Fourteenth blog: Abu Yazid Al-Bistami

It's incredibly interesting to look at religions and see how much they overlap, because in reality they all do. The specific stories may contradict one another, but a central part of all the religions we've discussed so far is the concept of unity.

Be in a realm where neither good nor evil exists. Both of them belong to the world of created beings; in the presence of Unity there is neither command nor prohibition.

Now I can positive this isn't the first I've heard that neither good nor evil exists, and on a personal note I wish more people believed in that. What bothers my about people so much is their own self-righteousness, without realizing another person's perspective. Everything is relative, absolutely everything, and as a country especially, we don't seem to recognize that. We state they are evil and off we go to kill hundreds of thousands, which splits families and creates more grudges and yet no one has the capacity to empathize. Which I think is a huge failure, where it occurs I'm not so sure, whether it's a matter of the churches, schools, or neighbors or any manner of socialization factors, empathy is what will save the world, if only more people could understand and employ it. I believe that is what he was referring to when he said that "A single atom of the sweetness of wisdom in a man's heart is better than a thousand pavilions in Paradise." When one understands the sufferings and reasoning of others you achieve true wisdom and that wisdom is better than anything, for the world or for yourself.

"This thing we tell of can never be found by seeking, yet only seekers find it." Reminds me of the importance of meditation to Buddhism. They also hold that the truth cannot be found unless sought, yet it is inside of yourself, and something incredibly difficult to achieve. It's an interesting thought which is clearly a popular one, that people need to be able to slow down and contemplate and think, which is something that's been lost in the hustle-bustle society we live in now.

Thirteenth blog: Muhammad

It's interesting to see how conflicts rise in religions when really there is absolutely no need for conflict. "Wherever you turn is God's face." is something which has a world of meaning. After all it really applies to anything which exists, which includes the intangible. By that logic even others religions are a part of God, and if you hate and discriminate against that it's really just infringing on someone's ability to appreciate existence in their own fashion.

Fundamentalists of all religions do things this way and why is something I can't really comprehend. Especially because of the importance set on appreciating everything around and given to them.

I also don't understand where anyone gets off criticizing a religion without ever learning anything about it. Take, for example the rumor running around that Obama is a Muslim. My response to that is and? If anyone took a glance at any of the source material of a religion it wouldn't be a problem.

"Whoever knows himself knows God" really contemplating that it means that all people can know God regardless of their religion, I think. After all what part does faith play in knowing who you are. Religious beliefs, which don't call for the discrimination of others, help one better themselves and in turn become something which is indeed closer to God though, so maybe that was more what Muhammad was thinking. However, the people who when talking about Muhammad or Islam and go straight to terrorist really need to read up before they open their mouths.

A different religion doesn't make any one inherently bad.

Twelfth blog; The Gospel of Thomas

Just something I noticed from writing this subject line "Twelfth" is one weird word, one of those ones that if you look at too long it just starts to look like it's spelled wrong. Just a quick thought there.

One is all is a theme which flows quite freely through many religions, and Jesus himself mentions it continuously throughout his parables and teachings. However if I may go off on a short tangent I believe is important.

"The disciples said to him, "Tell us what our end will be." Jesus said, "If you haven't found the beginning, why ask about the end? For where the beginning is, the end is also. Blessed are those who stand at the beginning, for they will know the end, and they will not taste death." Now if I may be allowed to post this onto a political candidates head I would be quite happy after all in an interview the person said this regarding global warming:

"You know there are -- there are man’s activities that can be contributed to the issues that we’re dealing with now, these impacts. I’m not going to solely blame all of man’s activities on changes in climate. Because the world’s weather patterns are cyclical. And over history we have seen change there. But kind of doesn’t matter at this point, as we debate what caused it. The point is: it’s real; we need to do something about it."

Now I firmly believe that, although Jesus' topic was a bit different, his above quote could apply tremendously to this situation. Because if we don't agree (because we do know) on how something began than we can not begin to find a solution. Where the beginning is so is the end. The last bit is particularly striking as those who stand at the beginning (aka knowing how the problem evolved) will not taste death. Now that sounds mighty appealing to myself, but that's just me.

