In other words, the physical is dependent on the physical and what the physical perceives is limited without the foundation of the unseen/spiritual (god?)?
We may be saying the same thing in different terms... but let me rephrase just to be sure...
Jesus cursed a fig tree... the natura "seemed" like it hadn't changed but the spiritual eventually changes the natural. It is from the spirit the life and death spring forth from. Changing what we do on the outside (the natural, the physical, that which we can see) doesn't change the root of the problem... the spiritual. We can overcome one area in our lives but because the spiritual root hasn't been changed, it just morphes into something else that we have to deal with.
I wondered why you'd feel you're in chains all because you sinned.
Just a change in semantics here... I WAS in chains (a metaphor for a spiritual issue that prevented me from experiencing life to the fullest).. but I am in chains no more. I am born again (Christaineese
) a new creature that is now free from all chains.
Maybe the reality is that you're not in chains, but for you to know you're not in chains is to follow Christ confirming your illusion of being trapped. It seems you perceived you are in changes is because of the discord you have with the eternal making you side with the physical as truth (original sin) rather than the spiritual.
Thus... I'm not sure this applies to me. I am no longer trapped, no longer separated, no longer in discord.
Now, if the statment is "why did you think you use to be in chains... maybe it was an illussion"... then we are back to the foundations of our beliefs.
The fact that my life was in discord is a reflection that I had a spiritual problem. Spiritual problems, for me, is not an illusion. It is real
That's good. Prayer is always a good thing even when there is nothing more one can do.
Your prayers are just as good.
Hmm. Chanting is being one with god (in some religions). The difference between many christian denominations and liturgical ones as well as cultural religions is that the actions such as chanting, prayers, rituals, etc brings the person one with god (in a christian sense). So it's inseparable. Like hugging someone physically in addition to verbal confirmation and spiritual motivation and intent. It all goes together.
Yes... I am aware of the differences. Nothing against someone who chants, just for us it isn't necessary to being one with God.
In Dharmic view, chanting can be for purification of one's karmic imprints (one's nonconstructive actions imprinted in the depths of our mind). In rough translation, purification, certain rituals, prayer, and chanting clears up one's sin.
Gotcha! Understand!
For us, the blood has already cleared up one's sin. It's a finished work. Now... our minds need to be renewed. I guess that would equate to your statement of "purification". We renew our minds by mediating on the Word that we believe comes from God. It washes away our stinking thinking and opens it up to God's ability that has been given to us by the Holy Spirit and His Word.
It's what I known through Catholicism when you give yourself up to follow Christ only without the passion of needing material things to be one with christ. Basically, you're clearing obstructions between you are Christ. Not all denominations have that mindset; but, in a general sense, if one does not have that "crucified in christ" ideal, how does one come to christ? It sounds more like ego getting in the way: I want to have this even though I want to be with christ. Denominational differences but the meaning is biblical.
I thought that might be the case. Being crucified in Christ doesn't translate into giving up the material. What it means is that the material doesn't control your life... you control it. So, when God says "Sell everything you have and give it to the poor of the world", we sell it because materiality doesn't control us. However, God's promise still holds true (for us) that "he who gives to the poor lends to the Lord and He shall repary it". He will continue to bless us knowing that at any time He can call on us to use the material for His glory.
No. Sin isn't a Dharmic word.
OK... it through me off a little when you said "and chanting clears up one's sin" and then say it isn't a Dharmic word.
Do we need a better definition for my understanding? Wait a minute... you have more below and you defined it.
For example, monks live in poverty and isolate themselves from their families and friends. While the ego part of ourselves say why divorce ourselves from our loved ones, the Dharmic view is it is a sin-an attachment-to the material word that keeps us from full enlightenment (a clear mind from attachment). Sin isn't just nonconstructive actions but anything that keeps us away from developing a healthy mind. Laity practitioners have less obligations. We have our families and friends but also know gradually that we don't depend on them more so than we do The Dharma because they live and they die so we do; but, compassion, for example, does not.
On a personal understanding, the life of a monk is not biblical nor did Jesus demonstrate "isolation". On the contrary, he went around making sure that you were not in isolation but rather doing--healing, ministering, preaching, giving etc.
Sin, in short terms, is diverging from living and training one's mind ridding itself of attachments.
OK.. our definition is somewhat the same yet different. Sin is "missing the mark"... but missing the mark doesn't translate into ridding of attachments (necessarily) although in some cases it does require it.
True. If you have no sacrifice, why do you feel you can't do it on your own?
Contrasting this with Dharmic view that we can do it on our own.
Ahhh... that is our foundational difference. Our view is that physically you might change one thing on your own (that which you can see) but it did not deal with the spiritual (that which you cannot see). Jesus took care of what we could not see.
You can pick off bad fruit (that which you can see) but it didn't change the root (that which you cannot see). Jesus took care of what we could not see so that we can permanently change what we can see.
May your 2018 be filled with life.