Do You Like It Soft Or Hard? (Page 2)

texas_charlie56: This is truly a learning experience

Zanjan: Love to hear when someone is learning - it's mutual gain when anyone does.

texas_charlie56: I am glad to see that makes you a happy woman.... one of the mutual gains

fanara55: if we were to look at the teachings of the later prophets and of Jesus we would find lots of sound, practical advice. It's sad that many of us are extremely old before we recognise this.
Hence the saying:' If only I were young and knew what I knew now.......'

Zanjan: In other words, "I want my old body back!" Indeed, once it was hard, now it's gone soft.

Truth be told, what I know now, emerged out of my previous errors, ignorance, hardships and utter stupidity. So much of that could have been avoided, or at least taken less time to navigate had my parents brought me up with the wisdom of the Prophets so I could continue on with it.

I'm more than amazed they never got that wisdom so never bettered themselves, yet I did. Finding one's own way into the Word of God is one of the most profound miracles of life.

texas_charlie56: more true than most believe and finding that path alone is even more profound

GeraldtheGnome: I prefer mine to be hard otherwise the Goddess won't be happy. Seriously though I am an agnostic theist so it is silly to think that any supernatural being is certainly around. Did Moses and/or one other or more in any religious message ever exist ? Probably not. Only those that were in any religious message that there is evidence for the existence of are the ones that we can be certain of.

Zanjan: That would be the hard way.

texas_charlie56: in training
so much to learn

h0nd0: people are people. no matter if they are the kings of Jews or pharaohs of Egypt . all people have control issues of some kind.. these are the facts we must all consume.. in our daily bread.. though a catholic is a christian and a protestant too.. a Lutheran and a Methodist see the disciples on different terms.. one will make Paul a hero and the other not.. not in the same respect.. these are control issues amoungst the Christians and i dare not get into any of it.. look passed the surface of words.. and see the harmony of enlightenment.. we are born as one.. only way to know that we can combine ourselves with another is through the conscientious behavior we control .. a man can be one with a woman to procreate.. but the
universal knowledge that can be shared through being with God is only under ones control ,, if we accept him. its the only way.. .. i deem God exists.. therefore he exists.. my life has many traces of God .. making this impact.. as well as jesus.. no one can speak for the promiscuity of the pharoahs.. or adam and eve or moses.. but they also left an impact.. submit to God and you will know through being still .. know he is God..

Zanjan: Strange that there are no Christian mystics anymore. I don't think there are any Jewish ones of the old guard (B.C & early AD) left either, and they used to be famed for that. Except for the odd Asian, only the Suffi orders remain.

Mysticism, although not classified as asceticism, is definitely not the easy way to arrive at oneness with God but, there are still a few who believe the effort is worth it. Their insights all seem to be the same - much more compatible with other religions because they were all very peaceful people.

The base of mysticism is you can't arrive at that pure state of mind and spirit without hardship; the hardest thing is to give up your own self (ego). This can't be achieved except by navigating a number of stages. To meet God on His own terms, one has to totally abandon this world and die to themselves.....the ultimate journey, culminating in the peak experience.

h0nd0: the perfect ideal is "not that difficult" to arrive at oneness with God" ... the concept is easier if you let God elaborate in you.. it pleases him.. Job had the experience.. and would not falter.. though his steps were critical.. he lived a full life with all the experiences life can precur..

Zanjan: No offense, Hondo, but in your referrence to "oneness with God", I don't think you know what mysticism is about - it's not a concept, it's an event. Job suffered but he didn't have the ultimate experience.

In Buddhist terms, it happens when one reaches the 7th Chakra; in other Asian terms, it's the blazing of enlightenment after the opening of the "Third Eye". In Christian terms, it's tantamount to "The Rapture". Very rare in all religions.

Job didn't have that - he had a simple, everyday lesson of faith. NOT the same thing.

h0nd0: faith can bring a person to total enlightenment also.. O()0ohmm..

texas_charlie56: aeiou= Om

h0nd0: i try to remind myself that job had no experiences through conceptual life events..

h0nd0: i just ... hopefully God won`t screw my mystical life up..

mmickey782: . mmysticism is not the experience of a real christian. whereas real christian doctrine maintains that God dwells in all christians and that they can experience God directly ...so beware ...bad teaching bye!

h0nd0: not true God dwells in every one.. whether a christian or an atheist..

mmickey782: .and if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. …get a bible and read it in
romans 8:9
you are still controlled by your sinful nature and have not God in your life....

h0nd0: If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

h0nd0: i am loved greatly..

mmickey782: . If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing <----yes! and but also any teaching that does not line up with God's word is not of God