Tagged: dogmas
Relationships in Life
When we become trapped in labels and traditions from society, we may not be able to listen to our inner voice based on an indisputable feeling, which will let us know the way we should act in life.
Ananda does not feel the same feelings for his family members as his sister Raysha does.
Even though Ananda had mostly a good relationship with his parents; the feeling is not as strong as it could be for Raysha.
Ananda asked Mathias, the wise tree about that.
Mathias responded: “Raysha is related with both family trees; your father and your mother.
You Ananda… you are related through them indirectly, through Raysha.”
Ananda then asked: “Which one is my direct family link?”
Mathias responded: “The Universe.” 🙂
Obviously, there is information that has value at a particular point in time. Knowing what is Ananda’s direct family link will be only intellectual information at this point. That is of no consequence.
Mathias also added: “Raysha will have feelings of motherhood towards her father who is almost ready to depart into another experience. Raysha had been her mother in another life.”
Then, Mr. Intellectual and Mrs. Devotional come into the picture:
“ But … that is not logical… That is nonsense.
If you are the daughter how could you be the mother at the same time? “
“My belief is that this is the only lifetime and then you either go to hell or heaven. There is only one life according to the Holy book written by God.”
Feelings don’t lie.
As we learn to observe all the labels that we use to categorize people into brothers, sisters, aunts, etc. Those categories already define the type of relationship that we are allowed to have now.
That is neither “good nor bad.” Our feelings and not our thoughts are the catalyst for action or reaction, that is why it becomes important to know ourselves by acknowledging our emotions first, to find our feelings.
Sometimes, we may meet someone that we would like to get to know better in a relationship, just to find out that “she feels like a daughter.” What do you do?
Do you rationalize that experience as: “ That is nonsense. She is not your daughter.”
The feeling will not go away, could you get married with your daughter? 🙂
Honesty is not just a word.
Life has many “spider webs” which will connect us in different ways and at different times. That is, what you feel very strong about today may not be later on; (that is why dogmas are necessary to keep the same thing in our awareness) the interesting challenge is to learn to act according to the present time, by respecting the whole experience, the circumstances, the individuals involved and our feelings as well.
That comes with growth in life.
Life is truly a teacher.
Interpreting religious beliefs
From yesterday’s article, we could see that to interpret the words of someone will depend on our experiences in life which in turn depends on the level of consciousness that we manifest at a certain point in our lives.
That consciousness will change just because we are part of life. Life is change.
However, there are individuals who decide to live by unchanged beliefs. Those individuals will repress the experience of life just to accommodate their belief system.
The “words of God” are not meant to be interpreted. They are like a map, which will fit our life circumstances according to where we are located, that is; depending on the location of our consciousness.
Let me elaborate on this.
“Top Cat” the Guru, could be viewed as God by some. His words may be followed to the dot.
“Choo choo” a devoted follower, believes that to love Top cat is the way to gain something for him. “Choo choo” wants all the expenses paid for his trip to Paradise; “Choo choo” wants to be “someone” by being close to Top Cat… God.
“To be saved” is important and for that, the requirement is to believe in Top Cat.
The above are the basics of all monotheistic religions.
“Benny the Ball” on the other hand, feels a deep friendship with Top Cat, however; Benny is interested in being true to himself. No matter what Top Cat says, Benny will look deep into himself and see the words of Top Cat in relationship with his own truth. Top Cat’s words are meant so Benny could look at himself.
The important item is not Top Cat, but to use the teachings of Top Cat to know the self.
The above fits Buddhism and Zen. Nevertheless, when Benny’s way of being is understood by followers as the “right” way, then the method to be “like Benny,” that is an imitation starts among followers and then that imitation transforms into devotion to Benny. To look at the self (which was the original teaching) becomes an interpretation on how Benny “looked at himself.”
Followers invariably will bring devotion to Benny, and from that interpretation will appear; thus the need to have a dogma to protect the “teachings of Benny” and to make those teachings the same for everyone.
That is the beginning of organized religions.
One size fits all.
