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Dear Seekers
What do you think it is that you're looking for? Why are you a seeker, and unable to settle on a particular religion? Can you put it into words?
Truth. Simple as that really.
Not all who wander are lost.
I agree with this. I am seeking truth on several levels, though I haven't yet separated out the levels of truth. What I can say so far is that 'truth' is partly shedding externals, i.e. rituals, superstitions, dogma, and the like, getting past them. I believe they are stumbling blocks and obstacles to finding the truth.
Now, Kalamas, dont go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by agreement through pondering views, by probability, or by the thought, This contemplative is our teacher. When you know for yourselves that, These qualities are skillful; these qualities are blameless; these qualities are praised by the wise; these qualities, when adopted & carried out, lead to welfare & to happiness then you should enter & remain in them. - The Buddha, Kalama Sutta.
It is popularly rendered as
Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.
Gandhi's comment that all religions have truth, and all religions have error is spot on, though he went on to say that Hinduism was sufficient for him. I find that what are in my opinion, referring to the Buddha's quote, the erroneous parts of religions are what I throw out, and keep what I find to be the common truths. That's why it looks like I have no set religion.
Thanks for the replies so far and apologies if I inferred that those who seek are lost, that's not what I meant to say but didn't think it through enough before I posted.
For those who seek truth.. isn't science truthful enough for you? What is more truthful than reality?
Pretty much this to a T. To me Truth is not a destination but rather the journey itself. To assume Truth is just a waypoint you arrive at would be extremely faulty logic IMHO. The universe to me is a complex place both materially and spiritually. It is this complex mosaic that makes it so beautiful as far as I am concerned.Trying to find my own spiritual truths, deeper connection to this world, inner calm, betterment of myself and whatever you call higher power(s). I'm naturally theistic, so to ignore this would make me miserable, feeling there's a lack of something.
I'd love to find belonging with other people but I think that's probably doomed for failure, simply because I can't seem to be able to accept pre-packaged religions and Unitarian Universalism doesn't interest me, sounds boring to me and frankly a little pointless. So instead I try to find connection to the world, living beings, nature, etc.
Science is good for material truths, I like it for that but it's not what I'm looking for. Of course I do revere some material things (nature, moon, elements, Earth, universe, etc) but that's because they mean something to me.
Dear Seekers
What do you think it is that you're looking for? Why are you a seeker, and unable to settle on a particular religion? Can you put it into words?
For those who seek truth.. isn't science truthful enough for you? What is more truthful than reality?