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Current Contemplations

Tarheeler

Argumentative Curmudgeon
Premium Member
Cool, have you spoken to your local rabbi about it? What did he say?

I haven't gone that far yet.

I've been heading this way for close to year now, and that's after several years of searching religions. We're just making small changes while I get over my nervousness to speak with the Rabbi.
 

Breathe

Hostis humani generis
I haven't gone that far yet.

I've been heading this way for close to year now, and that's after several years of searching religions. We're just making small changes while I get over my nervousness to speak with the Rabbi.
I know what you mean. I still need to speak to my local Hindu priest and ask him if there are any ceremonies or formalities I need to go through with in order for him to consider me a Hindu. He did say "Just believe and you are Hindu", but I would kind of like some kind of ceremony to follow through with, y'know? As long as I don't have to change my name (though adopting a spiritual name is ok by me). I like my name. :D

One of the worst things you can do in your case is to not do it -- I found this out, I was putting off going into Hinduism because I was concerned I would not be accepted by the local community, however once it was discussed, I realized I was only prolonging my own seeker-ness unnecessarily. The only advice I can give you, I guess, is just to do it. :)
 

Tarheeler

Argumentative Curmudgeon
Premium Member
I know what you mean. I still need to speak to my local Hindu priest and ask him if there are any ceremonies or formalities I need to go through with in order for him to consider me a Hindu. He did say "Just believe and you are Hindu", but I would kind of like some kind of ceremony to follow through with, y'know? As long as I don't have to change my name (though adopting a spiritual name is ok by me). I like my name. :D

One of the worst things you can do in your case is to not do it -- I found this out, I was putting off going into Hinduism because I was concerned I would not be accepted by the local community, however once it was discussed, I realized I was only prolonging my own seeker-ness unnecessarily. The only advice I can give you, I guess, is just to do it. :)

Yeah, I definitely need to. I've read much is what available on-line, and I need direction to keep learning.

Acceptance is a big thing. Fear of rejection can be a huge issue, particularly when you're trying to join a new group with it's own practices and culture.

I'll make the step soon, I think. :D
 

Breathe

Hostis humani generis
Yeah, I definitely need to. I've read much is what available on-line, and I need direction to keep learning.
Sounds good. Never stop learning, it's the worst thing you can do. :)

Acceptance is a big thing. Fear of rejection can be a huge issue, particularly when you're trying to join a new group with it's own practices and culture.
Oh, totally. It's especially a huge issue when the religion doesn't proselytise in case you are not welcomed by the people, but I've found that most people are welcoming enough when they realize that you are sincerely interested and it's not some quick fling with a path.

I'll make the step soon, I think. :D
Good! Hell, soon is not soon enough! Do it today! :D
(When you do actually do it, you may end up thinking "Well, I've spent ages not doing it.. and it went well. I should have done it sooner." :D)

Do you think you've been procrastinating subconsciously out of fear of being rejected, or something else?
 

Tiapan

Grumpy Old Man
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?

Is it the bee or the hive that gives the other the reason to exist?

Cheers
 

Onkara

Well-Known Member
Is it the bee or the hive that gives the other the reason to exist?

Cheers
For me it is the Hive, but for even the Hive to be recognized the bee has to exist, so I am happy to be a bee and to serve the hive with my bee-ing and existance (sorry couldn't resit the play of words) :)

Whats your opinion Tiapan?
 
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Tiapan

Grumpy Old Man
Each is a step of increasing complexity, the hive dominates, the bee exists but is expendable. The hive could have an infinite life given favorable conditions, while a poor bees life is finite.

Cheers
 

Onkara

Well-Known Member
Each is a step of increasing complexity, the hive dominates, the bee exists but is expendable. The hive could have an infinite life given favorable conditions, while a poor bees life is finite.

Cheers

Very true. I think the problem is when we take our lives to be that of a bee, limited and without much hope. Although we may never stop being a bee, there is satisfaction and happiness knowing that the Hive is our real source for existence and cause for existence. It doesn't change much, but when we stop worrying about our small life we can see there is some bliss in existence alone.
 

Tiapan

Grumpy Old Man
Very true. I think the problem is when we take our lives to be that of a bee, limited and without much hope. Although we may never stop being a bee, there is satisfaction and happiness knowing that the Hive is our real source for existence and cause for existence. It doesn't change much, but when we stop worrying about our small life we can see there is some bliss in existence alone.

Yes its just an analogy to human society vs the individual.

Humans are biological organisms that have evolved to dominate much of planet earth. Humans are the sum of the trillions of individual cells they are made of and importantly the organizational cooperative behavior they share to result in the functional higher complexity, multicellular organism ie a living man.