The logical “Brain” will only see “facts.” “Brain” will take paragraphs from the teachings of Top Cat, compare them, analyze them and come to a conclusion.
“Brain” is not interested in being Top Cat’s devotee nor in looking at the self. Brain is only interested in making intellectual sense of the words coming from Top Cat.
Brain will judge Top Cat, based on his own ability to understand things intellectually.
The above fits the scientific “religion.” Proof is needed for everything except to show self inner transformation as the proof of our own understanding.
Followers are interested in a belief. Followers are not interested in finding the truth within themselves.
Every belief system that exists is limited. Those beliefs cannot grasp the totality of life, which is unlimited and ever-changing.
It becomes of paramount importance then, to drop beliefs and interpretations for a different consciousness to arrive.
Every religion represented by their followers, manifests certain consciousness, which is not “good or bad,” or “true or false” but just plainly a manifestation of consciousness.
We can only “see” more when our consciousness moves to a different location. We cannot “see” more by strengthening our own beliefs.
That is the trap.
That is why interpretation is “good” for organized religions for then, an interpretation could be chosen as the “true one.” However, as we can see, neither interpretations nor beliefs will help the spiritual walker to look deeply into the self, that is where inner transformation is located and where the opportunity to experience a different consciousness resides.
Consciousness, God, religions, children and G.I Joe :-)
There is a child inside every one of us. Even when we “grow up” and become serious about “winning or making money,” the child still remains there but somehow repressed.
There is a part of us yearning to let that child express itself again. The world of “serious business” may not be that appealing after all, and the wish to go back to that innocence of childhood remains latent in our souls.
Believe it or not, a great set up to direct the child in us to a fantastic world of “good things,” has been claimed by all religions. That is why all the elements of a “normal” childhood are there:
A “father,” who represents the “head of the world household,” which many times will be followed by a “mother” and then us… the kids.
In this family, we go back to being told what to do, what to dress, what to eat, etc. If you do those things, you will get a prize. That is called heaven. Otherwise, you will be punished, that is hell.
A great family for the “inner child” inside! 🙂
When we explore consciousness, we will find out many of the answers that we were looking for about life. Those answer are never intellectual. You cannot think about them. You just realize them and that realization cannot be communicated. Only those who are in similar consciousness will be able to “see” what you see.
As your consciousness, so your life.
When we find many individuals in the world with such variety of consciousness, then we could observe that “reality” is not one thing or another, but it is what we are capable of seeing.
A perception.
A child can only see what is going on in “his family.” That is his world. His point of reference.
It is in that child’s mind when “G.I Joe” the fantastic toy; becomes anything that you may want him to be.
G.I Joe can fly. He can appear in another planet. He can save humanity from the evil “Cobra Command.” 🙂
Even though there is one “G.I Joe,” the “reality” is that there are many. 🙂
Every child who knows about the prowess of “G.I Joe” will have one. That child will become an automatic believer.
That particular “G.I Joe” may have different powers, different stories and adventures…. Different experiences.
In the mind of the child there is no such a question as to who “has the true G.I Joe ” among his friends (That is a grown up question.)
For the child what matters is to enjoy, to play. To have a good time!
The same idea could be related with our notion/experience of God.
According to our consciousness, we will have a different take on God.
When that individual experience becomes a collective possession, then a dogmatic view is created and with that a structured religion is born.
A “new” family for “new” kids. 🙂
To have different beliefs is not “bad.”
Different children will have different adventures with G.I Joe. 🙂
Beliefs are just an important part of expressing the feelings of that caged child, who lost his charm and innocence just to be “successful” in life, in his search to be “someone” in life.
That experience of believing in the comfort that God brings, is meant to teach us something in life.
The issue to keep in mind, is when someone wants to generalize his experience and make it the “truth” or when that belief constricts the horizons for growth of that child.
That is when the child goes back into the “successful” adult mentality who is interested in “proving” himself to be “right.” A source of egocentric mind.
