Sodaiho

Sodaiho

Joined Member # 1640168
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Everyday Zen in Religion JoeUser Forums

With palms together, Good Morning Everyone, My hair is getting longer. I haven't shaved my head close for sometime now. Maybe as long as I don't have to think about it much, it'll stay that way. Zen Buddhist priests have traditionally shaven heads. This is to show our lack of attachment to appearance, yet the shaved head as symbol, is appearance. I like my hair cut close because I'm lazy. Its so easy not to have to think about it at all. But

2 Replies 2,175 Views
Reply to "Let's Explore Love." in Religion Stardock Forums

Lula, I agree there is much in paragraph five. I wonder about the use of agape. I see it as part of the Hellenization process. And an appeal to pagans on the part of the Church. Which to me, takes us away from the God of the Hebrews. I think agape is a neat way of avoiding or taking the humanity out of eros. I agree with the pontiff that eros has been hijacked or denigrated to nothing but sex, yet sex is a part of it. Early civilizations

7 Replies 2,496 Views
Direction in Religion JoeUser Forums

With palms together, Good Morning Everyone, Last night I began to re-read a book near and dear to me, "The Compass of Zen". This text, written by Korean Zen Master Seung Sahn is both humorous (thank goodness) and incredibly clear as to what Zen practice is all about. The thing about "The Compass" is that you are never quite sure when you will be taught a lesson. In introductory pages I read something

0 Replies 1,104 Views
Reply to I am NOT Religious, I just Love G-D in Religion Stardock Forums

Its interesting, isn't it, that this Christian-specific pursuit of a fore-ordained "truth" causes such suffering? Perhaps we should include Islam there, as well. I don't know much about it, (I suppose I should take Leauki's advice and read the Koran.) Jewish and Hindu violence is, in the main, not ideological or theological, its about self defense. Christian violence has been in the main about spreading the Word. In such ways, truth becomes a sword to attack enemies, to

266 Replies 38,358 Views
Reply to "Let's Explore Love." in Religion Stardock Forums

Dear Lula, I just now discovered this post. Thank you. I really do appreciate the Pontiff's words. I agree for the most part with what he says, but it still doesn't really address the questions I posed. I frankly could see any Hasidic rabbi writing a very similar piece on love and God. And Jesus did not invent the love your neighbor line: its pure Hebrew scripture (see Lev 19:18). May I refer you to a Christian source article here of interest: <a href="http://artf

7 Replies 2,496 Views
Reply to The Weatherman At My House in Misc Stardock Forums

Argggghhhh...I once explained to someone why they might reconsider living in Ohio. I said, "Open your freezer door. Stick your head in it and pull the door as closed as you can. Then ask yourself, 'would I like to live here?'" While the temps today in Las Cruces are very chilly, the sun is in full swing, very bright indeed! as to the weather channel, I rarely watch it nor do I watch the weather very much on the evening news. Our foreca

6 Replies 5,506 Views
Reply to Ted Turner is a Complete MORON in Current Events JoeUser Forums

Anyone who admires a despot even when the despotic rule brings about good, is short sighted. It would have been better for Ted to have separated his admiration from the murderous and inhuman acts of Castro. On the other hand, extreme right views are perilously close to Hitler's views on the role of the state. It would do a Bill O'Reily well to shut up and listen on occasion, but then we wouldn't have the entertainment value, would we? Whenever I hear talking heads lock

20 Replies 4,485 Views
Reply to Israel's Muslim Friends IV in War on Terror Stardock Forums

Very interesting, Leauki, I enjoyed this piece very much. This man has a keen eye. Would that we could all begin to act for the sake of others as such is always acting for the sake of ourselves. I am hopeful that moderate Islam will soon take a stand against these extremists. Yet, I think K. Muhammed's point is that its the cultural baggage that is at issue. I assume by this he means attitudes toward modernity by Muslims. Other cultures have had to deal with these

6 Replies 4,063 Views
Buddhist Teaching in Religion JoeUser Forums

With palms together, Good Morning Everyone, Even with the sun up over the mountains the air is still quite chilly: there is frost sparking in the sunlight on the wooden bridge in the back. I still have chest and throat issues, but less so. I do not feel comfortable enough to go outside so I'm missing today's activities: breakfast discussion group, streetZen,and possibly yoga and the Journeys classes this evening. We'll see. One

0 Replies 1,144 Views
Reply to The Word on Creationism in Religion Stardock Forums

Good job, Leauki. But for those who still don't understand, evolution is an adaptation. So, when the tree climbing smurflets were divided, one group wondered into low grasslands, the other into lands with trees. In one case no need to mate with those who were able to rise up and grab, in the other case, rising up to grab was a very useful thing. Natural selection does the eaons of work in very slow increments selecting for that which is most adaptive to an environment

625 Replies 140,404 Views
Reply to Jewish Diet in Blogging Stardock Forums

Mozel Tov, Mason! I agree with your assumptions about a Jewsish diet. I think the point is in the discipline of the observances and the mindfulness needed to keep your practices in place and alive. I am mostly a vegetarian. In terms of meats I only eat a small amount of tuna or salmon per week and an occasional turkey breast sandwich. We try to buy only pareve or kosher products, but being in a relatively small southwestern town, its sometim

7 Replies 2,453 Views
Reply to 12 Step Excuse in Misc Stardock Forums

Contrary to what the steps seem to say, I have never met people in my life who were so choice aware and consequentialist in action as I have through AA. Recovery is a tough process. Sponsors make their people see themselves without dress, title, or other status. If a person falls off the wagon, they are off. A choice was made. Recovery is seen as a series of choices made toward wellness and away from addiction, People are asked to change the people, places, and things

43 Replies 65,385 Views
Reply to I am NOT Religious, I just Love G-D in Religion JoeUser Forums

LW, yeppers, a discussion is not about finger pointing. Many people seem to have trouble drawing the distinction, including myself at times. I think its when we are loaded with emotional baggage that we are prone to this sort of thing. When I got to the Refuge Friday, on the fence gate, tucked in the chain, was a flier regarding coming to Jesus. At home a couple of weeks ago somebody came to the door trying to win my wife's soul for Jesus. At some point I just get, well, pre

266 Replies 38,358 Views
Faith in Religion JoeUser Forums

With palms together, Good Morning Everyone, One of the issues, if one can call it that, about religion is the question of "faith". What's the question? How can we have faith in a belief . Which leads to how to have a belief in something nonsensical. By nonsensical I mean something not available to our five senses. Belief in something non-tangible means taking a belief transmitt

0 Replies 1,017 Views
Reply to I am NOT Religious, I just Love G-D in Religion Stardock Forums

Hello All, I am back from my Refuge in the mountains. I see we are still at it. What I do not understand is how Christians can possible not think that worshiping Jesus is not blasphemy against God. Nor can I undetstand how making a graven image of the man-god isn't creating an idol. On the other hand, its not mine to understand. So, bow, genuflect, and cross yourselves all you want: I leave it to the Holy One to determine what's what. But then, my Holy One is not human

266 Replies 38,358 Views