I'm spiritually tired

[Hermit Philosopher]

I think tired and confused is the honest and real state of mind for the truly spiritual human. Once you believe you have found a final truth, the instability and ego kicks in to sabotage any authentic living.
My 8000th message.

8000 messages. That’s quite something!

Dear F1fan,

I would say that if one’s (new) spiritual understandings have led one to instability and resulted in one’s ego “kicking off”, one ought perhaps to keep on looking.

For, though spiritual “seeking” can be both tiresome and confusing, one’s quest should not “end” in anything less but the comforting sense of serenity and selflessness (freedom from self) that allows for a life, willingly devoted to peace and serenity of others.

It is true, that one at some point, is likely to find oneself in what is sometimes referred to as “dark night of the soul”. Often, this is experienced as spiritual despair, but sometimes it expresses itself in form of “restlessness” or spiritual apathy too.

“Dark night of the soul” is normally to do with the realising of how one’s worldly “obligations” conflict with one’s (new) spiritual understanding or calling, but I wonder whether it can’t also be about not quite knowing what to do with one’s newfound “truths”.


Humbly
Hermit

 

[RestlessSoul]

Neither good nor evil is created by any God. Both are just parts of life. It is not any God that wants us to follow good or avoid evil. It is the society which wants this. Religions attribute it to their Gods.

Yeah, you don't believe in any God. You already said.

 

[RestlessSoul]

I don't think that we need evil.

Whether we need it or not, we seem to be having some difficulty dispensing with it.

 

[stvdv]

This freed up my energy to work on things that I can do things about, like ferreting out the greed, hatred and delusion I find within my own psyche and developing a practice that will transform these poisons within my mind.

If you have finished that "job" then you are enlightened in this life

 

[Balthazzar]

I am tired of trying to "find" a religion. I am a philosophical Buddhist, but religiously, I am a pantheist. The pantheist label doesn't do much for me; it's basically just a worldview. I guess I'm just laboring in vain. I am trying to be okay with this. Anyone in or have been in the same boat?

OK, so you're a pantheist. What's your value system look like? Finding religion seems an odd exercise. You are what you are. Anything specific appeal to you? Being honest seems a good place to start. You won't neglect your pleasures and from there you should be able to navigate towards your needs.

 

[firedragon]

I am tired of trying to "find" a religion. I am a philosophical Buddhist, but religiously, I am a pantheist. The pantheist label doesn't do much for me; it's basically just a worldview. I guess I'm just laboring in vain. I am trying to be okay with this. Anyone in or have been in the same boat?

If a religion, finding a religion, finding anything is so tiresome, rest. Things will find you.

Peace.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Maybe? I've been feeling a want for more, and maybe heal wounds of abuse and start over, but it's hard to find discussions of religion that don't delve into pseudoscience, literalism, dogma, bad history and things that just don't work.

That's why I can't accept religions like that, after 28 years as a Christian.

 

[Sand Dancer]

I'm just constantly changing my mind based on new arguments, new information, and new perspectives. I don't intend to stop doing this.

I do this too, but I get frustrated because I want each one to be "the one," but I end up with difficulties with each of them.

I have been reading books on Stoicism, but is it a religion or philosophy? I don't see much god talk in it. Can you shed some light, because I do like the ideas.

 

[Sand Dancer]

OK, so you're a pantheist. What's your value system look like? Finding religion seems an odd exercise. You are what you are. Anything specific appeal to you? Being honest seems a good place to start. You won't neglect your pleasures and from there you should be able to navigate towards your needs.

I am really into environmentalism and love nature. I try not to harm creatures or plants. After having a Christian community, I guess I just want a religious community and am disappointed that nothing satisfies me.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Why bother finding a label? You can create your own personal path that feels true to you

I love people and want to know everyone, so I crave having a tribe. I wish I could let that go and just accept friends as they come but one of my flaws is that I am impatient.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Definition of "pantheist:" 1. tolerates all Gods 2. universe is a manifestation of God. (Oxford Dictionary).

