Is your religion esoteric or exoteric, or both

[sun rise]

So is it a good thing, or is it bad? Does it make 'Love' less a public thing in any way?

I would not say good or bad but a very human thing.

And as a side note, love does not have to be public. When pandemic restrictions no longer apply, going into a public restroom and cleaning it up for the next person to use it, for example, could be a love in action act that will never be public.

In these pandemic times, I've seen "thank you" signs that were put up by someone unknown expressing the sentiment that we honor those who are at particular risk for COVID-19. These are anonymous acts of love.

 

[Secret Chief]

Then who guides the religion ?

I would say there is not a who, unless you mean senior monks (of whatever title).

The overall "guide" is the dharma (recorded teachings). Shortly before the death of the Buddha :

"After the conversion of Subhadda, the Buddha spoke again to Venerable Ananda. "It may be, Ananda, that some of you will say, 'without the Buddha, the Sublime Teacher, there is no teacher for us'. No, Ananda, you should not think in this way. Whatever doctrine and discipline taught and made known by me will be your teacher when I am gone."
-Buddhanet.net.

(additional thought - I think the Vajrayana tradition is both exoteric and esoteric, but don't quote me).

 

[Guitar's Cry]

First one, then the other.

 

[Tumah]

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.'

You lost me with this.

 

[ClimbingTheLadder]

?

Both but strongly esoteric, also known as Batiniyya.
I consider both as one thing in itself but the esoteric being the actual truth to be examined from every angle, adored and embraced fully with heart soul and mind.
The exoteric is only the first level of deen, the esoteric is at the perfection of deen (Ihsan).

 

[The_Fisher_King]

?

Just so we're definitely on the same page, what definitions of 'esoteric' and 'exoteric' are you using?

 

[amorphous_constellation]

Just so we're definitely on the same page, what definitions of 'esoteric' and 'exoteric' are you using?

I suppose the former has a specialized connotation, and the latter is perhaps simpler and more public

 

[The_Fisher_King]

I suppose the former has a specialized connotation, and the latter is perhaps simpler and more public

Specialised in the sense of being made available to a special audience, an inner circle?

 

[amorphous_constellation]

And as a side note, love does not have to be public. When pandemic restrictions no longer apply, going into a public restroom and cleaning it up for the next person to use it, for example, could be a love in action act that will never be public.

Well, that seems like an action of common decency, not entirely sure if I'd categorize that in the 'love' category. Love seems to involve doing things that go a little bit 'above and beyond' for other people. Maybe people should raise the bar on what that means sometimes.

Specialised in the sense of being made available to a special audience, an inner circle?

That part of it might differ from system to system. Maybe the esoteric knowledge somehow benefits the exoterics, or maybe it just benefits the esoterics

 

[The_Fisher_King]

That part of it might differ from system to system. Maybe the esoteric knowledge somehow benefits the exoterics, or maybe it just benefits the esoterics

How do you see the esoteric knowledge benefiting the 'exoterics'?

 

[amorphous_constellation]

How do you see the esoteric knowledge benefiting the 'exoterics'?

I suppose one may hope that their concentration on the study of things that are advanced / esoteric may permeate out to the public in a beneficial way. Perhaps it might be analogous to the way scientists work, for example. Scientists, if I might intuit their working habits, probably conglomerate into isolated groups of specialists. The benefits of their research might permeate out to the public once they complete studies, though the public might not necessarily understand the beneficial science on a technical level

 

[The_Fisher_King]

I suppose one may hope that their concentration on the study of things that are advanced / esoteric may permeate out to the public in a beneficial way. Perhaps it might be analogous to the way scientists work, for example. Scientists, if I might intuit their working habits, probably conglomerate into isolated groups of specialists. The benefits of their research might permeate out to the public once they complete studies, though the public might not necessarily understand the beneficial science on a technical level

So they might from time to time share elements of their studies or insights they have gleaned from their practice?

 

[amorphous_constellation]

So they might from time to time share elements of their studies or insights they have gleaned from their practice?

Perhaps

 

[The_Fisher_King]

Perhaps

Okay, so to answer your opening post, there is much in my religion that is exoteric but there are elements that are more esoteric, that require greater study and practice to appreciate their meanings.