Greetings from Elfiet

Elfiet

Elfiet

Comme je fus
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Hello. I am Elfiet. From Quebec, Canada. Mid 40s.

I started life as a catholic. Easily accepted God and all that I was taught. But, like many, life got hard and I toss faith out the window before I made it to adulthood. Decades later, I found myself searching for something. Some more years passed and I was introduced to Buddhism. Things started to make sense for me again and I was feeling internal peace was within grasp! I then wondered into Tao and found a whole new dimension.... feeling like I am on my righteous path. I then attended a Kirtan and it all just fell so "me".... like i just found home. Hinduism and Sikhism - totally enjoy the sanskrit language and music.... despite barely understanding it. I am hooked on Kirtans and look forward to each local event. And through all my travels, I find myself still trying to renew my Catholic faith. The truth is out there..... or is it in me?

Looking forward to much more reading here!
 
Namaste and Welcome.... Looks like you are versed in the interfaith experience....

I thoroughly enjoyed your other post...and spot on...when folks act out it is because they are crying for love, and often the attention they get is...while better than nothing...a weak substitute for love... in my understanding you accessed your higher self.
 
Hi Elfiet and welcome to the forum.

I, too, used to be a Catholic.

I'm glad you found something that works for you.

Regarding your remark about renewing your interest in Catholicism, I would recommend this: I think that original Catholicism was correct, but it has been intentionally changed down through the centuries. The trick, then, would be for you to figure out which parts are still accurate and which are garbage changes. I have been through such a journey and you may wish to make such a journey yourself.

Since you have an interest in Hinduism, do you believe in reincarnation?
 
Elfiet said:
I then wondered into Tao and found a whole new dimension.... feeling like I am on my righteous path.
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Hi Elfiet! (For some reason I failed to spell your name right five times in a row and ended up copy-pasting)
I would not have expected anyone to get a sense of righteousness out of Tao. Could you tell me more about what about it made you feel this and how it manifested?
 
Elfiet said:
I started life as a catholic.
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Same.

Elfiet said:
But, like many, life got hard and I toss faith out the window before I made it to adulthood.
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Same.

Elfiet said:
Decades later, I found myself searching for something.
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Same. I was in a 'cult' for nearly a decade. Studied hermeticism and occultism. The esoteric. Dabbled in Philosophy.

Elfiet said:
Some more years passed and I was introduced to Buddhism.
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Soto Zen in my case.

Elfiet said:
And through all my travels, I find myself still trying to renew my Catholic faith. The truth is out there... or is it in me?
Click to expand...
I would say yes, it's out there and yes, something in us responds to it.

I was in a bookstore while my partner took our daughters 'girlie shopping'. I was leafing through a book called The Sword of Gnosis: Metaphysics, Cosmology, Tradition, Symbolism. Got the call to rejoin family, put book back on rack, left shop ... now to say what followed was a 'Damascus moment' would be an over-statement, but with each step a skull-cracking migraine – and I don't suffer migraines – got worse and worse. 'Give me a minute', went back in shop, bought book, head cleared. By the end of the week I was buying every book by two of the essay writers I could get my hands on ...

That began a journey into the Sophia Perennis, the Perennial Philosophy, and that journey took me back to Catholicism. Interestingly, the essay that 'threw the switch' was by a Tibetan Buddhist! From there I have met many remarkable people by the most bizarre means, none the least being the French theologian Jean Borella, and I can thoroughly recommend The Secrets of the Christian Way.

That was if for me, although I would not say it's for everyone. It's Christian Neoplatonism, which is the faith of the Church Fathers, and although it's like poetry to me, a lot of people say they find it 'difficult' ... so I'm not sure what advice I can give ... there are texts by writers of the Sophia Perennis online, which will give you a taste.

I hope you 'find your way'.
 
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Elfiet,

By the way, I am presently translating the Tao from Chinese into English. (I live in China.) I will be curious to hear your opinions of the different translations of the Tao.

道可道, 非常道。
Dào kě dào, fēi cháng dào...

Tea,

I don't know how 'righteous' the Tao is, but I have found it to be 100% in agreement with what I call original Christianity, original Judaism, original Buddhism, and original Hinduism.
 
