I’ll be honest – I think I am completely missing the point of this reading. Is Julian saying there is no sin because there are no accidents and God made it that way? If people make mistakes, but it is because God wanted it to be so, is it really a sin? Or just part of the plan? Again, I’d genuine appreciate someone taking the time to straighten that out for me since I don’t know much about Christianity on a detailed level.
One quote that I found relatively confusing was “For man beholds some deeds as well done and some deeds as evil, but our lord beholds them not so, for as all that exists in nature is of God’s making, so all that is done is rightly of God’s doing.” Now, it isn’t saying that all that is done rightly is of God’s doing, it says everything that is done is rightly of God’s doing. So where does evil and Satan’s temptations come in? I am truly not meaning to offend anyone, but I am sincerely wondering about it all. My understanding is that God is just and right (even though you are supposed to love thy enemy and somehow kill them off at the same time) so everything He made is right. That being said, people would be right no matter what, correct? And if nothing is an accident, it can’t really be a sin, right?
Julian also goes on to say, “for there is no doer but he.” Again, is she saying there is no evil or Satan to tempt people? Or, since God also made Satan, would he not also be right and good no matter what he did? Why would he be evil if that is the case? Or, is it that God made Satan to be evil to tempt people and see if people made the “right” choice? If that is the answer, it just leads me to believe that God is manipulative and not into sharing and loving like we’re led to believe.
If there is someone willing to sit down and discuss this with me sometime, I’d be really grateful. Truly.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The Cloud of Unknowing
This passage reminded me so much of Hui-Hai’s passage about mediation. Both really describe how to go about clearing your mind for your sole purpose – whether it be for enlightenment or for the love of God. They really discuss how hard it is to do at first – pray or meditate – and how you have to simply work through it until you reach the other side of things. And, when you do get there, how it will open your mind in ways unimaginable.
The third paragraph starts off, “Do not stop, therefore, but keep laboring in it till you feel delight. For when you first begin it, you find just a darkness and, as it were, a cloud of unknowing …” and that is exactly what it is like to begin the process of seeing through oneself. The passage goes on to say, “so you must put a cloud of forgetting beneath you …” and that sounds quite odd. However, if you think about it (no pun intended) you have to clear your mind of everything – forget everything – in order to make way for a higher power.
The concept doing everything for God and living life for God never made much sense to me, I have to admit. It all seems very manipulative and jealousy-driven and I always thought that if God were truly in you and guiding you, you should be able to look within yourself to find the truth, not have to worship and appease the very God who is supposedly within you. I believe in a God, but it is more of a universal power I suppose rather than the traditional view of the Christian God. And to be honest, I don’t really know exactly what I believe in, so I realize I really have no ground to say anything. However, after reading the Buddhist passages and Hindu passages – which I seem to be able to internalize a little more – I realized both eastern religion and western religion are saying the same thing in essence: clearing your mind for whatever higher power you believe in and not dwelling on materialism is what makes you more enlightened/closer to God. Once I saw it in that light it was easier for me to see past the inhibitions I had and see what the true message of the passage was. That is why this class rocks!
The third paragraph starts off, “Do not stop, therefore, but keep laboring in it till you feel delight. For when you first begin it, you find just a darkness and, as it were, a cloud of unknowing …” and that is exactly what it is like to begin the process of seeing through oneself. The passage goes on to say, “so you must put a cloud of forgetting beneath you …” and that sounds quite odd. However, if you think about it (no pun intended) you have to clear your mind of everything – forget everything – in order to make way for a higher power.
The concept doing everything for God and living life for God never made much sense to me, I have to admit. It all seems very manipulative and jealousy-driven and I always thought that if God were truly in you and guiding you, you should be able to look within yourself to find the truth, not have to worship and appease the very God who is supposedly within you. I believe in a God, but it is more of a universal power I suppose rather than the traditional view of the Christian God. And to be honest, I don’t really know exactly what I believe in, so I realize I really have no ground to say anything. However, after reading the Buddhist passages and Hindu passages – which I seem to be able to internalize a little more – I realized both eastern religion and western religion are saying the same thing in essence: clearing your mind for whatever higher power you believe in and not dwelling on materialism is what makes you more enlightened/closer to God. Once I saw it in that light it was easier for me to see past the inhibitions I had and see what the true message of the passage was. That is why this class rocks!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Hui-Hai
I thought Hui-Hai’s description of clearing one’s mind was just perfect. He really elaborates on just how to clear your mind of thoughts for mediation to reach that state of being truly unattached. “Trying to empty your minds, straining to attain enlightenment, blabbering about your understanding … all this is a waste of energy.” That seems so counterproductive seeing as how you’re told to focus on emptying your mind, but it is so true. One of the themes found in a lot of the passages we’ve read so far talk about how trying is nearly the worst thing you can do when it comes to reaching a level of enlightenment and a sense of being unattached. However, we are supposed to “look into your own mind; then the marvelous reality will manifest itself at all times.” How is it that we’re supposed to not try so hard, but try at the same time? I think it is about not trying too hard, or trying so hard you lose focus of what it is you’re actually trying to do.
