- Only I know what's right or wrong with me.
- I am on my own path in life.
- I always am ready to succeed. Success is determined by my happiness, not how rich I am.
- I'm useful.
- Love is based on truth. Indeed, its fruit is happiness.
- Happiness comes from within. It's all about love.
- Be true to yourself.
- I'm intelligent enough to manage my life.
Showing posts with label unconditional love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label unconditional love. Show all posts
20160819
Eight Truths I Keep Close To My Heart
20151024
Meditation on Compassion (philosophy)
It might be because we only care for family and friends before the world. Yet we care about the suffering in far off lands and at home, enough to support charity and other causes.
We may also not shine because of schadenfreude, when it's best to laugh when others fall, lest we cry upon learning the misery that the poor and homeless undergo.
So, yes, the world is full of people, some of whom are caring, and also of people heartless that you wonder about their true state of mind. Were it not for the heartless, the good in the world would be common, that few people would suffer alone.
So, know that being alone is more the curse. For how can I truly shine without you?
Be it that it may, happiness and misery never exist forever, but become the process of compassionate living, and each of them a temporary boon or burden.
Yet it is unconditional love that is the source of all joy, and complement to faith - with hope being the drop of liquid sunshine that is charity. With these things, each of us learns to become compassionate, each in their own idiosyncratic way.
20151004
God Pouring Out His Love Through Jesus (Religion)
While listening to the October General Conference on Sunday, I briefly nodded off.
Due to insomnia, I had gotten little rest the night before.
Anyhow, during that brief moment asleep, I saw a man who I realize now was a water-bearer around whom were gathered a crowd.
"I bring water," he said, "to share with everyone freely so that those of you who drink of it may live."
Having said that, he carefully filled a cup with water from a large water bag on his back, and let each person who had assembled before him drink from the cup.
Then I awoke, and realized that the man was Jesus Christ. Through this dream, God was reminding me of the importance of General Conference to each and everyone who listens to, and/or studies the conferences.
Through all the speakers at the General Conference God is conveying his love for us all. Just as the conference speakers share good news about Jesus, so too is Christ Jesus pouring out his love for all mankind through his atonement, and who sacrificed his life so that we may have eternal life. That love is expressed in Mark 22:37-40 when Jesus says:
"...Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
"This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
"On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
For these two commandments confirm that God is pouring out his love for mankind through the Christ Jesus.
20150203
Waging Peace (prayer)
O God Almighty!
I shall take your doctrine of peace
And love my fellow man, and if struck, turn the other cheek.
Yet if infidels come for me with swords,
then I shall be as a Templar Knight and defend my honor justly.
Thus shall I act in the name of the Lord.
Amen.
I shall take your doctrine of peace
And love my fellow man, and if struck, turn the other cheek.
Yet if infidels come for me with swords,
then I shall be as a Templar Knight and defend my honor justly.
Thus shall I act in the name of the Lord.
Amen.
20150107
Sharp as a Razor (poem)
Sharp as a razor the mind cuts
through mental negativities, be it anger or fear.
Letting love bloom to transform anger
into calmness of mind, and fear into fearlessness,
the calm mind is free to remove all negativities.
Once free of the bondage of fear, I am ready to meet
any challenge with courage, tempered by love unconditional.
For it is love that provides the mind in keeping sharp.
What is calmness of the mind but love abiding?
What is fearlessness but love taming all fears?
through mental negativities, be it anger or fear.
Letting love bloom to transform anger
into calmness of mind, and fear into fearlessness,
the calm mind is free to remove all negativities.
Once free of the bondage of fear, I am ready to meet
any challenge with courage, tempered by love unconditional.
For it is love that provides the mind in keeping sharp.
What is calmness of the mind but love abiding?
What is fearlessness but love taming all fears?
20141230
Fear Only God, Not Worldliness Nor Even the Devil (satire)
Worldliness, the enemy of Christendom, is benign, despite the fear of men, women and children who grew up with a love for God and his Only Begotten.
Yet, imagine for a moment that worldliness is not the enemy, but is the mean by which individuals learn that only God is the author of good and evil.
All satan is is the accuser, the adversary, and the poor foolish creation of God who has blackened the light and covered it with selfishness and all the worldly temptations that befall mankind.
Thus, why fear the devil? It is best to only fear God and respect him because we have overcome that fear by His grace and mercy, and our sins forgiven due to his Son's sacrifice.
Indeed, fear only God. All the devil is good for is to laugh at until he retreats. For he who fears God respects him. Let laughter chase the devil away.
Without satan, worldliness is not temptation but inspiration to choose the Christ, rather than commit the unpardonable sin, apostasy and the forgetting of God.
Yet he who chooses poverty over wealth and obscurity over fame walks the meek path, free from all temptation. Though he may covet worldliness, this man knows God is great and his Only Begotten the light that frees all who follow Him.
When we follow the Christ, all worldliness is is temptation to which we cry "Get thee behind me, satan" before we claim what was a part of God's creation which was lost to us and now has found its way back to consecration.
What power does worldliness have that men, women and children choose its treasure, and forget God, only to awaken in old age, miserable and alone? If we covet any part of it, then we might be lost until we repent and return to God through the power of love unconditional that God sent the Christ to us.
No enemy then is worldliness — a meddlesome irritation that distracts us from the path towards perfect.
For His love is free from human conditions and His mercy allows the faithful to follow Him.
To those Christians who say the Word shows us satan is all powerful, what diabolical lies are you peddling? This subtle devil worship that a Christian might practice when he claims "the Devil exists" to instill fear in the hearts of his fellow men is blasphemy.
Only God shall you fear out of respect for his power, and the devil is impotent in the face of laughter of God's people. You can serve only one Master, and He shall return one day. Thus the devil is unreal and unworthy of our fear.
I say this in Jesus' name that only God shall be worshiped, his Only Begotten Son being the Christ who has bound the devil so he only tempts all of us, some more than others. They who say satan is unbound only have a difference of opinion, and the touch of fear mongering so that they may control their flocks.
As with worldliness, the devil is not as big an enemy as our true selves. Why else is Jesus Christ all of Christendom's friend?
Yet, imagine for a moment that worldliness is not the enemy, but is the mean by which individuals learn that only God is the author of good and evil.
All satan is is the accuser, the adversary, and the poor foolish creation of God who has blackened the light and covered it with selfishness and all the worldly temptations that befall mankind.
Thus, why fear the devil? It is best to only fear God and respect him because we have overcome that fear by His grace and mercy, and our sins forgiven due to his Son's sacrifice.
Indeed, fear only God. All the devil is good for is to laugh at until he retreats. For he who fears God respects him. Let laughter chase the devil away.
Without satan, worldliness is not temptation but inspiration to choose the Christ, rather than commit the unpardonable sin, apostasy and the forgetting of God.
Yet he who chooses poverty over wealth and obscurity over fame walks the meek path, free from all temptation. Though he may covet worldliness, this man knows God is great and his Only Begotten the light that frees all who follow Him.
When we follow the Christ, all worldliness is is temptation to which we cry "Get thee behind me, satan" before we claim what was a part of God's creation which was lost to us and now has found its way back to consecration.
What power does worldliness have that men, women and children choose its treasure, and forget God, only to awaken in old age, miserable and alone? If we covet any part of it, then we might be lost until we repent and return to God through the power of love unconditional that God sent the Christ to us.
No enemy then is worldliness — a meddlesome irritation that distracts us from the path towards perfect.
For His love is free from human conditions and His mercy allows the faithful to follow Him.
To those Christians who say the Word shows us satan is all powerful, what diabolical lies are you peddling? This subtle devil worship that a Christian might practice when he claims "the Devil exists" to instill fear in the hearts of his fellow men is blasphemy.
