as jws, we were in bondage to the organization, its rules and its whims.
now, we do not have to follow their direction and believe that whatever we were being told was by "theocratic" arrangement.. so, what freedoms do you have now that you have been liberated?.
Sex! Without having to marry some A-hole first.
Cleavage.
Tai-chi.
Yoga.
TV shows that have "occult" elements.
Swearing.
Bingo.
Last night I had a long conversation with my boyfriend. I asked him about many of his beliefs. And I just listened without needing to jump in and tell him why he was wrong.
you aren't in charge of anyone or anything, and when you realize it, you will set yourself free to really live.. humans tend to categorize, label, and set up expectations.
cultivating a zen attitude means simply living, experiencing, and being without categories, labels, or expectations.. "tragedy" is only "tragedy" because we label it as "tragedy".
removing the label and simply experiencing the experience can help negative feelings pass and can turn a "tragedy" into a learning opportunity.. when humans experience catastrophic loss, it is more difficult to put things into perspective, but as with less serious losses, major loss is difficult because we attach our expectations and false sense of ownership, fears, and regrets to the things we have lost.. letting go of the attachments to our feelings of pain, grief, and sorrow can help us move through any experience..
Robdar said: I've discovered the same thing. I've also discovered the same peace after praying as a JW. Same place, different path.
I've found this to be true in regards to holy spirit. I would pray for holy spirit and settle in to study and feel like I had increased concentration. Then you quit the JWs and learn that what you thought was coming from God was really coming from inside yourself.
you aren't in charge of anyone or anything, and when you realize it, you will set yourself free to really live.. humans tend to categorize, label, and set up expectations.
cultivating a zen attitude means simply living, experiencing, and being without categories, labels, or expectations.. "tragedy" is only "tragedy" because we label it as "tragedy".
removing the label and simply experiencing the experience can help negative feelings pass and can turn a "tragedy" into a learning opportunity.. when humans experience catastrophic loss, it is more difficult to put things into perspective, but as with less serious losses, major loss is difficult because we attach our expectations and false sense of ownership, fears, and regrets to the things we have lost.. letting go of the attachments to our feelings of pain, grief, and sorrow can help us move through any experience..
Mel Brooks said "Tragedy is when I stub my toe. Comedy is when you walk into an open sewer and die." A given situation is only as tragic as the mind believes it to be. What is tragic for one individual is not for another. This can be said about any circumstance. Example: Human beings eliminate their own species through nuclear war. Tragic for us; fortuitous for the next species that evolves on earth (and for the earth itself). Thus tragedy cannot be said to be an absolute. No, there is nothing wrong with grieving a tragedy. At the same time, it is useful to be aware that we have choices in how we view things, rather than be held captive to grief as the only option.
Of course, like Mel Brooks, most of us impute tragedy to the most minor of circumstances.
you aren't in charge of anyone or anything, and when you realize it, you will set yourself free to really live.. humans tend to categorize, label, and set up expectations.
cultivating a zen attitude means simply living, experiencing, and being without categories, labels, or expectations.. "tragedy" is only "tragedy" because we label it as "tragedy".
removing the label and simply experiencing the experience can help negative feelings pass and can turn a "tragedy" into a learning opportunity.. when humans experience catastrophic loss, it is more difficult to put things into perspective, but as with less serious losses, major loss is difficult because we attach our expectations and false sense of ownership, fears, and regrets to the things we have lost.. letting go of the attachments to our feelings of pain, grief, and sorrow can help us move through any experience..
Thanks JimmpyPage.
the following notes on fred franz's conducting of the morning bible discussion [17 november 1979] were taken by a bethelite and later given to ray franz:.
some persons are now talking about reading the bible, that we should read "just the bible.
" well, that's what christendom's churches have been telling the people to do for centuries and look at the mess that's resulted.
"Each pres had his own twist on the porpoise of the org"
It's not nice to twist porpoises. What would Mr. Flipper think?
here are two ethical posers:.
i. would you rather your children grow up to be successful or happy?
explain your answer.. ii.
I. How are we defining "successful"? I would say that if my kid is happy in whatever they're doing, they ARE successful.
II. I would rather my kid (or anyone) have the most opportunity for personal growth possible than to be subject to any arbitrary system. Who came up for the criteria of whether my kid could advance? Why should that entity have the power to decide how much knowledge a person has access to? This is assuming that not cheating would prevent the kid from further education altogether. Since the question implies that they would still have oportunities at other learning institutions, I say the kid should sink or swim on his own merit.
In other words, education is a right that should never be denied. But as long as there is general access to it, the individual educators have the right to set standards for whom is accepted to their institution.
Thanks, I like questions that make me think.
"why we cant find lasting happiness.
there is money to be made from happiness.
people spend large amounts in the pursuit of it.
Great read, thanks for posting.
I disagree with the last paragraph. Mr. Lloyd obviously has not done his research on nirvana or enlightenment because it's a lot closer to the sort of contentment he speaks of than some kind of euphoric happiness.
/putting in a good word for the Buddha.
yes the watchtower says yoga can "open ones mind to demonic control..." so, i wen't to a class at my gym held be a pregnant instructor who was not dressed as a witch???
was her baby the "anti-christ devils child" i thought to myself in my witness mind.
we did some relaxing streching and i still did not feel under control of demons!
LOL Waffles
And AMEN to Sphere.
i think that some people deserve to be excommunicated, such as pedophiles.
but what about the tens of thousands of others that have their life wrenched out from under them by being disfellowshipped?.
and what about those that have a family member that died because of not receiving a blood transfusion?
I was 12 when I got baptized. I didn't do it because I believed in the religion I did it because my parents believed in the religion and it was the only thing I was ever taught. Had I waited until I was an adult or had I been given more information prior to my "decision" I assure you, things would have gone differently.
yes the watchtower says yoga can "open ones mind to demonic control..." so, i wen't to a class at my gym held be a pregnant instructor who was not dressed as a witch???
was her baby the "anti-christ devils child" i thought to myself in my witness mind.
we did some relaxing streching and i still did not feel under control of demons!
Lol WLD
I've been doing yoga for months, meditation for even longer and just tried tai chi for the first time last night. Great stuff for mind and body.
Certain schools of Buddhism practice insight meditation. Rather than clearing your mind or going into a trance, this is time spent THINKING, particularly about the spiritual. It's no wonder WTS wants it's members to stay away from that.
