Purpose, and the Religious Left
An excerpt from Wikipedia.
org (Religious Left): "The Christian Left holds that social justice, renunciation of power, humility, forgiveness, and private observation of prayer (as opposed to publicly mandated prayer) are clearly mandated by the Gospel text .
.
.
Bible scholars observe that early church practices, would be described as socialism if practiced today.
Evidence for a form of non-Marxist communism (sometimes referred to as Christian communism) can even be found in the Scriptures: ("The community of believers were of one heart and one mind.
None of them ever claimed anything as his own; rather, everything was held in common.
" - Acts 4:32).
In his day, Jesus repeatedly advocated for the poor and outcast over the wealthy, powerful, and religious.
The Christian Left maintains that stance is as relevant today as it was in Jesus' time.
Also, because they adhere to Jesus' higher standard of "turning the other cheek", which they believe supersedes the Old Testament law of "an eye for an eye", the Christian Left often hearkens towards pacifism even if they see society in general tending toward militarism.
The most common religious viewpoint which might be described as 'left wing' is social justice, or care for the poor.
Supporters of this might encourage universal health care, generous welfare, subsidized education, foreign aid and government subsidized schemes for improving the conditions of the disadvantaged.
Stemming from egalitarian values from a Christian perspective, adherents of the Christian left consider it part of their Christian duty to take actions on behalf of the oppressed.
As nearly all major religions contain some kind of requirement to help others, social justice has been cited by various religions as in line with their faith.
While non-religious socialists find support for socialism in the Gospels (for example Mikhail Gorbachev citing Jesus as "the first socialist," the Christian Left does not find that socialism alone is of particular merit.
Christian faith is the core of their belief, which in turn demands social justice.
" ************************************************************************************* Purpose (definition): A determination to accomplish something.
An expected conclusion that points you toward an action plan.
An end to which one employs a means to accomplish.
What is the primary purpose .
.
.
for you? What is your true purpose? This is a very important question, because your true purpose will frame your life.
If your purpose is to have a family and raise your kids to the best of your ability, your entire focus will be on your family.
Or perhaps on your religious goals, career, your wealth, or health.
Whatever you deem to be the most crucial aspect of your life will capture your attention and imagination.
This primary purpose will overshadow all other pursuits, and frame everything you do.
Of course, many of us have no idea what our primary purpose is; we just react to whatever comes up with no particular plan, to speak of, other than making a living and perhaps having a little fun (or vice versa!) There is no driving force behind our lives, and we are more or less relaxed and unconcerned.
This works as long as we are young, have good luck, a job, and/or good health, or until we become bored and are no longer having fun! Others will make a goal and stick with it long after the goal is no longer relevant for them.
We tend to hang on to a notion that has run its course because we don't know what else to do.
We become stuck in whatever relationship, ideal, or career to which we have succumbed.
Once in a while, however, we do run across someone whose purpose remains steady regardless of outside influences.
This is rare, and indicates an unusual sensitivity to the world, and an understanding and distrust of how the world can powerfully influence us to fall for transient pleasures that don't stand the test of time.
In a word, this individual has somehow found a shortcut through the morass of trying umpteen things before they find the one that satisfies them for an entire lifetime.
A fortunate individual, for sure, is the person who can find their true purpose, because a true purpose will never imprison you, or close you mind.
A true purpose will always free you and open your mind so that you can see clearly every moment and never get caught up in a purpose that depends on something that could be taken away.
But think about it, what kind of purpose would that be; after all, wouldn't most purposes be subject to loss? What could be so secure that we can be certain of it? Our friends could leave, our ideals could be disproven (it happens all the time), our careers are tenuous, with globalization and changing technology.
So what in the world could we find as a purpose that wouldn't leave us flat? Religion and spirituality? Hardly.
According to a recent survey, most religious people secretly doubt their faiths.
And spirituality; well, that changes daily depending upon what you read! New information and scientific discoveries are being uncovered everyday that debunks our beliefs.
The Catholic Church still hasn't gotten over the idea that the earth is really round, and not the center of the universe! No, a true purpose would have to be something more secure than these.
