How about actually practicing spiritualism?

Mercury · 08-22-2011, 08:32 PM

It's one thing to talk about spiritualism. It helps to read about spiritualism. And it's good to understand spiritualism. But how many people actually practice their spiritual beliefs?

Even if it's just lighting a candle and getting down on your knees, you know that you're not doing anything if you don't actually perform the acts of the mantras.

Even utilizing the symbols and the elements associated with your beliefs; if you aren't doing that then do you really believe in those things in the first place?

What's the hold up?

**SageTree** · 08-23-2011, 11:03 AM

Who exactly are you addressing here Merc?
Does this have anything to do with your own personal spiritual quest?

I think I understand what you are getting at though and hopefully sharing my own experience will lend itself as an answer.

This is called the 'Metta Sutta'

Quote:

This is what should be done
By one who is skilled in goodness,
And who knows the path of peace:
Let them be able and upright,
Straightforward and gentle in speech.
Humble and not conceited,
Contented and easily satisfied.
Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways.
Peaceful and calm, and wise and skillful,
Not proud and demanding in nature.

Let them not do the slightest thing
That the wise would later reprove.

Wishing: In gladness and in saftey,
May all beings be at ease.
Whatever living beings there may be;
Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,
The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,
The seen and the unseen,
Those living near and far away,
Those born and to-be-born,

May all beings be at ease!

Let none deceive another,
Or despise any being in any state.
Let none through anger or ill-will
Wish harm upon another.
Even as a mother protects with her life
Her child, her only child,
So with a boundless heart

One should cherish all living beings:
Radiating kindness over the entire world
Spreading upwards to the skies,
And downwards to the depths;
Outwards and unbounded,
Freed from hatred and ill-will.
Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down
Free from drowsiness,
One should sustain this recollection.
This is said to be the sublime abiding.
By not holding to fixed views,
The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision,
Being freed from all sense desires,
Is not born again into this world.

I have a copy of this hanging two places in my home where I can read them often.

I also say a paraphrasing of this sutta after my meditation in the evening, and embracing the heart of the practice and all it's trappings.

Buddhist scripture is funny that way because the whole philosophy is pretty much address or at least mentioned in each sutta, rather than a piece here and a piece there.

The way this 'spiritual practice' becomes practiced, is that essentially....

I look to these words for ideals in which to conduct myself and to influence my mind, cultivating stillness and peace in me and in the world.

The more often I engage in this kind of action, the easier it is to sit my with myself at the end of the day... easier to live it...

So that in turn, allows me to have a deeper and more meaningful meditation, striving towards the mentioned goals/aims.

Which allows me to more deeply touch the heart and intention of reciting these words.

Does that make sense and answer the question.

OR.....

In Christian allegory I reflect on the selflessness of Jesus on the Cross or the actions in him life in a manner that helps us shed light onto that part of our own existence and fortifying resolve to strive to act in such a way, in our Christ-consciousness, if you will.

Again... hope that helps. What I do with those 'mantras' are turn them into flesh when I interact with people in helpful ways from little things like holding a door or smiling as a walk down the street, to bigger things like volunteering and feeding people.

The practice is the up lifting current that stokes the flames of action.
In one way it fills me up, and keeps me moving forward...
And in another way.... I'm left feeling no other way after encountering the words of scripture and inspiration.

~Kindly~
SageTree

fenderbender · 08-29-2011, 08:39 AM

Really good post sage.

Thank you for that.

**SageTree** · 08-29-2011, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderbender

Really good post sage.

Thank you for that.

Thanks Dude.....

I was really hoping Merc would come back and post here since he's been around more lately...

Guess trolling the Spiritual Smoke isn't that much fun

The Rev · 08-29-2011, 08:55 AM

Spiritual Troll is spiritual.

The Rev

**SageTree** · 08-29-2011, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rev

Spiritual Troll is spiritual.

The Rev

Totally....

I honestly feel I know enough of Mercury to believe that he does have actual questions about spirituality....

So I'm not really giving him the 'troll' label...... yet

The Rev · 08-29-2011, 11:02 AM

Nonjudgmental Sage is nonjudgmental.

The Rev

HTAM · 08-29-2011, 11:15 AM

Two things-

"Live for today" hangs in the bathroom, so I see it all the time.

"Grant that I might not criticize my neighbor until I have walked a mile in his moccasins" hangs by the door. My mom brought that home for me when I was probably 8 or 9 at the oldest. It was always by my bedroom door until I moved out. Since then, it's always hung by the front door, so I will see it when I leave the house.

**SageTree** · 08-29-2011, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rev

Nonjudgmental Sage is nonjudgmental.

The Rev

Thanks dude!

Mercury · 08-29-2011, 05:11 PM

I'm not really interested in buddhism philosophy in practice. I'm more interested in kabbalism, wicca, new age, astrology, etc. type religions where one can supposedly manipulate reality.

The Rev · 08-29-2011, 05:31 PM

You want magic powers.

The Rev

Mercury · 08-29-2011, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rev

You want magic powers.

The Rev

You don't?

It's not actually magic, though. What it is, I believe, is a natural path of the ebb and flow of the universe; in sync. It's the equivolent of dressing right for the season and eating at certain times of day and concentrating on your dreams. Stuff like that. Paying attention to what phase the moon is in and how it affects the animals.

