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Spiritual Activities and Your Panentheism
- Thread starter Treks
- Start date
I like this answer. Anything that helps one's self, others, the environment etc. is a spiritual practice to me.
As you probably all know, I am a Hindu. In Hinduism there is a whole spectrum of philosophical ideas ranging from complete monism to complete dualism. So even though I follow an established religion, I have personally adopted the panentheistic perspective. In other words, people who follow my same religion may have the same philosophical perspective or different.
Treks
Well-Known Member
Thank you both for your input.
I'm reading about secular spirituality lately and the author of the book makes much similar observations that self development and connecting with people and the environment is useful.
I find spiritual invigoration as a panentheist by reading about science and the natural world. When doing so, the feeling of awe and wonder is just as electrifying as when reading some beautiful spiritual poetry.
Madhuri: Sikhi is also panentheistic, and it was Sikhi that led me to a kind of generic panentheism. So, same page.
I'm reading about secular spirituality lately and the author of the book makes much similar observations that self development and connecting with people and the environment is useful.
I find spiritual invigoration as a panentheist by reading about science and the natural world. When doing so, the feeling of awe and wonder is just as electrifying as when reading some beautiful spiritual poetry.
Madhuri: Sikhi is also panentheistic, and it was Sikhi that led me to a kind of generic panentheism. So, same page.
Did you just want input from panENtheists? Or would regular pantheists suffice? (though really, which category you stuff me in is a function of ontological perspective, I think)
Like Madhuri, I have also adopted the panentheistic perspective. It is indeed a common belief across the Hinduism spectrum.
Being primarily a devotee of Krishna, I think of his words in the Bhagavad Gītā 9.4 "By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them" (meaning we have our origin in God; God exists within us, but God does not originate in us) and 10.41-42 "Know that all beautiful, glorious, and mighty creations spring from but a spark of My splendor. But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe."
What this says to me is that all of creation, people, animals are within and pervaded by God. As such they should be treated as God. Do I try, and do I fail? Yes, but I keep trying. To that end, this has altered my spiritual and mundane activities as much as my feeble little human self is capable of.
Being primarily a devotee of Krishna, I think of his words in the Bhagavad Gītā 9.4 "By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them" (meaning we have our origin in God; God exists within us, but God does not originate in us) and 10.41-42 "Know that all beautiful, glorious, and mighty creations spring from but a spark of My splendor. But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe."
What this says to me is that all of creation, people, animals are within and pervaded by God. As such they should be treated as God. Do I try, and do I fail? Yes, but I keep trying. To that end, this has altered my spiritual and mundane activities as much as my feeble little human self is capable of.
Treks
Well-Known Member
Jainarayan, it becomes not only "do unto others as you would do unto yourself" but "do unto others as you would do unto God", doesn't it?
Quintessence, the difference between pantheism and panentheism is just about as much as two letters (haha) so yes please, pantheist input is also appreciated.
Quintessence, the difference between pantheism and panentheism is just about as much as two letters (haha) so yes please, pantheist input is also appreciated.
Yes. You could think of it as, if you curse out someone else for something, you are cursing out God and yourself. Not always easy to remember.
Yes, a breathing meditation, japa. One can use soham, Sanskrit for "I am He/That" (God) as ajapa japa.
Treks
Well-Known Member
Is "soham" anything like "Om"?
In Panjabi one can repeat "Tuhi, Tuhi" meaning "You, You" (Lord, there is nothing else but You). There is a sakhi (story) of Guru Nanak when he was counting, he got stuck japing 13 which is also pronounced as "tuhi" in Panjabi.
For me there is a distinction between japna and simran. Japna is breathing/chanting meditation as you described with the intent of inducing a specific frame of mind, and simran is maintenance of that frame of mind which japna has induced. The difference is probably just semantic, when it boils down.
Sometimes people get stuck on the japna as an action only, and forget the frame of mind that it's meant to induce. That was certainly me when I first started out. *blush*
Does anyone else have a meditative practice related to their pan(en)theistic spirituality?
In Panjabi one can repeat "Tuhi, Tuhi" meaning "You, You" (Lord, there is nothing else but You). There is a sakhi (story) of Guru Nanak when he was counting, he got stuck japing 13 which is also pronounced as "tuhi" in Panjabi.
For me there is a distinction between japna and simran. Japna is breathing/chanting meditation as you described with the intent of inducing a specific frame of mind, and simran is maintenance of that frame of mind which japna has induced. The difference is probably just semantic, when it boils down.
Sometimes people get stuck on the japna as an action only, and forget the frame of mind that it's meant to induce. That was certainly me when I first started out. *blush*
Does anyone else have a meditative practice related to their pan(en)theistic spirituality?
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Quintessence, the difference between pantheism and panentheism is just about as much as two letters (haha) so yes please, pantheist input is also appreciated.