Only God shall you fear out of respect for his power, and the devil is impotent in the face of laughter of God's people. You can serve only one Master, and He shall return one day. Thus the devil is unreal and unworthy of our fear.
I say this in Jesus' name that only God shall be worshiped, his Only Begotten Son being the Christ who has bound the devil so he only tempts all of us, some more than others. They who say satan is unbound only have a difference of opinion, and the touch of fear mongering so that they may control their flocks.
As with worldliness, the devil is not as big an enemy as our true selves. Why else is Jesus Christ all of Christendom's friend?
20141212
Like a Virgin (satire)
One popular white lie is to say you're still a virgin. Originally, the word "virgin" meant only "unmarried".
Today, its meaning refers to a person who is innocent of carnal knowledge, both of the heart and in the flesh. However, the original meaning still applies to all unmarried single people, as born-again virgins.
Yet the ideal of the virgin is to remain pure and innocent of carnal desire and all temptations of the flesh by dedicating yourself to a worthy cause, be it a religious theology or a political ideology or even a humanist philosophy.
This virginal ideal shall be accomplished by being of service to the cause of your choice, provided you remain free of desire and temptation, all for the common good of society.
By maintaining a chaste mindset, the dedicated virgin is able to sublimate desire into service for her chosen cause.
Since such a path is only an ideal, few of us are able to remain a virgin unless we are free of desire in the midst of the temptations of the modern world, be it television and other forms of technology.
Though a lesser man might succumb to carnal desires in the midst of temptation, the superior man has made the worthy cause noble.
Yet dedication to the noble cause requires the strength of will to purify the mind until it becomes virginal, and thus free of desire.
Desire thus is sublimated into unconditional love for humanity.
This may be sought through meditation and prayer, be it through yoga and/or other spiritual means. However, such dedication also requires each of us to reduce the use of alcohol, cigarettes, illegal drugs, and even meat, depending on the circumstances.
For the purpose of reducing consumption is to dedicate ourselves to the goal of the pure mind and the pure heart that remains free of desire.
Ultimately a person by sheer will and determination will become like a virgin, free of desire to consume and ready to act for the greater good.
Thus the ideal of the virgin is to free yourself from crass materialism, and consciously choose to be of service to the greater good in society.
Such service can be found through work, volunteerism and similar social activities.
Yet only a few people are dedicated to a noble cause.
Whatever path is chosen, the noble cause is each person's choice and requires a simple code of conduct: acceptance that whatever is asked of you, you do it as long as it harms no one.
Thus the ideal of the virgin is the path of innocence, free of the world yet being in service to the greater good of society.
Free of clinging to the world yet ready toserve for the good of us all, those of us dedicated to the noble cause shall realize that the white lie -"still a virgin" - is the metaphor for feeling like a virgin, untouched by desire and free of temptation.
20141030
What's Love (and Sex) Got to Do with Agapé and Eros
In grade school, it was fun to play with the girls until the boys shamed me into playing with them.
As well, I was subtly bullied by a girl in Grade 6 when in Grade 2, due to her frustration in teaching me math that was simple for her but mysterious to me.
Though that never stopped me from excelling at math.
Then after Grade Three I spent the summer holiday with my first crush.
However, he teasing in Grade Four after my classmates found out I had a summer crush led me to realise romance has to be discreet ie not in my hometown.
The fact that my mother put a stop to it due to being late for supper makes me cautious lest I ruin my relationship with my roommates.
However, the best kind of love is between friends. This love has many names, but two of them are familiarly known as Agape and Eros.
Both Agapé and Eros are two sides of the same coin called human love.
Human love is so fickle though.
Unconditional love demands us to stop placing conditions on love. This is why friends love each other dearly: their love is unconditioned.
However, the only rule in friendship is remain loyal to each other, though it is loyalty with discretion.
Yet friendships rely on each of us to respect each other's right to be free, and to grow as individuals.
However, do not expect a friend to do anything for you, since it may lead to conflict. Such an expectation is unreasonable since it expects too much of a friend.
Do expect a close friend to be there when you need them but remember: friends are not slaves to be toyed with.
If you want anyone who is your friend to become reliable, then be reliable to them. Do anything for them as is necessary, and limit yourselves accordingly.
A good friend is a loyal helpmate. You are that friend.
My first crush was my best female friend, not a girlfriend but a friend who happened to be a girl.
I am happy that such a friend exists for me.
It can only be platonic though, for a man ought to be mature enough to call BS on the myth about platonic friendships.
Indeed it is a pernicious lie to assume a platonic relationship has a subtle sexual ambiance to it.
This lie is based on the error about the mythical libido, which is misinterpreted as the sex drive.
Libido actually is related to life and its propagation, and can be successfully sublimed into service, be it work or play.
Returning to my first crush, it was play that brought us together. Yet duty to my family nipped that in the bud.
Thus the libido must often be tamed, lest friendships be threatened by its excess.
So, my mother helped me to tame my libido by putting a curfew on me.
I suppose the cruelty such as beatings and burning moxibustion only showed the dark side of mother love - but because it was child abuse, it only served to make me fiercely independent when I was younger.
Yet here I am today realising that social isolation might be a side effect of the strong impression at a young age that I ought not associate with anyone lest they learn how dysfunctional I am.
However, the friends that I have show me that they tolerate whatever eccentricities I may have, which helps to moderate my behaviour accordingly.
For that is what unconditional love is actually about: accepting each other, warts and all.
Through daily meditation and prayer,
I daily sublimate Eros, and thus transform its motivational energy into Agapé, the vital essence of unconditional love.
Based on your life experiences, which love is the original love?
Remember: the libido is a manmade construct to explain sexuality, which too is manmade. While Eros and Agapé are two sides of love, the libido, Eros itself, is the subconscious call of the wild to propagate the species, which originates in each living being's survival mechanism.
In contrast Agapé is unconditional love which is the subconscious call from God Almighty to be of service to him by being a standing minister to worldly Gentiles and the apostates in the world today, often by being like an angel in disguise.
IMHO I feel that a healthy balance between Agapé and Eros is not often possible.
It is my contention that the gross energy of Eros (the libido) has often been sublimated and thus energizes Agapé. However sex is not love.
Therefore the sublimated libido energizes unconditional love. At the same time, that Love helps each of us through the grace of God to tame the libido.
I remember as a young boy how I was slowly growing out of control due to family strife due to my birth defects being used by my paternal grandmother shaming my mother because of those defects.
When it turned out that one of her sons, my uncle, had died of complications due to epilepsy, that foiled my grandmother. It is sad when a parent mentally abuses a daughter or son like this, and tragic especially when the same is done to an in-law.
Yet unconditional love is something we experience so little of in the world but have the opportunity to practice in the meetinghouse.
Still, it ought to be shared with the world, often without mentioning God Almighty, who made the world in six days not that we love Him only on the Sabbath, but also for the rest of the week from Monday to Saturday.
By sharing unconditional love with the world, it is then possible for standing ministers to share the Gospel with like minded Gentiles, so that they may come to know the truth about the LDS church.
For example, I have recently found Mormon cosmology to be almost like a light version of Buddhist cosmology, without the cycle of reincarnation and lacking the fullness of its Buddhist counterpart.
Of course, I attribute this to my ignorance of the richness inherent in Mormon cosmology due to my apostasy before baptism and LDS membership.
However, Buddhist cosmology contains a multitude of Buddha worlds of which the Pure Land is one.
IMHO the worlds awaiting the LDS members bound for celestial glory are like the Pure Land.
Yet the LDS literature is vague about the many worlds that those celestial latter day saints inherit.
With an understanding of Agapé and Eros, and of their respective commonplace terms, unconditional love and the libido, it is likely to help put human love into perspective.
Firstly, Agape is Love unconditioned and uncorrupted by carnal love, Eros.