Another point within the first quote I thought was interesting was about how talking about your understanding is a waste of time. People often talk about what they know to prove to others they actually know something when, really, they don’t know as much as they think. Sounds confusing, but it happens all the time. People are constantly overcompensating for what they know, can or cannot do. In doing that, they lose the real reward that comes from simply knowing or simply having an ability to do something well. It reminds me of something my dad told my little sister and I when my sister and I were showing off. We were really young and my sister was only following my lead, but when we were done skipping around the house, my dad said something to the effect of “If you know you’re good, know it and be good. Don’t go around talking about how good you are and forget to be good.” I don’t know why, but that really stuck with me and I think it is a good thing to remember!
Another point within the first quote I thought was interesting was about how talking about your understanding is a waste of time. People often talk about what they know to prove to others they actually know something when, really, they don’t know as much as they think. Sounds confusing, but it happens all the time. People are constantly overcompensating for what they know, can or cannot do. In doing that, they lose the real reward that comes from simply knowing or simply having an ability to do something well. It reminds me of something my dad told my little sister and I when my sister and I were showing off. We were really young and my sister was only following my lead, but when we were done skipping around the house, my dad said something to the effect of “If you know you’re good, know it and be good. Don’t go around talking about how good you are and forget to be good.” I don’t know why, but that really stuck with me and I think it is a good thing to remember!
Tzu-Ssu
I thought Tzu-ssu was a really awesome passage, although at this point it seems unoriginal. That may sound offensive or odd, but so many spiritual leaders seem to say the same thing – look inside yourself for the answers you seek. As repetitive as this passage may have seemed to me, there were still quotes that popped out at me. The first one was “the mature person pays attention to what is happening in his innermost self.” How many times have we seen this theme so far? Whether it is the concept of God that is within us or the unseen truth, there is undeniably something within us that we can turn to for inspiration and happiness. In this case it is the Tao and “if it is not inside you, it is not the Tao.”
Another quote that jumped out at me was the last part of the passage that starts out with “The mature person accepts his situation and doesn’t desire anything outside it.” If you find yourself in a particular situation, don’t worry about if it is good or bad, just go with the flow and be the master of yourself. Know yourself well enough to know how to act and react to new life experiences without stressing about the shoulda-coulda-woulda. I think it really speaks to the fact that we should take accountability for ourselves, appreciate what we have and don’t worry about what we do not have. Life is much less stressful when you can learn to roll with the punches and enjoy the moment versus always hoping and wishing for the future. It is easy to always blame someone else for your misfortune, or wish that life would’ve been different, but if you never take a look at what you have right in front of you as well as inside of yourself, you’ll never be able to appreciate anything.
Another quote that jumped out at me was the last part of the passage that starts out with “The mature person accepts his situation and doesn’t desire anything outside it.” If you find yourself in a particular situation, don’t worry about if it is good or bad, just go with the flow and be the master of yourself. Know yourself well enough to know how to act and react to new life experiences without stressing about the shoulda-coulda-woulda. I think it really speaks to the fact that we should take accountability for ourselves, appreciate what we have and don’t worry about what we do not have. Life is much less stressful when you can learn to roll with the punches and enjoy the moment versus always hoping and wishing for the future. It is easy to always blame someone else for your misfortune, or wish that life would’ve been different, but if you never take a look at what you have right in front of you as well as inside of yourself, you’ll never be able to appreciate anything.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Dogen
I absolutely loved The Practice of Mediation. I used to work for a company that was based around yoga and I had the opportunity to try many types of yoga and meditation techniques. I was quite skeptical when I joined the company because I’d never done either yoga or mediation before and I didn’t think I had the mental power to free my mind. Nor did I want to turn into a hippy, which is what I figured all modern-day yogis were. Boy, was I wrong! I learned to relax my body and clear my mind so it was free enough to really take in life instead of rushing through it. And, I did it all without becoming a hippy!
