TODAY...ON MY MIND:
I like to think of everyone and everything everywhere as Shiva (the Lord) with a costume on. I see things this way and I believe it to be true. If Christians were to study the Gospel of Thomas, they would come to know that Jesus is not someone or something outside us, but He IS ourselves. Thomas quotes Jesus as saying "Anyone who drinks of My cup becomes Me, and I him." I have come to know that everything everywhere is a manifestation of the Divine.
If one were also to compare the Gospel of Thomas to basic Hindu texts--say the Katha Upanishad--one would find that our two religions are basically saying the same thing, but with different symbols and languages. Joseph Campbell was right in saying that all 'myths' tell the basic need of each culture to make sense of their own existence/divinity. And as one of my teachers, Baba Muktananda, says--"All paths lead to the same door."
This is lovely! It is my contention that if people stopped paying attention to the mere words of their religious texts, but took them to be symbols of a deeper meaning, more people would realize that most of the major religions are talking about the same concepts. It is the language and the cultural plurality (and the human interpretation) that cause the differences and the strife. Think about it: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are ALL Biblical religions (that is, they use the 5 books of Moses as a basis of their religion)--and yet they are the three religions that are causing the conflict in the Middle East.
Literal interpretation of the Bible is dangerous. My experience of Jesus 'ascending to Heaven' means that He ascended above the solar plexus chakra (energy field/circle) and rose higher to the Heart Center, Ajna Chakra (Third Eye), and then finally to the Sahasrara, located at the top of the head. To me, this is the literal meaning of 'ascension'. Science (not to mention mere logic) has proved that a physical Heaven couldn't possibly exist. Think about: what is above us? The sky. Other Universes. Other Galaxies. What is below us? There is no 'below', because the Earth is round. There is only the center of the Earth.
That is not to say that Dante was wrong in his description of the 12 gates of Hell. I believe in the existence of Hell, although not a physical place. Hell, to me, is when we descend into the lower chakras. These are the energy places in the body where, when situated there, they allow us to cheat, lie, steal, murder, etc. This is NOT, by any measure, anywhere near the seat of the Lord. The purpose of our being born is to find the path that leads to the ascension of our spiritual energy to union with the Lord within (hence the word 'yoga').
Since globalization is the wave of today, and is obviously going to be the way of the future, we (the collective people inhabiting planet Earth) need to start taking into account that we come from not only different places, but we have different stories. Our forefathers all told different stories based on their own experiences. The story of Jesus of Nazareth is not going to make as much sense to a Native American as it does to a Christian European. Native Americans have their own myths and legends (in using the word 'myth', that is not to say that I don't believe that Jesus was an actual man); their stories illustrate the pursuit of man in finding his own Divinity; his own purpose; his highest good.
Let's come together and start comparing our religions before we wage wars over signs and symbols that may have the exact same inherent meaning, even when written in different languages, by different cultures. The time is now. There are no more excuses for faith based wars. We are ONE world.
TAGS: Jaibhakti, Bhakti, mysticism, Joseph Campbell, Bhakti Brophy, religious war, peace, spirituality,
If one were also to compare the Gospel of Thomas to basic Hindu texts--say the Katha Upanishad--one would find that our two religions are basically saying the same thing, but with different symbols and languages. Joseph Campbell was right in saying that all 'myths' tell the basic need of each culture to make sense of their own existence/divinity. And as one of my teachers, Baba Muktananda, says--"All paths lead to the same door."
This is lovely! It is my contention that if people stopped paying attention to the mere words of their religious texts, but took them to be symbols of a deeper meaning, more people would realize that most of the major religions are talking about the same concepts. It is the language and the cultural plurality (and the human interpretation) that cause the differences and the strife. Think about it: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are ALL Biblical religions (that is, they use the 5 books of Moses as a basis of their religion)--and yet they are the three religions that are causing the conflict in the Middle East.
Literal interpretation of the Bible is dangerous. My experience of Jesus 'ascending to Heaven' means that He ascended above the solar plexus chakra (energy field/circle) and rose higher to the Heart Center, Ajna Chakra (Third Eye), and then finally to the Sahasrara, located at the top of the head. To me, this is the literal meaning of 'ascension'. Science (not to mention mere logic) has proved that a physical Heaven couldn't possibly exist. Think about: what is above us? The sky. Other Universes. Other Galaxies. What is below us? There is no 'below', because the Earth is round. There is only the center of the Earth.
That is not to say that Dante was wrong in his description of the 12 gates of Hell. I believe in the existence of Hell, although not a physical place. Hell, to me, is when we descend into the lower chakras. These are the energy places in the body where, when situated there, they allow us to cheat, lie, steal, murder, etc. This is NOT, by any measure, anywhere near the seat of the Lord. The purpose of our being born is to find the path that leads to the ascension of our spiritual energy to union with the Lord within (hence the word 'yoga').
Since globalization is the wave of today, and is obviously going to be the way of the future, we (the collective people inhabiting planet Earth) need to start taking into account that we come from not only different places, but we have different stories. Our forefathers all told different stories based on their own experiences. The story of Jesus of Nazareth is not going to make as much sense to a Native American as it does to a Christian European. Native Americans have their own myths and legends (in using the word 'myth', that is not to say that I don't believe that Jesus was an actual man); their stories illustrate the pursuit of man in finding his own Divinity; his own purpose; his highest good.
Let's come together and start comparing our religions before we wage wars over signs and symbols that may have the exact same inherent meaning, even when written in different languages, by different cultures. The time is now. There are no more excuses for faith based wars. We are ONE world.
