Comments on: Chaos and a Life of Spiritual Poverty

By: rgl

rgl — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 03:45:56 +0000

Exactly. To fully reject one’s roots, religious roots is to reject more than the churches. The roots are entwined in all religions, and the particular roots of that world tree of spiritualism in which one first encountered and was fed spiritually are vital. I was born a Catholic and the deep roots of that Catholicism, roots deep under the actual church and priesthood continues to hold meaning that can’t be washed away by embracing another faith, regardless of how hard one tries. You put it so well. Thanks, Rob.

By: Rob Kohuch

Rob Kohuch — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 06:03:30 +0000

Interestingly, a lot of Japanese people feel no conflict in calling themselves Christian, Buddhist and still adhere to the teachings and rituals of Shintoism. So leaning towards one doesn’t mean you have to lean away from the other.

By: rgl

rgl — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:34:21 +0000

If I lean towards anything it might be Buddhism. That said, there is stuff in Taoism and Confucianism that also resonates within me. The respect for self, for others, the world and the universe that is not fear driven . . . life of meaning and purpose, not just taking up space and waiting unconsciously for death.

By: rgl

rgl — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:11:50 +0000

Hey there, Rob. It’s good to have you reading and leaving a comment. James Hollis has written quite a few books. Perhaps one of his latest books, What Matters Most might be a good one to start with. As for creating myths, I think it is more about finding yourself in a myth that is unfolding around you, being aware of something that is beneath or above the surface of what appears to be objective reality. I am leery of any doctrine that has answers which is why I am paying attention to Jungian psychology which suggests that there is more depth than what is on the surface of reality and that each of us determines what is true in terms of the resonance within our hearts, minds and souls – trust the self before trusting dogma or the collective.

I see I am again talking too much, but of course you know that this is my habit – love, Uncle Bob

By: Rob Kohuch

Rob Kohuch — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 03:56:30 +0000

If I find meaning in events involving either animate or inanimate things, e.g. bird lands on my window, does it mean I have created a myth about the event or observation? I suppose as much because I don’t know of any doctrine which explains something that is seemingly insignificant to most others.

I Need to read “tracking the gods”

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:57:11 +0000

Another insightful post, Robert. I most certainly agree and that meaningfulness need not come from religious dogma, either. I was watching Into The Universe with Stephen Hawking and was simply mesmerized with the vastness and miracle that is the universe and life itself.

Leaning more toward Taoism, myself, I believe that life is spontaneous. It just happens and we get what we make out of it, so it is up to us to choose our own mythologies, our own meanings. I understand what you mean about the meaning missing when kids grow up, there is retirement, or perhaps, as in my case, a divorce. Then, you have to really go deep to find meaning. If not, like some of my friends, they are just adrift … finding ‘meaning’ in drugs, alcohol, and parties, never wanting to be alone.

By: rgl

rgl — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 04:01:09 +0000

The modern world has reduced us to statistics and consumers at the expense of our humanness, our souls are reduced to a formula of synapses, neurons, amino acids and we are left holding religions in which the divine presence has fled.

By: Goddess Aphrodite

Goddess Aphrodite — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:51:33 +0000

I agree! How can I survive in a world that I believe is devoid of meaning? I would rather end it all here and now…and I’m just not ready to do that. We all have our days where we can’t seem to find meaning…at least I know I do…and then we look again, and if we really want to find it, we do. Thank-you for reminding me that I am not so different for looking outward for meaning and understanding of what’s inside.