Posted December 8th, 2004 by srichinmoyinspi...(#9618)
Dear Jan,
I agree with you that the ideas some people peddle are like a
concentrated form of poison - at least for spiritual seekers. There
are people who oppose religious freedom and diversity who have
developed methods and plans of action intended to break people's
faith. One should be wary of such people, as they do have the
annoying persistence of encyclopedia salesmen - but alot less
scruples!
It's as if they have been conquered by vitriolic doubt themselves;
and having lost the battle to this force, they then take up arms on
its behalf. It is a "pearls before swine" situation in the sense
that these people do not value faith except as something to
denigrate. So just as one doesn't take out one's wallet on the
street in a high crime area, one doesn't share the depths of one's
faith with hostile people. There is no need to correct their wrong
understanding, because they do not care for spiritual truth. They
prefer doubt and negativity.
As spiritual seekers, we respect the power of faith and of the
heart. Yet as a matter of survival, we can also recognize the power
of destructive forces. I may know that something is poison, but just
knowing it's poison doesn't take away its destructive power. If
someone gives me poison I will still suffer, and I may die!
Like thugs in a dark alley, some people will set upon us if we give
them the chance. They may want to test and tempt us, but as
spiritual seekers we are under no obligation to submit to them. We
can simply be unavailable for that purpose. We don't need to defend
our faith if challenged or criticised. We can simply keep our faith
locked away in our hearts.
A thief may say: "I challenge you. I bet you are a person of no
worth. Show me all the money you have - I'm sure it is nothing." I
may think: "The thief is wrong. I am carrying much money and I can
prove it to him." But if I take out my money, the thief will only
steal it!
Like this, people who have become hostile or critical may insist
that we prove or justify our faith; but there is no need. In
becoming spiritual seekers, we have already passed through a stage
of critical evaluation. We have graduated to a higher life, and
when we practice prayer, meditation, service, and love for God, the
truth of life shines white - that is, our experience of peace, light
and joy is sufficient unto itself. The proof of the pudding is in
the eating.
I have often thought that doubters tempt us to break our faith in
order to find out what it is made of; and this brings me to your
reference to Saruman, the traitorous wizard in the Lord of the
Rings. Here is a passage in which Gandalf is describing a meeting
with Saruman:
"I am Saruman the Wise, Saruman Ring-maker, Saruman of Many
Colours!"
I looked then and saw that his robes, which had seemed white, were
not so, but were woven of all colours, and if he moved they
shimmered and changed hue so that the eye was bewildered.
"I liked white better," I said.
"White!" he sneered. "It serves as a beginning. White cloth may be
dyed. The white page can be overwritten; and the white light can be
broken."
"In which case it is no longer white," said I. "And he that breaks a
thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom."
from The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien
Assistant Moderator
P.S. I personally have had some sad experiences with intolerant
people, and this may make me overly reluctant to share matters of
faith with workmates. But as Terri was saying in message #9545,
faith has a natural quality which can be communicated. Maybe one of
the unkindest aspects of attacks by hostile people is that it makes
spiritual seekers afraid to share something which ideally is a
natural and joyful part of life: love for God!
Dear Jan,
I agree with you that the ideas some people peddle are like a
concentrated form of poison - at least for spiritual seekers. There
are people who oppose religious freedom and diversity who have
developed methods and plans of action intended to break people's
faith. One should be wary of such people, as they do have the
annoying persistence of encyclopedia salesmen - but alot less
scruples!
It's as if they have been conquered by vitriolic doubt themselves;
and having lost the battle to this force, they then take up arms on
its behalf. It is a "pearls before swine" situation in the sense
that these people do not value faith except as something to
denigrate. So just as one doesn't take out one's wallet on the
street in a high crime area, one doesn't share the depths of one's
faith with hostile people. There is no need to correct their wrong
understanding, because they do not care for spiritual truth. They
prefer doubt and negativity.
As spiritual seekers, we respect the power of faith and of the
heart. Yet as a matter of survival, we can also recognize the power
of destructive forces. I may know that something is poison, but just
knowing it's poison doesn't take away its destructive power. If
someone gives me poison I will still suffer, and I may die!
Like thugs in a dark alley, some people will set upon us if we give
them the chance. They may want to test and tempt us, but as
spiritual seekers we are under no obligation to submit to them. We
can simply be unavailable for that purpose. We don't need to defend
our faith if challenged or criticised. We can simply keep our faith
locked away in our hearts.
A thief may say: "I challenge you. I bet you are a person of no
worth. Show me all the money you have - I'm sure it is nothing." I
may think: "The thief is wrong. I am carrying much money and I can
prove it to him." But if I take out my money, the thief will only
steal it!
Like this, people who have become hostile or critical may insist
that we prove or justify our faith; but there is no need. In
becoming spiritual seekers, we have already passed through a stage
of critical evaluation. We have graduated to a higher life, and
when we practice prayer, meditation, service, and love for God, the
truth of life shines white - that is, our experience of peace, light
and joy is sufficient unto itself. The proof of the pudding is in
the eating.
I have often thought that doubters tempt us to break our faith in
order to find out what it is made of; and this brings me to your
reference to Saruman, the traitorous wizard in the Lord of the
Rings. Here is a passage in which Gandalf is describing a meeting
with Saruman:
"I am Saruman the Wise, Saruman Ring-maker, Saruman of Many
Colours!"
I looked then and saw that his robes, which had seemed white, were
not so, but were woven of all colours, and if he moved they
shimmered and changed hue so that the eye was bewildered.
"I liked white better," I said.
"White!" he sneered. "It serves as a beginning. White cloth may be
dyed. The white page can be overwritten; and the white light can be
broken."
"In which case it is no longer white," said I. "And he that breaks a
thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom."
from The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien
Assistant Moderator
P.S. I personally have had some sad experiences with intolerant
people, and this may make me overly reluctant to share matters of
faith with workmates. But as Terri was saying in message #9545,
faith has a natural quality which can be communicated. Maybe one of
the unkindest aspects of attacks by hostile people is that it makes
spiritual seekers afraid to share something which ideally is a
natural and joyful part of life: love for God!