There is no defined topic other than God. Definitions. Opinions. Questions. Beliefs. Its a potluck. Bring to the table what pleases you. Just treat each other with a little respect. Its better that we discuss our differences here, than upon the battlefield. To begin, and since I speak from a point of personal revelation, I'll discuss myself. By now, you're quite familar with my views. Most will have a lot of difficulty with them. The idea of personal divinity is rather foreign to those who have never had any exposure to anything outside of the Judeo-Christian tradtions. Islam included. Hindus are my next of kin, spiritually speaking. They will be able to follow what I say easier than most. I am a yogi. In the same way you classify yourself as a Christian or Jew or an Atheist, I am that. There is no other word I can find which describes me for what I am, so I use that label. All of your lives, you've heard the stories of people who "walk with God". This belief spans the entire world. Many different cultures. It is as ancient as the earth itself. Whatever beliefs you hold dear will instruct you to what these people are supposed to be like, with minor differences. Am I such a person? You have to tell me. Will you hold me up against the template of what your beliefs refer to, or listen to what I say with an open mind? God means alot of different things to alot different people. I celebrate those differences, and I would like to discuss them with you here. x
God, Goddess, Buddha, it, one, Allah, Shiva, Divine mother, Divine father, consciousness, one consciousness, energy, Intelligent energy whatever you want to call it, the point is it is real.
I have two very different and un-equal 'Gods' although it isn't entirely fair to say they're mine because i do not posses them and i am not comfortable enough with my own conclusions to be sure enough for myself. I would love to elaborate but as i said my idea's are not developed to the point where I can really tell people of what my beliefs are exactly. Also my beliefs are constantly evolving so in that regard it also makes them very difficult to explain. I guess my own idea's around 'God' to be entirely honest are lacking, not because i haven't thought about the subject but because the subject is so grand in scale and importance that i don't think it is right to settle with my lack of knowledge, understanding and wisdom, i'd rather not have clearly defined beliefs. What i rather is to keep my "conclusions" ( i'm using that word VERY lightly) to myself and learn from others as best i can, not to say i believe everything i hear but that i believe it is worth consideration. So i have alot to say about other definitions of 'God' because i have an interest in the subject from many different angles but i am far more interested in learning what other people believe. So i hope that people do participate in this thread what ever their beliefs (or lack of) may be. P.S. I also thought it important to add that my lack of belief in 'God' is just as strong. In that sense i also don't have two 'God's' or a 'God' as it were. The flipside to my beliefs is that i don't believe at all. I think it is possible even important to hold these two opposing views. It allows me to be open enough to accept the possibility but also closed enough not to get caught up in other peoples beliefs. Having said this the idea of believing in nothing is of course absurd but in regards to this subject i am meaning to say 'i don't believe in God'.
If the world keeps going the way it is than the discussion will end on a battlefield filled with people dying for no cause at all
Just like it has done from the beginning. Don't mistake the classroom for the world outside. Those big eyes of yours are just what those who have something to show you are looking for. You'll find this world fascinating. But only because you have forgotten the world you came from. But once you start to remember, you'll be like a salmon swimming upstream. Nothing will stop you. x
"We must not be satisfied with the god we have thought of, for when the thought slips the mind, that god slips with it" - Miester Eckhart. I think Eckhart cuts to the core of intellectual definitions of the divine in this quote. We can define God as this or that, but none of our definitons or ideas about God are actually God. You say you define yourself as a yogi. Personally, I don't have any problem with that. The goal of yoga, as of all authenitic spiritual traditions, is to directly know God, the Divine - whatever label you choose. There are many paths which lead to spiritual experience - some to a broader spiritual experience than others. Intellectual arguments as to what God is seem pointless to me. People are at different levels and have their own understanding accordingly. I'd say God is undefinable, and can only be known in an experience which is both deeper and higher than the ordinary state of human consciousness. I am speaking of intuitive knowledge. Direct knowing God is Love. But it's no use just having the idea that God is love - you have to experience the love - be it.
