Come and See

No religion is perfect. All religions make mistakes. (True, in the great-scheme-of-things, all is perfect and there are no mistakes; but I'm talking about a more pedestrian sort of imperfection and mistakenness.) For many people, there is no one religion that they totally agree with 100% in all matters of doctrine and practice.

Some members of a religion would say that, if you don't agree 100% in all matters of doctrine and practice, then you shouldn't be a member of the religion in question. Balderdash! Poppycock! They're flimflamming, bamboozling, hoodwinking with such statements. From an Abrahamic perspective, God may not have created this world imperfect, but He certainly has allowed it to continue in such a state of being, and to search for perfection in religion (which is certainly composed of imperfect beings and ideas) is about as smart as to search for perfection in a human being.

The purpose of religion is spiritual transmission, not perfection in either doctrine or practice. Start from the baseline that all religions are imperfect and mistaken, to one degree or another. For some, such a realization might lead them to dispense with religion altogether. For others, it might lead them to remain in the religion to which they currently belong. For some others, it opens up a different sort of possibility: the question becomes, which religion exhibits spiritually potency, doctrinal differences and institutional failings notwithstanding?

There are two ways to approach the spiritual life. One way is the way of submission: one simply accepts whatever a particular religious tradition teaches as being true and good. The way of submission is a venerable path, but it's not the only choice. Unfortunately, the way of submission has dominated much of Christian history.

The second way is the way of "come and see", scientific-tantra, noetic experimentation, or spiritual empiricism: one tests the doctrines and practices within one's own body-mind, adopting what proves true and good, and putting to the side what does not. The way of scientific-tantra has not dominated Christian history and practice, but it does exist.

At the Level

At the level of doctrine, the religions are very different,

because ideas and words are very different.

At the level of the experience and embodiment of the heart, the religions are the same,

because there is no religion there.

Truly, there is no need to convert from one religion to another.

When you know

that Christ is the "I am" of Advaita...

that Allah is the Power of Nirvana...

then you can praise Siva during Mass,

and take refuge in the Buddha in the Mosque.

Noble Truths for House-Holders

1. First noble truth: the truth of compassion (or "karuna") and wisdom (or "prajna"). Compassion and wisdom make life on earth enjoyable.

2. Second noble truth: the origin of compassion and wisdom exists in the realization that all beings seek and deserve compassion and wisdom, as relief from the frustrations and sufferings of life.

3. Third noble truth: family life is an excellent environment in which to practice compassion and wisdom. Spouse and children are living Buddhas, ready to teach us what we need to know and what we need to open our hearts to.

4. Fourth noble truth: compassion and wisdom are cultivated via the noble eightfold path.

Exactly How

Exactly how Buddhism and Christianity are compatible will be increasingly revealed over the coming centuries. No need to attempt, right now, a "forced" syncretism. The organic process is the best process. Still, one can understand the Christian term "God" in Buddhist ways. "God" would, then, not refer to one particular Buddhist idea; "God" would possess a range of potential meanings, depending upon the context. Possible Buddhist terms for "God":

1. The Buddha
2. The Dharma
3. The Sangha
4. Nirvana
5. Tathagata-Garbha
6. Buddha-Nature
7. Nirmanakaya
8. Sambhogakaya
9. Dharmakaya
10. Dzogchen

What it takes to be a Buddha

In the beginning is the heart.

The heart manifests nature.

Nature is the primal manifestation of the heart.

The heart radiates nirvana.

Nirvana is the primal radiation of the heart.

Nature and nirvana suffer from separation.

Nature and nirvana give birth to the person.

Nature and nirvana exist within the person.

Nature and nirvana exist in separation within the person.

The person suffers from the separation of nature and nirvana.

The person lacks wholeness. The person lacks health.

The person starts to evolve within nature.

Evolution is love.

Evolution is the love of nature expressed by the person.

Evolution is the integration of the person.

Evolution is the integration of nature and nirvana, as the person.

The destiny of the person is to heal the separation of nature and nirvana,

and thus to heal the person.

The destiny of the person is to love nature.

(The love of nature attracts nirvana.

Nature and nirvana in union is the culmination of evolution.)

Love of nature is necessary for the wholeness of the person.

Love of nature is necessary for the healing of the person.

To heal is to make whole.

To make whole is to save.

That which saves is a savior.

Love of nature makes whole.

Love of nature heals.

Love of nature saves.

Love of nature is a healer.

Love of nature is the healer.

Love of nature is a savior.

Love of nature is the savior.

Love of nature heals the person.

A healed person is a buddha.

The union of nature and nirvana exists within and as a buddha.

A buddha is a consummate lover of nature.

No love of nature? No buddha.

No buddha? No love of nature.

Zwei Bedeutungen (Two Meanings)

"Christ" has two meanings. The first meaning refers to one who is "anointed with oil". "Oil" here refers to the "amrita" or "soma" that is produced by the brain during the processes of spiritual transformation. Thus, one who has spiritually transformed, is a "Christ". The second meaning of "Christ" points to the action of spiritual activity itself, also called "sadhana" or "yoga". When symbolizing yoga, "Christ" may be spelled "christ".

"He who is endowed with wisdom, frees himself in this very life, both from worrying about his 'bad' deeds and glorying in his 'good' deeds. Therefore, one should devote oneself to christ. Indeed, christ is skill in action."
-- Inspired by Bhagavad Gita II:50

Moses and Brahmamuhurta

Awakening during brahmamuhurta is considered the best time for arising from slumber, from a natural and spiritual perspective. During these early morning hours, roughly from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m., the environmental potency makes spiritual practice immensely powerful. In the Judaic scriptures, Moses built an altar to God in those early morning hours, demonstrating the numinous force of the early morning:

Exodus 24:3-5: When Moses went and told the people all the LORD's words and laws, they responded with one voice, "Everything the LORD has said we will do." Moses then wrote down everything the LORD had said.

He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the LORD.