
Click to expand...
two things to say...

vae victis

and...

History is written by the Victors ~ Churchhill
 
neoxenos said:
Exactly, so intentions have nothing to do with reality.
Click to expand...
Hitler may have thought he had good intentions, and therefore the actions that he was taking were, in his eyes, good actions.
The truth is that he had bad intentions, and therefore the actions that he was taking were, in reality, bad ones.

I'm not saying that someone's intentions (in their eye's, good) will lead to actions which are good in others' eyes.
The perspective must be consistent.
 
samabudhi said:
Hitler may have thought he had good intentions, and therefore the actions that he was taking were, in his eyes, good actions.
The truth is that he had bad intentions, and therefore the actions that he was taking were, in reality, bad ones.

I'm not saying that someone's intentions (in their eye's, good) will lead to actions which are good in others' eyes.
The perspective must be consistent.
Click to expand...
It is my belief that our perspective must be the truth, and nothing but the truth, which has nothing to do with good or bad intentions.
 
I said:
If Hitler had won...
Click to expand...
Maybe he did win.

He made his point: Master Race..Chosen People. What's the difference? Jesus was making a similar point by resisting Judaean/Roman dominance and placing all peoples (Gentiles) under the Israeli flag. Not just the nobility.

(Herod wasn't even "full-blooded" Judaen, for all that.)

Check your history, folks. Check your national emblems. Check your indigenous peoples' emblems, PLEASE. Somebody. It's been 2,000 years already.

-- The American dollar is a great place to start.

Anyway, Hitler.
Guerilla Theater of the most insane proportions...and, then, ultimately, setting Zionist culture up on the pedestal of America.

To say Hitler was unaware of the outcome of his actions....is to insult your own intelligence.

Law, Physics....Theater...Jews have been a dominating force in every significant aspect of American culture I can think of, for as long as I've been alive. The star of David is on every dollar bill...every squad car I've ever seen roll by.

And people still don't get it.

Peace.
 
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