352.
Theological
The disciplines
Ran across a neighbor about my age when walking and told him about a possible newsletter that might start in our development the would keep an eye on the upkeep of the property while double checking the egos of those on the board. I played a part in connecting the information gatherer with the information distributor and perhaps the tides can change. I thought eventually my neighbor would be interested in it as his views over time seemed critical of the present regime. It just was there to do.
He answered unexpectedly. While agreeing with observations about the present board and their actions, or lack of, he thought scrutiny would make their egos more defensive and gear up for more of a battle. Kidding, I said this could lead to World War III easily. He listened and then said my behavior by putting these two people together was passive aggressive. Hmmmm. Unasked for tutelage. Still, maybe a little truth here. Perhaps a bunch of other things too. Reactive behavior? Maybe. A need to stir the pot? Maybe. Just being self important and asserting self? Maybe. But there also might be some good coming from this. People might have an outlet to voice grievances and vent frustrations. Also things might become run better.
My neighbor, in a teacher mode, for he is a practitioner of a form of Buddhist meditation, said he'd choose to just let the situation dissolve under its own weight and not stir up egos. I told him I understood that. In vernacular, best let sleeping dogs lie, or live and let live. It might be best to let the ebb and flow of tensions follow their own course. The Buddhists, however, have practiced their disciplines for centuries and the world has not stopped its craziness. They might be refined and evolved in their practice, and it is good to have them around as they are good examples of human beings, but nothing has changed. Their practice has not answered the world's need to change. A new consciousness has not arrived. To be blunt, they have not transformed the world. Life has just continued, probably the same, with or without their presence.
On the opposite end of the spectrum you have the Orthodox Jews who follow the Torah, said to be the initial and most comprehensive instructions for life and living. The practitioners believe they should follow the do's and don'ts as instructed until the Messiah comes and delivers them. Within their pages a wide acceptance of human behavior is accepted and not rejected. Purity is not the object. Withdrawal is not the object. In the Torah, or its offshoot, the Talmud, jealousy is spoken of in a positive light, for without it, you would not work hard for a house just like your neighbors have. Lust is also understood, for without it there would be no children. Life is worked with, understood, enjoyed and then tempered and put in service to an overall vision. Isolation and aestheticism is not sought. Dissolving the ego or karma or action/reaction is not necessarily a good thing. First, because it can't be done and second because existence has to continue, not withdrawn from into other realms.
Well, the Jewish Orthodox see themselves as an example for the world, yet obviously have fallen short. Goodness has not prevailed, peace is not in the world, the lion rests not with the lamb, antisemitism is on the rise, and heaven has not been brought to earth. Perhaps when the Messiah comes it will be so. But if so it didn't matter whether they followed the Torah or not, for they are being saved by God, not by what they did to make a better world. They basically failed.
Of course there are many levels here. On an historic level the orthodox serve a purpose as kind of an historic timeline. Clutching the Torah is a rallying and unification point and a standard by which to measure activities against and keep time. It defines a group that keeps an identity consistent through time and therefore it keeps time. But as far as changing themselves or the world it has not worked. But as said on some level it serves some purpose.
The disciplines of the world keep men going in their respective roles. They keep personal resolution going in order to survive. They provide a vehicle for developing good habits and growth. But they are not the answer nor can they be counted upon. They all fall short of their aims. Their aims are slightly askew and their practice is somewhat askew. These codes of behavior serve some purpose, have some value, but fall short and yes, eventually fail.
This is life on earth at this time. Given this, one is left with a choice. Either there is a God or there is not a God. If there is not a God one goes their own way. If there is a God there is hope, a possible purpose for everything, a higher and bigger dimension that maybe we will know. There is no proof for either position. One either comes to accept that there is a God or not. Even if nothing is known nor can be concluded, it is good if there is a God, for then nothingness doesn't prevail.
If there is a God, and given all systems and actions here on earth seem to work for a time but eventually fall short, we are left with questions unanswered. What we need is help, because we can't do it alone no matter what system we employ or practice. The Orthodox Jewish people claim the entire world will come against them at some point and the only one they can turn to is God. To some extent that is the reality for us all. On all levels, whether vibrational, harmonic, verbally, or experiential, we will reach the point where all fails to some extent, and where we need help. Spiritual evolution has not answered all of our needs. The wisdoms of the world can't endure. We are left humbled, softened, opened to receiving and accepting without resistance. Pain, not practice, has brought us to this point. We have not evolved to the point where we can fly. Rather, we see our limitations and we look to the light of God and need him honestly and sincerely, whether quietly and privately and silently, or in some public arena on our knees. We have tried everything and this is all that is left. Until this happens, we patiently wait, watch, and wonder and hold onto a tentative equilibrium.
