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Commitment to God

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
To commit once life to God (for believers) take a lot of effort, to come to a point where you say, "Ok God" i give my life in service to you. From today, what ever happens i lay my full faith in you.

But it does not end there, that is only the beginning. From that day, you know life will change, if you do those changes in your life, soul searching to empty your mind of bad habbits and to serve God in a righterous way. It is truly difficult to stay focused and ready when life get hard or difficult.

Why is it so hard? Because your ego tells you about all the fun things, the food you can not eat, the partys you can not go to.
Or that if you just relax a little it is ok.

Commitment to God is truly difficult, but the reward is amazing, if one make it.

Any thoughts?
 

danieldemol

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
I think it is the yoke humans place upon themselves that makes following God unduly hard.

God doesn’t care if you party so long as you don't commit excess during the party
 

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
If the gods one actively worships are properly aligned with who one is and who one belongs to, devotion to the gods isn't difficult - it is a natural and inevitable extension of one's identity and culture. That's how it works in polytheism, anyway. If devotion is difficult, that means one of two things. It can mean one is worshiping the wrong gods or that one is aspiring to change oneself to be alignment with gods that are not usually one's nature. There's value to both approaches, though at a certain point the wisdom and discernment is needed to know when something is and isn't going to work in one's way of life. Trying to practice too contradictory to one's nature is a fool's errand better spent on honoring the gods that come naturally to who one already is.
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
If the gods one actively worships are properly aligned with who one is and who one belongs to, devotion to the gods isn't difficult - it is a natural and inevitable extension of one's identity and culture. That's how it works in polytheism, anyway. If devotion is difficult, that means one of two things. It can mean one is worshiping the wrong gods or that one is aspiring to change oneself to be alignment with gods that are not usually one's nature. There's value to both approaches, though at a certain point the wisdom and discernment is needed to know when something is and isn't going to work in one's way of life. Trying to practice too contradictory to one's nature is a fool's errand better spent on honoring the gods that come naturally to who one already is.
From what you say it seems like even from when i started to follow buddhism until i become a muslim the struggle i found my self in, was because i was on the wrong "path" or followed the wrong teaching according to my own nature.
It does sound correct in many ways yes.
 

QuestioningMind

Well-Known Member
To commit once life to God (for believers) take a lot of effort, to come to a point where you say, "Ok God" i give my life in service to you. From today, what ever happens i lay my full faith in you.

But it does not end there, that is only the beginning. From that day, you know life will change, if you do those changes in your life, soul searching to empty your mind of bad habbits and to serve God in a righterous way. It is truly difficult to stay focused and ready when life get hard or difficult.

Why is it so hard? Because your ego tells you about all the fun things, the food you can not eat, the partys you can not go to.
Or that if you just relax a little it is ok.

Commitment to God is truly difficult, but the reward is amazing, if one make it.

Any thoughts?

Why would I want to put my life in service to a god that doesn't let me eat the foods I like or go to parties?
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
Commitment to God is truly difficult, but the reward is amazing, if one make it.

For me, that commitment is not a one time act. It needs to be renewed and deepened.

Why would I want to put my life in service to a god that doesn't let me eat the foods I like or go to parties?

Not all paths are ascetic ones. You are free to choose one that does not restrict you. But, of course, you know that going to a party and getting drunk, for example, results in a hangover. But you're free to choose the hangover. And so forth.
 

QuestioningMind

Well-Known Member
For me, that commitment is not a one time act. It needs to be renewed and deepened.



Not all paths are ascetic ones. You are free to choose one that does not restrict you. But, of course, you know that going to a party and getting drunk, for example, results in a hangover. But you're free to choose the hangover. And so forth.

I have chosen a path that doesn't restrict me. I decide for myself what what actions I should restrict myself from and which ones I should engage in. If I go to a party and drink responsibly it can result in something as harmless as a good time. I'm just curious as to why any adult would let someone else make those decisions for them.
 

Audie

Veteran Member
To commit once life to God (for believers) take a lot of effort, to come to a point where you say, "Ok God" i give my life in service to you. From today, what ever happens i lay my full faith in you.

But it does not end there, that is only the beginning. From that day, you know life will change, if you do those changes in your life, soul searching to empty your mind of bad habbits and to serve God in a righterous way. It is truly difficult to stay focused and ready when life get hard or difficult.

Why is it so hard? Because your ego tells you about all the fun things, the food you can not eat, the partys you can not go to.
Or that if you just relax a little it is ok.

Commitment to God is truly difficult, but the reward is amazing, if one make it.

