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I may be getting closer to an answer

Wu Wei

Wu Wei

ursus senum severiorum and ex-Bisy Backson
Or further away from one….depending on your point of view

An update on the search

I am beginning to realize that I feel I owe some allegiance to the religion I was raised in and to the family that raised me in it and to the ancestors who are responsible for my existence.

Now this is a bit of a surprise to me but it is this allegiance that is getting in the way of what path to take because I honestly do not feel it is what I was raised in, possible in part but not completely.

I also am beginning to accept that I am more closely aligned with Chan Buddhism and Taoism or somewhere in between.
 
Wu Wei

Wu Wei

ursus senum severiorum and ex-Bisy Backson
Thoughts today about faith, hos much I wish I had it and how much I do not and yet having it at times would make a lot of things easier. And since alomost every religoin I can think of depends on faith to varying degrees.... it could be why I am having a hard time associating myself with only one of them
 
LuisDantas

LuisDantas

Aura of atheification
Premium Member
Faith as a goal in and of itself? Is that how you see things?

I'm not sure that mixes well with all people. And it is just a hunch, but something in the way you express yourself makes me suspect that you don't particularly need/want/benefit from it.

I may easily be quite mistaken, of course. Still, it seems to me that some reflection about what faith actually means and is worth to you would be wise.
 
SageTree

SageTree

Spiritual Friend
Premium Member
My story in short:

-Grew up one tradition.
-Took on a different tradition.
-Always interested and integrating other views.
-Took a deeper look at the tradition I was raised in.
-Discovered the mystic side of that tradition.
-This blended what made sense within myself.
-Became more, but not completely involved with the culturally prevalent tradition, which I was raised in.
-Laughed at myself.
-Reflected fondly on my journey.... which was sort of a loop trail.
-Continue to 'be me'.
 
T

TryingToFindMyself

New Member
Try mixing in the things about the religion you grew up with that you feel strongly about. Just because you want to change religions, because you feel that the one you grew up with is no longer the one for you, does not mean you can't keep some of the aspects of it in your life.
 
Vinayaka

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
Wu Wei said:
Or further away from one….depending on your point of view

An update on the search

I am beginning to realize that I feel I owe some allegiance to the religion I was raised in and to the family that raised me in it and to the ancestors who are responsible for my existence.

Now this is a bit of a surprise to me but it is this allegiance that is getting in the way of what path to take because I honestly do not feel it is what I was raised in, possible in part but not completely.

I also am beginning to accept that I am more closely aligned with Chan Buddhism and Taoism or somewhere in between.
Click to expand...

I think it takes a break sometimes to realise what you're missing. Good on you.
 
Wu Wei

Wu Wei

ursus senum severiorum and ex-Bisy Backson
I am reading

Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World by The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso

And no one is more surprised than me that I am agreeing with most of what he is saying
 
SageTree

SageTree

Spiritual Friend
Premium Member
Wu Wei said:
I am reading

Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World by The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso

And no one is more surprised than me that I am agreeing with most of what he is saying
Click to expand...


What is surprising to you about it?
 
BSM1

BSM1

What? Me worry?
I have come to believe that everyone has to find their own truth. Those that have tend to smile a lot.
 
L

Little Darwin

Member
If, as it sounds, you are into Buddhism... With my limited knowledge, I would say to pick up a book on the history of Buddhism.

It sounds like you may have done this at some level already, but studying the various paths of Buddhism will help you to learn to hold to the basic truths that they all hold to.

Some of the patriarchs (as I recall) switched schools as they journeyed, absorbing some practices and abandoning others... so historically the masters switched without regard to their ancestral ties... why force yourself to be more stringent than they were?
 
Wu Wei

Wu Wei

ursus senum severiorum and ex-Bisy Backson
SageTree said:
What is surprising to you about it?
Click to expand...

I have read books ofhis before and the majority of the time I do not agree and some of those times I have not agreed enough to set the book down and stop reading it.

I get to that point...almost...with this book...I read something and say...

Ahh there it is, I don't agree with that.... but Iread a little more and he expalins why he is saying that or what he means by that and I agree.

Previously I never came accross a place where he would explain something in greater detail and I would agree....generally it just confirmed my feelings and my disagreement

This has made me consider going back and rereading some of those books I sat down and walked away from
 
SageTree

SageTree

Spiritual Friend
Premium Member
Cool. Thanks for sharing that. It's neat/nice to see people's thought processes.
 
Wu Wei

Wu Wei

ursus senum severiorum and ex-Bisy Backson
Still seeking, but finding, after looking more at Buddhism that I actual seem to align more with Philosophical Taoism that anything else. I am however not ready to say that is what I am based on a feeling of loyalty to family history and the religion associated with it.
 
G

GoodbyeDave

Well-Known Member
Little Darwin said:
If, as it sounds, you are into Buddhism... With my limited knowledge, I would say to pick up a book on the history of Buddhism.
Click to expand...
I'd say that's the last thing you want to do. So many books on the history of this or that religion are written by Western academics who know the history of everything and the meaning of nothing. If you want to understand a religion, read what its practitioners say and do, in a book by one of them.
 
JayJayDee

JayJayDee

Avid JW Bible Student
DavidMcCann said:
I'd say that's the last thing you want to do. So many books on the history of this or that religion are written by Western academics who know the history of everything and the meaning of nothing. If you want to understand a religion, read what its practitioners say and do, in a book by one of them.
Click to expand...

How refreshing to acknowledge that those who stand on the outside looking in, can have a completely different view to those on the inside looking out.

"Knowing about" something academically is a very different thing to "understanding" the deeper things....especially about a belief system.

The horse's mouth is where to get your information.

Thank you.
 
Twilight Hue

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Wu Wei said:
Thoughts today about faith, hos much I wish I had it and how much I do not and yet having it at times would make a lot of things easier. And since alomost every religoin I can think of depends on faith to varying degrees.... it could be why I am having a hard time associating myself with only one of them
Click to expand...

Faith is an overrated scam rambles on the crusty old man.

Although..now.. that it's mentioned.... Aw heck.

Kinda fun though, and sounds uber cool not to mention the chick fashion of the day.

Go for it bub.

Wing and a prayer. !0]
 
allfoak

allfoak

Alchemist
Wu Wei said:
Or further away from one….depending on your point of view

An update on the search

I am beginning to realize that I feel I owe some allegiance to the religion I was raised in and to the family that raised me in it and to the ancestors who are responsible for my existence.

Now this is a bit of a surprise to me but it is this allegiance that is getting in the way of what path to take because I honestly do not feel it is what I was raised in, possible in part but not completely.

I also am beginning to accept that I am more closely aligned with Chan Buddhism and Taoism or somewhere in between.
Click to expand...

When you find your answer you will make room for new questions.
 
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