"For a long time I used to circumambulate the Kaaba. When I attained God, I saw the Kaaba circumambulating me" - In this passage, it seems as though he is trying to say that when you have God, you are empowered. You are more than just one who is worshiping, but one that has achieved the love of God and see it surrounding you.
"Anyone whose reward from God is deferred until tomorrow has not truly worshipped Him today" - I found this sentence very interesting because generally we think of those who are forced to wait for their rewards as virtuous, but here he is saying that God rewards you everyday. God's rewards are not to be waited for, because if you truly know God and truly worship him, he does not wait to praise you for your actions.
"A single atom of the sweetness of wisdom in a man's heart is better than a thousand pavilions in Paradise" - Wisdom is more virtuous than luxury. This passage reminds me of the idea that the best things come in small packages.
"For thirty years I used to say, "Do this" and "Give that"; but when I reached the first stage of wisdom, I said, "O God, be mind and do whatever you want"". - This illustrates the surrender to God that is taught in Islam. Again, we see the importance of wisdom and this surrender to the higher power. In telling God to do whatever He wants, the individual is giving up all power and desire to be God's.
Overall, I found these passages to be enlightening and found little bits of great knowledge in each of them.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Muhhamad
“Islam means ‘surrender to God’. When we surrender ourselves fully, there is nothing but God: not even a ‘there’, not even an ‘is’, not even a ‘God’”. This concept is mind boggling. To have such deep faith to be able to surrender like that is an amazing idea. To surrender would be to give up everything, all of your ego and thoughts, and focus in on just God. The passage seems that at that point, God isn’t even God, because its all that you know.
To me, trying to grasp these couple of sentences is like trying to understand how large the universe is….its just impossible. I have never experienced the will to surrender to something, so much to think that all else would become obsolete.
The reading goes on to describe God and how large, great, powerful, and almighty He is. I thought it was very beautifully written and depicts God as a truly profound deity. I thought this sentence was special, “He is the first and the last, the manifest and the hidden, and has knowledge of all things”. If you really think about that sentence, you begin to get a sense of how powerful God is to the people of this religion. God is everything and in everything and a part of everything, to make the whole.
Again, it is just amazing to sit back and think of a being this impressive and all-knowing as God. To have created everything and be the King of Heaven and Earth is a great power.
To me, trying to grasp these couple of sentences is like trying to understand how large the universe is….its just impossible. I have never experienced the will to surrender to something, so much to think that all else would become obsolete.
The reading goes on to describe God and how large, great, powerful, and almighty He is. I thought it was very beautifully written and depicts God as a truly profound deity. I thought this sentence was special, “He is the first and the last, the manifest and the hidden, and has knowledge of all things”. If you really think about that sentence, you begin to get a sense of how powerful God is to the people of this religion. God is everything and in everything and a part of everything, to make the whole.
Again, it is just amazing to sit back and think of a being this impressive and all-knowing as God. To have created everything and be the King of Heaven and Earth is a great power.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Dogen
This passage focuses on the idea that in order to achieve an awakening, one must not try too hard to be enlightened, but rather “forget the self and be enlightened by all things”. To find enlightenment is a complicated matter, but this passage tries to explain that every person, not just a religious leader has access to this hightened spirituality.
“To let the self be awakened by all things is enlightenment. To be enlightened about delusion is to be a Buddha. To be deluded in the midst of enlightenment is to be an ordinary person”. This delusion is a main focus in the passage. Delusion is not being able to see things clearly or be clouded by something false. In order to have an “awakening” and be a Buddha, one is aware that delusion exists in this world and in spirit rises above to understand things through this cloud.
The author continues to focus on letting go of the idea that we must search for enlightenment, and rather letting the self become enlightened naturally. To find a true awakening, the individual must not get caught up in the bliss of finding enlightenment, for they will be deluded and mislead in this search.
It is almost as if the author is warning that the truly enlightened individual must surpass the “honeymoon” stage of ones relationship with spirituality in order to find a TRUE awakening.
“To study Buddhism is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by all things”. The enlightenment BY ALL THINGS is a fundamental belief in Buddhism which I find has truly great meaning. It is not often as humans that we look beyond ourselves and trust ALL THINGS for answers. Buddhism teaches that in order to be truly enlightened you must realize that nothing is permanent and that in realization of the changing lives of all things, awakening occurs.
