How would interfaith work with those who are not into worship?

[Tony Bristow-Stagg]

Be advised, my thinking worship is cringy is my own personal hang-up I am trying to work through.

I see worship is really only asking for the ability to find our best highest self, the self that gives to all humanity in preference of one's own desires.

Meditation is a form or worship, so is work if done for the right reasons.

Regards Tony

 

[seattlegal]

I see. Zen is not that big on devotion.

I need heated debate or koan work for revelation: devotion just doesn't do it for me. In fact, I think I got this cringe to worship while using the Gospel of Thomas for koan work during my koan junkie days. (One would think that it was designed as a koan book.) I also had my stint as a jhana junkie, but that's another story.

 

[Ella S.]

Interfaith to me reflects the oneness of humanity, a unity in our diversity.

When we embrace our oneness as a human race, we can overcome these minor barriers.

Regards Tony

What if someone's just an abusive egomaniac? I don't mean those words as insults, they were intentionally chosen to reflect the sort of person that I have the most difficulty in finding common ground with. The two traits, egomania and abusiveness, often seem to drown out any common goal we might have and undermine any sort of cooperation.

 

[wil]

What if someone's just an abusive egomaniac? I don't mean those words as insults, they were intentionally chosen to reflect the sort of person that I have the most difficulty in finding common ground with. The two traits, egomania and abusiveness, often seem to drown out any common goal we might have and undermine any sort of cooperation.

I think that is just it... Maybe we can't expect interfaith to work for everyone?

Ya gotta be willing to try?

@seattlegal Idk if I ever worshipped. I mean I never bought a creator god being beyond Santa claus.

But I still thought sitting to meditate....or working to discern scriptures meaning regarding this particular moment in my life...was my form of worship...seeking that connection...as

 

[Cino]

I also had my stint as a jhana junkie, but that's another story.

Whenever you feel like telling it, I'll listen with interest, and who knows, maybe heated debate will ensue about the criteria, standards, and yard sticks for the jhanas.

 

[seattlegal]

Whenever you feel like telling it, I'll listen with interest, and who knows, maybe heated debate will ensue about the criteria, standards, and yard sticks for the jhanas.

I'll post a pdf I wrote about the Jhanas for western LHP folk in the Buddhism section. Thomas may remember my loopiness when I meditated on "non-relativistic space" (try wrapping your head around that!) when someone suggested I meditate on "absolute space." I didn't know they meant "infinite space" instead.

 

[Cino]

my loopiness when I meditated on "non-relativistic space" (try wrapping your head around that!)

It does get pretty weird, I agree. Looking forward to that pdf!

 

[Thomas]

It's a tricky one, I suppose it's all about causing/taking offence?

My pagan father-in-law could never wrap his head round my Catholicism, but part of his summer solstice celebrations was a ritual performance – very shamanistic, fire and water, Father Sun, Mother Moon – and he would ask me to assist him in his ceremonies. Very much the 'go there, hold that, pass me this' kind of thing, but the fact was he did.

I'm sure some Christians would recoil at my assisting at what must be, in their eyes, a satanic ritual. But the simple fact is, helping him in the performance of his faith never interfered or impeded me in mine. Nor did his aim and intentions offend me.

Likewise, when I did martial arts, I used to bow to the sword, the sensei and the kamiza, but I never saw that as 'having false gods', to me it was in respect of those who paved the way for the art I followed, but I know, again, many Christians would see this as idolatry.

It's a balance ...

 

['Amir Alzzalam]

I'm losing track of what this thread is about . . .

 

[seattlegal]

I'm losing track of what this thread is about . . .

The nature of humans, god, and worship.

 

['Amir Alzzalam]

The nature of humans, god, and worship.

Oh Ok, that's right . . . then I only worship my Greater Self, no harm comes from that.

 

[Tony Bristow-Stagg]

What if someone's just an abusive egomaniac? I don't mean those words as insults, they were intentionally chosen to reflect the sort of person that I have the most difficulty in finding common ground with. The two traits, egomania and abusiveness, often seem to drown out any common goal we might have and undermine any sort of cooperation.

That is the challenge we face when we are asked to Love all. Justice is a key here as love also requires that justice is observed.

I think once humanity, as a majority, starts to find our unity, then extreme mental conditions will also become more conservative, medical science will also advance in these conditions.

Regards Tony

 

[Ella S.]

That is the challenge we face when we are asked to Love all. Justice is a key here as love also requires that justice is observed.

I think once humanity, as a majority, starts to find our unity, then extreme mental conditions will also become more conservative, medical science will also advance in these conditions.

Regards Tony

In other words, love them but maintain healthy boundaries?

When you put it so simply, it seems almost like it should be obvious. Thank you.

 

[Tony Bristow-Stagg]

In other words, love them but maintain healthy boundaries?

When you put it so simply, it seems almost like it should be obvious. Thank you.

Yes, we have to be wise. Sometimes people can be unhealthy to our state of mind. It is OK if we are not able to handle some people, as all of us have some flaws to remove from our own selves. Love is looking beyond the flaws to find the good, if we do that, then even the hardest of hearts can change over time.

All the best and may naught but happiness and health be your lot in life. Regards Tony