This was one of the shortest readings, yet I think he had a lot of good things to say about the Christian faith. For example, "To all who receive him, he gives the power to become children of God." This is the simplicity of the Christian faith. God only wants us to accept him, and receive him. That's our choice.
"You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free". This is a very famous quoted saying. The second part is especially true. When you lie, you are not free since you have to keep track of that lie, and usually have to come up with other lies to cover up the first lie. You feel trapped under the lie, and not until you tell the truth can you be free; especially from guilt. Guilt is the number one reason why you feel trapped in the lie.
"Love comes from God, and everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God; those who don't love, don't know God; for God is love." I like this passage. If you don't love, you can't know God because he is love, therefore you should love others in order to even understand God.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Jesus of Nazareth
I liked these readings, they've been very interesting. I liked the passage about loving your enemies. It's so true. Have you ever tried to be really nice to those who just don't like you? If you can keep it up, people will generally be nice back. This is difficult since most people usually react negatively to those who don't like them. In this passage, it states that you should do this in obedience to God, but there's no need, because it's human nature to be nice to those who are nice to you, so if you step up and are the nice one first, others will be nice back.
"Don't judge, and you will not be judged; don't condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you". This reminds me a little bit of Karma from Buddhism and Hinduism. If you do good to others, forgive, and give as well as refrain from judging and condemning, then it will come back to you. By not doing these things to others they will be less likely to do them to you.
"Don't judge, and you will not be judged; don't condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you". This reminds me a little bit of Karma from Buddhism and Hinduism. If you do good to others, forgive, and give as well as refrain from judging and condemning, then it will come back to you. By not doing these things to others they will be less likely to do them to you.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Shunryu Suzuki
Suzuki says a lot about emptying the mind. So everyone's mind "includes everthing within itself", which is "rich and sufficient within itself". Keep this mind, but empty it and try to keep it open to everything, not closed off. This, he says is why the beginners have many possibilities, and the experts have few.
I did like his analogy about breathing. Our mind needs to follow our breathing. Although when we are breathing in, we are breathing into our "inner world" and when we breath out we are breathing into the "outer world", both of which are limitless, and are considered one whole world. They are considered one whole world since our body and the outer world are one, they both rely on the other, and one can't live without the other. This breathing air passes through a swinging door. And when your "mind is pure and calm enough to follow this movement, there is nothing: no 'I', no world, no mind or body; just a swinging door." I love that! After all this focusing on the breathing we need to stop focusing until there is nothing left to focus on...just the swinging door or the effects of your breathing, not the breathing itself.
I did like his analogy about breathing. Our mind needs to follow our breathing. Although when we are breathing in, we are breathing into our "inner world" and when we breath out we are breathing into the "outer world", both of which are limitless, and are considered one whole world. They are considered one whole world since our body and the outer world are one, they both rely on the other, and one can't live without the other. This breathing air passes through a swinging door. And when your "mind is pure and calm enough to follow this movement, there is nothing: no 'I', no world, no mind or body; just a swinging door." I love that! After all this focusing on the breathing we need to stop focusing until there is nothing left to focus on...just the swinging door or the effects of your breathing, not the breathing itself.
The Buddha
Buddha had many interesting insights into life.
Compared to Christianity, which main argument is obey, Buddha says it's okay to doubt, including holy scriptures, logic, appearances, and religious leaders. Very different from many other religions. Rely on yourself rather than scriptures and leaders? New way of looking at things, for me at least. Then he goes into a simple saying of it it's bad for you, don't do it, if it's good for you, do it. That seems reasonable and rational. My parents have told me that since I was little. Everything in moderation.
I also like how he says "As a mother at the risk of her life watches over her only child, so let everyone cultivate a boundlessly compassionate mind toward all beings." The love a mother has for a child is a strong bond. If we look at everyone in the same love or even half of the same love that a mother has for her child, wouldn't we live in a safer and more pleasant environment?
Buddha's story about the man crossing the river with the raft is very interesting. He is comparing that crossing with the river with truths and teachings needed to overcome life's trials. Once you have passed or worked through that trial, you need to let go of that truth or teaching. Leave it there at the side of the river. This didn't make sense to me. Don't you want to keep hold of those teachings to give to others or to make sure that you don't make the same mistake again? Maybe I'm missing what he's saying.