Hmm.
What could it be? Could it be that a true purpose is a negation of purpose? (Don't let me lose you here).
If we have no purpose, are wedrifting without a rudder? No, we can live without purpose.
As a matter of fact, that is the only way to live freely and sanely.
When a new student of Zen begins practice, they are taught to sit in a very structured manner.
The entire emphasis is on the posture and maintaining that posture.
Then they are taught to "just sit," with no particular thoughts in mind, and no goal or purpose in mind.
In time, the thoughts slow down, and then stop.
When they stop, a void appears, and that void changes the student fundamentally so that everything they contact in the world after that appears different from what it did in the past.
If you ask students about this, they can only say that they now understand things from a completely different point of view, and that Zen has made a tremendous difference in their lives.
So, what is their purpose now? Zen? No.
Zen was a method that freed their souls, and now they no longer need Zen as a purpose in life.
Zen doesn't become a prison for them; they understand that they must cut loose from any attachment to Zen.
But actually, it doesn't happen that way; they don't purposely cut loose from any attachment; they cut loose naturally.
They may still practice meditation, but not as a purpose, not as a means to an end.
It is more of a way of life for them, as the purposelessness of meditation converts into a life of perfection, where a human being can become completely natural and normal.
Any purpose at this point would be anti-climatic to their experience of the void, and the results of that experience.
So, whatever your purpose, it will surely imprison you.
Therefore, the true purpose of life is no purpose - but this doesn't mean aimlessness or carelessness.
The experience of the void - shunyata, emptiness, deep Christian contemplation culminating in the unitive life, meditation, Buddhist enlightenment - these make the difference.
These shifts in consciousness completely reframe the human experience away from ambition and achievement, and toward compassion, harmony and cooperation.
There is a different world evolving, and this will become slowly self-evident over the coming years.
Things are changing; keep your eyes open - things are beginning to happen in subtle ways.
Christianity in America is beginning to lean left, where, arguably, Jesus stands - toward love, harmony and cooperation - instead of hatred, division, dissonance, and contention.
org (Religious Left): "The Christian Left holds that social justice, renunciation of power, humility, forgiveness, and private observation of prayer (as opposed to publicly mandated prayer) are clearly mandated by the Gospel text .
.
.
Bible scholars observe that early church practices, would be described as socialism if practiced today.
Evidence for a form of non-Marxist communism (sometimes referred to as Christian communism) can even be found in the Scriptures: ("The community of believers were of one heart and one mind.
None of them ever claimed anything as his own; rather, everything was held in common.
" - Acts 4:32).
In his day, Jesus repeatedly advocated for the poor and outcast over the wealthy, powerful, and religious.
The Christian Left maintains that stance is as relevant today as it was in Jesus' time.
Also, because they adhere to Jesus' higher standard of "turning the other cheek", which they believe supersedes the Old Testament law of "an eye for an eye", the Christian Left often hearkens towards pacifism even if they see society in general tending toward militarism.
The most common religious viewpoint which might be described as 'left wing' is social justice, or care for the poor.
Supporters of this might encourage universal health care, generous welfare, subsidized education, foreign aid and government subsidized schemes for improving the conditions of the disadvantaged.
Stemming from egalitarian values from a Christian perspective, adherents of the Christian left consider it part of their Christian duty to take actions on behalf of the oppressed.
As nearly all major religions contain some kind of requirement to help others, social justice has been cited by various religions as in line with their faith.
While non-religious socialists find support for socialism in the Gospels (for example Mikhail Gorbachev citing Jesus as "the first socialist," the Christian Left does not find that socialism alone is of particular merit.
Christian faith is the core of their belief, which in turn demands social justice.
" ************************************************************************************* Purpose (definition): A determination to accomplish something.
An expected conclusion that points you toward an action plan.
An end to which one employs a means to accomplish.
What is the primary purpose .
.
.
for you? What is your true purpose? This is a very important question, because your true purpose will frame your life.
If your purpose is to have a family and raise your kids to the best of your ability, your entire focus will be on your family.
