“Baptism is a sign to God, to angels, and to heaven that we do the will of God, and there is no other way beneath the heavens whereby God hath ordained for man to come to Him to be saved, and enter into the kingdom of God, except faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and baptism for the remission of sins, and any other course is in vain; then you have the promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost.” — Joseph Smith, Jr - History of the Church, 4:553–557
From this quote, baptism shows God, angels and heaven that the baptized does the will of God. Along with faith in the Christ and repentance, it is the only way God has ordained me to come to him to be saved and enter the kingdom of God.
Repentance means that I am committed to not sinning by following Mormon precepts and values. However, there is some leeway here since I am currently an unbaptized prospect.
It is only during times when I am tired or stressed that I might be tempted to sin, but have overcome alcoholic use because I have barely used alcohol for about seven weeks. I stopped smoking completely, and resisted all relapses. Hot drinks require only time for them to cool down; therefore I have kept that Mormon precept. As for dangerous drugs, I currently do not use any of them. Thus I keep the precepts about alcohol, tobacco, hot drinks, and dangerous drugs.
As well, I have even decided to keep chaste, mainly because I am sure that prayer and meditation will help me resist temptation.
Mainly because of prayer and meditation is all of this possible. However, faith in the Christ helps me to maintain repentance, preparing me for baptism in a few years.
Even so, a Buddhist who adheres to Mormon precepts is but a Jack Mormon. For I am not a baptized member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Having attended Sunday meetings at the local meetinghouse, I have become friendly towards Church members and Mormonism, having sympathized with them, and have taken an active interest in their belief system, even though much of how I view Mormonism is seen through Buddha eyes.
Of course, "Buddha eyes" is metaphor for "seeing and understanding life with a caring and compassionate heart".
This comes through regular meditation to develop the calm mind necessary for seeing with the heart until I understand that life is meaningful due to suffering when it inspires us to see the truth about suffering. and reject the vain grasping of desire that is "evil passion", which is merely the act of mental calculation to commit error and thus "sin".
Therefore meditation is heavy duty prayer, and merely giving thanks to God is enough to begin my meditations, which help keep me focused on living like a Mormon. Although it would be impossible for me to completely think like a Mormon, I know that it is not in my nature to be radically conservative.
Indeed, I would rather balance the conservatism of Mormon thought with the liberalness of Buddhist humanism, for the ecumenism of Mormonism does counterbalance its conservative elements.
My path into Mormonism however is not a course in vain. Rather, it is a cautious journey into a religion that not only has conservative elements in it, but also liberal elements. In my heart, I know that Mormonism isn't just a fad for me. It has drawn from my own Buddhist faith to help enlighten my understanding of the Mormon way, which ranges from conservative to liberal.
Returning to baptism, "unbaptized" reminds me of the phrase "the unwashed masses" — I used to be one of them. Even though I remain "unwashed", in my heart all those sins are being washed away by keeping the Mormon precepts.
Perhaps one day when I am baptized the gift of the Holy Ghost that is promised will help prepare me for becoming a full member of the Mormon faith.
Indeed, today I feel like I truly belong, because Mormons have come to know and love me. They even pray for me, and I am thankful for that.
Just as in Mormonism, thanksgiving is a vital part of my Buddhist faith. I know that much of that faith will help "fill in the blanks" where Mormon literature preaches the Christology, though I will tactfully refrain from filling in the blanks for Mormons.
Yes, I admit to adhering to religious pluralism. However, the light that shines before the world is the spiritual light of what Mormons call the Christ. I would call it Buddha Nature, which also may be described in terms of water as the drops of each person's faith that mingle together into an ocean of pure compassion.
For no matter what faith I was born into, the tenets of Buddhism are the core elements that inspire me to yield to what Mormonism wishes of me, provided I continue to purify my mind through meditation so that all that is Mormon fits with all that I know of Buddhism. This means the Pure Land will akin to the Celestial Kingdom as a destination in the afterlife where the faithful Mormons go to receive spiritual guidance from the Christ.
Will I forget about baptism? No, but my continued association with the Mormons will be worth the change of faith. As for now, I am satisfied with my life as a Jack Mormon, balancing Zen and Mormonism.
