Interesting questions you pose!
Where does one turn to for advice - the Bible has worked for countless people but others use it to become judgemental jerks. Not you of course!
I agree with Mathieu Ricard who says that there is a wide variety of mind-training techniques to suit the huge number of different dispositions.
Ultimately I guess you have to trust your own instincts but some people seem to have better instincts than others.
I would say that a truly healthy belief system would be one that helps you rather than hinders you from becoming a kinder & more compassionate human beings. In "theory" that means you can sincerely follow any of the major religions and get a good result or a bad result if you mis-use the teachings to justify negative or judgemental attitudes.
Anyway, those are a few my thoughts and you are welcome to disagree if they don't feel "right" to you.
Cheers!
Can you give me an example of a "judgmental jerk", so that I can check "the mirror" to see if it fits me.
I understand what you are saying, but I am open to other people's views. I like to hear them, and see how they see things. So I hope you don't mind questions
. Some people don't seem to like them.
Years ago, I met an Asian girl, while engaging in the ministry (door to door). She said she was Hindu.
What I noticed about this girl... she was sooooo hospitable, very pleasant, and friendly. It was very refreshing.
She was also very gentle and delicate. I realized this from an experience she shared with us.
I have met other nice people too, and I know, and believe they are many people out there,with a good heart, and some good values.
I believe that the good in man is due to what the scriptures say at Genesis 1:26. We have within us the capacity, and potential to imitate Jehovah's attributes, through his spirit.
I also believe that man's problem is primarily religion. Due to the fact that religion is man's way of fulfilling that part of him he at some point in time realizes, but however, has been crafted by so many varying thoughts and ideas, man has been his worst enemy... as well as his neighbor's.
So the way I see it, there must be a way that allows man to be, not his or his neighbor's worst enemy, but quite the opposite.
My view is that that itis only possible, if man can get back to, or connect to the same source of the spirit that allows him to have good attributes in the first place.
I find the Bible is the place to start, for many reasons. Just to mention a few...
1) It's the oldest book on the creator of the universe and man, and coherently reveals his history to the present, and beyond.
2) It's principles and values work for all races, people, and generation... from my experience.
3) It is available to all people, and languages - for the most part, and still continuing to be made available to more.
Those are just a few.
Can I ask... what have you found in your experience, unites people of all races, backgrounds, nationalities, into one, so that there are no barriers - whether political, or national... so that they do not war against anyone, no matter what part of the world they are from?
What, in your experience, unites people to have the same moral values, and creates within them a love that bonds them as a family internationally... so that everyone living by those values are at peace?
I am interested in hearing your view.