Direct experience is indeed the only way to know God, but for those who are not yet able to make that connection, they are limited to mental concepts. Most of which are based upon their local religion. Many times, these beliefs are what actually stand in the way of direct perception. Book learned conditioning has created a reluctance to "feel". Christianity. Judaism. Islam. These systems all have a kind of built in firewall against outside attack. They also promise a hellish punishment for transgressing against "their" God. Both Christians and Muslims have the ability to swarm. Makes tearing a hole in the nest a bit more hazardous than with Buddhists or Hindus. I can do nothing about the six billion names of God. But maybe I can help a few people reduce that down to one. x
It is hard being a spiritual teacher Xexon, as most will refute what you say. I once was an atheist, I was a very logical person. Than suddenly my world was flipped upside down and not only did I change spiritually, I changed mentally and physically too. I am no longer the same person I was before. It's amazing how the Universe can send direct and obvious messeges to people. Obviously I was able to handle it, otherwise it never would of happened to me. Anyone else in my position would of either killed someone or brokedown mentally and emotionally. I was only made stronger by it, but it was a very very painful growth. No pain, no gain, even when it comes to your spirit.
The thing is though that these systems in the past served a social function - to the extent that is that they embodied moral truisms. Humans it seems need some kind of moral code to which they can aspire. Also, Buddhism and Hinduism both have their own hells - mostly they are not seen as eternal, but still they are said to exist as possible states. It is by offending against the morals that these systems lay down that bad karma is built up and the individual goes further towards a hellish existence. So in practical terms I see little difference between the Christian idea of judgement and the Hindu/Buddhist idea of karma as cause and effect. In one version God punishes the sinner, in another it is a law of the universe. If you act in a negative way, you will experience negative consequences. That seems to be the core message.
A core message that is infinitely more important than serving the demands of a priest so you may attain heaven... heaven is not attained by kneeling to any man, all are created equal, but you must listen... etc etc. Any religion with such inconsistency must be assumed as false. The core messages are all that matter, those that just make plain ole good logical sense. Its not a matter of what you call god, what form he actually is, where it is, or if there is/isn't an afterlife... it comes down to - if you serve only the needs of peace you will live in peace. Whatever you believe, peace puts you in heaven. Obviously god doesn't want you to listen to what a man has to say or serve a man's demands, he wants you to be peaceful and not put *yourself* above anyone... that is a important part of the christian religion, yet we must listen to church leaders... an oxymoron. Peace is the underlying message of every modern day religion I know of... and thats all that is important... Thats the belief that must be adopted, from there we may all agree to *peacefully* disagree.
My core message would be that if you opened the door to god awareness, you have done so not by your ability to learn, but your ability to feel. It bypasses the mental machinary altogether. Direct perception. No thinking required. Just witnessing. The thinking comes later, when you reflect on what you've just witnessed, and attempt to translate it into words. You feel in the same way that you see. You can focus on things, but you are also aware of everything else, because it becomes a part of you. Once you feel for something, it becomes a part of your neural network. This eventually expands outward to encompass all of creation itself. It becomes your "physical" body. The personal "I" is awake through the whole thing, but it stands aside, and snaps to attention only as needed in the human world. It becomes a tool rather than a tyrant. It does so willingly. The mind, having come up against a superior force, will gladly bend it's knee and serve the kingdom rather than the king. x
my god is something big, invisible, and friendly that gives good hugs, but leaves up to us the avoidance of screwing everything up for each other. something about which nothing else is truly known, whatever belief or anything else might claim otherwise. =^^= .../\...
You are like an iceberg. A tiny part is visible to the eye. God is the part of you...you don't see. Same composition too. x
"God" denotes a gender for the supreme being. seems presumptuous to me. the various gods and goddesses and nature spirits are LOVE, and they are Love when we have no love, and peace, when it seems impossible. I follow a nameless goddess and god, and my heart has peace after a sea of heartache.
according to me God was created by human beings to be a role model for good things in a un civilized society earlier actually the true god is with in ourselves those who realize it and posses the quality of love for fellow beings becomes god its upto us its self realization .
i dont know.... I believe in God but i really dont know much more than that. I havent made my mind up yet i guess.
God is many things to many people. Seldom do they venture outside of traditional belief to explore if its true or not. God is not for the lazy. Or the content. x
