Comments on: One Way or One of Many Ways? It Depends on the Goal http://paulgerhards.com/blog_thisisthatis/2009/05/08/one-way-or-one-of-many-ways-it-depends-on-the-goal/ A householder's thoughts along the Middle Way Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:37:15 +0000 hourly 1 By: Paul http://paulgerhards.com/blog_thisisthatis/2009/05/08/one-way-or-one-of-many-ways-it-depends-on-the-goal/comment-page-1/#comment-463 Paul Mon, 18 May 2009 22:23:05 +0000 http://paulgerhards.com/blog_thisisthatis/?p=1154#comment-463 John, if I take your meaning, I agree there is a difference between one's taking of responsibility for one's own liberation and being saved by an authoritarian deity after following a set of rules prescribed by that deity and others. Thanks for your thoughts. John, if I take your meaning, I agree there is a difference between one’s taking of responsibility for one’s own liberation and being saved by an authoritarian deity after following a set of rules prescribed by that deity and others.

Thanks for your thoughts.

]]> By: John Torcello http://paulgerhards.com/blog_thisisthatis/2009/05/08/one-way-or-one-of-many-ways-it-depends-on-the-goal/comment-page-1/#comment-454 John Torcello Wed, 13 May 2009 14:03:54 +0000 http://paulgerhards.com/blog_thisisthatis/?p=1154#comment-454 For such a long time I struggled and wrestled with the issue of religion versus spirituality. True, the Middle Way is balance; and, our practice relies on the clarity found there. But, I think, there is another way to consider the word 'salvation' in the context of religion versus spirituality; it is in the idea of saving 'from what'?... Buddha's notion, his quest,...'liberation from the endless cycle of pain and suffering'...we, you and I, understand and accept. I find, however, that any institution of religion distances us from this goal because of its reliance on its notion of authority; pre-supposition and study of what 'others' knew or know in a way that predetermines our path to this goal; usually, in a way that doesn't quite fit; at least, it didn't for me... Religion's may indeed be well-meaning; and, it's natural for humans to seek the comfort of 'like' tribes; but, I think, that is a very different thing than the responsibility each of us face with respect to understanding the difference between desire and a determined passion to find this relief in life. For such a long time I struggled and wrestled with the issue of religion versus spirituality. True, the Middle Way is balance; and, our practice relies on the clarity found there. But, I think, there is another way to consider the word ‘salvation’ in the context of religion versus spirituality; it is in the idea of saving ‘from what’?…

Buddha’s notion, his quest,…’liberation from the endless cycle of pain and suffering’…we, you and I, understand and accept. I find, however, that any institution of religion distances us from this goal because of its reliance on its notion of authority; pre-supposition and study of what ‘others’ knew or know in a way that predetermines our path to this goal; usually, in a way that doesn’t quite fit; at least, it didn’t for me…

Religion’s may indeed be well-meaning; and, it’s natural for humans to seek the comfort of ‘like’ tribes; but, I think, that is a very different thing than the responsibility each of us face with respect to understanding the difference between desire and a determined passion to find this relief in life.

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