(Your) article has a bag of unanswered questions followed by a few presumptuous statements. It really isn’t good enough.
This comment was made by “Chris” about my post, Let It Be.
I don’t know how he originally found my blog. He is a professional journalist who is assigned to the edge of a precarious part of the world 6000 miles away.
He intermittently makes remarks on my blog. Every once in a while, a teensy compliment. Mostly, he adds to the discussion or completely disagrees. I love when that happens.
This time when he commented, I invited him to write on the subject as a guest author. Surprisingly, he did it. I am thrilled. He is a talented writer with much to say.
Welcome, Chris! Come back anytime.
Here’s Chris ……
I am determined not to take up too much room – or your valuable time. I would like to free you from gurus, religions, obscure and arcane practices.
I want to tell you, ‘Just go out there and be happy’. There I’ve said it. You don’t need to read any further.
All religions promise something. They promise whatever it is you’re missing. They tap into your neediness. Many gurus tacitly suggest they have found the answer – THE Answer!
Honest ones like Buddha and Krishnamurti say they are only men and that there is nothing to know.
I’m no guru but I’m telling even if there were some great cosmic secret, you don’t need to know it.
Most of us were given a unit, our mind and body, equipped with the perfect factory settings. You don’t have to twiddle them. All that is expected of you in life, and all your parents ever wanted for you, was that you be happy.
‘Ah!’ I hear you cry, ‘Easier said than done.’ But this constant drive for illusive happiness is a phony concept. It was brought home to me one day when a friend asked me if I were happy. ‘I don’t know,’ I replied. ‘I haven’t been thinking about it.’
‘Well, you probably are happy then,’ he said.
And I have to admit that was likely true. I wasn’t in some unnatural state of ecstasy. I was simply content with what I had. I accepted what I had and my life was proceeding, if not in a way I could understand, then in a way that wasn’t unpleasant.
I had got to this state not by chanting, or giving my meager salary to some undeserving self-righteous zealot; not by potions, not by ripping out sacrificial hearts, not by climbing stone steps on my knees…
Everything had become OK by not trying to peer behind the scenery. I was not trying to elevate myself to a higher knowing. I was just being myself and trying to get on with life.
Too many people are all too ready to interpret what god wants for us. Many are well meaning. However there is a strong comparison to be drawn here with the social worker; we probably have all known one; who gains an insight to his own problems and then thinks he has a handle on everyone else’s.
Anyone remember the book by Sheldon Kopp entitled, If You Meet the Buddha On The Road – Kill Him? It may be time to re-read it.
All I can say is, be deeply suspicious of people who point the way.
Be doubly suspicious if they want your money for doing it.
Run a mile at the first hint of incense and bells.
View god’s word with grave suspicion unless you receive it firsthand. People behave differently when in large groups so, in big congregations, try not to be swayed from your unique path even, if they do seem really friendly people and the singing is good.
Be kind to yourself and the rest will follow. Things are as they seem. Things are simpler than you are making them.
Chris will be interested in your comments.
For my original article click here
Picture by caterina08
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Hi Chris and Corinne,
On the whole, something in me is drawn to what you say. In a nutshell, you are suggesting that people just “live,” and that I can whole heartedly agree with.
But why reject any aspect of human experience? Why is it better to pay money for a new Nintendo but not pay money for a new self-help book? Why is going to a concert better than going to a guru? It’s all just part of life. It’s all in the living.
Oh, sure, I understand you: people at the Eckhart Tolle lecture are looking for “answers” are seeking happiness, are convinced that Eckhart has something that they need. But how is that any different from the people at the movie theater?
My point, Chris, is don’t reject any facet of life. Love it all, experience whatever moves you. Ever heard a fundamentalist preacher live and in person rock the world of a few thousand people on a Sunday morning? Glorious! And around comes the collection plate. Praise the Lord!
Life is living me and you in a thousand different ways. All over the world, millions of different ways. Some seek God, some seek money.
Just some ideas to send your way. Namaste.
Dear Cris, “I would like to free you from gurus, religions,
obscure and arcane practices.” But why? You say “Just go
out there and be happy”, but what if your religion is what
makes you happy? Happiness has to be experienced by something
outside of ourselves, it isn’t innate. I find your blog as an
expression of your distaste of religions in general. Most of
our human population believes in some higher power or another.
Even to believe some certain star in the sky is God, makes
some people happy. I could never be happy without something
to hang onto to give me peace in this world. I think we’d all go mad unless we can do that. I think Tom Stine expressed this
so well in his blog. I’m less diplomatic. Sorry. Louise Bove
Thanks for your comments, and thanks to Corrine for the freedom to express mine. If I have neglected to compliment her sufficiently in the past then let me put it right now. I frequently return to this site because it has value. It’s good to have lively debate.
As to the comments directly – I’m sure I don’t need to point out the difference between and entertainment and a religion.
And I have no gripe with people experiencing god. To make myself clear – believe what ‘you’ want – not what others tell you.
