Reikijim wrote:
The more I look at Buddhism seriously, the more i`m inclined to think that Buddhism looks less like a religion at times, and more like a guide to experiencing the nature of the universe and our place in it.
your quote is exactly what the word and concept of religion means bro,
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Reikijim wrote:
Without reading a bizzillion sutras, the practices alone seem to be tolerant of an individual interpretation.
Although reading sutras is spiritual practice itself, i know what you mean. This is my approach to most religions as well. I study a bit of christianity, particularly the early stuff, and quite like the esoteric, mystic stuff. Do some buddhist practices, like mala work and Kuji-in. Do vedic stuff, as in Hatha Yoga. and even though i'm a muslim convert, it hasn't stopped me doing a bit of Kabbalah, hehe. I guess this is why i'm so tolerant, and appreciative for all religions. I use a lot of their varied wisdom, i gotta give respect for that, as i know you do also,
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Shakti ~ Rising wrote:my thoughts are akin to yours Jim.....I do not see Buddhism as a religion..more of a spiritual philosophy fo discovering oneself.....
Sharon, this is what all religions are. Ask anyone properly involved in any religion, they'll say this. And as it's the them of this chat, it's what esoteric christianity is about. a person just needs to look at the practices & teachings from a different perspective.
Shakti ~ Rising wrote:
to get back to shamanism.....if any religion has demonised it, it has been christianity...those christian missionaries, who went global in order to 'save' folk.....actually ripped the souls outta people and taught them that their knowledge and practices were 'evil and sinful'.....
For sure, there's been many misguided folks. Ripping the souls out of people is pretty strong way to put it. What's made you say this?
If we can look past our judgments, irrespective of whether they're right, we might enrich ourselves spiritually. I know for me, when i saw my own judgements on religion as an opportunity for personal spiritual work, it really has enriched my life.
It's interesting about you saying christianity demonised it. Christianity (as most know it) is actually an amalgamation of pre-AD300 christianity, and paganism. And Paganism, is the european equivalent of Shamanism, in all but name, some have suggested. So, christianity as we know it, is a mix of shamansim itself. It still doesn't take anything away from it being a perfect path for some,
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With our chats' i've been kinda trying to show that no matter what folks claim to do in religions name, that it's not the religion that is to blame for the actions. There's loads more examples to show this, but here's a really curious one, tha ti think is a really important one...
We all know the things that were done in the name of christianity, though this is only in the west. And we got to look at the culture of those times, and ask, does the regions/societies values have anything to do with it all? If we look to the East, as far as China, we can see that Christianity was there around AD700, and was actually welcomed and integrated into China quite comfortably. So much so that when China's ruler decided to eradicate all outside religions, Christianity went underground and flourished for at least another 700 years! Marco Polo, a devout catholic, said (in 1400 approx) that many 100's of thousands of christians are practicing in china in secret. Scholars think he underestimated deliberately, since he was a devout catholic, which the chinese christians weren't. The big question is, how could christianity be welcomed so peacefully in china, for so long, and flourish underground, when in the west there were those terrible tales. Something is surely going on besides the religion. If we think about what, we might have an insight into what, and more importantly,
whom, is to blame for western civilizations darkest deeds,
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Take care
Wayne