6. D. III. Transcendentalists
I recall reading Emerson and Thoreau in high school and an impression was made. As a city kid in the middle of Manhattan the serene surroundings of Walden Pond sounded idyllic. Appreciation of nature, learning lessons from it, reading into it, listening to it, bathing in it, seemed a way to reconnect with our true natures. Just looking at rippling water can be so relaxing. The yogis had advised eating a meal near water.
I recall when I studied art briefly in Minneapolis a former now middle age student had taken residence near a river in a cabin and painted still lives. He remained there until his death I think. He was trying to combine painting and nature in tranquil surroundings. The Hudson River School landscape painters from the nineteenth century had a similar vision. Some of their paintings were very spiritual and visionary.
Abraham Herschel, a Jewish 20th century theologian and thinker, would talk of how nature could open the door to the ephemeral and sublime. This raises the senses and awareness until we are brought almost to the doorstep of the divine. In a sense it's universal, these clues from nature. Zen refers to it but the practices were old and the detached warrior manner lost some valuable vibrations. Thoreau's intimate writings in particular rekindle these subtleties.
Emerson I'm not as familiar with but not long ago did a little reading about him. He definitely had a big heart and could speak from within himself to almost your heart. He was honest with his emotions Sometimes it was as if his soul was speaking to yours. How close his connection was to nature I don't recall.
Thoreau in a sense started Transcendentalism. It is a way to transcend this world by being still and just observing and not being overly ambitious or materialistic. I know, easier said than done. During his time, as during all times, the religions would beat people over the head with their teachings and one's head was full of doctrine without authentic revelation. Thoreau I feel, if it works this way, was put here to help us in a new country rediscover our senses, our path, our journey and what is important. He also helped us to rediscover God for ourselves without calling it a name and bringing about Pavlov responses. The name God has been so overused that we've been traumatized by it. As such, we have to delicately approach the subject while not applying too much weight. Transcendentalism is a way to disconnect from our mechanical responses and reactions to our environment and reconnect in an authentic and real way.
Transcendental meditation I'm not sure is directly connected, but it could be. It is a more formalized way of meditating creating awareness for what is transcendental, what goes beyond, what is universal and timeless.
6. D. IV. Deism
Related to Transcendentalism but not directly tied to nature only is Deism, which holds one can arrive at what is true through experience and direct observation. In other words if one has a yearning to know the ultimate truths your own experience and observations will lead you to it If the truth is that there is a prime mover, which I believe there is, you most importantly will be led to that. After much scrutiny and awareness you'll evolve to realize there is a force, a light that leads to a personal God. I heard some wise man say “what's left after finding no answers is the answer.”
I think nature alone is capable of providing this.. If you just look at a leaf and the miracle of it and contemplate on it enough the mysteries of the universe should unfold. On the other hand, I had an acquaintance/friend who I played tennis with when we were around nineteen years of age who was well to do and from Long Island. He made a keen observation. If you just take a page from any book and research everything on that page, meaning content, the words, the implications and just keep asking pertinent questions until you understand it all, you also will uncover the secrets of life and what is beyond. So true. It's just that in modern culture we are bombarded with technology and print and media so nature takes us into a quieter realm where we can pay attention to more subtleties.
I use this example over and over although I don't think I'm the originator. If one was on a desert island and was alone and left to one's own devices eventually one would independently come to the conclusion there is a prime force. As discussed before you can just commune with nature if in a peaceful setting and not an antagonistic one. Or, you might at some point ask when your needs are met, “why am I here, what is my purpose, where am I going.”' Gauguin wrote similar questions on one of his last paintings summarizing the story of humankind. If you're having a tough time and survival is hard, you might ask anything and everything for help and not receive it and in desperation reach out and up and receive some satisfaction. In the premises for the New Religion a vertical relationship with the maker is discussed. It is one on one, just you and existence and what's above.
Interestingly, many of the founders of this country were Deists. This was not a Christian Theocracy. The scriptures were referred to such as the Ten Commandments as wise principles to follow but not as part of a religion. Jesus Christ was not mentioned and the Bible, as said, was referenced but not necessarily revered. Indeed, one of the reasons for coming to America was to have religious freedom to reach your own conclusions about life. The founders came from Europe where religion and aristocracy was stuffed down their throat. Here, in America, was a change to breath some fresh air and to self examine your own thinking. That was the spirit of Thoreau, the contemplative thinker. Many people wandered around the country to take the time to ask for themselves what they really believed in. Instead of a hierarchy of thought trickling down a pyramid, each many could reach his own conclusions and take the time to do so. As long as he/she could support themselves by even doing just odd jobs, they could form their own conclusions. The dollar bill said one many under God, so every person could reach God on their own. Or, if they have trouble with the concept, they could reject it. That's what America offered, a chance to be a free person and come to God, or not, a free man.
Deism,as said,supports this individual quest for truth through personal experience and observation and describes those who come to the conclusion there is a God in this independnet and individual manner through self realization.