The concept of no permanence seems strange at first, but really makes sense if you think into it. Although we tend to be more comfortable with material and non-changing items, it is important to understand that the world around us changes every day. I found this another interesting point in the reading that made me think more about the profound teachings and ideas in the Buddhist quest for true enlightenment.
“To let the self be awakened by all things is enlightenment. To be enlightened about delusion is to be a Buddha. To be deluded in the midst of enlightenment is to be an ordinary person”. This delusion is a main focus in the passage. Delusion is not being able to see things clearly or be clouded by something false. In order to have an “awakening” and be a Buddha, one is aware that delusion exists in this world and in spirit rises above to understand things through this cloud.
The author continues to focus on letting go of the idea that we must search for enlightenment, and rather letting the self become enlightened naturally. To find a true awakening, the individual must not get caught up in the bliss of finding enlightenment, for they will be deluded and mislead in this search.
It is almost as if the author is warning that the truly enlightened individual must surpass the “honeymoon” stage of ones relationship with spirituality in order to find a TRUE awakening.
“To study Buddhism is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by all things”. The enlightenment BY ALL THINGS is a fundamental belief in Buddhism which I find has truly great meaning. It is not often as humans that we look beyond ourselves and trust ALL THINGS for answers. Buddhism teaches that in order to be truly enlightened you must realize that nothing is permanent and that in realization of the changing lives of all things, awakening occurs.
The concept of no permanence seems strange at first, but really makes sense if you think into it. Although we tend to be more comfortable with material and non-changing items, it is important to understand that the world around us changes every day. I found this another interesting point in the reading that made me think more about the profound teachings and ideas in the Buddhist quest for true enlightenment.
John the Evangelist
"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"
This is a very powerful statement. To say that one "being", one force, one power, one thing....God... is love is a largely important claim in Christianity. Love comes in many shapes and sizes. You cant LOVE chocolate ice cream, your new dress, Starbucks coffee, the book you started reading yesterday, or even the smell of roses. But this LOVE, is different from loving your brother, sister, mother, father, aunt, uncle, or cousins. One can LOVE their best friend or be in LOVE with their wife. I LOVE the color green, but would never really sacrifice anything for it, as I would my brother or boyfriend.
LOVE is everywhere, in everything, and a fundamental element of human nature...but to be able to love must you know God? I know many people who have no spiritual relationship with God, yet claim to LOVE many things.
Is this possible?
Is it possible to never love? That seems like such a terrible life. To never have a connection with something that is strong enough to admite you LOVE it seems so sad. But does this happen? What is the connection between God and LOVE.
If God truly is love then it seems so simple...find God and you will find true love.
To me, God really is love. He loves unconditionally. Through thick and thin, rich and poor His love wont fade out like my love for the color green.
To me, this passage describes a different kind of love. One that is true, and pure, and tough. Tough love. God isnt always going to be there to hold your hand of give you a new car when you want one, but in times of ones deepest losses, emotional struggles, and weakness the love of God shines through.
I believe this passage is illustrating this point. If you know this true love, then you know God. You find God within youself and love others the way He has shown you to love.
This is a very powerful statement. To say that one "being", one force, one power, one thing....God... is love is a largely important claim in Christianity. Love comes in many shapes and sizes. You cant LOVE chocolate ice cream, your new dress, Starbucks coffee, the book you started reading yesterday, or even the smell of roses. But this LOVE, is different from loving your brother, sister, mother, father, aunt, uncle, or cousins. One can LOVE their best friend or be in LOVE with their wife. I LOVE the color green, but would never really sacrifice anything for it, as I would my brother or boyfriend.
LOVE is everywhere, in everything, and a fundamental element of human nature...but to be able to love must you know God? I know many people who have no spiritual relationship with God, yet claim to LOVE many things.
Is this possible?
Is it possible to never love? That seems like such a terrible life. To never have a connection with something that is strong enough to admite you LOVE it seems so sad. But does this happen? What is the connection between God and LOVE.
If God truly is love then it seems so simple...find God and you will find true love.
To me, God really is love. He loves unconditionally. Through thick and thin, rich and poor His love wont fade out like my love for the color green.