In my experience, there are beings of light at this time who are helping humanity to move into a different consciousness. If there is a human being who is a believer of heaven, then that consciousness will be used to give support, assurance and benefit to those individuals experiencing that consciousness. That is how people from different walks of life have different “divine” experiences according to their beliefs or according to what these individuals need to experience.
For example, you can see this in this movie trailer (This movie is being played at a theater near you…) “Heaven is for real.”
The movie clearly gives hope and happiness to believers. If we understand consciousness, we will see how positive this assurance will be for those believers in that state of consciousness.
Nevertheless, this does not mean that this particular belief is “the holy truth.”
The point in spirituality is not to define and spell out what is the “truth” (for the understanding of it depends on the location of our consciousness;) but to “open” our consciousness.
Now, someone who professes atheism will believe that he does not have a belief.
He does. Not believing in a belief is another belief. 🙂
Please see that “reality” depends exclusively in the location of our consciousness. ( As explained in other articles)
If hard-core scientists tell me that science is “real,” then I could easily point to them about quantum physics “reality.” There is nothing that could be called “real” there, unless we use a point of reference. Our senses will perceive what they are “designed” to perceive. That is not “reality” but a perception of it.
The interesting aspect is that many human beings according to their consciousness have gotten trapped into their own “Godly” experiences. Something like :”I have seen God” or “I have gone to heaven,” or “ I had an experience with God or Jesus, etc.”
Those are great experiences! However, those experiences do not mean automatic change in consciousness.
Please see this, for without a change in consciousness we will be psychologically, the same individuals with the same fears and the same hopes and the same attachments, etc. no matter what we practice or believe in.
Changing our consciousness is not related with giving hope or assurance to our beliefs. Changing our consciousness is a new way of looking at life so the perception of misery and suffering is constantly reduced, but not out of a belief or a thought, but just out of our own day-to-day experience in openness and trust to life.
Greater consciousness means greater reduction of that perception of suffering, which in turn means greater enjoyment.
Greater joy. 🙂
Life is a marvelous experience once we truly see our own “interrelated” eternity. (Totality) We are tourists in life. Every passage in this life is there to be experienced. Once we are able to perceive that the answers in life are not “black or white,” then our consciousness has increased, it has opened up!
We experience “death,” but we are eternal. Thus, there is only life.
God is a belief for some, a reality for some; but nevertheless a “gift” for all the grown up “children at heart.”
What is that gift?
The adventure of living and discovering life, with playfulness.
Life is a game. 🙂
The fear of emptiness
Today, Ananda will be “unleashed” rather than Avyakt7.
Bear with this… 🙂
All monotheistic religions are based on the support of individuality as ego.
Here is the mantra:
This is God. That is “you.”
“You” need to do what pleases God.
Otherwise, “you” will be punished… Hell.
But, if you “do” what pleases God, then “you” will be “saved.” That is “you” will be in Paradise.
As the above gets more childish, “you” even could resurrect with your dead body and meet all your relatives who were “God fearing” people on Earth, in a “better place”…Heaven.
That “doing” what pleases God remains the main religious activity. It is no longer about “being” virtuous,” but doing things like: opening temples, spreading the word of God, etc.
Now, if you thought that non-monotheistic religions are the “true” ones; let me share this:
In the absence of God, you have the “Buddha,” you have the Guru, the abbot, the priest, etc.
Then the above “mantra” remains. It is always about “doing” things, becoming involved in spreading the teachings, doing some devotional practices, igniting the incense, listening to feel-y songs….. and dressing in a particular color which means “something” so we feel “good,” that we belong, that we are part of the “few.…”
If the above is our idea of spirituality, we may need to reconsider.
“You” cannot go to Paradise. 🙂 That “you” is made up of all your beliefs, fears, expectations, ideas, etc. under this life, this circumstance. When the body perishes, that “you” will perish…or hang out as a ghost, dearly attached to what you left behind …. 🙂
But, “you” want to believe that “you” will continue. “You” want to believe that “you” will be someone higher in the afterlife, etc.
That is the “you,” that personality, which needs to “die” in order to know something different, that is to be “reborn” again.