Any thoughts?

Your only alternatives are commit to God or live a life of shallow self indulgence? Seriously?

If so that is a shame but don't assume everyone is like you, at- all.
 

Audie

Veteran Member
I have chosen a path that doesn't restrict me. I decide for myself what what actions I should restrict myself from and which ones I should engage in. If I go to a party and drink responsibly it can result in something as harmless as a good time. I'm just curious as to why any adult would let someone else make those decisions for them.

Or think a little pleasure is a sin!
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
I'm just curious as to why any adult would let someone else make those decisions for them.

Of course there are people who have rigid ideas and want to impost them on everyone. That's a different issue.

If I go to a therapist I trust who also has a great reputation and she notes something is a mental health risk, I'd be foolish not to heed that advice. Did I allow the therapist to make a decision for me rather than myself researching the condition and risks involved? Yes. Why did I do it? Because I trusted that she knows more than I do and has the judgement that I don't have.

Of course it's my decision whether or not I think the person has the qualifications and judgement that makes her worth listening to. Real spiritual teachers don't insist, they invite. People are free to accept or reject the invitation.
 

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
To commit once life to God (for believers) take a lot of effort, to come to a point where you say, "Ok God" i give my life in service to you. From today, what ever happens i lay my full faith in you.

But it does not end there, that is only the beginning. From that day, you know life will change, if you do those changes in your life, soul searching to empty your mind of bad habbits and to serve God in a righterous way. It is truly difficult to stay focused and ready when life get hard or difficult.

Why is it so hard? Because your ego tells you about all the fun things, the food you can not eat, the partys you can not go to.
Or that if you just relax a little it is ok.

Commitment to God is truly difficult, but the reward is amazing, if one make it.

Any thoughts?

In Hinduism, there is karma yoga, one of the four main yogas, where all action in life is done in service to the Lord. Krishna teaches this to Arjuna in (I think) chapter three of the Bhagavad Gita.

Obviously, one lives in accordance with one's dharma, but "fun things" aren't expressly forbidden. I mean there aren't any heavy metal vomit parties or anything like that, but one is able to eat food one enjoys (not in excess, of course) or attend gatherings and have fun. It's just done as devotion to the Lord.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
For me, that commitment is not a one time act. It needs to be renewed and deepened.

In my sampradaya, beginning members are under vows. (4) A couple are renewed once a year, or so. Because the vow is taken publicly, and often in front of God, it does seem to carry more weight, psychologically. There are additional vows as that commitment is deepened.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
In Hinduism, there is karma yoga, one of the four main yogas, where all action in life is done in service to the Lord. Krishna teaches this to Arjuna in (I think) chapter three of the Bhagavad Gita.

Obviously, one lives in accordance with one's dharma, but "fun things" aren't expressly forbidden. I mean there aren't any heavy metal vomit parties or anything like that, but one is able to eat food one enjoys (not in excess, of course) or attend gatherings and have fun. It's just done as devotion to the Lord.

There are no laws against humor, especially. But mostly that stuff is about time and place. Time to get serious, and a time to relax.
 

Trailblazer

Veteran Member
I'm just curious as to why any adult would let someone else make those decisions for them.
Nobody else makes our decisions. We choose to follow the teachings and the laws of the religion and as long as we are living within the law, we are not restricted form enjoying life. It is only when we allow worldly things to come in between us and God that it is a problem.

“Should a man wish to adorn himself with the ornaments of the earth, to wear its apparels, or partake of the benefits it can bestow, no harm can befall him, if he alloweth nothing whatever to intervene between him and God, for God hath ordained every good thing, whether created in the heavens or in the earth, for such of His servants as truly believe in Him. Eat ye, O people, of the good things which God hath allowed you, and deprive not yourselves from His wondrous bounties. Render thanks and praise unto Him, and be of them that are truly thankful.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 276
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
I have chosen a path that doesn't restrict me. I decide for myself what what actions I should restrict myself from and which ones I should engage in. If I go to a party and drink responsibly it can result in something as harmless as a good time. I'm just curious as to why any adult would let someone else make those decisions for them.
Alcohol to me is of no use:) i do not like the tast, or that I lose control if i was to drink to much. And much food are not healthy for humans, so i try stay away from it.
 
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Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
Your only alternatives are commit to God or live a life of shallow self indulgence? Seriously?

If so that is a shame but don't assume everyone is like you, at- all.
Of course i choose God over living a life in sin, like I did before.
I do not think anybody else have to or should live like I do, you are free to live your life.
 
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