"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.
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