Are There Any Religious Ascetics On These Forums?

[Elihoenai]

No. Think what you will of me but in my own view, I do not practise anything but pure, unadorned, personal faith.

I am not a full-time Hermit and was certainly not born one - I have had a very ordinary life before coming to God. Since then, I retreat into solitude for long periods of time, go out into the world, practise what I learn in solitude and then retreat again with my new experiences, to continue to learn more in solitude. It’s very basic, really.



No, no drugs necessary for what I do.


Humbly
Hermit

You are not providing much details about this Pure Unadorned Personal Faith that you call it. Given your answer to Want and Need question 1 it sounds like you are having Recreational Sex. Is that correct? Do you Fast? Is your Faith Sensual? The Left-Hand Religious Path is Sensual.

It also sounds like you retreat from Worldliness for a period of time and return to embrace Worldliness and keep going back and forth. It appears to be a half-way house.

 

[Elihoenai]

I'm not aware if Flagellation is still even a thing today. I'm fairly sure there care some individuals around though that do it.

Yes, Flagellation is practised by Niche Roman Catholic Religious Orders, such as, Opus Dei.

Why mortification in Opus Dei?

Opus Dei and the Da Vinci Code - Channel4 2005

Catholic flagellants walk barefoot to mark Easter

 

[pearl]

Here is the Roman Catholic Brand:

An Opus Dei priest defends self-punishment of the body (religionnewsblog.com)

 

[Secret Chief]

Asceticism is about abstaining from worldly things such as sex, food, drink, etc.
A person can be ascetic and still use electronic devices to converse on a forum.

ascetic: characterized by or suggesting the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons. what is an ascetic - Google Search

I'd hope there is a middle way between total hedonism and total asceticism. Who wants this? -

- Buddhist Monks Self-Mummified Their Bodies While Still Alive

 

[Hermit Philosopher]

You are not providing much details about this Pure Unadorned Personal Faith that you call it.

I don’t in fact usually call my faith anything other than faith. What I meant is that it is “pure” in that it is unadorned by ritual, ceremony, religious symbols, etc, and that it is “personal” in that it is not practiced in, or preached about to a parish and, in the sense that I was not born into it.

Given your answer to Want and Need question

I do not think I follow your reasoning here.

1 it sounds like you are having Recreational Sex. Is that correct? Do you Fast? Is your Faith Sensual? The Left-Hand Religious Path is Sensual.

I do not mean to offend, but has it occurred to you that you do ask an awful lot about sex?

If I need to because of lack, I use transcendence against the sense of hunger and abstain from food, but otherwise I find that for me, eating one light meal per day is ideal for mind and body.

I could not call my faith “sensual”, I don’t think. On the one hand, it is abstract, immaterial and deeply spiritual; on the other, it is practical - in that it is expressed in servitude to others.

It also sounds like you retreat from Worldliness for a period of time and return to embrace Worldliness and keep going back and forth. It appears to be a half-way house.

I do not know what so say to this.
Just did not want to leave it out in case you thought I’d not read it.


Humbly
Hermit

 

[Trailblazer]

I'd hope there is a middle way between total hedonism and total asceticism. Who wants this? -

- Buddhist Monks Self-Mummified Their Bodies While Still Alive

The Baha'i Faith teaches moderation in all things which can be viewed as the middle way.
Asceticism was prohibited by Baha'u'llah.

"These verses constitute the prohibition of monasticism and asceticism. See the Synopsis and Codification, section IV.D.1.y.iii.-iv. In the Words of Paradise Bahá'u'lláh amplifies these provisions. He states: "Living in seclusion or practising asceticism is not acceptable in the presence of God," and He calls upon those involved to "observe that which will cause joy and radiance". He instructs those who have taken up "their abodes in the caves of the mountains" or who have "repaired to graveyards at night" to abandon these practices, and He enjoins them not to deprive themselves of the "bounties" of this world which have been created by God for humankind. And in the Tablet of Bishárát, while acknowledging the "pious deeds" of monks and priests, Bahá'u'lláh calls upon them to "give up the life of seclusion and direct their steps towards the open world and busy themselves with that which will profit themselves and others". He also grants them leave "to enter into wedlock that they may bring forth one who will make mention of God"."
(Notes to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 61)

"Regarding your questions: by holiness in our Bahá'í teachings is meant attachment to God, His Precepts and His Will. We are not ascetics in any sense of the word. On the contrary, Bahá'u'lláh says God has created all the good things in the world for us to enjoy and partake of. But we must not become attached to them and put them before the spiritual things."
(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, Light of Divine Guidance, vol. 2, p. 71)

From: Asceticism - Bahai9

 

[Elihoenai]

An Opus Dei priest defends self-punishment of the body (religionnewsblog.com)

Hebrews 12:8

8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye ********, and not sons.

