Blessed are the poor in spirit...

[Civil Shephard]

Maybe insert, "Experience" for "Paradigm"
(in my previous post)
for a better sense of what I was trying to say.

I of course meant paradigm/or paradigm shift in personal terms.
ie, how you experience, relate to, understand, view, your own reality/existence/surroundings.



The Carlos Casteneda books refer to this as the Shifting of one's Assemblage point.
Or, a major Shift in the way one assembles, experiences and views their reality.
It is an actual experience. A total shift of life perspective.
It's like the freefall, when the rug of your reality, gets pulled out from under your feet.

If I come up with a better term (for the sake of clear communication)
I will happily insert it. Perhaps simply "Major Reality Shift",
would be clearer. I don't know.
Paradigm Shift, to me, seems to capture it best though.
Of course this would be a subjective paradigm shift,
and not a scientific one.
Not a "community" thing, but a personal one.

I speak of this all from personal experience BTW.

Sorry if I wasn't clear.

My experiences always seem to be redefined in relation to Christ Teachings so it may be that I'm in a sort of constant paradigm shift. I think that the more we learn about ourselves through science and Internet and the world getting smaller then the more we learn why the poor in spirit are so happy and blessed. And I do believe it's a community thing cause without the influence of community that happiness is never fully realized... I think. I mean... who really has their own personal Jesus?

Carlos Castaneda has a quote that helped me express my opinion about this beatitude that I read just last year though I've not read him extensively.

you know UltraViolet I have to ask how familiar are you with the Sermon on the Mount? My focus in this thread is of course the applied teachings of Christ and how specific teachings make you feel and experience. Can you see clearly to remove the speck from your brother or sisters eye so to speak? Do you store your treasures in heaven and seek first the Kingdom of God? Does the beauty and majesty of King Solomon stop you from seeing the simple beauty in the Lillies of the Field?

and lastly... did Sidney Portier make you crack up when he sang "Amen" to those German Nuns?

 

[Civil Shephard]

Should we be inviting atheists in to see this I am impressed by this convo

I'm not exclusive and cannot live on a for Christians only basis. I started this thread here to try to allow Christians to share how Christ Sermon on the Mount affects there life and walk and attitude.

And... I've found that there are atheist not a few who see merit in this most impressive of all Sermons ever made by man.

 

[astarath]

Agreed. my desire was for them to see the appreciation we have and the understanding there is to be gained from that precious sermon.

 

[Civil Shephard]

Agreed. my desire was for them to see the appreciation we have and the understanding there is to be gained from that precious sermon.

Well... conflict does seem to draw the biggest crowd as is shown when I look at viewers and see that most are in the debate section. Perhaps an invitation in the Biblical Debates forum?

 

[dmgdnooc]

I would put this qualifier on the quote from 1Cor 8.
Anything without charity (love) profits nothing.
But knowledge with love is not puffed up, it should lead one to wisdom; and not trouble another's consience.
So I deem it right to 'gird up the loins', be prepared for the battle, of one's mind; because that fight is for the things that have come down to us in the Scriptures, things that the Angels desire to look into; things that have been seeded in us, taken root and must bear fruit.
　
Chocolate seems to have an exceptionally long reach, I'm a chocoholic too, of a mild sort.
My thanks for sharing your story. I could never have received these ideas at such an early age I was too much of a young bull butting his head at the farm gate, so certain that the grass was greener over there.

 

[Civil Shephard]

I would put this qualifier on the quote from 1Cor 8.
Anything without charity (love) profits nothing.
But knowledge with love is not puffed up, it should lead one to wisdom; and not trouble another's consience.
So I deem it right to 'gird up the loins', be prepared for the battle, of one's mind; because that fight is for the things that have come down to us in the Scriptures, things that the Angels desire to look into; things that have been seeded in us, taken root and must bear fruit.
　
Chocolate seems to have an exceptionally long reach, I'm a chocoholic too, of a mild sort.
My thanks for sharing your story. I could never have received these ideas at such an early age I was too much of a young bull butting his head at the farm gate, so certain that the grass was greener over there.

Well... being a child of divorce transfering from Santa Barbara to South Central Los Angeles at the age of 5 (1969) and going to AA meetings with some of the best smack talking Goderizing/Alcoholorizing/BigBookering/Biblizing can have that affect on a kid. I wanted to know who the hell I was so my truth seeking started early.

Wanna buy a fish?

 

[dmgdnooc]

Raw and wriggling, by preference.

 

[simon kole]

... for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

I'd like to go one beatitude at a time and ask.

Rather you believe in Christ or not... what does this beatitude mean to you and how have you applied it in your life?

(Please also... I'm not looking for argument here. If you're Christian please don't bite into any taunts.)

(Also please note that when I write on this I will be quick referencing other parts of the Sermon on the Mount so if you're not familiar with Matthew 5 6 and 7 please do read the Sermon.)

To me...

I once read in a commentary I think that the poor in spirit are those who totally rely on God for all of their needs. And I feel the spirit of the first beatitude is something so powerful that it gets missed. I first understood it as akin to AA's first step. Having grown up in AA meetings with my mother I was very familiar with step 1's interpretation of the admission of powerlessness. I found that letting go and letting God was something that could save me from making an issue worse by trying to handle things myself. Aside of course from natural human obligations like work and personal maintenance.

So... I think now I feel that the most important aspect of this first beatitude is to remain poor in my opinion of myself, my words and my deeds. Who am I and who is God so to speak? I mean... it helps me throw myself into a selflessness I really don't think I can posses for more than moments at a time. It also shows on the smiles and in the eyes of satisfied friends and acquaintances who seem to be seeing my good works and giving glory to Father in Heaven and not me.

The poor in spirit to me are those who have given up allowing pride to control feelings and have given themselves over to a more mournful and merciful standard of judgment. I think mostly the poor in spirit are those who realize that casting pearls before swine is a cross to bear as much as it is something to be avoided when you're able too.

And lastly... the Kingdom of Heaven is a reward of internal peace in the face of adversity and sometimes even in times of refreshing when all those things added unto us are truly received with gratitude and humility. It is the joy of doing the right thing for the right reasons and letting your heart skip a beat as you see that joy overflow onto someone else.

So again I ask...

Rather you believe in Christ or not... what does this beatitude mean to you and how have you applied it in your life?

sitting loose to the things of this world, to the approval of others, to one's own importance, accomplishments, status, etc.

 

[Muffled]

... for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

I'd like to go one beatitude at a time and ask.

Rather you believe in Christ or not... what does this beatitude mean to you and how have you applied it in your life?

First of all Jesus is talking about people. People have a physical mind and a residing spirit.

There is a negative aspect to this. Those who are poor in spirit can be animalistic and there is no lack of examples in this world.

On the other hand He who cedes control of his mind by his own spirit to God's spirit has entered into a state of great blessing indeed.

I am at a point where more of God's spirit is in me than my own and I find it a great blessing.

 

[matthewm]

poor in spirit = humble

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

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