To some of us there comes a time in our life that religion does not fit within our
self-constructs. Religion can fulfill us, stifle us, define us, control us, enlighten us, and so much more. Religion is different for each of us. But, there are those that step away from religion for one reason or another. They may appreciate the spirituality that religion brings and may want to continue nurturing their core being but find themselves upset, or confused due to one reason or another. Part of my life coaching involves helping those make this transition so a spiteful, anti-religious attitude does not creep in to their
lives. That peace, happiness, compassion, love, kindness, tolerance, understanding, trust, respect and appreciation transcends and fills our core and can be found. What I will post here are things I find in books and writings of others and personal thoughts to keep us grounded in these core values. Please keep in mind, I am not here to talk anyone into one or the other, but to help with the transition once the decision has been made from a life of Religion to one of Spirituality.
May God, Source, the Universe or whatever you may call the higher power in you life...bless you
18th Verse of the Tao Te Ching
When the greatness of the Tao* is present
action arises from one's own heart.
When the greatness of the Tao is absent,
action comes from rules of "kindness
and justice"
If you need rules to be kind and just,
if you act virtuous,
this is a sure sign that virtue is absent.
Thus we see the great hypocrisy.
When kinship falls into discord.
piety and rites of devotion arise.
When the country falls into chaos,
official loyalists will appear;
patriotism is born.
*The Tao is the supreme reality, an all-pervasive Source of everything. The Tao never begins or ends, does nothing, and yet animates everything in the world of form and
boundaries.
Acting virtuous is not the same as being virtuous, so the Tao instructs you to be authentic in all your interactions. Be pious because your own heart feels the piety that is the great Tao. Be spontaneously generous to others because your inner calling demands it, not because others in their code making have determined that this is how you should behave. Don't wait for chaos to erupt before you are generous and kind to
others. A natural disaster may stimulate your desire to reach out and help your fellow humans - yet if you change the way you look at that natural disaster, you could also see it as a reminder to let the Tao be your guiding spirit at all times. This would inspire your patriotism to be for all humanity, rather than confined to the land where you happened to be born.
Find the truth in the contrast.
I act virtuously
I do not need rules to be kind and just
self-constructs. Religion can fulfill us, stifle us, define us, control us, enlighten us, and so much more. Religion is different for each of us. But, there are those that step away from religion for one reason or another. They may appreciate the spirituality that religion brings and may want to continue nurturing their core being but find themselves upset, or confused due to one reason or another. Part of my life coaching involves helping those make this transition so a spiteful, anti-religious attitude does not creep in to their
lives. That peace, happiness, compassion, love, kindness, tolerance, understanding, trust, respect and appreciation transcends and fills our core and can be found. What I will post here are things I find in books and writings of others and personal thoughts to keep us grounded in these core values. Please keep in mind, I am not here to talk anyone into one or the other, but to help with the transition once the decision has been made from a life of Religion to one of Spirituality.
May God, Source, the Universe or whatever you may call the higher power in you life...bless you
18th Verse of the Tao Te Ching
When the greatness of the Tao* is present
action arises from one's own heart.
When the greatness of the Tao is absent,
action comes from rules of "kindness
and justice"
If you need rules to be kind and just,
if you act virtuous,
this is a sure sign that virtue is absent.
Thus we see the great hypocrisy.
When kinship falls into discord.
piety and rites of devotion arise.
When the country falls into chaos,
official loyalists will appear;
patriotism is born.
*The Tao is the supreme reality, an all-pervasive Source of everything. The Tao never begins or ends, does nothing, and yet animates everything in the world of form and
boundaries.
Acting virtuous is not the same as being virtuous, so the Tao instructs you to be authentic in all your interactions. Be pious because your own heart feels the piety that is the great Tao. Be spontaneously generous to others because your inner calling demands it, not because others in their code making have determined that this is how you should behave. Don't wait for chaos to erupt before you are generous and kind to
others. A natural disaster may stimulate your desire to reach out and help your fellow humans - yet if you change the way you look at that natural disaster, you could also see it as a reminder to let the Tao be your guiding spirit at all times. This would inspire your patriotism to be for all humanity, rather than confined to the land where you happened to be born.
Find the truth in the contrast.
I act virtuously
I do not need rules to be kind and just
At the time of Buddha, historical accounts describe many other teachers, yogis,
sages, and masters offering a variety of spiritual practices. And just as in our
times, people at the time of Buddha had become confused after meeting many of
these masters. One of the most famous teachings of the Buddha's life was given
in a village of the Kalamas. After they had hosted a succession of masters
giving contradictory spiritual teachings they became confused. When the Buddha
arrived and heard this, he said:
sages, and masters offering a variety of spiritual practices. And just as in our
times, people at the time of Buddha had become confused after meeting many of
these masters. One of the most famous teachings of the Buddha's life was given
in a village of the Kalamas. After they had hosted a succession of masters
giving contradictory spiritual teachings they became confused. When the Buddha
arrived and heard this, he said:
"You may be puzzled, Kalamas, and in doubt, and your doubt has arisen about what should be doubted. Do not believe me either. If you wish to know spiritual truth, you must investigate it this way: Do not, O Kalamas, be satisfied with hearsay or tradition, with legends or what is written in great scriptures, with conjecture or logic, or with liking for a view or disliking it, or saying, "This comes from a great master or teacher." But look in yourselves. When you know in yourselves what teachings are unprofitable, blameworthy, condemned by the wise, when adopted and put into effect lead to harm and suffering, you should abandon them. If they lead to falsehood and greed, to thievery or obsession, to increase of hatred or delusion, abandon them. Again, O Kalamas, do not be satisfied with hearsay or tradition, or any teachings, however they may come to you. Only when you know in yourself when things are wholesome, blameless, commended by the wise, and when adopted and practiced lead to welfare and happiness, should you practice them. When they lead to virtue, honesty, loving-kindness, clarity, and freedom, then you must follow these.
Thus you can think: If there are other lives, the fruit of goodness in this life will be goodness hereafter, and if there are no other lives, then the fruit of the goodness will be experienced here and now."