To me, this passage describes a different kind of love. One that is true, and pure, and tough. Tough love. God isnt always going to be there to hold your hand of give you a new car when you want one, but in times of ones deepest losses, emotional struggles, and weakness the love of God shines through.
I believe this passage is illustrating this point. If you know this true love, then you know God. You find God within youself and love others the way He has shown you to love.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Reading 2
I found the lectures and readings on “Buddha” very interesting because his way of thinking is a very new experience to me. The concept of “awakening” and being the “awakened one” caught my attention and made me realize that I really connect with this way of thinking. In the introduction of this passage the author explained Buddha’s teachings very well…”There is nothing that you need to achieve. Just open your eyes”. To me, the idea that spirituality, peace, and awakening are WITHIN each and every one of us is profound.
“Do not be led…by the authority of religious teachers”. This statement sums up one of the most eye opening ideals described in Buddha’s teachings. The idea that you can find true spirituality from one’s own mind and heart is very different from many Western religions that I am used to hearing/practicing. In many religions, the following of a priest, etc is very highly recognized and taught as correct, but Buddha teaches to not do this. He believes that realizing things for oneself is a more profound and wholesome way of thinking. This struck me as remarkable because it seems like such a spiritually fulfilling thing to do…find truth within your own soul.
“When you realize that something is wholesome and good for you, do it”. This idea goes along with the fundamental belief that things aren’t BAD…but that you should experience things and find out that you are truly only happy and peaceful with things that are good. This self realization and spirituality within is a concept that I find to be one of the most attractive ideas in Buddhism.
I agree with the idea that finding truth within yourself and not letting other figures of authority try and spoon feed you what is going to “make you happy” is the road to a complete and pure life. He says it with these words, “Hold to the truth within yourself, as to the only truth”. Reading this passage opened my eyes to a way of thinking that is very appealing and that encourage free thought amongst the followers.
“Do not be led…by the authority of religious teachers”. This statement sums up one of the most eye opening ideals described in Buddha’s teachings. The idea that you can find true spirituality from one’s own mind and heart is very different from many Western religions that I am used to hearing/practicing. In many religions, the following of a priest, etc is very highly recognized and taught as correct, but Buddha teaches to not do this. He believes that realizing things for oneself is a more profound and wholesome way of thinking. This struck me as remarkable because it seems like such a spiritually fulfilling thing to do…find truth within your own soul.
“When you realize that something is wholesome and good for you, do it”. This idea goes along with the fundamental belief that things aren’t BAD…but that you should experience things and find out that you are truly only happy and peaceful with things that are good. This self realization and spirituality within is a concept that I find to be one of the most attractive ideas in Buddhism.
I agree with the idea that finding truth within yourself and not letting other figures of authority try and spoon feed you what is going to “make you happy” is the road to a complete and pure life. He says it with these words, “Hold to the truth within yourself, as to the only truth”. Reading this passage opened my eyes to a way of thinking that is very appealing and that encourage free thought amongst the followers.
Reading 1
In this reading there were a few concepts that I felt, if taken to heart, could have a true impact on an individuals daily life and way of thinking. The first of those ideas was maturity. Throughout our lives we continuously hear the word “MATURE” and it is drilled into our heads (especially in our youth) that we need to seek maturity, act mature, be mature, make mature decisions, etc, etc. In this reading, the author focuses on the fundamental qualities of a “mature” person and repeats many times over, the spiritual importance of this way of living.
The phrase, “The mature person…” is repeated often and may seem redundant, but if you truly look at the words following this preface, you begin to get an understanding that “maturity” goes far beyond the common definition. I found it interesting that such fundamental, yet highly profound ideals about how to live ones life were established so many years ago and still relevant in beliefs today. The introduction of the passage says it best, “How civilized these ancient Chinese are!”.
One of the “characteristics” of a mature person that stood out to me was, “…the mature person looks into his own heart and respects what is unseen and unheard”. I found this to be interesting because, for me personally, it is a difficult concept to fully accept. To respect what is unseen and unheard cant possibly be easy because it is human nature (or maybe just my human nature) to focus my energy and understanding on things that I can see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. I definitely agree that it requires a certain kind of maturity to look past the sensory experience and pay attention to what is happening in ones “inmost self”.