Reference:
Jack Mormon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Mormon
Showing posts with label moderation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label moderation. Show all posts
20140202
Forgiveness the Economy of the Heart
Forgiveness is the economy of the heart... Forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits. — Hannah More
Moderation is encouraged by forgiveness. When for anger is spent, hatred is cast away, and the spirit is redeemed.
Just as gold is refined by fire, so too do we pass through the hells of life to transcend and encounter briefly the momentary joy due to the power of love, namely loving-kindness which is the wellspring of human compassion.
Due to the working of the Primal Vow, which is enabled through the power of love, it is said in Pure Land Buddhism that the Buddhist is truly assured of rebirth in the Pure Land of Bliss.
With this mantra am I reborn there: Namu Amida Butsu.
Original posted: January 7, 2006 8:56 PM
Reference:
Primal Vow: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primal_Vow
Moderation is encouraged by forgiveness. When for anger is spent, hatred is cast away, and the spirit is redeemed.
Just as gold is refined by fire, so too do we pass through the hells of life to transcend and encounter briefly the momentary joy due to the power of love, namely loving-kindness which is the wellspring of human compassion.
Due to the working of the Primal Vow, which is enabled through the power of love, it is said in Pure Land Buddhism that the Buddhist is truly assured of rebirth in the Pure Land of Bliss.
With this mantra am I reborn there: Namu Amida Butsu.
Original posted: January 7, 2006 8:56 PM
Reference:
Primal Vow: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primal_Vow
20131225
My Opinions on War on Terror (satire)
IMHO I think that both side of the war against terror are missing the point.
Since the enemy isn't eager to save their lives, IMHO the war on terror needs to be fought with less death as a result.
I'd be demanding that the US allow the Taleban to survive as captives and be treated with respect and dignity according to Geneva convention, especially when they might not give you the same respect IF you are captured and do not convert to Islam.
IMHO towards Muslims, I'd follow the path of Nanak. In front of Muslims he denied being Hindu; in front of Hindus he denied being Muslim. In the end, he died at peace. Yet the Muslims didn't get it, and they continued their forced conversion of India during Mughal rule, so that the Sikhs arose to defend their faith.
It was only in the face of oppression that the Sikhs became warriors, and forgot that Nanak had saved his life and countrymen by acting as he did.
It takes a wise person to understand this and realize that it isn't Islam that we are fighting but terrorists hiding behind religion who are nothing more than criminals.
In essence, we are fighting the terrorists to save them from their self oppression which leads to terrorism, oppression against women, and other evils.
Indeed, most people deluded by the glory of war ignore this truth: "A warrior may conquer 1000 foes, but one who conquers himself is the true warrior."
IMHO the war against terror arose because of apocalype propaganda both on the part of the Bush administration and on the part of the terrorists due to their obsession with religion, be it Christian or Islam.
Neither side sees the Dalai Lama or even peace activists as helpful because of the myopic beliefs held by Christians and Muslisms.
As well, both sides of this struggle hide behind God which prevents people from realizing that it is the West's dependence on oil and the West's aim to profit from Americanizing the Middle East that motivates the US.
IMHO ending this war will not stop the terrorists from trying to control the Middle East again.
Fanaticism excludes the ability to fight to save the other person's life, because at its root it is excluded by the obsession with forcing ultraconservative Salafi Islam as way of life on everyone else, due to the fanatic's belief that everyone else are unbelievers (kaf'r) and worthy only of death and not mercy.
For all terrorists who revere the Salafi way of life believe themselves to be the only True believers. Even the worst of Christian fundamentalism is not as criminal as the Salafi way is.
If I had to choose between Christianity and Islam, I'd choose Chassidic Judaism because of its emphasis of the joy of loving-kindness.
Only both Gnostic Christianity and Sufism are close to solving conflict.
However, my Buddhist heritage would promote moderation of monotheism, lest its excesses lead my astray from Life's true objective: peace of mind.
When I think about the typical Muslim terrorists, it reminds me more of a zombie Apocalypse especially when in Christian apocalyptic propaganda, the Christian dead are supposed to rise up out of their graves to fight in God's army against Satan and his minions, both demons and everyone living and dead who chose the left path over the right path of Jesus.
