Hello readers and welcome back! It has been some time due to various reason. One, life has been busy, and two, work has been just as much so and then some... That consumes a lot of time... Also depleting my ability to write. I have been searching for weeks for a blog post idea that I knew would not be terrible and would help Readers want to find there path, whatever it may be. Here is an attempt... Enjoy...
What has been the bane of man’s own exist since we became civilized? Who has the most control, and some people’s desire to have as much as possible no matter the loss... More people have died since we became civilized which was a long time ago, not in the grand scheme of things, but in human history anyway, because of religion than any disease humankind has ever had combined. That statistic should alarm you. It should make it you think differently, at least a little. Religion has been used as thee most effective method of control. <My readers know I do not reject any belief, only parts scientifically disprove, or mean any disrespect, I just point out a perspective> Think about it. The Crusades, the Inquisition, The Salem Witch Trials, and so many other means of causing countless legions of people to died by so many terrible tortuous ways... For what you may ask, or just an idea! That makes me sick to my stomach. I will give the followers of Abraham credit though, it has gotten better through the many centuries (millenniums even) overall, but there are still millions upon millions of “crazies”, just no mass murderers, well with those kind of numbers anyway. The Pagan and Abrahamic religions where the means of most of that death became common place for so so long. Now granted there were many others [Faiths] resulting in death for conversion, or whatever, they just do not have the numbers as the previous ones mentioned. This is fact, I am sorry, but it is, research it. Now I am not just pointing out these terrible things to rip on either or any part of any sects of either [Faiths] of the above mentioned, as I believe there are many paths to God(s)/Bliss/Whatever, what I am trying to do is drill down to is a deeper point, this is just what I passed while I dug that is noteworthy... I think religions are only a variable in an equation. The more significant variable being organization, which causes an unwanted solution to said equation. This author, and many others, think that all the death could have been avoided if it were not for organized religion. Religion is a great thing but when it is highly organized there is so much potential of something terrible to happening. History is an extensive record of this for millenniums...
The more organizational structure that a religion has typically have perverted their holy book(s) the most, and required rituals that are not mentioned. They only serve one purpose but that could be replaced with something secular and that is giving to the needy and helping out in general, which we already have instances of (i.e. Salvation Army, Goodwill, and more). However, there is one religion that I can say their structure and organization have done them well and everyone they have helped. They being The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They do more to help the needy than any religious organization per capita, that I do admire, which proves its possible, and many more Faiths need to figure out how they do it and apply it to their own. They also have another statistic that is unique, another thing other Faiths should find out how its done is their followers staying devoted to the practice of their Faith after going far in college (gaining Masters Degrees and Ph.Ds) and in are in complex career fields. In nearly every Faith the more educated a person gets the less they practice their Faith, or they stop practicing at all. This is something all other Faiths should figure out as it would hep retain their numbers. Sorry got distracted... The door knocking stuff isn’t bad when you say you converted to Eastern Thought after 23 years in a Faith that was Bible bound. They usually are really nice and then they are on their way. Is that their secret? It does not appear to work for Jehovah’s Witnesses but whatever...
Anyway, Sorry what John Smith created, by however so, got me side tracked, that should have made you think if you were not already aware, but I digress, you and you alone must walk your path as You see fit. No matter how many forks may be in the road just keep on going. You must chose what you think is right and you alone. Do not let anyone sway you know matter who or what they are. There is no wrong choice if the Faith does not hurt you or anyone else and does the opposite helping yourself and others to the fullest extent then, and only then, you have succeeded in finding Your path... I think it would surprise you how many truly do not have succeeded in this due to some type of pressure and/or influence. I think I finally did though, it certainly made a dramatic improvement in my thinking in the least anyway. Even now subscribing to my current idea of my Logical Spiritualism (Mahayana Buddhism (no specific school), Taoism, and some personal “homegrown” beliefs) I practice alone. I have no Sangha, I think with today’s technology I do not think it is needed. Walls are not required, and for the best affect tear down any walls that may exist if you already has one. Chose how you want to practice your Faith as well, just choose what you know is best. You can assemble but when you create a hierarchy within a Faith it usually leaves a bad taste in a given person’s mouth at some point during their devotion. I respect the Dali Lama and think he is truly a manifestation of Avalokiteśvara, and could very well have shared different parts of the mindstream that has now dated back 14 generations... It is totally possible, the current Dali Lama H.H. Tenzin Gyatso is a great man, and a great author for more people than those just in the Buddhist Sangha. There is some organization there but not much, the structure is not rigid causing it to waiver from what their religion is all about like so many others do...
There I went again one a rant, that is what happens apparently when you really want to blog but have struggle so much lately with a topic to write on...
Keeping you thinking, I hope anyway, since 2010, personally since 1981, ;-)
Find your own way,
-automachi
The Logical Spiritualist
