SageTree

somas what's up

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Sugar420

no i mean its like someone who has read "My First Big Book Of Animals" is now telling me that everything i think i know about biology is wrong


maybe just getting to the point of even asking these questions is a sign of growth

yo.

^i think you're right because as soon as i got out of denial as a christian i was tellin my buddy about it and he said he went through the same thing a couple months ago. like started realizing that religion is all lies...

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SageTree

I understand what you are saying V3d4. I think questioning is a good place to starting finding personal meaning, believing something because you are told doesn't do anyone favours. That is a good view to take on it.

I think it's pretty cool you find so much personal meaning in the things you believe, and always, thanks for sharing that with us, regardless of who wants to listen, I am thankful to hear a story of satisfaction like yours.

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verklingen

Word veda we each grow in our own way. I went from asking these questions (8th grade) to becoming more devout in my christian faith than ever and aspiring to the priesthood (9-10th grade) to nihilism that ultimately warmed me up to racialism and nazism (11-12th grade) to a radical adoption of hindu bhakti (age 20-21) to where I am today (which I consider simple, compassionate, conscientious spiritualism). Each step is a priceless and irreplacable treasure. I'm so thankful for where I am that changing any of it would be absurd, and the best thing about it is the clarity these growing experiences have offered me that allows me to feel this way. Its truly a blessing

So question away. . . Everyone! All the time!!!

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“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

Ego Tripping

It isn't, but I have definitely seen cases where it becomes as rigid as a religion, at least in how it decides to accept or not accept new information. Dogma it seems is a universal aspect of any belief system, scientific or spiritual.

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Ego Tripping

Most definitely. A phrase I say to myself often is "If you desire to be on the (right) path...then you already are."

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SageTree

"The path to enlightenment begins with the first step"

^

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Ego Tripping

"Before enlightenment...chop wood, carry water.

After enlightenment...chop wood, carry water."

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SageTree

"What can go up the chimney down and can't go down the chimney up?"



HAHA.

I think this is a good topic. It's really nice and interesting to have some people on the board who aren't scared to say they ARE of a particular faith like Bible Guy, Veda, HijabiHippie and the other forthright Christians Muslims and others. Can't recall what flappy introduced me to the other day, without looking. And all our eclectic mixes as well.

One thing is for sure, we're a curious and committed bunch, and not to the nut house generally speaking, now that JVB is banned ....jk...I even liked having that guy around sometimes.

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yo.

verk i went through the same phases, just in different order...
well besides the hindu thing.

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cole

yeah i have never been one for religion, i was raised in a southern baptist environment where they try to scare the fear of god into you and all that accomplished for me was to see that it is what i thought was bs, not to dog on anyones religion ppl are free to believe what they wish... but my opinipon is that the book itself was probably a very popular book of folk tales at the time and ppl started living their lives based upon its principals and blew the whole thing out of proportion, i myself believe religion itself is evil because you get one group of ppl with strong beliefs and another group of ppl with oposite beliefs and lock them in a room for 3 months i guarantee you they will continue to fight until only a handful remain, throughout history countless wars have been started because of religion

SageTree

I think you could get down on Brahma for sure man. Look up God/Trinity with (hindu) beside it on wikipedia and click around on the links of the names on the names of the god/dess. Birth.sustaining.dea th(rebirth) is the basic theme.

There is alot of vague specific attributes to what god is.

It's really pretty cool, Hindu is more of a culture than religion deep down, as the dogma is pretty wide, at least I feel, from my perspective. While I realize ANYTHING can be dogmatic when it's applied. Reading anything with an open heart is also available to you just the same. I found so really good metaphors and language to describe thoughts and feelings I've had in my life and really think there are parts of Hindu philosophy that described how I felt in church and about god when I was young and now, that the Bible ever had. And mixing the Hindu explanation with the Bible's allegories really brought everything into a new light for me. Finally after years of reading other texts, last year around this time I finally really was able to pick up the Bible and find meaning in it. It doesn't make you a Hindu to find a little understanding from it....or does it

I think that is one of the biggest things that happen here on YaHooka, is people talking about their influences and working through and with them as we talk TO and WITH each other about them. Adding to all our collective understanding of how people find personal meaning, through their individual vehicles.

rant/

Sage

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yo.

