We're definitely both "crazy" just a little differently. I like your writing, it's open and honest and so very down-to-earth [ no pun intended ]. We have much the same outlook on things from different vantage points.
Our opinions of god and lucifer, satan or the devil, heaven and hell...vary greatly. And my jury is still out on jesus. I just don't do bible, or religion, in any way.
I do, however, believe in a creator, source, universe - whatever you want to call it. I just don't think he had anything to do with the bible or any religion on earth.
I look forward to reading more of your articles. They are interesting and relatable in a "crazy" way. ;)
It certainly is when it comes. I used to work graveyard shift security - lots of time on my hands. I ended up writing 5 children’s books and an adult novella. All long hand on looseleaf in binders, I would transcribe them onto the puter in the morning.
It was amazing in the groove. It all played out like a movie in my head and I just had to write it down. While typing it over it was like reading it for the first time - laughing and crying and gasping at parts - as I did not remember what I wrote. And my chicken scratch proved it, almost illegible. It was just so weird. Like what channels or mediums would call automatic writing. It wasn’t coming from me.
I saw that you call it fiction and I loved how you warned ppl about getting pissed off.
More teachings are understood through fiction and analogy than just straight facts. The concepts you have come through nicely once thought upon.
I will enjoy reading the archives. It’s always great to get another perspective when researching. My research is dry so the writing of it is difficult. To understand the thought patterns of others might help in my delivery.
Who knows, maybe I’ll turn it into fiction as well. Maybe that will be easier.
All in all, good to meet you. Look forward to reading more.
I do agree with and try to uphold certain traits that Christians say they have, but it doesn't make me a Christian. I also believe in gaining enlightenment and calming the spirit but that doesn't make me a Buddhist.
I totally agree with The Golden Rule but I'm not a Mulsim, Jainist, Taoist, etc.
In my opinion, the Abrahamic religions are the worst. They had been sending people to kill each other for a long time.
For example, not many people know that Christians went on the Crusades not only down south to the Middle East but they slaughtered entire tribes that lived in the east of Europe. Prussia was not a German land, there was a separate tribe that Crusaders whipped out of the face of the earth. There were many other tribes as well.
Some say that the cross symbolizes an upside-down tree. Dead tree.
I am amazed that Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians still speak their native languages.
Look at Irish or Welsh, not many of them can speak the language of the lands they were born in.
I am pretty sure that spirituality is being changed, waters down, new aged on purpose.
And today we are being destroyed by the religion of transhumanism.
I don't think that it is too far-fetched to say that Demiurge (evil) and his minions are building their transhumanistic/ technocratic hell over here on Earth.
Or I am completely wrong, and it is our individual and collective karma is manifesting and there is no ultimate evil or god, it is only a dream of the unenlightened mind.
If you asked me a few years back I would have agreed with the Buddha's view, today, looking at the state of the people's state of people's state of mind I am not so sure.
Sorry for the long comment. The topic of religion is a deep one.
Thank you! I agree the topic of religion is a deep one and one that most seem to take very personal. All of the three Abrahamic religions have blood on their hands. That might be why so many "others" have arisen, because they didn't agree with the rigidity of the A-3. ?? Some of the others might have fomented wars too, I don't know, I haven't delved into them deeply enough for an informed opinion. This is why I'm keeping this line of thought to just religion in general and the next line of thought to the A-3.
Thank you for reading and replying. I always enjoy your take on things.
I think it is important to separate the basic tenets of any organized religion from the flawed human beings who believe in them. The majority of those religions are, as you say, based upon The Golden Rule, but humans are, generally speaking, unevolved, unconscious and still prone to killing one another.
Thank you for reading and replying! I agree that there is a huge separation from the basic tenets that organized religion supposedly stand for and the humans following said religion. I have to say, however, that it seems to be the organizers of the religions and the bureaucracies within them that cause the most problems. And more so since the state started getting involved.
I grew up about 20 minutes from the RLDS / CoC temple - the BIG one with the crazy spiral - in Independence, MO, and as a lifelong seeker I explored the faith peripherally. While it never 'took,' I think I still have a Book of Mormon around here somewhere LOL Hearing your perspective is fascinating.
I agree 100% with your overall assessments about 'religion'... which I why I have written - and been releasing - the 'Pages.' 😉
Thanks Stone! I am totally enjoying reading your "Pages".
