A religious thread.

[an anarchist]

How is your faith going? Where are you at on your spiritual journey? What insights have you come across recently?

I am reaffirming to myself the bliss that spirituality brings. I’ve lagged for a couple weeks once again after taking about 1-2 years off spirituality. Got back into it but I’m slacking. But the second I open the words of the Buddha or meditate or something of the like, I realize it feels as if I’ve been suffocating and only once I begin my spirituality can I breath.

I am optimistic when I am spiritual. I am so many positive things that I am rediscovering about myself. Yet, my worldly self lacks self control. That and focus. I think this is a medical problem which I am actually seeing a new psychiatrist today to address. Point is I’m in the process of doing what I need to do in order to succeed in my spirituality. Once I can overcome my laziness and lack of focus, I’ll be thriving I just know it. The ideal life is within my grasp. Indeed, I can start living the ideal life this very moment. To do it steadily is what I am working on.

How about you? Where are you at on your spiritual journey? What’s been going on as of late?

 

[an anarchist]

Starting on memorizing the second chapter of the Dhammapada. I would very much to build a shrine to the Buddha one day and worship and meditate to him in my own way.

I currently have a small shrine to my deceased mother, who I meditate/worship/pray to. I’m new to this routine but it is right for me.

 

[an anarchist]

Those who are thoughtless are as if dead already.
- the Buddha

^That’s how it is every moment I am not spiritual. I gave hedonism a hearty try in lieu of spiritualism, and I am left with the opinion that nihilism can drive a person to self delete. So no more of that for me.

 

[dybmh]

How about you? Where are you at on your spiritual journey? What’s been going on as of late?

1) This week, in Judaism, we are reading and studying the story of the dual covenant, the bris-milah ( the covenant of ritual circumcision ) and bris-beyn-habesarim ( the covenant between the parts ). I have been focusing on both of these as a pairing, "syzygy". I haven't seen any commentators or scholars do this. Why those two rituals at that time? How did they, the pairing, produce the necessary effect? I'm trying to reverse engineer the ritual.

2) Starting early in the summer, I've been getting requests, compliments, from friends and family that I should write a book. My wife has been telling me for years. I decided to take it seriously when a young Rabbi I learn with said the same thing. It's not easy for me, to envision myself writing a book, to structure my life so that I have time, consistently, protected for writing. But, I'm trying to do it. Just a little each day. The book is going to be a sort of "Dao of Torah", at risk of sounding trite. Pairings, balance, symmetry will be the focus, but the overall general tone of the content will be mysticism. Premise: God in the Torah is mysterious, the one which brings together opposing contrasts, and blesses them. Ex: Gen 1:28. I'll be looking at the Torah in terms of relationships and connections as opposed to looking at individual concepts. Each concept, I will be looking for its contrasting, yet harmonious partner, ( Which God is blessing ) and it's adversary, the contrasting antagonist, which God is cursing, for lack of a better word.

3) Having just finished almost a month of Jewish holidays, including the "holiest" day of the year, I am inspired ( fired-up ) but also feeling daunted considering how much work is ahead of me to achieve my goals, and practice Judaism in the way I can and should.

 

[rocala]

How is your faith going? Where are you at on your spiritual journey? What insights have you come across recently?

Not so great to be honest. Not at a crisis point or anything like that, it just feels a little flat, like something is missing. It is probably to do with the fact that I have no contact with people of similar beliefs. Some community feeling would be really good.

 

[Secret Chief]

I would very much to build a shrine to the Buddha

Rock n roll.

 

[RabbiO]

@dybmh -

If it is important enough to you, you’ll prioritize, find the time, and do what you need to do to see this to the end.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

1) This week, in Judaism, we are reading and studying the story of the dual covenant, the bris-milah ( the covenant of ritual circumcision ) and bris-beyn-habesarim ( the covenant between the parts ). I have been focusing on both of these as a pairing, "syzygy". I haven't seen any commentators or scholars do this. Why those two rituals at that time? How did they, the pairing, produce the necessary effect? I'm trying to reverse engineer the ritual.