Through the grace of God, after consistent prayer and meditation by a Mormon, Eros is sublimated which subtly energizes Agapé.
Thus is carnal love sublimated into unconditional love. However love is not sex.
Overall the Christ's call to love one another is tempered with his command to love your enemies and also to turn the other cheek ie accept the mental cruelty of zealous anti Mormon cultists without complaint.
As well, I was subtly bullied by a girl in Grade 6 when in Grade 2, due to her frustration in teaching me math that was simple for her but mysterious to me.
Though that never stopped me from excelling at math.
Then after Grade Three I spent the summer holiday with my first crush.
However, he teasing in Grade Four after my classmates found out I had a summer crush led me to realise romance has to be discreet ie not in my hometown.
The fact that my mother put a stop to it due to being late for supper makes me cautious lest I ruin my relationship with my roommates.
However, the best kind of love is between friends. This love has many names, but two of them are familiarly known as Agape and Eros.
Both Agapé and Eros are two sides of the same coin called human love.
Human love is so fickle though.
Unconditional love demands us to stop placing conditions on love. This is why friends love each other dearly: their love is unconditioned.
However, the only rule in friendship is remain loyal to each other, though it is loyalty with discretion.
Yet friendships rely on each of us to respect each other's right to be free, and to grow as individuals.
However, do not expect a friend to do anything for you, since it may lead to conflict. Such an expectation is unreasonable since it expects too much of a friend.
Do expect a close friend to be there when you need them but remember: friends are not slaves to be toyed with.
If you want anyone who is your friend to become reliable, then be reliable to them. Do anything for them as is necessary, and limit yourselves accordingly.
A good friend is a loyal helpmate. You are that friend.
My first crush was my best female friend, not a girlfriend but a friend who happened to be a girl.
I am happy that such a friend exists for me.
It can only be platonic though, for a man ought to be mature enough to call BS on the myth about platonic friendships.
Indeed it is a pernicious lie to assume a platonic relationship has a subtle sexual ambiance to it.
This lie is based on the error about the mythical libido, which is misinterpreted as the sex drive.
Libido actually is related to life and its propagation, and can be successfully sublimed into service, be it work or play.
Returning to my first crush, it was play that brought us together. Yet duty to my family nipped that in the bud.
Thus the libido must often be tamed, lest friendships be threatened by its excess.
So, my mother helped me to tame my libido by putting a curfew on me.
I suppose the cruelty such as beatings and burning moxibustion only showed the dark side of mother love - but because it was child abuse, it only served to make me fiercely independent when I was younger.
Yet here I am today realising that social isolation might be a side effect of the strong impression at a young age that I ought not associate with anyone lest they learn how dysfunctional I am.
However, the friends that I have show me that they tolerate whatever eccentricities I may have, which helps to moderate my behaviour accordingly.
For that is what unconditional love is actually about: accepting each other, warts and all.
Through daily meditation and prayer,
I daily sublimate Eros, and thus transform its motivational energy into Agapé, the vital essence of unconditional love.
Based on your life experiences, which love is the original love?
Remember: the libido is a manmade construct to explain sexuality, which too is manmade. While Eros and Agapé are two sides of love, the libido, Eros itself, is the subconscious call of the wild to propagate the species, which originates in each living being's survival mechanism.
In contrast Agapé is unconditional love which is the subconscious call from God Almighty to be of service to him by being a standing minister to worldly Gentiles and the apostates in the world today, often by being like an angel in disguise.
IMHO I feel that a healthy balance between Agapé and Eros is not often possible.
It is my contention that the gross energy of Eros (the libido) has often been sublimated and thus energizes Agapé. However sex is not love.
Therefore the sublimated libido energizes unconditional love. At the same time, that Love helps each of us through the grace of God to tame the libido.
I remember as a young boy how I was slowly growing out of control due to family strife due to my birth defects being used by my paternal grandmother shaming my mother because of those defects.
When it turned out that one of her sons, my uncle, had died of complications due to epilepsy, that foiled my grandmother. It is sad when a parent mentally abuses a daughter or son like this, and tragic especially when the same is done to an in-law.
Yet unconditional love is something we experience so little of in the world but have the opportunity to practice in the meetinghouse.
Still, it ought to be shared with the world, often without mentioning God Almighty, who made the world in six days not that we love Him only on the Sabbath, but also for the rest of the week from Monday to Saturday.
By sharing unconditional love with the world, it is then possible for standing ministers to share the Gospel with like minded Gentiles, so that they may come to know the truth about the LDS church.
For example, I have recently found Mormon cosmology to be almost like a light version of Buddhist cosmology, without the cycle of reincarnation and lacking the fullness of its Buddhist counterpart.
Of course, I attribute this to my ignorance of the richness inherent in Mormon cosmology due to my apostasy before baptism and LDS membership.
However, Buddhist cosmology contains a multitude of Buddha worlds of which the Pure Land is one.
IMHO the worlds awaiting the LDS members bound for celestial glory are like the Pure Land.
Yet the LDS literature is vague about the many worlds that those celestial latter day saints inherit.
With an understanding of Agapé and Eros, and of their respective commonplace terms, unconditional love and the libido, it is likely to help put human love into perspective.
Firstly, Agape is Love unconditioned and uncorrupted by carnal love, Eros.
Through the grace of God, after consistent prayer and meditation by a Mormon, Eros is sublimated which subtly energizes Agapé.
Thus is carnal love sublimated into unconditional love. However love is not sex.
Overall the Christ's call to love one another is tempered with his command to love your enemies and also to turn the other cheek ie accept the mental cruelty of zealous anti Mormon cultists without complaint.
20140925
Unconditional Love
Unconditional love is the unborn love awaiting a person's existence to manifest itself.
To love is to care for, to die for, and to live for other people regardless of being strangers.
To love unconditionally is to love without conditions attached to that Love.
Rather than saying "I love you", I say "I love the world." Instead of saying "I do it for myself," I say "I do it for everyone, including myself."
Thus is the ideal of unconditional love manifested. Anyone can care for their mother and father. Yet he who knows of God knows of His unconditional love for us all.
Such a Love as this was manifested when Jesus Christ died on the cross for all our sins.
It continues today with the rise of secularism as a challenge to God-fearing people to turn the other cheek when the spiritually ignorant atheists cherry pick quotes from the Bible that challenge the Christian worldview of a loving God.
Indeed, what right do the ignorant masses have to misrepresent Christianity? Free speech allows each of us to question the doctrines of both the Protestant and Catholic churches. They do not give each of us the right to harass believers in a vain attempt to prove religion is for weaklings.
For religion is not for the weak willed, because they shall soon find themselves choosing between mannah and God. Rather, religion is for the strong stomach, because there shall be challenges to one's faith in life.
At the root of these challenges is a lack of faith of the atheists. It makes me wonder what they truly have faith in.
What good is a life in which lack of faith is one's guide? Without faith, are they truly free?
However, even the atheists have their beliefs. I know not what they believe in, but have faith that they do believe, for they are human too.
As for faith, just as I have faith that God is merciful, I hope that the unbelievers have faith in whatever they worship, be it Pikachu or Captain Kirk or even science.
Throughout all of this, I also hope that unconditional love, in its myriad forms, is known to both the believer and the unbeliever. Though I do not know how such a Love would manifest among the unbelievers, I know that Love manifests in the form of the Christ for all Christendom.
For I have faith that unconditional love exists, and that it empowers me to act within the limits of my faith in God.
To love is to care for, to die for, and to live for other people regardless of being strangers.
To love unconditionally is to love without conditions attached to that Love.
Rather than saying "I love you", I say "I love the world." Instead of saying "I do it for myself," I say "I do it for everyone, including myself."
Thus is the ideal of unconditional love manifested. Anyone can care for their mother and father. Yet he who knows of God knows of His unconditional love for us all.