Also, I found that the “golden rule” is written in this passage. The “golden rule”, as my family called it was one we were always taught as kids, and even hung in a frame in our bathroom for a few years. “Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t want done to you”. It is compelling that a concept that I was always preached was around so long ago in an ancient religion.
Overall, the passage’s focus on personal serenity and peaceful spirituality really grasped my attention and made me really appreciate the author’s work.
The phrase, “The mature person…” is repeated often and may seem redundant, but if you truly look at the words following this preface, you begin to get an understanding that “maturity” goes far beyond the common definition. I found it interesting that such fundamental, yet highly profound ideals about how to live ones life were established so many years ago and still relevant in beliefs today. The introduction of the passage says it best, “How civilized these ancient Chinese are!”.
One of the “characteristics” of a mature person that stood out to me was, “…the mature person looks into his own heart and respects what is unseen and unheard”. I found this to be interesting because, for me personally, it is a difficult concept to fully accept. To respect what is unseen and unheard cant possibly be easy because it is human nature (or maybe just my human nature) to focus my energy and understanding on things that I can see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. I definitely agree that it requires a certain kind of maturity to look past the sensory experience and pay attention to what is happening in ones “inmost self”.
Also, I found that the “golden rule” is written in this passage. The “golden rule”, as my family called it was one we were always taught as kids, and even hung in a frame in our bathroom for a few years. “Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t want done to you”. It is compelling that a concept that I was always preached was around so long ago in an ancient religion.
Overall, the passage’s focus on personal serenity and peaceful spirituality really grasped my attention and made me really appreciate the author’s work.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Dov Baer of Mezritch
Again, this passage focuses on the importance of being at the mercy of your Creator and realizing the great power God holds. I found this writing also very moving and really connected to the words of the author.
Think about beginning. About nothing…and then suddenly everything. The idea of the “beginning” is so mind boggling to me. It is hard for me to understand how all of life could have all come from one thinker, yet through the words of these passages it all seems to make a little more sense.
“Before the first word: silence. Before the first light: light”. God created all, and Judaism focuses on being one all this creation. God’s “good work” should be honored and recognized as a product of our Creator. We must be aware of the divine spirit that is within all living things because that divine spirit is that of our Creator, whom we are at such great mercy.
I found this point very compelling… “if you look at that object as a separate thing, by your look that thing is cut off from its divine root and vitality”. The individual most connected to the world around them becomes most spiritual and can see the true beauty and complexity of God’s work.
The best way to say Torah is explained in the passage and again, puts emphasis not on the individual’s thoughts, but on the importance of hearing the universe as within you. “The moment you begin to hear what you yourself are saying, you must stop”. This seems like a difficult task, because as humans we are often caught up in our own emotions and thoughts. BUT, to find true spirituality and peace we must work hard to place ourselves out of the situation and be at the will of God. I find this idea to be inspirational of a way I wish to live my own spiritual life…focused on something other than myself and whole-heartedly connected to my Creator.
Think about beginning. About nothing…and then suddenly everything. The idea of the “beginning” is so mind boggling to me. It is hard for me to understand how all of life could have all come from one thinker, yet through the words of these passages it all seems to make a little more sense.
“Before the first word: silence. Before the first light: light”. God created all, and Judaism focuses on being one all this creation. God’s “good work” should be honored and recognized as a product of our Creator. We must be aware of the divine spirit that is within all living things because that divine spirit is that of our Creator, whom we are at such great mercy.
I found this point very compelling… “if you look at that object as a separate thing, by your look that thing is cut off from its divine root and vitality”. The individual most connected to the world around them becomes most spiritual and can see the true beauty and complexity of God’s work.
The best way to say Torah is explained in the passage and again, puts emphasis not on the individual’s thoughts, but on the importance of hearing the universe as within you. “The moment you begin to hear what you yourself are saying, you must stop”. This seems like a difficult task, because as humans we are often caught up in our own emotions and thoughts. BUT, to find true spirituality and peace we must work hard to place ourselves out of the situation and be at the will of God. I find this idea to be inspirational of a way I wish to live my own spiritual life…focused on something other than myself and whole-heartedly connected to my Creator.
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