That death comes when your mind stops “doing” things and your feelings arrive, unleashed from the thoughts of your mind; that is when you are able to connect with the Totality, that is with the “voidness,” with the emptiness of a clear mind.
“You” are an individual, but at the same time; “you” are part of the “Totality.”
Our “systems” and religions are made to support the “individuality” aspect of the self, but they do not teach us the connection with the “Totality,” the “Drama,” life, etc.
Rather, to be “disconnected” from that Totality is their task by just supporting one side of the coin: Individuality.
Day light is one side of the coin.
Night time is the other side.
Both make the day.
“You” are awake during the day.
“You” sleep at night.
“You” are an individual during the day
“You” are “Totality,” “emptiness” during the night.
Are you afraid of sleeping? 🙂
Both, individuality and totality make up life.
To be awake means that during the day, we become conscious on how our mind filters information which is not “reality,” but just thoughts, ideas, assumptions.
When we believe that thought, then it becomes real.
When there is a collective belief then that “reality” becomes a system, a tradition….
If you look at the Ocean without thinking, you are empty. Then, “you” can really look. If you allow “that” to be without interference of your own mind, “you” are free, paradoxically by being “nothing” at the same time.
That “nothingness” is emptiness for that second.
Our misery is a thought that we believe in, for that situation does not fit the ideas of “I.”
Our sorrow is our lack of acceptance of life as it is, for it does not fit the ideas made up by “I.”
Our karma means to be closed to life for if we were open, accepting; then we will accept that karma as well…. It is part of life and acceptance means to be liberated. When “you” are not, “you” are free… 🙂
There are no beliefs here. See it in yourself…
Aren’t you afraid of dying?
“I” don’t know. “I” am living right now.
There is no chance for a belief to enter when there is no fear.
You cannot fear something that you don’t know. You can only fear to “lose” what you know.
Spiritual puppy treats
Mr. Religion:“God will punish you, if you do wrong”
Believer: What is to do wrong?
Mr. Religion: To hurt “others.”
Mr. Religion: You have free will, but not to do evil. Then, God will punish you for that.
Believer: How evil came into existence? 🙂
Mr. Religion: Simply because, “good” exists. Duality, right?
Believer: Right.
Believer: How “good” came into existence?
Mr. Religion: Well, we believe that God created it.
Believer: Ok. Then the problem is that God created evil as well…
Mr. Religion: No! That is not possible… It was the “devil.” 🙂
Believer: Who created the devil? 🙂 …
And then, we will go into the intricacies of an ideology, made to explain their own shortcomings… Mr. Religion will tighten up the threads of his creative ideology, by saying something like: “ You must believe if you want your soul to be saved. Otherwise, you will be in hell for eternity. You are warned.”
No questions about it.
Let us see another “puppy training session:”
Mr. Religion: “If you do that action, then the law of karma will appear and you will suffer the consequences.”
Believer: I don’t want for the law of karma to punish me. What should I do?
Mr. Religion: You should do “good actions.”
Believer: If I help my neighbor because I am afraid of the law of karma, but I really don’t want to do it; is that a good action or a bad action?
Mr. Religion: It is a good action, because you acted “good.”
Believer: Can I do “good” if I think “bad”?
Mr. Religion: Ehem…Just do what I tell you and you will always do good….
Many times a donkey needs a carrot to do some heavy task just as a puppy dog may need a biscuit to perform the trick of rolling around its belly.
In the religious world of beliefs, there is nothing more precious than “heaven” or “salvation.”
You should do things to please God…then, you will be rewarded with Heaven when you die.
You should follow these teachings then, you will be saved forever. You will be resurrected and then will enjoy the Godly “government” for eternity….
Now, the serious stuff… 🙂
How on Earth our inner sensibility to have empathy for humanity will be born? Isn’t the carrot or the doggy biscuit a “basic way” to “train” someone to act “good”?
Why do we need to be scared of “karma,” “hell” or “destruction” or “everlasting damnation” when there is goodness in our hearts? Isn’t that goodness what is necessary to emerge?
If you live, it is assured that you will die. Whether you have beliefs or not. If you ARE goodness “now,” what wrong could ever happen to you in your next life?