“Meditation is not a way to enlightenment, nor is it a method of achieving anything at all.” That is not true! I don’t think so, anyway. Meditation clears your mind over time of the busy-body everyday worries to make way for new and insightful thoughts. It leaves you feeling refreshed and in doing so it gives you a little bit of a new outlook on life. What you achieve is a feeling of the world being lifted off your shoulders and a deeper appreciation for what you have (health, patience, time). I always thought of it as emptying a filing cabinet at the end of the year. I know that is weird, but let me explain. You go into mediation worrying, thinking and stressing about various things. When you reach the state of nothingness your brain goes through the file cabinet of your day and shreds all of the unnecessary stuff and leaves plenty of room for things that really take priority. When you “come to” and pull yourself into thinking again, “you yourself are the mirror reflecting the solution of your problems.” I am more focused and much less overwhelmed and just move forward instead of spinning my wheels. I can more clearly see what needs to be done, what I can and cannot do, and that what I cannot do I shouldn’t worry about. It rocks!
“Meditation is not a way to enlightenment, nor is it a method of achieving anything at all.” That is not true! I don’t think so, anyway. Meditation clears your mind over time of the busy-body everyday worries to make way for new and insightful thoughts. It leaves you feeling refreshed and in doing so it gives you a little bit of a new outlook on life. What you achieve is a feeling of the world being lifted off your shoulders and a deeper appreciation for what you have (health, patience, time). I always thought of it as emptying a filing cabinet at the end of the year. I know that is weird, but let me explain. You go into mediation worrying, thinking and stressing about various things. When you reach the state of nothingness your brain goes through the file cabinet of your day and shreds all of the unnecessary stuff and leaves plenty of room for things that really take priority. When you “come to” and pull yourself into thinking again, “you yourself are the mirror reflecting the solution of your problems.” I am more focused and much less overwhelmed and just move forward instead of spinning my wheels. I can more clearly see what needs to be done, what I can and cannot do, and that what I cannot do I shouldn’t worry about. It rocks!
Yay, Buddha!
"It is proper to doubt." Indeed it is! I think it is great to question life - not for the sake of arguing or accusation, but to fully understand the reality around us. If we don't understand it, how can we truly appreciate it? Some people follow different things simply because it is tradition or they’ve been told to do so and rarely question why. However, there are some people who ask questions about why they are following something and find the answer reinforces their established beliefs and that is wonderful. Sometimes it knocks them out of their boots and that can be equally as wonderful. It is great to learn knew things, but it can be terrifying if you’re not ready for the answers. Since life always sends us challenges and seemingly random things, we should learn to expect it and appreciate it instead of letting it pass us by.
And speaking of appreciating, I loved the quote "Be a lamp to yourself. Be your own confidence." This stood out to me because whether I want to admit it or not I'm guilty of following someone else's path or depending on others for confidence. I think a lot of people do to a degree and some see it more than others. It is easy to get stuck doing things your peers are doing or things your parents want you to do because it is easier to go with the flow sometimes than to think for yourself and make your own decisions. I tried two majors to look productive and to please my mom before I found my current major, which I love and put a lot of thought and effort into before choosing. I've said certain things and acted certain ways to fit in, even if I felt it was wrong. Luckily, it all just got too bothersome to keep up with and I've been able to find myself and follow my own path. It has been more rewarding and liberating than anything else I've ever done.
And speaking of appreciating, I loved the quote "Be a lamp to yourself. Be your own confidence." This stood out to me because whether I want to admit it or not I'm guilty of following someone else's path or depending on others for confidence. I think a lot of people do to a degree and some see it more than others. It is easy to get stuck doing things your peers are doing or things your parents want you to do because it is easier to go with the flow sometimes than to think for yourself and make your own decisions. I tried two majors to look productive and to please my mom before I found my current major, which I love and put a lot of thought and effort into before choosing. I've said certain things and acted certain ways to fit in, even if I felt it was wrong. Luckily, it all just got too bothersome to keep up with and I've been able to find myself and follow my own path. It has been more rewarding and liberating than anything else I've ever done.
Monday, February 2, 2009
The Bible
First of all, I am not well versed in the Christian teachings and I do not mean to offend anyone. However, I am confused by some of the tone and reasoning behind some of the Biblical excerpts I read.
In the passage that began “You shall love the Unnamable with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your strength …” my initial feeling was that the statement seemed a little, well, bossy. I’m not quite sure how else to put it, but it really seems dominating. Maybe it is meant in a casual way as if we will all coincidentally come to love God on our own terms for valid reasons, or maybe it is a demand by a jealous god. The rest of the passage goes on to say when and where you must think about and love the Unnamable, and I feel like I may be missing a loving, underlying point. I fail to see how demanding love is actually loving.