Welcome Elfiet, faith is a deeply personal thing. When seeking truth, it's always best to search within first. To paraphrase my late father-in-law,

"Faith in God lie not in the words of man, but is born unto you and is contained in your heart...."
 
Thanks for all your comments. :)

@wil:
I was recently asked how I would define my higher self and I went blank. The more I thought of the question the more lost I felt. Yet I come to this forum and write an example. :rolleyes:

@ Nick the Pilot:
I believe in the evolution, or progression of the soul. Thus, I do believe in reincarnation.
Tickled I am in your enquiry for translation. I am just an English gal who enjoys Tai Ch'i, QiGong and the philosophy it offers. I did read, "Cultivating Ch'i" by Kaibara Ekiken who I believe is the author of the Yojokun. I treat this book as a reference manual for life.

@ A Cup of Tea:
My experience with Tao is through my Tai Ch'i and QiGong classes. Tai Ch'i and QiGong has an emphasis on keeping the body relaxed. I am also relearning to breathe (avoiding shallow chest breaths). A relaxed body = Calm mind. I function better in life's situations - have better clarity is best way to explain it. I've often been told to follow my heart. Not easy when it's been locked away so long. By working to 'cultivate my Ch'i' I hope I am creating the ideal internal environment needed to connect to my inner self. That is what I feel like am doing.

@ Thomas: Thanks for sharing. Shall indeed look it up when ready for some new readings.

@ Namaste Jesus: Thank you. I need that reminder sometimes.
 
Elfiet,

In what way has your belief in reincarnation changed the way you live your life?

Regarding the Tao, I am a Theosophist. I am studying the Tao from a Theosophical perspective. There are many, many translations of the Tao on the Internet. If you are interested, here is a Tao translation with a Theosophical orientation:

http://theosophynexus.com/profiles/blogs/tao-te-ching-chapter-one
 
Thomas said:
Same. I was in a 'cult' for nearly a decade. Studied hermeticism and occultism. The esoteric. Dabbled in Philosophy.
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How would you define your experience in the cult? Did it have a positive impact on your life? I tend to have a glorified idea of cults, but no real experience or truthful knowledge of them.
 
We've had the discussion before...we are all in cults!

Does anyone have a definition from any dictionary that doesn't contain something similar to... "a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object." (and often it is number ONE before it goes on to including words like 'small', 'strange', 'misguided', 'excessive', etc.)
 
My curosity with Thomas' experience (being in a cult) is more about the relationship with other members. Was it a supported environment? Mentorship? A strong supported communtity atmosphere? Was participation 100% free choice. Indeed, quite aware I am of the misdeeds of cults that make newspaper headlines - but this cannot be a fair representation of the majority? Or am I in one of my unrealistic bubbles? If so, feel free to POP it.
 
Nick the Pilot said:
Elfiet,

In what way has your belief in reincarnation changed the way you live your life?
Click to expand...

If reincarnation exists, then there is evolution of the soul. I am therefore accountable to progress my soul through this evolution process. How does one progess the soul? In what direction and what purpose? I would not say this belief has 'changed' the way I live, but rather gave it shape. Always in focus for the good of the soul. Make efforts to avoid scarring or hindering the soul.
 
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'Cult' in modern usage is all about control. There are strict rules on behaviour and encouragement to leave behind your former life and cut ties to friends and family. People who feel lost can find a great deal of safety in these groups but it's extremely hard to leave once you're in. The most important thing to remember is that there is always someone in strict control and power corrupts. Be weary.
 
The way I feel about heaven and reincarnation is....I don't know...I currently don't see how we have any way to know....but it sure don't hurt to live as if.
 
Tea what you say can be true. It is being a bit too restrictive to say that it is always true. By your definition just about any fundamentalist leaning main stream religion should be called a cult as they are all too often about strict control and power over their adherents.

Just as often a religion is labeled a cult for no other reason than that they believe in different doctrines or practices. I.E. said doctrines are out of line with the commonly accepted ones at the time.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...inuum.svg/660px-Church-sect_continuum.svg.png

Howard P. Becker's church-sect typology, based on Ernst Troeltsch original theory and upon which the modern concept of cults, sects, and new religious movements is based. Source Wiki.
 

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