^thanks sage, i appreciate it.
but i started readin about brahma, and i guess i just don't believe in any gods..

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SageTree

It's ok man. Not trying to push, cause I certainly don't have my mind made up. Over the coarse of my life, what god, spirit of life, high level of consciousness has change evolved and be not/considered. Learning about what makes meaning when the time suits is best. I only mentioned it because of what Bibleguy said and I thought, yea, maybe it would be good to read for himself and see what he thinks, cause what you described sounded pretty similiar in some ways. Most of all I favour happy people with informed decisions. And what make the decision and what informed are differ from person to person. I am a person who likes to read and analyze my experiences and intermingle the two as I keep on walking down the Path. Sometimes one furthers the other, or the other clears things up or puts it in a perspective. I'll read a thing, and years later when I read it again, I'll have had an experience that makes meaning alittle more clear, or something to that effect.

Happy hunting No matter the idea. I always enjoy hearing what people believe and what makes them tick, or find meaning in said tick.

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FourtySecondRip

to me the difference between science and religion is that at least in my understanding the searching and trying to prove things for religion wont ever amount to anything that rings true to everyone.

science definitely doesnt have all the answers right now but its always willing to rule out possibilities that have been proven false, religion is kind of set in stone. so it feels like there is no progress being made religion wise but science is always changing and redefining everything.

i dont know if that came out the way i was thinking it but thats the best i can do right now

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BibleGuy

Wow! Lotta good discussion in here.

Forgive me if this is long. I'd like to comment on several posts all at once - hope that's ok with you all.

What's wrong with the quotes buttons? They're not working for me.

Mydriasis:
"If you think Christianity has not one good message to take to heart then I don't want to know what your beliefs are.
No I am not Christian but you cannot deny a persons faith unless it causes harm to society as a whole(imo)... "

Right on. ALL people must have the right to believe whatever they choose. If we apply "Love your neighbor as yourself" to faith: I expect my right/freedom to my faith then I must respect my neighbor's right to his, even if it seems to conflict with mine. Otherwise I'm just a self-righteous hypocrite. If he chooses blind faith in the Flying Spaghetti Monster that his business, not mine. I can share if my neighbor wants to listen, but I must respect his freedom as my own.

hijabihippie:
"In Cambodia, cannabis is used to season chicken soup."

That must be some kinda delicious soup!

Jcp:
"I am never in favor of questioning the worth of a belief system, as everything we think is a "shot in the dark." I personally think Christianity is the transmorphic represenation of the 'pagan' religious tradition of celestial worship through personifying the Sun (son) and integrating a moral code for the furtherance of a collective culture, but then again Jesus might have been chillin the fuck out in Galilee healin lepers and walking on water!"

Very interesting, JcP, especially your use of the word 'celestial'. The Greek words translated "Heavenly Father" (Jesus' father) are ouranios pater which translate more properly as "Celestial Father", celestial meaning of or above the sky. That really struck me when I learned that as the Native Americans call the Creator "Father Sky", among other names.

Regarding personification of the Sun. I think you hit on something. Metaphorically speaking, I think the Sun would be the Father, while Jesus (the Son) would be two celestial bodies:

1 - The Moon, which reflects the light of the Sun upon a dark world.
"Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." (John 5:19) - a reflection of the Father.

2 - Venus, the Morning Star, which "bears" the light of the Sun at dawn.
"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." (Revelation 22:16) And dig this: Do you know what symbol the Morning Star plots over it's synodic cycles? Better sit down... a pentagram, rejected by modern Christians as the symbol of Satan (I think because we're not allowed to have anything in common with "pagans" who understand this symbol). Sadly, most believe what they're told by religious experts rather than looking for themselves.

There are and have been people all over the world who worship/revere both Venus and/or the Moon. Personally, I think it makes sense to look past the "thing" (Sun, Moon, Venus...) to find the essense that it represents.

