Are you talking about the goal or the path? What I speak about is the elementary truth underlying most religions. Truth just is. Whatever path you take to get there is up to you and entirely based upon who/what/where you are. This is why there are so many different buddhisms that are peace loving and violent and that have all sorts of variation. Their goals are the same but they recognize that people are vastly different.
The truth is transcendence of pairs of opposites. Whatever path brings you in contact with this is fine. The ultimate lack of meaning to boundaries between you and me.. We're like finger tips. If you look at them, they look like they're separate, but if you follow it back far enough, you see that they are parts of a larger body.
The truth is not "christianity" or "islam" or "buddhism." Those are VEHICLES to the truth. Mahayana buddhism, for example, means "big ferryboat" buddhism (i.e. a vehicle, not the goal).
Sometimes, christianity (and others, including the eastern religions) create icons and idols that people believe are something different from themselves. Jesus is a great example. So jesus of nazareth was a distinct individual? Who cares. Christ is all of us and each of us. That's what the Christmas story is about. It's about the birth of hope and unity. That's what jesus' teachings were all about. Transcendence. Divine birth at christmas is metaphorical for a divine birth of a mindset within you.
It's what all of the acts of jesus' life led to. The counteraction to the tree of dichotomies (fruit of the knowledge of good/evil, etc) is what christ represents. Communion (eating the sacraments) is a symbolic act. His teachings are embodied in the Image and Birth of Christ and his body on the cross represents the fruit of the tree of eternal life (the other tree in the garden which is actually the same tree). His act of sacrifice represents death to sin and rebirth.
Just like with santa claus at this time of year, kids think that the christmas spirit is embodied in a single person until they grow to see that the christmas spirit is within them and was all along.
I hope you enjoy the books romansh. Metta and Merry Christmas.
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Vi veri veniversum vivus vici. (By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe)
The self is not a fixed entity but a dynamic process of relationships
You & I, no distinction. - Tat Tvam Asi
Become Who You Are |