As Paul the Apostle declared, the True Follower of Messiah/Christ Rejoices in Sufferings. It's a different State of Being. The Greater the Punishment the Better.

 

[Elihoenai]

I'd hope there is a middle way between total hedonism and total asceticism. Who wants this? -

- Buddhist Monks Self-Mummified Their Bodies While Still Alive

The Sokushinbutsu Path is the Inverse of the Christian Path. The former Preserves the Body while the latter Destroys the Body.

The more Extreme you are demonstrates greater Commitment and Conviction of your beliefs. Yeshua Messiah/Jesus Christ is on the Absolute Polar Opposite spectrum of the Cross to Marquis de Sade Inverted Cross.

I live in a Marquis de Sade Stronghold area. This has been Ordained by Elohim/God.

 

[Elihoenai]

I don’t in fact usually call my faith anything other than faith. What I meant is that it is “pure” in that it is unadorned by ritual, ceremony, religious symbols, etc, and that it is “personal” in that it is not practiced in, or preached about to a parish and, in the sense that I was not born into it.

Again you have not provided any info about what you are actually practising. For example, I asked in Want and Need question 4 about meat and you gave reply stating eating is a need. That didn't answer the question.

I do not think I follow your reasoning here.




I do not mean to offend, but has it occurred to you that you do ask an awful lot about sex?

There is a reason for it. Recreational Sex is Sex for Pleasure without intention to procreate. Do you have Recreational Sex?

If I need to because of lack, I use transcendence against the sense of hunger and abstain from food, but otherwise I find that for me, eating one light meal per day is ideal for mind and body.

I could not call my faith “sensual”, I don’t think. On the one hand, it is abstract, immaterial and deeply spiritual; on the other, it is practical - in that it is expressed in servitude to others.

Therefore, are you saying that you don't practise Fasting as a regular Discipline?

I do not know what so say to this.
Just did not want to leave it out in case you thought I’d not read it.


Humbly
Hermit

How do you define Worldliness? It appears you have redefined what it means to be a Hermit.

 

[Elihoenai]

The Baha'i Faith teaches moderation in all things which can be viewed as the middle way.
Asceticism was prohibited by Baha'u'llah.

"These verses constitute the prohibition of monasticism and asceticism. See the Synopsis and Codification, section IV.D.1.y.iii.-iv. In the Words of Paradise Bahá'u'lláh amplifies these provisions. He states: "Living in seclusion or practising asceticism is not acceptable in the presence of God," and He calls upon those involved to "observe that which will cause joy and radiance". He instructs those who have taken up "their abodes in the caves of the mountains" or who have "repaired to graveyards at night" to abandon these practices, and He enjoins them not to deprive themselves of the "bounties" of this world which have been created by God for humankind. And in the Tablet of Bishárát, while acknowledging the "pious deeds" of monks and priests, Bahá'u'lláh calls upon them to "give up the life of seclusion and direct their steps towards the open world and busy themselves with that which will profit themselves and others". He also grants them leave "to enter into wedlock that they may bring forth one who will make mention of God"."
(Notes to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 61)

"Regarding your questions: by holiness in our Bahá'í teachings is meant attachment to God, His Precepts and His Will. We are not ascetics in any sense of the word. On the contrary, Bahá'u'lláh says God has created all the good things in the world for us to enjoy and partake of. But we must not become attached to them and put them before the spiritual things."
(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, Light of Divine Guidance, vol. 2, p. 71)

From: Asceticism - Bahai9

Different Religious perspectives on Asceticism are very much appreciated.

 

[pearl]

As Paul the Apostle declared, the True Follower of Messiah/Christ Rejoices in Sufferings. It's a different State of Being. The Greater the Punishment the Better.

After the Dan Brown's movie The Da Vinci Code, the Opus Dei cult stated it no longer practiced self flagellation.

 

[Elihoenai]

After the Dan Brown's movie The Da Vinci Code, the Opus Dei cult stated it no longer practiced self flagellation.

Do you believe that a movie and public opinion would make a Powerful Religious Order like Opus Dei give up hundreds of years tradition Self-Flagellation?

