3/4/2013: Great article/link by Steve McSwain: 6 Things Christians should stop saying.
Here is the link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/steve-mcswain/6-things-christians-should-just-stop-saying_b_2767507.html
When we love, what more needs to be said?
2/14/2013
I sometimes ponder the question "what is the difference between spirituality and religion"? Over the years I have changed my thoughts and feelings about certain aspects of being religious. In the last 5 years have asked myself "are you spiritual? Religious? or both? I now consider myself both spiritual and religious. However, I have grown to consider myself more of a spiritual person for "there is no true religion or spirituality without kindness and love." But you can be religious without kindness and love -- that is one of the differences I've found between the two. - Cydney
I found an article today that is very good in reference to this topic. Here is the link.
http://www.esquire.com/features/best-and-brightest-2009/shane-claiborne-1209?src=soc_fcbk&fb_action_ids=10200464798769726&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=timeline_og&action_object_map=%7B%2210200464798769726%22%3A10150190379306896%7D&action_type_map=%7B%2210200464798769726%22%3A%22og.likes%22%7D&action_ref_map=[]
The greatest romance is with the Infinite. You have no idea how beautiful life can be. When you suddenly find God everywhere, when He comes and talks to you and guides you, the romance of divine love has begun.
— Paramahansa Yogananada
"Religion says there is only one way to heaven; spirituality says "choose the one that brings you joy"
[below are excerpts or quotes I've found from various articles that I found meaningful in my search for spiritual maturity and understanding the joy of being both spiritual and religious.]
Essentially, religion is designed to be our spiritual source of comfort and advice, a structure to provide moral guidelines, a caring community and help for those in need. And in many ways it is. But religion is also the cause of violence, wars, discrimination, bigotry, pain and suffering, all of which are a long way from kindness, compassion, comfort and spiritual reassurance.
Religious morality is also used to justify political reasoning and supremacy.
At the same time, spirituality is a loaded word, often misunderstood, as its practices include meditation, contemplation and direct communication with universal consciousness. Pope John Paul condemned meditation and yoga as immoral, deluding and even sinful. Yet spirituality is simply the discovery of our authentic self without any trimmings or labels, which gives us a rich source of values and a deeper meaning to life, whatever our religion.
In the seeking of such meaning, religion and spirituality come together. Spirituality highlights qualities such as caring, kindness, compassion, tolerance, service and community, and, in its truest sense, so does religion. But where religion is defined by its tradition and teachings, spirituality is defined by what is real in our own experience, arising from an inner search within ourselves, the finding of our own truth.
Where religion tends to breed separation -- my religion vs. your religion, my God is the only real God, my ethics are better than yours, etc. -- spirituality sees all people as equal. We are not an "ism" or a label, we are spiritual beings whose purpose is to awaken to our true nature.
Buddha wasn't a Buddhist, Jesus wasn't a Christian. The great ones didn't create a religion, they just said to look within. They recognized the truth that is always here, always present, but so easily forgotten. We are not able to see this because of a mind that is veiled by ignorance, hatred and greed: the "me-centeredness" that rules and deludes.
When we were with the Dalai Lama at his residence in India, we asked him what we could do to help humankind to awaken to caring and kindness. He said how people of different religions should come together in peace and respect and talk openly, honoring each others' differences and similarities. This is a great example of religion and spirituality coming together.
"God has no religion" "There is only ONE RELIGION though there are a hundred versions of it.
"There are many paths up the Mountain, but the view of the moon from the top is the same."
"When religions coexist, leaders communicate, media respect neutrality, laws not blinded by immunity, and citizens' needs take precedence over profitability - peace becomes reality, world lives in harmony." 11
Hans Küng: "There will be peace on earth when there is peace among the world religions."
“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.” – the Dalai Lama
‘The truth you believe and cling to makes you unavailable to hear anything new.’ – Pema Chodron
“There was a time, when I blamed my companion if his religion did not resemble mine. Now, however, my heart accepts every form….Love alone is my religion.” – Ibn Arabi
“The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them.” – Thomas Merton
“The spiritual journey is individual, highly personal. It can’t be organized or regulated. It isn’t true that everyone should follow one path. Listen to your own truth.” – Ram Dass
I also like this article in reference to the above: http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/mistic/mistic_10.htm
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