Contrived belief systems are an anathema. They make people do weird things. Self-flagellation would be one less-extreme example. Religions often conveniently allow people to evade responsibility up to and including catastrophies of enormous proportion. Is it really alright if god tells you to start a war – and you do? Think of all the ridiculous and sometimes dangerous things religions ask of their followers. You don’t have to look very hard for examples do you?
It’s not god’s fault if some numpty in the 21st century claims to have a direct line to him. It is your fault if you follow the numpty. If you really believe in god, then stop getting in his way.
And Louise – “Happiness has to be experienced by something
outside of ourselves, it isn’t innate.”
That sounds like one of those statements we are supposed to nod through. My experience says you are wrong, and I’ll bet there is religious precedent to back me.
Dear Chris, What, exactly, is a numpty? Is it like humpty dumpty? Lord we are getting very serious here. I have just as much scorn for these quacky “religious” cults as you do.And
I do believe most wars were fought over religious differences,
but to “just live and be happy”. Life breaks your heart at
least half the time and what do you do then? It’s awfully
hard to even want to go on living when one of your children
has died. To see all the misery in the world, one wonders
how do they find the courage to go on? Now look, this subject
could go on to enternity, I need something to be happy about
and it isn’t going to well up from somewhere inside of me.
OK I’m done. Louise
Translation:
Numpty 731 up, 76 down
Scottish usage:
a) Someone who (sometimes unwittingly) by speech or action demonstrates a lack of knowledge or misconception of a particular subject or situation to the amusement of others.
b) A good humoured admonition, a term of endearment
c) A reckless, absent minded or unwise person
Twitter: raymond8
February 23, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Beautiful insights, Chris.
I truly agree with what you said by being happy.
The title of the recommended book stirred my curiosity.
Dear Louise, are we talking about people or you? I’m sorry that life deals us such terrible hardships. I’ve had a few and trust me I’ve prayed my heart out for it to end.
With Corrine’s permission I send you this poem. I wrote it for my sister.
Angel of Time
It’s time.
Time is the solution.
Whatever the problem, whatever the care,
When the pain seems too much to bear,
Time comes with sweet balm
To sooth breaking heart and aching soul.
Surrounded by fire
And nowhere left to go –
Into the circle steps
The Angel of Time
Lifting you up
Brand new,
When it seemed
There was nowhere left to go.
Hopefully, eventually,
She will come and lift us up
Brand new.
Chris Hickman
Dear Chris, Thank you. I have no words to express how I feel
after reading your poem.I know I will wait more patiently,
knowing the Angel is on the way. Louise
OK guys – just read Corinne’s previous post.
……….LET IT BE ……………..
You all know the answer.
There is none.
Dear Chris -
I have stood aside and let you handle the comments.
- Which you have done admirably and with great kindness.
Your poem is beautiful. I am sure it consoled many who read this article.
Thank you for joining in the conversation here. You made a substantial contribution to my blog.
Here is an open invitation. You are welcome here anytime. You have much wisdom to share and we are looking forward to hearing from you, either as a guest author – or through your always thoughtful comments!
Thank you, Chris.
Twitter: patriciasinglet
March 3, 2009 at 3:16 pm
With religions and spirituality, I have always followed my heart or gut whatever you want to call that instinct that tells me “This is right. That is wrong, for me.” I don’t make this decision for others. I make it for myself. Sometimes I have needed a teacher to direct me to the next level who has more knowledge and wisdom than I currently have. Even with a teacher, or I should say, especially with a teacher, I still question, “Is what he is teaching right for me?” “Is this the direction that my soul is wanting me to go?” Some friends and teachers have mistakenly thought that I followed others blindly wherever they were willing to guide. I have never in my life followed anybody blindly. As long as you are going in the direction that I need or want to go in, then I follow for awhile. When it is time to go in another direction, I may step out on my own or find another teacher to follow who is going my way. I think or hope that most of us operate in this way. Thanks for making me think.
Patricia – Spiritual Journey Of A Lightworkers last blog post..Kindness—Why Is It Easier To Be Kind To Strangers?
Dear Patricia -
Why am I not surprised at your comment?
Who else would take on the sacred no-no of sexual child abuse like you have – if they did not walk to the different drummer.
I take every one of your articles so seriously. You are one the the bravest people I know.
To me, this is the most important quote in your response.
“Sometimes I have needed a teacher to direct me to the next level who has more knowledge and wisdom than I currently have. Even with a teacher, or I should say, especially with a teacher, I still question, “Is what he is teaching right for me?”
I have had exposure to every person growth theory on the planet.
I say – take what is missing in your life, if anything – what makes sense – and wish them luck on their journey.
The rest is theirs.
As Chris said – no need to peer behind the scenery. When we’re done – we are done.
Twitter: patriciasinglet
March 4, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Corinne, thank you. I appreciate you too.
Patricia – Spiritual Journey Of A Lightworkers last blog post..Kindness—Why Is It Easier To Be Kind To Strangers?
In addition, the applicant participates in multiple national, state, and local associations to gather and share best practices and learning. ,