Hi Evin,
I just got around to reading your post. Thanks!
Here are some comments. :)
>When you compare the *personalities* of
>individual deities, however, it becomes difficult to reconcile their
>differences and imagine that they are one entity.
I know what you mean but I'll use a reverse argument on the logic that
if something is true it's opposite is often equally true!
Take someone who is a loving father, faithful husband, ruthless
politician, concerned son, manipulative colleague, faithful friend,
harsh master of dogs and on and on and you have All the Gods in
One :)
>The current stress, anger, and violence between the Christians and Muslims
>in Kosovo (and Indonesia) vividly illustrate this point. You have to ask,
>"How can faith in God, which can provide beautiful experiences, plunge an
>entire city or nation into hell?"
I don't see any sign of faith-in-God or anything to so with religion in
these situations. To my thinking this is politics and nothing but
politics. Yes they use religion to control and manipulate and create
fear just as they would use fear of the enemy (remember The Russian are
coming the R are coming) or fear of aliens and UFOs and a million other
things.
I would say where there is (TRUE) faith there cannot be fear and so
cannot be violence and hatred and intolerance.
>Tibet, for instance, was a country built on the principles of Buddhism.
I think Tibet had an ancient pagan (?) religion called Bon Po before
Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhism has incorporated much of the Bon Po religion
into it. I'm told there is/was a lot of Tantric type stuff that happens
(happened?) in some of the Tibetan monasteries.
But ultimately I don't think there is an indelible line
between the Personal God, the Impersonal God and the Knowing. I can
absorb and handle all of them. Depending on the need/feel of the moment.
:) Have you read the Bodhisattva of Compassion by John Blofeld? GREAT
book.
According to Blofeld it is difficult for the western mind to understand
and handle these 'contradictions'. Maybe he is right because I have no
trouble with them at all.
Personal God, Impersonal God, No God, All is God. Yup I believe in all
of them.
Mahrouk
Mahrouk