Don’t you wonder if your “transaction with God,” of getting heaven in exchange of “doing” things, is truly making you “good”? Or is it just a “new” trick that we have learned?
The puppy dog will not roll on its belly unless there is a biscuit. Isn’t that the level of our spirituality? Anyone looking for a biscuit? 🙂
Believe it or not; there are many human beings looking for that “biscuit.” Their sensibility to beauty has been shutdown. Fear is the language to understand along with “life insurance in the afterlife,” to be “someone” in the afterlife, it is all some can understand.
To take a puppy dog to watch a beautiful sunset to awaken its sensibility to beauty will not work. A puppy dog needs biscuits, treats… just like many human beings who cannot understand that we live in connection with everything existing, not only “now,” but there are threads with our past and the future as well.
If we are able to see “that reality,” goodness should flow as an automatic response of being in continuous relationship. What you “do” to “another” you do it to yourself. In that consciousness, we could live fear free… No biscuits needed. 🙂
Spirituality and beliefs
Why are you a Christian? Why are you a Muslim?
Why are you a BK? Why are you a Buddhist?
If you take a look deeply at this simple question, you will discover a lot about yourself.
If your “ism” is only about beliefs to keep you together with “others” or if it is based on a particular experience; you may need to consider if those beliefs are there to teach you about yourself, that is the work of your own mind.
Why do you label yourself to fit into a “something” and separating yourself from everything else?
We mirror each other, we are inter-related.
“I want to help my heart by eating less fatty foods.” Do you think that the above phrase is correct? 🙂
You are not helping “your heart,” you are helping yourself for without your healthy heart; you wouldn’t exist.
True spirituality is not related with a belief system.
“They believe in this, and we believe in that” that phrase separates at the mental level. The same thing happens when we use other labels which imply separation.
“My buddies will do everything for me to help me while in war….” The “others” you are fighting against are not your buddies: They do not feel like you, they do not breathe like you, they do not have hopes like you. Only their minds have different ideas….
Please see the illusion of mental separation.
In true spirituality, unless we have not looked at our minds closely; we have not done anything to change our behaviors, attitudes and prejudices.
To consciously look at our own minds does not require a religious view or perspective, it does not require “help” from “up above” until we have given the first step of courage to see all of our own dogmas, rigid values, prejudices, traditions and ideas … until we realize that those ideas are making our own hell on Earth, until then; we will be separating things and people.
Anyone could believe in anything. Anyone could have a practice of anything; but the main goal of any discipline related with Spirituality is meant to look at all the lies inside our own heads; those thoughts that we believe in, those ideas, which make up the way we relate with humanity and the world.
Do you think that life is “logical”? Do you believe that God “thinks logically”? 🙂
Maybe, maybe not. You don’t know neither do I.
Why deal with beliefs then? Isn’t it more constructive to look at what we think and the way we think?
In true spirituality, the mind is first. We can know all the theory about “how it works.” We could describe the mind and its components. We can analyze that data and come up with wonderful theories about the mind. We can obtain prizes due to our original research… 🙂
All of that is of no value for the Spiritual being.
Take a look at yourself. Observe the movie within yourself. Do not believe in that movie. It is not real.
Why?
Just because it is only in your head. There are other missing items.
Life is not the movie that we carry with us in our minds.
See that all our own hang-ups, beliefs, ideas and prejudices are secluding us from the wonderful, thoughtless experience of life.
Do not deny your mind, just observe it. Be conscious about the things that are going on there without judging.
Just become aware that it is happening.
Being aware that is happening without believing in it, is the easiest way to move on from that trap of beliefs.
To become free from the rigidity of our own minds is the first step of courage, the first “real” work within ourselves.
Once that step is taken, to heal the emotions of the heart will be next. In this way, our vision will change totally without the opportunity of going back.
We will become a “new” human being.