Mescalito · 08-30-2011, 03:10 AM

^Why don't you start with lucid dreaming.. and..

I don't understand the question.

M

**SageTree** · 08-30-2011, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercury

I'm not really interested in buddhism philosophy in practice. I'm more interested in kabbalism, wicca, new age, astrology, etc. type religions where one can supposedly manipulate reality.

That's all fine and well man. I just wanted to answer your VERY vague question. That's all.

BUT... to me.... your quote above seems VERY VERY different than what you asked in the OP.

You sound more like you're asking 'What is spirituality good for if it can't help you get things you want/control your life?'

I'm not going to be of much help to you here though.

My Wife said that when she went through her initiation period into a Pagan practice the one 'RULE' she was taught was:

"Do what you will. Harm None."

The Rev · 08-30-2011, 09:41 AM

She joined People Against Goodness And Normalcy?

Hardcore.

The Rev

**SageTree** · 08-30-2011, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rev

She joined People Against Goodness And Normalcy?

Hardcore.

The Rev

eh......?

no.

but you are a very funny guy.

The Rev · 08-30-2011, 10:51 AM

It's from "Dragnet"

The Rev

**SageTree** · 08-30-2011, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rev

It's from "Dragnet"

The Rev

When we tried to watch this on Netflix, the video wasn't working properly....

Maybe it's time to check again... thanks for the reminder...

See Merc, this is faith in action right here.

Talking about Pagan and BAMN!!!! A little majik brings me a good movie...

THIS IS TOTALLY CHANGING THE WORLD!!!!!

Thanks Rev-deeni

Sage-lin

**Mafoo** · 08-30-2011, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SageTree

That's all fine and well man. I just wanted to answer your VERY vague question. That's all.

BUT... to me.... your quote above seems VERY VERY different than what you asked in the OP.

You sound more like you're asking 'What is spirituality good for if it can't help you get things you want/control your life?'

I'm not going to be of much help to you here though.

My Wife said that when she went through her initiation period into a Pagan practice the one 'RULE' she was taught was:

"Do what you will. Harm None."

i think spirituality provides people with the tools to deal with the fact that much of our life is out of our control

The Rev · 08-30-2011, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mafoo

i think spirituality provides people with the tools to deal with the fact that much of our life is out of our control

The Rev

08-22-2011, 08:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mercury Special Delivery Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: The States Posts: 8,150 Thanks: 294 Thanked 801 Times in 539 Posts	How about actually practicing spiritualism? It's one thing to talk about spiritualism. It helps to read about spiritualism. And it's good to understand spiritualism. But how many people actually practice their spiritual beliefs? Even if it's just lighting a candle and getting down on your knees, you know that you're not doing anything if you don't actually perform the acts of the mantras. Even utilizing the symbols and the elements associated with your beliefs; if you aren't doing that then do you really believe in those things in the first place? What's the hold up?

08-29-2011, 08:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
The Rev Clear Light Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In my head, somewhere. Posts: 17,865 Thanks: 5,018 Thanked 5,420 Times in 2,865 Posts	Spiritual Troll is spiritual. The Rev __________________ Budforce - My Friend August 29, 1973- May 25, 2012

08-29-2011, 11:02 AM	#7 (permalink)
The Rev Clear Light Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In my head, somewhere. Posts: 17,865 Thanks: 5,018 Thanked 5,420 Times in 2,865 Posts	Nonjudgmental Sage is nonjudgmental. The Rev __________________ Budforce - My Friend August 29, 1973- May 25, 2012

08-29-2011, 05:31 PM	#11 (permalink)
The Rev Clear Light Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In my head, somewhere. Posts: 17,865 Thanks: 5,018 Thanked 5,420 Times in 2,865 Posts	You want magic powers. The Rev __________________ Budforce - My Friend August 29, 1973- May 25, 2012

08-30-2011, 09:41 AM	#15 (permalink)
The Rev Clear Light Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In my head, somewhere. Posts: 17,865 Thanks: 5,018 Thanked 5,420 Times in 2,865 Posts	She joined People Against Goodness And Normalcy? Hardcore. The Rev __________________ Budforce - My Friend August 29, 1973- May 25, 2012

08-29-2011, 11:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
HTAM Old School Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,872 Thanks: 2,368 Thanked 2,117 Times in 1,179 Posts	Two things- "Live for today" hangs in the bathroom, so I see it all the time. "Grant that I might not criticize my neighbor until I have walked a mile in his moccasins" hangs by the door. My mom brought that home for me when I was probably 8 or 9 at the oldest. It was always by my bedroom door until I moved out. Since then, it's always hung by the front door, so I will see it when I leave the house.

08-30-2011, 03:10 AM	#13 (permalink)
Mescalito Oneironaut Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 6,295 Thanks: 868 Thanked 909 Times in 446 Posts	^Why don't you start with lucid dreaming.. and.. I don't understand the question. M

08-30-2011, 10:51 AM	#17 (permalink)
The Rev Clear Light Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In my head, somewhere. Posts: 17,865 Thanks: 5,018 Thanked 5,420 Times in 2,865 Posts	It's from "Dragnet" The Rev __________________ Budforce - My Friend August 29, 1973- May 25, 2012

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