Sum up your religious belief

[Vajradhara]

Namaste all,

on another forum, this topic was introduced and produced a fairly typical response. as this forum is more diverse, i was curious how it would work here.

i'll go first.


if i had to sum up my religious belifes, there are several things that i could say... so here's how i'd say it:


have you eaten your rice gruel today? good, now go and wash your bowl.

[juantoo3]

Kindest Regards, Vajradhara!

Mine in summed as this:

Love your Heavenly Father with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.

[Siberia]

Hey Vajradhara! Could you explain the metaphor of the rice to me? I actually read the same story a few nights ago in this book I'm reading. The best explanation I could come up with is that we are the bowl that has been filled up with so much desire (rice), and that after we live out our desires, we must purify ourselves and become empty (washing the bowl). I may be way off though!

Anyways, here are two quotes that could sum up my spiritual journey:

"We have much to unlearn before we can learn."

- or -

"Die before you die, then realize that there is no death."

[Vajradhara]

Namaste siberia,

thank you for the post.

Originally Posted by Siberia

Hey Vajradhara! Could you explain the metaphor of the rice to me? I actually read the same story a few nights ago in this book I'm reading. The best explanation I could come up with is that we are the bowl that has been filled up with so much desire (rice), and that after we live out our desires, we must purify ourselves and become empty (washing the bowl). I may be way off though!

Anyways, here are two quotes that could sum up my spiritual journey:

"We have much to unlearn before we can learn."

- or -

"Die before you die, then realize that there is no death."

this is my understanding of the phrase....

it's not really a metaphor in the sense that you are seeing... what this statement is indicating is that, outside of our normal, ordinary activities, there is no practice.. no religion to be found. the very act of eating our rice and then washing our bowl are, when being mindful, enligtened activity. outside of these activities awakened consciousness cannot be found.

this is pretty much the same as the old phrase "chop wood, carry water." in a sense... this is also speaking to the individual that believes that they have to go to some place to find a spiritual truth or enlightenment. this is not so. as it is said "the awakening you find on the mountain is the awakening that you brought with you."

[Siberia]

Originally Posted by Vajradhara

it's not really a metaphor in the sense that you are seeing... what this statement is indicating is that, outside of our normal, ordinary activities, there is no practice.. no religion to be found. the very act of eating our rice and then washing our bowl are, when being mindful, enligtened activity. outside of these activities awakened consciousness cannot be found.

this is pretty much the same as the old phrase "chop wood, carry water." in a sense... this is also speaking to the individual that believes that they have to go to some place to find a spiritual truth or enlightenment. this is not so. as it is said "the awakening you find on the mountain is the awakening that you brought with you."

Wow; after reading that and thinking about it for a while, the meaning of that hit me pretty hard. I guess it's kinda similiar to the Zen saying "What, at this moment, is lacking?"; designed to bring you into the Present. . Thanks alot!

[Vajradhara]

Originally Posted by Siberia

Wow; after reading that and thinking about it for a while, the meaning of that hit me pretty hard. I guess it's kinda similiar to the Zen saying "What, at this moment, is lacking?"; designed to bring you into the Present. . Thanks alot!

gassho

i'm glad that you found it helpful.

[I, Brian]

Sum up my beliefs?

Our beliefs do not matter - only our actions.

Or - actions, not words.

Or so forth.

[lunamoth]

It is not our self that is the mirror, it is our self that is the dross.

[samabudhi]

Our beliefs do not matter - only our actions.

Or - actions, not words.

Hmmmm...
My belief is that words are actions and that it is not actions that matter but intentions. Despite what they say about good intentions, I believe if they are their and there is an opportunity, then they will flower.

[neoxenos]

Originally Posted by samabudhi

Hmmmm...
My belief is that words are actions and that it is not actions that matter but intentions. Despite what they say about good intentions, I believe if they are their and there is an opportunity, then they will flower.

Hello samabudhi,

At one point in my life I would have agreed with you, but no longer. Hitler thought he had wonderful intentions.

Regards,
Steve

[Pet Zepi]

God is a child just waking up from a long sweaty nightmare.

[Mus Zibii]

Wow, a lot of good answers. No way can I match up.

That could actually be my answer, but I'll try to make more of an effort.

I'll always be lost as long as I continue to believe that I know where I am.

[I, Brian]

Good answer, too, and welcome to CR, Mus Zibii.

[samabudhi]

Originally Posted by neoxenos

Hello samabudhi,

At one point in my life I would have agreed with you, but no longer. Hitler thought he had wonderful intentions.

Regards,
Steve

But he didn't, so there we go.

[neoxenos]

Originally Posted by samabudhi

But he didn't, so there we go.

Exactly, so intentions have nothing to do with reality.