Question: Honesty for Spiritual growth
“Dear Brother, I thank you for your honest opinion and efforts towards spirituality. Coming from Indian origin and being conservative, we always look for others’ affirmation for any of our actions. Being a BK is no different, the same thing is followed. But the problem is there is a struggle(BK or otherwise) between the actual experience(the truth if I can say so) and the outer self (the outward behavior to please others). If one doesn’t go by the group, he is considered as half-cast or rebel. There is a clash as there is a feeling for the need of a group for spiritual progress (away from purely materialistic group). When people see your experiences, articles they get support for their inner selves which is longing to express the emotions, freedom, struggles. May be one should have that courage to be honest with oneself to progress spiritually (BK or otherwise). If we don’t we are losing our time by just believing a set of principles as real effort. Because many teachers/seniors speak of following the principles with more and more sincerely, because there principles helped them, but to put them explicitly as support systems only (not the effort itself) for spiritual progress would make the lives of spiritual seekers a lot easier. It would be good if you can elucidate the fundamental qualities needed from your experience for progress for a spiritual effort maker.”
Dear reader,
Thank you for your great question. As you mentioned, there is this pressure to conform, to be part of something in order to “move on.” Everyone is caught up in that in one-way or another: At work, in the religious gathering, in a society with determined set of values and traditions, etc. The consequence of not following is to be “alone.” Are you ready to experience that? 🙂
The answer comes when we realize that this is happening. That realization will bring the way out of that situation when the time arrives, if it arrives.
That right moment is something for every individual to recognize.
If the above sounds “very general,” it has to be in that way, for this blog is read by many individuals from different viewpoints and state of consciousness.
From avyakt7’s own experience, the truth is in yourself. This sounds like a cliché; and it is, if you have not experienced the third level of consciousness, the self. Perhaps there is more to it which avyakt7 hasn’t experienced yet, so avyakt7 does not hold anything as “absolute,” avyakt7 is open to “learn.” Knowing the inner self will give you that closeness to God.
When you are committed to Spirituality, which means that you realize that there are many weaknesses within “you” which are lingering there due to lack of greater consciousness; then change will be on the way. The issue is “you,” the solution is in “you.” The path is honesty, sincerity in your dealings with yourself.
Usually religions and methods are there to “protect us” from that “outside” that you mentioned. It feels reassuring when others feel and think like you; but there is danger in that as well, it is called self-righteousness.
When you want to plant a shrub or a small plant that will become a strong tree later on; you will probably use a stake to support that shrub. Religions are that stake. That protection will be there but that stake will need to go away for the tree to find its own strength. Others will need that stake as long as they live. There is variety that is why, there cannot be “the answer.”
The purpose of that stake is to allow you to gain greater consciousness.
From my experience, Christianity gave me the teaching of being “accounted for.” That there was a God who could help me if I was “good.” That I needed to recognize my “sins” and change my behavior. Through Brahma Kumaris, I learned about my own vices. From my experience, all the methods/principles taught by the Brahma Kumaris are meant to recognize sex-lust and anger and to transform them into feelings of benevolence to all. Celibacy is not a repression but a choice of a lifestyle in a different consciousness which obviously will not apply to everyone. There is variety.
Through other teachings, I have learned about the inner self.
There is no such a thing as one teaching being “better” than another, but teachings come from different states of consciousness and they will be beneficial as long as the individual matches that consciousness. In this way life becomes a school. Our state of consciousness will change. Life is change.
Take a look at your life and see if you have learned what you need to learn out of your current religion, belief or “ism” that you follow; if you say “yes” but then go back to the old pattern which brought you there in the first time; you will know that you were not honest with yourself.
That is the way to find out. It could be risky.
Taking the “stake” out is a big deal. You will find out if you are capable to stand up despite the storms, the hurricanes of life… Are you ready for that? You decide the timing. No one should pressure you. If you are not ready, that is OK as well. Every tree is different.
As long as there is appreciation and gratitude for all of those experiences, which are teaching us different things in life, we could grow.
Let us just remember that everyone is playing their own role in life. Mine is unlike anyone else’s and so is yours. See where you fit in this “movie of life.” That is your honesty, your sincerity, your gift to humanity.
Best wishes!
Exploring the Depth of Living 