I've been to that temple in Independence, it is magnificent. But I also know some of the Seventies and High Priests there and the shenanigans they get up to every day but Sunday. And in Salt Lake City.....mmm I have some stories from there that'll curl your hair.
I'm glad you get that my poor attempts at writing are "overall assessments". I am diving into the origins of religion not any specific one. Although I may concentrate on one path at a time which might make it seem finger-pointing, I do not intend to belittle anyone's choice.
It may be the central focus of the Orthodox church, but I think it is not the focus of religion in general. You call it priorities...I call it perspective. And we can agree to disagree. :)
Very true. In this case it would seem culture clashes with religion as we define it. Maybe their own religion does uphold slavery.
That is basically my point, although I know I’m pretty awful at expressing it. Most cultures seem to have a religion of sorts. Is it their culture or their religion that is the original dictator of their beliefs?
Thank you! You taught me a few more things and just opened new rabbitholes. 😊 I will watch the YT and see where it leads me. Everything is interesting, nothing remains concrete and it all just reveals new paths to explore.
I forgot about churches long ago and consider “dogma” to be another name for my pup’s mother. 🤪
I like the way you think. I skimmed Alan Watts on Wiki and found this “Watts's biographers saw him—after his stint as an Anglican priest—as representative of not so much a religion but as a lone-wolf thinker and social rascal.” I’m hooked.
The universe is a magnificent display of polarities,
Positive/negative
Yin/yang
1/0
(Yes, there are quantum theories)
Zen is the oil that lubricates our brains cylinders,
smooths the vibrations
Into a harmonious concert.
Thus the polarities
become balanced, quiet.
Now part two
My not humble opinion.
The goal of the Zen mind is to achieve mindlessness?
Polarities are not static, they orbit around each other.
Centrifugal force.
True mindless, as I would assert, would be death, so it is a goal to be approached, unless the final object is death.
My metaphor is that life is a fast moving car on a highway with straightaways, slow curves and fast curves. As we ride we are pulled first one way then the other by centrifugal force.
(When our heart beats we feel the pulse in the left shoulder before the right.)
This is the prime force which can be modified by meditation.
Thus we use the Zen oil
To achieve a harmonious concert
With the universe.
To help quiet the brain, try breathing exercises.
My breathing exercise to relax
(Very common exercise)
Inhale for 3 seconds, pause 3, exhale 3, pause 3.
You can think things like
Good air in, bad air out.
Count to nine.
I am, relaxing.
Whatever mantra works.
Before sleep, to curb useless worry,
I also add a breath series thinking:
Relax neck,
Relax shoulders,
Relax spine,
Relax hips,
And so on down to toes.
I also listen to wordless music.
When a wisp of dreaming drifts by
I sense an internal smile.
And I am gone.
My mom died in 1969, days after I bought a copy of Watts " On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are."
I agree with Darius. You raise good questions. And you've obviously explored the different denominations. I'd like to recommend two books to you, both written by Jonathan Cahn. 1: Return of the Gods 2: The Josiah Manifesto Both are fascinating and offer a fresh yet viable perspective to a lot of the points you address.
. As a "woman of a certain age," my life experience has taught me that I often figure out what "works for me" by first experiencing what "doesn't work for me." Well... you've had LOTS of experience with what doesn't work for you. Hang in there. I wish you the best as you continue as you continue to walk your life path.
Thank you for reading and replying! I’ll check out those books, for sure. I’m delving into ancient history of varying cultures and the similarities are striking.
It’s funny how trying to find what we want or what works always seems to go through the “not for me” phase first. I guess that’s called investigating all angles and not settling on “good enough”. With an open mind and beliefs not set in stone, we should be able to come up with some answers that are more agreeable to us.
Good luck on your journey as well. May we never reach the destination by travelling well-worn paths.
We're definitely both "crazy" just a little differently. I like your writing, it's open and honest and so very down-to-earth [ no pun intended ]. We have much the same outlook on things from different vantage points.
Our opinions of god and lucifer, satan or the devil, heaven and hell...vary greatly. And my jury is still out on jesus. I just don't do bible, or religion, in any way.
I do, however, believe in a creator, source, universe - whatever you want to call it. I just don't think he had anything to do with the bible or any religion on earth.
I look forward to reading more of your articles. They are interesting and relatable in a "crazy" way. ;)
Thank you. I’ll comp you on mine too. 😉
I haven’t written much yet, mostly background so when ppl start yipping off at me later, I can point back and say “I tole ya so”. Lol
I am having a very hard time putting my stuff into words that don’t sound like a textbook. I’ve got 4 essays on the go and stuck on all of them.
