In a truly stunning paradox, extremes can flip around into their shadow opposites. They can also reveal a transcendent unity, or greater Whole.
Tag: Buddha
The Mystical Practice of Receiving a New Name
In many spiritual traditions there is a common practice of receiving a new name. What is this, and what does it have to do with mysticism?
The Compassion of the Christ-Buddha-Atman-Al-Insān al-Kāmil-Messiah-Zhenren-Tirthankara
The Christ-Buddha-Atman-Al-Insān al-Kāmil-Messiah-Zhenren-Tirthankara "suffers with," or has com-passion on, all other beings, because it sees in others a reflection of its Self. Others become a mirror of its Self. What you do to others, you do to Me. It looks out on the world, and all it sees is its true Self—everywhere it looks—in the [...]
The "Hidden Treasure" of God in Mormonism and Buddhism
In my paper "The Book of Mormon as Literary Alchemy: Joseph’s Magnum Opus and the Philosopher’s Stone," I suggested that the "gold plates" that Joseph Smith had in his possession were not actually made of gold, and did not actually contain ancient historical records like Mormons traditionally think. But that doesn't mean that there were not "gold plates" which were a kind of "hidden treasure" that Joseph really did discover within himself, which was the source of real divine wisdom, "ancient wisdom," and which he taught could be found within all people as well.
The Falling Away of Ego Consciousness in Hinduism and Buddhism
In this post I'll discuss how the falling away of ego-self consciousness is present in the traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism.
1 Corinthians 3 BHT, Who Teaches the Truth?
An addition to the BHT, where Paul addresses the people in Corinth about who teaches the truth about God. (The painting above is "Conversion on the Way to Damascus," by Caravaggio, c. 1600-1601.)
Original Sin and Nonduality
I had a conversation on Facebook the other day about original sin and its relationship to non-duality. I thought it was a great discussion, and I thought I'd share it again here.
Sam Harris Talks Favorably of Jesus?
Sam Harris is a noted philosopher, author, and neuroscientist. He is known for often speaking quite negatively about religion, and has been called one of the "Four Horsemen" of the New Atheism, which also includes Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Daniel Dennett. Harris has often spoken very harshly of modern Christianity, among other religions, particularly in his books The End of Faith, and Letter to a Christian Nation. What I find fascinating is where he has spoken positively about it, and Jesus in particular. This is may be a key where I think the discussion should take place for there to be a constructive dialogue between science and religion.
We WILL Surely Die
Happy Halloween! For many people, however, today is not a happy day, but it is the most disliked day of the entire year. This is when people seem to celebrate the death, the macabre, evil, darkness, the shadows, wickedness, perhaps even Satan himself. Those things are a big turn off for many people, particularly the most religious and devout.
Our True Identity
We've been surrounded by Christianity for many centuries, Mormonism for 200 years, yet it seems Christ consciousness hasn't penetrated most Western people, even those in Utah. Most don't know that Christ lives in them (Galatians 2:20).