Do you believe in any "individual" that has power over you?

[NaMeaHou]

God?

go ahead, most of the world does, but I have my doubts.

We think there are "dimensions" or "powers" or some kind that we are not capable of understanding.

Why is it so difficult to believe that what we experience and learn is it? Why do so many have to look for a father or mother figure to guide their way through this existence? Is it easier to just give up, agree with what a book tells you is sacred?

I walk my own road.

[leftyandproud]

1. ????

What the hell did you just say?

[NaMeaHou]

2. If you're in the fourth dimension

and read every other letter, and translate it to your particular language, then you will see the light.

mebbee.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Experience

A mystic named Samuel L. Lewis explained the essence of spirituality years ago. When asked for his concept of spirituality, he said "concepts are concepts". When asked what spirituality was, he answered, "Experience". Making That a reality deals with having direct experience. It's a matter of perspective, and the way to change one's perspective from the ordinary to that which transpires behind that which appears depends on the individual. Some use meditation, some use prayer, some use other spiritual practices, such as the Sema ceremony of the Mevlevi Order of Sufism (they are called 'whirling dervishes'), and some do the Dances of Universal Peace. Native people have humblechia (vision quest), the inipi (sweatlodge ceremony), and the Sun Dance. There are probably many more ways to experience That as well. These are some of the ways I know of, and I am sure there are more. The choice to experience or not to experience is yours. Whatever you decide, may you experience peace.

[NaMeaHou]

4. Thanks, but

as I read it, the answer, experience, is just living life.

That has no further meaning for me.

That ants, for some reason, band together and protect their "land." Every species except ours protects others of that species.

We have risen to the level that we will kill and destroy anything on this planet; including our own kind. How civilized.

Peace to you.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Living beyond life

a mystic's experience is one that takes a person beyond one's ordinary concepts. If you have had a mystical experience, you know what I mean.

Science has already told us,that, at a subatomic level, we are all interconnected. That particles respond to thoughts of a scientist. "God" is not an individual, separate from all else.

That we have the ability to destroy everything is not civilised, I agree. Why things have come to this pass is one of the more interesting things with which we must, as humanity, address. Hard to get your mind around this one, but I do know that changing one's focus and also one's feelings has something to do with it.

[Nikia]

6. I am on a spiritual quest

Christianity is the basis of my spiritual quest although I am learning things from my own and others experiences as well, be they Christian or not. Why do I look beyond the obvious physical things in this world? I believe that there is more than just that, firstly. Secondly, I felt alienated from a lot of people as a child including my own parents. Spirituality is bringing and has brought me back to being able to trust people and truly care for them. I am not saying that I am good to people because I am afraid of going to hell. I am saying that I had good reasons not to want to be part of cooperative society, but my spiritual quest gives me reasons to be part of them. I expect to be on this quest my entire life. I don't think that I will ever arrive at a time where I feel that I have all the answers. I know for me that it has been a positive thing.

[NaMeaHou]

7. i wish you the best

i'm one of those impatient folks that doesn't accept dogma from others without personal verification. it would be easy for me to accept what i've learned, or put together some conglomeration of beliefs, but I refuse to because the initial concept sounds plain old foolish.

If I start from a point that doesn't automatically have faith, I am taken to a place far from belief in any dogma. Any dogma.