For the moment, having waited 6 weeks to see if I would really go ahead, I see nothing wrong with simply starting at the top of the provisory list of the first post.
I think that much of what I perceive to be the trouble with many spiritual movements [this includes religions] starts with the issue of spiritual guidance.
Right at the beginning I would like to say that this and similar issues have very subtle shades. Therefore it is easy for the novice of a spiritual method/movement to be confused and even beguiled. [perhaps this is worth a separate mention as pitfall].
To illustrate what I mean, consider a violin teacher. Obviously a violin teacher can do many things to help someone wishing to learn how to play the violin. A good teacher to me is someone who with a keen eye for the person (s)he teaches, strives to help attain good technique AND love for music, love for the violin.
To me, it seems very difficult -although not impossible!- to learn how to play the violin without a good teacher. This teacher can be seen as a violin guide giving violin guidance.
So then, is it so strange to presume that one would need spiritual guidance in order to learn how to live a spiritual life - something which many of us crave, but do we even know what it is, let alone how to attain it?
Friday, July 18, 2008
Decision to go ahead
I've decided to go ahead with this blog, for the reason that there must be many people who have trouble deciding their thoughts & feelings regarding a spiritual method/movement in which they or someone close have become involved.
Perhaps that this blog can contribute something to clarify these thoughts and feelings, and it is in this spirit only that I wish to write. also I have therefore made this blog visible and findable by search engines. If you think this blog worthwhile, please link to it as this will facilitate others finding it also.
Perhaps that this blog can contribute something to clarify these thoughts and feelings, and it is in this spirit only that I wish to write. also I have therefore made this blog visible and findable by search engines. If you think this blog worthwhile, please link to it as this will facilitate others finding it also.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
A first list of pitfalls of spirituality
In this first post, let me simply name some pitfalls of spirituality that i perceive to crop up in many spiritual efforts, movements, religions.
- guidance
- universal truth & absolute truth
- bliss & happiness, pain & sorrow
- morality & moral pressure
- before & after life
- wonders & miracles
- money
- power
- belonging & fulfillment
- group dynamics
- us & them
- woman & man
- ego & selflessness
- mind & heart, logic & feeling
- fear & temptation/reward
The list is not meant to be exhaustive, and I don't think that the above items are all completely separate either. It's just a working list to start from, as we go along the blog probably will evolve.
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