Bloomfield wrote:... by saying that it is a "matter of fact that there are people for whom the world appears through the senses..." you are jumping right into the middle of a tangled jungle of centuries of befuddlement and confustication.
That's the most interesting place. I wouldn't say jumping; it's where I hang out.
DaleWisely wrote:
By the way, I looked inward this morning and talked directly to God and he told me Cranberry is wrong about the ritual thing. Just so you all know.
He told me that too! And also that not all truth is found within oneself.
Walden! I think you and I are now a church!
Me too! Me too! I wanna join.
This isn't one of those 'two is company' churches, is it?
OK I'm an atheist, I admit it, but I believe Berry is wrong about the
ritual thing, and that not all truth is found within
oneself. That's close enough!
This isn't The Big Hairy Church of Doctrinal Purity, is it?
We don't need,
No silly creed.
Catholicism is three in one; our church can be
two out of three.
Walden wrote:
He told me that too! And also that not all truth is found within oneself.
Walden! I think you and I are now a church!
Me too! Me too! I wanna join.
This isn't one of those 'two is company' churches, is it?
OK I'm an atheist, I admit it, but I believe Berry is wrong about the
ritual thing, and that not all truth is found within
oneself. That's close enough!
This isn't The Big Hairy Church of Doctrinal Purity, is it?
We don't need,
No silly creed.
Catholicism is three in one; our church can be
two out of three.
Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze!
I want to join also. Or are dissenting members not allowed? I don't want to get "ex-communicated".
Well, it's true. I am uncomfortable with a structured church hierarchy and stuff, but I was hoping you could let me in because...uh...I like you all.
And it's not really fair that you will let an atheist in who doesn't mind ritual but you will not let a Christian in who might tell you you're wrong on some things.
Church of This Thread With Inevitable Schism Following
See, the beauty of this would be that rather than a church geared toward awaiting the coming of a prophet, we look hopefully into the future for the coming of the Inevitable Schism. Rather than treating a schism as a disaster, we anticipate it with joy!!
Lorenzo wrote:I don't want to be a member, but if there's any chance you have the 'Powers of Separation,' doctrine, I'd like to serve on the policy board.
Stand by. We're having our first scandal. Walden has stolen money from the poor box.
It is in this way that one comes to identify oneself with the witnessing consciousness, and merge in that consciousness all that which one conceives within oneself, such as one's likes and dislikes.
One knows oneself thus: "I '' am neither the body, nor the vital force, nor the sense organ, nor the ego, nor the mind, nor the intellect, for I am within all these; I am the eternal inmost witnessing consciousness, who is the seer of the changing phenomena, and I am other than all of them."
The inmost witnessing consciousness-that I am, the ever-free.
The fact, is that the Atman is not conscious of anything either within it or outside of it, either one at a time or both simultaneously, nor is the Atman non-consciousness. Therefore, I am neither a hearer nor a thinker; nor a knower of anything; I am the eternal, inmost witnessing consciousness.
The knower of Brahman who knows the Atman in this manner merges all the objects of knowledge that are experienced by him in the consciousness of the Atman. It is in this way that he frees himself from all sides for they are but the products of delusion. (When the spiritual 'aspirant' realizes the all pervading Brahman as his own Self, his ignorance is destroyed, his doubts vanish, and the results of his actions become inoperative – Mundaka 11. 2. 9.)
Going beyond the consciousness of the body by meditating on Him, one reaches the third stage viz. the universal lordship. All his desires are satisfied; and he becomes one without a second. Swat. 1. 2.)
Rituals:
To one who is devoted to the pursuit of knowledge, the observance of rituals is of no use. The reason for it is that the observance of rituals and the devotion to knowledge cannot co-exist.
There is considerable incompatibility between knowledge and rituals in as much a their natures are entirely antithetical. It is only he who regards himself as the agent of action that can perform the rituals. But the nature of knowledge is altogether different and it dispels all such ideas.
'It is only as long as one is ignorant of the Atman that rituals have a place. But the knowledge of the Atman destroys both ignorance and the love of rituals.
How is it possible for one to perform rituals while engaged in the pursuit of knowledge, in as
much as they are incompatible? It is as impossible as that light and darkness should coexist. No one can keep one's eyes open and closed at the same time. It is equally impossible to combine knowledge and rituals. Can one who is looking eastwards see what is the west? Is it ever possible for one whose mind is directed towards the innermost Atman to take part in external activities?
A man of renunciation, who is solely intent upon. the pursuit of knowledge, has nothing to gain from the. sastras which enjoin the observance of rituals. He observes no ritual other than the pursuit of knowledge; that alone is his sandhya; that alone is his all in all and there is nothing else.
I've been witnessing all the attention given to the Pope during his apparent last hours. That's understandable. I can't help but wonder where Christ fits in with all this, and do Christians feel this kind of emotion about Christ? I haven't heard his name mentioned at all, perhaps it has been mentioned outside all the news reports. From my acquaintance with Christ, I think he would say something like this," Don't worry, he's just about to take a little nap." Please turn your attention to the poor and needy. Sell the all you have in there and give to the poor. For the poor in spirit, those who live humbly, will inherit the kingdom."