KiLLeRrrr:
(Re: Brahman) "Can you elaborate on that more? what is the transcendent reality which is the divine ground?"

Brahman. Foundational Truth. The essense of all that exists. The source of Creation. I don't know how to explain it any better than that as I'm not a Hindu. I've read just enough to convince me that this Hindu name refers to the I AM of the Bible, or perhaps the other way around. I AM... Brahman... Cosmic Consciousness... Quantum of Consciousness... Dharma... Great Spirit... etc. all pointing to the Trancendent Reality that is our Creator. I think what our friend SageTree said here is good.

Re: Being aware of "God"
"we are giant, hairless, and far more intelligent species of monkeys, today."

True only if you believe in the theory of evolution. Maybe "God" started with an amoeba and then created upgraded, more advanced beings, in succession culminating in Humans. ?

Re: Gold and incense
"seriously though you are quite intelligent about this. what do you believe this 'gold' is? it must be an incense!"

Thanks for your kindness. This is the key; the reason why I came to this forum, and in particular this thread: Spiritual Smoke; Cannabis; the Old Testament altar incense and essense of the Holy Anointing Oil.

"our senses are real to us as individuals, so what we can all observe, IS real. what belief or faith does that require? that's fact. not a sense."

I don't think anyone would argue it isn't real, it's just that the observable is by no means the limit to what is real. Several traditions teach the principle "as above, so below", that is, that this physical "reality" is a reflection or manifestation of things taking form in the spiritual/metaphysical realm.

"Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 18:18-19)

I take this to mean that what takes place in heaven is reflected/manifested here on Earth.

"because science PROVES it wrong. a man believing the Earth was created in seven days is wrong."

That's an English translation problem in the Bible. (actually its six days + one day of rest). The "days" specified in Genesis is the word yom which does mean a day, but is is also used figuratively as "a space of time defined by an associated term". It can mean an "age" or "season" as well as a "day". If science proves (my numbers are for example only) that the Universe was created in 6 billion years, then one "day" (yom) of creation in Genesis would be a space of time lasting 1 billion years.

SageTree:
"In some culture's 'science' there is a level on which people's way of knowing is based on things western science can't figure out. Like abilities to know which plants to use for certain problems and other unexplained things that seem odd to those who don't process that level of experiencing. 6 senses are odd to these people."

Bingo! There a verse in 1Corinthians about this:
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1Co 2:14)

"Natural" man means sensitive, that is, animate, as distinguishing the non-carnal/ethereal nature from the lower/bestial nature of the senses. Strict adherence to science is observation via the senses, believing only in what is observable and quantifiable. This is the limited discernment of "the natural man" in this verse.

Mydriasis:
"Shiva was all bluee! and loves the weed too."

He has a nice drum too! Interesting how weed and drum circles go together. I love drum circles.

SageTree:
"somas what's up"

What a wonderful word: Soma!

"And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19)

Anyone wanna take a wild guess what the word translated "body" is? Yep: Soma. In Greek it means the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively. What he is literally referring to is the bread, artos in Greek, meaning bread (as raised) or a loaf. This is from airo, meaning to lift; by implication to take up or away; figuratively to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind); specifically to sail away (that is, weigh anchor); by Hebraism to expiate sin. One might say this is simply bread raised with yeast. But compare the whole definition to Vedic/Sanskrit Soma or Avestan Haoma. Is it just a weird weird weird coincidence that the word for "Body" happens to be Soma in the Greek scriptures. I don't think it is.

/long post

Thoughts anyone?

Namaste.

SageTree

Thanks for getting back to all of us

It's a hard toss us between each post one quote, or a long one, and I think that was readable. Cluster of thoughts are good for multi quote. One with shout outs and one with info maybe is all I could add, if I had to critique

In Metta
SageTree

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~1~

I didn't read all this, its the same old rehash...

Answer me this and maybe I'll see, otherwise, you can keep your corruption and evil that is religion.



Would a benevalent lord let his most precious creation, children, suffer and die?

Why?

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verklingen

all too often, we choose suffering

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“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”