Such a Love as this was manifested when Jesus Christ died on the cross for all our sins.
It continues today with the rise of secularism as a challenge to God-fearing people to turn the other cheek when the spiritually ignorant atheists cherry pick quotes from the Bible that challenge the Christian worldview of a loving God.
Indeed, what right do the ignorant masses have to misrepresent Christianity? Free speech allows each of us to question the doctrines of both the Protestant and Catholic churches. They do not give each of us the right to harass believers in a vain attempt to prove religion is for weaklings.
For religion is not for the weak willed, because they shall soon find themselves choosing between mannah and God. Rather, religion is for the strong stomach, because there shall be challenges to one's faith in life.
At the root of these challenges is a lack of faith of the atheists. It makes me wonder what they truly have faith in.
What good is a life in which lack of faith is one's guide? Without faith, are they truly free?
However, even the atheists have their beliefs. I know not what they believe in, but have faith that they do believe, for they are human too.
As for faith, just as I have faith that God is merciful, I hope that the unbelievers have faith in whatever they worship, be it Pikachu or Captain Kirk or even science.
Throughout all of this, I also hope that unconditional love, in its myriad forms, is known to both the believer and the unbeliever. Though I do not know how such a Love would manifest among the unbelievers, I know that Love manifests in the form of the Christ for all Christendom.
For I have faith that unconditional love exists, and that it empowers me to act within the limits of my faith in God.
20140826
It Only Matters That You Love
"It matters not who you love, where you love, why you love, when you love or how you love; it only matters that you love." — John Lennon
Love is the answer to all challenges in life. We only need to be inspired by love to respond to each challenge as though it means everything to us.
People who deny this simple truth may be blind to the power of unconditional love.
As for myself, I have seen how that Love has changed my response to life, to live as though a child, and to have that child-like response to my daily challenges.
This Love is the reason for being quick to smile and to face life without reluctance with the willingness to handle almost anything that comes my way.
Because I love, a smile will light up my face in response to meeting new friends, greeting strangers, and seeing the truth of life as it is.
Unconditional love inspires me to remain open minded, so I can only be human when that Love suddenly provides me with the answer to life's challenges: to lovingly handle them by accepting what cannot be changed by being courageous act on what can be changed, and by being wise enough to distinguish between the unchangeable and the changeable.
Thus, love is indeed the answer to the challenges of my life.
For unconditional love is the power that moves us to love.
20140820
A Jack Mormon Confession (satire)
Since June I personally have refrained from hot drinks, alcohol, illegal drugs and tobacco. As well, I am celibate.
Between myself and God, I am repenting my past sins in private. On Friday, August 29, I am to be baptized as a Mormon.
So all that talk of remaining a Jack Mormon is pure satire. My epiphany came when I read the anti-Mormon views on the interviews preceding baptism: they gave me the wrong impression.
Nobody in the hierarchy asks you to confess your darkest sins to them, for that isn't supposed to be shared with another mortal soul.
While I am still going to be liberal and still write about Buddhism, politics and other topics that I am interested in, I am also going to write about Mormonism as objectively as I am able. Though the anti-Mormon propaganda will no longer be of interest to me, except perhaps to provide inspiration for commentary.
For now, this post will provide me with the opportunity to explain simply why I decided to be baptized as a Mormon.
With eyes open and an open heart, I attended all the instruction hours since the end of May until now and will continue to do so.
While I am convinced that Joseph Smith Jr was inspired by God to write the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price, the Testimony of the Three Witnesses only convinces me of his inspiration. However, I will go along with the cover story that the angel Moroni took those brass plates back to wherever he went.
My own statement above is not a confession of doubt but is made because I have never been shown the original literature by the angel Moroni.
As well, the Egyptian hieroglyphics which inspired Joe Smith to write the Book of Abraham do not translate as that book. Even so, I would consider Mr Smith as inspired by God to write all the scriptures specific to Mormonism and consider him a Mormon prophet.
Nothing I have written so far will fully explain why I became a Mormon. I am sure that it's because I am a people pleaser.
Also, the fact that this local Mormon community is the least judgmental of all Christian denominations has also convinced me that my choice is the best one to make out of all the choices that I faced.
For I could have rejected Mormonism and dealt with being a Buddhist whose spirituality accepted that there is a God and even allowed for the Christ. On closely examining my sarcastic statement that "my Christ is the Buddha", I realize that the statement is considered a religious one by Christians of other denomination.
So my explanation for becoming a Mormon is actually summed up by the concept of the Buddha as my Christ, due to the religious pluralism that I have been quietly practising since 1990. This has been confirmed for me by the Mormon cosmology regarding the souls of pre-mortal times to today's current incarnation on Earth and to the Afterlife. Even Spirit World and Spirit Prison fit into my Buddhist worldview, though the Celestial, Terrestrial and Telestial Kingdoms would become similar to Buddhist heavens.
Of course, at first glance, the Mormon cosmology is in my eyes more like a rough draft of the more complex Buddhist cosmology. Though it is more likely that I am not going to revert to Buddhism because of this revelation.
Another reason why I became Mormon because I like the fact that the Mormon literature has had articles on Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism written without critique of each religion.
It is that religious pluralism which confirms my belief that Mormonism is going to be the most wonderful part of my spiritual journey.
Even so, everyone who thinks I have gotten sucked into a cult have no idea at all because they might keep forgetting that I have become Mormon with my eyes open and my heart open to the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints. That does not mean I am going to forget my roots as a Buddhist. Instead, Mormonism will take what I have learned about Buddhism to a new level.
Because this blog is semi-private, I will only refer to the Elders and the wonderful brothers and sisters of my local Mormon ward without specifically identifying anyone.
Thank you too to the brothers and sisters, and especially Elder M and Sister M who all served as hosts for dinner - three wonderful dinners that led from uncertainty to confusion and finally to understanding.
However, my thanks goes out to Elder L who invited me to church, Elder M who patiently instructed me, Elder F who knows his wushu very well, and Elder T, whose words impress me the most. Also thanks to Brother C for his sponsorship.
A poem on My Baptism (which I plan to read after baptism): http://gandhara.blogspot.com/2014/08/my-baptism-poem.html
Between myself and God, I am repenting my past sins in private. On Friday, August 29, I am to be baptized as a Mormon.
So all that talk of remaining a Jack Mormon is pure satire. My epiphany came when I read the anti-Mormon views on the interviews preceding baptism: they gave me the wrong impression.
Nobody in the hierarchy asks you to confess your darkest sins to them, for that isn't supposed to be shared with another mortal soul.
While I am still going to be liberal and still write about Buddhism, politics and other topics that I am interested in, I am also going to write about Mormonism as objectively as I am able. Though the anti-Mormon propaganda will no longer be of interest to me, except perhaps to provide inspiration for commentary.
For now, this post will provide me with the opportunity to explain simply why I decided to be baptized as a Mormon.
With eyes open and an open heart, I attended all the instruction hours since the end of May until now and will continue to do so.
While I am convinced that Joseph Smith Jr was inspired by God to write the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price, the Testimony of the Three Witnesses only convinces me of his inspiration. However, I will go along with the cover story that the angel Moroni took those brass plates back to wherever he went.
My own statement above is not a confession of doubt but is made because I have never been shown the original literature by the angel Moroni.
As well, the Egyptian hieroglyphics which inspired Joe Smith to write the Book of Abraham do not translate as that book. Even so, I would consider Mr Smith as inspired by God to write all the scriptures specific to Mormonism and consider him a Mormon prophet.
Nothing I have written so far will fully explain why I became a Mormon. I am sure that it's because I am a people pleaser.
Also, the fact that this local Mormon community is the least judgmental of all Christian denominations has also convinced me that my choice is the best one to make out of all the choices that I faced.