That fiction thing is starting to look good.
It certainly is when it comes. I used to work graveyard shift security - lots of time on my hands. I ended up writing 5 children’s books and an adult novella. All long hand on looseleaf in binders, I would transcribe them onto the puter in the morning.
It was amazing in the groove. It all played out like a movie in my head and I just had to write it down. While typing it over it was like reading it for the first time - laughing and crying and gasping at parts - as I did not remember what I wrote. And my chicken scratch proved it, almost illegible. It was just so weird. Like what channels or mediums would call automatic writing. It wasn’t coming from me.
Ah to find that groove again.
I did sub after reading only one. Lol
I saw that you call it fiction and I loved how you warned ppl about getting pissed off.
More teachings are understood through fiction and analogy than just straight facts. The concepts you have come through nicely once thought upon.
I will enjoy reading the archives. It’s always great to get another perspective when researching. My research is dry so the writing of it is difficult. To understand the thought patterns of others might help in my delivery.
Who knows, maybe I’ll turn it into fiction as well. Maybe that will be easier.
All in all, good to meet you. Look forward to reading more.
Thank you for reading and replying!
I do agree with and try to uphold certain traits that Christians say they have, but it doesn't make me a Christian. I also believe in gaining enlightenment and calming the spirit but that doesn't make me a Buddhist.
I totally agree with The Golden Rule but I'm not a Mulsim, Jainist, Taoist, etc.
I just don't believe in labels.
You raise good questions.
In my opinion, the Abrahamic religions are the worst. They had been sending people to kill each other for a long time.
For example, not many people know that Christians went on the Crusades not only down south to the Middle East but they slaughtered entire tribes that lived in the east of Europe. Prussia was not a German land, there was a separate tribe that Crusaders whipped out of the face of the earth. There were many other tribes as well.
Some say that the cross symbolizes an upside-down tree. Dead tree.
I am amazed that Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians still speak their native languages.
Look at Irish or Welsh, not many of them can speak the language of the lands they were born in.
I am pretty sure that spirituality is being changed, waters down, new aged on purpose.
And today we are being destroyed by the religion of transhumanism.
I don't think that it is too far-fetched to say that Demiurge (evil) and his minions are building their transhumanistic/ technocratic hell over here on Earth.
Or I am completely wrong, and it is our individual and collective karma is manifesting and there is no ultimate evil or god, it is only a dream of the unenlightened mind.
If you asked me a few years back I would have agreed with the Buddha's view, today, looking at the state of the people's state of people's state of mind I am not so sure.
Sorry for the long comment. The topic of religion is a deep one.
Thank you! I agree the topic of religion is a deep one and one that most seem to take very personal. All of the three Abrahamic religions have blood on their hands. That might be why so many "others" have arisen, because they didn't agree with the rigidity of the A-3. ?? Some of the others might have fomented wars too, I don't know, I haven't delved into them deeply enough for an informed opinion. This is why I'm keeping this line of thought to just religion in general and the next line of thought to the A-3.
Thank you for reading and replying. I always enjoy your take on things.
I think it is important to separate the basic tenets of any organized religion from the flawed human beings who believe in them. The majority of those religions are, as you say, based upon The Golden Rule, but humans are, generally speaking, unevolved, unconscious and still prone to killing one another.
Thank you for reading and replying! I agree that there is a huge separation from the basic tenets that organized religion supposedly stand for and the humans following said religion. I have to say, however, that it seems to be the organizers of the religions and the bureaucracies within them that cause the most problems. And more so since the state started getting involved.
This was a fantastic read, Freeq! ☺️
I grew up about 20 minutes from the RLDS / CoC temple - the BIG one with the crazy spiral - in Independence, MO, and as a lifelong seeker I explored the faith peripherally. While it never 'took,' I think I still have a Book of Mormon around here somewhere LOL Hearing your perspective is fascinating.
I agree 100% with your overall assessments about 'religion'... which I why I have written - and been releasing - the 'Pages.' 😉
Thanks for sharing this... 🥰
Thanks Stone! I am totally enjoying reading your "Pages".
I've been to that temple in Independence, it is magnificent. But I also know some of the Seventies and High Priests there and the shenanigans they get up to every day but Sunday. And in Salt Lake City.....mmm I have some stories from there that'll curl your hair.