Although it's not a very religiously connected blog this time, the quote was far too perfect to not be used in context with this point, because it just fits so well really with any problem solving. If you want to know how to fix a problem which has arisen, a good way to start is to think about how it developed to that point. Often the answer is within the problem. Which is what I really believe Jesus was conveying to his followers through this quote.

Eleventh Blog: John the Evangelist

The thing which seems to be the most prevalent theme amongst all of the reading we've done this semester is the belief that all things are actually one. John the Evangelist sounds almost like a Buddhist when he says "You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John is saying the same things we read about in the Buddhist readings from last week, although the two religions are advising finding the truth in two absolutely fundamentally different ways, and the truth found at the end of the path is inevitably different, there is still a search for the absolute connected in both religions.

You are supposed to be sent on a path to find something which faith believes will make your existence something better.

Even Johns words about God are similar to Buddhism and Hinduism's words about the universe, "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." The subjects are completely different, but if one replaces God with the universe, or everything, the sentiment translates across the board. All of these religions are trying to draw people in with a sense of closeness to something bigger and more important than themselves, realizing you are a part of something instead of an individual in a scary lonely world is something most people search for their whole lives, and it's one of the many reasons religion is an inescapable part of our society.

Tenth blog: Wu-Men

Wu-men tells his students to concentrate their whole minds on the concept of "Mu", which means more than just the common translation of "no". The character for Mu is "無" which when put into a simple internet translator brought up the following options: -less; not to have; no; none; not; to lack; un-
and when the same character is put into a Japanese translator brings up the following options: nothingness, nothing, naught, nought, nil, nix, zero

Which puts the question asked by the master into an entirely different perspective, and is probably why the translator of this passage didn't translate "mu" because, the definition in Chinese allows for a much deeper contemplation of the meaning of the koan. Thinking and pondering the meaning of 'nothingness' is something relatively deep, and goes back to things we've read before in this class. Because there is the concept of 'nothing' the concept of 'something' exists. If there wasn't a 'nothing' to counter the countless things we are dealing with all of the time than everything would lose its meaning. Because there is death, we realize there is life.

In any case the koan referenced in the writings is incredibly deep, and Wu-men address it by saying that first you need to eliminate all preconceptions you may have before pondering something. If anyone in this world could simply stop their biases and feelings of correctness, the world would be much more forgivable. However, the elimination of the knowledge we know is something, if not impossible, is incredibly difficult to do. We can not erase what our brains have already logged away, and so it's hard to learn and accept new concepts. Humans like what we have at the moment, it's understandable and orderly, but when something comes and shakes that up, we have no idea how to react because we're so set in our ways.

That certainty is most certainly something we have to analyze and try our hardest to erase, for the good of humanity.

And that's what I believe the writings of Wu-men are trying to tell people to do. It's the act of thinking you already know which is the key to your own destruction.

~~or something :)

Ninth Blog: Buddha's teachings

I feel as though I say this every time I blog, but this book should just be made a standard for any decent person to have. No matter what religion one practices these teaching tell people how to be the best they can be, and never really conflict with what another writing is communicating.

Now about what Buddha is saying specifically, it's something everyone would benefit from if they could keep the teachings dear to their heart. I was really affected right by the first passage,
"It is proper to doubt. Do not be led by holy scriptures, or by mere logic or inference, or by appearances, or by the authority of religious teachers. But when you realize that something is unwholesome and bad for you, give it up. And when you realize that something is wholesome and good for you, do it."

If people truly learned and ingrained that into themselves the affect would be startling. The simple truth of Buddhism appeals to me on that level. he never teaches to do anything but to look inside of yourself for answers, there isn't some omnipotent being waiting for you to recognize him as your savior, but just an opportunity of introspection that all people could really benefit to take some time out and try.

Eigth Blog: Tu-Shun

That was probably one of the deepest readings I've read in a long while. What makes the ideas confusing I believe is when writings start to contain one word used multiple times, but in different context, humans start to get a little dizzy with the concept, as occurred with the writing's use of the word "jewel", however the point was accentuated, I believe.

The writing's talk about the fact that all things are one. If that was the world-view that everyone took, imagine the type of world there would be, instead of this one. Although, with all countries becoming increasingly connected through the economy and various other things, we may be closer to all things literally becoming one than we ever have before.