For I could have rejected Mormonism and dealt with being a Buddhist whose spirituality accepted that there is a God and even allowed for the Christ. On closely examining my sarcastic statement that "my Christ is the Buddha", I realize that the statement is considered a religious one by Christians of other denomination.
So my explanation for becoming a Mormon is actually summed up by the concept of the Buddha as my Christ, due to the religious pluralism that I have been quietly practising since 1990. This has been confirmed for me by the Mormon cosmology regarding the souls of pre-mortal times to today's current incarnation on Earth and to the Afterlife. Even Spirit World and Spirit Prison fit into my Buddhist worldview, though the Celestial, Terrestrial and Telestial Kingdoms would become similar to Buddhist heavens.
Of course, at first glance, the Mormon cosmology is in my eyes more like a rough draft of the more complex Buddhist cosmology. Though it is more likely that I am not going to revert to Buddhism because of this revelation.
Another reason why I became Mormon because I like the fact that the Mormon literature has had articles on Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism written without critique of each religion.
It is that religious pluralism which confirms my belief that Mormonism is going to be the most wonderful part of my spiritual journey.
Even so, everyone who thinks I have gotten sucked into a cult have no idea at all because they might keep forgetting that I have become Mormon with my eyes open and my heart open to the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints. That does not mean I am going to forget my roots as a Buddhist. Instead, Mormonism will take what I have learned about Buddhism to a new level.
Because this blog is semi-private, I will only refer to the Elders and the wonderful brothers and sisters of my local Mormon ward without specifically identifying anyone.
Thank you too to the brothers and sisters, and especially Elder M and Sister M who all served as hosts for dinner - three wonderful dinners that led from uncertainty to confusion and finally to understanding.
However, my thanks goes out to Elder L who invited me to church, Elder M who patiently instructed me, Elder F who knows his wushu very well, and Elder T, whose words impress me the most. Also thanks to Brother C for his sponsorship.
A poem on My Baptism (which I plan to read after baptism): http://gandhara.blogspot.com/2014/08/my-baptism-poem.html
20140807
A Meditation on the Weird and Wonderful (satire)
Sometimes, out of fear a person would deem me weird, rather than acknowledge their fear and grow from that knowledge.
Labelling me weird means you are afraid of someone else being different from you.
It also means you do not care to know me, but wish to remain ignorant of the fact that I am mostly harmless and am a very loyal friend to those people who are willing to abandon their fear of me and to love me just as I am.
Knowing this, I understand why I have few friends because truth telling like this is certain to scare away people unable to handle the truth.
They will deny it to be true, and accuse me of insulting them, telling me "You don't know me."
Of course, I do not know you but the truth is, my own fear of you do not end with me projecting it onto you, and labelling you "weird". That would be too easy to do.
Instead, I would meditate on why people label other people they barely know as "weird", and come to realize that such labelling is based on ignorance about the "weird" person and the unwillingness to get to know the other person and truly acknowledge them as a human being.
Perhaps we project our anxiety about "being different" onto other people, mainly because we want to fit in, and keeping out people who we think don't fit in is for the greater good.
Sadly though, creating a "them versus us" scenario violates the human rights of the person who is merely different from you, even if it may be higher intelligence, being more patient than Job, or having the biggest collection of plush toys.
For myself, I find that I grow from the knowledge about other people who are my closest friends. This comes through sharing our thoughts about our lives, and overcoming our fears about what concerns us, such as food, shelter and entertainment. Often it requires promises of commitment followed by honoring that commitment.
Perhaps it is possible to be weird and wonderful. Perhaps weird morphs into a new kind of difference which arises out of love and respect for each other. Maybe it's time to embrace the fear and transform our inner weirdness into something wonderful.
For love conquers the fear of being different.
Labelling me weird means you are afraid of someone else being different from you.
It also means you do not care to know me, but wish to remain ignorant of the fact that I am mostly harmless and am a very loyal friend to those people who are willing to abandon their fear of me and to love me just as I am.
Knowing this, I understand why I have few friends because truth telling like this is certain to scare away people unable to handle the truth.
They will deny it to be true, and accuse me of insulting them, telling me "You don't know me."
Of course, I do not know you but the truth is, my own fear of you do not end with me projecting it onto you, and labelling you "weird". That would be too easy to do.
Instead, I would meditate on why people label other people they barely know as "weird", and come to realize that such labelling is based on ignorance about the "weird" person and the unwillingness to get to know the other person and truly acknowledge them as a human being.
Perhaps we project our anxiety about "being different" onto other people, mainly because we want to fit in, and keeping out people who we think don't fit in is for the greater good.
Sadly though, creating a "them versus us" scenario violates the human rights of the person who is merely different from you, even if it may be higher intelligence, being more patient than Job, or having the biggest collection of plush toys.
For myself, I find that I grow from the knowledge about other people who are my closest friends. This comes through sharing our thoughts about our lives, and overcoming our fears about what concerns us, such as food, shelter and entertainment. Often it requires promises of commitment followed by honoring that commitment.
Perhaps it is possible to be weird and wonderful. Perhaps weird morphs into a new kind of difference which arises out of love and respect for each other. Maybe it's time to embrace the fear and transform our inner weirdness into something wonderful.
For love conquers the fear of being different.
20140805
I hear you (poem)
I hear you calling to me,
and I reply quietly,
“I am here with you.”
Yet you keep calling and calling,
asking someone to help you.
It's as though you never hear my reply.
Then I realize you only hear yourself
calling for help, and not listening
to me reply quietly,
"I am here with you."
I hear you calling me! I hear you…
I hear you when I call your name. I hear you…
I hear you calling…
I hear you…
I hear you calling…
I hear you…
I hear you…
I hear you cry, “I can't live without someone to love me.”
I hear you calling!
I hear you…
I hear you calling!
I hear you…
One day I will find you nearby.
All I have to do is listen for you.
When I call your name,
it is you who answers,
"I am here with you.
Just call for me, and you will hear me!"
When I listen with my heart,
I will hear your answer to my call.
Every time I call for you,
you are here with me.
I hear you call me! I hear you...
I hear you when I call your name. I hear you…
I hear you calling...
I hear you...
I hear you calling...
I hear you...
I hear you...
I hear your cry, "My love goes out to you forevermore."
I hear you calling!
I hear you...
I hear you calling!
I hear you...
This poem is inspired by the Nembutsu, which is known to Pure Land Buddhists of the Jodo Shinshu faith as the Name-that-calls.
It is said that when the devotee recites the Name-that-calls, it is Amida Buddha calling.
In my poem, both Amida and the devotee are referred to as "I" and "you", as the lover and her beloved.
Thus the lover calls to her beloved, who replies to her wherever she may be.
This is not just Buddhist. This is also romantic. For the source of all love is unconditional love.
Originally posted on March 23, 2005 at 8:11 PM
and I reply quietly,
“I am here with you.”
Yet you keep calling and calling,
asking someone to help you.
It's as though you never hear my reply.
Then I realize you only hear yourself
calling for help, and not listening
to me reply quietly,
"I am here with you."
I hear you calling me! I hear you…
I hear you when I call your name. I hear you…
I hear you calling…
I hear you…
I hear you calling…
I hear you…
I hear you…
I hear you cry, “I can't live without someone to love me.”
I hear you calling!
I hear you…
I hear you calling!
I hear you…
One day I will find you nearby.
All I have to do is listen for you.
When I call your name,
it is you who answers,
"I am here with you.
Just call for me, and you will hear me!"
When I listen with my heart,
I will hear your answer to my call.
Every time I call for you,
you are here with me.
I hear you call me! I hear you...
I hear you when I call your name. I hear you…
I hear you calling...
I hear you...
I hear you calling...
I hear you...
I hear you...
I hear your cry, "My love goes out to you forevermore."
I hear you calling!
I hear you...
I hear you calling!
I hear you...
