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To become like a child in your spiritual life.

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
I can not remember where I heard it, but someone said to realize truth, we have to become like a child again.

I think it means to become curious just like a child is the first year of their life. To investigate everything around us and within our self.

Do you have a thought about this?
Are you curious about everything?

I know I could become more curious :)
 

The Anointed

Well-Known Member
I can not remember where I heard it, but someone said to realize truth, we have to become like a child again.

I think it means to become curious just like a child is the first year of their life. To investigate everything around us and within our self.

Do you have a thought about this?
Are you curious about everything?

I know I could become more curious :)

If you desire to know the truth, then empty yourself of All preconceived ideas, and go to Christ the teacher, as a little child.
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
If you desire to know the truth, then empty yourself of All preconceived ideas, and go to Christ the teacher, as a little child.
:) I had a feeling that quote was from the bible.
I have found the teaching I wish to continue on :) and to me that is where I wish to continue my cultivation. But I am happy you found your answer in Christ.
 

Roguish

Member
I can not remember where I heard it

Gospel of Matthew, this passage.

I think it means to become curious just like a child is the first year of their life. To investigate everything around us and within our self.

No. The child-likeness that is prerequisite for entering the Kingdom of Heaven, is Innocence, not curiosity.

Are you curious about everything?
I know I could become more curious :)

Curiosity is a liability, not an asset. It is an appetite for new experienes, and an appetite for new mental understanding. It draws you into the world, while the path to Salvation leads you out of the world. Don't feed your curiosity.
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
I can not remember where I heard it, but someone said to realize truth, we have to become like a child again.

I think it means to become curious just like a child is the first year of their life. To investigate everything around us and within our self.

Do you have a thought about this?
Are you curious about everything?

I know I could become more curious :)

My first book on Buddhism years ago was called Zen Mind Beginner's Mind. It explained we always come to a Practice with a fresh start.

“If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything, it is open to everything. In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few. ” ― Shunryu Suzuki

“To have some deep feeling about Buddhism is not the point; we just do what we should do, like eating supper and going to bed. This is Buddhism.”
― Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice

“When something dies is the greatest teaching.”
― Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice

I love creativity, wonder, and awe. I'm always a child (and look like one which is a pro and con).
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
Gospel of Matthew, this passage.



No. The child-likeness that is prerequisite for entering the Kingdom of Heaven, is Innocence, not curiosity.



Curiosity is a liability, not an asset. It is an appetite for new experienes, and an appetite for new mental understanding. It draws you into the world, while the path to Salvation leads you out of the world. Don't feed your curiosity.
Curiosity about the spiritual answers and wisdom that lay ahead, but be focused in the present moment :)
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
When I watch very young children who have loving parents I see great happiness and joy. I see an adventurous spirit exploring and learning. I see a soul who regards failure as nothing and tries again and again to master skills with supreme confidence in eventual mastery. I see the great trust that the child has in their parent's love.

Watching such children is how I learned to understand that simple statement about becoming as a little child.
 

rational experiences

Veteran Member
Our spiritual Father and Mother came directly out of spirit eternal and changed when they came into the atmosphere. So they are experiencing the mistake of spirit as the form of spirit who can experience and detail/inform the experience.

As we only came out of a portion of their spirit, sperm and the ovary we have always been spiritually just a child. I know how much of a child I am when our spiritual Father speaks to me, for I feel like that child in his presence.
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
I think, in order to experience a new(or even an old one)experience, situation, place, teaching, it is good to approach it as a child. And by approaching it as a child, I mean, you drop your preconceived notions, your ego, and any other baggage you have and just be.

When my son(who is a toddler) sees a new animal, his brain doesn't start up with all the background noise of judgement, such as "it's scratching. I bet it has fleas." or "The last dog I saw bit me. This dog will, too". He just chalks it up, in his mind as "Whoa! Huge ball of fluff, coming at me! Friendly! Soft!" etc. He makes his judgments for that moment, in that moment.

It's hard for a person to really drop their inhibitions and be like that child, though. I think, with spiritual teachings, this is said, because when something new is being shown to us, we often half listen. Our brain starts gearing up with things to say, either to negate it, or to agree with it. This just seems to be human nature. The more we can drop this, the less stressful it is for us. It's terribly troublesome to be in a perpetual defensive position. This can also apply to non spiritual things as well, such as when we get hard preferences or a distaste for something.

Of course, if you find the teaching to be toxic, you can discard it. When a toddler finds he does not like green beans, he tosses them on the floor. But, when you serve them again two weeks later, he has forgotten his judgement, and is open to the experience all over again. Will he throw them from his high chair again? There's a good chance he will, but at the end of the day, it's unlikely he'll go to bed dwelling on those beans.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
I can not remember where I heard it, but someone said to realize truth, we have to become like a child again.

I think it means to become curious just like a child is the first year of their life. To investigate everything around us and within our self.

Do you have a thought about this?
Are you curious about everything?

I know I could become more curious :)
Over the course of one's life, one learns useful knowledge & tools.
This includes investigating things. Such skills improve.
To approach things as a child would mean more false steps.
Children believe many fanciful things that turn out to be
very wrong.
Is this a path to discerning "truth" about things?
What is the method for discerning without prior
knowledge & experience? How reliable is it?

Many years ago, a friend (Baptist) explained that
one should approach the Bible as would a child,
ie, accept without judging, dispensing with what
one knows about the material world.
This leads to stronger belief in this scripture.
Some truths....
Homosexuality is an affront to God, only Christians
go to Heaven, Satan is behind all the woe, the world
is less than 10,000 years old, evolution is bunk.
Really?
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
Over the course of one's life, one learns useful knowledge & tools.
This includes investigating things. Such skills improve.
To approach things as a child would mean more false steps.
Children believe many fanciful things that turn out to be
very wrong.
Is this a path to discerning "truth" about things?
What is the method for discerning without prior
knowledge & experience? How reliable is it?
The knowledge of the past can help you verify the experience you have right now. And the experience you have now can help you realize new wisdom in the future.
They all go to gather, but you can only change the future right now.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
The knowledge of the past can help you verify the experience you have right now. And the experience you have now can help you realize new wisdom in the future.
They all go to gather, but you can only change the future right now.
How does that relate to being childlike?
 
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