Reasons to believe:

1. Complexity (of life, of the universe) seems intelligently designed, though all evidence points to evolution, which could be traced, step by step between the various forms of life using DNA and analysis of the structure of creatures (which is how Darwin linked one species to another).

2. Feeling that there is a greater power. Perhaps it is a need for a parent though our real parents might be dead. We want someone to be responsible for helping us. If we have a stillborn child, we want someone to say that it is alright, and that there is a place to go in the afterlife.

3. Hedging bets. Maybe get a lucky rabbit's foot, don't walk under ladders, consult a palmist, etc. The belief that one of the superstitions might be right, so try them all. Fear not trying them (burn in hell for all eternity if wrong). Worry that a jealous God might object to belief in other Gods or belief in superstitions.

4. Find psychics who seem to always be right. They often will tell you that there is a God, and some say that there are angels. This is likely the most accurate way of determining if there is a God, since bibles could have been forged or they could be "made up" stories. It was common for story-tellers to go from town to town. . . maybe religion is just that?

5. Blend in with others (peer pressure). (Not the pressure that keeps the flying nun in the air...that was force of habit....a nun's garb is called a habit). Churches are social gatherings, and many times you will find that the congregation consists of atheists. It's difficult to teach Christian morality to those who don't believe in God. Yet, atheists seem quite moral. Morality is not always from religion.

These are good reasons. I will look into them and others. Force of habit made me laugh. Thanks for that.

 

[Sand Dancer]

What was one's methodology to find the truthful religion, please?
The best Methodology, to me, is compare religions with " claims" and " reasons". One may name it " religious method" in ethical, moral and spiritual realm as is a " scientific Method" in the material and physical domain, please. Right?

Regards

I didn't have a methodology the first time. I was scared into Christianity without thinking of other options. That's my fault for always thinking inside the box back then. Now I guess the truthful one would be one that aligns with facts, although my belief in reincarnation does not do that; it's just comforting. So I guess some truths would be without factual evidence. I do try to minimize those views though.

 

[Balthazzar]

I am really into environmentalism and love nature. I try not to harm creatures or plants. After having a Christian community, I guess I just want a religious community and am disappointed that nothing satisfies me.

Community - yeah, I understand the need. Not necessarily religious, but rather like minded... yup.

 

[crossfire]

If you have finished that "job" then you are enlightened in this life

It's a never-ending task.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I have a 3-point plan that seems reasonably effective ...

1. embrace humanism
2. delight in science
3. accept uncertainty

Oh, and wine helps ...

 

[Sand Dancer]

I have a 3-point plan that seems reasonably effective ...

1. embrace humanism
2. delight in science
3. accept uncertainty

Oh, and wine helps ...

The 3rd one I think is what people hate doing. We always want an answer for why things happen. The 4th is definitely helpful.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

The 3rd one I think is what people hate doing. We always want an answer for why things happen. The 4th is definitely helpful.

Einstein once noted: “The most incomprehensible thing about the Universe is that it is comprehensible.” I guess the trick is to stand in genuine awe at the growing yet provisional understanding within our reach.

 

[Secret Chief]

The 4th is definitely helpful.

How?

 

[Sand Dancer]

How?

I'm not really a drinker but when I think of wine, I think of friends and conversation. Maybe it just takes my mind off my tiredness.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

I went through that awhile back upon adopting Hinduism... what sect am I? Where do I belong? What practices should I do? I just couldn't find where I fit... so I stopped trying. I'm not a Saiva, or a Vaishnava, or a Shakta... I'm just a Hindu. I have no lineage. No tradition. And that's fine. There's no report card to be passed out, there is no one standing over me telling me that I'm doing it wrong. That's all in my head. My religion is between me and my Gods, and I want to keep it that way.

It was like a load of bricks off my chest when I made peace with the fact I'll likely never 'click' anywhere. Words are just words. I don't need one to describe me. I'm fine the way I am.

I've been feeling this way as a Wiccan and polytheist, but I've been keeping the gods and goddesses at arm's length because of what I experienced when I was a Christian. At this point in my life, I don't want to become deeply attached to any gods and goddesses.