This poem is inspired by the Nembutsu, which is known to Pure Land Buddhists of the Jodo Shinshu faith as the Name-that-calls.
It is said that when the devotee recites the Name-that-calls, it is Amida Buddha calling.
In my poem, both Amida and the devotee are referred to as "I" and "you", as the lover and her beloved.
Thus the lover calls to her beloved, who replies to her wherever she may be.
This is not just Buddhist. This is also romantic. For the source of all love is unconditional love.
Originally posted on March 23, 2005 at 8:11 PM
Sometimes "I Love You" Means Just That (satire)
I'd like to say this to a woman I like, but don't have the balls. It's not the fear of rejection that stops me, but the fear that she might misunderstand the declaration of love.
When a man says "I love you", not all women hear it just as it is. They assume it means the guy is saying "I am saying this hoping to become more intimate with you -and have sex" when the guy actually means what he says.
Sometimes it is impossible to declare my love lest the woman mistake it for sexual desire.
Love like this is so unconditional that the very thought of making love is a ridiculous fantasy. How can one misunderstand unconditional love as the very act of making love, which has conditions about love attached to it?
Sometimes "I love you" means just that. Assuming that the person declaring it just wants to get into your pants is as sexist as other applications of heteronormative masculinity to fulfil the urges of the male libido.
Yes, I am saying that a woman who assumes a man just desires her solely for sex is as sexist as that desire.
Unconditional love removes all such sexist notions because all the conditions that apply to erotic love are removed. In their place is mutual respect for each other's rights and freedoms.
This is why sometimes "I love you" means just that, and nothing more.
Originally posted on August 27, 2013 at 11:32 PM
When a man says "I love you", not all women hear it just as it is. They assume it means the guy is saying "I am saying this hoping to become more intimate with you -and have sex" when the guy actually means what he says.
Sometimes it is impossible to declare my love lest the woman mistake it for sexual desire.
Love like this is so unconditional that the very thought of making love is a ridiculous fantasy. How can one misunderstand unconditional love as the very act of making love, which has conditions about love attached to it?
Sometimes "I love you" means just that. Assuming that the person declaring it just wants to get into your pants is as sexist as other applications of heteronormative masculinity to fulfil the urges of the male libido.
Yes, I am saying that a woman who assumes a man just desires her solely for sex is as sexist as that desire.
Unconditional love removes all such sexist notions because all the conditions that apply to erotic love are removed. In their place is mutual respect for each other's rights and freedoms.
This is why sometimes "I love you" means just that, and nothing more.
Originally posted on August 27, 2013 at 11:32 PM
Unconditional Love - The Sublimation of Libido (satire)
Sublimation is when you wake up sexually aroused, but rather than "giving in to temptation", you turn it into gold — something as healthy as sexual expression — by reflecting deeply on unconditional love. This is not repression of the libido; this is sublimation.
Even though you are turned on by desire and passion, you ought to reach higher than base desire and physical love for unconditional love. For masturbation puts conditions on your sexual love, specifically it's a mess to clean up after it is over. Sublimating it into reflection on unconditional love places no conditions on love itself.
This is why unconditional love is greater than the libido, because millions of human beings do so every second until that love becomes the wellspring of productivity sustaining each of us.
Most of the time, sex propagates the species. Unconditional love propagates the good will of society. Yet the few people who do procreate are enough to sustain the world's population and even surpass expectations.
Overall, we have a greater capacity for unconditional love by being honest about our desire while showing willingness to sublimate it into unconditional love.
In my humble opinion, each person may decide to become sexually active, or most often, not. Yet unconditional love is what society shares with its members.
By sublimating sexual desire, a person becomes a productive members of society through work and play.
Original post: October 16, 2013 05:32 AM
Last posted: January 5, 2014 at 3:54 PM
Even though you are turned on by desire and passion, you ought to reach higher than base desire and physical love for unconditional love. For masturbation puts conditions on your sexual love, specifically it's a mess to clean up after it is over. Sublimating it into reflection on unconditional love places no conditions on love itself.
This is why unconditional love is greater than the libido, because millions of human beings do so every second until that love becomes the wellspring of productivity sustaining each of us.
Most of the time, sex propagates the species. Unconditional love propagates the good will of society. Yet the few people who do procreate are enough to sustain the world's population and even surpass expectations.
Overall, we have a greater capacity for unconditional love by being honest about our desire while showing willingness to sublimate it into unconditional love.
In my humble opinion, each person may decide to become sexually active, or most often, not. Yet unconditional love is what society shares with its members.
By sublimating sexual desire, a person becomes a productive members of society through work and play.
Original post: October 16, 2013 05:32 AM
Last posted: January 5, 2014 at 3:54 PM
20140725
Evil Means Nothing to Me (satire)
Of all the good that is in the world, love is especially treasured.
When love comes without conditions, it can only be shared. Hopefully we may put no conditions on it, lest love lose its power to overcome the trials in this journey called life.
Having said this, I only hope that love reflects all that is good without me hating what I may mistake for evil.
For that which is not good is not always evil. Even though it is not good to hate, hatred for what is not good may become like another evil when the hater is biased about evil.
Since unconditional love inspires me not to hate but to love without attaching conditions to that Love, I am the wiser for remaining aloof to what is not good and not consider it truly evil.
True evil thus is not worth my hatred, lest I lose myself to that hatred. Though it would be equally foolhardy to love evil!
It would be best for my sake to ignore evil, and to desist from contemplating it at all. In loving that which is good, be it beauty or the pure heart, I love both because of what they mean to me.
Therefore evil has no place in my heart, and is thus meaningless to me.
Murder, lust, rage, mayhem — these acts and feelings seem exciting and sometimes attractive to a few people, but not to me. I see them all as abstract concepts, for they are not a part of my immediate reality.
Evil means nothing to me because I do not naturally contemplate acting and thinking evil. Instead I gravitate towards good, due to the power of unconditional love.
Though it would seem that I am suggesting unconditional love makes evil irrelevant, I deny this. For good and evil have their place in the world.
It is evil to harm other people, and especially evil to kill them. Likewise, the contemplation of murder is an evil thought. For killing other sentient beings violates the precept against killing.
However, it is good to treat other people with kindness. Though unconditional love does not blind us to evil. We do good to other people not merely to benefit ourselves, but mainly to help other people.
Even so, the act of causing harm to another sentient being cannot be due to unconditional love.
Sometimes we do not act to stop harm to another person. This inaction is the cause of evil, rather than calculated malevolent intent.
This is why the opposite of love and hate is actually indifference.
I do not like to hate another person or even a group of people. Rather, my hatred is directed toward their actions when it violates my moral code. If they bully other people, then I have less sympathy for them and more sympathy towards their victims.
I will hate what they do but certainly not hate them.
My attitude towards them is mitigated by unconditional love. For it is their limitations which lead them to bully someone for reasons known only to them.
Still, I admit to being a hypocrite since in the past I might have been a bully to the bullies for their heinous acts. For I am human, and sometimes my feelings of outrage may get the best of me, especially when the callousness of other people becomes so apparent to me.
In any case, the power of unconditional love inspires me to remember not to hate other people for the evil that they do, but to hate their evil actions.
This is why evil means nothing to me, and good means all the world to me.
When love comes without conditions, it can only be shared. Hopefully we may put no conditions on it, lest love lose its power to overcome the trials in this journey called life.
Having said this, I only hope that love reflects all that is good without me hating what I may mistake for evil.
For that which is not good is not always evil. Even though it is not good to hate, hatred for what is not good may become like another evil when the hater is biased about evil.
Since unconditional love inspires me not to hate but to love without attaching conditions to that Love, I am the wiser for remaining aloof to what is not good and not consider it truly evil.
True evil thus is not worth my hatred, lest I lose myself to that hatred. Though it would be equally foolhardy to love evil!