I recall reading Emerson and Thoreau in high school and an impression was made. As a city kid in the middle of Manhattan the serene surroundings of Walden Pond sounded idyllic. Appreciation of nature, learning lessons from it, reading into it, listening to it, bathing in it, seemed a way to reconnect with our true natures. Just looking at rippling water can be so relaxing. The yogis had advised eating a meal near water.
I recall when I studied art briefly in Minneapolis a former now middle age student had taken residence near a river in a cabin and painted still lives. He remained there until his death I think. He was trying to combine painting and nature in tranquil surroundings. The Hudson River School landscape painters from the nineteenth century had a similar vision. Some of their paintings were very spiritual and visionary.
Abraham Herschel, a Jewish 20th century theologian and thinker, would talk of how nature could open the door to the ephemeral and sublime. This raises the senses and awareness until we are brought almost to the doorstep of the divine. In a sense it's universal, these clues from nature. Zen refers to it but the practices were old and the detached warrior manner lost some valuable vibrations. Thoreau's intimate writings in particular rekindle these subtleties.
Emerson I'm not as familiar with but not long ago did a little reading about him. He definitely had a big heart and could speak from within himself to almost your heart. He was honest with his emotions Sometimes it was as if his soul was speaking to yours. How close his connection was to nature I don't recall.
Thoreau in a sense started Transcendentalism. It is a way to transcend this world by being still and just observing and not being overly ambitious or materialistic. I know, easier said than done. During his time, as during all times, the religions would beat people over the head with their teachings and one's head was full of doctrine without authentic revelation. Thoreau I feel, if it works this way, was put here to help us in a new country rediscover our senses, our path, our journey and what is important. He also helped us to rediscover God for ourselves without calling it a name and bringing about Pavlov responses. The name God has been so overused that we've been traumatized by it. As such, we have to delicately approach the subject while not applying too much weight. Transcendentalism is a way to disconnect from our mechanical responses and reactions to our environment and reconnect in an authentic and real way.
Transcendental meditation I'm not sure is directly connected, but it could be. It is a more formalized way of meditating creating awareness for what is transcendental, what goes beyond, what is universal and timeless.
6. D. IV. Deism
Related to Transcendentalism but not directly tied to nature only is Deism, which holds one can arrive at what is true through experience and direct observation. In other words if one has a yearning to know the ultimate truths your own experience and observations will lead you to it If the truth is that there is a prime mover, which I believe there is, you most importantly will be led to that. After much scrutiny and awareness you'll evolve to realize there is a force, a light that leads to a personal God. I heard some wise man say “what's left after finding no answers is the answer.”
I think nature alone is capable of providing this.. If you just look at a leaf and the miracle of it and contemplate on it enough the mysteries of the universe should unfold. On the other hand, I had an acquaintance/friend who I played tennis with when we were around nineteen years of age who was well to do and from Long Island. He made a keen observation. If you just take a page from any book and research everything on that page, meaning content, the words, the implications and just keep asking pertinent questions until you understand it all, you also will uncover the secrets of life and what is beyond. So true. It's just that in modern culture we are bombarded with technology and print and media so nature takes us into a quieter realm where we can pay attention to more subtleties.
I use this example over and over although I don't think I'm the originator. If one was on a desert island and was alone and left to one's own devices eventually one would independently come to the conclusion there is a prime force. As discussed before you can just commune with nature if in a peaceful setting and not an antagonistic one. Or, you might at some point ask when your needs are met, “why am I here, what is my purpose, where am I going.”' Gauguin wrote similar questions on one of his last paintings summarizing the story of humankind. If you're having a tough time and survival is hard, you might ask anything and everything for help and not receive it and in desperation reach out and up and receive some satisfaction. In the premises for the New Religion a vertical relationship with the maker is discussed. It is one on one, just you and existence and what's above.
Interestingly, many of the founders of this country were Deists. This was not a Christian Theocracy. The scriptures were referred to such as the Ten Commandments as wise principles to follow but not as part of a religion. Jesus Christ was not mentioned and the Bible, as said, was referenced but not necessarily revered. Indeed, one of the reasons for coming to America was to have religious freedom to reach your own conclusions about life. The founders came from Europe where religion and aristocracy was stuffed down their throat. Here, in America, was a change to breath some fresh air and to self examine your own thinking. That was the spirit of Thoreau, the contemplative thinker. Many people wandered around the country to take the time to ask for themselves what they really believed in. Instead of a hierarchy of thought trickling down a pyramid, each many could reach his own conclusions and take the time to do so. As long as he/she could support themselves by even doing just odd jobs, they could form their own conclusions. The dollar bill said one many under God, so every person could reach God on their own. Or, if they have trouble with the concept, they could reject it. That's what America offered, a chance to be a free person and come to God, or not, a free man.
Deism,as said,supports this individual quest for truth through personal experience and observation and describes those who come to the conclusion there is a God in this independnet and individual manner through self realization.