Belief, Learning and Faith

 

“Belief gets in the way of learning.”
― Robert A. Heinlein

 

Over the years I have met many people of strong faith and in most cases it has filled my heart. I don’t mean the dogmatic faith of a born-again true believer because that often feels hypocritical. It seems to me that anyone who feels the need to defend their faith by insisting that everyone else has got it wrong and should be somehow punished for it has a somewhat shaky foundation to begin with. I am talking about those who can accept anyone no matter their beliefs because they are centred in themselves and their universe. They have no need to defend because they are so sure of it. These are the people who have shown me what a divine unconditional love can truly be.
I have exposed myself over the years to as many belief systems and schools of thought and philosophy as I could. As I have stated here many times, I want to understand where the commonalities lie and try to get a glimpse of the biggest picture I can. One side effect of this avocation has been that while I notice certain tendencies towards a greater truth, there is none that has been put into words that I could grasp onto and call my own. Never completely. It has been an awesome journey that I have found fulfilling in countless ways. I know that the universe as a whole is conscious and aware and once or twice I have even touched that awareness and felt its echo within myself. I have nothing to defend not because of the security I have in my understanding but because I am open to all discussions on the subject. Especially ones that will deepen my understanding. It has been a strange wonderful dance and it continues.
Blessings, G

 

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Dancing From Her CentreDancing From Her Centre by G A Rosenberg

 

Open LotusOpen Lotus by G A Rosenberg

Quote of the Day – August 6 2012

“I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.”
― Robert A. Heinlein

 

I believe I’ll break one of those rules now. Does a rule exist that when you have a quote, some writing and a picture on a blog entry that they should relate to each other? Is it even customary? It seems difficult when my brain tends to go all over the place so I might have to ask you to bear with me.
A few months ago I read a post on FaceBook about how wonderful life was and someone else commented indicating it was selfish to feel that way when so many suffered, were homeless and others mistreated and tormented. Reading this hit me hard because I felt truth in it and yet…
It’s way too easy to give in to despair, to feel life is too hard too unpleasant and not worth living. Many people seem intent on ruining this life for the rest of us to make it even better for them its true and yet…
In every given day even when shit storms are happening there are countless moments of beauty, a flower, the smile of a baby, the full moon, someone doing a random act of kindness for someone else.
I would not and don’t ever advocate closing our eyes, ears, hearts or minds to the plights of others. I believe compassion to be one of the most important qualities to develop along with love yet if we get so wrapped up in the horrors of the world that we can’t appreciate awesomeness than what’s any of it for? What keeps us going?
So I will admit that all too many of us have really rough lives and help in anyway I can at the moment but I will also say appreciate and love the beauty, the kindness, the love, maybe even just a bit more. It gives us the strength to make life better for everyone.
Blessings, G

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Essence by G A Rosenberg