It would be best for my sake to ignore evil, and to desist from contemplating it at all. In loving that which is good, be it beauty or the pure heart, I love both because of what they mean to me.
Therefore evil has no place in my heart, and is thus meaningless to me.
Murder, lust, rage, mayhem — these acts and feelings seem exciting and sometimes attractive to a few people, but not to me. I see them all as abstract concepts, for they are not a part of my immediate reality.
Evil means nothing to me because I do not naturally contemplate acting and thinking evil. Instead I gravitate towards good, due to the power of unconditional love.
Though it would seem that I am suggesting unconditional love makes evil irrelevant, I deny this. For good and evil have their place in the world.
It is evil to harm other people, and especially evil to kill them. Likewise, the contemplation of murder is an evil thought. For killing other sentient beings violates the precept against killing.
However, it is good to treat other people with kindness. Though unconditional love does not blind us to evil. We do good to other people not merely to benefit ourselves, but mainly to help other people.
Even so, the act of causing harm to another sentient being cannot be due to unconditional love.
Sometimes we do not act to stop harm to another person. This inaction is the cause of evil, rather than calculated malevolent intent.
This is why the opposite of love and hate is actually indifference.
I do not like to hate another person or even a group of people. Rather, my hatred is directed toward their actions when it violates my moral code. If they bully other people, then I have less sympathy for them and more sympathy towards their victims.
I will hate what they do but certainly not hate them.
My attitude towards them is mitigated by unconditional love. For it is their limitations which lead them to bully someone for reasons known only to them.
Still, I admit to being a hypocrite since in the past I might have been a bully to the bullies for their heinous acts. For I am human, and sometimes my feelings of outrage may get the best of me, especially when the callousness of other people becomes so apparent to me.
In any case, the power of unconditional love inspires me to remember not to hate other people for the evil that they do, but to hate their evil actions.
This is why evil means nothing to me, and good means all the world to me.
20140717
The Buddha is My Christ (satire)
It is a flawed theology to fear a non-Christian would go to Hell practising their own faith, be it Buddhist, Islam, Judaism or any religion other than Christianity that promote moral conduct.
In assuming that if I don't believe in Jesus, then I'll go to Hell, the conservative Christian is endorsing a religious opinion that is based on flawed logic.
In my opinion, this is the devilish nature of that assumption: condemnation of non-believers and fear of non-Christian faiths.
Whether or not I go to Hell is not determined by what I believe, but by how I conduct myself. This too is true in Buddhism. Indeed, both faiths require their members to repent from immoral conduct.
Therefore, the religiously faithful of any religion who follow the tenets of their religion will not go to Hell by practising their faith.
Thus I question the condemnation of unbelievers by any religion. Though, Buddhism endorses us to not to blindly accept what the Buddha said but to test everything that is Buddhist.
Perhaps this is why I like Mormonism. While the history of the Mormon is complex, the willingness of Mormons to be open to limited religious pluralism is a good sign. It shows the ability to adapt to the influence of post-modern eucheminism on Mormon thought.
Because I know that unconditional love is the root of Buddhism and Mormonism, I am sure that it will be possible for me to moderate my Buddhist ideals with Mormon ideals. Yet it is unlikely that the mixing of the different flavors of both faiths will lead to strengthening of my core belief about unconditional love.
For that Love empowers both Mormons and Buddhists to improve their lives for the better.
As I grow in my experience as a neophyte Buddhist Mormon, I hope to disprove the assumption by naïve conservative Christians that the syncretism of Buddhism and Mormonism will condemn me to Hell.
In Mormonism, a member eventually will be reborn in one of three kingdoms, the Celestial, the terrestrial and the telestial. Yet the afterlife is not of this world. Even so, the metaphor of the Mormon afterlife can be applied to this life.
If you follow the moral code of Mormonism, then it is possible to achieve the glory of the Celestial kingdom. If you follow the moral code of a non-Mormon religion, then you may achieve the glory of the terrestrial kingdom. If you follow your own moral code, then the telestial kingdom is for you.
In contrast, if you slip up but stay faithful to the Buddhist precepts of moral conduct, then you may achieve Nirvana, which is freedom from the cycle of birth and death in the Six Realms of Desire. If you just follow your own moral code, then you will live your own life.
Whatever my destiny is as a Buddhist Mormon, my depth of faith in unconditional love determines the strength of my moral code which determines my moral conduct. Through meditation and prayer, it is possible to live by my moral code and improve my moral conduct.
Although I am not perfect, I hope to improve my life by abstaining from caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and dangerous drugs. By doing so I plan on improving my health so that I may live long enough to be of service to other people, which is a core Buddhist tenet.
Since Mormonism is dedicated to service to other people, I find that it is amenable to my core Buddhist beliefs.
In Jodo Shinshu, the Japanese Buddhism that is the faith that I was born in, it is said that its founder Shinran Shonin once said, "I gladly will follow my master Honen to hell."
If conservative Christians might condemn me to Hell for "serving two masters", then that is based cherry picking Biblical quotes to support their religious opinion.
So, I certainly do not believe I am going to Hell. Although I have once stated that the Buddha is my Christ in jest, in all seriousness it is the foundation of the spiritual aspects of my life.
By declaring that "the Buddha is my Christ", I am only confirming the influence of the Buddha and the Christ on inspiring my life as a Buddhist Mormon.
In assuming that if I don't believe in Jesus, then I'll go to Hell, the conservative Christian is endorsing a religious opinion that is based on flawed logic.
In my opinion, this is the devilish nature of that assumption: condemnation of non-believers and fear of non-Christian faiths.
Whether or not I go to Hell is not determined by what I believe, but by how I conduct myself. This too is true in Buddhism. Indeed, both faiths require their members to repent from immoral conduct.
Therefore, the religiously faithful of any religion who follow the tenets of their religion will not go to Hell by practising their faith.
Thus I question the condemnation of unbelievers by any religion. Though, Buddhism endorses us to not to blindly accept what the Buddha said but to test everything that is Buddhist.
Perhaps this is why I like Mormonism. While the history of the Mormon is complex, the willingness of Mormons to be open to limited religious pluralism is a good sign. It shows the ability to adapt to the influence of post-modern eucheminism on Mormon thought.
Because I know that unconditional love is the root of Buddhism and Mormonism, I am sure that it will be possible for me to moderate my Buddhist ideals with Mormon ideals. Yet it is unlikely that the mixing of the different flavors of both faiths will lead to strengthening of my core belief about unconditional love.
For that Love empowers both Mormons and Buddhists to improve their lives for the better.
As I grow in my experience as a neophyte Buddhist Mormon, I hope to disprove the assumption by naïve conservative Christians that the syncretism of Buddhism and Mormonism will condemn me to Hell.
In Mormonism, a member eventually will be reborn in one of three kingdoms, the Celestial, the terrestrial and the telestial. Yet the afterlife is not of this world. Even so, the metaphor of the Mormon afterlife can be applied to this life.
If you follow the moral code of Mormonism, then it is possible to achieve the glory of the Celestial kingdom. If you follow the moral code of a non-Mormon religion, then you may achieve the glory of the terrestrial kingdom. If you follow your own moral code, then the telestial kingdom is for you.
In contrast, if you slip up but stay faithful to the Buddhist precepts of moral conduct, then you may achieve Nirvana, which is freedom from the cycle of birth and death in the Six Realms of Desire. If you just follow your own moral code, then you will live your own life.
Whatever my destiny is as a Buddhist Mormon, my depth of faith in unconditional love determines the strength of my moral code which determines my moral conduct. Through meditation and prayer, it is possible to live by my moral code and improve my moral conduct.
Although I am not perfect, I hope to improve my life by abstaining from caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and dangerous drugs. By doing so I plan on improving my health so that I may live long enough to be of service to other people, which is a core Buddhist tenet.