Indeed, the End of Days looks like a zombie Apocalypse.
Originally posted June 23, 2010 at 1:07 PM
Since the enemy isn't eager to save their lives, IMHO the war on terror needs to be fought with less death as a result.
I'd be demanding that the US allow the Taleban to survive as captives and be treated with respect and dignity according to Geneva convention, especially when they might not give you the same respect IF you are captured and do not convert to Islam.
IMHO towards Muslims, I'd follow the path of Nanak. In front of Muslims he denied being Hindu; in front of Hindus he denied being Muslim. In the end, he died at peace. Yet the Muslims didn't get it, and they continued their forced conversion of India during Mughal rule, so that the Sikhs arose to defend their faith.
It was only in the face of oppression that the Sikhs became warriors, and forgot that Nanak had saved his life and countrymen by acting as he did.
It takes a wise person to understand this and realize that it isn't Islam that we are fighting but terrorists hiding behind religion who are nothing more than criminals.
In essence, we are fighting the terrorists to save them from their self oppression which leads to terrorism, oppression against women, and other evils.
Indeed, most people deluded by the glory of war ignore this truth: "A warrior may conquer 1000 foes, but one who conquers himself is the true warrior."
IMHO the war against terror arose because of apocalype propaganda both on the part of the Bush administration and on the part of the terrorists due to their obsession with religion, be it Christian or Islam.
Neither side sees the Dalai Lama or even peace activists as helpful because of the myopic beliefs held by Christians and Muslisms.
As well, both sides of this struggle hide behind God which prevents people from realizing that it is the West's dependence on oil and the West's aim to profit from Americanizing the Middle East that motivates the US.
IMHO ending this war will not stop the terrorists from trying to control the Middle East again.
Fanaticism excludes the ability to fight to save the other person's life, because at its root it is excluded by the obsession with forcing ultraconservative Salafi Islam as way of life on everyone else, due to the fanatic's belief that everyone else are unbelievers (kaf'r) and worthy only of death and not mercy.
For all terrorists who revere the Salafi way of life believe themselves to be the only True believers. Even the worst of Christian fundamentalism is not as criminal as the Salafi way is.
If I had to choose between Christianity and Islam, I'd choose Chassidic Judaism because of its emphasis of the joy of loving-kindness.
Only both Gnostic Christianity and Sufism are close to solving conflict.
However, my Buddhist heritage would promote moderation of monotheism, lest its excesses lead my astray from Life's true objective: peace of mind.
When I think about the typical Muslim terrorists, it reminds me more of a zombie Apocalypse especially when in Christian apocalyptic propaganda, the Christian dead are supposed to rise up out of their graves to fight in God's army against Satan and his minions, both demons and everyone living and dead who chose the left path over the right path of Jesus.
Indeed, the End of Days looks like a zombie Apocalypse.
Originally posted June 23, 2010 at 1:07 PM
20130106
Good and Evil are One
To see good and evil as one is to transcend moral judgment. By creation of good by mindful practice, the disciple neutralizes evil of the Five Poisons, and embraces the true nature of her basic goodness.
When I make no moral judgment on good and evil, but see that my actions and the effect of these actions may be considered good or evil, depending on the situation.
Thus, in Buddhism, "good" and "evil" has less to do with moral judgment and more to do with my actions and the effect of those actions.
Buddhist philosophy declares that each of us has the potential to create good or evil, but we favor creating good to neutralize evil.
When the terms "pure", "real", and "true" are used, they refer to "basic goodness". On the other hand the term "evil" is not as absolute as the Western concept of evil because it can easily be neutralized by creating good with loving-kindness. For evil is created by anger, desire, fear, hatred, and ignorance, which are negative emotions and feelings that unsettle the mind.
A result of an unsettled mind is suffering, and one may make a moral judgment and mistake good for evil, and evil for good. Even when one sees good as good, and evil as evil, one may judged oneself and other sentient beings harshly. Due to such misjudgment, one entertains dualistic thoughts by making moral judgments regarding good and evil.
