Spiritual Center
What do you find central to being a spiritual or religious person – or, if these aren’t the words you’d choose, perhaps “central to a life well lived” or “central to being a good person?"
Do you see your answer to this question as widely or even universally applicable or more like, “what feels right for me?"
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Please note – I’ve always responded to every individual comment, but going forward I may need to comment only occasionally because of increased time constraints. You may want to focus more attention than in the past on responding to points raised in the discussion threads...
Do you see your answer to this question as widely or even universally applicable or more like, “what feels right for me?"
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Please note – I’ve always responded to every individual comment, but going forward I may need to comment only occasionally because of increased time constraints. You may want to focus more attention than in the past on responding to points raised in the discussion threads...
Posted by Paul at 5:23 PM Permalink
16 Comments:
Faith.
Faith requires the kinds of hope, purpose, drive, and a sense of realism we often lack as puppets of a side-show oriented media, government, and church.
This answer isn't a veiled encouragement of your book's title either -- it's the reason you found me, and I found you -- it's the reason we all find each other and vice versa.
We are relational beings, dependent on faith in "something." The relations we keep are the encouragement we seek and even sometimes need.
Without faith, we are something other than what we are meant to be.
Love,
Timothy
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. (Matt 25:33)
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matt 25:41)
---words from which many of today’s Christians understandably want to distance themselves; but the concept persists.
In my understanding of the word “spiritual”, there is a kind of riches beyond the material. Some in the human family are drawn to these riches and others may not consciously be aware of them. A life may be well-lived and a person may give generously to others with with little or no spiritual consciousness. Of course the world has to defend itself from behaviour that threatens its well-being, but this can be done without judgement and without an over-riding notion of good or evil. The courts agonize over “mad” or “bad” as if it made a difference.
i should say that i have not been visiting you regularly except occassionally when at times when a comment on some previous posts reaches me...
Paul,i have been through a tough phase in the past week for the first time in about 13 years or so...
i can't disclose anything here...but i think now all is a passe' and i feel much much happy about how God acted on me...
I have three posts at my three blogs -- i know you have time constraints .....but they are representations of what i have gone through..i would be most blessed if, when ever you get a bit of time this week, visit and read me...
because i remember the blessings of a progressively religious person for many a dream that i held in those first days of blogging ...
i feel a divine presence in the way things turned out for me...and in that shceme of things you remain a light source...
hope you will come
HERE -- being "central to a life well lived" feels right for me-- because many lives are involved...
definition of a good person is too subjective and it often does not consider the other people involved in a decision..
thats all i could say...
prayers, hope you are better these days...
devika
That is a tricky question. I know many who walk on what they call a spiritual path, but it is not based on organized religion per se. I am training to be a yoga teacher; one aspect that is emphasized is to live Yoga as a lifestyle: that includes devotion, study, diet, exercise, meditation, prayer. It is in the how; Catholics recite the rosary, yogis use the 108 beaded necklace to chant mantras and go deeper into meditation, for example.
Wiccians consider themselves on a spiritual path--their code is to harm noone. In my book, that makes them good people. Many atheists are good people, while many believers in another faith are horrid if we judge by their actions. I guess I am of the mind that we all have it in us to be good and horrible--I suppose I've read too much Freud and Nietzche. So to be "spiritual" is to seek God, however he/she is defined. If seeking God means seeking goodness, then atheists seek God, they just don't believe he/she exists. If we define good as deeds, then almost anyone qualifies as the worst criminal has done at least one good action in his or her life. However if seeking good means seeking enlightement or why are we here, that sort of thing, that number is woefully small. Many who profess a faith are pretty sure they know the answer to why they are here.
I guess in conclusion, spirituality is not about following rules but seeing beyond the 5 senses into a different realm that defines us. I don't know where I would put an atheist in that definition, but I think many seek God as spirit without realizing it.
The kind of behavior Jesus said would be punished is self-punishing, from even a psychological standpoint -- not just a spiritual one. The point he was making, in my view, is that the suffering and loss of fulfillment that comes from being self-centered and uncompassionate passes on into whatever lies beyond life. It's the Christian church -- not Jesus -- that uses distorted scare-tactics like fire and brimstone (probably one of those misapplied translations you fear).
What’s central to spirituality is…
Faith
A rich inner life
Doing no harm
Insight into another realm
Integrity
Unified theory anyone? Other ideas?
now, Good luck with US elections!
its a historic election by all means...
wishes
devika
hope you are doing good. prayers are with you always..
1) Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (with an understanding of how their needs may differ from yours)
2) From each according to their abilities-- to each according to their needs.
3) Love God with all my heart and soul and strength. (I say God for lack of a better word)
I feel that Jesus was my role model for these values. (I wouldn't say he has an exclusive on them!)
lol you commented on it too :D
**What do you find central to being a spiritual or religious person – or, if these aren’t the words you’d choose, perhaps “central to a life well lived” or “central to being a good person?"
Interesting qn there.
I'd say, to me, its abt knowing when to let go, being able to tolerate one another somehow, not being affected by wut ppl think abt me and having inner peace. Operating on love and peace.
Keshi.
but i just failed to note that it was you...some other Paul was also there few days back..i just thought it would be only him..
thank you Paul, thank you so much...
the virtual bad phase is really getting over..my only prayer is let no heart be bruised by my words there..at that point, i had to just throw my weight off...it was all weighing too much
anyway, thank you..thank you so much
wishes!
devika
hope you are doing fine
today Vivian too sent me an invi to book reads..need to see how it works..just accepted.
works for atheists, believers and "knowers" alike.
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