Since Mormonism is dedicated to service to other people, I find that it is amenable to my core Buddhist beliefs.
In Jodo Shinshu, the Japanese Buddhism that is the faith that I was born in, it is said that its founder Shinran Shonin once said, "I gladly will follow my master Honen to hell."
If conservative Christians might condemn me to Hell for "serving two masters", then that is based cherry picking Biblical quotes to support their religious opinion.
So, I certainly do not believe I am going to Hell. Although I have once stated that the Buddha is my Christ in jest, in all seriousness it is the foundation of the spiritual aspects of my life.
By declaring that "the Buddha is my Christ", I am only confirming the influence of the Buddha and the Christ on inspiring my life as a Buddhist Mormon.
The Buddhist Mormon (satire)
Today, I Googled "Buddhist Mormon", and discover this gem called Mormons and Buddhists: Overcoming the Language Barrier, which is one of three articles that inspires me to write this blog entry.
In both Buddhism and Mormonism, unconditional love is their common ground. For unconditional love is another word for charity and loving-kindness, which is known in Buddhist as metta.
As the basis of all forms of charity and loving-kindness, it could be said that unconditional love is the spiritual language that both Buddhists and Mormons speak. They just say it in different ways.
Therefore, it is possible to be both a Buddhist and Mormon.
As the author of the Mormon Matters article How Mormons Are Buddhist and Vice Versa writes, "the beauty of true Mormonism is that when we find truth in another religion, we have no obligation to reject it, but rather, are encouraged to embrace it."
Indeed, the religious pluralism of Japanese people who are spiritually inclined is why they are "born Shinto, marry Christian and die Buddhists."
At the root of all of this is unconditional love.
There is so much that Mormonism and Buddhism have in common that dialogue between a Buddhist and a Mormon is enlightening.
Here is the passage in the article that impressed me a lot:
The Rev. Hirano explained that one of the ideas he wants to change is about mourning in Buddhist funerals. “We want to be sad, we want to feel the pain of the loss of that person. That’s why we wear black. I know that we will be together again in one place, that I will be together with them again, but I’m still here and it hurts.”
Sister Takasaki remarked that she had never heard it put that way and concurred about acknowledging the pain of loss.
Through dialogue and study of both Buddhism and Mormonism, it is possible to realize that both faiths share in their common root in unconditional love.
References:
How Mormons Are Buddhist and Vice Versa: http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/12/why-mormons-are-buddhists-vice-versa/
Mormons and Buddhists: Overcoming the Language Barrier: http://thebuddhistmormon.wordpress.com/2012/10/05/hello-world/
Mormonism and Buddhism in dialogue: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865599471/Mormonism-and-Buddhism-in-dialogue.html?pg=all
In both Buddhism and Mormonism, unconditional love is their common ground. For unconditional love is another word for charity and loving-kindness, which is known in Buddhist as metta.
As the basis of all forms of charity and loving-kindness, it could be said that unconditional love is the spiritual language that both Buddhists and Mormons speak. They just say it in different ways.
Therefore, it is possible to be both a Buddhist and Mormon.
As the author of the Mormon Matters article How Mormons Are Buddhist and Vice Versa writes, "the beauty of true Mormonism is that when we find truth in another religion, we have no obligation to reject it, but rather, are encouraged to embrace it."
Indeed, the religious pluralism of Japanese people who are spiritually inclined is why they are "born Shinto, marry Christian and die Buddhists."
At the root of all of this is unconditional love.
There is so much that Mormonism and Buddhism have in common that dialogue between a Buddhist and a Mormon is enlightening.
Here is the passage in the article that impressed me a lot:
The Rev. Hirano explained that one of the ideas he wants to change is about mourning in Buddhist funerals. “We want to be sad, we want to feel the pain of the loss of that person. That’s why we wear black. I know that we will be together again in one place, that I will be together with them again, but I’m still here and it hurts.”
Sister Takasaki remarked that she had never heard it put that way and concurred about acknowledging the pain of loss.
Through dialogue and study of both Buddhism and Mormonism, it is possible to realize that both faiths share in their common root in unconditional love.
References:
How Mormons Are Buddhist and Vice Versa: http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/12/why-mormons-are-buddhists-vice-versa/
Mormons and Buddhists: Overcoming the Language Barrier: http://thebuddhistmormon.wordpress.com/2012/10/05/hello-world/
Mormonism and Buddhism in dialogue: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865599471/Mormonism-and-Buddhism-in-dialogue.html?pg=all
20140709
Cracking the Rejection or Die Meme (satire)
While it may be true that "it is sad that everyone you love either rejects you or dies", this meme limits the choices to rejection or death. Thus it is a fallacy that does not hold true in real life.
Indeed, this fallacy about love holds no basis in real life at all.
What if we project our rejection of another person's love based on conditions placed on that love? Only in the manga on which this meme is based does this argument hold true.
In real life, some people you love have never truly rejected you. If they are parents or other loved ones, then they may die before you one day. Their love for you is real, even when it seems otherwise.
However, on the rare chance that everyone close to you might have rejected you, please do not give up on yourself. For there will always be someone you trust who will not give up on you either, even if it is only you.
I am not merely saying this to encourage rugged individualism, but also endorse reaching out to other people who you love and share mutual trust.
For people who are closest to us and dear to our hearts, that love never dies due to the power of unconditional love.
20140707
Identifying Anger Issues In Relationships (satire)
In a new relationship?
Check the closet. If the clothes hangers are deformed, then quite possibly the new partner has anger issues.
Do not confront her about the clothes hangers. Just know that your days with her are numbered.
While awaiting the end of the relationship, treat her respect and love. Forgive her plenty of times.
This is not the time to judge her since you really love her. Love her a lot. You know what to do.
Hopefully, by the time you two are this close, your love for each other is improving the relationship as well as each of you. It will help you to trust each other.
When the time is right to bring up the clothes hangers, and you'll know that is when you two start living together, go into her closet to put your clothes away on those hangers.
This is now when you ask "Darling, why are these hangers like this?"
If the relationship ends sometimes after this, the clothes hangers had absolutely nothing to do with it.
If, instead, you two grow closer in love, never forget the closet hangers, because if she can deform clothes hangers, then she can choke you to death when she lets her anger control her.
However, she won't ever do that to you because she loves you. So stop acting in any way to make her go bad-ass on you.
Should you be one of those empaths, narcissists or sociopaths you would not have made it this far. Her anger issues were because of your behavior, be it emotional overreactions, selfishness or abuse. If she were on the ball, then she would have kicked you out a long time ago.
Deal with it and move on.
Check the closet. If the clothes hangers are deformed, then quite possibly the new partner has anger issues.
Do not confront her about the clothes hangers. Just know that your days with her are numbered.
While awaiting the end of the relationship, treat her respect and love. Forgive her plenty of times.
This is not the time to judge her since you really love her. Love her a lot. You know what to do.
Hopefully, by the time you two are this close, your love for each other is improving the relationship as well as each of you. It will help you to trust each other.
When the time is right to bring up the clothes hangers, and you'll know that is when you two start living together, go into her closet to put your clothes away on those hangers.
This is now when you ask "Darling, why are these hangers like this?"
If the relationship ends sometimes after this, the clothes hangers had absolutely nothing to do with it.
If, instead, you two grow closer in love, never forget the closet hangers, because if she can deform clothes hangers, then she can choke you to death when she lets her anger control her.
However, she won't ever do that to you because she loves you. So stop acting in any way to make her go bad-ass on you.
Should you be one of those empaths, narcissists or sociopaths you would not have made it this far. Her anger issues were because of your behavior, be it emotional overreactions, selfishness or abuse. If she were on the ball, then she would have kicked you out a long time ago.
Deal with it and move on.
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