Another quote I had a hard time wrapping my brain around was “I form light and create darkness; I make peace and create evil.” I would love for someone to post an explanation of this here on my blog so I can get another perspective on it in all seriousness. I don’t understand why God would create darkness and evil if he is everything that is good? And for that matter, is it wrong for me to think it is manipulative to create people for pleasure, demand they love you and do good, tempt them with evil, see which way they go, and when they do good there is supposedly a great reward for them? What exactly is it that happens if one were to do something bad? I have a hard time understanding that and maybe I just completely made a fool of myself talking out of my a**, but I would truly love for someone to give me their take on the subject or correct me on my misconceptions! J
In the passage that began “You shall love the Unnamable with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your strength …” my initial feeling was that the statement seemed a little, well, bossy. I’m not quite sure how else to put it, but it really seems dominating. Maybe it is meant in a casual way as if we will all coincidentally come to love God on our own terms for valid reasons, or maybe it is a demand by a jealous god. The rest of the passage goes on to say when and where you must think about and love the Unnamable, and I feel like I may be missing a loving, underlying point. I fail to see how demanding love is actually loving.
Another quote I had a hard time wrapping my brain around was “I form light and create darkness; I make peace and create evil.” I would love for someone to post an explanation of this here on my blog so I can get another perspective on it in all seriousness. I don’t understand why God would create darkness and evil if he is everything that is good? And for that matter, is it wrong for me to think it is manipulative to create people for pleasure, demand they love you and do good, tempt them with evil, see which way they go, and when they do good there is supposedly a great reward for them? What exactly is it that happens if one were to do something bad? I have a hard time understanding that and maybe I just completely made a fool of myself talking out of my a**, but I would truly love for someone to give me their take on the subject or correct me on my misconceptions! J
Shmelke of Nikolsburg
I have to admit that when I read Rabbi Shmelke’s conversation I had my eyes opened a little bit wider than usual. I’ve always thought that the matter of dealing with “the wicked” or people who do wrong has been an interesting topic. There are so many diverse opinions on the matter and it is hard to say which one is right. And it isn’t often that I think about it myself, either. I don’t often come face-to-face with wickedness or am forced to have an opinion of what I think should be done in that sort of situation. However, after reading Shmelke’s passage it is much easier to see a clear way of emotionally dealing with wickedness.
Shmelke’s last statement says that the our souls came out of the original soul and because of that we should treat each other with the same respect in which we would treat that original soul. How simple and yet profound. It is easy to hear the words “we are one” or “God is in us” and the like, but to truly apply it to the very way we treat each other – not just ourselves – was, I have to say, a new perspective for me. I’ve had a bumpy religious ride and haven’t fully embraced one religion over another and in doing so I’ve inadvertently blocked out a lot of amazing wisdom. Many religions have the mantra of “we are God” and “God is in you” but it never meant much to me because I never thought too much about it. God is in me, but I’m not sure I even believed in God, so what about it? But for whatever reason, Shmelke’s words got to me and connected the saying to someone other than myself, which is usually how I take God to be … within myself. Perhaps I just never thought about it so it never occurred to me that, duh, if it is in me it must be in you or anyone else. And who is to say I have to believe in any specific God to understand the concept that if we are all part of the same thing – no matter what that is – we should treat each other the way we’d treat that mysterious thing for what it is instead of being blinded by people’s superficial appearances. Obviously it was naive to think, but I’m glad I was able to find something to help me see more clearly.
Shmelke’s last statement says that the our souls came out of the original soul and because of that we should treat each other with the same respect in which we would treat that original soul. How simple and yet profound. It is easy to hear the words “we are one” or “God is in us” and the like, but to truly apply it to the very way we treat each other – not just ourselves – was, I have to say, a new perspective for me. I’ve had a bumpy religious ride and haven’t fully embraced one religion over another and in doing so I’ve inadvertently blocked out a lot of amazing wisdom. Many religions have the mantra of “we are God” and “God is in you” but it never meant much to me because I never thought too much about it. God is in me, but I’m not sure I even believed in God, so what about it? But for whatever reason, Shmelke’s words got to me and connected the saying to someone other than myself, which is usually how I take God to be … within myself. Perhaps I just never thought about it so it never occurred to me that, duh, if it is in me it must be in you or anyone else. And who is to say I have to believe in any specific God to understand the concept that if we are all part of the same thing – no matter what that is – we should treat each other the way we’d treat that mysterious thing for what it is instead of being blinded by people’s superficial appearances. Obviously it was naive to think, but I’m glad I was able to find something to help me see more clearly.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