I'm glad you get that my poor attempts at writing are "overall assessments". I am diving into the origins of religion not any specific one. Although I may concentrate on one path at a time which might make it seem finger-pointing, I do not intend to belittle anyone's choice.
https://substack.com/profile/100124894-steven-berger/note/c-46975918
Thank you for reading and replying!
It may be the central focus of the Orthodox church, but I think it is not the focus of religion in general. You call it priorities...I call it perspective. And we can agree to disagree. :)
Oh, I would definitely have to agree with you that it is no longer the focus of religion in general!
Nevertheless, there it is if someone is looking for it...
Absolutely! If that is what gets them through their day, wonderful!
Very true. In this case it would seem culture clashes with religion as we define it. Maybe their own religion does uphold slavery.
That is basically my point, although I know I’m pretty awful at expressing it. Most cultures seem to have a religion of sorts. Is it their culture or their religion that is the original dictator of their beliefs?
Chicken or egg conundrum, imo.
Thank you! You taught me a few more things and just opened new rabbitholes. 😊 I will watch the YT and see where it leads me. Everything is interesting, nothing remains concrete and it all just reveals new paths to explore.
I forgot about churches long ago and consider “dogma” to be another name for my pup’s mother. 🤪
Thanks for reading and replying!
My history is different but you and I are close within a couple of degrees of the compass.
I believe in the spirit embodied in the universe which calls to one's imagination.
Check out Alan Watts who says apple trees apple, the earth .poeples.
Google, Spotify..
I like the way you think. I skimmed Alan Watts on Wiki and found this “Watts's biographers saw him—after his stint as an Anglican priest—as representative of not so much a religion but as a lone-wolf thinker and social rascal.” I’m hooked.
Thank you for reading and replying!
Zen, breathing exercises
Intro to part two of a previous discussion
The universe is a magnificent display of polarities,
Positive/negative
Yin/yang
1/0
(Yes, there are quantum theories)
Zen is the oil that lubricates our brains cylinders,
smooths the vibrations
Into a harmonious concert.
Thus the polarities
become balanced, quiet.
Now part two
My not humble opinion.
The goal of the Zen mind is to achieve mindlessness?
Polarities are not static, they orbit around each other.
Centrifugal force.
True mindless, as I would assert, would be death, so it is a goal to be approached, unless the final object is death.
My metaphor is that life is a fast moving car on a highway with straightaways, slow curves and fast curves. As we ride we are pulled first one way then the other by centrifugal force.
(When our heart beats we feel the pulse in the left shoulder before the right.)
This is the prime force which can be modified by meditation.
Thus we use the Zen oil
To achieve a harmonious concert
With the universe.
To help quiet the brain, try breathing exercises.
My breathing exercise to relax
(Very common exercise)
Inhale for 3 seconds, pause 3, exhale 3, pause 3.
You can think things like
Good air in, bad air out.
Count to nine.
I am, relaxing.
Whatever mantra works.
Before sleep, to curb useless worry,
I also add a breath series thinking:
Relax neck,
Relax shoulders,
Relax spine,
Relax hips,
And so on down to toes.
I also listen to wordless music.
When a wisp of dreaming drifts by
I sense an internal smile.
And I am gone.
My mom died in 1969, days after I bought a copy of Watts " On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are."
Suggested primer.
Be well.
I agree with Darius. You raise good questions. And you've obviously explored the different denominations. I'd like to recommend two books to you, both written by Jonathan Cahn. 1: Return of the Gods 2: The Josiah Manifesto Both are fascinating and offer a fresh yet viable perspective to a lot of the points you address.
. As a "woman of a certain age," my life experience has taught me that I often figure out what "works for me" by first experiencing what "doesn't work for me." Well... you've had LOTS of experience with what doesn't work for you. Hang in there. I wish you the best as you continue as you continue to walk your life path.
Thank you for reading and replying! I’ll check out those books, for sure. I’m delving into ancient history of varying cultures and the similarities are striking.
It’s funny how trying to find what we want or what works always seems to go through the “not for me” phase first. I guess that’s called investigating all angles and not settling on “good enough”. With an open mind and beliefs not set in stone, we should be able to come up with some answers that are more agreeable to us.
Good luck on your journey as well. May we never reach the destination by travelling well-worn paths.
Marx beat u there. Religon is the poison of the people. : )