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Current Contemplations

sunsplash

Freckled
What are you currently thinking about or trying to dissect as you progress on your spiritual quest? Are you stuck on any one thing in particular? I seem to be stuck in general. :p
 

Rainbow Mage

Lib Democrat/Agnostic/Epicurean-ish/Buddhist-ish
I am sort of stuck on something, admittedly. Why does this existence, exist? Since I believe there are gods, and I believe we have souls, and that the soul is the more real part of a person, why does this matrix exist? For what purpose? I tell myself it doesn't matter, because we give it a purpose, and our purpose is also to serve whichever deity we feel drawn to, but that still doesn't answer this question. Why do we exist?
 

Aquitaine

Well-Known Member
I am sort of stuck on something, admittedly. Why does this existence, exist? Since I believe there are gods, and I believe we have souls, and that the soul is the more real part of a person, why does this matrix exist? For what purpose? I tell myself it doesn't matter, because we give it a purpose, and our purpose is also to serve whichever deity we feel drawn to, but that still doesn't answer this question. Why do we exist?

LOL! Good luck finding that one out!

Oddly enough, it seems only once we're dead we'll have any possibility of "knowing" what life is all about etc.

I know, mad isn't it.......
 

Rainbow Mage

Lib Democrat/Agnostic/Epicurean-ish/Buddhist-ish
I mean, for real, right? LOL- Here we are existing for what purpose? I guess I kind of tell myself that I exist to learn love and kindness and such, but I'm not entirely convinced.
 

xkatz

Well-Known Member
I am "stuck" on trying to "choose" my path so to say. :p

Also I am trying to be 100% certain w/ my choice; I don't want to regret it.
 

Onkara

Well-Known Member
I am "stuck" on trying to "choose" my path so to say. :p

Also I am trying to be 100% certain w/ my choice; I don't want to regret it.

I don't think you would regret doing something that makes you feel life has value, would you? :) Or is it the sense of committement and betray of what others took you to be?
 

xkatz

Well-Known Member
I don't think you would regret doing something that makes you feel life has value, would you? :)

I wouldn't regret a good decision either :) I am just not all that good sometimes when it comes to committing to something new and unfamiliar.

Onkarah said:
Or is it the sense of committement and betray of what others took you to be?

I don't exactly understand what that means :confused:
 

Onkara

Well-Known Member
I am sort of stuck on something, admittedly. Why does this existence, exist? Since I believe there are gods, and I believe we have souls, and that the soul is the more real part of a person, why does this matrix exist? For what purpose? I tell myself it doesn't matter, because we give it a purpose, and our purpose is also to serve whichever deity we feel drawn to, but that still doesn't answer this question. Why do we exist?

We could say that we exist to find a state of being in which we don't have to ask that question. I don't imply to be nihilistic, rather to find a state of being which makes that question, just another question.
 

Onkara

Well-Known Member
I wouldn't regret a good decision either :) I am just not all that good sometimes when it comes to committing to something new and unfamiliar.
I don't exactly understand what that means :confused:
Sorry, it was a bit cryptic. I mean, if I stand up and shout "From this moment on I am a Viking and may Thor strike me down if I stray from His path!" Then the next morning I read a great book on Jesus and decide I made a mistake, perhaps others will think I am indecisive and would not deserve their approval etc.

You don't have to answer this, it is just for thought :)
 

Breathe

Hostis humani generis
Also I am trying to be 100% certain w/ my choice; I don't want to regret it.

What do you feel you may regret? Do you want to avoid getting into a religion which you can't get out of, for example, or do you want to avoid making some major life changes, for example, going the whole hog and changing your name and stuff, only to find, ten years down the road, you to suddenly think "Hell, this is wrong for me"? Or both? Or neither?

That was a major problem I had as a seeker, you know? I didn't want to make a mistake and get stuck with it and make stuff more difficult for myself, nor did I want to have to then have to tell everyone "by the way.. you know as I was a member of X religion before? Well, now I don't believe that, and I'm now a member of Y religion..." :D
 

xkatz

Well-Known Member
What do you feel you may regret? Do you want to avoid getting into a religion which you can't get out of, for example, or do you want to avoid making some major life changes, for example, going the whole hog and changing your name and stuff, only to find, ten years down the road, you to suddenly think "Hell, this is wrong for me"? Or both? Or neither?

Both are an issue for me.
 

Onkara

Well-Known Member
Following Odion's post. I agree, there is a sensation that once we do something we will not be able to turn back, it is paralysing and fairly useless state to find oneself. I think there are ways out and methods too:

1) Choose a religion which is liberal and wide enough to allow you to fine tune, expand or advance in your beliefs as you learn and grow.
2) Choose a religion that doesn't require you to change your diet, friends, partner, and physical appearance in any extreme way.
3) See everything as a chance to learn and grow, knowing that even famous warriors, politicians, businessmen and religious leaders have the courage to change their plans or change their mind* last minute and still face up to others remarks, knowing their victory will outweigh any digressions.
4) Never do or say something which could obviously harm others or yourself.