I wasn't sure how you felt about it, so I thought I'd ask beforehand.
Like you, I incorporate much of science into my religion. Since my gods are literally the various aspects of reality around me, science is the study of the gods. It's just one tool in the toolbox though; direct experience and the arts are also great tools that I use on a regular basis. For people who don't really understand what contemporary Paganism is, I'll often just describe it as nature-centered or nature-worship, because those are essentially the religious practices I engage in. It's honoring various cycles and events out there in my local area, such as the show of spring ephemerals in the woodlands around here during early spring, the "fluffy time" when cottonwoods shed their seeds to the winds, and so on. There are lots of practices, most of it simple things as I've never been much for lavish ceremonial rituals as some Neopagans are. Heck, when I fill my feeders for the winged ones, I usually say a few words of blessing. Simple, everyday things that are part of my way of life.
I think so. Om is the primordial sound of creation, as well as the representation of Brahman itself. To meditate on om/aum is to meditate on brahman and our oneness. Soham is not unlike it, but I think soham is more me-centric. I might be wrong.
Very cool. I think any name of God is good to use for japa. In fact, it's called naama japa. It's different from a mantra given by a guru to an initiate. Those are said to be imbued with energies. I have no experience with it, I'm not an initiate, so I can't say. Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya (aka Dr. Frank Morales) says that the name of God is non-different from God.
I think you are right, it's the simran which is hard to maintain, and comes from dedicated japa. Maybe that's why I still curse people out on the road... I have not done naama japa in eons. :run:
I think life itself is a spiritual experience. But some experiences such as meditation, pujas, pilgrimage, etc are reminders of Siva is everywhere.
In monistic Saivism, Siva's second perfection, of Sat-Chit-Ananda or consciousness, Bliss, etc. is the idea that God flows though all form. Often the mouth of the Ganga flowing from Lord Siva's flowing matted hair represents His all pervasiveness.
Personally, I find it easier to remember in nature, alongside flowing rivers, or in the forest. Beauty tends to remind me.
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Infinitum
Possessed Bookworm
Naturalistic pantheist here (to get the details straight with the ENs ). For me everyday life is spiritual in itself, which comes out especially in the enjoyment I get in having two cats around. They keep me connected to nature out there by constantly reminding me they're small beasts who've just decided I'm part of their family. Similarly following the lives of the wild animals is very important to me, as well as the plant life. I show even small insects like ants respect by trying not to hurt them if I don't have to.
I've used to meditate a lot more before, but I've gotten out of the habit. I still think it's a really good way of connecting with your spirituality. You can focus your attention either outwards or inwards, depending on your needs. I usually do just simple mindfulness meditation. I think slowing down in nature to take in the beauty around you can be a form of meditation in itself. It's actually kind of hard to say where there is not something spiritual from the perspective of pantheism. After all the term consists of the words pan (everything) and theism (god/divinity).
). For me everyday life is spiritual in itself, which comes out especially in the enjoyment I get in having two cats around. They keep me connected to nature out there by constantly reminding me they're small beasts who've just decided I'm part of their family. Similarly following the lives of the wild animals is very important to me, as well as the plant life. I show even small insects like ants respect by trying not to hurt them if I don't have to.I've used to meditate a lot more before, but I've gotten out of the habit. I still think it's a really good way of connecting with your spirituality. You can focus your attention either outwards or inwards, depending on your needs. I usually do just simple mindfulness meditation. I think slowing down in nature to take in the beauty around you can be a form of meditation in itself. It's actually kind of hard to say where there is not something spiritual from the perspective of pantheism. After all the term consists of the words pan (everything) and theism (god/divinity).
Tumah
Veteran Member
I'm not sure if I am understanding correctly.
I think i can be described as a monotheistic panentheist.
My spiritual activities are based on recognizing the Divine oneness that is inherent in the creation and communing with that Oneness.
Practically, that would include contemplating the Divine that is present in the general goings-on in the world in general, or the Divine inherent in a specific object in the world.
Also, in trying to raise myself to a greater degree of oneness by imitating the Divine Oneness.
Is this correct?
I think i can be described as a monotheistic panentheist.
My spiritual activities are based on recognizing the Divine oneness that is inherent in the creation and communing with that Oneness.
Practically, that would include contemplating the Divine that is present in the general goings-on in the world in general, or the Divine inherent in a specific object in the world.
Also, in trying to raise myself to a greater degree of oneness by imitating the Divine Oneness.
Is this correct?
Desert Snake
Veteran Member
No, there quite different.Jainarayan, it becomes not only "do unto others as you would do unto yourself" but "do unto others as you would do unto God", doesn't it?
Quintessence, the difference between pantheism and panentheism is just about as much as two letters (haha) so yes please, pantheist input is also appreciated.