But back to the writing. It's a deeply profound thought that everything is one, and every action one commits to doing is something that affects everything. After all, if 'one' is 'everything' than even though it's a single entity it affects the whole. Which I thought was a deeply almost comforting thought. Because it means that no matter what the 'one' is never alone. It's implicitly surrounded by 'everything', so I don't believe that people should take for granted the gifts of, not just being surrounded by 'everything, but also the gift of being alone. That although we are part of a whole, we still get time apart.

Seventh Blog: Tsu-ssu

Tsu-ssu's writings, though a small collection, were certainly impactful. It mostly tells a very basic truth to people. Be sincere. If people were more sincere, well then I, personally, wouldn't have of 'the dramz' in my own life.

By that I mean, Tsu-ssu's words are translated as 'sincere' but it goes deeper than meaning 'tell the truth'. What he means on a deeper level is that because people are naturally good, the ability to do good is always palpable. It's always something lying in wait, waiting to be taken advantage of by any person. Unfortunately our selfish desires often get in the way of achieving true peace with our neighbors. Something I've never really fully understood. To be able to look at someone with a different background than oneself, and declare to them "You're wrong." is something I definitely can't do. The fact that there are people who can do that is an incredible feat to me.
To have that sort of confidence in your own beliefs, is quite frankly ridiculous. Everyone grows up with different factors of socialization and values, and that people can declare someone 'wrong' or 'weird' because they believe that their own views trump others is absolutely ridiculous and something Tsu-ssu would agree with me on, I believe. After all,
"Don't do to others what you wouldn't want done to you."

Sixth blog: Yehiel Mikhal of Zlotchov

Something that I've definitely thought of at least once before in my lifetime, is that unless you do something great, there is no one to remember once you've died.

Of course your children, grandchildren, and possibly great-grandchildren will remember you, but how many people can name their great-great-grandparents? I personally can only name one out of the four pairs of great-grandparents that I have, and unless one makes some sort of masterpiece, and even then, better make sure it's not all that popular during the present, your name will fade with time. This passage of reading wants to ease people's hearts, as no one enjoys the idea of being forgotten, because once forgotten there's not proof that they even existed at all, and that absence of existence is frightening. Yet, this passage let's one know that the attachment to material possessions and wealth is the reason we end up forgotten, because if you trust is God then God will remember as God is eternal.

These are incredibly profound statements that encapsulate what I feel it is to be religious, that absolute belief in God is rewarded with eternity, with the assurance that your presence was necessary and that as an individual you are important.

Fifth blog: Bakhya Ibn Pakuda

The reading of Bakhya Ibn Pakuda's writing inspires thought about where humans have gone with their society. Bakhya Ibn Pakuda describes the ideal religious people, people who practice perfectly. They are content whether they are suffering or on top of the world. While this may be what the ideal is among religious people, I highly doubt whether people respond accordingly. Especially considering the idea of people with more possessions being able to concentrate on doing what is right. It's more along the lines of people with more money and goods are more focused on keeping it that way. Whereas people with less are rather than being content, trying to become those with more. In this way our world continues down a path to destruction. With people grasping at willy nilly in order to fill their void with material possessions as humans we have over-reached our bounds.

If people could honestly follow Bakhya Ibn Pakuda's teaching I think a lot of the threats facing our world would recede. Just the basic idea of being happy with what you have is a wise teaching that really should be prevalent, but our society is especially obsessed with the idea of “rising up”, whenall that is is adding more stuff to your pile. Then we proceed to guard that crap that we pile up with as much security as we can provide. In any case, Bakhya Ibn Pakuda probably could see into the future and was trying to warn humans in a simple way of how to avoid a lot of problems which are now on our plates.

Fourth Blog: Shankara

The experience described in the writings of Shankara is something all humanity yearns for. It's what people really want. That they belong in the universe, that they are an important part of an ever flowing continuity.

