Should I Read Bible?

[cetus]

19 minutes ago, Prabhaker said:

As we become more awakened, more we understand the hidden meaning. 

It's meaning must be hidden like a tic on a dog from the average person.

2 minutes ago, ChimpBrain said:

I watched about 8 minutes worth but all I hear is 2 denominations arguing over details of the bible

Yea, that's about all you need to listen to. It only gets worse! Even well versed Bible followers can't agree the true meaning.

[ChimpBrain]

26 minutes ago, Prabhaker said:

The inner world cannot be expressed literally, but symbolically -- only symbolically. Books like the Vedas, the Geeta, the Bible, the Upanishads -- they are not written by people who are asleep, they are not written as beautiful poetry or prose; they are written by people who know what truth is, who have awakened themselves to truth. Then whatsoever they write is almost like a map. You have to decipher it, you have to decode it, otherwise you will go on missing it. As we become more awakened, more we understand the hidden meaning. 

Nonsense. You and I could sit down and write a book in an afternoon that would do more to serve humanity than the Bible ever could or ever has. And I'm supposed to believe this garbage was sent here from the source of all love and wisdom in the universe? Have YOU actually read the Bible, Old Testament included? It's absolutely racked with genocide, murder, slavery, rape, infanticide, human sacrifice, you name it. I'm not saying that none of Jesus' words are worth taking seriously, I'm saying reading the Bible as a whole is completely unnecessary because it will cause more confusion than understanding. 

[Prabhaker]

3 minutes ago, cetus56 said:

It's meaning must be hidden like a tic on a dog from the average person.

Mystics always hide existential truths from persons who are not prepared to encounter it, as it will do more harm than good. 

[cetus]

1 minute ago, Prabhaker said:

Mystics always hide existential truths from persons who are not prepared to encounter it, as it will do more harm than good. 

"Nobel wines are not to be tasted by drunkards"

[Prabhaker]

3 minutes ago, ChimpBrain said:

You and I could sit down and write a book in an afternoon that would do more to serve humanity than the Bible ever could or ever has.

We can't understand the ways of enlightened masters. For raising human consciousness even wars and killings are necessary sometimes. Like Buddha, Jesus has also contributed in raising consciousness of humanity.

[cetus]

10 minutes ago, Prabhaker said:

We can't understand the ways of enlightened masters. For raising human consciousness even wars and killings are necessary sometimes. Like Buddha, Jesus has also contributed in raising consciousness of humanity.

 

[Prabhaker]

6 minutes ago, cetus56 said:

 

War is bad, hate is bad; they are the evils on the earth and they must go. Disease is bad, health is good; disease must go, but you must remember that a dead man never falls ill; a dead body can deteriorate but cannot be ill. So if you don’t understand, all your efforts may create a dead world. There will be no disease, no war, no hatred – but no life either.

Jesus would not like that type of peace. That type of peace is useless; then this world, with war, would be better. But many have been endeavoring, and their attitude is just negative. They think, ”If war stops, everything will be okay.” It is not so easy.

Another type of peace – a totally different dimension of peace – exists when you are vital, alive, but centered in your being: when self-knowledge has happened, when you have become enlightened, when the flame is lit and you are not in darkness.

JESUS SAID: MEN POSSIBLY THINK THAT I HAVE COME TO THROW PEACE UPON THE WORLD, AND THEY DO NOT KNOW THAT I HAVE COME TO THROW DIVISIONS UPON THE EARTH – FIRE, SWORD, WAR.

 

[cetus]

16 minutes ago, Prabhaker said:

We can't understand the ways of enlightened masters

When we can see all of existence happening from a place far removed from it, only than does the truth reveal itself.

 

[Prabhaker]

2 minutes ago, cetus56 said:

When we can see all of existence happening from a place far removed from it, only than does the truth reveal itself.

That's not possible. Truth reveal itself, when we are not separate from the existence. When we become existence. Unless we become a Buddha, we can't understand a Buddha.

[cetus]

10 minutes ago, Prabhaker said:

JESUS SAID: MEN POSSIBLY THINK THAT I HAVE COME TO THROW PEACE UPON THE WORLD, AND THEY DO NOT KNOW THAT I HAVE COME TO THROW DIVISIONS UPON THE EARTH – FIRE, SWORD, WAR.

Yes, I'm glad you quoted this. That seems to be exactly what is seen from afar.

It's not pretty sight by any stretch of the imagination. But it is what it is.

[Key Elements]

We have to understand ourselves. Teachers are there to be guides only. You have to find your own light.

[cetus]

1 minute ago, Key Elements said:

We have to understand ourselves. Teachers are there to be guides only. You have to find your own light.

I absolutely agree!

[cetus]

Religious wars are started not because a group sees the truth of their religion, but because they can't.

 

 

[cetus]

1 hour ago, Prabhaker said:

That's not possible. Truth reveal itself, when we are not separate from the existence

@Prabhaker I call it absolute emptiness. Some call it infinity. While true that it's not separate from existence, it is seeing existence from a totally different perspective.

[Key Elements]

You know what...let me just add...if you're looking for the infinity  (emptiness / nothingness / everythingness), we are not going to find it in the same ways. It's just like finding our life purpose - some are doctors, some farmers, some artists, some teachers. We mix our multiple talents together to make something unique out of it. 

Therefore, we also use different techniques and situations to find our own enlightenment - our own ways to meditate, contemplate, and do self-inquiry. I'm just surprised that karma is not emphasized here. Our life purpose counts toward enlightenment because karma counts. What goes around comes around  (in subtle ways). There are no paradoxes in enlightenment - the everythingness is the nothingness. Everything includes literally everything including karma. 

Everythingness = we can't just search for the infinity "dogmatically." We are meant to live this life meaningfully, even though it's nothingness. 

We are meant to live in peace because enlightenment means peace...why? We usually like to move up in consciousness - our natural tendency. When we pass by a homeless person, we want to help out - at least most ppl do. Therefore, we see programs to get ppl off the streets. (I'm not saying that it's perfect.)

Edited October 15, 2016 by Key Elements

[cetus]

12 minutes ago, Key Elements said:

Everythingness = we can't just search for the infinity "dogmatically." We are meant to live this life meaningfully, even though it's nothingness. 

True, any searching will only prove to be futile. When the time is right, it presents itself fully and everything changes. But nothing has really changed at all.

Everything becomes a complete picture that's no longer fragmented. We find something that we never realize was missing. The other side of the same coin, so to speak. 

[cetus]

49 minutes ago, John Flores said:

 

@cetus56 I do not know much, but I think absolute emptiness is the beginning of absolute everything.

Maybe something in you knows this truth already.

Edited October 15, 2016 by cetus56

[strwbrycough]

whether you do or you dont thats what your suppose to do Just flow with it. Dont get wrapped up in shoulds and shouldnts if you have the drive to pick it up and read it do it, and from that experience you will find out.

[Key Elements]

@John Flores

Yes, I agree to your point #1 in a sense that it has to be a healthy balance when seeking enlightenment - not just use totally one religion or one method over the other. Yes, it's what works for the individual person.

I feel lucky to have grown up with 2 different religions in the US, and now since I've immigrated to India for the past 6 yrs, I'm exposed to 2 more. I'm seeing religions practiced in real life and not just reading them in books.

[Key Elements]

7 hours ago, cetus56 said:

 

Hahaha...lol...I'm still laughing at this. I'm still learning to control my fictional ego. 

(Only joking...I think it's very creative.)

Edited October 15, 2016 by Key Elements