It truly is fascinating, Eruonen, that the three great religions have so much in common.
One interest of mine is to look beyond these three great traditions. What's behind them? What's the Source? The Source must be the same for all three.
I consider religions and churches to be man-made constructs--divinely inspired but man-made never the less. As such, I personally take them and leave them. But they all point back to something more basic, something beyond words but possibly within reach. It makes sense that it's Something that's common to all religions.
This is why Taoism seems to me to be the most basic religious belief system. It has the best explanation of the foundation. From there, I'll then pick and choose which of the man-made stuff I can agree with.
More on this later--
Will
I think I'm up to five different translations of the Tao te Ching now. The fun part is comparing the translations. My favorite may be Jerry O. Dalton's Backward Down the Path. His translation is not as beautiful as others but the accompanying comments are superb. Attached is a blurb that I have used several times that I find quite comforting.
The attachment didn't go through. Let's just cut and paste it. . .
“Backward Down the Path,” from Backward Down the Path, by Jerry O Dalton. (NY: Avon, 1994) Pp.12-14.
You are standing on the south side of a valley. It is a cool evening and to your left a full moon shines down with brilliant liquid light. There are silver highlights on the foliage. There is a path at your feet. It descends along the steep bluffs which form the valley wall. The bottom of the valley is hidden in mists. From above, the mists look like swirling silver-white pools dancing in the moonlight.
Walk down the path. It hugs the valley wall. It is broad and packed hard by long ages of use. To your right are the stone outcroppings of the cliff. To your left the ground falls away into the valley. Look down and see the tops of dark pines on the valley sides. The mists rise up to meet you as you descend.
The path bends around a large stone outcropping. Beyond it there is the sound of water splashing on rocks. Here the path goes under an overhanging formation. Walk under the stone ledge. You are behind a small waterfall. Look out through the falling stream of drops. They are like falling jewels as they catch the moonlight. The water trickles down among loose rock, then finds a small draw and forms a stream which goes down to disappear into the mists below. The foliage around the stream is lush and heavy. It is sprinkled with cleansing droplets of mist and water which sparkle like sequins.
Continue down the path. The mists swirl around you and bring a profound sense of peace and tranquility. There is a diffuse silvery light. Finally, the path broadens and moves away from the valley wall. The ground is level. Here there is a small clear area surrounded by ancient oaks. Their limbs intertwine overhead to form a natural shrine. In the center of the clearing, almost hidden by the white mist, there is a stone with a depression in its middle that forms a natural bench. There is the form of a woman sitting there. Mists swirl about her. She raises her hand and beckons for you to approach. This place and this feminine figure before you inspires awe and a sense of natural sacredness.
A soft melodious voice says, “I am the mystic female, the valley spirit.” She invites you to sit with her and you do. There is a feeling of vast, nurturing serenity and peace. Bask in its glow.
After a while, maybe minutes, maybe hours, you prepare to depart this mystical personage and place. As you come to the edge of the clearing, the voice sounds again saying, “You are my child. Return as often as you need me.”
Make your way back up the path. The mists thin, then clear as you approach the waterfall. Now the moon is lower. As you stand under the ledge and look out, it seems that the drops leave the edge of the rocks above and wash across the lunar face. They fall like liquid diamonds. Step forward and put your hands out. Feel the warmth of the earth and the luminous power of the moon in the droplets. Rub your hands together. Feel the rejuvenating and cleansing power of the water. Touch your forehead with the water. Feel your mind clear and become as calm as the surface of the moonlit pool. Linger a while.
Now leave the waterfall and continue up the path. Walk slowly. Sense the spirits of pilgrims who have come this way for many thousands of years. Finally you are near the top of the path. The waning light of the moon reveals these words inscribed in the stone of the valley wall . . .
The valley spirit never dies.
It is called the mystic female.
The gateway of the mystic female,
Is called the source of all things.
Barely visible like a veil,
Use it, it will never fail.
Now there is a glorious dawn. Open your eyes and step into it with renewed vitality. Take strength from the knowledge that the collective spirit of every pilgrim who ever walked this way now walks with you. Take comfort in the knowledge that you can always turn and go backward down the path.
No, not really. This particular meditation may be the longest. His format entails short commentary on each of the 81 chapters. For each there is a "paraphrase", a "for thought", and a "for action" comment.
hi there, i'm new!
lol 3 or 1???
heres my opinion: Jesus Christ is the Savior to the Gentiles.
As for the Jews, it may as well be Jesus Christ and would be recognized as promised in His second coming. Their covenant with God is up to them and God.
For all i know, we all serve the same God. so we are one!