7. Living
(How to live in this life while relating to the maker.)
As according to Statement 2, since nothing is sure in this life, there is no sure way to live. Every system and religion and philosophy has its flaws and shortcomings. This doesn't mean they don't have a place. Within the realm of uncertainty we have to pick and choose things that seem relatively stable for a time. Some forms and structures are needed and serve a purpose. Still, they are not certainties. However, as in Statement 1, what does seem certain is that there is a God, a maker. This can't be proven, but it still is true. Of course, one has to arrive at this conclusion for one's self, and who can say if and when that occurs. To reach this point is not always an easy thing in this world. If you have, however, this new religion seeks to consider how to live in this life having reached this special conclusion. The emphasis is on simplicity when possible. When some understandings are not fully clear writings might be longer in order to think a concept through. However, the effort has been to hone awareness down so we are not burdened with extra baggage.
There are two ways to relate to God while living this life.
1. Vertical relationship
As you live this life part of you identifies less and less with it. What you do here on earth is important, but it is not everything. Part of you looks at your life from a distance. Part of you, irregardless of what you are doing, or what time you live in, seeks more, seeks what is above, seeks God. While here in time you sometimes feel timeless. While looking at a leaf you see a bigger design. At times you ask bigger questions. Gauguin wrote on a painting 'Who are we, where are we from, where are we going?' You seek to know your author and his nature. It is as if a vertical line is drawn from you to him.
1.a. Detachment as a helpful tool for a vertical relationship
During certain moments when we are accomplishing some chore we might experience a moment of distance awareness. For a second or more we are detached from what we do. Briefly it's as if we don't exist in time and are filled by another dimension. This can also happen when seeing or hearing something that is timeless. We are brought up to a higher dimension. we can't induce this to happen. It just happens.
Other times we can just be still. Meditation can separate us from what we do and think and create a void that eventually lets in a light and a peek at the maker. We can achieve this while alone or while active. We are separating or detaching ourselves from just being an action machine and allowing stillness to prevail so another awareness can enter.
2. Horizontal relationship
To relate horizontally to the maker we can pretend we are walking somewhere on this earth and everything we come across is affected by us or we affect it.
Here we exist in time. We are subject to the laws of nature and are affected by the society we live in and what we see around us. While being aware there is a maker, we wonder how this affects the act of living on this plane. At every point in time we are where the past, present and future meet in our physical and mental beings. We are influenced by history, and the story of humankind. We are born into a certain religion, a certain culture, a certain time in human evolution. Everything ends here, including ourselves. Everything here is somewhat compromised. What we see and what we do appears before us as if on a horizontal one dimensional plane. Sometimes we are clear on how to live here, sometimes not.
2.a. Engagement as a way to God on this horizontal plane
Just living and engaging this life can bring us closer or farther from the maker. If what we are doing grates our insides and emotions and we become full of turmoil it is hard to be with the maker at the same time. Of course enough irritating actions can bring us to our knees and we then search for the maker just out of pain. Preferable is aligning ourselves and our actions with what seems to make sense and has a sense of harmony to it. This can bring God to our lives while in action doing things.
Seeking truth while we act and inquire deepens our appreciation of deeper and deeper truths. On the other hand, eating, drinking, and being merry and just making the best of life can lead to contentment which mellows us enough to receive some peace and harmony. Doing good deeds and helping others can be a way to bring God to the present.
None of these courses of action and engagements are sure things, and all are full of compromises and contradictions. While balance is ideal, stress and hardship are often the rule. Still, on this plane, we must engage and attempt, no matter how we flounder, to bring to it an awareness of the above that transforms the mundane into a spiritual action.
(How to live in this life while relating to the maker.)
As according to Statement 2, since nothing is sure in this life, there is no sure way to live. Every system and religion and philosophy has its flaws and shortcomings. This doesn't mean they don't have a place. Within the realm of uncertainty we have to pick and choose things that seem relatively stable for a time. Some forms and structures are needed and serve a purpose. Still, they are not certainties. However, as in Statement 1, what does seem certain is that there is a God, a maker. This can't be proven, but it still is true. Of course, one has to arrive at this conclusion for one's self, and who can say if and when that occurs. To reach this point is not always an easy thing in this world. If you have, however, this new religion seeks to consider how to live in this life having reached this special conclusion. The emphasis is on simplicity when possible. When some understandings are not fully clear writings might be longer in order to think a concept through. However, the effort has been to hone awareness down so we are not burdened with extra baggage.
There are two ways to relate to God while living this life.
1. Vertical relationship
As you live this life part of you identifies less and less with it. What you do here on earth is important, but it is not everything. Part of you looks at your life from a distance. Part of you, irregardless of what you are doing, or what time you live in, seeks more, seeks what is above, seeks God. While here in time you sometimes feel timeless. While looking at a leaf you see a bigger design. At times you ask bigger questions. Gauguin wrote on a painting 'Who are we, where are we from, where are we going?' You seek to know your author and his nature. It is as if a vertical line is drawn from you to him.
1.a. Detachment as a helpful tool for a vertical relationship
During certain moments when we are accomplishing some chore we might experience a moment of distance awareness. For a second or more we are detached from what we do. Briefly it's as if we don't exist in time and are filled by another dimension. This can also happen when seeing or hearing something that is timeless. We are brought up to a higher dimension. we can't induce this to happen. It just happens.
Other times we can just be still. Meditation can separate us from what we do and think and create a void that eventually lets in a light and a peek at the maker. We can achieve this while alone or while active. We are separating or detaching ourselves from just being an action machine and allowing stillness to prevail so another awareness can enter.
2. Horizontal relationship
To relate horizontally to the maker we can pretend we are walking somewhere on this earth and everything we come across is affected by us or we affect it.
Here we exist in time. We are subject to the laws of nature and are affected by the society we live in and what we see around us. While being aware there is a maker, we wonder how this affects the act of living on this plane. At every point in time we are where the past, present and future meet in our physical and mental beings. We are influenced by history, and the story of humankind. We are born into a certain religion, a certain culture, a certain time in human evolution. Everything ends here, including ourselves. Everything here is somewhat compromised. What we see and what we do appears before us as if on a horizontal one dimensional plane. Sometimes we are clear on how to live here, sometimes not.
2.a. Engagement as a way to God on this horizontal plane
Just living and engaging this life can bring us closer or farther from the maker. If what we are doing grates our insides and emotions and we become full of turmoil it is hard to be with the maker at the same time. Of course enough irritating actions can bring us to our knees and we then search for the maker just out of pain. Preferable is aligning ourselves and our actions with what seems to make sense and has a sense of harmony to it. This can bring God to our lives while in action doing things.
Seeking truth while we act and inquire deepens our appreciation of deeper and deeper truths. On the other hand, eating, drinking, and being merry and just making the best of life can lead to contentment which mellows us enough to receive some peace and harmony. Doing good deeds and helping others can be a way to bring God to the present.
None of these courses of action and engagements are sure things, and all are full of compromises and contradictions. While balance is ideal, stress and hardship are often the rule. Still, on this plane, we must engage and attempt, no matter how we flounder, to bring to it an awareness of the above that transforms the mundane into a spiritual action.