Compared to Christianity, which main argument is obey, Buddha says it's okay to doubt, including holy scriptures, logic, appearances, and religious leaders. Very different from many other religions. Rely on yourself rather than scriptures and leaders? New way of looking at things, for me at least. Then he goes into a simple saying of it it's bad for you, don't do it, if it's good for you, do it. That seems reasonable and rational. My parents have told me that since I was little. Everything in moderation.
I also like how he says "As a mother at the risk of her life watches over her only child, so let everyone cultivate a boundlessly compassionate mind toward all beings." The love a mother has for a child is a strong bond. If we look at everyone in the same love or even half of the same love that a mother has for her child, wouldn't we live in a safer and more pleasant environment?
Buddha's story about the man crossing the river with the raft is very interesting. He is comparing that crossing with the river with truths and teachings needed to overcome life's trials. Once you have passed or worked through that trial, you need to let go of that truth or teaching. Leave it there at the side of the river. This didn't make sense to me. Don't you want to keep hold of those teachings to give to others or to make sure that you don't make the same mistake again? Maybe I'm missing what he's saying.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Shmelke of Nikolsburg
I thought this was a very interesting passage. The disciple asks questions that most of us are wondering about. It is hard to love someone when they have wronged us. When this happens we feel justified in revenge or some form of revenge. The rabbi's answer about how all our souls are one makes me think of that passage we read last week by Tu-shun when he says "In one jewel there are all the jewels." They are both referring to how all of our souls are connected. In this passage that is a good enough reason to love a neighbor who has wronged you. We all make mistakes and mess up, but does that mean that we have to go out and punish each other for every wrong? If we punish him, we are only hurting ourselves.
The disciple then goes on to ask, If a man is "wicked before God, how can I love him?" This seems like it would be a very good reason to turn your back on your neighbor. But Shmelke responds that this neighbor is lost in a maze, and that you should love him regardless. His soul, as well as your soul are connected to God. Why would you turn on someone who is lost and needs help?
The disciple then goes on to ask, If a man is "wicked before God, how can I love him?" This seems like it would be a very good reason to turn your back on your neighbor. But Shmelke responds that this neighbor is lost in a maze, and that you should love him regardless. His soul, as well as your soul are connected to God. Why would you turn on someone who is lost and needs help?
The Bible Reading
When I read the first passage, that God saw what he had made and thought it was good, I thought that this goes against a popular belief that God is this menacing being that is out there to destroy the fun in everyone's life. He saw from the beginning that he liked what he had created. Why would that change so so drastically over the years?
"I am that I am". That phrase has always confused me. I still don't know what God meant by that. Is he trying to say he's so powerful that we cannot name him? Or that he is too worthy to be labeled with a human name? Or keeping his real name from us? No clue.
These five words "Love your neighbor as yourself" have such a simple message, yet they are very hard to follow. It is hard to love others as much as we love ourselves, since practically everything we do is to bring some sort of pleasure to ourselves. Yeah we do nice things to others, but don't we want something in return? A thank you, a smile, to feel appreciated, a favor. I think it's asking us to love others as unselfishly as we love ourselves selfishly. Does that make sense? Very wise, but difficult words to follow.
This was an interesting passage, I actually don't think I've read it before. "I form light and create darkness; I make peace and create evil." God created everything. Both the opposites light and darkness; peace and evil. How can we appreciate one without the other? It makes sense to create both. People always ask how God let bad things happen. I think it's so we can appreciate the good times. If everything was good and happy all the time, would we appreciate it or even notice how good it is? Not if we haven't experienced the complete opposite.
"I am that I am". That phrase has always confused me. I still don't know what God meant by that. Is he trying to say he's so powerful that we cannot name him? Or that he is too worthy to be labeled with a human name? Or keeping his real name from us? No clue.
These five words "Love your neighbor as yourself" have such a simple message, yet they are very hard to follow. It is hard to love others as much as we love ourselves, since practically everything we do is to bring some sort of pleasure to ourselves. Yeah we do nice things to others, but don't we want something in return? A thank you, a smile, to feel appreciated, a favor. I think it's asking us to love others as unselfishly as we love ourselves selfishly. Does that make sense? Very wise, but difficult words to follow.
This was an interesting passage, I actually don't think I've read it before. "I form light and create darkness; I make peace and create evil." God created everything. Both the opposites light and darkness; peace and evil. How can we appreciate one without the other? It makes sense to create both. People always ask how God let bad things happen. I think it's so we can appreciate the good times. If everything was good and happy all the time, would we appreciate it or even notice how good it is? Not if we haven't experienced the complete opposite.
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