Such dualism is due to an unsettled mind. With the Bodhi Mind as the practitioner's goal, the mindful practice of Buddha Remembrance and meditation results in the nondual mind that sees good and evil as due to her actions and their effect on the lives of both herself and other sentient beings.
That nondual mind arises due to the mindful practice of the Middle Way
For the Middle Way transcends moral judgment involving good and evil, and allows the Buddhist to let go of clinging to such judgment to free himself of ignorant craving. As a result he chooses to create good in his life.
This is the goal of Buddha Remembrance: to mindfully practice Buddha Recitation and meditation to free oneself of the ignorance which arises from a deluded mind. Once Awake, the practitioner maintains her practice to maintain positive control over her ego, lest she fall prey to worldly desires and create evil.
For we are capable of creating good and evil in the journey called Life, and thus we bear the responsibility for our very actions on that journey.
Reference:
Good and Evil in Buddhism: http://gandhara.blogspot.com/2013/01/good-thoughts-destroy-evil-karma.html
When I make no moral judgment on good and evil, but see that my actions and the effect of these actions may be considered good or evil, depending on the situation.
Thus, in Buddhism, "good" and "evil" has less to do with moral judgment and more to do with my actions and the effect of those actions.
Buddhist philosophy declares that each of us has the potential to create good or evil, but we favor creating good to neutralize evil.
When the terms "pure", "real", and "true" are used, they refer to "basic goodness". On the other hand the term "evil" is not as absolute as the Western concept of evil because it can easily be neutralized by creating good with loving-kindness. For evil is created by anger, desire, fear, hatred, and ignorance, which are negative emotions and feelings that unsettle the mind.
A result of an unsettled mind is suffering, and one may make a moral judgment and mistake good for evil, and evil for good. Even when one sees good as good, and evil as evil, one may judged oneself and other sentient beings harshly. Due to such misjudgment, one entertains dualistic thoughts by making moral judgments regarding good and evil.
Such dualism is due to an unsettled mind. With the Bodhi Mind as the practitioner's goal, the mindful practice of Buddha Remembrance and meditation results in the nondual mind that sees good and evil as due to her actions and their effect on the lives of both herself and other sentient beings.
That nondual mind arises due to the mindful practice of the Middle Way
For the Middle Way transcends moral judgment involving good and evil, and allows the Buddhist to let go of clinging to such judgment to free himself of ignorant craving. As a result he chooses to create good in his life.
This is the goal of Buddha Remembrance: to mindfully practice Buddha Recitation and meditation to free oneself of the ignorance which arises from a deluded mind. Once Awake, the practitioner maintains her practice to maintain positive control over her ego, lest she fall prey to worldly desires and create evil.
For we are capable of creating good and evil in the journey called Life, and thus we bear the responsibility for our very actions on that journey.
Reference:
Good and Evil in Buddhism: http://gandhara.blogspot.com/2013/01/good-thoughts-destroy-evil-karma.html
20070318
Mind Blowing Pot Leads to Reduced Use
According to research published in the journal Addiction, "First, the use of cannabis and rates of psychotic symptoms were related to each other, independently of observed/non-observed fixed covariates and observed time dynamic factors (Table 2). Secondly, the results of structural equation modelling suggest that the direction of causation is that the use of cannabis leads to increases in levels of psychotic symptoms rather than psychotic symptoms increasing the use of cannabis. Indeed, there is a suggestion from the model results that increases in psychotic symptoms may inhibit the use of cannabis."
Source: Fergusson, David M., John Horwood & Elizabeth M. Ridder, "Tests of Causal Linkages Between Cannabis Use and Psychotic Symptoms," Addiction, Vol. 100, No. 3, March 2005, p. 363.
What this means is, people who blow their minds on high quality pot stop using.
In short, their psychosis leads to them quitting pot.
Compare this to crack and meth addicts who get obsessed about getting high, and whose psychosis leads them to commit crimes to support their habits.
Pot users tend to learn to moderate their consumption.
This is why there are only 2.5% pot users worldwide.
Source: Fergusson, David M., John Horwood & Elizabeth M. Ridder, "Tests of Causal Linkages Between Cannabis Use and Psychotic Symptoms," Addiction, Vol. 100, No. 3, March 2005, p. 363.
