Thanks for this, Joe. I forget that it wasn't too long ago that I struggled between the poles of the revealed and mystical traditions. And I know that a big part of that struggle was fear: What if the authorities are right and I might be going to hell? I remember one evangelist saying, "What if there is no hell? Well, what if there is? Why take the chance?"
Glenn --- In [email protected], "Joe" <desert_woodworker@...> wrote: > > Glenn, > > Howdy. Taking two points, in turn: > > > Are there any Gnostic Christians still around? > > I don't think I've run into anyone in my travels who is self- described as a > Gnostic. Elaine Pagels has written a nice book about the Gnostic gospels, > though > > But there are "CONTEMPLATIVE" Christians around, and these regularly get into > trouble with the Roman Church, and maybe other churches. Their practice is > influenced by Zen practice methods, and by Thomas Merton ("Father Louie", who > was himself influenced by his own epoch of Zen practice). > > And "Centering-Prayer", you know, has caused as much uproar in some quarters > as it has caused peace, calm, and love in other quarters. ;-) > > > Why would people be more interested in being told what to believe, as > > opposed to exploring Truth for themselves? > > I think that for some it's not a matter of "interest", or being interested, > as it is a sense or feeling of safety or even compulsion in trusting the > received understanding of scripture(s). Also, there's the matter of trusting > or addressing "Authority", and not wishing to run afoul of it, whatever > "afoul" would entail. In olden times -- not too long ago? -- afoul would > entail death, usually a horrible death, at that. > > A Revealed tradition is different from a Mystical tradition. A revealed > tradition is simply the codification and "doctrine-ification" of a founder's > mystical- (direct-) experience. Scripture versus Experience seem to be the > poles of religious life. Of course, in Buddhism, we are urged to have the > experience of the Founder. The Zen tradition *really* emphasizes this, and > even hints that we should KILL the Buddha, should we ever meet such a One. > ;-) > > So, say, Buddha!: this Zen-planet is not safe for you; keep off. Or, remain > incognito. ;-) > > Best we can do is practice. Thankfully, there are ways to do so, and much > help, and many friends, available. Whew. > > --Joe > > > "Glenn Rogers" <rgthiessen@> wrote: > > > > In my Shangha searching, I have found many Buddhists who pray/chant to > > Buddah, and they seem to view him as a god, rather than their own nature. > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
