Do You Think For Yourself Or No?

[Jimmy]

When it comes to spiritual matters and wisdom do you think for yourself or subscribe to one of the written religions or spiritual practices?

 

[Quintessence]

Like all humans, I do both because it is not possible to do otherwise. At least in a post-literate culture where everyone reads and writes. And prior to that, it would be your thoughts plus those shared by those around you orally rather than in writing. It's always both.

 

[Secret Chief]

When it comes to spiritual matters and wisdom do you think for yourself or subscribe to one of the written religions or spiritual practices?

Both.

 

[SalixIncendium]

When it comes to spiritual matters and wisdom do you think for yourself or subscribe to one of the written religions or spiritual practices?

My "spiritual practice" is to think as little as possible.

 

[Debater Slayer]

My "spiritual practice" is to think as little as possible.

Reminds me of this:

 

[Martin]

I do think more for myself these days, I think it's having more confidence in my own experience and intuition.

 

[Vinayaka]

I do not think. Boss tells me what to do and I do it.

 

[osgart]

When it comes to spiritual matters and wisdom do you think for yourself or subscribe to one of the written religions or spiritual practices?

If a person has time, and patience, as well as honesty about self and others then thinking for yourself will lead to spiritual understanding. It does not take gurus, nor any religion to achieve an effective, productive spiritual value system.

Just list all the virtues that are positive character traits, and list all the contrary vices, and define them accurately and fairly in real terms. Then determine the most important priorities of all the virtues and you'll find purpose in those values.

After that I apply inverse thinking to determine all the things that could go wrong, and all the challenges that the world poses to living a life of self worth and value in determining one's own spiritual path.

I find that in thinking for myself, and weighing out my experiences, plus understanding the history of human nature balancing the best and worst of it, and having an imagination grounded in reality, I can come to a more reliable spiritual understanding.

Yet still it's important to have trusted relationships in which one can discuss their spiritual path with. There's only so much a person can do alone, before they put into practice the spiritual values they cherish the most.

Self to self relationship is highly important if one is transparent with one's self.

 

[Eddi]

When it comes to spiritual matters and wisdom do you think for yourself or subscribe to one of the written religions or spiritual practices?

I think for myself but draw upon preexisting traditions

Namely Christianity, Taoism, and Humanism

 

[Jimmy]

If a person has time, and patience, as well as honesty about self and others then thinking for yourself will lead to spiritual understanding. It does not take gurus, nor any religion to achieve an effective, productive spiritual value system.

Just list all the virtues that are positive character traits, and list all the contrary vices, and define them accurately and fairly in real terms. Then determine the most important priorities of all the virtues and you'll find purpose in those values.

After that I apply inverse thinking to determine all the things that could go wrong, and all the challenges that the world poses to living a life of self worth and value in determining one's own spiritual path.

I find that in thinking for myself, and weighing out my experiences, plus understanding the history of human nature balancing the best and worst of it, and having an imagination grounded in reality, I can come to a more reliable spiritual understanding.

Yet still it's important to have trusted relationships in which one can discuss their spiritual path with. There's only so much a person can do alone, before they put into practice the spiritual values they cherish the most.

Self to self relationship is highly important if one is transparent with one's self.

So when you say an imagination grounded in reality, do you mean things that you can’t see with your eyes or can’t back up with science are off limits?

 

[osgart]

So when you say an imagination grounded in reality, do you mean things that you can’t see with your eyes or can’t back up with science are off limits?

No. There are things you can't see that are self evident that are based on experience in relation to existence. I'm also introspective about spirituality.

I don't think science can explain the all of reality.
Science isn't everything. I don't think science has all the tools to discover every truth. Science has limits.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

When it comes to spiritual matters and wisdom do you think for yourself or subscribe to one of the written religions or spiritual practices?

I think for myself, have my own experiences and revelations about the world and it either matches with what some religion or other posits or doesn't.

 

[sayak83]

When it comes to spiritual matters and wisdom do you think for yourself or subscribe to one of the written religions or spiritual practices?

In Hinduism and Buddhism, so many things are written, you cannot follow everything. So, I simply follow what works for me without discounting that other things may work for others.

 

[Vinayaka]

In Hinduism and Buddhism, so many things are written, you cannot follow everything. So, I simply follow what works for me without discounting that other things may work for others.

The complexity and diversity within Hinduism never fails to amaze me. It may well be the most misunderstood thing about us for non-Hindus.

 

[Mock Turtle]

When it comes to spiritual matters and wisdom do you think for yourself or subscribe to one of the written religions or spiritual practices?

I try to garner my thinking from the best minds (as I see such of course) and these mostly verified by their peers or those who have best understood whatever they have had to say - and my judgment as to this too. Such that I hope to think for myself although doubtful as to this - given that I no doubt will have been influenced by so many and not necessarily knowing where any particular beliefs I might have do have their origins.

As to religions and spiritual practices, I am more inclined towards the same messages that often come without any religious or spiritual attachment, given that such is less inclined to encourage any barriers arising between myself and any others. Which to me is the more important aspect of wisdom - don't become too attached to beliefs, or much else, so as these to become division forming.

 

[Martin]

The complexity and diversity within Hinduism never fails to amaze me. It may well be the most misunderstood thing about us for non-Hindus.

Yes, and it's the same with Buddhism.

 

[elsamerkur]

Both..for me, it’s all about integrating what resonates from both worlds and making it my OWN PATH.

 

[Secret Chief]

I do not think. Boss tells me what to do and I do it.

Pathetic. My wife tells me that I think for myself.

 

[sayak83]

Pathetic. My wife tells me that I think for myself.

My wife tells me I do not think at all.

 

[Twilight Hue]

When it comes to spiritual matters and wisdom do you think for yourself or subscribe to one of the written religions or spiritual practices?

I'm a rebel when it comes to religion.

It's a reason why I don't act like a Buddhist!

Who wants to live their life under expectations that one knows full well they just can't keep?

You can't find "answers" that way if ones religion is intentionally stuck in a doctrinal rut and stagnates there until somebody realizes it one day, stands up screams, fails their arms, and runs out of the room never to be seen again.

And off ya go!