-------------
* learning how the mind is influenced by gunas, such as desire, anger, passion and zealous enthusiasm is a good way to know how our mind might pull us down a path we don't feel comfortable to wake up with the next day. :D
 
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Boethiah

Penguin
I think it is impossible to know the true reason we are here. I think that might be a part of existence itself. The universe is infinite, and we are always discovering new things. We aren't ever going to reach a point when we can say "All right, done. We know everything". That just isn't going to happen. The mystery of why we are here is just as important as our being here itself. Sure, one could just stop trying to delve into that mystery, but where's the fun in that? ;)

The Baha'i Faith teaches that it is the goal of man kind to reach a state of unity and oneness. I do not believe this is the purpose of existence. Why would God put us here to achieve such a goal? To attain greater altruistic qualities? But why? I suppose that is just apart of the mystery.

As far as my own spiritual journey goes, I try to take it slowly and I try to make decisions very well before I do anything. It is wise to research something thoroughly first. First one asks the believers, then the non-believers of that religion or path. Read writings if there are any. Know what you are getting into.

I try to follow these steps, but my main problem is that I sometimes have a hard time differentiating between an academic interest in something and a growing belief in something. My passion, I guess you could say, is religion and world culture. Sometimes I get a bit carried away in my research :p
 

Tarheeler

Argumentative Curmudgeon
Premium Member
I am "stuck" on trying to "choose" my path so to say. :p

Also I am trying to be 100% certain w/ my choice; I don't want to regret it.

I'm in a similar place, although I don't think I would regret the decision if it turned out to not be right for me.

I'm pretty sure it's the right choice, but it comes with major lifestyle changes. And, while I'm still probably at least a year or two from a formal conversion, I've already started to make changes at home. To say that my kids aren't thrilled at some of the changes would be understatement.

It's a big step to take.
 

Onkara

Well-Known Member
I can only share my understanding in hope it is useful.

Change is inevitable, both at the physical level i.e. seasons in nature, our bodies age and also we change as people at the mental and devotional level.

I feel there is an answer through the acceptance that we will change, not only physically but spiritually. Accepting that we change and that we are not in control of what and when we change can help to make today's decision much more assertive and productive.

Many scriptures explain how one can benefit from one's relationship with the divine today. In order to benefit from how you are today we can embrace and follow this guidance. I am not advocating blind faith or extremes, but simply love of the divine and a way forward to progress with the seemingly overwhelming decision of "which religion am I".

The question cannot be accurately answered, as you, "I", will change as explained above as you progress spiritually through life (surely you can see that in your past already?). So rather than ask "will this be right for me", simply try it, the moment you try the answer will come, but have confidence in the divine that all changes will be for the best. Ideally, see all changes as being divinely influenced if agreeable to you, and that will allow you to be confident in your next step.

I am of course not suggestion you do anything without sufficient research, which will come naturally, but I tend to apply this to myself so wanted to share it here. The answer is equally different if agnostic/atheist. :)
 
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Onkara

Well-Known Member
I think it is impossible to know the true reason we are here. I think that might be a part of existence itself. The universe is infinite, and we are always discovering new things. We aren't ever going to reach a point when we can say "All right, done. We know everything". That just isn't going to happen. The mystery of why we are here is just as important as our being here itself. Sure, one could just stop trying to delve into that mystery, but where's the fun in that? ;)

The Baha'i Faith teaches that it is the goal of man kind to reach a state of unity and oneness. I do not believe this is the purpose of existence. Why would God put us here to achieve such a goal? To attain greater altruistic qualities? But why? I suppose that is just apart of the mystery.
Hi Boethiah
That sounds very positive in itself. I can understand the benefits of altruism from a nondual perspective. I know this is not a debate dir, so perhaps I can just add this for thought.

If mankind is one, it is one for a reason. This oneness is due to the cause or the source. That which is the cause or source for all of mankind is the divine. So working together and helping one another we help not only individuals but mankind itself, which is the creation of the divine. We could say we are the divine helping the divine. What could be greater, we are a family bound by our creator and anything good we do only helps to add to our own greatness, as we are all linked i.e. all a part of the oneness.

What stops us from helping each other are the negative aspects of life .e.g. material greed, lust, anger, segregation based on material wealth, colour of skin or gender etc. You know this intuitively as it isn't good and your nature is goodness. Sure we can become lustful or angry, but we don't like it, it distracts us and reduces us to the level of dogs fighting over a bone in a street. We know we can be closer to the divine when we love others unconditionally and all efforts we take to help others are not driven by material or individual gain in mind.

The purpose of my individual life is to reach a point when I no longer consider the individual to have greater or independent value than the divine itself and all of creation. I merge in the unity of the divine.
 
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Tarheeler

Argumentative Curmudgeon
Premium Member
May I ask what kind of changes you have done?

We've stopped celebrating Christian holidays, which were not celebrated as religious holidays to begin with. But they miss the Christmas Tree and presents from Santa and the Easter Bunny. We've started to add some of the new celebrations, but it's still strange to them. We've also started to make some of the dietary changes, and they're having to learn to live without some of their favorite foods.
 
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