2) Starting early in the summer, I've been getting requests, compliments, from friends and family that I should write a book. My wife has been telling me for years. I decided to take it seriously when a young Rabbi I learn with said the same thing. It's not easy for me, to envision myself writing a book, to structure my life so that I have time, consistently, protected for writing. But, I'm trying to do it. Just a little each day. The book is going to be a sort of "Dao of Torah", at risk of sounding trite. Pairings, balance, symmetry will be the focus, but the overall general tone of the content will be mysticism. Premise: God in the Torah is mysterious, the one which brings together opposing contrasts, and blesses them. Ex: Gen 1:28. I'll be looking at the Torah in terms of relationships and connections as opposed to looking at individual concepts. Each concept, I will be looking for its contrasting, yet harmonious partner, ( Which God is blessing ) and it's adversary, the contrasting antagonist, which God is cursing, for lack of a better word.

3) Having just finished almost a month of Jewish holidays, including the "holiest" day of the year, I am inspired ( fired-up ) but also feeling daunted considering how much work is ahead of me to achieve my goals, and practice Judaism in the way I can and should.

Beware: Do not let the perfect become the enemy of good. Write the draft, let an editor look it over and give suggestions, THEN the work begins...

 

[PureX]

How is your faith going? Where are you at on your spiritual journey? What insights have you come across recently?

I am reaffirming to myself the bliss that spirituality brings. I’ve lagged for a couple weeks once again after taking about 1-2 years off spirituality. Got back into it but I’m slacking. But the second I open the words of the Buddha or meditate or something of the like, I realize it feels as if I’ve been suffocating and only once I begin my spirituality can I breath.

I am optimistic when I am spiritual. I am so many positive things that I am rediscovering about myself. Yet, my worldly self lacks self control. That and focus. I think this is a medical problem which I am actually seeing a new psychiatrist today to address. Point is I’m in the process of doing what I need to do in order to succeed in my spirituality. Once I can overcome my laziness and lack of focus, I’ll be thriving I just know it. The ideal life is within my grasp. Indeed, I can start living the ideal life this very moment. To do it steadily is what I am working on.

How about you? Where are you at on your spiritual journey? What’s been going on as of late?

The election is dsspointing in that it reminds me how blind we humans can become when we get caught up in ourselves. I try not to worry about the consequences of this grave national error. Mostly because I can do nothing to mitigate it. Certainly not by worrying over it. But I do think I need to try and prepare for bad times ahead. Trump is the train wreck that never ends and there will be more of this disaster to come.

Otherwise, all I can do is remain grateful for the gift of life, humanity, and consciousness. Even if the humanity part is somewhat weakened at the moment.

 

[Quintessence]

Well, MidAutumn's Eve was last night. With everything that's been going on, I wasn't going to do ritual. MidAutumn is probably the hardest and most intense ritual I do. Knowing that, I didn't do the full ritual. I didn't throw open the Gates. Didn't matter - the Ancestors and Nameless Ones made their presence known and I ended up in tears anyway.

For an outsider to my tradition reading this, it is important to understand that this is not a bad thing. It is a necessary thing borne out of one of the most sacred duties and obligations of all. I shirk ritual on holy days more often than I probably should, but MidAutumn inevitably nags and forces me to act even if I'm sick with fever or ill with disgust. Tears simply must be shed for Those Who Came Before. Remembrance simply must happen. They are the very foundation and essence of the Weave, all around us, constantly, yet unrecognized and forgotten and unappreciated. I owe them at least one night of tears and sorrow and respect.

In truth, I owe them all of my nights and days. Estis, ergo sum - you are, therefore I am.

 

[JustGeorge]

I've been working on accepting my karma.

I'm at a point in live where I don't really see things improving much, from a logical standpoint. The long term trauma and anhedonia would make it so it doesn't really make a difference, anyways.

I have a bad habit of 'waiting'. Waiting for change, waiting for some glimmer of joy... I'm working on stopping that. Just accepting my lot. Maybe some perceivable good will come, and maybe it won't.

 

[ChristineM]

Rock n roll.

View attachment 99610

That is a very nice piece.

 

[Secret Chief]

That is a very nice piece.

Thank you. It weighs a ton!

 

[ChristineM]

Thank you. It weighs a ton!

Yours?

 

[Kathryn]

How is your faith going? Where are you at on your spiritual journey? What insights have you come across recently?

To be totally honest, I feel a bit flat lately. Basically since a few weeks after I moved to Ohio after spending many years in Texas. I miss my old life but I need to forge a new one.

I will say this though - I have been thinking a lot more about spiritual things lately, which is good. I mean in the last two weeks or so.

 

[Secret Chief]

Yours?

Yes.

 

[ChristineM]

Yes.

View attachment 99617

Beautiful.