Because of humans biological social cooperative behaviour, more complex biological systems form. While man may think he is top of the food chain, these new powerful biological organisms out live, out finance, out resource far more than any individual human.

These organisms are societies which include nations, religions and corporations, each competing, fighting over resources including human, some are fixed, others are not defined by geography. All using human cogs to drive their powerful wheels, whoa betide any that fall aside as they will be crushed. So how do we keep the human biological entities sweet? Feed them the nectar, the myths of hope, and they will conform. Money is the blood.

In my life time I have seen a change from where a man could take a hammer and a book and become a builder and support a wife home and family on his merit alone. Today's preponderance to increases efficiency and safety has led to a certificate based work qualification system that places more emphasis on a piece of paper than experience, knowledge or skill. It is now a process.

Litigious bureaucratic society inhibits individualism preferring conformity this leads to a mediocre bureaucratic nanny state that stagnates, It requires risk and investment to advance.

Circumstances force societies between these two poles often conflicting with nearby and overlapping other societies resulting in the geopolitical earth map of tension equilibrium that we exist in today.

Humans are important but only to themselves.

cheers
 
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Onkara

Well-Known Member
Yes its just an analogy to human society vs the individual...

Humans are important but only to themselves.

cheers
Hi Tiapan
I don't disagree. I think, linking this back to Sunsplashes OP, that this is where people get stuck. We already know we are human. We already know that we are biological; blood and bone. What we don't know is why we are? :)

For me the hive and bee analogy helps to explain the purpose of both the mico and macro levels. I exist at an individual (bee) level, but my higher purpose or nature it to recognise the Hive. When both the micro and the macro are seen as one non-dual, then I find the answer which calls off the search. With this comes bliss and happiness, not the same happiness which is momentary and through commercial or sensual pleasure, but a natural inner-peace/bliss and purpose to life and the universe. :D
 

Tarheeler

Argumentative Curmudgeon
Premium Member
Sounds good. Never stop learning, it's the worst thing you can do. :)

I agree wholeheartedly :yes:

Oh, totally. It's especially a huge issue when the religion doesn't proselytise in case you are not welcomed by the people, but I've found that most people are welcoming enough when they realize that you are sincerely interested and it's not some quick fling with a path.

I hope that is what I'll find as well.

Good! Hell, soon is not soon enough! Do it today! :D
(When you do actually do it, you may end up thinking "Well, I've spent ages not doing it.. and it went well. I should have done it sooner." :D)

I did. I'm seeing the Rabbi tomorrow, at least to obtain a reading list.

Do you think you've been procrastinating subconsciously out of fear of being rejected, or something else?

I think the fear of rejection is most of it, and the fear of something new is the rest.
Adopting a new worldview is a big step.
 

Breathe

Hostis humani generis
I hope that is what I'll find as well.
I hope so, too. :)

I did. I'm seeing the Rabbi tomorrow, at least to obtain a reading list.
Awesome! Congrats! Wasn't so difficult now, was it? :) Do tell us how it goes.


I think the fear of rejection is most of it, and the fear of something new is the rest.
Adopting a new worldview is a big step.
Oh yeah, totally; it's a huge step to make all of a sudden, but if it brings inner peace, it's worth it, I guess.
 

Tarheeler

Argumentative Curmudgeon
Premium Member
Awesome! Congrats! Wasn't so difficult now, was it? :) Do tell us how it goes.

Will do.

This afternoon I told my boss I was taking an early lunch tomorrow (to meet with the Rabbi). When I answered his question of why with "I'm going to see a Rabbi", we entered into an hour long religious debate that concluded with his warning to "repent my blasphemous ways".

Heh, I'm going to have fun with this guy in the future :facepalm:.
 

A-ManESL

Well-Known Member
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

What I am trying to figure out is to how to increase my passion for spirituality. I feel like I can do something to hurry up on my quest but cannot understand what. Sometimes I feel, that I need to wait a few years and that passion will get increased automatically. Although I do wish, there was something tangible I could do to hurry up the process.
 

Tarheeler

Argumentative Curmudgeon
Premium Member
Awesome! Congrats! Wasn't so difficult now, was it? :) Do tell us how it goes.

It went well. I now have the reading list for conversion candidates, the tentative schedule for Intro to Judaism and Conversion classes, many of my questions answered, and the promise of guidance when I'm ready for it. :D
 

Tarheeler

Argumentative Curmudgeon
Premium Member
Excellent!

How has your partner taken this news? :)

Heh, my wife humors me.

She's learned to take the things I do in stride and roll with it.

She's somewhere between agnostic and atheist (her thoughts vary depending on the questions you ask), but she supports me in what I'm doing.

And that's all I could ever ask for.
 

Breathe

Hostis humani generis
That's excellent news, that's all you could ever ask for, most definitely.
What's on your reading list?
 
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