The concept of life, is something always in conflict. People's concepts of “living life” are always different, some may believe that it's living like each day is your last, and others believe that steady planning and a constructed future are the keys to happiness. The reading is disagreeing, however, saying that happiness is the result of finding yourself at peace with the Earth. When one no longer wants for anything, that is when true happiness has occurred. It's a view I am inclined to believe in, as it's something that doesn't need material possessions in order to obtain, it just needs the view that one is a part of the earth, and is the same as everything surrounding it. If everyone was able to participate in that form of thinking, a lot of problems we are faced with today wouldn't be an issue. Inequality would be eradicated, as all people are made of the same substance, and nature would probably be treasured much more than it is at the moment. Though I'm not sure a society would be able to sustain itself if everyone believed that. I think it would end up being a static society where new discoveries would be rare and far between, although whether that's a good or bad thing at this point is something that could be argued.

Third Blog: Ramana Maharshi

Ramana Maharshi is clearly a wise and knowledgeable man. The selections of passages reflects his ideas and thought processes very concisely, clearly and understandably. His view of humanity and of the state of being enlightened reflects what we've learned about Hinduism this week in class. Such as “When we stop regarding the unreal as real, then reality alone will remain and we will become that.” It's reminiscent of the Hindu concept of Maya. That the truth is that all things are one and that there isn't a difference in matter between myself and what I'm typing on, that all things are in a constant state of total flux.

Besides that, his words are words that all people should take to heart. Things which are really just statements of facts rather than a belief that what he says is the all-encompassing truth. I'm particularly partial to the last paragraph in which Maharshi discusses the ridiculousness of praying for God's graces, since God's grace surrounds us all. It serves as something I believe all people should keep in mind, despite their religion, that we are blessed with life, and that's blessing enough.

Sa-go-ye-wat-ha: SECOND POST!

Sa-go-ye-wat-ha gives an enlightened speech about, essentially, the pros and cons of religion specifically, at least from what I know of first-hand: Western Christianity. Even today what Sa-go-ye-wat-ha discusses in his speech are applicable. The different sects of Christianity are divided and, while not necessarily quarreling, definitely don't agree with each other. I have an evangelical friend who has on more than one occasion called Mormons crazy and Catholics completely wrong in their beliefs. Clearly this is not a blanket statement, a large majority of Christians don't push their faith onto others, but that the unfortunate few who won't take no for an answer still flourish in this day and age is something that can't be denied. Coincidentally enough while I was with this evangelical friend at Borders she went to the bathroom and while I was waiting outside of it reading a book I'd picked up (a comic book at that) I was approached by two very young girls, by that I mean about 13, asking me if I'd accepted Jesus into my heart handing out fliers for their church. I couldn't do much besides stare mouth agape that in this public place I was being approached about something which is so personal. Their courage is something which should be applauded, approaching strangers in a public space is something very difficult to do and does require a lot of guts, and yet the act itself is still reminiscent of when in 1805 a Native American chief was called upon to renounce his own belief and follow another's, simply because his “was wrong”.

First blog!

Looking back on the sad past of America is difficult to do, at least for me, while laying on my comfortable air conditioned room and typing on my laptop. It's an incredibly disjointed and conflicted situation, it's easy for me to sit at my computer and lament the loss of an amazing self-sufficient culture which practiced peace and simplicity. But it'd definitely be impossible for me to adjust to the Native American lifestyle. I naturally feel guilty as Mitchell states is something inevitable after reading such a heartfelt and sad speech, acknowledging the eventual demise of his people and his culture. I also feel obligated to react in some way, in order to make it right and fair. The opportunity to do that is, at this point in time, lost. There's no method of traveling back in time and steering Columbus off-course, though that would only prolong the inevitable. The world is finite and the Europeans acted in the only way they knew how, the only way that made sense to them. Even given different circumstances, different people, they would have acted with the same basic behavior installed in all humans, which I do believe is something spread throughout cultures, with no boundaries. People are motivated by the same things, the people who are close to them, and their possessions, and they act in horrible, conniving and unthinkable ways in order to advance themselves and what's important to them.

I digress from my people suck platform to say that Chief Seattle's religious parallels are intriguing and engrossing. He plainly states that he believes that the White Man's God has no place for the red brothers, which is a thought contrary to the actual Christian ideology of accepting all worship. The thought that God would abandon an entire people and favor another is heavy and depressing. Yet demonstrates Chief Seattle's understanding of American culture. He uses comparisons and expressions that all (English speaking) people would comprehend, and uses his mastery of the language to engage and connect to his audience, and eventually to all of us.