This video deeply resonates. When I was student and visiting Hong Kong, a Philosophy of Religion professor told a small group of us, "there are many paths to the summit of the mountain, but you have to choose one."
As a student of many years of Islam and the mystical tradition, once flowering within it, and now withering inside it, such wise friendly talk lifts up a heavy heart.
I just want to say this video had an impact on me. He basically laid out the concept of the third eye (that looks inward towards the self/mind, but remains closed for almost all of us), and then went on to use an analogy borrowed from Sufism. I had to stop the video and think for a moment about how wonderful this guy is. It's a beautiful message that even Billy Graham shared years ago that started my journey of exploring religions and seeking ultimate truth. There are different paths that lead to the same place, and he is so right that one must at least choose a path. I'm at a point in my life where I've grown weary of local sanghas and megachurches that appear to be 98% in the world. There is something to be said for the full commitment to a path. I have no idea what to expect from my local Quaker group, but I know it is a path of non-violence and non-dogma, based on what I've read. I believe I'll give it a try this weekend.
I find the tricky part is understanding how to immerse yourself in Quakerism, particularly given the unprogrammed nature of meetings. The lack of preaching is welcome, but it comes with a certain lack of direction that's challenging. These videos are a big help, though.
I find Quaker's to be the truest examples of Christian's the United States has ever produced. I went to a couple of meetings in Alaska years ago. I was going through a dark time though, and I felt guilty bringing my sins into the room. Maybe someday I'll be able to try again.
You should try again. We all have sins. When we focus on our sins, we burden ourselves with guilt. When we focus on the Light, our whole body becomes full Light. Christ's yoke is easy, because He is Love (full of Grace and Truth)and commands us to love; love covers a multitude of sins and mercy triumphs over judgment.
I understand your feeling towards your sins, but hope my take on it may be of help. If not, ignore this ramble ;) To accept that my body is a carrier of Spirit like every other human being, even the greatest of war criminals, is for me an absolution from, or way to find peace with, the sins I know I have committed and know I will commit. Sin is embedded in our humanness, not because we are evil by nature but because we are fallible by nature. And for us who live in the West, sin is blatantly obvious in our continuous failure to do away with an economic system wherein our own comfort depends on others' sufferings. Knowing and feeling that Spirit nevertheless lives within me and permeates the whole of this creation, leaves me with a certain absolution that also demands action for the good in the world. Although I see myself as Christian, I am not inclined to use some typical Christian phrases like "washing away of your sins" or "Jesus took my punishment". I believe that we are, in part, the sum of our histories and choices and we have to make the best of that. We always carry our sins and fallibilities with us, into every room we enter. But the fact that we also carry in us Spirit - the Holy Spirit or Christ, if you will - which has the potential to lead us to a better life and better relations with others, feels like an ongoing absolution to me.
Quakerism originated in England :) Though many quickly moved to the US to avoid persecution (which unfortunately did not work - and in fact got much worse in the US due to their sharing of the land with Puritans).
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This video deeply resonates. When I was student and visiting Hong Kong, a Philosophy of Religion professor told a small group of us, "there are many paths to the summit of the mountain, but you have to choose one."
As a student of many years of Islam and the mystical tradition, once flowering within it, and now withering inside it, such wise friendly talk lifts up a heavy heart.
This resonated with me so much that I've written it out longhand, to keep in my planner, to carry with me and think about.
I just want to say this video had an impact on me. He basically laid out the concept of the third eye (that looks inward towards the self/mind, but remains closed for almost all of us), and then went on to use an analogy borrowed from Sufism. I had to stop the video and think for a moment about how wonderful this guy is. It's a beautiful message that even Billy Graham shared years ago that started my journey of exploring religions and seeking ultimate truth. There are different paths that lead to the same place, and he is so right that one must at least choose a path. I'm at a point in my life where I've grown weary of local sanghas and megachurches that appear to be 98% in the world. There is something to be said for the full commitment to a path. I have no idea what to expect from my local Quaker group, but I know it is a path of non-violence and non-dogma, based on what I've read. I believe I'll give it a try this weekend.
I find the tricky part is understanding how to immerse yourself in Quakerism, particularly given the unprogrammed nature of meetings. The lack of preaching is welcome, but it comes with a certain lack of direction that's challenging. These videos are a big help, though.
Don't worry about the direction. Its always given to you just be quiet and listen
I find Quaker's to be the truest examples of Christian's the United States has ever produced. I went to a couple of meetings in Alaska years ago. I was going through a dark time though, and I felt guilty bringing my sins into the room. Maybe someday I'll be able to try again.
You should try again.
We all have sins.
When we focus on our sins, we burden ourselves with guilt. When we focus on the Light, our whole body becomes full Light.
Christ's yoke is easy, because He is Love (full of Grace and Truth)and commands us to love; love covers a multitude of sins and mercy triumphs over judgment.
I understand your feeling towards your sins, but hope my take on it may be of help. If not, ignore this ramble ;)
To accept that my body is a carrier of Spirit like every other human being, even the greatest of war criminals, is for me an absolution from, or way to find peace with, the sins I know I have committed and know I will commit. Sin is embedded in our humanness, not because we are evil by nature but because we are fallible by nature. And for us who live in the West, sin is blatantly obvious in our continuous failure to do away with an economic system wherein our own comfort depends on others' sufferings. Knowing and feeling that Spirit nevertheless lives within me and permeates the whole of this creation, leaves me with a certain absolution that also demands action for the good in the world. Although I see myself as Christian, I am not inclined to use some typical Christian phrases like "washing away of your sins" or "Jesus took my punishment". I believe that we are, in part, the sum of our histories and choices and we have to make the best of that. We always carry our sins and fallibilities with us, into every room we enter. But the fact that we also carry in us Spirit - the Holy Spirit or Christ, if you will - which has the potential to lead us to a better life and better relations with others, feels like an ongoing absolution to me.
Quakerism originated in England :) Though many quickly moved to the US to avoid persecution (which unfortunately did not work - and in fact got much worse in the US due to their sharing of the land with Puritans).
Thank you. You are speaking to my condition, Friend.
Beautiful.
I like their oats the best
Delete this
Sublime Failure
I love erasure as an art form, thanks for the delete this comment!
Trim those eyebrows!