""It will not come by watching for it. It will not be said, 'Look, here!' or 'Look, there!' Rather, the Father's kingdom is spread out upon the earth, and people don't see it." --Gospel of Thomas
"The self-existent pierced the openings outward;therefore one looks outward, not inside the soul.A certain wise person, however, seeking immortality,looking within saw the soul." --Katha Upanishad
Heaven is right here, right now. Look inside and find it.
Love,
Bhakti
TAGS: Jaibhakti, Bhakti, mysticism, Joseph Campbell, Bhakti Brophy, religious war, peace, spirituality,
Labels: bhakti, Bhakti Brophy, jaibhakti, Joseph Campbell, meditation, mysticism, siddha yoga, spirituality
posted by Unknown at 2:33 PM
15 Comments:
Amen. We are, in the end, more similar than dissimilar. If we, as a planet of nations, chose to focus on what binds us, imagine what we'd be capable of.
I wish it could be as simple as banishing the hate. As long as there are good people like you to spread the word, there's hope.
CARMI: Thank you so much for your insightful comment. It means a lot to me that you visit and comment on my blog--since I first ran across your blog while playing the 'Michele sent me' game, I had always wished to be in correspondence with you. :)
You have a very special, loving-kindness energy that is beautiful and brightens my day. Thank you...for you in the world. :)
Much love,
Bhakti
Bhakti, how come I didn't know you were blogging again? Glad to have you back.
HI JUDY!
I just started blogging again this evening! :)
I got my laptop last week, so I'm good to go with the bloggin again. I've been sitting in bed all night just writing and then posting on others' blogs--including yours.
To answer your question, you didn't know that I was blogging again because I just started again! (I visited your blog to let you know that.)
It's great to have you back on JAIBHAKTI! And, of course, it feels great to be sharing my most intimate thoughts with all of you once again.
Enjoy.
Love,
Bhakti
I've actually never seen the new Blogger merge two old profiles into a single new one.
You've totally blown my mind.
YES!!! I actually took the past several months off from blogging just to figure out HOW to blow Gyrobo's mind! Oh, my Little Metal Guy--I have done it! I have gotten inside the metal that you call a brain and have wreaked havoc.
The only thing you can do now--to get your peaceful calm metal mind back in working order--is to figure out why Blogger outed me. Why? Do they not believe in pseudonyms? Do you think this is a conspiracy? Tell me, dear metal guy--what is your take on this marvelously insane situation?
((Ps you really bring out the 'weird' in me, you know. :P )
I miss your positive attitude. I liked this post, looking more how we're similar (different religions) than we're different.
Very well said, all religions do converge in their paths. In fact, I have personally felt everything I learn about Hinduism converge in a fascinating sort of way, where everything reveals itself in an all new way - lending credence to my belief. But yes, why have religious wars, if we all have the same God?
http://shivabhakta.blogspot.com/2006/12/new-found-faith.html
Hi Bhakti!
It's so good to see you writing so much again. I totally agree with this post. The vast majority of the world's religions are all Abrahmic - spawned from the same source. Yet there is more killing in the name of God... the SAME God, ostensibly. I don't go in for formal religion at all, although I have no argument with those who do. I do have an issue with those who would dictate their religion - often under the penalty of death - to others.
It's good to see you back, my friend. And ZS too! What a surprise to see a new post up on the Slayers blog!
Much Love my friend
Mike
Hi again Bhakti,
Stimulating post.
It took me along time to appreciate that a greater understanding is only possible via the inadequate concepts and mechanisms of which one is currently comprised (including inherited religious beliefs).
Part of me was always holding out for a divine insight unsullied by the clumsy hacking of my mind.
John Donne beautifully illustrates the folly of such an idealist/revelatory mentality.
…But O alas, so long, so far
Our bodies why do we forbear?
They are ours, though they are not we, We are
The intelligences, they the spheres.
We owe them thanks, because they thus,
Did us, to us, at first convey,
Yielded their forces, sense, to us,
Nor are dross to us, but allay…
BTW: No don't have a blog, (though I migh start one soon), I've been signing in via my google account which is why you can't bring up my details.
Matthew
muExcellent post! In fact, a much awaited one.
I have been crying this same stuff (All is one) over and over again in my discussions, talks, articles, poems, and posts in the EC. To absolutely no avail.
Not just religions, but everything that ever was, is, and ever will be is one. All distinctions and discrimination are indeed illusions to which people cling to, and they fight wars over something that never existed.
Someday, hopefully, at least a few travellers might begin to live this holistic path, rather than just nodding their head that it is another beautiful concept to talk about at tea time.
Someday, hopefully, common sense might truly become common.
Cheers!
I don't know how two old Blogger profiles can merge, so there's really no way to tell.
Hope you're feeling better.
Your avatar actually looks pretty much the same in all browsers. I'm looking at it in bloth Internet Explorer and Opera, and I can barely tell the difference.
Sorry. There's... nothing I can do.
Silly Metal Guy--don't be sad; I still LOVE my avatar!
With regard to my Marcy_Peanut pseudonym/avatar--where is she?? I suppose she's just out there floating in blogosphere pergatory, waiting for the day when I figure out how to recreate her without erasing all of the existing comments on that blog!
Gyrobo--it's great to be in correspondence with you again.
Happy Wishes-Bhakti
Hello:
A powerful “oneness” essay which is filled with astute and ancient new/old keen spiritual wisdom, clarity, historical observations and yet it’s fully saturated in pure omni-loving spiritual kindness, too.
I was quite moved by its strong healing vibration and tones.
A great spiritual share indeed for us all to chew on individually and digest soulfully.
PAX,
Michael
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