Haven't posted anything the past couple of months as there has been nothing I wanted or needed to say, nothing to question, nor anything to wriggle upon :) My Christian studies progress in an unremarkable manner. It all has just been what it is. (Readings are just words on a page grouped in intelligible ways. The process is of taking in new information in through the eyes. Then there are my reactions to this process, etc.) It is always interesting, but I must confess, still annoys me at times. Yet the whole process has proved itself to be slightly satisfying in many ways, one of which is in having self-imposed obligations (homework, deadlines, etc.) Goal completion is always this way with me :) (Interestingly enough, understanding concepts and new ideas does not have that same sense - (visceral )- of "satisfaction", "wholeness", or "completion")
However, on a "deeper" level, much of this process has been very helpful in clarifying foggy areas, pointing out stuck spots - reminding me of my, and everyone else's humanity, - divinely egoistic (hee hee).
I become comfortable in this new area being what I am. (A Buddhist - primarily zen in flavor with a smattering of Pure Land, Dzoghen, Tendai and Shin. A feeling based creature. A centrality of viewpoint around which this personality coalesces, etc.) I guess I had somehow separated Christian karen from Buddhist karen without even knowing that had occurred ,,,,as if I feared some kind of unresolvable conflict which would prove deadly? LOL - there is no conflict here. Same flows into not same and back again ceaselessly, effortlessly....... and isn't Life GRAND?
As a detour from assigned readings (or as an accompaniment to?) I have been sitting with Matthew Fox's Meditations with Meister Eckhart for the past 6 weeks or so. (LOVE THE BOOK!) Reading this type of short, pithy allegorical - metaphorical - poetical writings speaks volumes to me. Much more so than the more "intellectual"? "rigorous"? writings of many of the authors I have been reading for this CAC course of study. This is even true when compared to the more extensive writings of Eckhart himself found in his sermons. ( I tend to think it is the thickness of language that gets between me and the author's meaning, but perhaps it is just laziness on my part).
Happy New Year All!
However, on a "deeper" level, much of this process has been very helpful in clarifying foggy areas, pointing out stuck spots - reminding me of my, and everyone else's humanity, - divinely egoistic (hee hee).
I become comfortable in this new area being what I am. (A Buddhist - primarily zen in flavor with a smattering of Pure Land, Dzoghen, Tendai and Shin. A feeling based creature. A centrality of viewpoint around which this personality coalesces, etc.) I guess I had somehow separated Christian karen from Buddhist karen without even knowing that had occurred ,,,,as if I feared some kind of unresolvable conflict which would prove deadly? LOL - there is no conflict here. Same flows into not same and back again ceaselessly, effortlessly....... and isn't Life GRAND?
As a detour from assigned readings (or as an accompaniment to?) I have been sitting with Matthew Fox's Meditations with Meister Eckhart for the past 6 weeks or so. (LOVE THE BOOK!) Reading this type of short, pithy allegorical - metaphorical - poetical writings speaks volumes to me. Much more so than the more "intellectual"? "rigorous"? writings of many of the authors I have been reading for this CAC course of study. This is even true when compared to the more extensive writings of Eckhart himself found in his sermons. ( I tend to think it is the thickness of language that gets between me and the author's meaning, but perhaps it is just laziness on my part).
Happy New Year All!
Thank you for the new texts in this blog. Although it's somewhat off the topic here (thinking about your current studies of Christianism), it would be interesting also to read your musings on deities of other religions... What common, different etc...
ReplyDeleteIn the standard christian theology God manifest himself (why not itself, herself?...) in different persons, the Father, the Son... which play different roles, the judge, the good shepherd... In Buddhism too you have Manjushri (truth?), Avalokiteshvara (compassion) etc...
If the God is one, or there's only one Buddha-nature, to use that language, what are those "separate" entities - and who are we? God's tens of thousands of names?
Well, this is just something that was inspired by your blog.
Thank you!
You are writing on interesting and important themes.