--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > On Mar 30, 2008, at 2:07 PM, endlessrainintoapapercup wrote: > > > Vaj, what distinction is there > > between the unenlightened on > > any path? Whether the ignorant > > adhere to belief in god or to belief > > in no god, the problems of injustice > > and atrocities are directly attributed > > to ignorance. The atheists and > > the god-believers are all equally > > capable of evil and will create or > > adopt structures of belief and > > images of god that reflect and > > condone their own ignorance > > and limitation. > > Yes, I agree since relatively speaking any vehicle for destruction can > be a demonic influence on life. But then why have religious peoples > who commit wars and atrocities at all?
I'm not sure what you are saying in the above 2 sentences. I don't think we can answer why people, religious or not, commit wars and atrocities. We can only speculate, and perchance our speculations seem to reflect a viewpoint of a particular philosophical tradition. At most, and at least, we can only say that such wars and atrocities appear to exist. > > And what difference is there between > > paths to enlightenment? There is > > One Reality which is known or not > > known. This Reality is all that is. > > Well I know some would agree with such an absolute statement. But no, > I don't believe that there is One reality that is all there is. But > absolutists do believe that. I don't know what "absolutists" say and believe, but I question what is absolute about the statement that there is one reality. It is a very large and all-inclusive statement. It acknowledges everything that appears to exist and everything that doesn't. > > We live in the illusion of many > > teachings and many paths, but > > when the One Reality is known, > > it is found to be everywhere > > equally, in all teachings and > > paths. > > I never was a fan of perennialism, the so-called philosophia perennis. > Just more philosophical BS to me (sorry)... Again, I'm not familiar with perennialism and the "so-called philosophia perennis" which you object to. I'm only speaking from my own experience and reflections on reality. Ideas are abstract, but there is something Real to be known, and it is not limited or obstructed by any of our beliefs about it. It expresses through all that is. All of this is an expression of it. When we try to describe and define it, we are the metaphorical blind who describe the different parts of the elephant.