What this means is, people who blow their minds on high quality pot stop using.
In short, their psychosis leads to them quitting pot.
Compare this to crack and meth addicts who get obsessed about getting high, and whose psychosis leads them to commit crimes to support their habits.
Pot users tend to learn to moderate their consumption.
This is why there are only 2.5% pot users worldwide.
20060222
Not Good for All Our Wishes to be Filled
It is not good for all our wishes to be filled; through sickness we recognize the value of health; through evil, the value of good; through hunger, the value of food; through exertion, the value of rest.
-Greek saying
Health, good, food and rest are treasures which are only valued through their opposites.
Yet, the Buddhadharma helps us to tread the Middle Way between such opposites.
For if we value health too greatly, then we may come to fear sickness unreasonably.
Such a fear may lead to becoming obsessed with health to the point where it is a form of nervous disorder called orthorexia.
If we value good too greatly, then we may come to fear evil unreasonably.
As a result of such a fear, we may have pretensions of being good while unfairly judging others.
If we fear hunger unreasonably, then we may be prone to overeat. We may even start to hoard food.
And when we value rest unreasonably, we may come to sleep our lives away!
Thus, the Buddhadharma urges us to balance sickness and health, good and evil, food and hunger, exertion and rest.
For it is wise to value health, good, food and rest in moderation.
-Greek saying
Health, good, food and rest are treasures which are only valued through their opposites.
Yet, the Buddhadharma helps us to tread the Middle Way between such opposites.
For if we value health too greatly, then we may come to fear sickness unreasonably.
Such a fear may lead to becoming obsessed with health to the point where it is a form of nervous disorder called orthorexia.
If we value good too greatly, then we may come to fear evil unreasonably.
As a result of such a fear, we may have pretensions of being good while unfairly judging others.
If we fear hunger unreasonably, then we may be prone to overeat. We may even start to hoard food.
And when we value rest unreasonably, we may come to sleep our lives away!
Thus, the Buddhadharma urges us to balance sickness and health, good and evil, food and hunger, exertion and rest.
For it is wise to value health, good, food and rest in moderation.
20051215
Wish-Granting Gem of Moderation
All the wealth you've acquired
from beginningless time until now
has failed to fulfill all your desires.
Cultivate therefore this wish-granting gem
of moderation, O fortunate ones.
-Milarepa, "Drinking the Mountain Stream"
Commentary:
Only through moderation are your wishes truly attainable.
from beginningless time until now
has failed to fulfill all your desires.
Cultivate therefore this wish-granting gem
of moderation, O fortunate ones.
-Milarepa, "Drinking the Mountain Stream"
Commentary:
Only through moderation are your wishes truly attainable.
20051211
The Teaching of the Buddhas
Right speech, harmlessness,
Restraint in speaking ill of others,
Moderation in food, at peace in remoteness and solitude,
Devotion to higher meditation.
This is the teaching of the Buddhas.
-Dhammapada 185
Compare to Thanissaro Bhikkhu's translation of the Dhammapada:
Not disparaging, not injuring,
restraint in line with the Patimokkha,
moderation in food,
dwelling in seclusion,
commitment to the heightened mind:
this is the teaching
of the Awakened.
The Patimokkha consists the rules for Buddhist monks: http://www.vipassana.com/canon/vinaya/bhikkhu-pati.php
For everyday life, the Five Precepts are more easily followed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism#The_Five_Precepts
Restraint in speaking ill of others,
Moderation in food, at peace in remoteness and solitude,
Devotion to higher meditation.
This is the teaching of the Buddhas.
-Dhammapada 185
Compare to Thanissaro Bhikkhu's translation of the Dhammapada:
Not disparaging, not injuring,
restraint in line with the Patimokkha,
moderation in food,
dwelling in seclusion,
commitment to the heightened mind:
this is the teaching
of the Awakened.
The Patimokkha consists the rules for Buddhist monks: http://www.vipassana.com/canon/vinaya/bhikkhu-pati.php
For everyday life, the Five Precepts are more easily followed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism#The_Five_Precepts
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