humanator

But I can't tell you what it is. From my experience, the other-worldly, what is beyond our known reality, is not like any God we have imagined. Or if God is even the right word to use. Yet I know there is something other. All the major and minor religions, philosophies, and psychological schools are mostly, at best, vain approximates of this something other. Its order is unique: per person. It is a relationship with us that is singular and one of a kind, never to be repeated. The definition of unique. It is as if each of us was, in some small but definitive way, a different sub-personality of God or whatever. The biggest hint we have to a possible connection with the Great Something Other is "no mind." It can be translated as a fierce integrity of being: totally at-one with our essence. This idea is pervasive in all major religions but always assigned either a minor or conflicting role. The story below will help, hopefully, illustrate this point.

Thomas Merton went to a conference in Japan between Catholic monks and priests and Buddhists monks and priests. The monks and priests of both were in separate rooms. In the room with the priests, there was much loud and angry debate over theological points and practices. In the room with the monks there was just little utterances of "yes" and "ahha" in exchanges. Common ground on a deeply visceral and soul level. Does that prove anything? No. But it does hint.

Paul wrote about "no mind" but did not call it such. He said "have no boast." Buddhism and Hinduism in general, and the Jewish Kabbala and Islamic Sufism, the mystical branches of those two faiths, have the basic principle of "no mind" as central to a relationship with the Great Something Other. "Have no image" is another way of phrasing it. Such concepts grates against our Western thinking. Individualism is our foundation. But we may be tragically wrong.

out of the woods Loc: to hell and gone New York State

Are you perhaps speaking of God? Does it grate against your liberal mind to consider you may be accountable to Him. You would rather be part creator, are you waiting for your spaceship. The acid tests continue. You would reject his direct revelation and allow your fragile mind so at the mercy of the elements to attemp to grasp a knowledge of the universe and our place in it. Groovy.

Quakerwidow Loc: Chestertown, MD

nice post

humanator

Not sure, friend. Maybe. I was raised as a Roman Catholic and spent sixteen years in that education system, graduating from the College of Santa Fe in '91. Reading the Bible for the first time for classes, I saw something I was no prepared for. It did not agree with Roman Catholic practices and theology. Whether this freed me to look deeper or deluded me that I was, I found in Buddhism a kinship with Christ. But neither religion had all the truth. Judaism is mostly a religion of dust devils. The harshness of the desert and being surrounded by enemies for its meager givings translate into a "jealous God," one of vengeance and judgment. Understandable. But the OT is nothing more than the best approximation of what stirred their souls. It is not God, to my eyes.

humanator

Thank you very much, I truly appreciate your comment.

sisboombaa

May I recommend "A Course in Miracles" for your reading. It was (and may be still) published by: Foundation for Inner Peace, Tiburon, California. Most large book stores carry a few copies. Would think you could locate a place of purchase on the internet.
Good luck.

Weaver

A pastor made this quote," God mades all the rules and were responsible for them rather we choose to are not". Walk outside and look at all of God's creation, He stated that it will speak of Him.

humanator

Perhaps you should take a moment to re-read what I said instead of being so quick to pass judgment.

humanator

Thank you.

humanator

Ten years studying it, thank you, along with other spiritual paths, but it was ACIM that broke the kinda of impasse I was having with this insight: "There is no sacrifice." That was a great light, for me.

humanator

That, to me, is the exact opposite of Christianity.

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Perhaps Spirituality ~~“the search for meaning in life events and a yearning for connectedness to the universe” or that " something"...

It is within you.....mind, soul and spirit...

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Fabulous it is.. I read the book and attended a few session courses.. Uplifting, mind cleansing, spirituality of oneness...loved it and at times still read things from it..

humanator

I am not so sure that the search for meaning in life events is useful. It is far too dependent on far too many variables. Search to me denotes a purposeful looking for something. What part of me is searching? What needs or desires or pain or pride or fear may be directing it? Of course, if we want to grant Reason as being above the personal, then it seems the search appears wise. But how can it be and is it good to rise above the personal? If such a search is just to give succor or to justify our actions, isn't it just a delusion? My question is, I guess, is it possible to find meaning without searching for it? Can it be stumbled upon unexpectedly? Does it have to do with our life experiences? Is looking with simple wonder more accurate than looking with directed intent? Or, is there a meaning outside of who we are, what we know, and our experience? A truly "something other."

sisboombaa

Humanator, I think if you reread your above post and think about what you wrote you will find you are answering some of your own questions. Use your higher self, not your everyday self, to realize you know much more than your ego wants you to know.