For years, I have been participating in various groups connected with certain religions and philosophies. From a religion point of view, I grew up in and participate in the Latter-Day Saint (Mormon) faith. From a philosophical point of view, I follow what may be called philosophical daoism. From a personal sanity point of view, I follow advaita vedanta, seeing unity of all that is, and practicing detached action. I get tremendous spirituality from listening to the Quran being chanted in Arabic, in participating in the latin mass, especially where the music is Palestrina, in worshiping in temples where I can sit in silent awe.
I deeply appreciate a comment attributed the great soul, Mohandas K. Gandhi: "I am a Muslim, and a Hindu, and a Christian, and a Jew, and so are all of you".
I do not think my beliefs, however, are typical of any of these great traditions, but I believe that my beliefs are consistent with many of the their core beliefs, and represent what I believe these faith systems point to.
There is something beyond what words can define and what thoughts can grasp. I believe that most people feel it, and seek for an understanding of what "it" is. Faith traditions often provide the answers people seek, claiming revelation that lays "it" out -- the meaning and purpose of life and what lies beyond. My sense is that when we dispute about the unknowable, we miss the point of the journey.
Because the destination is unknown and unknowable, because the origins are equally so, it occurs to me that the journey is really all that matters. The great benefit I have found in all faith traditions is when they concern them with the journey, the way to act, in the here and now. Some may think it foolish of me to just enjoy the journey and to not be concerned about the destination or origins, and indeed a fool am I for that reason.
An interesting quote from Isaiah 35:8 expresses my identity here:
And an highway shall be there, and a Way, and it shall be called the Way of holiness; and it shall be for those: the wayfaring ones, though fools, shall not err therein.
This being the case, I have come to identify myself as a wayfaring fool.
Welcome to my blog.
I deeply appreciate a comment attributed the great soul, Mohandas K. Gandhi: "I am a Muslim, and a Hindu, and a Christian, and a Jew, and so are all of you".
I do not think my beliefs, however, are typical of any of these great traditions, but I believe that my beliefs are consistent with many of the their core beliefs, and represent what I believe these faith systems point to.
There is something beyond what words can define and what thoughts can grasp. I believe that most people feel it, and seek for an understanding of what "it" is. Faith traditions often provide the answers people seek, claiming revelation that lays "it" out -- the meaning and purpose of life and what lies beyond. My sense is that when we dispute about the unknowable, we miss the point of the journey.
Because the destination is unknown and unknowable, because the origins are equally so, it occurs to me that the journey is really all that matters. The great benefit I have found in all faith traditions is when they concern them with the journey, the way to act, in the here and now. Some may think it foolish of me to just enjoy the journey and to not be concerned about the destination or origins, and indeed a fool am I for that reason.
An interesting quote from Isaiah 35:8 expresses my identity here:
And an highway shall be there, and a Way, and it shall be called the Way of holiness; and it shall be for those: the wayfaring ones, though fools, shall not err therein.
This being the case, I have come to identify myself as a wayfaring fool.
Welcome to my blog.
I have enjoyed *and been enlightened* by what I've read here so far!
ReplyDeleteThank you!