what's the big deal?.... the aim of the game is to move to some form of enlightenment...!..merle
Chris, > Metaphor is sort of a timid word, howevere. That's a *very* interesting "take". I don't completely understand what you have in mind. I take it to heart, but I'll work around it for now. To be clear about how I use or understand "metaphor" here, I'll say that the Christian story -- all, or part of it-- is either actually and really true; or else, it is metaphor. What could "the" metaphor be? Well, what would YOU say? Can you state one (metaphor) that would encapsulate Christian belief, teaching, and practice, Chris? A partially adequate one that I am aware of is: "The Good in us is constantly being crucified; but, it resurrects!" (coincidence?: this is a bit like, "The Three Poisons of Greed, Hatred and Ignorance Arise Endlessly; I Vow to Abandon Them!"). This makes a start, at least. That's the "Metaphor" for the moment. The whole Christian story, then, is an "Allegory", more or less, an allegory (and a gory one) of the living of a Christian life. Oh, it gets awfully complicated, due to the threads going back through the Old Testament, and elements given as evidence there of a phenomenon called "Prophecy", and all sorts of events documented there supposed to be direct interventions of God, performed miraculously with supernatural energies, which are, after all, in the nature of God, continuing in the same fashion in the Gospels, through the person(s) of Jesus and his Father in Heaven. I don't see the timidity yet, but I won't dwell on that. You can probably express what you mean. Granted, this "metaphoric understanding and practice" of the tradition is not much based on an active, actual-standing, BELIEF in God, nor upon a direct and explicit FAITH in doing (nor even *knowing*) the Will of God for our lives or for others, the Community. Those (unnecessary?) details are left as a mystery, and are not even named or mentioned explicitly. They lodge nicely in the cloud of unknowing, if anywhere. It's like the directness and intimacy one feels in practicing Shikantaza: one is becoming clearer, simpler, and more intimate by putting down what arises, no matter WHAT arises, simply by dropping, dropping, not feeding, not following. The metaphor, once understood, can be forgotten, and need not be held constantly before the mind. It is *not* a Koan. It is like an appreciation, which flavors everything, as the culture and climate and cuisine of a Place does. And with that appreciation, we can still smile on our brothers and sisters, and our heart can be open to their needs directly, not through a reliance on an other-power, or an other-presence. But can we also worship with them? I'd say "Yes". I think that ritual and group practice of this kind and other kinds (simple Assembly, or Meeting, as in Quaker practice, or Zazen as in Zen circles) graciously makes visible the invisible, which must always remain *invisible* (the Absolute). But as we see in Zen awakening, everything reflects, shines, displays, exemplifies the Absolute, however. When we awaken, we "see" that, in several ways. So, yes, ritual and gathering and worship are all to the good, and keep one fresh and healthy; these practices are like Meals, where the parts of the One-Being meet to remind themselves that "they" are One. That's all I've got at the moment, on this. Microphone now back to you! w/ Thanks, --Joe > Chris Austin-Lane <chris@...> wrote: > > Well, as my Episcopal t-shirt says below, belief is not at the heart of > Christianity, rather the action of worshipping in community is. There is a > tremendous variety of beliefs in my church at least. it is fun to have a > variety of beliefs but it's peripheral. I find it easier to speak to folks > with less out there beliefs at coffee hour, but fulfilling to speak with > anyone when I have an open heart or ears. > > Metaphor is sort of a timid word, howevere. But there is I am sure some > group of metaphor believers around. (#10 I believe is not strictly true - > at least in.Charlotte NC there was a church of speaking in tongues, and I > think snake handling tends to go along with that 'charismatic' sect. > > I think most serious people of any religion do not read the Bible or > anything else looking for scientific truths, but for external input that > clarifies our ability to accept Creation as it is now and respond > appropriately. > [snip]
