amorphous_constellation
Well-Known Member
?
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Is your religion esoteric or exoteric, or both
- Thread starter amorphous_constellation
- Start date
Both.
amorphous_constellation
Well-Known Member
That gives things a layer of interest I think, if there is public level to spirituality and then more of an advanced level. My original inclination was that it should be as accessible as possible, but I'd be in denial of the spiritual challenges that religion lays before us
amorphous_constellation
Well-Known Member
The information is outwardly available in the Upanishads, but relatively few gain the understanding to become jivanmukti without the correct leadership or combination of the yogas.
amorphous_constellation
Well-Known Member
Ok.. well for the sake of debate, would you say there in downside or tension that occurs with your religion having this esoteric element? Can the esoteric / exoteric mix get out of balance? How?
None that I've seen.
Here's a response you're not likely to see very often on RF, so you may want to have a seat before reading it...
I don't know.
amorphous_constellation
Well-Known Member
and is there any danger of the religious knowledge in your religion becoming consolidated by a small elect group?
amorphous_constellation
Well-Known Member
I suppose I'll ask you the same question I asked the others.. The obvious question, is how are these two elements kept in balance? Can one of them be over-enlarged?
My answer is that we've seen that happen over and over again in history and it could easily happen again.
Even in well established religions dominated by exoteric practices, the esoteric essence can be alive or revived. I would include figures such as St. Francis of Assisi, Baal Shem Tov, Rumi, Hafiz, Kabir, Ramana Maharshi and many others who lived an esoteric life while fully honoring the exoteric.
BSM1
What? Me worry?
Fairly self evident...
Tumah
Veteran Member
There are pre-requisites to studying the esoteric parts of Judaism. We're warned to first become knowledgeable in the exoteric parts of Judaism before studying the esoteric parts. So I guess that's how they're kept in "balance". I don't think there's a case of one becoming over-enlarged. It's just an area of advanced study some Jewish people may be drawn to in addition to their regular study.
The worry is that people who aren't ready for it (or perhaps are unstable) may be drawn to it, and it does them no good. It's believed that the Sabbatai Zvi 'fiasco' was due to his not having been ready for that study. The result was European Rabbis further restricting the study to only those above a certain age (although that seems to have been relaxed in recent years).
Secret Chief
nirvana is samsara
Exoteric, I would hope.
amorphous_constellation
Well-Known Member
So is it a good thing, or is it bad? Does it make 'Love' less a public thing in any way?
Maybe so.. but describe it anyway
amorphous_constellation
Well-Known Member
I see. I think it seems important if the esoteric domain is safeguarded by the challenges of gaining knowledge, otherwise it would be more about simple hierarchical power.. if the esoteric section is ancillary to the religion and not auxiliary, that is
Indeed. I think that spirits in nature have the same message actually. This probably is similar in every tradition in which there is an esoteric section
Complexifying all of this however, is one abstract quality of religion: whereby the spirit in the religion sometimes seems to choose some to be esoteric and some to be exoteric.. This this seems be indicated in various traditions where the deity seems to do the 'initial communication.'
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amorphous_constellation
Well-Known Member
Then who guides the religion ?