Powerful Roman Catholic Religious Orders, such as, Knights Templar/Freemason, Opus Dei and Society of Jesus don't bow to public opinion. To the contrary, they control pubic opinion and Rule over the Masses. They practice Pure Religion.

 

[pearl]

Do you believe that a movie and public opinion would make a Powerful Religious Order like Opus Dei give up hundreds of years tradition Self-Flagellation?

No, it simply brough to light what once was, and is no longer, it had been discontinued long before any movie depicted it.

Self-flagellation - Wikipedia

 

[Elihoenai]

No, it simply brough to light what once was, and is no longer, it had been discontinued long before any movie depicted it.

Self-flagellation - Wikipedia

@pearl, Are you saying Rev. Michael Barrett of Opus Dei is lying when he tells that Corporal Mortification/Self-Flagellation has been practised in the Church for centuries? Are you saying that Opus Dei is lying about continuation of the unbroken Self-Flagellation practice over hundreds of years?

Why mortification in Opus Dei?

Opus Dei and Corporal Mortification

17/05/2006

"The Da Vinci Code has drawn attention to the Catholic custom of corporal mortification. Rev. Michael Barrett, a priest of Opus Dei, answers questions...."

Opus Dei and Corporal Mortification - Opus Dei



Corporal Mortification

The Church prescribes fasting on certain days and recommends that the faithful practice other sorts of mortification as well. Fr. John Wauck, a priest of Opus Dei, speaks about mortification.

Corporal Mortification - Opus Dei


Corporal Mortification/Self-Flagellation is Zealously Practised by Powerful Elite members of the Roman Catholic Church.

 

[pearl]

@pearl, Are you saying Rev. Michael Barrett of Opus Dei is lying when he tells that Corporal Mortification/Self-Flagellation has been practised in the Church for centuries? Are you saying that Opus Dei is lying about continuation of the unbroken Self-Flagellation practice over hundreds of years?

Simply stating their immediate reaction to the media hype was that they no longer practiced what was depicted of them in Brown's movie.

 

[Elihoenai]

Simply stating their immediate reaction to the media hype was that they no longer practiced what was depicted of them in Brown's movie.

Why would they abandon hundreds of years tradition Self-Flagellation? Do you have proof that Opus Dei no longer practice Self-Flagellation?

 

[pearl]

Why would they abandon hundreds of years tradition Self-Flagellation? Do you have proof that Opus Dei no longer practice Self-Flagellation?

It was a widespread practice in some parts of the Catholic ministry up to the 1960s but is uncommon today, says Professor Michael Walsh, a Catholic historian.
BBC News - Why do some Catholics self-flagellate?

 

[Elihoenai]

It was a widespread practice in some parts of the Catholic ministry up to the 1960s but is uncommon today, says Professor Michael Walsh, a Catholic historian.
BBC News - Why do some Catholics self-flagellate?

That news article is agreeing with what I said about the Self-Flagellation being practiced by small number of Powerful Roman Catholic Elites. The Conservative Roman Catholic Religious Orders with greater commitment to Christian Doctrine. It also raised that in some cultures may be more prevalent than others comparing Asia and Europe.

Have you seen the movie First Reformed? If yes, do you understand why the Self-Flagellation would be so extreme? Answer can be provided without movie spoilers.

 

[pearl]

Have you seen the movie First Reformed?

No, I have not seen it but I did just read up on it.
First Reformed - Wikipedia

I guess Toiler should have stayed with Thomas Merton or The Cloud of Unknowing, suppposedly written by a 16th century monk. A copy of which was found in a monastery in Spencer Massachusetts. It was a priest living an the monastery who introduced our parish to 'centering prayer',
I'm not sure I would make the connection with self flagellation. It seems more of a statement as to the world being without hope.

 

[Elihoenai]

No, I have not seen it but I did just read up on it.
First Reformed - Wikipedia

The Self-Flagellation depicted in the film is Penance. From an Ultra Conservative perspective it is not extreme enough.

I guess Toiler should have stayed with Thomas Merton or The Cloud of Unknowing, suppposedly written by a 16th century monk. A copy of which was found in a monastery in Spencer Massachusetts. It was a priest living an the monastery who introduced our parish to 'centering prayer',
I'm not sure I would make the connection with self flagellation. It seems more of a statement as to the world being without hope.

Do you practice Centering Prayer? Are you a Mystic? How do you view Self-Flagellation?