Theological
The disciplines
Ran across a neighbor about my age when walking and told him about a possible newsletter that might start in our development the would keep an eye on the upkeep of the property while double checking the egos of those on the board. I played a part in connecting the information gatherer with the information distributor and perhaps the tides can change. I thought eventually my neighbor would be interested in it as his views over time seemed critical of the present regime. It just was there to do.
He answered unexpectedly. While agreeing with observations about the present board and their actions, or lack of, he thought scrutiny would make their egos more defensive and gear up for more of a battle. Kidding, I said this could lead to World War III easily. He listened and then said my behavior by putting these two people together was passive aggressive. Hmmmm. Unasked for tutelage. Still, maybe a little truth here. Perhaps a bunch of other things too. Reactive behavior? Maybe. A need to stir the pot? Maybe. Just being self important and asserting self? Maybe. But there also might be some good coming from this. People might have an outlet to voice grievances and vent frustrations. Also things might become run better.
My neighbor, in a teacher mode, for he is a practitioner of a form of Buddhist meditation, said he'd choose to just let the situation dissolve under its own weight and not stir up egos. I told him I understood that. In vernacular, best let sleeping dogs lie, or live and let live. It might be best to let the ebb and flow of tensions follow their own course. The Buddhists, however, have practiced their disciplines for centuries and the world has not stopped its craziness. They might be refined and evolved in their practice, and it is good to have them around as they are good examples of human beings, but nothing has changed. Their practice has not answered the world's need to change. A new consciousness has not arrived. To be blunt, they have not transformed the world. Life has just continued, probably the same, with or without their presence.
On the opposite end of the spectrum you have the Orthodox Jews who follow the Torah, said to be the initial and most comprehensive instructions for life and living. The practitioners believe they should follow the do's and don'ts as instructed until the Messiah comes and delivers them. Within their pages a wide acceptance of human behavior is accepted and not rejected. Purity is not the object. Withdrawal is not the object. In the Torah, or its offshoot, the Talmud, jealousy is spoken of in a positive light, for without it, you would not work hard for a house just like your neighbors have. Lust is also understood, for without it there would be no children. Life is worked with, understood, enjoyed and then tempered and put in service to an overall vision. Isolation and aestheticism is not sought. Dissolving the ego or karma or action/reaction is not necessarily a good thing. First, because it can't be done and second because existence has to continue, not withdrawn from into other realms.
Well, the Jewish Orthodox see themselves as an example for the world, yet obviously have fallen short. Goodness has not prevailed, peace is not in the world, the lion rests not with the lamb, antisemitism is on the rise, and heaven has not been brought to earth. Perhaps when the Messiah comes it will be so. But if so it didn't matter whether they followed the Torah or not, for they are being saved by God, not by what they did to make a better world. They basically failed.
Of course there are many levels here. On an historic level the orthodox serve a purpose as kind of an historic timeline. Clutching the Torah is a rallying and unification point and a standard by which to measure activities against and keep time. It defines a group that keeps an identity consistent through time and therefore it keeps time. But as far as changing themselves or the world it has not worked. But as said on some level it serves some purpose.
The disciplines of the world keep men going in their respective roles. They keep personal resolution going in order to survive. They provide a vehicle for developing good habits and growth. But they are not the answer nor can they be counted upon. They all fall short of their aims. Their aims are slightly askew and their practice is somewhat askew. These codes of behavior serve some purpose, have some value, but fall short and yes, eventually fail.
This is life on earth at this time. Given this, one is left with a choice. Either there is a God or there is not a God. If there is not a God one goes their own way. If there is a God there is hope, a possible purpose for everything, a higher and bigger dimension that maybe we will know. There is no proof for either position. One either comes to accept that there is a God or not. Even if nothing is known nor can be concluded, it is good if there is a God, for then nothingness doesn't prevail.
If there is a God, and given all systems and actions here on earth seem to work for a time but eventually fall short, we are left with questions unanswered. What we need is help, because we can't do it alone no matter what system we employ or practice. The Orthodox Jewish people claim the entire world will come against them at some point and the only one they can turn to is God. To some extent that is the reality for us all. On all levels, whether vibrational, harmonic, verbally, or experiential, we will reach the point where all fails to some extent, and where we need help. Spiritual evolution has not answered all of our needs. The wisdoms of the world can't endure. We are left humbled, softened, opened to receiving and accepting without resistance. Pain, not practice, has brought us to this point. We have not evolved to the point where we can fly. Rather, we see our limitations and we look to the light of God and need him honestly and sincerely, whether quietly and privately and silently, or in some public arena on our knees. We have tried everything and this is all that is left. Until this happens, we patiently wait, watch, and wonder and hold onto a tentative equilibrium.
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