Or perhaps on your religious goals, career, your wealth, or health.
Whatever you deem to be the most crucial aspect of your life will capture your attention and imagination.
This primary purpose will overshadow all other pursuits, and frame everything you do.
Of course, many of us have no idea what our primary purpose is; we just react to whatever comes up with no particular plan, to speak of, other than making a living and perhaps having a little fun (or vice versa!) There is no driving force behind our lives, and we are more or less relaxed and unconcerned.
This works as long as we are young, have good luck, a job, and/or good health, or until we become bored and are no longer having fun! Others will make a goal and stick with it long after the goal is no longer relevant for them.
We tend to hang on to a notion that has run its course because we don't know what else to do.
We become stuck in whatever relationship, ideal, or career to which we have succumbed.
Once in a while, however, we do run across someone whose purpose remains steady regardless of outside influences.
This is rare, and indicates an unusual sensitivity to the world, and an understanding and distrust of how the world can powerfully influence us to fall for transient pleasures that don't stand the test of time.
In a word, this individual has somehow found a shortcut through the morass of trying umpteen things before they find the one that satisfies them for an entire lifetime.
A fortunate individual, for sure, is the person who can find their true purpose, because a true purpose will never imprison you, or close you mind.
A true purpose will always free you and open your mind so that you can see clearly every moment and never get caught up in a purpose that depends on something that could be taken away.
But think about it, what kind of purpose would that be; after all, wouldn't most purposes be subject to loss? What could be so secure that we can be certain of it? Our friends could leave, our ideals could be disproven (it happens all the time), our careers are tenuous, with globalization and changing technology.
So what in the world could we find as a purpose that wouldn't leave us flat? Religion and spirituality? Hardly.
According to a recent survey, most religious people secretly doubt their faiths.
And spirituality; well, that changes daily depending upon what you read! New information and scientific discoveries are being uncovered everyday that debunks our beliefs.
The Catholic Church still hasn't gotten over the idea that the earth is really round, and not the center of the universe! No, a true purpose would have to be something more secure than these.
Hmm.
What could it be? Could it be that a true purpose is a negation of purpose? (Don't let me lose you here).
If we have no purpose, are wedrifting without a rudder? No, we can live without purpose.
As a matter of fact, that is the only way to live freely and sanely.
When a new student of Zen begins practice, they are taught to sit in a very structured manner.
The entire emphasis is on the posture and maintaining that posture.
Then they are taught to "just sit," with no particular thoughts in mind, and no goal or purpose in mind.
In time, the thoughts slow down, and then stop.
When they stop, a void appears, and that void changes the student fundamentally so that everything they contact in the world after that appears different from what it did in the past.
If you ask students about this, they can only say that they now understand things from a completely different point of view, and that Zen has made a tremendous difference in their lives.
So, what is their purpose now? Zen? No.
Zen was a method that freed their souls, and now they no longer need Zen as a purpose in life.
Zen doesn't become a prison for them; they understand that they must cut loose from any attachment to Zen.
But actually, it doesn't happen that way; they don't purposely cut loose from any attachment; they cut loose naturally.
They may still practice meditation, but not as a purpose, not as a means to an end.
It is more of a way of life for them, as the purposelessness of meditation converts into a life of perfection, where a human being can become completely natural and normal.
Any purpose at this point would be anti-climatic to their experience of the void, and the results of that experience.
So, whatever your purpose, it will surely imprison you.
Therefore, the true purpose of life is no purpose - but this doesn't mean aimlessness or carelessness.
The experience of the void - shunyata, emptiness, deep Christian contemplation culminating in the unitive life, meditation, Buddhist enlightenment - these make the difference.
These shifts in consciousness completely reframe the human experience away from ambition and achievement, and toward compassion, harmony and cooperation.
There is a different world evolving, and this will become slowly self-evident over the coming years.
Things are changing; keep your eyes open - things are beginning to happen in subtle ways.
Christianity in America is beginning to lean left, where, arguably, Jesus stands - toward love, harmony and cooperation - instead of hatred, division, dissonance, and contention.
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